Thursday, July 27, 2023
writingonblog uncensored: 13 state departments moot 59 projects across Outer...
writingonblog uncensored: 13 state departments moot 59 projects across Outer...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: The first meeting of the high-level steering committee constituted to decide on the proposals for the land allocatio...
13 state departments moot 59 projects across Outer Ring Road; First high-level Steering Committee to decide on land allocation
C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
The first meeting of the high-level steering committee constituted to decide on the proposals for the land allocation in the 50 metres strip along the eastern side of Chennai Outer Ring Road (CORR) is expected to meet during the first week of next month.
A total of 13 state departments have come out with 59 projects across the stretch. The projects are expected to come up at 226 acres of land.
The steering committee was formed on May 2, 2023. Apart from Chief secretary as chairman, the other members of the steering committee include Industries secretary, Home secretary, Finance secretary, Revenue and Diasater Management secretary, Housing secretary, Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department secretary, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Secretary and CMDA member secretary.
The state government has identified the future growth of Chennai to be along the Chennai Outer Ring Road. Recently, a consultant has bee hired to prepare a blueprint to develop one kilometre stretch on either side of Chennai Outer Ring Road. Apart from preparing the detailed development plan, the main objective of the consultant is to identify and delineate the suitable areas for implementation of Land Pooling Area Development Scheme (LAPDS) and to prepare economic development plan along the ORR corridor, official sources said.
It is learnt that the Textiles department has proposed 18 projects, the largest among the 13 departments, which would come up in 57.50 acres of land. Apart from that Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation has submitted eight proposals (40 acres of land); and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation has sought 36 acres of land for its seven projects. Similarly, Tamil nadu Small Industries development corporation has sought 47.25 acres of land for five projects while Indian Oil Corporation has sought 12.48 acres of land for six projects.
Other departments that have proposed projects include Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation (AAVIN), Directorate of Fire and Rescue services, Directorate of Art and Culture, Handlooms Department, Sports Development Authority of Tamil nadu, Tidel Park, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation (TNFDC).
CORR is being concieved by the government as a high-growth corridor with sustainable levels of density. Sources say that CORR will draw the business and industrial activities in and around Chennai due to better infrastructure and higher floor space index (FSI), enabling the supply of more floor space at cheaper rates and acting as a new agglomeration.
Chennai is already growing towards Old Mahabalipuram Road, GST Road and National Highway-4 which may witness land shortage for large scale developments. The CORR growth corridor is planned to cater to the requirements in the coming years.
The first meeting of the high-level steering committee constituted to decide on the proposals for the land allocation in the 50 metres strip along the eastern side of Chennai Outer Ring Road (CORR) is expected to meet during the first week of next month.
A total of 13 state departments have come out with 59 projects across the stretch. The projects are expected to come up at 226 acres of land.
The steering committee was formed on May 2, 2023. Apart from Chief secretary as chairman, the other members of the steering committee include Industries secretary, Home secretary, Finance secretary, Revenue and Diasater Management secretary, Housing secretary, Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department secretary, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Secretary and CMDA member secretary.
The state government has identified the future growth of Chennai to be along the Chennai Outer Ring Road. Recently, a consultant has bee hired to prepare a blueprint to develop one kilometre stretch on either side of Chennai Outer Ring Road. Apart from preparing the detailed development plan, the main objective of the consultant is to identify and delineate the suitable areas for implementation of Land Pooling Area Development Scheme (LAPDS) and to prepare economic development plan along the ORR corridor, official sources said.
It is learnt that the Textiles department has proposed 18 projects, the largest among the 13 departments, which would come up in 57.50 acres of land. Apart from that Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation has submitted eight proposals (40 acres of land); and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation has sought 36 acres of land for its seven projects. Similarly, Tamil nadu Small Industries development corporation has sought 47.25 acres of land for five projects while Indian Oil Corporation has sought 12.48 acres of land for six projects.
Other departments that have proposed projects include Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation (AAVIN), Directorate of Fire and Rescue services, Directorate of Art and Culture, Handlooms Department, Sports Development Authority of Tamil nadu, Tidel Park, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation (TNFDC).
CORR is being concieved by the government as a high-growth corridor with sustainable levels of density. Sources say that CORR will draw the business and industrial activities in and around Chennai due to better infrastructure and higher floor space index (FSI), enabling the supply of more floor space at cheaper rates and acting as a new agglomeration.
Chennai is already growing towards Old Mahabalipuram Road, GST Road and National Highway-4 which may witness land shortage for large scale developments. The CORR growth corridor is planned to cater to the requirements in the coming years.
writingonblog uncensored: Chennai based firms under ED scanner for causing l...
writingonblog uncensored: Chennai based firms under ED scanner for causing l...: CHENNAI: Chennai-based private companies Freshpay IT Solutions Pvt. Ltd. and Aurrum E-payments are under the scanner of Enforcement director...
Chennai based firms under ED scanner for causing loss to Delhi Jal board worth Rs 14.41 crore
Chennai-based private companies Freshpay IT Solutions Pvt. Ltd. and Aurrum E-payments are under the scanner of Enforcement directorate for causing loss to Delhi Jal Board worth Rs 14.41 crore.
Enforcement directorate took up the investigation on the basis of FIR registered by Anti-Corruption Branch, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) alleging that Delhi Jal board awarded a tender for setting up automotive bill payment collection machines (kiosks) at different locations in different DJB offices as decided by the Delhi Jal Board, for facilitating consumers in bill payment.
The tender was awarded to Corporation Bank in the year 2012, which was further sub-contracted to Freshpay IT Solutions Pvt. Ltd. and Aurrum E-payments.
According to the Enforcement Directorate, these companies had violated norms as prescribed in the agreement by not depositing the cash payment collections in the bank account of DJB, within the prescribed time period.
The contract was initially awarded for three years which was extended by Delhi Jal Board (DJB) from time to time till financial yerar 2019-20 despite continued delay and non-transfer of bill payment amount collected for DJB.
Investigation revealed that during the demonetization period, cash collections amounting to Rs. 10.40 Crore was not deposited or transferred to DJB and funds collected in the year 2019 were reconciled with bill payments of the demonetisation period after a gap of more than 300 days. It was further revealed by ED that total principal loss incurred to Delhi Jal Board during the whole period of the tender is Rs 14.41 Crore which is still outstanding with the two private entities and its Director Rajenderan K Nair.
Directorate of Enforcement is conducting searches under provisions of PMLA, 2002 at 16 premises in Delhi-NCR, Chennai and Kerala, on officials of Delhi Jal Board, NBCC Ltd and private entities in relation to violation of norms and irregularities in tendering process of DJB. "The investigation is conducted in two separate matters of irregularities in the tendering process of DJB," ED said in a release.
In another case, ED initiated investigation on the basis of FIR registered by CBI, New Delhi alleging that officials of DJB gave undue advantage to NKG Infrastructure Limited while awarding tender to the company for supply, installation, testing and commissioning of electromagnetic flow meters in connivance with officials of NBCC (lndia) Limited. NKG Infrastructure Limited managed to secure false performance certificates issued by D K Mittal, the then General Manager, NBCC (India) Limited and fabricated deviation statement issued by Sadhan Kumar, the then Project Executive, NBCC (lndia) Limited for qualifying for technical bid of above said tender in the year 2017.
During the tender process, NKG Infrastructure Limited entered into conspiracy with the then Chief Engineer, Jagdish Kumar Arora and his subordinate officers of DJB for qualifying and bagging tender worth Rs 38 Crore, the release said.
During the course of search proceedings, various incriminating documents and digital devices were recovered and seized from the premises of officials of Delhi Jal Board , NBCC (India) Ltd. and Directors of private entities involved. Details of various undeclared properties in the name of Jagdish Kumar Arora were also recovered. Further Investigation is under progress.
writingonblog uncensored: 10,000 students from TN take part in Science Olymp...
writingonblog uncensored: 10,000 students from TN take part in Science Olymp...: CHENNAI: More than 10,000 students from 30 universities and colleges along with 53 schools from Tamil Nadu took part in the Precise Energy-...
10,000 students from TN take part in Science Olympiad organised by Rosatom
CHENNAI:
More than 10,000 students from 30 universities and colleges along with 53 schools from Tamil Nadu took part in the Precise Energy-2023 Science Olympiad in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry, organized by the JSC Atomstroyexport (The Rosatom State Corporation Engineering Division).
This Olympiad was hosted in collaboration with ANO Energy of the Future, and was supported by the Russian House in Chennai, Moscow Engineering Physics Institute MEPhI, and Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre.
The Olympiad marked its third successful edition in Tamil Nadu, the region where Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is getting constructed by the collaborative efforts of Rosatom and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). The competition unfolded in two rounds, with the participation of over 10100 students in the preliminary round. Out of this exceptional pool of talent, over 700 students qualified for the final round., a release stated.
More than 10,000 students from 30 universities and colleges along with 53 schools from Tamil Nadu took part in the Precise Energy-2023 Science Olympiad in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry, organized by the JSC Atomstroyexport (The Rosatom State Corporation Engineering Division).
This Olympiad was hosted in collaboration with ANO Energy of the Future, and was supported by the Russian House in Chennai, Moscow Engineering Physics Institute MEPhI, and Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre.
The Olympiad marked its third successful edition in Tamil Nadu, the region where Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is getting constructed by the collaborative efforts of Rosatom and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). The competition unfolded in two rounds, with the participation of over 10100 students in the preliminary round. Out of this exceptional pool of talent, over 700 students qualified for the final round., a release stated.
The event consisted of separate written tests in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. Junior level students from 53 schools participated in a junior level, consisting of cross subject science questions.
The top three senior level participants in each subject were awarded, as well as top three junior level outstanding performers. The winners are Madhubala L. from Madras University (in Physics), Sanand G. Dev from Pondicherry University (in Mathematics), Girish S from Anna University (in Chemistry) and Adarsh Chandramouli from Dav Boys, Gopalapuram (in Junior level).
The awards were handed over by Zavorin Dmitry Ivanovich, Act. Consul General, Consul of the Russian Federation, Chennai; Nina Dementsova, Head of Communications Department, JSC Atomstroyexport, Gennady Rogalev, Director, Russian Centre for Science & Culture, Chennai, I.K. Lenin Tamilkovan, Executive Director, Tamil Nadu Science & Technology Centre and Roman Fomin, Ph.D. in Engineering Science, associate professor, Department of Nuclear Physics and Technology of Obninsk Institute for Nuclear Power Engineering (NATIONAL RESEARCH NUCLEAR UNIVERSITY MEPhI).
writingonblog uncensored: TN departments to chalk out plans for Rs 1,000 cro...
writingonblog uncensored: TN departments to chalk out plans for Rs 1,000 cro...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: After making an announcement of Rs. 1,000 crore to develop North Chennai over the next three years in the state as...
TN departments to chalk out plans for Rs 1,000 crore development of North Chennai
C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
After making an announcement of Rs. 1,000 crore to develop North Chennai over the next three years in the state assembly, the state government is planning to hold a meeting on July 28 to decide on projects on the 10 constituencies.
Sources revealed that the government has asked 11 departments to identify gaps in infrastructure including water supply, infrastructure, garbage removal, street management, school education, transport, sports among others.
The initiative, named 'Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam,' aims to address the infrastructure deficit and gaps in development in the northern parts of the city. The scheme will be implemented by converging the funds of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority with ongoing schemes.
North Chennai, the origin of the city when the East India Company set up its base, has been left out of the city's growth story due to heavy congestion and pollution. However, experts believe that this investment in improving infrastructure and creating employment hubs along with residential areas and good connectivity will lead to more inclusive and balanced development in the future.
The North Chennai has been delineated based on the locality, demography with an area of 170 square kilometers. It has a population of 26.5 lakh. The area covers Tiruvottiyur, Madhavaram, Kolathur, Perambur, R K Nagar, Royapuram, Harbour, Thiru-vi-ka Nagar, Villivakkam and Egmore constituencies.
"The 11 departments have been asked to identify gaps which come under their jurisdiction andf propose a shelf of suitable projectsalong with rough cost estimate," sources said.
Initially, in 2018, a 'Special plan for the development of backward areas of North Chennai’ was planned with a consultant hired by the planning department, who had drafted a report. The areas which are being targeted under the project include Madhavaram, Manali, Thiruvottiyur, Tondiarpet and Royapuram zones. The study brought out strategies to make North Chennai more attractive for investment and focus was to reduce pollution in the areas. At that time, Adi Dravidar Department, Chennai Metro water, Slum Clearance Board, Greater Chennai Corporation and various other departments were stakeholders in the development plan for North Chennai. However, the previous government did not implement the project.
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
writingonblog uncensored: TN seeks Action Taken Report over State Finance Co...
writingonblog uncensored: TN seeks Action Taken Report over State Finance Co...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu government has yet to implement some of the recommendations of sixth state finance commission (SFC). The ...
TN seeks Action Taken Report over State Finance Commission recommendations
C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
Tamil Nadu government has yet to implement some of the recommendations of sixth state finance commission (SFC). The memorandum on the action taken on the recommendations of the sixth state finance commission along with the report were placed in the legislative assembly on January 13, 2023, according to official sources.
It is learnt that the Tamil Nadu government has sought an action taken report (ATR) from the state housing department on 27 recommendations. While top officials could not be reached over the implementation of the recommendations, it is learnt that some of the recommendations are being scrutinised by the government including bringing in amendments to TNCDBR, while the others are in conceptual or in the final stage.
Among the list of recommendations include amending the Tamil Nadu Combined Development Building Rules, create land bank of all government lands so that land availability can be assessed for providing suitable infrastructure to local bodies; taking up public private partnership models of area development and affordable rental housing in high density urban areas; and creating robust property database with unique property identifiers using the existing GIS maps
Developers and builders have stated that the recommendation of increasing the fee for building plan and layouts by sixth finance commission is not feasible as it is already on the higher end. Association of India state secretary S Rama Prabhu says that the urban local bodies are currently demanding Rs 40 per square feet while CMDA demands Rs 100 per square feet. Any further rise now will impact the sector.
On amending Tamil Nadu Panchayat Building Rules by fixing time limit for grant of building plan by executive authority of Village Panchayat, Prabhu said tjhat this has been an ongoing demand from the sector. "If the plan is not approved within 30 days it should be considered as given," said Prabhu.
Among the other recommendations include creation of a specialised planning unit at the district level with redeployment of staff from rural development and panchayat raj department and housing and urban planning department. The SFC has also recommended end-to-end software for granting planning permission to be completed expeditiously. Currently, this has been a big issue with developers and builders highlighting flaws in the online system. The SFC also has highlighted the need to come out with a complete framework on Transferable Development Rights (TDRs), which are an underutilised source for funds.
The sixth state finance commission Commission has made 280 key recommendations to the state government, of which the state has accepted 259. Some recommendations have been accepted with modifications, while some have been deferred.
Factfile (Some of the other SFC recommendations)::
1. Fees for building plan and layout to be revised as per TNCDBR
2. TN panchayat building rules to be amended fixing time limit for grant of building plan by executive authority of village panchayat.
3. Specialised planning unit to be created at district level.
4. Vacant land tax to be collected regularly.
5.Asset register for immovable properties to be created
6. Development charges and other fees to be enhanced to reflect commodity price index
Tamil Nadu government has yet to implement some of the recommendations of sixth state finance commission (SFC). The memorandum on the action taken on the recommendations of the sixth state finance commission along with the report were placed in the legislative assembly on January 13, 2023, according to official sources.
It is learnt that the Tamil Nadu government has sought an action taken report (ATR) from the state housing department on 27 recommendations. While top officials could not be reached over the implementation of the recommendations, it is learnt that some of the recommendations are being scrutinised by the government including bringing in amendments to TNCDBR, while the others are in conceptual or in the final stage.
Among the list of recommendations include amending the Tamil Nadu Combined Development Building Rules, create land bank of all government lands so that land availability can be assessed for providing suitable infrastructure to local bodies; taking up public private partnership models of area development and affordable rental housing in high density urban areas; and creating robust property database with unique property identifiers using the existing GIS maps
Developers and builders have stated that the recommendation of increasing the fee for building plan and layouts by sixth finance commission is not feasible as it is already on the higher end. Association of India state secretary S Rama Prabhu says that the urban local bodies are currently demanding Rs 40 per square feet while CMDA demands Rs 100 per square feet. Any further rise now will impact the sector.
On amending Tamil Nadu Panchayat Building Rules by fixing time limit for grant of building plan by executive authority of Village Panchayat, Prabhu said tjhat this has been an ongoing demand from the sector. "If the plan is not approved within 30 days it should be considered as given," said Prabhu.
Among the other recommendations include creation of a specialised planning unit at the district level with redeployment of staff from rural development and panchayat raj department and housing and urban planning department. The SFC has also recommended end-to-end software for granting planning permission to be completed expeditiously. Currently, this has been a big issue with developers and builders highlighting flaws in the online system. The SFC also has highlighted the need to come out with a complete framework on Transferable Development Rights (TDRs), which are an underutilised source for funds.
The sixth state finance commission Commission has made 280 key recommendations to the state government, of which the state has accepted 259. Some recommendations have been accepted with modifications, while some have been deferred.
Factfile (Some of the other SFC recommendations)::
1. Fees for building plan and layout to be revised as per TNCDBR
2. TN panchayat building rules to be amended fixing time limit for grant of building plan by executive authority of village panchayat.
3. Specialised planning unit to be created at district level.
4. Vacant land tax to be collected regularly.
5.Asset register for immovable properties to be created
6. Development charges and other fees to be enhanced to reflect commodity price index
Wednesday, July 19, 2023
writingonblog uncensored: TN higher Education Minister Ponmudy, son grilled...
writingonblog uncensored: TN higher Education Minister Ponmudy, son grilled...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI Enforcement Directorate has seized a sum of `81.7 lakh, foreign currency, including British pounds, worth `13 lakh an...
TN higher Education Minister Ponmudy, son grilled again : Rs 81L seized, says ED
C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI
Enforcement Directorate has seized a sum of `81.7 lakh, foreign currency, including British pounds, worth `13 lakh and frozen fixed deposits worth `41.9 crore during searches at seven locations linked to Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy and his son Gowtham Sigamani on Monday. The case pertains to alleged illegal issuance of red sand mining licences to his relatives and benamis between 2006 and 2011 when Ponmudy was minister of mines.
ED's confirmation on the seizures could spell trouble for the minister, who has been grilled by the Central agency for nearly 20 hours from Monday. Ponmudy and Sigamani were let off by the agency at 3.30am on Tuesday only to reappear after 12 hours.
The visibly tired 72-year-old minister and his son on Tuesday appeared six minutes before 4 pm at the Enforcement Directorate. Though ED did not furnish any details pertaining to searches in minister Senthil Balaji's home or his arrest, details about Ponmudy was shared by the agency after allegations were raised by the DMK.
ED said proceeds obtained from illegal mining were deposited in benami accounts and were layered through multiple transactions and accounts. "Two overseas entities, PT Excel Mengindo in Indonesia and Universal Business Ventures FZE in the UAE, were acquired. The Indonesian company was shown to have been purchased for a nominal amount of `41.57 lakh, and later sold for over `100 crore in 2022. It is suspected that huge sums of money were transferred through 'hawala' and infused in purchase of these overseas entities," the agency said.
According to sources, Sigamani made overseas investment of $1,00,000 (then `41,57,225) in March 2008 to acquire 2,45,000 shares of PT Excel Megindo, Jakarta, and $55,000 (`22,86,924) in Universal Business Ventures, United Arab Emirates, without RBI approval and thereby contravened the provisions of Section 4 of FEMA for the acquisition of foreign security. As a result of ongoing investigations, ED seized properties worth `8.60 crore belonging to Sigamani in October, 2020.
"During the search operation, unaccounted cash amounting to `81.7 lakh was seized, along with unexplained foreign currency, primarily in British pounds, equivalent to approximately `13 lakh from the residence of Ponmudy. In order to mislead the probe, a claim that the cash belonged to a family-owned hospital was made, and an attempt to falsify accounting records to introduce cash was detected by ED and prevented. A corroborating statement attesting the above facts was obtained from a person concerned. Thus, there is no plausible explanation for this unexplained cash seized from the residence of Ponmudy," the agency said in a statement.
ED said it has identified a trail of illegal proceeds derived from these activities, being used to acquire properties, companies and channelling into other investments. Various incriminating documents have been seized and are under analysis. A sum of `41.9 crore, identified as direct proceeds of crime, was also freezed under Section 17(1A) of PMLA as it was held in the form of a fixed deposit.
Ponmudy is an MLA from the Tirukkoyilur seat in Villupuram district while his 49-year old son Sigamani is a Member of Parliament representing Kallakurichi. DMK president and Chief Minister M K Stalin spoke to his cabinet colleague and assured him of the ruling party's total support in countering the BJP's "political vendetta." Stalin spoke to Ponmudy over phone and sought details of the ED probe, an official release said. He asked Ponmudy to face the issue bravely and legally.
Monday, July 17, 2023
writingonblog uncensored: TN vies to woo private investment in 100 infrastru...
writingonblog uncensored: TN vies to woo private investment in 100 infrastru...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu is planning to come out with Public Private Partnership policy to woo private investments in 100 iconic...
TN vies to woo private investment in 100 infrastructure projects; New Public Private Partnership policy being drafted
Tamil Nadu is planning to come out with Public Private Partnership policy to woo private investments in 100 iconic projects worth Rs one lakh crore. The policy is being framed by Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board (TNIDB). Currently, projects worth more than Rs 1.5 lakh crore are at various stages of implementation.
It is learnt that the state is identifying a list of seven priority sectors for taking up the projects under the policy in the initial phase. These could be agriculture, transport, social, Industrial , energy, urban amenities and recreation sectors. Some of these could be in urban transportation systems, power generation, transmission, drinking water supply, health infrastructure, solid waste management and development of satellite towns.
Vying to reach the target of a $1 trillion economy by 2030, the state has taken efforts to reduce revenue deficit and create space for more capital expenditure. It is learnt that the government is investing more than Rs 50,000 crore annually for capital asset creation in the state. The investments need to be much more to reach the goal of $1 trillion by 2030. According to a Deloitte report, the Tamil Nadu government to achieve the milestone of a $1 trillion economy will have to grow at an average of 16.5 per cent, which is way above the current rate of growth of 10%.
As a result the state, while creating more fiscal space for investment from its own budget, is keen on inviting private investments to infrastructure development, according to official sources. During the last decade, private investment has been meagre and the state plans to create a robust investor friendly framework which will encourage private sector players to partner with the government. Sources said that the focus of the policy will be to share risks fairly, accommodate concerns of private investors and enhance capacities of government agencies in a planned planner.
Sources said that various models are being studied starting from Build Operate and Transfer, Gross cost contract (GCC), Built Lease and Transfer, Hybrid annuity among others. This also comes as Tamil Nadu government was mulling at innovative methods to operate Tamil Nadu State Transport undertakings (STUs) bus services by allowing private entities under public private partnership model. Under the GCC model, the responsibility of managing the transport network, revenue collection is undertaken by the STU whereas the responsibility of procuring, operating and maintaining the buses is by the operator.
Sources also said that the ownership of government land will not be transferred to private partners. However, the land will be given for the projectgon lease or fee to be collected upfront or periodically. The projects would have nearly around 20% internal rate of return depending on the risk reward allocation. The project is also likely to have a concession period between 10 to 30 years.
writingonblog uncensored: TN to pilot project providing undergraduates expos...
writingonblog uncensored: TN to pilot project providing undergraduates expos...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: In a bid to achieve the vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat, Department of Youth Affairs is seeking the help of business...
TN to pilot project providing undergraduates exposure to industry culture
C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
In a bid to achieve the vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat, Department of Youth Affairs is seeking the help of businesses in implementing a pilot project across the state where businesses could provide work experience to undergraduate students through a structured programme for 45 days.
The project is for youths studying in University Grants Commission (UGC) accredited institutions. Tamil Nadu is among the list of seven states where the project will be implemented. Sources said that the state was selected as it has a large number of industries.
The project, which will be implemented by the National Service Scheme of the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, is in conceptual stage. The idea is to help youth develop a basic understanding of working in an office or industry and develop some practical skills including people skills and cognitive skills. Apart from that, the idea is to improve the perception of entrepreneurship as a career option.
It is learnt that both educational institutions and businesses that are willing to participate should register with the Yuva portal of the Department of Youth Affairs.
The businesses to be eligible under the scheme should have an annual turnover of Rs 40 lakh and Udyam registration (MSME registration). Similarly, for colleges or universities that agree to participate in the scheme under the pilot phase, they have to accept the experiential scheme. "Thereafter youth can apply for the slots. The duration of the training is 360 hours. the trainees can be involved in different functional roles like sales and business development, field research and survey, marketing, social media marketing, human resources and personnel management among others," sources said.
The regional director of NSS will coordinate the programme in each state. The experiential learning programme will be available irrespective of any academic credit given by the college. However, colleges can give youth academic credits on the basis of available UGC norms. The programme involves working in the business concerned for 360 hours. The training is not a paid one.
The other states where the project is to be implemented include Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab. The youth after completion would write a report and would be awarded a certificate of programme completion.
In a bid to achieve the vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat, Department of Youth Affairs is seeking the help of businesses in implementing a pilot project across the state where businesses could provide work experience to undergraduate students through a structured programme for 45 days.
The project is for youths studying in University Grants Commission (UGC) accredited institutions. Tamil Nadu is among the list of seven states where the project will be implemented. Sources said that the state was selected as it has a large number of industries.
The project, which will be implemented by the National Service Scheme of the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, is in conceptual stage. The idea is to help youth develop a basic understanding of working in an office or industry and develop some practical skills including people skills and cognitive skills. Apart from that, the idea is to improve the perception of entrepreneurship as a career option.
It is learnt that both educational institutions and businesses that are willing to participate should register with the Yuva portal of the Department of Youth Affairs.
The businesses to be eligible under the scheme should have an annual turnover of Rs 40 lakh and Udyam registration (MSME registration). Similarly, for colleges or universities that agree to participate in the scheme under the pilot phase, they have to accept the experiential scheme. "Thereafter youth can apply for the slots. The duration of the training is 360 hours. the trainees can be involved in different functional roles like sales and business development, field research and survey, marketing, social media marketing, human resources and personnel management among others," sources said.
The regional director of NSS will coordinate the programme in each state. The experiential learning programme will be available irrespective of any academic credit given by the college. However, colleges can give youth academic credits on the basis of available UGC norms. The programme involves working in the business concerned for 360 hours. The training is not a paid one.
The other states where the project is to be implemented include Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab. The youth after completion would write a report and would be awarded a certificate of programme completion.
writingonblog uncensored: TN tops in Niti Aayog's Export Preparedness Index ...
writingonblog uncensored: TN tops in Niti Aayog's Export Preparedness Index ...: CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu is ranked as top state in the Niti Aayog's Export Preparedness Index 2022. With an overall score of 80.89, the sta...
TN tops in Niti Aayog's Export Preparedness Index 2022
Tamil Nadu is ranked as top state in the Niti Aayog's Export Preparedness Index 2022. With an overall score of 80.89, the state topped the third edition of rankings pipping Maharashtra (78.20) and karnataka (76.36 points). Gujarat which was the topper in the first two positions, was relegated to fourth position with 73.22 points.
The index is aimed at assessing the readiness of the states in terms of their export potential and performance. Tamil Nadu Industries minister T R B Rajaas hailed the rankings and said the state securing the Number 1 place in Export Preparedness Index, 2022, reinforces the state’s top rank in ease of doing business. "Tamil Nadu has long been an export leader in sectors like automotive, leather and textiles, and we recently became the No. 1 exporter of electronic goods," the minister said..
He said it is the result of Chief minister MK Stalin’s sustained efforts toward creating a robust environment for industries in the state. "This will strengthen our resolve to become a $ 1 Trillion economy by 2030,” he said. Tamil Nadu’s electronics exports nearly tripled in one year to $5.37 billion in financial year 2023 from $1.86 billion in the previous year. It was ranked fourth in financial year 2022 and moved to spot in financial year 2023. Companies like Tata Electronics and Pegatron starting production have helped Tamil Nadu overtake Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra to become India’s top exporter of electronic goods.
During the year 2020-21, of India’s total electronics goods export was worth $15.59 billion, Of this, Tamil Nadu’s share was 11.98 per cent. Tamil Nadu is endeavouring to attract investments worth Rs 23 lakh crore and create jobs for 46 lakh people, according to a policy note. Similarly, the state is striving to support the growth of the manufacturing sector in the State from $48.1 billion in 2020-21 to $236 billion in 2030-31.
The Niti Aayog's Export Preparedness Index is also aimed at promoting competition among all states (coastal, landlocked, Himalayan and UTs) to bring about favourable policies, ease the regulatory framework, create necessary infrastructure and assist in identifying strategic recommendations for improving export competitiveness. The ranking is based on four main pillars: policy, business ecosystem, export ecosystem and export performance.
Friday, July 14, 2023
writingonblog uncensored: CREDAI to CM: Rollback registration fee hike, adop...
writingonblog uncensored: CREDAI to CM: Rollback registration fee hike, adop...: CHENNAI Developers have urged Chief Minister M K Stalin to reconsider the decision to hike registration fees and stamp duty and suggested th...
CREDAI to CM: Rollback registration fee hike, adopt Hyderabad model
CHENNAI
Developers have urged Chief Minister M K Stalin to reconsider the decision to hike registration fees and stamp duty and suggested the Hyderabad model of registrations.
Seeking rollback of registration fee for construction agreements, which has been raised from 1% to 3%, the Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI) has urged Stalin to revise the registration fee on conveyance. The registration fee has been changed from a fixed amount of `10,000 to 1% of market value. The apex body of the real estate industry wanted the fee to be from `30,000 to `50,000, ensuring alignment with current market conditions and fair valuation.
Suggesting the adoption of the Hyderabad model for agreement of sale (AOS) and joint development agreement (JDA) cum general power of attorney (GPA) registrations, CREDAI said the model has proven to be highly effective in safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders.
"By implementing this approach, the government can ensure earlier revenue collection while simultaneously providing protection to developers, private equity funds and banks against unpredictable behaviour of landlords or property owners," CREDAI said.
This mutually beneficial arrangement not only streamlines registration process but also fosters a more transparent and secure real estate ecosystem. "We strongly urge your office to consider the implementation of the Hyderabad model as a strategic step toward ensuring the stability and growth of the real estate industry in Tamil Nadu," CREDAI added.
It also said the increase in registration fees and stamp duty will burden the industry and dampen its ability to recover and contribute to the state's growth trajectory. The increased fee will impose a considerable financial burden on home-buyers, ultimately leading to an additional expenditure of around `1 lakh for their property or flat.
Stating that even a 1% increase in registration fees and stamp duty can result in a substantial rise of approximately `100 per square foot in property prices, CREDAI said the revised rates will make multiple services, including mortgage cancellation receipt registration fees, considerably more expensive.
Highlighting the increase in power of attorney charges for non-family members from a meagre `10,000 to one per cent of guideline value, CREDAI said it will not only add to the financial burden of developers but also discourage landowners from participating in such agreements.
"The rise in costs may impact the purchasing power of general public, thereby hampering the overall growth of real estate industry. Hence, it would be vital to consider the potential impacts the fee hike will have on such projects and implement measures to ensure their viability and continued contribution to the housing sector in Tamil Nadu," CREDAI said.
Thursday, July 13, 2023
writingonblog uncensored: L&T's facility in Coimbatore plays a key role in I...
writingonblog uncensored: L&T's facility in Coimbatore plays a key role in I...: CHENNAI: Larsen and Toubro's hi-tech Aerospace Manufacturing Facility in Tamil Nadu has played a key role in India's third moon mis...
L&T's facility in Coimbatore plays a key role in India's third moon mission
Larsen and Toubro's hi-tech Aerospace Manufacturing Facility in Tamil Nadu has played a key role in India's third moon mission which will be launched on Friday.
AT Ramchandani, Executive Vice President and Head, L&T Defence said that the space hardware was produced at L&T’s facility in Coimbatore fulfilling the stringent quality and timeline requirements for the moon mission. The facility in Coimbatore was involved in supply of ground and flight umbilical plates.
Ramchandani said that L&T has been involved in this mission starting from manufacturing subsystems till mission tracking. It also has been playing a key role in the system integration of launch vehicles for the Indian space programme.
He said that the critical booster segments, namely head end segment, middle segment and nozzle bucket flange, with a diameter of 3.2 meter were manufactured and proof pressure tested at L&T’s facility in Powai in Mumbai.
The L&T made Precision Monopulse Tracking Radar (PMTR), a radar system that uses additional encoding of the radio signal to provide accurate directional information, at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota has been used for fast acquisition and tracking of Launch Vehicles.
"We are privileged to partner with ISRO in nationally important space programmes for which L&T has contributed its remarkable engineering prowess, manufacturing expertise and skilled workforce. The Space sector is opening up for the Indian Industry and we will leverage this long association with ISRO to play a bigger role in Space Programmes of the future,” he said. L&T has also commissioned the Deep Space Networking Antenna at Byalalu required for exploratory missions.
Wednesday, July 12, 2023
writingonblog uncensored: New ground handling agencies yet to operate in Che...
writingonblog uncensored: New ground handling agencies yet to operate in Che...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: Chennai Airport is struggling to handle the arrival of baggage as the two additional ground handling agencies, who w...
New ground handling agencies yet to operate in Chennai Airport
C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
Chennai Airport is struggling to handle the arrival of baggage as the two additional ground handling agencies, who were picked up through a global tender last year, have yet to start operations. This is causing congestion in the airport as it takes a large amount of time to clear the baggage.
Currently, the baggage is handled by lone agency Air India Airports Services Ltd. Last year, the Airport Authority of India has appointed Celebi Airport Services India and Globe Ground India as additional handling agencies. Both of them have a strong base in India and are currently operating at New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad etc.
With the New Integrated Terminal Building put into full operation last week, the focus now is to clear the rush by effective handling bagages. A Chennai airport official said that the agencies have yet to operate as they are still moving in their equipment for operations.
When TNIE contacted Murali Ramachandran, Celebi India's President (India & South East Asia), he said that Celebi is all set to start offering ground handling services to domestic and international airlines from August 1, 2023. This would result in quick handling of baggage rather than waiting for it for a long time.
Ramachandran said that Celebi's is hiring additional 750 employees, who will be focused on delivering exceptional ground handling services at Chennai Airport. He said that Celebi would be implementing eco-friendly technologies such as Digitalized Service Charge Forms, giving Customers a digital view and the ability to approve the services utilized against each flight, with the added functionality to rate and provide feedback on the quality of services delivered.
Chennai Airport officials said that the two handling agencies will bring in latest technologies and equipment for handling flights which will not only improve the quality standards at Airport but also enhance the overall safety on ramp side.
writingonblog uncensored: writingonblog uncensored: NatWest plans to hire 3,...
writingonblog uncensored: writingonblog uncensored: NatWest plans to hire 3,...: writingonblog uncensored: NatWest plans to hire 3,000 high-end engineers in ... : CHENNAI: The UK-based NatWest Group is planning to hire mo...
writingonblog uncensored: NatWest plans to hire 3,000 high-end engineers in ...
writingonblog uncensored: NatWest plans to hire 3,000 high-end engineers in ...: CHENNAI: The UK-based NatWest Group is planning to hire more engineers in the high end engineering areas for its Glob...
NatWest plans to hire 3,000 high-end engineers in India; New AI strategy to be rolled out
The UK-based NatWest Group is planning to hire more engineers in the high end engineering areas for its Global Capability Centre in Chennai. Chief Information Officer Scott Marcar said that the company is setting a target to hire around 5,000 engineers globally, of which 3,000 will be in India in the next three years.
He said that the planned increase of engineers in Chennai Global Capability Centre would happen once the state government comes out with the fresh policy for Information Technology and Business Process Management (BPM). The fresh policy aims to revive the Information Communication Technology (ICT) Policy 2018 as there is a need for a shift in the policy in the post-Covid era with the inclusion of trending technology.
Marcar has said that the hiring will be in ‘high end’ engineering areas like Java, Python, Data Engineering, Artificial Intelligence skill and analytics. He also highlighted that NatWest is planning to roll out Artificial Intelligence strategy globally and India will be a major player. NatWest has GCC in three locations in India. These include Gurugaon, Chennai and Bengaluru. Globally the group’s digital group has around 22,000 employees of which around 17,000 are in India.
Nearly 50 per cent of NatWest group’s technology is in India; as well as 40 per cent of finance and 80 percent of market operations.
writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Smart City planning to expand CITIIS schem...
writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Smart City planning to expand CITIIS schem...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: Chennai Smart City is planning to expand the City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) to 15 more...
Chennai Smart City planning to expand CITIIS scheme to 15 more Corporation schools
Chennai Smart City is planning to expand the City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) to 15 more schools in Chennai Corporation and is seeking additional Rs 80 crore from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. It has also sought to extend the project by another one year.
The project, one among the 12 successful project proposals among 65 under the CITIIS Challenge Initiative across India, is aimed at improving learning outcomes in Greater Chennai Corporation schools. The project already covers 28 schools across 18 campuses . The total project outlay of the project is Rs 95.25 core, out of which Rs 19.05 Cr (20%) is being borne by the Chennai Smart City Limited. The remaining Rs 76.2 Crore (80%) is a loan funded by Agence Française de Développement (AFD) with a commitment of repayment of 50% by the state and Centre respectively.
The decision to extend the CITIIS 1.0 program, which came to an end on June 30, 2023, was taken after Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs extended the project to June 30, 2024. The plan to extend the project was to implement the remaining digital and other soft components of the project. The digital infrastructure include school management system, campus Internet, Hi- Tech Lab and Smart Boards.,
The project envisages a complete transformation of selected GCC schools across various components such as physical infrastructure (upgradation of 28 Schools), digital infrastructure, teaching pedagogy, teacher training, sports and extracurriculars etc. It is a multidimensional project with niche features.
It is learnt that over Rs. 83 crore worth of contracts or works are already under implementation with physical infrastructure upgradation works nearing completion. Around 10 schools have already been handed over after completion of works and all physical infrastructure works are expected to be completed by this month.
Meanwhile, the state is exploring the possibility of taking part in CITIIS 2.0 challenge, a four year programme. The funding for CITIIS 2.0 will include a loan of Rs 1760 crore from France Development bank and German development bank KfW and a technical assistance grant of Rs106 crore (EUR12million) from the European Union.
writingonblog uncensored: TN drafting new land use policy; Net sown area dec...
writingonblog uncensored: TN drafting new land use policy; Net sown area dec...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu government is drafting a new land use policy as land use pattern in Tamil Nadu has undergone tremendous t...
TN drafting new land use policy; Net sown area declines
C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
Tamil Nadu government is drafting a new land use policy as land use pattern in Tamil Nadu has undergone tremendous transformation over the past few decades due to the impact of urbanization and industrialization. This comes after the draft Land Use Policy 2004 which had a time horizon of 15 years lapsed.
Sources said the state has lost 1617 thousand hectares of net sown area during the last four-and-half decades. According to a recent study on “Land use pattern and future changes in climate over Tamil Nadu till 2050 and its impact on selected crops” funded by the State Planning Commission through the Tamil Nadu State Land Use Research Board, has stated that proportion of net sown area to total geographical area has declined from 48 per cent to 36 per cent.
The study also highlights increase in land put to non-agricultural uses from 1501.6 thousand hectares in 1971 to 2200 thousand hectares in 2015-16 showing the trend of lands moving away from agriculture.
Sources said that the state intends to set in place a new land use policy to address new problems in the changed economic structure and environmental exigencies. The objective is to prevent further deterioration of land resource by appropriate preventive measures and restoring the productivity of the degraded land by sustainable practice.
In Tamil Nadu. the per capita availability of land is only 0.18 hectare area while the per capita net sown area is only 0.07 hectare area. The disasters in the past decade has necessitated enhanced use of spatial land use planning as a tool for guided development as compared to ad-hoc allocation of land for various development projects. It is expected that this would lead to better consideration of socio-enviro-economic aspects leading to better economic returns, social cohesion, social justice and environmental balance
The new policy aims to provide a strategic framework to conserve the land resources and accommodate development patterns that are inclusive and offer integration of environmental, economic, social development initiatives at all levels of governance leading to growth and development, sources said.
Sources said that unnecessary pooling of land into land bank will be avoided and all land banks will be directly linked to development zones. However, new land banks will not be created with the sole perspective of creating a Development Zone.
While converting land to industrial corridors and estates suitable attention be paid to the existing natural ecosystem and resources so that fragile ecosystems are not put under further pressure. The industries will be made responsible to maintain the health of the already existing natural
ecosystems like lake, pond, hill, sacred groves and even the natural trees present within the premises under the new policy.
The basic objective will be to promote industrialization with minimum land use conflicts. Industries where common treatment plants are required shall be made operational to reduce the pollution of water sources and industries that draw water shall also be required to set up recharge structures for sustainable water resources, sources added.
Tamil Nadu government is drafting a new land use policy as land use pattern in Tamil Nadu has undergone tremendous transformation over the past few decades due to the impact of urbanization and industrialization. This comes after the draft Land Use Policy 2004 which had a time horizon of 15 years lapsed.
Sources said the state has lost 1617 thousand hectares of net sown area during the last four-and-half decades. According to a recent study on “Land use pattern and future changes in climate over Tamil Nadu till 2050 and its impact on selected crops” funded by the State Planning Commission through the Tamil Nadu State Land Use Research Board, has stated that proportion of net sown area to total geographical area has declined from 48 per cent to 36 per cent.
The study also highlights increase in land put to non-agricultural uses from 1501.6 thousand hectares in 1971 to 2200 thousand hectares in 2015-16 showing the trend of lands moving away from agriculture.
Sources said that the state intends to set in place a new land use policy to address new problems in the changed economic structure and environmental exigencies. The objective is to prevent further deterioration of land resource by appropriate preventive measures and restoring the productivity of the degraded land by sustainable practice.
In Tamil Nadu. the per capita availability of land is only 0.18 hectare area while the per capita net sown area is only 0.07 hectare area. The disasters in the past decade has necessitated enhanced use of spatial land use planning as a tool for guided development as compared to ad-hoc allocation of land for various development projects. It is expected that this would lead to better consideration of socio-enviro-economic aspects leading to better economic returns, social cohesion, social justice and environmental balance
The new policy aims to provide a strategic framework to conserve the land resources and accommodate development patterns that are inclusive and offer integration of environmental, economic, social development initiatives at all levels of governance leading to growth and development, sources said.
Sources said that unnecessary pooling of land into land bank will be avoided and all land banks will be directly linked to development zones. However, new land banks will not be created with the sole perspective of creating a Development Zone.
While converting land to industrial corridors and estates suitable attention be paid to the existing natural ecosystem and resources so that fragile ecosystems are not put under further pressure. The industries will be made responsible to maintain the health of the already existing natural
ecosystems like lake, pond, hill, sacred groves and even the natural trees present within the premises under the new policy.
The basic objective will be to promote industrialization with minimum land use conflicts. Industries where common treatment plants are required shall be made operational to reduce the pollution of water sources and industries that draw water shall also be required to set up recharge structures for sustainable water resources, sources added.
writingonblog uncensored: TN comes out with three-stage process to sanction ...
writingonblog uncensored: TN comes out with three-stage process to sanction ...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI Sanctioning of standard incentives to be provided to investors in projects that are greater than `50 crore and less t...
TN comes out with three-stage process to sanction incentives to projects in the range of Rs 50 crore to Rs 300 crore
C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI
Sanctioning of standard incentives to be provided to investors in projects that are greater than `50 crore and less than `300 crore will now be done in three stages under fresh guidelines issued by the industries department.
Overruling an earlier Government Order which mandates Sipcot as sanctioning authority, the fresh guidelines issued last week mandates Guidance as the scrutinising agency for the projects (`50 crore to `300 crore) while nominating Commissionerate of Investment Promotion and Facilitation, which was created in February, as sanctioning authority. Sipcot has been made the disbursal agency.
Under the guidelines, application for availing incentives should be submitted to Guidance which, after carrying out due diligence, will forward it to the scrutinising agency within 14 days. Companies not meeting the eligibility criteria will be informed of their ineligibility. The Commissionerate of Investment Promotion and Facilitation will issue a letter of sanction of incentives to the company detailing eligible incentives within seven days of receipt of application from Guidance. The application will then be forwarded to Sipcot to disburse the incentives.
The company will have to provide a chartered accountant certificate and documentary evidence ascertaining the investment, employment, production and expenditure and the 'Letter of sanction of incentives' to Sipcot, which will carry out random inspection to verify whether the investment, employment and production capacity is fulfilled as per the chartered accountant certificate. Following this, a deed of agreement will be signed within 14 days.
Under the guidelines, during standard investment period of four years, a company can apply only once for sanction of incentives. Expansion projects are eligible for sub-large packages (`50 crore to `300 crore) subject to fulfilment of 25% incremental capacity over the existing capacity. For projects with multiple product lines, increase on the base volume shall be calculated in value terms.
writingonblog uncensored: Kattupalli port may turn repair hub of US warships
writingonblog uncensored: Kattupalli port may turn repair hub of US warships: Chennai: ( Military Sealift Command’s rescue and salvage ship USNS Salvor, the first vessel which arrived at the Kattupalli shipyard for rep...
Kattupalli port may turn repair hub of US warships
Chennai:
(Military Sealift Command’s rescue and salvage ship USNS Salvor, the first vessel which arrived at the Kattupalli shipyard for repairs after the signing of MSRA)
United States warships are likely to undergo repairs in Larsen and Toubro's shipyard in Kattupalli port in Chennai as per the landmark five-year master shipyard repair agreement (MSRA) signed last month between the US Navy and Larsen & Toubro.Curently, the shipyard is providing repairs for United States Navy's Civil Command ships.
This could mean that Chennai could become the hub for carrying out repairs of United States Ships (USS) or warships along with Civil Command ships highlighting the importance of Chennai being considered a strategic location for the Americans.
US Embassy's Office of Defense Cooperation Chief Capt. Michael L Farmer said MSRA does allow USS commissioned vessels including those in the conflict. He, however, rejected that the Kattupalli shipyard could be used as a US naval base.
"USS ships could visit Kattupalli in future, if the two governments work out an arrangement. US ships would also come for the work like mid corrosion control and others. Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikrant uses LM2500, the same kind of engines used by US Navy. There is quite a bit of experience from Indian manufacturers and as a result the shipyard could be used for a variety of ships. For the time being, we are using US Navy civil command ships," said Farmer.
He was speaking after Military Sealift Command's rescue and salvage ship, USNS Salvor, arrived at the Kattupalli shipyard becoming the first vessel to come for repairs after the signing of MSRA accord. The ship, the third from the US Navy civil command in the last nine months, arrived on Sunday for steel work repair. The other two vessels that arrived include USNS Charles Drew and USNS Matthew Perry.
On whether the US is looking at shipyards in western part of India to cater to US naval ships, Farmer said that they are keen on working with India and it is possible in the future to have services in other ports as they meet the status of MSRA. According to sources, US is looking at public sector undertakings, Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) and Goa Shipyard, to allow the service and repair of the country's mid-voyage vessels.
Farmer said US Navy ships coming from Africa would be looking into facilities in Mumbai and Goa. Unlike the Seventh Fleet of the US, the Fifth Fleet could not arrange something for ships coming from Central command operations which include the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean in Mumbai. This would mean Indian shipyards would be catering to US Navy vessels from both Pacific Command and Central Command.
Farmer said geopolitically, Kattupalli port is a good spot for vessels transitioning from Bay of Bengal and those operating in this part of Indo-Pacific command. He also highlighted the quality of service provided by Larsen and Toubro shipyard.
US Consul General in Chennai Judith Ravin said MSRA is a legally non-binding arrangement between the US Navy and private shipbuilding contractors to pre-approve shipyards to repair US Naval vessels. "The MSRA involves a rigorous vetting process. For instance, the contractor must be able to complete 55% or more of the work package of a vessel; own facilities; utilise its own shops and workforce; maintain a track record of a safe working environment; and be capable of subcontracting to provide adequate oversight of the voyage repair," she said.
Earlier, USNS Salvor was welcomed with a ceremony at L&T Shipyard on Monday. Journalists were taken into the 40-year-old rescue and salvage ship. The cold war era vessel has been digitally upgraded. L&T defense business executive vice-president and head AT Ramchandani and senior US Embassy were present.
Thursday, July 6, 2023
writingonblog uncensored: Rs 3,00 crore non disclosure to I-T department by ...
writingonblog uncensored: Rs 3,00 crore non disclosure to I-T department by ...: CHENNAI: The Sub registrar offices in Uraiyur in Tiruchirapalli district and Redhills in Thiruvallur district did not disclose transactions ...
Rs 3,00 crore non disclosure to I-T department by sub-registrars in Redhills, Registration department vows disciplinary action
The Sub registrar offices in Uraiyur in Tiruchirapalli district and Redhills in Thiruvallur district did not disclose transactions worth Rs 3,000 crore reportedly to the Income Tax department. This has resulted in registration department taking disciplinary action against the registrars.
This comes after the Intelligence and Criminal Investigation wing, Directorate of Tamil Nadu of the Income Tax department conducted a survey in the two sub-registrar offices on Tuesday and Wednesday. The non-disclosure of property transactions that have taken place was valued at Rs 2,000 crore at the SRO in Redhills and in Uraiyur it was Rs 1,000.
As per the norms, an Inspector-General or a Sub-Registrar should declare information about purchase or sale by any person of immovable property if it is Rs 30 lakh or more in the form of a Statement of Financial Transaction (SFT) to the department.
Official sources said that the sub-registrar did have the details in their system but it was not uploaded on the website of the Income Tax. The details of the documents registered from the financial year 2017-2018 were provided by the sub-registrars as requested by Income Tax department on Wednesday.
As per Section 285 BA and Rule 114 E of the Income Tax Act, details such as seller, buyer, Aadhaar number, PAN number, nature of property, value of property etc. are uploaded on the website of the Income Tax Department by the Registration Officers at the end of every financial year. This is called Form 61A. All the registrar offices have been informed through a circular from the head of the registration department emphasizing that these details should be uploaded regularly every year.
The Star 2.0 software of the Registry Department is designed to receive the information required for such uploading from the document holders before booking the document for registration. PAN numbers are obtained from both the seller and the buyer in case of registration of sales documents above Rs 10 lakh. Those who do not have PAN number should file Form 60 as per Income Tax Act. This information is also collected through software. And depending on the sale documents above Rs 30 lakh, additional details like seller, buyer, Aadhaar number, PAN number, nature of property, value of property are collected through Star 2.0 software. The details thus collected will be uploaded by the Registrar on the website of the Income Tax Department at the end of the financial year.
"All the registrants are strictly advised to upload the 61A details on the website of the Income Tax Department within due time," a release added.
writingonblog uncensored: TN to dispense LNG in six filling stations; IOC in...
writingonblog uncensored: TN to dispense LNG in six filling stations; IOC in...: CHENNAI: Indian Oil Corporation is helping Tamil Nadu transition to clean fuels by setting up six liquefied natural gas (LNG) dispensing sta...
TN to dispense LNG in six filling stations; IOC invests in Rs 54,000 crore worth projects across state; Hydrogen fuel station planned on pilot basis
CHENNAI:
Indian Oil Corporation is helping Tamil Nadu transition to clean fuels by setting up six liquefied natural gas (LNG) dispensing stations in the state. This would mean that the state would now have additional green fuel in the form of LNG for commercial vehicles.
Addressing the first press meet of Indian Oil Corporation after Covid, V C Asokan, Executive Director and State Head for Indian Oil (Tamil Nadu & Puducherry) on Thursday said that the six LNG stations in Ponneri, Othakadai, Namakkal, Coimbatore, Koneripalli and Sriperumbudur would be providing LNG an alternative to diesel which will be useful for long haul vehicles.
Asokan said that LNG filled trucks could travel upto 600km to 800km. He said the dispensing station in Sriperumbudur is functioning on a pilot basis. The six stations are likely to be inaugurated in the next few months. Talks are on with Ashok Leyland, Dalmia Cement and other entities to use the fuel.
Asokan also said that Indian Oil Corporation has invested Rs 54,000 crore in projects across Tamil Nadu, one of the largest in the country. These projects are likely to be completed in the next four to five years. These include a nine million metric tonne per annum grassroots refinery, worth Rs 35,580 crore in Nagapattinam, and a gas pipeline from Ennore to Thoothukudi carrying Liquefied Natural Gas, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Piped Natural Gas (PNG) among others. The pipeline, considered to be the lifeline of the state, will transport five million metric tonnes per annum gas from LNG storage and regasification terminal at Ennore and supply it to industries across the state.
The other projects include world's second largest integrated lube complex at Ammulvoyyal village in Chennai, at a cost of Rs 1,398 crore and a new oil terminal at Vallur at a cost of Rs 724 crore which is likely to be completed in December next year.
He also said that the Indian Oil corporation's venture into green hydrogen is at a conceptual stage. "Talks are going on with the state," he said. Investment in Hydrogen requires over Rs 40,000 to 50,000 crore of investment. Asokan said Hydrogen as fuel is costlier and research is going on to make it cheap. It is learnt that Hydrogen fuel stations will be rolled out in Tamil Nadu and Kerala and discussions are with the state government authorities. A fuel station is already being set up in Gujarat successfully.
Asokan also said that Indian oil has achieved 10% ethanol blending with petrol in Tamil nadu and Puducherry last year and is working towards 20% ethanol blended petrol by 2025 in line with government mandate.
Indian Oil Corporation is helping Tamil Nadu transition to clean fuels by setting up six liquefied natural gas (LNG) dispensing stations in the state. This would mean that the state would now have additional green fuel in the form of LNG for commercial vehicles.
Addressing the first press meet of Indian Oil Corporation after Covid, V C Asokan, Executive Director and State Head for Indian Oil (Tamil Nadu & Puducherry) on Thursday said that the six LNG stations in Ponneri, Othakadai, Namakkal, Coimbatore, Koneripalli and Sriperumbudur would be providing LNG an alternative to diesel which will be useful for long haul vehicles.
Asokan said that LNG filled trucks could travel upto 600km to 800km. He said the dispensing station in Sriperumbudur is functioning on a pilot basis. The six stations are likely to be inaugurated in the next few months. Talks are on with Ashok Leyland, Dalmia Cement and other entities to use the fuel.
Asokan also said that Indian Oil Corporation has invested Rs 54,000 crore in projects across Tamil Nadu, one of the largest in the country. These projects are likely to be completed in the next four to five years. These include a nine million metric tonne per annum grassroots refinery, worth Rs 35,580 crore in Nagapattinam, and a gas pipeline from Ennore to Thoothukudi carrying Liquefied Natural Gas, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Piped Natural Gas (PNG) among others. The pipeline, considered to be the lifeline of the state, will transport five million metric tonnes per annum gas from LNG storage and regasification terminal at Ennore and supply it to industries across the state.
The other projects include world's second largest integrated lube complex at Ammulvoyyal village in Chennai, at a cost of Rs 1,398 crore and a new oil terminal at Vallur at a cost of Rs 724 crore which is likely to be completed in December next year.
He also said that the Indian Oil corporation's venture into green hydrogen is at a conceptual stage. "Talks are going on with the state," he said. Investment in Hydrogen requires over Rs 40,000 to 50,000 crore of investment. Asokan said Hydrogen as fuel is costlier and research is going on to make it cheap. It is learnt that Hydrogen fuel stations will be rolled out in Tamil Nadu and Kerala and discussions are with the state government authorities. A fuel station is already being set up in Gujarat successfully.
Asokan also said that Indian oil has achieved 10% ethanol blending with petrol in Tamil nadu and Puducherry last year and is working towards 20% ethanol blended petrol by 2025 in line with government mandate.
writingonblog uncensored: Failure to act against illegal buildings could spe...
writingonblog uncensored: Failure to act against illegal buildings could spe...: CHENNAI: Failure to decide on the fate of 148 buildings in T Nagar, which had sought exemption under Section 113-A of the Town and Country ...
Failure to act against illegal buildings could spell legal trouble for CMDA
CHENNAI:
Failure to decide on the fate of 148 buildings in T Nagar, which had sought exemption under Section 113-A of the Town and Country Planning Act that allowed unauthorised construction before February 29, 1999, to be regularised, could land Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) in trouble. A case in this regard has been listed for hearing in the Madras High Court on July 12.
Despite then housing secretary having written a letter to CMDA to convene a meeting two years ago, the meeting is yet to take place. Due to a lack of action, a PIL seeking action against unauthorised constructions in T Nagar was filed, and it will be heard on July 12.
CMDA and Chennai Corporation surveyed unauthorised buildings in T Nagar in 2007 and identified 64 buildings for enforcement action. A total of 25 buildings were to be sealed on October 31, 2011. However, interim stays were obtained. In February 2012, the HC took cognisance of accepting the recommendations of Justice Mohan Committee, which had proposed the insertion of Section 113-C in the Town and Country Planning Act to regularise buildings constructed up to July 1, 2007, and extended the interim stay granted on enforcement action.
On June 22, 2017, the government came up with revised rules and regulations for the exemption of unauthorised and deviated buildings constructed up to July 1, 2007, under Section 113-C. However, the new regularisation scheme could not be implemented following petitions in HC seeking to quash the GOs issued by the Housing and Urban Development department, claiming it to be violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India as it seeks to impose arbitrary unfair and illegal pre-conditions for regularisation.
A batch of writ petitions has been filed before the HC seeking to constitute a high-power, multi-disciplinary special task force to survey, identify, compile data and formulate a comprehensive regularisation scheme for the removal or regularisation of unauthorised constructions across the state and execute the scheme within a prescribed time limit. A counter was not filed by the state since September 2, 2020, and on June 21, 2022, a division bench asked the state to file a comprehensive counter. Last November, Housing Minister S Muthusamy wrote a letter to then housing secretary to form a committee to regulate the unauthorised buildings.
Tuesday, July 4, 2023
writingonblog uncensored: TN does U-turn on granting approvals to high rise ...
writingonblog uncensored: TN does U-turn on granting approvals to high rise ...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: A year after granting Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority the powers to issue planning permission for high ri...
TN does U-turn on granting approvals to high rise buildings
C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
A year after granting Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority the powers to issue planning permission for high rise buildings, the state government has done a U-turn. Now, the high rise buildings (taller than 18 metres) will again have to get the approval from the government, instead of the authority.
On Monday, the state government amended the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019. The amendment has overrode the government order (GO) issued on April 21, 2022, granting the powers to the authority in relation to high rise buildings. Prior to the 2022 government order, the power was vested with the state government. .
According to the new amendment, a multi-storied building panel of CMDA will now have to scrutinise the plans of high rise buildings and forward it along with the recommendations to the government for approval. The government will then issue an order if the permission is granted. This has brought cheer among the developers as they think it will put an end to waiting at multiple committees in CMDA to clear their files.
A developer on condition of anonymity said that it is easier to get the approval from the minister rather than having to go through multiple channels for approval. "If there are any grievances, now it could be resolved by the minister," the developer said.
The developers expect the government not to delay clearing the files. Usually, it takes more than a month once it is recommended by the multi-storied building committee and sent to the minister. President of Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) S Sivagurunathan says that the developers are expecting that the files would be cleared in the next 10 days once recommended by the multi-storied building committee. However, official sources said that it is hard to apply the timeline and it all depends on the MSB committee recommendations.
On April 21, last year, former housing secretary Hitesh Kumar Makwana through a Government Order gave powers to CMDA to give approvals to
buildings above 18 metres to 30 metres following the recommendation of the multi-storied building panel of CMDA. Anything above 30 metres, will have to be cleared by the High Rise Building panel, chaired by vice chairperson of CMDA (housing secretary), CMDA member secretary along with commissioners of Chennai, Avadi, Tambaram, municipality commissioners and executive officers of town panchayats. It also includes members from the departments which issue no objection certificate (NoC).
The then housing secretary Hitesh Kumar Makwana has justified the GO stating that there are no rules in TNCBR that the planning approvals have to be accorded by the government. But the present Housing Secretary Selvi Apoorva said that there have been flaws in the rules and it has been addressed by bringing in the amendment.
The Housing secretary said that the delay in calling for high rise buildings was to correct this flaw. Under the new amendment, high rise buildings in Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) the plan shall be scrutinized and forwarded to Government, with recommendation of a panel chaired by Member-Secretary of CMDA and those other than CMA by a panel chaired by Director of Town and country Planning.
It is learnt from developers that the applications for high rise buildings, which is above 30 metres height, are pending for nearly two months as the High Rise Building Committee, headed by the vice-chairperson of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority did not convene for nearly two months. According to developers, the work on more than 30 lakh to 40 lakh square feet of plots have yet to take off causing huge loss not only to the developers but also to the state exchequer. This has also impacted the employment opportunities for construction workers.
This apart there has been a huge pendency of the applications in Directorate of Town and Country Planning and Chennai Metropolitan
Development Authority. This has forced the advisor to Tamil Nadu e-governance agency and former bureaucrat PWC Davidar to shoot down a
letter to the State housing secretary highlighting the poor performance by both the agencies in clearing applications.
writingonblog uncensored: TN launches first ever BizBuddy outreach event
writingonblog uncensored: TN launches first ever BizBuddy outreach event: CHENNAI: In a bid to reach out to industries and address their concerns, Tamil Nadu Industries Minister Dr TRB Rajaa launched the first ever...
TN launches first ever BizBuddy outreach event
CHENNAI:
In a bid to reach out to industries and address their concerns, Tamil Nadu Industries Minister Dr TRB Rajaa launched the first ever annual SIPCOT BizBuddy Outreach event at SIPCOT Oragadam Industrial Park on Monday
More than 250 representatives from the industries from various establishments in Oragadam, Irungattokottai, Sriperumbudur and Pillaipakkam attended the event, which was held in an open-house format. Several representatives shared their ideas and concerns with the minister and officials. After listening to industry representatives, the minister promised to look into their suggestions and take constructive steps as soon as possible.
Improving the infrastructure of SIPCOT parks and addressing the concerns of the industry are key to realising Chief Minister MK Stalin’s goal of a one-trillion-dollar economy in Tamil Nadu, said the minister. SIPCOT BizBuddy Outreach is a first-of-its-kind programme initiated by the Industries minister, and undertaken by SIPCOT and the Department of Industries to address the needs and concerns of the industry.
“The Chief Minister has advised us to keep our ears open to feedback from investors and industry representatives. The idea behind the programme is to listen to the industry, and address the concerns in the best way possible. We are keen on taking Industry's inputs on how to improve policies and infrastructure in Sipcot parks,” said Dr Rajaa.
Monday, July 3, 2023
writingonblog uncensored: 74.06 lakh passengers availed Metro Rail services ...
writingonblog uncensored: 74.06 lakh passengers availed Metro Rail services ...: CHENNAI: A total of 74.06 lakh passengers availed Chennai Metro services in the month of June, which is the highest this year. During the mo...
74.06 lakh passengers availed Metro Rail services in June
CHENNAI:
A total of 74.06 lakh passengers availed Chennai Metro services in the month of June, which is the highest this year. During the month of May, a total of 72.68 lakh passengers travelled in Chennai metro, according to a release.
Chennai Metro said that on June 28, Chennai Metro recorded 2.95 lakh passengers, the highest passenger flow for the month.
In the month of June, a total of 25,15,727 passengers have utilised the QR Code ticketing system, 44,81,995 passengers have used Travel Card Ticketing
System, 3,98,131 passengers have used Token System, 5,085 passengers have used Group Ticketing System and 5,938 passengers have used NCMC Singara Chennai Card, the release added.
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