‘Achamundu Achamundu’ kicks off
In what is said to be the most intriguing film in the recent past, ‘Achamundu Achamundu’ was launched in grand style at Vadapalani. Starring Prasanna and Sneha, the film boasts of all technical crew from
Euro Multivision Ltd. seeks sops for the Solar Photovoltaic Industry in India
Mr. Hitesh Shah, Managing Director, Euro Multivision Ltd., has made some pre-Union Budget suggestions for the development of the Solar Photovoltaic Industry in India.
Mr. Shah says, “Even though the Indian market for renewable energy, especially solar, is in a nascent stage, there are several options and ways to give impetus to the same. India has a long way to go before strong players make an impact on the market and the consumers. The existing and new players as well as the government could make further progress by taking positive steps to actively stimulate the market.”
Expectations from Budget 2008-2009…
Ø Besides offering subsidy on solar related products, the Government should increase awareness by offering training on PV technology, PV system designs and related fields.
Ø The programme of Government of India should comprise promoting use of PV technology to provide lighting in villages, in the form of Community lighting systems, Portable solar lanterns, Street lights, Fixed home lighting systems, Water Pumping.
Ø Reliefs by government to SPV manufacturers and users of SPV based products should be in the form of:
· 100% depreciation in the first year of installation of the systems.
· Benefits in the form of various tax exemptions for manufacturers and users.
· In order to boost for the renewable energy especially solar energy, the capital subsidy / reimbursement for the installation of the solar panels should be given.
· For every manufacturing industry, certain amount of power requirement should be made compulsorily met by captive generation.
· Incentives for Solar farming should be given.
· The limit of Rs. 1,000 crore investments in Photovoltaic industry for eligibility of capital subsidy should be reduced to Rs. 500 crore.
· Budget allocation should be made for Govt. Investment in power generation through solar technology.
· A reserve should be created for the research and development in photovoltaic industry like in US.
· No import tariff for several imported machineries, raw materials and components
· Soft loans to users, intermediaries and manufacturers.
· Create a suitable legal environment that enables and simplifies innovation and entry of solar related projects.
· Set challenging but realistic access goals that incorporate important reform milestones and depict overall development in the solar sector.
· Institutional reforms and strong focus on implementing agencies so that they are sufficiently independent, decentralized, accountable and have strong leadership.
· Regulatory reforms that promote innovation and allow entry of alternative service providers including the private sector.
· Improve in hesitancy of banks and financial institutions for granting of Working Capital for Start-Up Entrepreneurs
· Money for creating innovative schemes is required in the case of solar photovoltaic. Consumer financing for solar PV business in general and entrepreneurs in particular.
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BAPL engages Changi Airports International for the upcoming Airport at the Durgapur Aerotropolis
Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd. (BAPL) today signed a Technical Services Agreement (TSA) with Changi Airports International (CAI) for the upcoming airport within the Durgapur Aerotropolis project. This Greenfield project will be India’s first privately owned airport, a part of the USD 2.5 billion Durgapur Aerotropolis. This TSA was signed in the presence of Hon’ble Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Praful Patel.Under the agreement, CAI will play a crucial role in reviewing the master plan of the proposed airport and supervising the execution of the same. BAPL is also exploring to engage CAI to provide consulting services in the operation and management of the Airport that is part of the Durgapur Aerotropolis project.
Under the TSA, CAI will first carry out a detailed review of the proposed airport including a review of the airport capacity, land use plan, passenger terminal layout and development phasing of the air and land side of the Airport. The agreement also involves CAI in conducting training for senior management of BAPL personnel at the Singapore Aviation Academy. The training programs are targeted at introducing senior managers at BAPL to the technical aspects of developing and managing an airport terminal intended to spawn an aerotropolis.
Commenting on the alliance, Changi Airports International’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Chow Kok Fong said, “We believe this will be a promising project which will complement the capacity of the existing aviation infrastructure in West Bengal. We expect the Durgapur Aerotropolis to generate considerable economic momentum for this important region of the country.”
Speaking on the occasion, BAPL’s Chairman, Mr. Arvind Pande, said “Changi was a natural choice for us considering it comes with an enviable track record and stands for the best in terms of experience and technology in this space. This alliance will add momentum to this project of global standards and will definitely help in placing the Durgapur-Asansol region & Bengal on the global aviation map.”
The Durgapur project is India’s first Aerotropolis and would include the country’s first private airport. The total land area of the Aerotropolis is approximately 950 hectares of which a minimum of approximately 300 hectares will be the used for the Airport. The airport is expected to be functional in next 2.5 - 3 years and would have the ability to handle A-320 aircrafts. The total investment of the project is – approximately USD 2.5 billion or Rs. 10,000 crores and the project is expected to be completed in 5 years.
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JINDAL SAW posts net operating profit of Rs 413 crores for 2006-07
Jindal SAW Ltd., a key player in global hydrocarbon and water infrastructure sector has posted an increase of 87% (pro-rata) net operating profit at Rs 413 Crores for the 15 months year ended December 31, 2007 as against Rs. 176 crores over last financial year ended 30th September, 06.
The Company’s gross turnover increased by 38% to Rs. 7017 Crores for the 15 months period ended 31st December, 07 from Rs. 4061 Crores for 12 months period ended September, 2006. The total operating profit (EBIDTA) increased by 59% to Rs. 813 Crores from Rs. 410 Crores, operational profit after tax increased by 87% to Rs. 413 Crores from Rs. 176 Crores in the aforesaid period. Fully diluted EPS for 15 months period is Rs 74.76 per share as against Rs 33.20 per equity share in the above period
The above net operating profit of Rs 413 crores does not include extra-ordinary profit of Rs 464 crores (net of tax of Rs 130 crores) received for divestment of entire shareholding of USA Subsidiary Company.
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GEECL Markets and Distributes Coal Bed Methane in India for the first time
Great Eastern Energy Corporation (GEECL) a part of YKM Holdings Group and the pioneers in bringing in technology for exploration and development of Coal Bed Methane makes CBM available for commercial sale purpose for the first time in India at Asansol.
With the completion of the drilling of 23 vertical production wells by GEECL, Coal Bed Methane would be available in India for commercial sale purpose from 14th of July’07 priced at rupees 30 per Kg for CNG. Initially 90% of the CBM would be distributed among vehicles as CNG gas. GEECL is also setting up the first CBM station in SE Asia and the same will be located in India in the city of Asansol in West Bengal. Also, GEECL is the first company whose first field development plan has been approved.
Speaking on this occasion, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister said, “I am pleased to learn that Great Eastern Energy Corporation limited is making the first sale of its gas at Asansol. It is note worthy that this will be the first Coal Bed Methane sale in India. The commercial exploitation of Coal bed Methane will certainly help in meeting India’s growing energy needs.”
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Prashant Modi, President and Chief Operating Officer, GEECL said, “We are proud to be India’s first private sector company that has ventured into Coal Bed Methane exploration, production, marketing and distribution. With the nation requiring higher energy sources to sustain its development pace, we are confident that CBM will play an important role as one of the prime energy source for the future generations.”
Steel & Sponge iron plants, Ceramic industries, Alloy Steel plants, bakeries, glass & chemical industries shall immensely benefit from CBM Supplies in and around Asansol area. GEECL has already signed an MOU with IOCL for sales and distribution of CBM as Piped Natural Gas and CNG. CNG retail outlets are being set up from Durgapur to Barakar.
Mr Prashant Modi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, GEECL, further added, “Investment in coal and gas transportation infrastructure, including gas gathering, transportation and distribution, are critical to move CBM from coal fields to local and more distant end use markets.”
Gas demand in India far exceeds supply and with the gap widening increasingly, there is an urgent need for more supply. India has the sixth largest coal reserves in the world and has massive quantities of CBM .The commercial prospects of CBM in India are very high viable alternative to LPG, diesel, and petrol. Hence CBM is clearly emerging as one of the viable and cleaner routes to energy security.
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AMD and Microsoft Collaborate on Windows Server 2008 to Deliver Industry Leading Solution to Customers
AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced it has worked closely with Microsoft throughout the Windows Server® 2008 development process, to deliver the ultimate server solution. Through their strong partnership, both companies have optimized their respective hardware and software technologies to work together to address the demands of today’s global digital economy and meet the computing requirements of businesses of all sizes.
AMD Opteron™ processors were designed with 64-bit computing in mind and in combination with Windows Server 2008 they deliver a powerful platform for running business solutions that can maximize productivity and profitability. Customers using AMD Opteron processors, including Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors, and Windows Server 2008 can experience unparalleled performance, energy efficiency and investment protection, further pushing virtualization, web serving, and business intelligence capabilities into the mainstream.
“We congratulate Microsoft on the release of the next generation Windows Server operating system,” said Randy Allen, corporate vice president, Server and Workstation Division, AMD. “At AMD, we believe the ultimate server solution begins with the ultimate collaboration. Windows Server 2008 with Microsoft’s hypervisor-based server virtualization technology (Hyper-V) will leverage the industry-leading performance of the AMD Opteron processor to deliver the level of support needed to fuel tomorrow’s business innovation. Additionally, Microsoft and AMD’s robust product architectures allow customers to scale with ease, while providing unmatched performance, a reduced overall cost of ownership and a flexible infrastructure that can evolve as their organization grows.”
In 2002, AMD and Microsoft began a collaboration to bring the benefits of 64-bit computing to the x86 computing market. Today, this strong technology partnership continues and is driving innovations that are helping customers run more efficient and cost-effective businesses. Since AMD is a trusted technology partner to Microsoft, AMD technology-based platforms are used as development and test systems throughout Microsoft’s product development cycle. The AMD64 technology-based servers and clients are also used as development and test systems throughout Microsoft’s development product development cycle. By leveraging the power of an AMD-Microsoft optimized solution such as Windows Server 2008, customers can take advantage of balanced, scalable solutions that are easy to manage and operate in today’s demanding business environment.
“Our customers are excited about the vibrant ecosystem that has developed around Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008,” said Bob Muglia, senior vice president of the Server and Tools Business at Microsoft Corp. “The combined power of Windows Server 2008 and AMD Opteron processors will help customers achieve flexible, reliable and powerful technology solutions.”
AMD and Microsoft customer Nivio is an example of a growing, innovative start-up business that is leveraging the two companies’ technologies to deliver the desktop experience as a service to almost anyone with an Internet-enabled device, anywhere in the world.
“AMD and Microsoft technologies are very complementary and perfect for our environment,” said Nivio Founder and CEO Sachin Duggal. “The AMD Opteron processor offers innovations like HyperTransport™ technology which allow us to support an exceptional amount of users with optimal levels of performance and availability—all while keeping costs low for us. And we can deliver one of the world’s leading operating systems virtually to countless users worldwide, knowing that for our environment, the current and future versions of Microsoft Windows Server are ideal for their stability and ease of use.”
The benefits of Windows Server 2008 running on AMD Opteron processors include:
Cost-Effective Virtualization and Energy Efficiency
Customers are harnessing the power of virtualization as delivered by AMD Opteron processors and Windows Server 2008. The combined power of AMD Virtualization™ (AMD-V™) technology and Windows Server Hyper-V technologies form a strong solution to create an operationally efficient computing platform designed to maximize client and server resources, thereby helping customers realize better investment protection. Specifically on the hardware level, AMD Virtualization (AMD-V) technology improves efficiency by allowing customers to host more transactions and users per server with greater control and less overhead.
AMD and Microsoft are committed to leading the world to energy-efficient processing. Windows Server 2008 fully supports the Enhanced AMD PowerNow!™ technology of Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors, which along with innovations such as AMD CoolCore™ Technology and Dual Dynamic Power Management™, offer the ability to help reduce power and cooling requirements. Additionally, Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors can provide increased performance-per-watt efficiencies while maintaining the same power and thermal infrastructure as previous generations of AMD Opteron processors.
Versatile Web and Application Sharing and Capacity-Rich Business Intelligence
Scalability is often the hurdle to turning mountains of data into more insightful and valuable intelligence. The scalability and control of AMD Opteron processors and Windows Server 2008 help meet the challenging demands of running an “always on” online business. Customers can find a resource-smart infrastructure with AMD and Microsoft that will easily help scale to meet the ever-growing number of users and transactions in a business with a high level of availability. The superior manageability of the technologies helps businesses reduce total costs by maximizing staff resources and budget.
Additionally, an AMD Opteron processor-based server running Windows Server 2008 and SQL Server™ 2008 includes unique optimizations designed to increase throughput to deliver high speed and performance for memory- and data-intensive Business Intelligence applications. The joint solution offers large memory footprints and outstanding processing bandwidth, bringing Business Intelligence more mainstream, to enterprise and SMB customers alike.
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A look at the unusual ‘Cricket and Bollywood’ bond
Cricket and Bollywood are the two most glamorous names in India. Be it cricket based movies or cricketers getting intimate with Bollywood babes, these two entertainment worlds, although entertain people in their own way, but there have been regular instances where they find themselves interlinked. And with the stars shining bright at the recent Indian Premier League auction the time seems right to take a larger look on this unusual bonding between Cricket and Bollywood.
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BITS Pilani Ragamalika’s Sangamam Captivating Music and Scintillating Dance
Among the Music Festivals of India although much has been written about the Chembai Music Festival, Dover Lane Music Festival, Gunidas Sangit Sammelan, ITC SangeetSammelan, Saptak Music Festival, Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav, Tansen Music Festival, Thyagaraja Music Festival etc not much has been written about Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani Rajasthan’s Sangamam.
Ragamalika, the classical dance and music club of BITS, Pilani was established in 1990 by a group of enthusiastic students and faculty with the purpose of nurturing India’s rich heritage and carrying forward the Indian tradition by advocating the opulence of Indian fine arts. Ragamalika is passionately dedicated to the cause of promotion of classical music and dance amongst the BITSian public.
Ragamalika conducts cultural programmes and concerts in Pilani throughout the year. Its members are actively involved in the organization as well as the management of all activities related to the events, apart from participating in the performances themselves.
The most important programme organized by Ragamalika is SANGAMAM, a cultural festival normally held in February every year at Pilani. It features eminent artistes from all over the country performing for a cosmopolitan audience of over 4000.
In 2008, Sangamam marches proudly into its 12th year thanks to the continuing support of well wishers and sponsors. The sponsors for this year Sangamam include Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and Chennai based Shriram Group of Companies.
One of the highlights of Sangamam each year is a scintillating inaugural performance by the hosts before the artistes take their bow on the center stage. For this year Sangamam inauguration, Ragamalika chose episodes from Vana Parva – the twelve years in exile in the forest by the Pandavas and Virata Parva – the one year in exile spent incognito by the Pandavas at the court of King Virata from the great epic Mahabharata for dancing. The inaugural performance was truly dazzling.
Scheduled from 22nd to 24th February 2008, this year’s Sangamam featured Violin duet by Lalgudi Shri G J R Krishnan and Lalgudi Smt Vijayalakshmi on the first day, Jugalbandhi by Smt Jayanthi Kumaresh on Veena and Pandit Ronu Majumdar on Flute on the seond day and Bharatha Natyam Ballet by Smt Shobhana Balachandra and Group on the last day.
Sangamam 2008 has indeed surpassed the previous eleven years in terms of brilliance and grandeur.
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SBoP Inks MoU with AFII for Business Facilitation
State Bank of Patiala has concluded a Memoradum of Understanding with AFII Corporate Advisors Limited, a New Delhi based Structured Finance and M&A Firm where AFII would assist the Bank in developing new Structured Products for the benefit of its customers. AFII would also, assist in promotion and implementation of such Products across India. This MoU would also benefit the Retail Finance Initiative of AFII & Ashok Leyland Limited where AFII supports the CV Customers in arranging competitive finance from Nationalised Banks.
The MoU was signed on Saturday, 22ndFebruary at Patiala by Mr. Ranjit Datta, DGMon behalf of SBoP and Dr. Mahesh Gandhi, Managing Director, on behalf of AFII. CGM-SBoP Mr. Diwakar Gupta and several other officials were also present at the signing.
AFII has been involved in Channel Financing business with State Bank of India since 2 years and in the last year has launched challenging initiatives in Retail Financing adding more value to its SME Advisory Business. AFII owns and operates India’s largest SME Advisory Business providing Structured Finance and M&A support to its Clients. It works across sectors including Automotive, Power Ancilliary, Infrastructure, Logisticsand Clean Technology.
This MoU will support State Bank of Patiala’s efforts to make available to its existing customers more financial products while attracting new customers to take advantage of the dynamic and sophisticated product customisation efforts of the Bank.
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Hon’ble Union minister Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi inaugurates Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital at Hosur
Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital, India’s one of the leading eye care hospital, inaugurated its new eye care centre at Hosur, Tamil Nadu. Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare inaugurated the hospital. This new hospital is a secondary eye care hospital with facilities to treat diseases like Glaucoma, Retinal and Macular degeneration, Squint etc., apart from Cataract and Refractive Error. This centre is outfitted with latest Zeiss Operational Microscope, AMO Laser equipments, Fundus Flourence Angiography (FFA) and Phaco equipments to facilitate advanced diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. The hospital also has facilities like laboratory, pharmacy and opticals that offer wide range of frames and lenses of high quality and leading brands.
Dr.Agarwal’s Eye Hospital is equipped with state of the art facilities and latest technology aimed to provide complete eye care in a patient friendly environment. The hospital aims to improve the accessibility and affordability for quality eye care services in Hosur.
Speaking on the Inauguration, Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi, Hon’ble Union Minister Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare said, “It is estimated that there are nearly 37 million blind people world wide.The majority of patients develop the disease after adolescence, between 12 and 20 years of age. The diagnosis in early stages is very important. The problem is escalating and the worst part is that, had timely intervention been in place almost two-third of the population that suffers from blindness could have been prevented or cured. I am glad that people in and around Hosur area will be benefited by this hospital which has more than 50 years of experience in eye care”.
Dr. Amar Agarwal, Joint Managing Director, Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital Limited said, “We have invested approximately Rs.3 crores in this branch to ensure that only state-of- the-art equipment is available to address the surmounting problem of blindness and conditions close to that. Expansion of the hospitals across the state is our humble gesture to in bridging the urban rural divide.’’
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