http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/01/stories/2010040150960300.htm

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/01/images/2010040150960301.jpg

Udhagamandalam: With a promise by the district administration that steps would be taken to espouse the cause of the environment, the 133-year-old Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association (NWLEA) moved into its new premises atop Mount Stuart Hill here on Wednesday.

Addressing the gathering, the Nilgiris Collector Archana Patnaik who unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion said, “I will focus on the environment.”

She added that she would accord high priority to the Elephant Corridor Project.

The erstwhile Collector of the Nilgiris Anandrao V.Patil who inaugurated the office, adverted to his association with the NWLEA as its ex-officio president and handed over a cheque for Rs. 5,000 towards its welfare.

He added that a lot needed to be done for the Elephant Corridor project.

The Field Director, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Rajiv K.Srivastava, said that there was no match to the NWLEA vis-à-vis commitment to the cause of conservation.

Protect biodiversity

Underscoring the need to protect the rich biodiversity of the Nilgiris, he said that the people should safeguard the interests of the mute population.

The Coordinator, World Wide Fund for Nature, N.Mohanraj, listed the objectives of the NWLEA.

Hot spot

Referring to the significant position occupied by the Nilgiris in the Western Ghats, he said that it was a hot spot within a hot spot.

Pointing out that it was an ideal habitat for tigers and Asian elephants, he said that at a time when tigers were being threatened in various parts of the country, their population here was healthy.

The Nilgiris was also home to six primitive tribal communities.

He pointed out that unplanned development was affecting the natural movement of animals, particularly elephants.

The Vice President, NWLEA Geetha Srinivasan, traced the history of the association.

The release of labels containing pictures and scientific names of birds and animals by Ms.Patnaik formed part of the occasion.Among those present was the District Forest Officer, the Nilgiris North, K.Soundarapandian.

The Secretary, NWLEA, S.Jayachandran, proposed a vote of thanks.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/01/stories/2010040150750200.htm

Idol of presiding deity will be enshrined in new structure

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/01/images/2010040150750201.jpg

CUDDALORE: The 200-year-old Sri Selva Vinayagar Temple situated on the Nethaji Road at Manjakuppam in Cuddalore is being relocated and reconstructed on an adjacent site.

The temple is being shifted in anticipation of the widening of the Nethaji Road, which forms part of the East Coast Road, so as to prevent any damage to the structure. It is also being put up on an elevated platform to enable the devotees to gain an unobstructed view of the deities. Therefore, Sri Selva Vinayagar Temple Devotees' Trust headed by K.Rajendran has undertaken the task of mobilising funds for the suitable repositioning of the temple at a safe site.

The family of N. V. Bhashyam Reddiyar has donated the land for moving the temple to the spacious location. The estimated cost for the reconstruction of Sri Vinayagar Temple and Sri Draupadi Amman temple is projected at Rs. 1 crore.

Two ornate granite pillars, that were supposed to be the main entrance to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, were placed on Wednesday after doing special puja by Sthapathi K.P.Athiappan, drawn from Salem, in the presence of Dr. Rajendran, advocate Arunachalam, temple priest Sekar, Trust members K. Selvarajan, K. Thirumalai and Ganapathi, and Executive Officer of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department R.Venkatesan.

The EO told TheHindu that the devotees had acted proactively to re-position the temple for which they were mopping up resources. Asked whether the HR & CE Department, under whose jurisdiction the temple falls, would extend any financial assistance, Mr. Venkatesan said there was no such proposal as of now.

Dr. Rajendran had made an appeal to the HR & CE Department to support the devotees in one form or other in this endeavour, because after completion the temple would be brought under its control.

Mr. Athiappan, who had constructed the renowned Murugan temple at Skandagiri, a hillock about 10 km from Salem, and many other local temples, said that after completion the temple would stand 38.5 ft tall and would take about eight months to be completed.

The same idol of the presiding deity would be enshrined in the new structure. Along side, the construction of Sri Draupadi Amman temple would also be taken up. It was proposed to place the deity of the goddess on a lotus pedestal made of granite.

The trust president thanked N.V.Bashyam Reddiyar family and others who had made liberal contributions for the temple construction. However, he said for putting up the other shrine contributions would have to be raised. The contributions could be made in the name of the Trust which has opened an account in the City Union Bank here.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/02/stories/2010040257770300.htm

One of them has started journey to Mandapam from Surat

RAMANATHAPURAM: Maritime security along the Adam's Bridge, Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay is all set to get a fillip following the proposed dedication of two state-of-the-art high speed interceptor-type vessels, to be based at Coast Guard station in Mandapam.

The vessels were built by the ABG Shipyard Limited in Surat with indigenous technology. These were named C-146 and C-148 and designed specifically for the operation along the shallow water region.

One of the vessels was commissioned recently at Surat and it had started its journey from the west coast to the south eastern coast, where Mandapam Coast Guard Station was located.

Speaking to ‘The Hindu' on Thursday, Commandant D.S. Saini, Commanding Officer, CGS, Mandapam, said that while the first vessel was scheduled to reach at Mandapam on April 9, the second vessel was likely to arrive in August or September.

Since the vessels had many unique features for shallow water operation, they would be immensely useful, especially in tightening the vigil in the Adam's Bridge area near International Maritime Boundary Line between India and Sri Lanka.

The vessel had an endurance of around 500 nautical miles and was propelled by three turbo jet engines. It could be operated at a maximum speed of 48 knots and cruising speed of around 35 knots as against the average cruising speed of 15 to 20 knots.

Each boat would have 18 personnel on board. If any mysterious high speed boat was noticed, the C-146 and C-148 vessels could successfully intercept it and overpower its crew members.

Mr. Saini said that the unique feature of the boat was that it had an inbuilt water scooter and a light inflatable boat.

Water scooter could be used for any emergency operation. It could be sailed at 25 knots and beached at islands and sand dunes. The helmet of the scooter driver was fitted with a sophisticated communication device. The pillion sailor could carry weapons too.

The boat could be ignited immediately with the “press-the-button mechanism.” There was no need for the completion of pre-start warming process.

He added that digital communication system controlled by satellite could be commanded through aircraft also. With the arrival of sophisticated boats, coastal security along the Adam's Bridge and the Gulf of Mannar region is expected to gain in strength.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/03/stories/2010040363720200.htm

CHENNAI: Mahadevi Thangavel is now spared of the ordeal of waiting for long hours in a queue to fetch water. She is one of the many women at Keel Ottivakkam village in Kancheepuram district who have water connection, thanks to the water credit project of Water.Org, a U.S.-based non-profit organisation.

The project aims at providing micro credits to people to gain access to better water and sanitation facilities. Several beneficiaries of the initiative, microfinance institutions and NGOs gathered for the launch of ‘India Water Credit Forum' here recently.

April Rinne, global director of Water Credit, Water.Org, said women and children were the worst affected owing to poor access to water.

The organisation has reached out to countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya and Bangladesh apart from India. The project is targeted at financing for household level.

S. Damodaran, country director of Water.Org, said the organisation provided small loans to members of women self-help groups or joint liability groups, which is a five-member team in a particular area, through microfinance institutions without insisting on collateral security. The project is under way in many States.

“We give loans for water and sewer connections and construction of septic tanks. Some of them have taken loans for even setting up water purification system and rainwater harvesting structures,” he said.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/06/stories/2010040658800200.htm

It will eliminate multiple cards

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/06/images/2010040658800201.jpg

CHENNAI: The Civil Supplies Department will soon embark on incorporating biometric security features in all ration cards.

Since repeated drives against bogus cards have proved inadequate, the Department is pinning its hopes on systemic intervention. It would be later integrated with the Unique Identification Number (UID) database.

“During the recent house-to-house verifications, it was found that a lot of genuine cardholders were getting affected,” said K.Shanmugam, Principal Secretary to the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department. “There might still be a large number of bogus cards in circulation.”

A process which involves biometric collection of data and de-duplication will eliminate both multiple entries and multiple cards, said Mr.Shanmugam.

The Department plans to undertake the process along with the Census 2011. It has written to the Directorate of Census seeking approval to collaborate in the data collection process.

According to Mr.Shanmugam, both agencies require almost the same kind of data. “So collating efforts and going for combined enumeration makes sense. Once a formal approval is obtained, the State government will come out with a policy.”

K.Rajaraman, Commissioner, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department, said “The modalities such as cost sharing and the data sets that are required apart from the biometric profile will be decided soon. But the process will go along with Census.”

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/06/stories/2010040655070400.htm

Cost-benefit ratio indicates savings for government

CHENNAI: A massive scale-up of the pilot project on cardio vascular disease prevention, in a phased manner, is on the cards in Tamil Nadu.
...

For those who are wondering why the full news article hasn't been posted, its because of this...

To Whomsoever It May Concern!!!

The proper way to quote News stories.. Message from the Administrator

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=212065

Real Estate provider Bahri Group today announced the launch of their first Integrated township at the famous tourist spot of Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu at a cost of Rs 210 crore.

The Gurgaon based company has acquired around 270 acres near Kodaikanal and would construct 330 housing units in the township, to be called 'Bahri Beautiful Country'. The township will comprise 175 retirement home villas,70 second home villas and 50 plots, Group Managing Director Hemant Bahri said here.

"We will be the first to launch retirement and second homes with international tie-ups in India. We would like to set up similar townships in more countries with our partners", he told reporters here.

Bahri said the first phase is expected to be completed in 30 months. Priced Rs 26 lakh onwards for a villa, the township would have an international golf course and a Golf Academy.

The company has also entered into a partnership with US-based ONE EIGHTY to maintain the homes in their new site,

He said Rs 210 crore would be invested in the first phase and another Rs 95 crore for infrastructure and additional costs. "Of the Rs 95 crore,Rs 45 crore would be raised through internal accruals and the balance through debts", he said.

The group was holding talks with firms to set up a medical centre and International resort in the township, he said.

He later told PTI that the company may invest Rs 200 crore for the second phase. "That may be Rs 200 crore.We will decide on it after completing the first phase and other formalities".

Chairman and CEO of ONE EIGHTY, Dan Madsen said they have been operating in India since 2007 and hoped to sign five to six projects with Indian companies over the next five years.

He later told PTI that the company hopes to maintain around 1,000 homes in India with the projects on hand.The firm now manages more than 6,000 homes in U.S.A and Europe.

Source: http://news.chennaionline.com/chennai/Bahri-group-announces-launch-of-integrated-township/22a2f67b-b0e0-4c4f-b0c4-83e100e814b0.col

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/10/stories/2010041064390300.htm

Periyar University to build and maintain bio-waste plants

Biogas plants to be installed in four places

These will process 1,900 cubic metres of waste per day

THANJAVUR: Periyar Maniammai University here has been chosen as the implementing agency for South India for producing electricity from bio-waste by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, said N. Ramachandran, Vice-Chancellor, Periyar Maniammai University, here on Thursday.

...

Titbits - State of the State.

-The Total Debt liability of Tamil Nadu as on 31/03/2010 is Rs 89,149.00 crores.
-The Per Capita Debt is Rs 14,353.00
-FM says it is lower when compared to Maharastra,Gujarat,Karnataka,AP and Kerala.
-Revenue deficit increased to Rs 5,020.00 crores, due to recession during 2009-10 , much higher than estimated Rs 1,024.00 crores.
-Corresponding figures for Maharashtra and West bengal are Rs 12,730.00 Cr and Rs 23,054.00 cr.
-SGDP Growth rate was 11.29 percent in 2006-07.
-but came down to 4.4 per cent in 2007-08 and
-4.55 per cent in 2008-09.
-Since the situation is improving, the growth has reached 5.53 per cent in 2009-10.
-Tamil Nadu's share from Central revenue had been dipping,and the estimated shortfall would be Rs. 5,000 crore in the 13th Finance Commission period (2010-2015).

-3 G Auction::

-The highest provisional wining bid at the end of round 5 was that of Rs. 373.39 crore for the Delhi circle, followed by Rs. 362.66 crore for Mumbai, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

-Similarly, the provisional winning price for Kolkata, Uttar Pradesh West and East stood at Rs. 135.99 crore;
-for Kerala Rs. 134.65 crore;
-for Madhya Pradesh Rs. 133.62 crore;
-for Haryana Rs. 133.32 crore,
-for Rajasthan Rs. 132.30 crore;
-for Punjab Rs. 121.20 crore;
-for West Bengal Rs. 120 crore;
-for Bihar Rs. 31.50 crore,
-and for Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Orissa, North East and Jammu and Kashmir Rs. 30 crore.

source - The Hindu

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Delhis-rich-heritage-swanky-biz-hubs-big-draw-for-foreigners/articleshow/5783980.cms

Delhi with its rich heritage sites, modern healthcare centres and swanky business hubs emerged as the favourite destination among foreign
tourists including business travellers in 2008, a study has revealed.

According to the latest data on state-wise tourist arrivals available with FICCI, a total of 23.4 lakh foreigners visited Delhi in 2008. The total foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in India during the period was 53.6 lakh.

At the second spot, Maharashtra was close with 20.6 lakh visitors, followed by Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, the FICCI-Evalueserve study on India Inbound Tourism said.

Mumbai and Pune are the biggest attraction among foreigners in Maharashtra, which is the third largest state.

While Tamil Nadu is famous for its beaches, hill stations, heritage sites, temples and wildlife, Uttar Pradesh is a popular destination due to the presence of religious and historical sites including the world famous Taj Mahal.

The study said one-third of foreign tourist visiting India travel to Rajasthan, which is known for palaces, art and culture.

The North-east region -- Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura -- which offers numerous leisure and adventure is emerging as a significant FTA destination.

Meanwhile, another study by FICCI-Evalueserve said the medical tourism sector was not affected in 2009 even when the FTAs to India declined to 51.6 lakh from 53.6 lakh in 2008.

FTAs in 2009 declined primarily due to the global economic slowdown and Mumbai terror attacks, it said.

"The reasons are not far to seek. All medical procedures, including hospitalisation and recover costs are relatively low in India as compared to Europe and America," it said.

The number of medical tourists in India is expected to reach 10 lakh by 2012, with India's share in the global medical tourism industry reaching 2.4 per cent. The domestic market is likely to reach Rs 4,400 crore by 2012, the study said.

http://www.island.lk/2010/04/12/features4.html

Information Technology has made its impact on several economies, in terms of both investment and return. In the last quarter century, the services sector has been on an ever expanding mode. By 2009, it increased its share to 64% of world GDP. Within the services sector, IT has shown appreciable growth. IT encompasses both hardware and software. They serve the domestic and export markets. It is software exports that give a major thrust to a nation’s economy. Throughout the history of software development and exports, the world leader had been US. Among smaller nations, Ireland and Israel were in the forefront. In the last two decades, India has made giant strides in the IT industry as well as in software exports. During this decade, Tamil Nadu has successfully placed the IT industry on a secure foundation for growth and development.

The value of software exports may be taken as a fair measure of the success of software as well as of the health of the IT industry. For the growth of export volume and value, the existence of several conditions may be presupposed. High levels of educational excellence, a culture of science, priority investment in research and development, state patronage manifesting in incentives are among them. All countries with a record of success will confirm the correctness of this assertion.

Software exports

The software product markets worldwide was to the value of $2.7 billion in 1980. It grew to $30 billion in1990. From that year, global software exports started showing phenomenal growth. In 2008, it grew to $304 billion. Recession had its impact in the last two years, but signs of recovery are visible and a resurgence is expected in 2010. Forecast for 2013 is $457 billion. NASSCOM – National Association for Software and Service Companies - is the global trade body with 1200 members including 250 global companies from US, UK, EU, Japan and China. This body estimates India’s software exports to exceed $60 billion by 2013. It is foreseen that Tamil Nadu’s share of exports by the same year will be over $12 billion. It is likely that Karnataka with Bangalore as the Silicon Valley of India, will record $20 billion or more.`

Tamil Nadu

In recent years, Tamil Nadu’s rank in India has been second. Why not first or third? There is a history behind. She forfeited the first rank by failing to seize an opportunity that came her way. Texas Instruments ventured to take Information Technology to India in 1985. Two cities were selected, Madras and Bombay. The culture of education in the two cities and the levels attained were perhaps a factor. These two cities along with Calcutta had established universities in1857. Tamil Nadu also had the distinction of having produced by that time, the only two Nobel Laureates in Science. However the two cities displayed lukewarm interest. Thereafter, Texas Instruments prospected Bangalore, where the response was very positive.

Bangalore

There may a lie an explanation for this stance of Bangalore and the high performance that followed. Among many factors favourable in Bangalore, was the existence of a large scientific community. At the turn of the 20th Century, the city had the benefit of a futuristic development through the benevolence of Sir Jamshedji Tata. He took a decision to establish the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, which became functional in 1908. The culture of science that had developed around the Institute had radiated its benefits and influence in the city. Decision making capability in Bangalore had been exposed and sensitised to the world of knowledge. IT had come across very fertile terrain. In IT development and software exports, Karnataka stands pre-eminently first. Exports exceeded $16 billion in fiscal year 2008-09, while Tamil Nadu recorded $8 billion in the same period.

Acceleration

Tamil Nadu, though relegated for spurning the first opportunity, was swift in getting back to the main stream. The year 1997 marked a watershed in the development of IT in Tamil Nadu. To place the industry on a sound footing, the government formulated its IT policy. Tamil Nadu was the first state in India to do so and a multiplicity of actions followed. The industry, academia, trade chambers and banking institutions were swift in working out clear priorities and practical strategies.

Delivery of world class office space has been a crucial spur to the growth of the IT industry, particularly in the last 10 years. As strong challenges emerged with inter state competition, responsive support by the state government was quickly extended. One of the modes adopted was PPP-Public Private Partnership - under which TIDCO - Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation - a state institution was established to promote industrial development. ELCOT - Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu - was set up to encourage the growth of electronics. Both the institutions acting in concert and supported by bank finance set up the TIDEL Park in Chennai. It has been operational from July 2000, providing 1.2 million sq. ft of office space to accommodate 12,000 professionals under one roof. The second TIDEL Park of 1.8 million sq. ft at Coiambatore is scheduled for opening by mid 2010. IT Parks are also coming up in Madurai and Trichy. In addition, heavy investment is also planned at Salem and Hosur. For spatial dispersal of IT industry, Tamil Nadu is among the foremost states.

In the growth and expansion of the IT industry, the production and delivery of human resources is of critical importance. In the last 12 years, a significant contribution has been made in Tamil Nadu by the educational system. Enhancement of quality to reach levels of excellence continues to be an objective of the industry and the academicians. Some of the states of India and principal cities are moving ahead in a spirit of competition. Tamil Nadu stands foremost in the proliferation of engineering colleges and the production of engineers. In 2005-06, there were 237 engineering colleges which enrolled 67,800 students. In 2008-09, there were 355 colleges which enrolled 122,900 students. The growth has been phenomenal and state patronage has been an impelling factor. The graduates from Tamil Nadu spread out to cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata and Cochin.


Infrastructure

Development of infrastructure is basic to the growth of IT. Attention to a few segments is inadequate. Development of the system is needed in its totality. Worldwide communication facilities are fundamental and these are being delivered. Statewide and inter-state connectivity are primary in a large country like India. Good tele density is another favourable factor. International air connectivity with the state together with intra-state air travel facility are a must. Seamless travel by road and rail is as essential. Besides all the components of physical infrastructure, facilities for human resources development had to be built. Heavy investments have already gone into all these areas. Scholarly studies by Indian Harvard scholars were made in the late nineties to place IT in TN on a futuristic course. With the advice of intellectuals, high end industry leaders and chambers of commerce, facilitation has been undertaken in a well integrated fashion. Results are now manifest. For fiscal 2008-09, despite the recession TN registered 29% growth in software exports while Bangalore’s increase was 23%.

In the last 10 years, TN had delivered over 40million sq. ft. of office space dedicated to IT. Investors and the construction industry have responded consistently to expanding demand. It is foreseen that the current decade will see a construction boom to meet exponential demand. Both the central and state governments have adopted policies to create a new investment climate to meet the challenge. The central government permitted 100% foreign investment for IT space and Chennai was the first location to utilize that opportunity. In a campus of 10acres at Ambathur, three blocks with a floor space of 2.5 million sq. ft. are being constructed with investment from Americorp-a foreign firm. The first block will be ready for occupation in the course of 2010. The campus will accommodate around 20,000 professionals at one location.

In a 1,400-acre industrial complex at Mahindra World City, 45 km from Chennai, Infosys has a massive campus dedicated to IT. More than half the campus is already operational and at full development will employ 15,000 professionals at a single location. Siruseri a village in the IT Corridor, 20 km from Chennai is now an IT hub. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the largest IT firm in India, with several facilities in Chennai is completing its biggest project in Siruseri. When fully operational by 2011, it will employ a workforce of around 20,000 at a single location. The project designed by Uruguayan architects and spread across 70 acres is being executed at a cost of Ind. Rs. 7.5 billion. At Tharamani, adjacent to Tidel Park, a prestigious IT complex called Ramanujam City is coming up. It encompasses an IT park, convention centre, residences, hotel, super markets etc., all on 4 million sq. ft. of floor space. It is being built by Tata Realty and Infrastructure Ltd. (TRIL ) along with partners, at Rs. 35 billion on 26 acres. The IT Corridor of 20 km, between Tidel Park and TCS complex, is home to 10 of the topmost IT firms in the country both local and foreign. This corridor dedicated to IT presents planning on a holistic basis, where issues pertaining to residence, workplace transport, world-class office space, educational opportunities, health facilities, marketing, recreation and entertainment are all being addressed. An eco system conducive to a flourishing IT industry is being developed.

Future

Prudence derived from the experience of other countries would suggest the choice of fields having optimum leverage without undue effort. IT has demonstrated its earth-shaking capability for wealth creation. India, though late in coming into the field, has created history. Similarly, Tamil Nadu too has displayed its capacity and is venturing for be top notch among the states of India. These would show that those higher in learning seek to make wealth the softer way through a more rewarding course. It is for a state to provide the facilitation to make the river flow speedily forward.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/handset-manufacturers-flood-indian-market/391912/

Not sure if it is Chennai :cheers:

Debuting with handsets targeted at the entry-level segment, Airfone aspires to become one of the top five handset companies in India. Vishal Chitkara, director, Airfone, began with 37 service centres and has grown these to 121 centres this month. But that was the easy part, he admits, “We are now focussing on setting up an handset assembling unit in Tamil Nadu this year that will help us in managing device costs.” Airfone is intent on positioning its devices for the price-concious subscriber.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/moser-baer-to-commission-2nd-solar-farm-in-next-quarter/391972/

Moser Baer Photo Voltaic (MBPV), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the global technology company Moser Baer, plans to commission its second solar farm in the country in the next quarter. The 5-Mw farm will be set up in Tamil Nadu, with an investment of around $20 million (Rs 90 crore) and a farm of similar capacity will be set up in Rajasthan after that.

Recently, the company commissioned its largest Thin Film solar farm with an installed capacity of 1 Mw at Chandrapur in Maharashtra. This project was awarded by Mahagenco, a government of Maharashtra power generation company, and Moser Baer signed a consortium agreement with Germany-based SunEnergy Europe for this project. The farm has been set up using amorphous silicon thin film technology and is connected to the 33 KVA local grid.

“The government has announced its solar mission and we are setting up these grid connected solar farms as part of this. We started with a 1-Mw farm but in future, the capacities will be between 5 Mw and 15 Mw,” said Yogesh B Mathur, CFO, Moser Baer. However, the company has not collaborated with any foreign partner for the Tamil Nadu plant.

April 15: The second largest cement manufacturer in India, the Aditya Birla group, has indicated its eagerness to set up four modern cement plants in Tamil Nadu with an investment of Rs 4,000 crore. If the investment comes through it will bridge the gap between demand and supply.
A high-level delegation headed by its concern UltraTech cement’s executive president K. C. Birla and joint president G. K. Mukesh Agarwal met deputy chief minister M. K. Stalin, who holds the industries portfolio, in Chennai on Thursday to seek the government’s support for the investment plans.
According to highly-placed sources, the group indicated its willingness to invest Rs 4,000 crore to set up four more cement plants in various places including Ariyalur and Tuticorin.........


source : http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/ultratech-pitches-rs-4k-cr-plan-stalin-563

Tamil Nadu government has allocated Rs 1,000 crore for a project envisaging laying of roads of international standard in 11 cities, including Madurai.

A meeting chaired by Tamil Nadu urban finance and infrastructure development corporation advisor M S Srinivasan was held here yesterday to discuss about the proposed project.

Srinivasan said it had been proposed to build 750 km of roads in Madurai. Laying of water pipes and underground cables would be taken up in advance to ensure that there was no digging of the roads for at least five years after the completion of the project.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Tamil-Nadu-govt-allocates-Rs-1000cr-for-laying-world-class-roads-in-11-cities/articleshow/5818499.cms

^^What are all the 11 cities? can you please tell me?
Then it will be helpful for others. They can also get to know.

Thillai, Its better u browse through previous posts and separate thread for TURIP.
U can rejoice , for nellai has been included among the 11.

http://www.tn.gov.in/pressdb/pressphoto.php?id=426

Very uplifting to see these entrepreneurs (engines of growth in the economy) taking a leap of faith and guiding an industry from scratch .. and the TN Govt recognizing their contribution to the economy.. More power to these individuals.

TN's emerging entrepreneurs (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/04/19/stories/2010041952490200.htm)

THE WINNERS

For Excellence in Retail Healthcare

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/04/19/images/2010041952490201.jpg

Mr A.M. Arun, Chairman, Vasan Health Care

You have carved a niche for yourself in a complex and tough business, through hard work and insight. Today, Vasan Health Care is one of the largest specialty healthcare providers dedicated to eye care, treating over 9,000 patients a day. Under your leadership, it has grown to become a Rs 250-crore business with over 300 doctors, 5,000 staff and 60 hospitals across South India
For Excellence in Execution

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/04/19/images/2010041952490202.jpg

Mr D. Sathish Babu, Founder, UniverCell Telecom

You made a name for yourself at a time when the organised mobile retail market was literally non-existent. Awarded the best mobile retail partner by Nokia, Univercell has the lowest attrition rate in the retail business and is growing three times faster than the market average. Univercell has grown to a 300 store organisation that makes over Rs 467 crore in revenue, employs 1,500 people and is spread across 170 towns.
For Helping Energy Grow Globally

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/04/19/images/2010041952490203.jpg

Mr X. Durairaj, Chairman, Powergear Ltd

Hailing from an agricultural background, you started Reep Industries with an initial capital of Rs 1 Lakh and turned around Powergear, a sick company in 2000. You have built companies from scratch where today 75 per cent of your turnover comes from exports. The companies started by you, Powergear and Reep Industries, today provide employment to over 650 people.
For Vision and Willingness to Dream Big

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/04/19/images/2010041952490204.jpg

Mr G.R.K. Reddy, Chairman, Marg Ltd

From solutions for the windmill industry to roads, from infrastructure to township projects, from SEZs to EPC, Marg has done it all. You founded Marg in 1994 and since then have built the company into a Rs 700-crore turnover organisation with 600 employees. Marg has developed the Karaikal Port project, a state-of-the-art greenfield port development.

For Innovation and Niche Global Delivery Model


http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/04/19/images/2010041952490205.jpg
Mr R. Dinesh, Managing Director, TVS Logistics Services

You are a role model not just for creating a business that is globally relevant but also for the way that you have differentiated yourself from competition. A joint venture with Ford and the acquisition of UK-based Multipart are just some of your many accomplishments.

You did it all by putting the consumer's needs first and by sticking to your vision.

For Global Reach and Superior Intellectual Property


http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/04/19/images/2010041952490206.jpg
Mr H.R. Srinivasan, Vice-Chairman, Take Solutions

Take is a global technology solutions and service provider, with significant focus areas such as life sciences and supply chain management. From being a player in a niche sector in 2001, Take has grown to become a $90-million company today.

Take Solutions offers solutions with embedded intellectual property assets and backed by strong domain expertise.

For Innovativeness in Business Model


http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/04/19/images/2010041952490208.jpg
Mr V. Sundaramoorthy, Director, Symbiotic Infotech

You were one of the three founders of Symbiotic Infotech in 2004 when mobile value-added services were in a nascent stage. You started the company with no investors, no capital and only a drive to succeed.

Today, you have 120 employees and offices in Chennai, Mumbai and Sharjah and a total subscriber base of 40 million. You've registered phenomenal growth rates of 100 per cent year on year.

For Product Innovation and Excellence in Manufacturing

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/04/19/images/2010041952490207.jpg

Mr T. T. Varadarajan,Managing Director, Maya Appliances (P) Ltd

You entered a competitive market and established your presence as the largest seller of mixer-grinders in the south.

You started Maya Appliances in a small shed with Rs 30,000 as capital making 20 mixies a day.

Today, you make close to 3,000 mixies a day and with a revenue of Rs 230 crore.

For Excellence in Entrepreneurship with a Social Face

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/04/19/images/2010041952490209.jpg

Mr P.C. Duraisamy,Managing Director, Sakthi Masala Pvt Ltd

You built Sakthi Masala on the principles of quality, fair business practices and service to humanity.

Started with a capital of Rs 10,000, SakthiMasala has grown to become a Rs 300-crore, an ISO and HACCP certified company and employs 800 people with nearly 150 of them being differently-abled.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/hogenakkal-work-begin-soon-329

April 18: Around 20 lakh people in Dharmapuri and Krishangiri districts are eagerly waiting the pipe-laying work for the Hogenakkal Drinking Water Scheme to start.
Locals here, who have long suffered the ill effects of fluorine in their drinking water, are hopeful that the 240-lakh litre tank will meet their requirements. Highly placed sources in the Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board (TWAD) told this newspaper that the pipe-laying work from the well on the Cauvery river-bed to the treatment plant would begin in less than a week’s time.
The scheme is a pet project of deputy chief minister M.K. Stalin and is funded largely by the Japan Bank of International Cooperation.

...

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/interceptor-teeth-coast-security-886

Chennai, April 16: Maritime security along Adam’s Bridge, the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay will get a fillip with the Indian Coast Guard’s state-of-the-art high speed interceptor vessel being based at the Mandapam station.

...

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/tn%E2%80%99s-ham-players-hold-fort-868

Chennai, April 16: Tamil Nadu will soon become the first state in the country to have voluntary disaster communication clubs for rescue and relief operations during natural calamities. :cheers::cheers:
Floated by ham radio operators in districts vulnerable to disasters like flash floods, landslides and earthquakes, these clubs will assist the district administration in radio communication when regular communication networks like telephone, mobile phone and Internet services fail.

...

Coming up at Dodabetta peak, near Ooty, the station, set up at a height of 2,623 metres above sea level, will benefit hundreds of ham radio operators.
“Ham operators in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka will benefit by this repeater station,” M. K. Ananda Ganesan, president, Aanamalai amateur radio club (AARC), Pollachi, the apex body of ham radio buffs in Coimbatore and Nilgiris districts, told the Deccan Chronicle.

...

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/siemens-to-invest-rs-500-cr-for-wind-turbine-mfg-facility-in-guj/392394/

Apart from Gujarat, the company has also identified sites in the state of Tamil Nadu and is in talks with the state government there.

It will be great if Siemens looks cbe region..

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/20/stories/2010042060780400.htm


The State government plans to implement a major project for renovating the 45-year-old Contour Canal at a cost of Rs.127.5 crore, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi announced in the Assembly on Monday.

Considered the lifeline of the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project (PAP), the 49.2-km-long canal conveys water from the Sarkarpathy hydropower station to the Tirumurthy dam.

As part of the PAP system, water stored in the Sholayar dam located within the limits of Tamil Nadu passes through Parambikulam, Peruvaripallam and Tunacadavu reservoirs, all in Kerala, before reaching Sarkarpathy.

Referring to repeated representation from farmers of Coimbatore and Tirupur districts for the renovation in view of frequent breaches in the canal that led to reduction in its carrying capacity and adverse impact on water distribution and power generation, Mr. Karunanidhi said the project would benefit about two lakh farmers in the two districts.

The Chief Minister, who replied to the debate on the demand for grants to the Public Works Department, also informed the House that a detailed study of the Athikadavu-Avinashi canal project was being carried out.

It envisaged diversion of excess water available in the flood carrier of the Bhavani to Karamadai, Annur, Avinashi, Puliyampatti, Palladam and Perundurai.
.......
The Rs.253-crore flood protection works on the Cauvery and the Coleroon river banks in Karur, Tiruchi and Perambalur districts and on the Kuduamurutti river and Uyyakondan channel in Tiruchi district would be completed this year.

Mr. Karunanidhi said the Rs.369-crore work on forming a 73-km-long flood carrier, branching off the Kannadian Channel, would be completed in two years. This would link the Tamiraparani with Karumeniyar and Nambiyar rivers.

Bed regulator

The project of upgrading a bed regulator into a barrage across the Cauvery in Mayanur village of Karur district would be over by February 2011. ......

It will be great if Siemens looks cbe region..
Sorry friend, I don't think that will happen. Every major electronics manufacturing MNC which likes to come to TN will be first looking at the established corridor for the same...which is the Sriperumbudur-Oragadam corridor.

Sorry friend, I don't think that will happen. Every major electronics manufacturing MNC which likes to come to TN will be first looking at the established corridor for the same...which is the Sriperumbudur-Oragadam corridor.

News is nothing to do with Electronics, Siemens looking for wind turbine unit.
I think Suzlon already in CBE and Trichy (directly or indirectly) both cities have chance.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/siemens-to-invest-rs-500-cr-for-wind-turbine-mfg-facility-in-guj/392394/

No chance for any city until Gujarat saturates with manufacturing companies.
Just like Chennai got picked up in IT only from 2004 with Bangalore infamous traffic we will get industries after 3 or 4 years only. Gujarat will give another 100 acres near the existing unit and it will get the next investment also.

http://www.domain-b.com/industry/oil_gas/20100420_commissioned.html

Supply of natural gas from the Krishna-Godavari (KG) D6 field to southern states through the Kakinada-Nellore-Chennai pipeline is expected to start in the second quarter of 2012, minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Jitin Prasada informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

The pipeline will pass through East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, Nallore and Chitoor districts of Andhra Pradesh and Thiruvallur and Vellore districts of Tamil Nadu.

In addition, the minister said, the Chennai-Tuticorin pipeline, an extension of Kakinada-Chennai pipeline, will pass through Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Viluppuram, Salem, Namakkal, Tiruchirappalli, Karur, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar and Thoothukkudi districts of Tamil Nadu. :cheers:

The pipeline is targeted to be commissioned in the third quarter of 2012.

The Chennai-Bangalore-Mangalore pipeline, also an extension of the Kakinada-Chennai pipeline, will pass through Thiruvallur and Vellore districts of Tamil Nadu, Chitoor district of Andhra Pradesh and Kolar, Bangalore Rural, Tumkur, Hassan, Chikmaglur and Dakshina Kannda districts of Karnataka, he said, adding that the pipeline is targeted for commissioning in the second quarter of 2012.

^^ Oops! If its wind turbine and if its TN, then Coimbatore will be in the race.

No chance for any city until Gujarat saturates with manufacturing companies.
Just like Chennai got picked up in IT only from 2004 with Bangalore infamous traffic we will get industries after 3 or 4 years only. Gujarat will give another 100 acres near the existing unit and it will get the next investment also.

Not true. I disagree. Gujarat has got some projects mostly from Indian companies and few MNC's despite the all the hardsell and freebies. Gujarat 's image is still dented after the minority carnage and MNC's think twice and prefer TN or MH.
MH is TN's only threat (or major) as far as the manufacturing sector is concerned.

source: TOI

The 3G auction is getting fierce. On Wednesday, the telecom minister, A Raja, raised the hope and said the government may fetch Rs 45,000 crore from the spectrum selling, that is Rs 10,000 crore more than the target.
While Delhi and Mumbai are predictably leading in the race, it’s Tamil Nadu that is third in the race. This places the southern state ahead of all others in the country. Karnataka and Maharashtra are next in line.
According to department of telecom data as on Wednesday, auction bid for the Delhi circle has touched Rs 771.11 crore while Mumbai’s figure read Rs 708.81 crore. Tamil Nadu is next at Rs 682.92 crore; Bid for Karnataka stood at Rs 607.52 crore and Maharashtra, Rs 663.15 crore. These figures are the provisional winning amount at the end of round 58 as of April 21 and can potentially go up further.
The circles of Delhi, Mumbai and Tamil Nadu have a base price of Rs 320 crore each. The bids are likely to come to a close in a month or so. According to the announcement by DoT, the winners will be awarded 3G spectrum in September 2010, which means the commercial operations of 3G services by private operators should be possible only by the end of 2010 or early 2011.
State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) were given 3G spectrum ahead of private players and have already launched their 3G mobile services in more than 380 cities across India and they would have to pay the highest bid price.
“That Tamil Nadu is leading among all states is not at all surprising. Although Maharashtra has higher number of registered 2G users –41.7 million compared with Tamil Nadu’s 40.5 million – the southern state still has the highest potential among all circles,” says Harit Shah, research analyst (IT and telecom) at Karvy Stock Broking.
Delhi circle has 27.6 million users and Mumbai has 25.7 million. Karnataka has 35.4 million registered 2G users. “The degree of urbanisation is much higher in Tamil Nadu, since the state is not just Chennai, but also Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchy. Even in the smaller towns and rural areas, penetration is rather high,” says Jaideep Ghosh, executive director of KPMG Advisory Services. Tamil Nadu is being increasingly seen as a significant market. Recently when Videocon launched their mobile services, the company chose Chennai to flag off their services nationally.
Ghosh says that most companies are almost 3G ready. “Even 3G handsets are already in the market. Thanks to entry of Indian handsets, there are 3G mobiles now being sold for as little as Rs 5,000. This has set the stage for 3G,” he says. “And of course, applications and content are already coming in.”
Experts predict that at least 20% of the current users will adapt to 3G by 2020. “In fact, the figures could be higher than the predictions,” says an optimistic Ghosh.
3G, or Third Generation, is a family of standards for mobile communication fulfilling specifications by the International Telecommunication Union. The technology will enable mobile television, video conferencing and video-on-demand, among other services.

In Big League

Auction bid for the Delhi circle has touched Rs 771.11 crore while Mumbai’s figure read Rs 708.81 crore. Tamil Nadu is next at Rs 682.92 cr
Experts predict that at least 20% of the current users will adapt to 3G technology by 2020

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/04/23/stories/2010042352571900.htm

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/24/stories/2010042461860200.htm

Problems faced by publishers and writers in translation works were highlighted

...

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/04/29/stories/2010042950792000.htm

IIT-Madras suggests 3-phase development with Rs 125-cr investment.
Due to fund limitation, the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board wants to develop the infrastructure on develop, operate, maintain, share and transfer (DOMST) basis on a 30-year concession period.
The under-utilised Cuddalore minor port in Tamil Nadu is to be developed by the private sector under the public-private-partnership (PPP) mode.
This is for the first time in the country that an existing minor port is to be developed in the PPP mode while other minor ports developed by private players were greenfield projects, according to industry sources. Cuddalore port, located about 200 km south of Chennai, has infrastructure such as breakwater, administrative buildings and barge loading/ unloading berths and about 100 acres under the control of the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board (TNMB).
Due to fund limitation, the board wants to develop the infrastructure on develop, operate, maintain, share and transfer (DOMST) basis on a 30-year concession period.
Development project
IIT-Madras has suggested a three-phase development at an investment of Rs 125 crore, according to a tender document issued by the TNMB for the project.
The project is part of the State Government's initiative to involve private sector in development operation of minor ports.
While reducing the volume of trucks, the project will encourage economic development of under-utilised properties in the Cuddalore port area.
The Cuddalore port at the confluence of the rivers Gadilam (Uppanar) and Paravanar was used as an anchorage facility during the British rule.
Initially, the depth of 2.5 metres near the river mouth is sufficient for barges to unload cargo. Large ships are anchored mid-stream at a distance of about a mile at a depth of 10-15 metres. The cargo is then carried to a basin inside the river mouth to barge loading/unloading jetties.
The anchorage facility, which can be used for six to eight months a year, is not fully used and needs substantial improvements.
The port was reasonably active in the past (still less than lakh tonnes a year), but with growing well-protected facilities at Chennai, Ennore and Tuticorin, there has been erosion of traffic at Cuddalore port. Currentlly, there is no significant cargo handling at the port, the tender document says.
Cargo handling
The TNMB, in the tender document, has said that till the fifth year from the date of commercial operation, 50 per cent of the cargo handled by the private operator shall be captive cargo consumed or produced by the port developer (successful bidder). From the 6th year onwards, the bidder shall ensure that at least 20 per cent of the total cargo handled is commercial in nature (non-captive cargo), the bidder will pay a penalty to TNMB in the event of not achieving the minimum guaranteed annual throughput (MGAT) in a particular year.
The bidder will offer the highest dues per metric tonne of cargo with an escalation of 20 per cent every three years along with the MGAT, according to the tender document.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/oil--gas/IOC-to-invest-Rs-10000-crore-on-gas-terminal-in-TN/articleshow/5887531.cms

CHENNAI: In an effort to ensure sufficient availability of natural gas in future, Indian Oil Corporation, along with the Tamil Nadu government will
invest Rs 10,000 crore to set up a gas storage terminal in the state.

The terminal, which will come up near the Ennore port, will have an installed capacity of five million tonnes per annum. Apart from establishing the terminal, the project will also include laying a pipeline network to distribute 20 million cubic feet of gas per day and a power plant. A feasibility report is already underway and the final report will be ready by October.

"The storage terminal will be established with a view to ensuring availability of natural gas for various purposes in the long run," Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister and industries minister MK Stalin told the state assembly on Monday.

Replying to the debate on Industries department, he said that it had been estimated that the demand for natural gas in TN would go up to 48 million cubic metres per day by 2015 against the dwindling supply of 4.20 million cubic metres available now.

Apart from the project with IOC, the state owned Tidco, will work with Gail to establish a gas link between national grid and a state-wide gas distribution system.

Among other announcements, Stalin said a special economic zone would be set up in Thoothukudi district at a cost of Rs 550 crore exclusively for the food processing industry. A Rs 500 crore SEZ for the granite industry at the SIPCOT estate at Bargur and a biotechnology resource centre will also come up under the TICEL-II project at Taramani.

Stalin also informed the house that a Chennai sports city project will be implemented over 1500 acres. :)This is in view of the need to develop social infrastructure in the nearby areas of IT Corridor which has created vast job opportunities. Tidco will promote a golf course of international standards on 200 acres.

Also in the assembly, information technology minister Poongothai said eight IT parks would be ready by the end of the year creating an additional 28.50 lakh square feet space for IT companies. A new IT park would be set up in Villupuram, she added.

The Chennai trade centre will be expanded with an additional five lakh sq ft of expo space. Estimated to cost Rs 320 crore, it will be taken up in collaboration with ITPO. A special economic zone for granite processing industries will be promoted by Sipcot in Bargur on 379 acres. It will attract investment of Rs 500 crore and create jobs for 4000 persons.

Earlier, in a policy note tabled in the state assembly, Stalin, quoting CMIE, said the cumulative investment pipeline in Tamil Nadu has shot up by 3.48 times from Rs 1,91,791.98 crore at the end of June 2006, to Rs 6,66,855.74 crore, at the end of March 2010.

Since May 2006, the state has attracted investments amounting to Rs 46,091 crore in manufacturing sector that generated employment for 2.21 lakh persons. New projects with an investment exceeding an additional 9,000 crore are under various stages of finalisation.

The state government has passed a legislation to create an empowered single window mechanism to accord speedy approvals, which will be implemented after getting the requisite approval of government of India.

After having attracted investments from domestic and foreign companies over the last decade, the state is now focussing on creating soft infrastructure to retain the pull. Stalin said Tidco would lay a 200-acre golf course of international standards, as it has become necessary to create world class infrastructure to woo foreign investors. The government will also create a sports city on a 1,500-acre plot near the IT corridor soon.

Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo will begin a four-day visit to Tamil Nadu on Thursday, signalling an expansion of the City-State's ties with India, according to official sources.

Travelling at the invitation of Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Mr. Yeo, who will arrive in Chennai from Saudi Arabia, is scheduled to meet several Tamil Nadu leaders.

Singapore's growing economic interactions with Tamil Nadu and larger security-related ties with India are high on Mr. Yeo's agenda. “Traditionally, our [Singapore] leaders often go to New Delhi. Mr. Yeo's visit to Chennai is a reflection of the importance of Tamil Nadu's economic links with Singapore,” the sources said.

Mr. Yeo will open the YCH DistriPark in the Chennai Special Economic Zone. The YCH Group is Singapore's home-grown provider of supply-chain solutions in the overall sector of business logistics.

Source: http://beta.thehindu.com/news/international/article422753.ece

^Hope the visit can bring in more investments.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/hinduja-global-solutions-opens-centre-at-nagercoil-in-tn/93458/on

IT solutions and back office service provider Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS) today said it has opened a 400-seater delivery centre at Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu.

The 15,000 square feet facility has 400 seats of which 165 seats are getting operational in the first phase for one of its largest customers, HGS said in a state

This is the 25th global delivery centre of the company, which serves over 80 clients through its centres in India, United States, Canada, Britain, Mauritius and Philippines.

"The capacity can be substantially scaled up to meet future demands. The company has a healthy pipeline of business opportunities and anticipates a steady flow of new contracts through 2010-11," Hinduja Global Solutions CEO Partha De Sarkar said.

This is the first centre of the company to be loacted in a Tier III city.:cheers:

The firm is also evaluating a few other Tier II/ Tier III locations for its future expansion.

Tier II and III centres generate local employment and prevent migration of the workforce, especially women.

In a Tier III location, the cost of living is less and hence the employees manage to save a good percentage of their salary. For the company, it would translate into a lesser than average rate of attrition, he added.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/68184/tn-designates-site-teni-ino.html

Six months after the Union Environment Ministry rejected the Singara site in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris district for the prestigious ''Particle Physics'' project, named 'India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO),'' the alternative site in Theni district seems close to being finalised.

As a first crucial step, the State has disclosed that the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) has bagged consultancy for the project, a multi-institutional effort led by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and others.

The alternative site in Theni district seems to have been de facto favoured for the purpose, as Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh turned down the Singara site in November 2009 as it "falls in the buffer zone of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in the Nilgiris" and also an elephant corridor.

Tabling the “Demands for Grants” for the Energy Department in the Assembly, Law Minister Durai Murugan, officiating for the ailing Electricity Minister Arcot Veeraswamy, stated in his policy note that the Rs 900 Crore project "is proposed to be located in Bodi West Hills, Pottipuram village of Theni district".

To be funded by the DAE and the Central Department of Science and Technology, the INO would study the interactions of “Neutrinos,” the weakly-interacting, little understood and supposedly mass-less particles. According to top physicists, it is best studied in a lab "necessarily placed underground." The study is expected to have great impact in nuclear physics, particle physics, cosmology and astrophysics. The policy note said that the TNEB has been entrusted with the task of being the “consultant” and “nodal agency” for the project formulation. It will also facilitate in tying up the requisite infrastructure for the underground labs and over-ground residential quarters, office, guest house, etc.

About 100 scientists would be working in the underground observatory at any point of time, it said.

Asked whether the minister's statement on INO meant that the Theni district site has been finalised for the project, a senior government official told Deccan Herald that The TNEB will prepare the Detailed Project Report, without committing himself about the Centre’s decision. However, some time back DAE and TIFR officials had conducted a public hearing in the area.

^^
As per Wiki TIFR had already conducted experiments on Neutrinos in Kolar Gold Mines in 1965. Now Gold mining is not done and Kolar field is abandoned. They can as well set up Lab there; Why do they want to tunnel Bodi hills at huge cost, when deep tunneled mines are available at Kolar?. Quarters also are available there.

Any applied use to Indian society ?

^^
As per Wiki TIFR had already conducted experiments on Neutrinos in Kolar Gold Mines in 1965. Now Gold mining is not done and Kolar field is abandoned. They can as well set up Lab there; Why do they want to tunnel Bodi hills at huge cost, when deep tunneled mines are available at Kolar?. Quarters also are available there.

Any applied use to Indian society ?

Very good suggestion... they should not spoil the beautiful bodi , kodai region in the name of research. Once they built something they will mark the areas as restricted thereby prohibiting trekking and other activities.. that will be too bad for nature lovers and adventurers....

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/05/13/stories/2010051352331200.htm

Home to vehicle manufacturers Ford, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Renault-Nissan and BMW, on the passenger cars side and Ashok Leyland and Daimler on the commercial side, Tamil Nadu is a well-known automotive hub.

What is less known is that the State is a hub of hubs, with several thriving manufacturing industry clusters. No, we are not talking of the traditional industries such as leather and textiles. Over the last few years, several such ‘hubs' have emerged in the State. Concentration of industries helps evolve ecosystems which drive the economy up.

Here is a look at some of the lesser-known, recently-emerged hubs.

Wind turbines

Tamil Nadu has the highest capacity of wind power in the country — about 4,872 MW, according to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board. NEPC Micon and Vestas RRB were among the earliest wind turbine manufacturers in the country and both were Tamil Nadu-based. Thanks perhaps to that kick-start, a number of wind turbine manufacturers have set up shop in the recent years, to catch the evolving boom in wind energy, making Tamil Nadu a wind energy hub.

Gamesa of Spain is the world's third biggest wind turbine company. Recently, it invested about €40 million in setting up a manufacturing facility at Chennai. The plant can produce 200 MW worth of wind turbines each year, but that is only for starters, because Gamesa expects to need to expand capacity.

Gamesa has an interesting business model. It is a manufacturer of wind turbines and also a developer of wind farms. The company is looking to setting up large farms in Theni and Coimbatore districts of Tamil Nadu. The Chennai plant will cater to both captive and non-captive demand.

A few years back, the Chennai-based Sterling Infotech Group bought a Finnish wind power company, Winwind.

Sterling (or Siva Ventures as it is now called) decided to back-end its takeover with a manufacturing plant at Chennai. The plant, put up with an investment of Rs 375 crore, can produce turbines of total 1,000 MW of wind power capacity annually. Currently, the plant will produce only 1 MW machines, but in about 18 months WinWind will introduce 3 MW machines.

Vestas, the world's largest wind power company, was among the earliest entrants into the Indian wind power sector. Its joint venture, Vestas RRB, has successfully put up several wind mills all over the country. A couple of years ago, Vestas and RRB parted ways, which turned out to be good for Tamil Nadu, because both companies are now independently pursuing projects in the State.

Vestas has set up its technology centre in Chennai. The centre, spread over a more than 60,000 square feet area and located at TECCI Park, Chennai, will house Vestas Technology R&D's future activities in India. The centre will play a vital role in Vestas' global, long-term dedication to R&D in cooperation with Vestas' technology centres in Denmark, the UK, Singapore and the US.

The company, Vestas Wind Technology India Private Ltd (sales) Ltd, is also based out of Chennai. Its activities include sales, service and project execution in India. In addition, the company provides services such as wind assessment of sites, project development, sales, installation and service of wind turbines in India.

Shriram EPC, part of the Chennai-based Shriram Group, has joined hands with Leitner of Italy to set up a Rs 200-crore facility to produce gearless wind turbines. Leitner Shriram has a capacity to produce 150 units of 1.5 MW gearless wind turbines annually at the integrated facility which can manufacture the entire turbine, including the critical components, generator, controls and nacelle.

Apart from the domestic market, the facility would also export to Africa, Europe and West Asia. The 1.5-MW class units are the most popular. Demand is picking up with the focus on renewable energy sources. Leitner Shriram wind energy generators have been in operation in Shriram EPC's own wind farms.

A subsidiary of Shriram EPC, Orient Green Power Ltd, is a wind farm developer. The company is interested in both creating its own wind farms as well as buying over the existing farms. Orient Green, therefore, will provide anchor demand for Leitner Shriram. The Italian partner, Leitner, is interested in buying wind turbines from its Indian joint venture. Incidentally, the facilities of Leitner Shriram and WinWind, a little North of Chennai, are not much far apart. Both companies are keen on developing the downstream eco system, such as for forgings. With assured demand from the two companies, a vendor community is sure to develop in North Chennai.

RRB Energy, once a part of Vestas RRB, has its blade manufacturing plant near Chennai. The company now intends to invest Rs 100 crore in the next 18 months to expand its production capacity. This investment, coming on top of the just-concluded first phase of investments of Rs 65-crore, will increase manufacturing capacities of turbines and blades.

Power plant equipment

BHEL was the first. With a massive expansion of its facilities at Tiruchi, the public sector power equipment manufacturer has raised its capacity to produce boilers worth 10,000 MW. Ancillaries of BHEL, who fabricate material for the PSU, are literally gasping with plentiful orders. But BHEL is an old story. Look who else is coming in.

Toshiba has set up a joint venture with the JSW group (part of the O.P. Jindal Group and controlled by Mr Sajjan Jindal) to set up manufacturing facilities to produce turbines. The Rs 800-crore facility is coming up near Chennai. Toshiba holds 75 per cent stake in the joint venture and is among the larges Japanese investments in the State.

Ansaldo of Italy – a respected name in the thermal plant boiler business and now owned by Gammon India – has chosen to set up shop at Tiruchi to produce boilers. Initially, it intends to invest around Rs 150 crore, at which level of investments it would outsource heavily.

Ansaldo's group company and turbine manufacturer, Franco Tosi, is also looking at putting up a plant in Tamil Nadu.

Informed sources say that the company is looking at Chennai (port facilities) or Tiruchi (proximity to Ansaldo's plant) and would choose one of the two locations for establishing a manufacturing unit here.

Also many Indian companies have recently expanded capacities. Cethar Vessels, which has signed up joint ventures with Riley Power of the US for boilers and Power Machines of Russia for turbines, is a good example.

Next to BHEL, Cethar's is the biggest boiler manufacturing facility in the country – 8,000 MW – and the company is looking to raising its capacity further to 12,000 MW.

Also in Tiruchi, companies such as GB Engineering and Veesons are expanding, together making Tamil Nadu, a power equipment hub.

Construction equipment

Tamil Nadu has also emerged a large ‘construction equipment' hub. Caterpillar, which took over the construction equipment business of Hindustan Motors about a decade back, recently announced fresh investments of $200 million to raise its capacity. Its plant is at Tiruvallur, near Chennai.

As part of its strategic plan to increase its manufacturing footprint in the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific region Caterpillar will invest to significantly increase production for off-highway trucks made at its facility near Chennai. These trucks are used for coal and other mining applications in India. The company also plans to expand engine production at its facility in Hosur, adding production of the Caterpillar 3508 engine. The 3508 engines will be used primarily in off highway trucks produced by Caterpillar in India.

Then there are two Japanese companies, Komatsu and Kobelco. About three years ago, Komatsu put down Rs 75 crore to create a plant at Oragadam near Chennai to produce a range of off-high dump trucks. Kobelco expects to start production from January 2011, with an initial capacity of 1,200 units a year.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/05/13/stories/2010051351301300.htm

Tamil Nadu has long known to attract investments from multinational corporations. Long before liberalisation, when foreign companies could only form joint ventures, several big global companies joined hands with partners in Tamil Nadu.

Abex Corporation, Eaton and Lucas are a few examples. Then came the country's economic liberalisation which opened the sluice-gates for multinational investments to flood in. And thus the State has some high profile investments such as Ford, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Renault-Nissan, Nokia and Samsung.

These companies have paved the way for other investments to follow. The State is now home to quite a few MNCs perhaps not as big as Ford or Hyundai, but with global presence. Indeed, these companies are the seeds of industrial growth in the decades to come — the very foundation of the State's future economy.

Here is a look at some MNCs that set up shop in Tamil Nadu in the last three years.

Timken company

Take the 88-year-old, US-headquartered The Timken Company. This $3-billion multinational manufactures a variety of bearings. There is not an engineering industry that is not touched by bearings — automotive, aerospace, power, health and fitness, semiconductor, the list can go on.

Timken has a plant in Chennai though small. Its facility at the Mahindra World City industrial estate, near Chennai, can produce bearings worth $36 million (cost price) but the company plans to ramp up capacity many times over in the next two-three years. Here, Timken manufactures taper bearings, a product it invented.

Mr James Griffith, President and CEO, Timken, who was in Chennai recently, says he sees huge business potential in India, especially in the Indian mining equipment sector. Incidentally, Timken is a major supplier of bearings to another MNC Caterpillar, which also has manufacturing operations in Tamil Nadu.

What Timken's business will do to the local economy is very good example of how investments drive economy. Timken today imports 90 per cent of its products by value, but the company is keen on rapid localisation. In a few years, the company wants to buy 70 per cent locally and import only the rest. Timken's vendors are expected to come to Chennai. (There are many of them, but owing to confidentiality, Timken does not want to disclose their names.)

Close to the Timken plant is the facility of the 114-year-old, $2.5-billion Lincoln Electric. The company's plant can produce 80,000 tonnes of welding consumables. But that is only for starters. Since the potential in India is enormous —indeed there is an acute shortage of welders and consumables — Lincoln Electric intends doubling the capacity over the next few years.

Areva T&D

Areva's gas insulated substation manufacturing facility at Padappai, near Chennai.

Companies of Europe also seem to be equally Tamil Nadu inclined. Electricity transmission and distribution major Areva T&D chose the State to set up manufacturing operations. A sprawling complex at Padappai near Chennai, manufactures ‘gas insulated substations'. In addition, Areva also set up another manufacturing plant in the State, to produce 765 kV transformers at Hosur. These equipment are essentially to serve the Indian market, but would also be exported. For instance, Chennai is supplying GIS to Qatar.

Areva has three plants in India, two of which are in Tamil Nadu (the third is in Gujarat). Incidentally, the company shifted its instrument transformer facility from Bangalore to Hosur. Between Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, the company has invested close to Rs 1,000 crore. Since the two plants in Tamil Nadu were set up only last year, the growth potential is more through these plants. Needless to say, Areva's presence in the State is creating an ecosystem, driving investments further.

Daimler

Daimler Corporation of Germany will invest €700 million over the next five years in Oragadam near Chennai, to set up a facility to produce commercial vehicles. Production of light, medium, and heavy duty trucks is scheduled to begin in 2012 at the Oragadam plant that will have a maximum capacity of 70,000 units. This is one of the larger investments into the State in recent years.

Daimler's trucks will be 85 per cent localised. But only 12-14 per cent will be manufactured in-house. The rest will be supplied by vendors in India, says Mr Marc Llistosella, CEO and Managing Director, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles. This means, there is going to be a huge ecosystem coming up to supply to Daimler.

Delphi Corporation

This American multinational began work on an electronics manufacturing facility at the emerging industrial town of Oragadam in 2008. This is apart from another major plant in Chennai, in collaboration with TVS, to manufacture Common Rail Direct Injection systems for passenger cars.

Delphi, once a part of General Motors, is a $18-billion auto components giant. In 2005, it got into financial troubles. A major restructuring of operations happened during the Chapter 11 proceedings. Delphi officials have consistently said that Indian operations would not be affected by its global troubles. In fact, during the bankruptcy proceedings, Delphi decided to put down investments in Tamil Nadu. Now that the company is out of bankruptcy, and with a recovery in global economy, the Chennai units can be expected to play a larger role in its operations.

Gamesa

The world's third largest wind turbine manufacturer Gamesa of Spain also chose Chennai to put up a plant. The €3.2-billion company invested €30 million in Chennai, where it will make wind turbines. This company joins several wind turbine manufacturers that together make Chennai a wind turbine hub. Gamesa has named Chennai as one of its two manufacturing hubs in Asia, the other being Tianjin in China. So, presumably, the Chennai plant will be expanding, both for exports and to cater to the Indian market

Toshiba

One of the world's most respected companies, Japan's Toshiba has set up a joint venture (in which it holds 75 per cent) with the JSW group, to manufacture turbines for power projects. The foundation stone for the Rs 800-crore plant near Chennai was laid in February.

Such a large operation as Toshiba's will inevitably create its ecosystem. Vendors, mostly fabricators, will come up near the mother plant as the company steps up indigenisation.

The company will begin its production with 20 per cent localisation, but in order to price the products competitively, it plans to raise the local content to 50 per cent by 2014, when the plant would have reached its rated capacity of 3,000 MW.

For this, Toshiba seeks co-operation of Indian companies, especially in the supply of alloy steels, special steels and castings, says Mr Itaru Ishibashi, Managing Director, Toshiba JSW Turbine and Generator Pvt Ltd.

That so many MNCs have come to Tamil Nadu in the last three years shows that the State has not lost its sheen that was first noticed in the 1990s.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/05/13/stories/2010051351691800.htm


In 2006, there were only 15 minor ports. Today there are 20. Ships call at Cuddalore and Nagapattinam ports for the export of diesel and naphtha and import of fertiliser, coal, edible oil, crude oil and general cargo.

Captive ports

The captive ports are operated by private companies for their own use.

The development of entire infrastructure facilities in these captive ports is the responsibility of the companies concerned.

At the Ennore and Thirukkadaiyur minor ports, liquid ammonia and naphtha are transferred directly from the vessel at Buoy Mooring System to the storage tank on shore through submarine pipelines.

Of the 13 captive ports, Ennore Minor Port (Thiruvallur), Thiruchopuram (Cuddalore), PY-3 Oil Field (Cuddalore), Thirukkadaiyur (Nagapattinam) and Koodankulam (Thirunelveli) are operational. The remaining eight are under various stages of development.

The Minor Port Development Policy seeks to promote a cordial relationship between the ports and industries to ensure development of ports and industrial growth. It also aims to accelerate the pace of economic growth of the State by developing a number of captive ports through Public Private Participation.

The policy seeks to

a) facilitate establishment of port-based thermal power plants by providing exclusive port facilities to import coal, naphtha, oil and natural gas.

b) To provide port facilities to promote export oriented industries and port-based industries along the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu.

c) To decongest highways and railways by providing facilities for coastal traffic along the East Coast.

d) To promote tourism, cruises and coastal trade.

e)To provide facilities to encourage ship repairing and construction of floating crafts.

The policy guidelines are:

Private Participation

To create multi-user facilities capable of handling all types of cargo such as bulk, break bulk, containers, liquid bulk, petroleum products, chemicals, the Tamil Nadu Government has decided to develop all minor and intermediate ports in the State through Public-Private Participation.

Tsunami effect

The 2004 December Tsunami struck a big blow to the development of both Cuddalore and Nagapattinam ports. The rehabilitation of the tsunami-damaged infrastructure such as rehabilitating and extending the breakwaters and dredging was completed in September 2009 with the assistance of Asian Development Bank funds of Rs 11.91 crore.

Similarly, at Nagapattinam, the rehabilitation of the tsunami-damaged infrastructure such as rehabilitating and extending the breakwaters, dredging and construction of cargo sheds was completed in September 2009 with Asian Development Bank funds of Rs 44.64 crore.

Chemplast Sanmar Limited has developed a Marine Terminal Facility (MTF) within Cuddalore port limits to handle Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM) required for Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) factories. The Cuddalore Powergen Corporation Limited proposes to set up a jetty at a cost of Rs 325 crore.

At Nagapattinam, Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited has established a jetty to handle the products of their refinery and is handling cargo through the jetty.

Road ahead

1.Kattupalli

Among the captive ports, a shipyard-cum-minor port complex built by L&T Shipbuilding Ltd is coming up Kattupalli port near Ennore at a cost of Rs 3,375 crore. The company has completed the rehabilitation and resettlement activities.

2.Mugayur

Marg Swarnabhoomi Port Private Limited has proposed to develop a ship repair facility at a cost of Rs 500 crore the Mugaiyur port near Mamallapuram for which the Government declared Mugaiyur as a minor port last Novemeber.

3.Thiruchopuram Port

Nagarjuna Oil Corporation Ltd has been permitted to establish a captive port at a cost of Rs 1,800 crore for handling crude and petroleum products from their proposed oil refinery at Thiruchopuram in Cuddalore district.

4.Silambimangalam Shipyard Port

Permission has been granted to Goodearth Shipbuilding Private Limited to establish a captive shipbuilding yard in Cuddalore district at a cost of Rs 500 crore for building of ships up to 75,000 DWT.

5.Kaveri Port

PEL Power Limited plans to establish a jetty near Poompuhar in Nagapattinam district at cost of Rs 200 crore to handle coal for its 1,320 MW Power Plant.


6.Vanagiri Port

NSL Power Limited has proposed to establish a jetty in Sirkazhi taluk of Nagapattinam district at a cost of Rs 250 crore for handling coal for their 1,500 MW power plant.

7.Thirukkadaiyur Port

PPN Power Generating Company handles naphtha and natural gas through this port, declared in the year 1996, required for their 330 MW gas-combined Cycle Power Project established at Pillaiperumalnallur, near Thirukkadaiyur in Nagapattinam district.

8.Thirukkuvalai Port

Tridem Port and Power Company Private Limited proposes to establish a port near Vettaikkaran Iruppu in Nagapattinam district at a cost of Rs 650 crore to handle coal required for their proposed 2,000 MW Merchant Power Plant, for which the port limits have been declared. An area of 276 acres of port land has been allotted to this company, on annual licence basis, to create the marine facilities.

9.Manappad Port

The Government has declared Manappad in Thoothukudi district a minor port to be established at a cost of Rs 1,800 crore for handling LNG for the proposed 2,000 MW Gas Turbine Power Project to be set up by Indian Power projects Ltd., at Vembar. For this, 100 acres of port land has been allotted for construction of marine facilities. Financial closure for this project is to be finalised soon.

10.Koodankulam Port

The Koodankulam port in Tirunelveli district was declared for the captive use of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd for their proposed Nuclear Power project at Koodankulam, consisting of two units of 2,000 MW each. A dyke (1 km long and 500 metres broad) for storing seawater required for the power plant and a RCC Jetty with necessary breakwater protection, established at a cost of Rs 340 crore for receiving machinery has been constructed.

During 2009-10, 231 tonnes of machinery was handled at this port. In addition, ports under consideration are at Panaiyur where Coastal Tamil Nadu Power Limited has been granted an in-principle approval to develop a captive port to handle coal required for their proposed 4,000 MW Ultra Mega Power Project.


11.Parangipettai Port
IL&FS Limited has been granted in-principle approval to develop a captive port at Cuddalore at a cost of Rs 1,300 crore, to handle coal for its proposed 4,000 MW Merchant Power plant.


12.Udangudi Port

Udangudi Power Corporation Limited, Chennai, has been granted in-principle approval to establish an open sea jetty at a cost of Rs 600 crore to receive coal for its 1,600 MW Udangudi Super Critical Thermal Power Project and to set up a circulating water inlet tunnel and intake; circulating water outlet and temporary facilities for unloading project cargo (barge jetty) at Udangudi near Tiruchendur in Thoothukudi district.

The company has engaged the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa as consultants to prepare the detailed project report. NIO is finalising the jetty alignment.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/05/13/stories/2010051351691800.htm

What happend to proposed Colachel port? It was supposed to be a transhipment hub or something and mooted by present CM MK.

Investment in Tamil Nadu’s mining sector rose eight-fold during the third quarter of 2009-10 to touch Rs 1.48 lakh crore from Rs 15,763 crore in Q2, according to Assocham.

D S Rawat, secretary general, Assocham, said the power sector also reported a sharp growth in investments in Q3, when the total investment, including public and private, doubled to Rs 4.06 lakh crore (Rs 2.22 lakh crore). On the other hand, services, irrigation and real estate sectors registered a decline in Q3 due to a variety of reasons.
The state saw a 44 per cent jump in total investments in the said quarter, of which the power sector had the largest share of 42.7 per cent followed by manufacturing with 34.6 per cent. The state also emerged as a major destination for foreign investments primarily in automobile, electronics and cement sectors.

Tamil Nadu received 8.6 per cent of the total public sector investment in the country and five per cent of private investment. Infrastructure and existing industrial base were among the factors that attracted investors.


http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/tn-sees-44-risein-q3-investments/394636/
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What happend to proposed Colachel port? It was supposed to be a transhipment hub or something and mooted by present CM MK.

With Vizhinjam transhipment port coming up in the vicinity, this project doesnt stand a chance of becoming a reality:ohno:. Colachel is more likely to remain a fishing harbor, I guess.

With Vizhinjam transhipment port coming up in the vicinity, this project doesnt stand a chance of becoming a reality:ohno:. Colachel is more likely to remain a fishing harbor, I guess.



http://www.projectsmonitor.com/PORT/fresh-start-to-colachel-port


Nodal agency Tamil Nadu Maritime Board has made a fresh beginning to the proposed development of the defunct Colachel minor port in the east coast state. Speaking to Projectmonitor, a senior TNMB official said that the board was in the process of evaluating bids submitted by incumbent consultants. The maritime board is likely to finalise the consultant in the next 10 days, the official said. The consultant selected would be responsible for preparing the techno-economic feasibility report that would govern the further progress on the project. Bids closed for submission on December 31, 2009.

When asked about land, the official said that sufficient government land was available and even though coastal land at disposal was limited, there was always scope to reclaim land. The broad project parameters like cost, capacity and type of cargo would depend on the TEFR. "It is premature to comment on these issues now," the official pointed out.

It is interesting to note that the Colachel minor port development has been in the making for over a decade but without much success. In 2007, the Centre had entrusted Sethusamudram Corporation Ltd with the task of developing the port. SCL in February that year had also floated tenders for consultants but the process came to naught due to some "discrepancy" in the tender documents, an industry source recalled. The port development mandate is now with TNMB, the board official explained.

Although the port development plan will depend on the TEFR, Colachel—now a defunct minor port with only sporadic fishing activity—is seen as a potential container hub, despite the presence of two other major ports in Tamil Nadu—Ennore and Chennai. Due to its strategic location at the southern tip of India near Kanyakumari, there is potential of transshipment of containers through Colachel, weaning traffic away from Colombo.

In 1998 too, the state government had made a feeble attempt to develop the port into a major container port. An agency called TACID had submitted a feasibility report to the state government, and so did a Malaysian port development company sometime later. Both these pursuits did not fructify for a number of reasons, including inadequate funds with the state government.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/sipcot-to-create-land-bank15000-acres/394875/

The State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (Sipcot) is planning to create a land bank of around 15,000 acre across the state to cater to industrial development.

Speaking at the inauguration of Allison Transmission manufacturing facility at Oragadam, near here on Thursday, N Govindan, chairman and managing director of Sipcot, said the biggest challenge in the state was acquisition of land for industrial development.

He said the corporation is creating social infrastructure in addition to industrial infrastructure in the state.

“We are planning to invest around Rs 25 crore towards the development of social infrastructure for displaced landowners, construction and renovation of schools, houses and hospital this year,” Govindan said.

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/slowdown-arrests-tns-job-march/618519/1

Though the primary responsibility for the development of micro, small & medium enterprises (MSME) is with the state, very few keep a close track of the sector. One exception to the rule is Tamil Nadu, which had unfurled a micro small & medium industries policy in 2008 to enhance the competitiveness of the sector and to push up the growth rate to double-digits. In fact, the southern state has even targeted to raise the direct and indirect employment in the sector by 10 lakh in the 11th Plan period.

Numbers for the first three years of the Plan period show that though still short of targets, the growth in employment has been impressive with 4.06 lakh jobs created. At a broad level, numbers indicate that the failure to generate the expected employment was mainly due to the recession that slowed employment creation. Employment generation in the MSME sector was a high 1.5 lakh in 2007-08, but it slowed to 1.1 lakh in 2008-09.

A consolation is that employment has bounced back to 1.46 lakh in 2009-10.

But a closer look shows that the core of the small-scale sector has remained buoyant, steadily increasing employment generation each year and that the fluctuations in employment creation was mainly on account of the trends in the government-sponsored programmes in the sector.

A major programme whose performance has derailed the state’s attempts to boost the employment targets is the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) that aims to empower first-generation entrepreneurs to set up micro enterprises. Employment generated under the scheme has steadily decelerated from 52,655 in 2007-08 to 22,712 in 2008-09 and further to 20,968 in 2009-10. Consequently, the share of PMEGP in total additional employment generated has declined by more than a half. The experience has been similar in industrial cooperatives where the number of employment opportunities generated steadily slipped from 1,700 in 2007-08 to just 1133 in 2009-10.

However, the performance of the core MSME sector, private sector enterprise, has been more impressive as the segment was able to recoup the setbacks dealt by the recession and add new jobs much faster than before. Though the number of additional jobs created in the private units slipped sharply from 72,972 in 2007-08 to 63,013 in 2008-09 it rebounded back to an impressive 88,036 in 2009-10. But the share of employment generated by the private MSME units has steadily increased from 48.5% to 57.1% and further to 60.3% over the last three years.

Though relatively smaller in size, the performance of cottage and handicraft industries was even more impressive. Employment in cottage industries went up from 13,958 to 14,280 and further to 21,644, pushing up their share in MSME employment generation from 9.3% to 12.9% and further to 14.8%.

One factor that has contributed to the less-than-expected growth in employment generation is the decline in the growth of credit to MSMEs in the state. Though the absolute amount of credit to the MSME sector has steadily gone up from Rs 33,283 crore in 2007-08 to 37,859 crore in 2008-09 and to Rs 31,977 crore in the first nine months of 2009-10, the growth of credit has decelerated from 22.89% to 21.82% and 20.73% during the period. A reversal of these trends would hopefully restore employment generation.

Mr Shabin Sarvotham, General Manager, Radisson Resorts – Temple Bay, a property owned by Chennai-based GRT Hotels, sits back from a sales call. After a sip of the watermelon juice from a tall glass – expertly covered with a tissue paper – he said, “It's picking up.”

Last year peak season was “surprisingly good” for Temple Bay. Even this year, in the first three weeks of April, the property enjoyed over 75 per cent occupancy.

It is not surprising that the demand for hotels is picking up because there is a marked pick-up in investments in the State. Several multinational corporations have decided to pitch tent here — Renault-Nissan, Daimler, Toshiba, Ansaldo, Gamesa are the big ones. There are also several global companies that have planned investments in the State.

Needless to say, demand for hotel rooms is on the rise. This is the demand that hoteliers like Mr Sarvotham are moving in to meet.

GRT Hotels operates sis properties in Tamil Nadu (three in Chennai and one each in Yercaud, Kanchipuram, and Madurai) besides another in Puducherry. According to Mr G. Rajendran, Chairman, GRT Group, the company plans another four-star property in Tamil Nadu (Coimbatore). “We also recently invested around Rs 50 crore in expanding our existing properties. In Temple Bay, we added 70 cottages — some with independent swimming pools,” said Mr Rajendran.

With green-shoots evident in many industrial sectors, and recovering hotel occupancy levels as their multiplier effect, hoteliers seem to initiate new projects and some are expediting the projects that they had slowed down.

The New Ones

The Chennai-based Sabari Hotels is building a 120-room, three-star hotel in Coimbatore. The company announced that its Rs 400-crore expansion plans will be completed by 2012. “We have set ourselves a target to have 1,000-room inventory by at least 2012,” said Mr Ramesh Shiva, the group CEO.

Appu Hotels, part of Dharani Sugar group that owns Le Meridien in Chennai, too is planning to launch its Rs 225-crore five-star property in Coimbatore soon.

The hotel, again to be managed by Meridien, will have 250 rooms. It has also taken a 20-room resort in Kumbakonam on a 15-year lease from the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, and is planning to add 25 rooms at an investment of Rs 5 crore to make it commercially viable.

In Chennai, despite a slump in occupancies (to about 50 per cent) in the last two years, many hotel companies chose to go slow on their new project initiatives. Now these companies are back in action and speeding up construction activities. “In the next 12 months or so, most of these hotels will be completed,” said Mr M.P. Purushothaman, President, South India Hotels and Restaurants Association.

Chennai booming

If things move the way Mr Purushothaman says, Chennai will have doubled its room inventory by mid-2011.

Coming up in the city are as many as seven large hotels, with an investment of over Rs 2,000 crore. As such, the number of 5-star rooms in the city is likely to double over the next two years, from about 1,700 now.

http://www.blonnet.com/2010/05/13/images/2010051351791802.jpg
Upcoming hotel projects in Chennai, Hyatt Regency.

Each of these hotels appears to have a locational advantage. ITC's Grand Chola (the biggest of them all, with about 650 rooms) is not far from the airport. The 400-room Leela Kempinski's and the 370-room JW Mariott overlook the bay, Arun Saraf's 330-room Grand Hyatt is in the heart of the city.

The key question, however, is whether there is enough demand for so many rooms. Even in the best of days, Chennai's hotels can boast of 70-75 per cent occupancy. Will supply outstrip demand?

“May be initially,” says Mr Purushothaman, “but, in the long run, there will certainly be a matching demand.”

Mr Purushothaman is also the Chairman of the Empee Group, which is set to launch its new 250-room Empee Hilton in the city in the next few months. He points out that while the average occupancy may be around 70 per cent, in the peak months some hotels in the city enjoy over 115-120 per cent occupancy. When IT and manufacturing bounce back (as they are expected to), hotel rooms will be greatly in demand, he said.

Mr Subba Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director, Ceebros Group, which is coming up with 240-room Rain Tree on Mount Road at an investment of Rs 200 crore, is also bullish about the future. His hotel too is expected to be launched in two to three months.

The optimism of Mr Purushothaman and Mr Reddy is shared by many others in the industry.

“We are in fact expediting our project. We want to open it as soon as possible,” says Mr A. Srinivasan, Director, Robust Hotels, a special purpose vehicle floated by Arun Saraf Group of hotels.

The company's 330-room Grand Hyatt is coming up on Mount Road. Robust Hotels is confident about the market.

Room or no-room?

India gets far fewer tourists than its neighbours such as Thailand. So why would hoteliers put up new projects? Actually, it works the other way around — the country gets fewer tourists because there are not enough hotel rooms, as a consequence of which room rents are extremely high, say hoteliers.

Five-star hotel rooms in Chennai are typically cheaper than in other metros. For example, a standard room at Taj costs Rs 17,000 in Chennai, against Rs 22,500 in Mumbai and Rs 18,000 in Kolkata. But the actual rates offered during a down-season could be lower by 30-40 per cent.

“Left to competition, tariffs will come down and quality of service will get better and this will attract more tourists into the city,” said Mr S. Alagurajan, Director, Asiana, a 5-star hotel on Old Mahabalipuram Road on the outskirts of Chennai.

This company is planning a 180-room, 4-star hotel and 70-serviced apartments in Sriperumbudur.

“In Madurai too, we are planning a business class hotel with at least 150 rooms,” said the company's Managing Director and CEO, Mr Sriharan.

More importantly, once these new properties are up and running, they will generate more than 10,000 jobs in the State, said industry experts.

Source: http://www.blonnet.com/2010/05/13/stories/2010051351791800.htm

http://www.livemint.com/2010/05/16210225/Rise-in-outsourcing-catalyses.html

........“That problem is there everywhere in the country,” said an official at Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corp. Ltd.

The state is planning two aerospace SEZs, including one in Perambalur.

The official, who didn’t want to be named, said the state is inviting consultants this month to help develop a masterplan for aerospace SEZs. He didn’t give more details.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-company/earnings/earnings-news/CPCL-back-on-profit-track/articleshow/5945613.cms

.......IOC’s 15 million tonne project has only been deferred and not given up. The company is exploring the scope for setting up the refinery at Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu.

http://thatstamil.oneindia.in/lifestyle/automobiles/2010/hero-honda-inching-closer-set-up.html

TN govt, has to push some investments to the western TN. The perundurai engineering SEZ is vacant for a long time and could establish new SIPCOTs as well.

I think it would be easy for govt to push investors to west rather than south. ( no offenses, just a thought) I wanted south TN as well to develop.

TN govt, has to push some investments to the western TN. The perundurai engineering SEZ is vacant for a long time and could establish new SIPCOTs as well.

I think it would be easy for govt to push investors to west rather than south. ( no offenses, just a thought) I wanted south TN as well to develop.

Hi brand CBE

I am belong to West TN akka Erode..Still i believe in the Development of TN as Whole.If u want Comprehensive devopment it is must for Govt to look into South as well.I was having a chat with one of my friend from Ramnad he shared the same view.he was infact more worried that Development doesnt reach to places in South TN..

Cross posted from Karnataka projects thread...

http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/19/stories/2010051955410500.htm

CHENNAI: Seeking closer interaction with industry leaders from Tamil Nadu, the Karnataka State Government officials have initiated dialogue for a bullet train plying on Chennai-Mysore sector, wants Chennai-Bangalore industrial corridor extended to Mumbai and an Aerospace Park for mutual benefit, said its Industries Minister Murugesh R. Nirani on Tuesday.

“We are not competing with Tamil Nadu. But on the other hand, we would like to work with them. We could not have dreamt of such a thing 10 years ago. The unveiling of poet-saint statues by the Chief Ministers of these States has improved our relations,” Mr. Nirani told The Hindu.

In the last five years, Karnataka has attracted nine firms from Tamil Nadu with an investment of Rs.11,856 crore. Three manufacturers from Tamil Nadu have evinced interest to set up units with investment of Rs.4,000 crore. The names will be announced during the Global Investors Meet, he said.

High-speed rail link

According to him, the commissioning of the first phase metro rail in Bangalore city by the year end would ease the traffic problems.

Besides, the State is also planning to have a high-speed rail link connecting Bangalore International Airport and Bangalore city.

Noting that Japanese firms are demanding a separate industrial park, industrial corridor and bullet train, Mr. Nirani said “recently we set up a dialogue committee to speed up the work relating to bullet train. It is in the initial stages. It involves heavy funding. The next round of meeting will be held in June.”

Addressing investors as part of ‘Global Investors Meet 2010' road show, Karnataka Commissioner for Industrial Development and Director of Industries and Commerce Raj Kumar Khatri said that high priority is given for creating requisite infrastructure.

...

TN govt, has to push some investments to the western TN. The perundurai engineering SEZ is vacant for a long time and could establish new SIPCOTs as well.

I think it would be easy for govt to push investors to west rather than south. ( no offenses, just a thought) I wanted south TN as well to develop.

We need more development in South but Coimbatore should be given its due share, they should pump some big money to make infrastructure in CBE to compete against other tier II cities in the country.

We need more development in South but Coimbatore should be given its due share, they should pump some big money to make infrastructure in CBE to compete against other tier II cities in the country.

I do agree with it,..

What i fell is that, it is quite important to develop and advantage the most when it is easy. I meant the west TN, or atleast portray cbe centric policy/develop cbe-salem corridor.
My concern was TN should not loose investments and they can show an alternative to chennai which is more convincing to investors.

As you all know, we cant say that west TN has got its full share of investment,why investment? we dont have even enough transportation facilities

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/05/22/stories/2010052252881900.htm

Kerala, TN hold talks on industrial corridor.

The State Government has held exploratory discussions with Tamil Nadu with regard to development of the proposed Kochi-Coimbatore industrial corridor.

This was stated here by the Minister for Industries, Mr Elamaram Kareem, while inaugurating the National Resource Centre for Industrial Development (NRCID) being set up by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC).

The NRCID would act as a window to facilitate dissemination of industry-related information to stakeholders.

The Minister said that discussions with the Tamil Nadu Government were aimed at setting up a combined agency for developing the proposed industrial corridor.

On completion, this is expected to trigger all-round development of the Coimbatore-Kanjiikode belt straddling the inter-State border as also around downstream Thrissur and Kochi in Kerala.

An international agency would be commissioned to take up a feasibility study on the project. .

Meanwhile, the NRCID being set up at the KSIDC headquarters here, would act as a platform for providing information about the industries sector to prospective entrepreneurs, academia and researchers.

It would provide data on the national economy, including data analysis and forecast. Such centres have been were functioning in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, the Minister said.

Databases

Services of trained professionals will also be made available at the centre to ensure efficient use of databases and to help the users.

It would feature a central terminal set up by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) for providing authentic information on different fields, including macro-economic, firm-level, sectoral and regional databases.

It will also offer a ‘State Analysis Service' through which the economic development of the State is closely monitored, major sectors and industries are tracked and the results presented.

The centre will help address problems such as absence of knowledge about the right source for data, non-uniformity of available data, difficulty in comparability, hindrances for standardisation of data etc. which are essential for drawing inference and which also would help to frame policies and guidelines.

The Minister also launched a newsletter Enterprise and Industrial Update-Kerala being brought out by the KSIDC. Among those who were present on the occasion were the Mr T. Balakrishnan, Additional Chief Secretary; Mr Alkesh Kumar Sharma, Managing Director, KSIDC; and Dr P. T. Nandakumar, President, Trivandrum Management Association.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/05/23/stories/2010052352230400.htm

Syntel, the US-based Nasdaq-listed information technology company, will invest nearly $50 million in its new global development centre (IT special economic zone) in Chennai. It will invest a similar amount at its Pune centre, according to the company's CEO and President, Mr Prashant Ranade.

Located on a 29-acre plot in an SEZ in the SIPCOT IT Park at Siruseri, the centre, when fully ready in two years, will be able to accommodate over 10,000 professionals, he told newspersons at the new facility.

The first phase of the centre consists of 6.50 lakh sq ft with capacity for over 5,000 employees. It will have three software development blocks and a 900-seat training block, he said.

The centre will run operations for clients in healthcare and BFSI (banking, financial services and insurance) sectors, he said.

In Pune, the company will expand its SEZ with a planned 4,200 additional seats and a 1,200-seat training block, he said. Of the 13,600 employees globally, nearly 90 per cent are for India operations, he said.

Dr N.N.R. Sharavanan, General Manager, Syntel, said the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu had recently made in-principle allotment of 25 acres each in Madurai and Tirunelveli SEZs.

The company plans to enhance its presence in the State by building centres at these locations once the Chennai campus is fully occupied in two years.

Inaugurating the centre, the Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister, Mr M. K. Stalin, urged IT companies such as Syntel to work with the State Government in the implementation of the e-waste policy announced recently.

He also asked IT companies to participate directly in community development activities by spending at least 3 per cent of their budget in corporate social responsibility activities.

Rs.10,000 cr power plant proposal for Tamil Nadu



http://sify.com/news/Rs-10-000-cr-power-plant-proposal-for-Tamil-Nadu-news-National-kfysEpcehhc.html

The Indian Oil Corporation and the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation have submitted a proposal to the Tamil Nadu government for jointly setting up a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and a power plant near here at a cost of Rs.10,000 crore.

'The state government has responded positively saying that it would study the project,' Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora told reporters here Monday.


He said a request has been made to the state government to allot land for the expansion project of oil refining company Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd (CPCL).


Speaking on the progress of various oil pipeline projects, Petroleum Secretary S. Sundareshan said work on Kakinada-Chennai, Tuticorin-Chennai, Chennai-Bangalore, Kochi-Mangalore via Bangalore, Salem and Coimbatore pipelines has started.


According to him, the projects will be completed before 2012.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/cons-products/garments-/-textiles/Lakshmi-Machine-sees-FY11-sales-up-30-pc-on-textile-pick-up/articleshow/5968933.cms


....The firm, which commands more than 60 percent of the domestic spinning machinery market, is also setting up a centre in Tamil Nadu to make components for the defense and aerospace industries


http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/lakshmi-machine-fy11-sales-may-grow-30/95453/on

.....It is investing about Rs 120 crore in FY11 mainly in upgrading and modernising its plants and machinery, and would fund the capex through internal accruals, he added.......The firm, which commands more than 60 per cent of the domestic spinning machinery market, is also setting up a centre in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu to make components required by aerospace and defence, Rajendran said.

"We would be making components and accessories to that industry. We have already started the process of registering ourselves as a vendor." The centre will start supplies later this fiscal.

The firm would count aerospace giant Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd as a major customer and is spending Rs 30 crore on setting up the centre.

"Since it is a new area we would like to consolidate and grow slowly," he said, adding he does not expect a large revenue stream from this venture this fiscal.

http://www.dredgingtoday.com/2010/05/24/tnmb-wants-to-develop-colachel-port-india/


http://www.dredgingtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Colachel.jpg



Although plans to develop Colachel port here into a Major Port came unstuck because of the need for heavy investments of over Rs 2,000 crore, the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board (TNMB) has again initiated this process by asking iMaritime Consultants, Mumbai, to prepare a techno-economic feasibility report on the development of the project.


Explained a TNMB source, “We want to know what can be done with the non-major port. Whether a possibility of developing it into a mega port exists or not. If there is a possibility of development (which will be taken up in a phased manner), a detailed plan will be given out by the consultant.”

Colachel is close to the international shipping route and it has sufficient draught to attract large ships.

RITES Ltd in its ‘Port Vision 2020’ report had identified Colachel as ideal for developing into a container transhipment hub port. Since this project involves enormous investments, the Union government has requested funding assistance. In July last, the Ministry of Shipping (MoS) reportedly asked the Tamil Nadu government to go ahead with the project, according to the Policy Note on Highways submitted to the State Assembly recently.

The State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) will invest around Rs.200 crore to provide and upgrade basic infrastructural facilities in its industrial parks, complexes and growth centres to attract more investors in the current year.

As per the plan, SIPCOT will lay roads, construct storm water drains and culverts, make provision for water supply, street light and sewerage systems, construct buildings, fencing and compound walls and plant trees in industrial parks, complexes and growth centres.

“This year, around 48 per cent of the amount will be spent on building roads, drains and culverts, while 36 per cent for installing water supply system. Last year, we invested Rs.153 crore, of which two-thirds were meant for roads and drains. We hope to complete around 60 per cent of the work by December and the balance before March 2011,” according to S. Vincent, special project manager, SIPCOT.

N. Govindan, SIPCOT Chairman and Managing Director, said most of the two-lane roads laid within these industrial parks, complexes and growth centres will connect State or national highways.

Around Rs.34 crore has been set aside for providing external road link to Thervoy Kandigai and the work will be completed in six months.

Similarly, Siruseri Road project will cost Rs.23.50 crore and connectivity to Bargur will cost Rs.18.70 crore.

Besides, a 6.1-km external road connecting NH-66 to SIPCOT SEZ will be laid at a cost of Rs.13.20 crore with ASIDE grant.

The other places to be covered during this year include Oragadam, Pillaipakkam, Mappedu, Irungattukottai, Perundurai, Hosur, Cuddalore, Nilakottai and Gangaikondan.

A major portion of the work contract is meant for Thervoy Kandigai (Rs.88.80 crore), followed by Siruseri (Rs.25.71 crore), Bargur SEZ (Rs.19.45 crore) and Perundurai (Rs.17.25 crore). Funds are also being spent on places like Nilakottai, Ranipet, Cheyyar and Mappedu ranging from Rs.79 lakh to Rs.1.70 crore.

SIPCOT is also preparing a comprehensive plan for strengthening of infrastructural facilities in the Sriperumbudur area to meet the requirement of industrial workers and their families relating to housing, education, health and entertainment. About 150 acres has been proposed for this purpose.

At present such facilities are being provided at Oragadam and Thervoy Kandigai, Mr. Govindan said.

Source: http://beta.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article438465.ece

Grasim in 10 million tonne brownfield expansion

Mumbai: Grasim Industries, the flagship cement company of Aditya Birla Group, aims to add 10 million tonne per annum (mtpa) capacity.

Though the company declined to give details, sources close to the development said the capacities would be added in Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

“The company will put three kilns of 10,000 tonne per day capacity each and the orders are estimated to be placed by June. The tenders have already been floated for the same,” a source said.
Work is to start in the last quarter of this fiscal.

Adesh Gupta, group chief financial officer, Grasim Industries said, “We are going to expend Rs 5,500-6,500 crore for the 10 mt capacity expansion and we are looking at sites. The exact area for brownfield expansion we can give only in the next quarter. We have 8-10 plans across the country and we would expand where we are ready to do it faster.”

It would take 24-27 months for the new capacity to go on stream.
Grasim will also put up bulk cement terminals, logistics support systems and waste heat recovery systems, which will be funded from the capex of Rs 4,475 crore earmarked for the cement business, of which Rs 3,414 crore would be spent this year.
The company currently has one bulk terminal operational, at Hyderabad.

The contribution of cement business to Grasim’s revenues declined from 79% last year to 75% this year.

The management has indicated that the oversupply situation will put pressure on margins going forward.

Analysts had earlier predicted good Q1 FY11 results based on the increase in cement prices since March, but with the fall in prices of late and demand subdued, they do not expect margins to hold strong anymore.

Analysts also feel that the recent acquisition of ETA Star of Dubai by Grasim’s subsidiary UltraTech at a valuation of $125 per tonne was an expensive deal. ETA Star has presence in Dubai, Bahrain and Bangladesh. Following the acquisition, Grasim will stop exports to the Gulf countries where it used to export 1-2 mt a year, though the amount had lately declined for lack of construction activity in those countries. The company is now looking at Indian Ocean region countries for acquisitions closer to the ports.

Meanwhile Grasim is demerging its cement business into Samruddhi Cement Ltd effective October 1, 2009. Grasim will hold 65% equity stake in Samruddhi, which would be listed and merged into UltraTech effective July 1, 2010.

http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report_grasim-plans-cement-capacity-expansion_1385533

^^

This 2000 crores investment likely to go to Karur in Tamilnadu. :)

TN goes for e-stamping

BS Reporter / Chennai May 29, 2010, 0:20 IST



The Tamil Nadu government has launched an e-stamping project for registration of documents, with a pilot project being implemented in nine sub-registrar offices in Chennai. The new system, which will be subsequently extended to other registration offices in the state, is to help eradicate fake stamp papers in circulation.

E-stamping can be used for execution and registration of any type of documents such as sale, mortgage etc. A single e-stamp suffices for any denomination. According to the Stock Holding Corporation of India, the agency implementing the project, e-stamping of certificates is just like stamp papers, but which are generated online. Registration of documents is done after verifying the payment of stamp duty online.



http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/tn-goes-for-e-stamping/396366/

Leitner Shriram Manufacturing, 51:49 JV between Italy based Leitwind and Shriram EPC, proposes to expand the capacity of its wind turbine facility at Gummidipundi near Chennai.
The plant's current capacity for the 1.5 MW class is 120-150 wind turbine generators (WTGs). The company plans to double the capacity to 250 turbines of 1.5 MW at a cost of Rs 150 crore by end-2010.
The company is likely to fund the expansion through a mix of equity and debt.

www.projectstoday.com

www.epaper.timesofindia.com
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOICH/2010/05/31/4/Img/Pc0041200.jpg
POWER FROM THE GLARE: The Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency has plans to install solar power generating units in central prisons and big temples in the state.

Chennai: After topping the country in wind energy generation, Tamil Nadu is warming up to solar energy too.
The Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) has installed solar refrigerators in 10 district public health centres (PHC) and is planning to introduce solar airconditioners in two medical colleges in the state.
The agency has plans to install renewable energy generating units in central prisons and big temples in the state. Tamil Nadu is the first state to introduce such ‘green’ measures, say TEDA officials.
The solar refrigerators were installed during 2009 in additional PHCs in Arunoothumalai in Salem District, Sitheri in Dharmapuri district, Pudumadam in Ramanathapuram district, Kilakadu in Kallakurichi, Kattanoor in Virudhunagar district, Thengumarahada, Kolapally and O’ valley in the Nilgiris district, Amaravathy Nagar in Coimbatore and Nammiyampattu, Jawadhu hills in Thiruvannamalai district.
“Maintaining vaccines and medicines at prescribed temperature becomes difficult due to frequent outages in districts. The refrigerators we introduced are similar to the normal ones except that they run on solar panels kept on the top of the PHC building,” said Christudas Gandhi, chairman of TEDA.
He said that the refrigerators drew good response from the PHCs. “This equipment can be set up in all the hospitals, blood banks and PHC. Even if there is a power cut, the refrigerator will continue to run,” he said.
The TEDA is also planning to introduce solar airconditioners in a big way. “We will introduce the solar air conditioners in Madras Medical College and the Christian Medical College in Vellore and also in Raj Bhavan,” said Gandhi.
Unlike the conventional air conditioner that runs on electricity, the solar airconditioners uses a thermal panels to generate power. “A private company in Kancheepuram is the first one to install a 96-tonne equipment on its premises. The cost of the equipment is nearly 120 lakh and the pay-back period is nearly 8 years,” said deputy general manager (wind and solar) Duke Christopher.
Gandhi said that there were plans to setup renewable energy units in central prisons, Madras Medical College and Christian Medical college and temples like Rameswaram and Thanjavur. “We are planning to install solar-powered lights, water heaters and biogas plants in all these places. This will help them meet their energy needs without contributing to global warming,” said Gandhi.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/cons-products/garments-/-textiles/NTC-to-sell-two-city-mill-properties-eyes-Rs-2k-cr/articleshow/6000994.cms


....Apart from modernisation, NTC also plans to set up two technical textile manufacturing facilities in Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu with an investment of Rs 400 crore, said Mr Pillai.

http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report_bgr-energy-systems-eyes-fourfold-jump-in-orders_1391242

BGR Energy Systems, Chennai-based power equipment maker, is looking to bag orders worth Rs 15,000 crore this fiscal compared to Rs 3,500 crore in 2009-10, said chief financial officer P R Easwar Kumar.

“We have identified projects worth Rs 30,000 crore,” he said.
BGR currently has an order-book of Rs 10,200 crore, 93% of which is in boiler, turbine, generator (BTG) and balance of plant (BoP) jobs for power projects and 7% in products such as equipment for the oil & gas industry.

Kumar said the company had put in bids for about four projects worth Rs 14,000 crore, including for the engineering, procurement and construction work for a 2X660 mw power plant in Rajasthan worth Rs 12,000 crore. “We will get to know about it in the second quarter,” he said.

Moreover, BGR is looking to double its orders in the product division to Rs 320 crore.

Order inflows for the company dropped last fiscal to Rs 3,500 crore from Rs 8,000 crore in 2008-09.

BGR is looking to spend Rs 100 crore this year as capex on the acquisition of construction equipment.

BGR, which now imports BTG, will soon start manufacturing supercritical turbines and generators in Tamil Nadu in association with Japan’s Hitachi. “We should finalise details about investment and the location in two months,” Kumar said.

The company is targeting a 60% growth in both its topline and bottomline this fiscal.

Other than equipment and EPC, BGR also has power generation plans. It recently bagged a 1,320 mw coal-fired plant project in Orissa and is also developing a 2X660 mw coal-based project in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu.

http://www.vccircle.com/500/news/clenergen-india-buys-15-mw-biomass-power-plant-in-tamil-nadu

Clenergen India Pvt Ltd, the wholly owned subsidiary of Clenergen Corporation of USA, has acquired a 1.5MW biomass power plant in Tamil Nadu for a consideration of $1.65 million (about Rs 7.7 crore). The funding was made through a mix of debt and equity raised through share sale.

For the debt part, Clenergen has raised funding from Indian Renewable Energy Agency and other sources, while the equity was raised selling shares to the private equity players, it said in the statement.

Clenergen mentioned that the target plant is a turnkey project and is fully operational. It has facility to generate electricity through an anaerobic digestion process using chicken litter as the biomass feedstock. Clenergen is planning to start power generation from the project from June 15 this year, and is expecting revenue of $1.2-$1.8 million per annum from the plant, added the statement.

Clenergen also intends to upgrade the generating capacity of the facility to 10MW over the next 12 months. It believes, if fully operational, the expanded plant will generate revenues in excess of $6 million per annum.

Besides acquisition, the company is also expanding its operation in organic way. It will install two new biomass power projects, a 16MW plant in Tamil Nadu and a 64MW plant in Karnataka. It has also entered into a power purchase agreement with Power Trading Corporation of India Ltd (PTC) to sell produced power, and will supply 71MW of electricity to PTC for a 15-year period at an average price of 12 cents per KW hour.

Mark Quinn, CEO, Clenergen Corporation, said, in the statement, “This is the first of several such acquisitions that Clenergen has scheduled for closure this year. Clenergen is committed to generating revenues and increasing shareholder values through acquisitions of existing power plants in tandem with its plan for an estimated 32,000 acres of energy crop plantations spread over six continents.”

http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/04/stories/2010060453460400.htm

Co-operative societies can monitor sales, stock details on real-time basis

CHENNAI: Hand-held billing machines with GPRS connections will be installed in all fair price shops in Tiruvallur and Krishnagiri districts from Friday.

This will allow co-operative societies to monitor sales and stock details of these outlets on real-time basis. The Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu has been entrusted the task of procuring the machines.

“Over 1,590 fair price shops in Chennai have been provided with hand-held billing machines. Following its success, it has been decided to roll out the machines in these two districts that have over 1150 fair price shops. The installation will commence on Friday and be completed within a month. Thereafter, test run will be conducted for a month. After seeing the result, we will install it in other districts,” Jatindra Nath Swain, Registrar of Co-operative Societies, told TheHindu.

“The State-wide launch will not happen soon, as we have to see how these billing machines function in rural areas. In case of a problem, it is easy to service them in Chennai. But, in rural areas, it may take some more time. Besides, we have to see the connectivity issue too,” Mr. Swain said.

After the completion of a month-long lorry tracking system in Tiruvallur, co-operative societies plan to extend it throughout the State by September.

“It is not expensive as we have to give only a BSNL-SIM card to the movement assistant attached to the lorry. About 95 per cent of the 28,000 fair price shops in the State provide information about the stock position. The response from the staff at godowns and loaders has been positive.

...

http://sify.com/finance/national-mfg-policy-by-autumn-says-sharma-news-news-kgemaQgjjfc.html

The National Manufacturing Policy (NAP), which aims to make India the workshop of the world, would be released by autumn, announced Commerce Minister Anand Sharma. He told Business Standard on Thursday, at the sidelines of a business seminar to launch the CEOs Forum of India and South Africa, that his ministry expected to complete three sessions with states and industry by July, before taking policy for the approval of the Cabinet. "I am of the view that the NAP will be in place by autumn this year. The objective is also to increase the share of the manufacturing sector to 25 per cent from the present level of 15 per cent," he added.

Sharma mentioned that the draft policy, currently circulated for seeking suggestions and objections, proposes the development of manufacturing and investment zones in various states. He informed that these zones have been planned in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. "States need to do zoning of industrial lands which is quite important for the development of manufacturing and investment zones. States will have to be proactive, as the zoning of industrial lands will enable the development of integrated townships which will not only attract investments but also create more jobs," he noted.

The manufacturing and investment zones would not necessarily focus on exports unlike SEZs. These zones would not exempt the members from paying income taxes.

MADURAI: The Centre will hold an inter-ministerial meeting on Tamil Nadu government's proposal to set up a petroleum, chemicals and petrochemicals investment region (PCPIR) near Cuddalore on June 14, according to Bijoy Chatterjee, Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals.

Talking to The Hindu here on Saturday, Mr. Chatterjee said that the work on three PCPIRs in the country had taken off and were in various stages of progress.

Each PCPIR would be a specifically delineated investment region with an area of around 250 sq km for establishing manufacturing facilities for domestic and export-led production in petroleum, chemicals and petrochemicals, along with associated services and infrastructure.

The State government had proposed one between Cuddalore and Nagapattinam.

“After the inter-ministerial meeting, a high-power committee, under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary, will discuss it by the end of June,” he said.

Stating that the State government had prepared a concept paper for a possible site for PCPIR near Ramanathapuram, Mr. Chatterjee said, “Tamil Nadu is the only State government that has proposed a second PCPIR, whereas other States have only one.”:cheers:

The Centre had sought a detailed report on the second project with investment particulars from the State.

Mr. Chatterjee said that Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation had floated tenders to finalise the consultant for preparing the detailed report.

Though Mr. Chatterjee declined to reveal the size of investment proposed in the two projects in Tamil Nadu, he said it would be equivalent to that of the PCPIRs coming up elsewhere in the country.

The estimated investment in the PCPIRs proposed at Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, Dahej in Gujarat and Haldia in West Bengal is Rs.4.80 lakh crore.

“Out of this, Rs.30,000 crore will go for infrastructure development alone,” he said.

While the Gujarat government had allotted land and the second phase of work was going on, West Bengal had notified land for the purpose, he said.

Mr. Chatterjee was here in connection with the curtain raiser for India Chem 2010, the 6 {+t} {+h} international exhibition and conference, to be held in Mumbai in October.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/06/stories/2010060657570200.htm

http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/06/stories/2010060652830400.htm

The Water Resources Department on Friday commenced work to create flood banks and construct check dams on various stretches of the Araniar river in Tiruvallur district as part of its flood management project.

A retaining wall covering a stretch of 140 metres would be constructed along the vulnerable points of the bank.

The work, covering a 21.5-km stretch of the river, is expected to benefit over 30,000 residents and around 11,000 hectares of farm lands in 30 villages that are severely affected by floods.



Nearly four thousand million cubic feet of water, which is equal to 310 million litres, gets drained every year from the river in to the Bay of Bengal near Pulicat, the official said.

A check dam would be constructed along the river at Panappakam near Uthukottai at a cost of Rs.3.29 crore. While the Union Ministry of Water Resources would fund 75 per cent of the project cost, the rest would be provided by the State government.

The work was expected to be completed by March 2011, the official added.

Not sure why we are porposing the second PCPIR ? Do we have the advantages like Gujarat or AP in terms of natural resources ? Why can't they set up a manufacturing investment region in Ramanathapuram ?
TN is traditionally good in manufacturing and can push these investments to down south.

^^
Because, PCPIR developments come under Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. Manufacuring comes under Ministry of Commerce and Industries. All non IT SEZ are meant for them.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/bengaluru/hawk%E2%80%99s-eye-over-indian-ocean-192

June 6: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will soon have its first fighter air base and a squadron of combat jets in the peninsular region at Sulur in Tamil Nadu. The base will protect strategic installations and maintain Indian air superiority over the Indian Ocean.

Work is apace at Sulur on an extended runway, test bays for the flight control system, avionics, radar, special hangars and modern radio and navigation aids. These facilities are being built for fighter jets which will embark on patrol missions over the peninsular region and the Indian Ocean.
Such a full-fledged fighter air base and the decision to position a squadron of combat jets has been prompted by “enhanced capabilities of adversaries” in recent days, top sources in IAF told this newspaper. “There is definitely a need to protect strategic assets in the south given the fact that our adversaries have long range missiles and ship-launched cruise missiles,” the sources said.

Besides, a combat squadron would help maintain superiority over the Indian Ocean and protect sea routes in that region. “From Sulur it will be easy to do the aerial equivalent of a flag march over Sri Lanka and Maldives, should the need arise,” sources added.

The IAF has chosen indigenous Tejas fighters to be positioned at Sulur. These fighter jets are due for induction into the air strike wing in December 2010 and have a flying range of 500 km. “With mid-air refuelling, the range can be stretched up to 1,000 km for enhanced security cover over the region,” sources said.

With the airspace south of Sulur being relatively free and far from the prying eyes of neighours, the squadron of Tejas fighters will be able to work up to operational readiness in peace. These fighters will also be close to the manufacturing facility, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), here, as well as Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which coordinated the indigenous programme, to help tackle maintenance problems.

...

http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/10/stories/2010061057550100.htm

To generate power for habitations near private estates

THENI: Water streams and falls that have good flow on the hills of Theni and Dindigul districts will be utilised to generate power for habitations near private estates.

Department of Renewable Energy, in association with private estates, has plans to set up mini hydro-electric plants across these streams to generate power to provide electricity to inaccessible areas. A survey has already commenced throughout the State to identify suitable places to set up mini hydro electric power generation plants. Small hydropower projects will play a critical role in providing energy requirement, particularly for remote and inaccessible areas, according to official sources.

Sources in the department said that over 20 places, mostly on Kodaikanal hill in Dindigul and 10 places on Megalamalai and Kadamalaigundu Myladumparai hills in Theni district, had been identified for the purpose.

This project can also be established at low level falls or streams. Check dams will be constructed across these low level streams to store sufficient quantity of water to operate these power generating turbines. The stored water will be taken through pipelines to obtain required pressure to generate power. Cost of power generation and transmission to residential areas will also be very less.

...

MADURAI:
.

Stating that the State government had prepared a concept paper for a possible site for PCPIR near Ramanathapuram, Mr. Chatterjee said, “Tamil Nadu is the only State government that has proposed a second PCPIR, whereas other States have only one.”:cheers:



When gujarat and Andhra has started bidding for second UMPP even the approved first UMPP didnt take off because our people could not get the land and environmental clearance.

I am worried because this needs lot of land and lots of clearance before we get one approval why are we going for second.

Remember there is no obligation for center to honor their committment and also if different govt comes the priority might change.


We first started talking about ITIR but no noise about that now and other states are already ahead in the race.

The government today raised over Rs 38,300 crore as the 16-day long auction for Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) spectrum came to an end.

Tamilnadu got a whopping Rs 2,049 crore which is the third highest in India.

http://sify.com/finance/cii-to-set-up-leadership-institute-in-tamil-nadu-news-default-kgoracdcbef.html

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will set up an institute to train middle-level managers in industries and academia for leadership roles in the manufacturing sector.

'We will be setting up the institute partnering with others for which discussions are on. To be called Visionary Leaders For Manufacturing Institute (VLFMI), it will be set up in Tamil Nadu. The aim is to strengthen and transform the manufacturing sector by developing leaders,' CII's Southern Region (CII-SR) Chairman S. Gopalakrishnan told reporters here Monday.

This will be the third institute to be promoted by CII in South India after the Bangalore-based Quality Institute and the Logistics Institute headquartered here. The former conducts training programmes in quality processes and the latter offers diploma programmes in logistics, supply chain management and others, said a CII official.

According to Gopalakrishnan, CII-SR has adopted 'Economic Wellbeing for All - An Agenda for Business' as the theme for the current fiscal and the organisation's activities will be on policy interventions that would aid building enterprises to create jobs and improving livelihoods.

Asked about the formation of unions in IT units, he said: 'IT sector is a high paying sector. As such the necessity of a trade union is not clear. Further, the demand for talent is high and an employee can always find another employer.'

He said CII would lobby for state-level manufacturing policies in the southern states that would aim at simplifying government procedures and having flexible labour rules.

^^^^ More on this ...

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Corporate-Trends/articleshow/6047073.cms

The rationale of selecting the southern location is south’s GDP of 9.2% per annum during 2005-09 has outpaced the national GDP of 8.5% during the same period. "Southern states contribute close to 26% of India’s GDP; 21% of the country’s FDI flows and continues to mark our position as the ideal destination of choice for investments into new generation businesses," he said.

On south’s industrial climate, Mr Gopalakrishnan said this area has been in the forefront of India’s growth story, especially during the last couple of years.

The institute’s objective will be to develop leadership capabilities among people representing leading premier institutions, manufacturing industry and academia who are dedicated to these sectors and build a high-powered manufacturing community over the next ten to 20 years, he said, while unveiling the plan of CII – southern region for 2010-11.

Noting that Economic Wellbeing for All — An Agenda for Business — is the theme selected for the current year in line with CII’s national one, ‘Business for Livelihood,’ Mr Gopalakrishnan said "we have drawn up a comprehensive work plan this year with key focus on policy interventions to aid in building sustainable enterprises, leading to job creation and improving the livelihood of the masses."

On the policy front, Mr Gopalakrishnan said CII would seek state-level manufacturing policies in south to provide an impetus to the manufacturing sector. Besides expecting the policy to simplify clearances and approval mechanisms, he said this is to facilitate green manufacturing, fast tracking infrastructure and flexible labour rules without diluted social security net. "Every additional 1% growth in manufacturing creates 20-30 million additional jobs," he said.

Mr Gopalakrishnan said CII will have an active engagement in the state manufacturing competitiveness council set up by the TN government. Chaired by deputy CM M K Stalin and TVS Motor honcho Venu Srinivasan, the SMCC will strive to enhance and sustain competitive edge of the manufacturing sector in TN, he said.

Apart from a Tamil Nadu Export Competitiveness Committee (TNECC), proposal for LNG Terminal in Chennai and setting up of Chennai – Bangalore industrial corridor too figured among other initiatives in TN.

Mr Gopalakrishnan said CII’s key focus will be on infrastructure development. It would identify key infrastructure projects in south for fast track implementation.

http://sify.com/finance/six-new-sezs-to-come-up-in-tn-news-news-kgxb4Kdhhce.html

Six new special economic zones (SEZs)are expected to go on stream in Tamil Nadu during the current financial year. Total investments in these SEZs are likely to exceed Rs 50,000 crore. The state already has 11 SEZs (excluding information technology SEZs), which registered physical and deemed exports worth Rs 35,641 crore in 2009-10.

Ajay Mittal, development commissioner, Madras Export Processing Zone (MEPZ), one of the seven zones set up by the Centre, said that 56 SEZs, including IT ones, were notified in the state, of which 32 are for IT and 24 non-IT. Of the 24, six will be operational by end of the current fiscal.

The new SEZs include an engineering SEZ at Perundurai promoted by State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu Limited (Sipcot), a multiservice SEZ and a light engineering one, both near Kalpakam, free trade warehousing zone at Sriperumbudur, food processing zone at Tuticorin and a multi-product SEZ at Nanguneri.

While total investment in these SEZs is likely to cross Rs 50,000 crore, the Nanguneri SEZ alone is expected to attract investments to the tune of Rs 15,000 crore and to generate 70,000 jobs. The SEZ is being promoted by Hyderbad-based AMRL International Tech City, according to industry sources.

The existing SEZs include Sipcot’s SEZs at Sriperumbudur, Gangai Kondan and at Oragadam, Nokia’s manufacturing SEZ unit at Sriperumbudur (largest exporter among all the SEZs in terms of value), Mahindra’s SEZ on the GST road for auto, apparel and IT/ITeS, Flextronics, Cheyyar Developers SEZ Ltd, Synfera Construction Ltd and MEPZ SEZ, Chennai.

^^ There was a very big lull about the Nanguneri SEZ. What are the companies coming up there?

^^ There was a very big lull about the Nanguneri SEZ. What are the companies coming up there?

There are 2 companies from Gulf who have evinced interest in setting up their manufacturing centers... another 2-3 companies is also in the pipeline..

Luckily this is now developed by a private company and they have spend considerable amount in developing it, they have done roadshows in many places and hopefully we will see some developments soon....


The website for the sez is as below
http://www.amrlitc.com/

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Chennai/Labour-unrest-puts-focus-on-laws/articleshow/6099536.cms

CHENNAI: With most multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in the state refusing to accept trade unions, Tamil Nadu is mulling a new law, along the lines of Maharashtra and West Bengal, to make it mandatory for companies to recognize trade unions.

The state labour department will soon form a committee to look into labour laws. It will also depute a team of joint commissioners of labour to visit West Bengal and Maharashtra to study their labour models and submit a report within three to four months, labour secretary Prabhakar Rao told The Times of India.

At present, TN laws do not mandate compulsory recognition of any trade union in a company. Multinationals prefer to manage labour relations through 'works committees ' which have representatives from various departments in the company, but the committees are sometimes seen as merely safeguarding the management's interest, resulting in more friction.

Industrial areas across the state have been in ferment in recent times. Last September, some labourers at Pricol's Coimbatore plant killed the vice-president following a strike over pay and other disputes. In the last year alone, MNCs such as Nokia and Ford have faced strikes or labour unrest.

The state's biggest investor, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, has faced several strikes by members of Hyundai Motor India Employees Union, backed by CITU, which claims to have more support from employees than the 'works committee' put in place by the company.

In January, Nokia employees at its plant in Sriperumbudur went on strike to protest against the suspension of over 50 workers following a disagreement with the management.

"We are verifying models in West Bengal and Maharashtra. In Maharashtra, the labour unions with the most members get recognized, while in West Bengal, unions are recognised through a secret ballot system. In places like Karnataka and Haryana, which are also quite industrialised, there are no such labour provisions yet they are not facing any problems. We will look at all these issues and frame suitable guidelines," the labour secretary said. Once the report is filed, the state will take an appropriate decision, he added.

However, officials of some companies say forced recognition of trade unions will make the state less attractive for companies. "We came to TN after considering various laws. After committing our investments, if the government goes ahead with forceful recognition of unions, it would be tantamount to moving the goal post half way through the game," an official with an MNC said.

Trade unionists have a different view. "Having a union is a fundamental right. The state labour advisory board comprises members of five unions, representative of management of companies and the government. We have recommended to the government that the unions be recognized by the managements," said A Soundararajan of CITU.

According to the labour ministry, strikes in manufacturing and service companies across the country rose 48% in 2008 from the year before.

^^ I can make out one thing from this news item - with even stringent labor laws, MH is able to attracts more investments than TN. If those companies wanna come to TN only because of relaxed labor laws, then there is fundamentally something wrong. With politicians who beat around the old language agenda and being corrupt with no interest to serve the state, it is disheartening to the core.

The Union Minister Raja is not even bringing one company to TN; he suck big time and is a huge embarrassment to the state :bash::bash:. Shipping Minister GK Vasan is of no use to TN - the port projects (new terminals, berths) are pending, the port connectivity project is nowhere near to take off. :bash::bash::bash:

I am not saying that Union ministers should take care of their states only...atleast they can do their bit.

Look at SM Krishna - he has convinced Obama to come to Blore after Obama's rhetoric against Blore. I am not sure if he will succeed or not, at least he is making an attempt. :cheers:

This is not any state comparison. It is just a set of facts put forth for a discussion :).

All that I see is, MK and MKS will open a set of flyovers all over Chennai and in TN in the coming months, repeat the same crap that TN registered 30% growth in IT (when other states are growing at the same rate or more) and will offer free laptops and **it to lure voters. At the end of the day, no tangible benefits - people have to travel out of state for jobs, lesser MNCs and the same old companies resulting is less value, labor problems driving out investors, pending projects etc. :bash::bash:

I was a severe critic of TN in the past. I changed a bit over the last few years. Now, I am seeing myself returning to the old ways.

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/business/labour-problems-dog-multinationals-in-tamil-nadu_100387089.html

Chennai, June 28 (IANS) All is not well on the industrial labour front in Tamil Nadu, with simmering discontent among workers in multinational companies leading to strikes and shutdowns, threatening the southern state’s reputation as an ideal investment destination.

Tyre-maker ATC Tires’ plant in Tirunelvelli has been closed down for more than a month. Japanese auto component vendor Yazaki Wiring Technologies’ facility near here has been served with a strike notice by its workers’ union.

Labour problems at Hyundai Motor India flare up at regular intervals. The newly-formed workers union at Ford Motor India has written to the state government to intervene on its behalf.

Non-recognition of unions by the companies and low wages are said to be the common reasons behind the labour unrest.

On the strike at ATC Tires, the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) State Secretary R. Karumalaiyan told IANS: “Initially workers were asked to work on a 12-hour shift. It was later reduced to nine hours. The wage per day is Rs.120 while wage rate under the rural employment guarantee scheme is Rs.100.”

The company does not have any permanent worker on its rolls though the total work force employed at its factory is around 700, he said over phone from Tirunelvelli.

Attempts by IANS to reach ATC Tires’ top officials for their reaction ended in vain.

At Yazaki Wiring Technologies, workers are agitating for the early conclusion of the wage agreement talks.

“The company is in an expansion mode supplying to Ford India and others. There are around 700 workers out of whom only around 90 are permanent. A worker who has put in 12 years of service in the company will get a salary of around Rs.5,800. The company wants the worker to earn more through production incentives,” union sources told IANS.

Yazaki Wiring officials were not available for comment on the issue.

Trade unionists said much of labour problems could have been avoided had the Tamil Nadu government passed a law making it compulsory for companies to recognise the majority trade union and pursued presidential approval for the amendment to the Industrial Standing Orders Act with the central government.

“States like Maharashtra, West Bengal and Kerala have passed a law for companies to recognise trade unions. The amendment to the Industrial Standing Orders Act prescribes the ratio of permanent to contract workers in a factory,” S. Kumarasami, state president of the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), told IANS.

CITU’s state general secretary A. Soundararajan said “though MNCs have works committees to discuss issues pertaining to their workers, these do not have any legal standing.”

The state government in April announced the setting up of a committee to study the experiences of other states in passing a law to make trade union recognition compulsory by corporations. But trade unionists termed the move as an election gimmick.

The state goes to the polls next year.

Industry lobbies like the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) are not against the existence of unions.

“Unions are a reality. While we can suggest to our members on having cordial relationship with the unions we cannot go beyond a certain limit,” CII’s Southern Region head S. Gopalakrishnan told IANS.

Tamil Nadu has in recent years attracted a lot of investment, particularly in automobile and auto ancillaries manufacturing, and observers say continuing labour unrest could deter future investments in the state.

The CII’s southern chapter had organised meetings with trade unions and companies last year to foster better ties between the two in view of the worsening industrial relations and possible impact on fresh investments.

According to the state government, strikes and lockouts have come down during 2009 as compared to earlier years.

Figures released by the labour department show 2006 saw 51 strikes and lockouts which went up to 66 in 2007, 86 in 2008 and then came down to 49 in 2009.

Tamil Nadu claims to have the largest number of factories (around 43,000) and workers (around 1.4 million) in the country.

Meanwhile, the Coimbatore-based auto component maker Pricol is having informal talks with its work force though refusing to recognise the AICCTU-affiliated union.

“The company has paid the workers pending wages and bonus and reinstated some dismissed workers,” A.S. Bhuvaneswari, state deputy general secretary of AICCTU, told IANS.

Pricol hit the headlines last year when its HR (human resources) executive was killed by agitating workers.

Tata Power Company (TPC) is planning to set up a 150 MW wind power plant in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu to be commissioned during this year and next year.


source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/tata-power-to-set150-mw-wind-power-plant-in-maha-tn/99465/on

source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/tata-power-to-set150-mw-wind-power-plant-in-maha-tn/99465/on

Why dont we all go to the 1000s MW range. Aint we capable? When china can add 6000MW every year...we add only few 100s.:bash:

http://sify.com/finance/nike-supplier-to-invest-up-to-rs-250-cr-in-cheyyar-sez-news-news-kg3cbMcheca.html

The Taiwan-based Feng Tay group, promoter of the Cheyyar special economic zone (SEZ), is planning to invest an additional Rs 200-250 crore in the SEZ for expanding its production capacity by setting up new facilities.

The company is a manufacturer and supplier for Nike, one of the world’s leading sports shoe brands, and the planned investment is part of the Rs 300-crore spend that the group had committed to when it signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2006.

Tapesh Sinha, general manager (India operations), Feng Tay group, said the company had so far invested Rs 190 crore in the SEZ to set up a facility with a production capacity of 5.5 lakh pairs a month. "As the demand is growing, we are planning to set up three more facilities inside the zone with a similar capacity," he said.

The 275-acre Cheyyar SEZ is located at Cheyyar taluk in Tiruvannamalai district, 87 km from Chennai. It currently employs 5,713 people and is likely to triple the number once the new units become operational, according to Sinha. The cumulative exports from the zone since 2008, when the production commenced, is Rs 187 crore.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article492382.ece

On the basis of ‘overall excellent track record'

Tamil Nadu has been given the highest allocation of $155.31 million (approximately Rs.750 crore) under the World Bank-assisted programme of Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP).

The project, covering Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Tamil Nadu, is proposed to be implemented in six years.

It aims at restoring the capacity of dams, achieving effective utilisation of stored water and managing the long-term performance of the dams.
Three main components

The DRIP has three main components — rehabilitation and improvement of dams and associated appurtenances, strengthening of dam safety institutions and project management.

The total project cost is $437.5 crore (Rs.2,100 crore). In terms of the number of dams too, Tamil Nadu accounts for 104 out of 223 dams to be taken up under the project.

The State has a total of 108 dams. Thirty-one dams in Kerala, 50 in Madhya Pradesh and 38 in Orissa have been included in the project.

...

Kansai Nerolac Paints (KNPL) plans to invest Rs 400 crore over the next two years to augment the production capacity of its Hosur plant by 20 % a top company official said today.

The current capacity of the plant is around 15,000 tonnes.

"As part of the second phase of the project, we want to increase its capacity by 20 per cent in the next two years. For this, we plan to spend Rs 400 crore," Kansai Nerolac Paints Chairman J J Irani said at the annual general meeting of the company today.

A portion of the funds will be utilised for other projects as well, he said.

KNPL posted a 70 per cent increase in net profit to Rs 1,706.38 crore in FY'10 against Rs 1,374.51 crore in the same period last year.

Irani said the company's market share in industrial paints and decorative paints stood at 42 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively.

"We are doing well in the industrial paints sector. We are also picking up in the decorative segment, which (we) had started just few years back," Kansai Nerolac Paints Managing Director H M Bharuka said.

Recently, due to an increase in excise duty, coupled with a rise in raw material prices, paint manufacturers across the country had increased prices.

"We have increased our prices by four per cent in May and might increase it by three per cent by July," Bharuka said.

Asked whether the eurozone crisis could have an impact on their business, Irani said, "Euro crisis will not have much an impact as fluctuations in dollar could, as raw materials are purchased in US currency."

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/cons-products/paints/Kansai-Nerolac-to-invest-Rs-400-crore-to-expand-capacity/articleshow/6059904.cms

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/cops-test-hi-tech-%E2%80%98bird%E2%80%99-surveillance-334

June 30: The Tamil Nadu police on Wednesday conducted ‘secret’ tests of a hi-tech, bird-like aerial surveillance device made in the US which top cops believe could help the department gather intelligence with high levels of precision. High-resolution cameras on board the radio controlled aerial vehicle, which can climb up to 20,000 feet and remain airborne for up to 90 minutes, beam back real time images and information on the computer monitors of handlers on the ground.:cheers::cheers:

The department has earlier experimented with balloons as well as larger unmanned aerial vehicles for surveillance. The TN police’s test of the gizmo at Marina Wednesday afternoon drew curious onlookers. The UAV, camouflaged in a bird-like profile, was a centre of attraction on Marina Beach as the company executives demonstrated the operation of the device to a group of police officials even though the cops tried to shoo away a news photographer and other onlookers.

“We are just testing it,” a police official said tersely. “It looked just a like a crow flying over the beach. But it was not flapping its wings,” an eyewitness said. Enquiries revealed that the UAV, weighing just over 1 kg, can move rapidly between heights, from as low as 50 feet up to 20,000 feet. At a height of 100 metres and above, the UAV is not audible, adding to its stealth. :cool:

...

^^ I think our Captain will try to use this in his next movie. "All aafisars alert! It's a kaaka, its a kuruvi...its Captain Vijayakanth!!" :lol::lol:

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article495626.ece

“We want to be a good bank, not just a big bank,” said O.P. Bhatt, Chairman, State Bank of India, launching the bank's Green Channel Counter facility at 51 branches across the country at a function here on Thursday. Inaugurated as part of the bank's 204th Foundation day celebrations, the facility is aimed at providing paperless banking to customers for deposit, withdrawal and remittance transactions.

Mr. Bhatt said the agenda of the bank was to provide an engaging banking experience to its customers and also enrich its services in terms of technology and improved products. The Green Channel Counter enables the customers to deposit and withdraw money from their account without them having to fill up pay slips or cheques. By swiping their ATM cards on the Point of Sale Machines placed at the green channel counters, they can conduct transactions up to Rs. 40,000.

Mr. Bhatt said “This is the first time in India that a service like this is being launched. If the customer feedback is positive, we will extend it to other branches across the country.”

“This will reduce a lot of process time, as duplication of writing and feeding data at both ends will be avoided. It will also remove the hassles of remembering account numbers and accounting,” said Mr. J. Chandrasekaran, Chief General Manager, SBI (Local Head Office), Chennai.

...

Cross-posting..

CHENNAI: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has found two significant platinum prospects in Tamil Nadu, according to Santha Sheela Nair, Secretary of the Union Ministry of Mines.

The two prospects are in Sittampundi of Namakkal district (covering Karungalpatti, Chettiyampalaiyam and Tasamapalaiym blocks)and Mettupalayam of Coimbatore (Solavanur, Mallanayakkampalaiyam and Karappadi blocks).

Describing them as “good discoveries,” Ms Nair told reporters on Thursday that “we are at the scientific stage where there is an evidence of substantial deposits of platinum which needs to be explored further to understand the exact location and quantities.”

The GSI was engaged in the exploratory work for the last three years. As of now, exploration was carried out up to 30 metres. If explored further, – say 200 to 300 metres , scientists of the GSI were of the view that "the potential will be even greater, both in quantity and quality,” the Mines Secretary said. Earlier, in the presence of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, Ms. Nair and senior officials of the State government at the Secretariat, GSI Director-General N.K. Datta and Tamil Nadu Minerals (TAMIN) Chairman and Managing Director K. Manivasan signed a memorandum of understanding.

Ms. Nair said the MoU was signed to facilitate further exploration of mineral development of the State. By associating with the GSI, the TAMIN would be able to diversify its activities. At present, the organisation was focussing on granites.

Pointing out that there were greater possibilities for collaboration with the State agency, N.P. Nathan, senior scientist in the GSI, said other minerals such as limestone, magnesite and iron ore could be covered. The Union Secretary reiterated that many more levels had to be crossed before reaching the stage of mining. Under the existing constitutional framework, mineral wealth belonged to States, which would receive royalties.

Durai Murugan, Law Minister, and K. Shanmugam and Rajeev Ranjan, Principal Secretaries for Finance and Industries, were present when the MOU was signed.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/07/02/stories/2010070255500400.htm

Does this benefit TN? Hope the KN gets dependent on this so we can control the throttle. :)
--

IOC's Chennai-Bangalore petro products pipeline unveiled

Karnataka Governor H.R. Bhardwaj Friday commissioned the Indian Oil Corporation's 290 km-long petroleum products pipeline from Chennai to Bangalore at Devanagonthi, about 25 km from this tech hub.
http://sify.com/news/ioc-s-chennai-bangalore-petro-products-pipeline-unveiled-news-national-khcrkdfifdb.html

http://thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article502828.ece

Health-care facilities and the road sector will get a boost with the signing of an agreement between the State government and the World Bank for further strengthening the key sectors.

Two loan agreements — Rs.627.72 crore for the Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project and 281.67 crore for Tamil Nadu Road Sector Project — were signed at the Secretariat on Tuesday in the presence of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.

This additional finance for the Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project is designed to improve quality of and access to health services. It was first approved on December 16, 2004, with an IDA credit amount of $110.83 million.

For the road sector, the funding is additional financing to the Tamil Nadu Road Sector Project, which became effective on October 31, 2003, with a loan of $348 million. Thus far, the project has improved around 850 km of roads and upgraded 570 km of existing State highways to two-lane roads.

Representatives of the Centre, State and the World Bank signed the agreement. The project has been designed to improve quality and sustainability of the core road network in Tamil Nadu. A Credit Agreement was also signed on Tuesday.

Road transport, accounting for about 80 per cent of freight and passenger trips, is the dominant mode of transport in the State.

Demand for road transport has increased rapidly, with vehicle registrations growing by about 10 per cent annually since 2000. However, infrastructure has not kept pace with the demand, leading to serious network deficiencies.

About 20 per cent of the State highways and major district roads are in poor condition.

...

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/handloom-cluster-scheme-take-367

July 5: Work on establishing 10 handloom clusters in the state is all set to commence soon with the Tamil Nadu government sanctioning Rs 1.43 crore. These would be taken up under the Centrally-sponsored integrated handloom development scheme. The Centre has given its nod for setting up 25 handloom clusters totally and of them 10 are coming up this year and the remaining 15, in the next phase.

The scheme focuses on cluster approach and comes in four components: Clusters having handlooms in the range of 300–500 per cluster, group approach to be implemented in project mode outside the cluster in adjacent geographical areas, assistance for handloom organisations and supplementary works.

About Rs 5.97 crore would be spent for promoting the 10 clusters and another Rs 8.76 crore for the 15 other clusters. Nilayur, Palani, Veeravanallur, Padirivedu, Jayankondam, Kandachipuram, Appakudal, Sholinghur, Sirumugai and Thandampalayam are the 10 places that have been identified. The remaining clusters will, among other places, cover Karur, Gobi, Chennimalai, Palliyadi, Tirupur, Kumbakonam, Chinnalapatti and Gudiyattam. According to sources, the Centre has already released Rs 4.02 crore towards the first instalment of grant component for implementation of the scheme in 25 handloom clusters.

...

http://thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article503178.ece

http://thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00140/07THTIRUVANMIYUR_140167f.jpg

Issuing of Driving Licence (DL) and Registration Certificate (RC) in smart card format is set to commence all over the State by next year.

A tender has been floated to identify a private player to implement the scheme in all the 58 Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) and 49 Unit Offices in the State. Smart cards are already being issued in three RTOs, namely Chennai South, Cuddalore and Sivagangai, for the past two years.

The tender document stipulates that the private operator will function on a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model for five years. The operator will have to come out with a ‘plan of action' to convert existing DLs and RCs (a little more than 1.4 crore) into smart cards, that incorporate biometric features, within the five-year period.

Transport Commissioner M.Rajaram said that conversion centres will be set up where motorists can surrender their existing DLs to get a new one in smart card format. There will be two centres each in Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore and one each in all the remaining districts. While the licence application fee will be the same, applicants will have to pay an extra Rs.200 for the smart card RC.

...

In a bid to cut down on rising power costs and carbon emissions, Indian Railways is turning to wind power.

The behemoth is setting up two wind mill power plants with a target of generating 21 MW wind power by next year.

"We have finalised plans for setting up two wind mill power plants in Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu at an estimated cost of Rs 140 crores.
Both the plants will generate a total of 21 MW power," said a senior Railway Ministry official.

The plants will be set up along the coastal belt of Tamil Nadu and in the desert area of Jaisalmer. Each plant would generate 10.5 MW wind power and cost about Rs 70 crore.

India's long coastline and vast desert expanses which are endowed with high wind power potentials are best suited for the wind energy generation projects.

Besides reducing the electric consumption, the wind power will also earn us carbon credits, said the official.

Railways consume 5 billion units of power a year and spend about Rs 5,500 on power bills.

"We would supply the power to the grid and it would be adjusted against our power billing," said the official.

Railways are expecting the plants to be operational by next year.

Railways have already made operational a 10.5 MW plant at Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu.

"We had saved about Rs 8 crore on power bills due to this plant," said the official.

.........
.........

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/power/Railways-to-set-up-two-wind-power-plants/articleshow/6137820.cms

Need for TN to ensure growth: Fitch


CHENNAI: Global agency Fitch Ratings on Wednesday said Tamil Nadu needed to maintain its growth momentum, control untargeted subsidies and reduce its power sector deficit if it had to meet its own medium term fiscal targets for 2013.

The report's conclusions are by and large in line with the state government's stand that its debt position is relatively low and sustainable and that its current fiscal situation is a fallout of higher expenditure on welfare schemes and salaries in a low-growth year, and once the state moves into a higher growth trajectory in the next two years, it would result in fiscal consolidation and its medium term targets are achievable.

"Deterioration" in the state government's fiscal profile due to salary and pension revisions, a high growth in subsidies and dismal performance in collecting non-tax revenue put the state's revenue account in deficit mode in 2009-10, the special report said.

However, it added that the state's fiscal situation was improving and that its economic growth was also likely to increase.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Chennai/Need-for-TN-to-ensure-growth-Fitch-/articleshow/6141244.cms

Wind leaves TNEB in the lurch

CHENNAI: The highly unstable wind energy has left the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) officials confused yet again. The drastic fluctuation ranging between 3,000 MW and 1,000 MW has forced the board to resort to additional power purchase to maintain steady supply. However, unscheduled power cuts continue in Ambattur and Anna Anna Nagar.

The board is now managing the situation with hydro generation, additional power purchase and praying for a dip in electricity demand due to the rains. TNEB officials state that they would ensure that there is a no major shortage this time.

The peak period for wind energy generation is between May and October every year. This year till May 31, the average generation was nearly 2,000 MW and in the first week of June it dropped to 70 MW but again in mid-June it touched 3,000 MW.

But for the past two weeks, the wind generation has started fluctuating. On some days the generation is 1,000 MW and on some days it is 800 MW. To avert a power crisis, the TNEB has started purchasing 500 MW of additional power.

"Till June we were banking on wind energy and even reduced our power purchases. But then as the wind generation dropped we faced a crisis. We are purchasing nearly 1,000 MW on a daily basis according to the need and now as the wind has dropped we have increased it by 500 MW," said a senior TNEB official.

The drop in wind energy is attributed to the delay in monsoon by TNEB officials. "Usually during June when the southwest monsoon starts, the wind generation picks up and in October or September when the rains stop, the generation from the wind also stops. In the southern districts of Tamil Nadu alone, the wind generation lasts from May to January," the official said.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Chennai/Wind-leaves-TNEB-in-the-lurch/articleshow/6140497.cms

http://thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article503156.ece

The United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre would allocate Rs.10 crore for setting up cold chain for storage of vegetables, fruits and flowers in Krishnagiri district, Subodh Kant Sahay, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries said here on Tuesday.

The Minister arrived here from Bangalore to lay the foundation for the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Health Hospital in Athimugam near Veppanahalli in the district.

After inaugurating the plaque to mark the laying of foundation for the rural hospital, Mr. Sahay said the cold chain project would help farmers improve the shelf life and get good price for their produce.

Considering the demand of the pulp industries in and around Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri, the Minister also announced hundred per cent funding if the State government comes forward to set up a Research and Development Laboratory exclusively for the food products in the district.

If the Federation of Pulp Industries set up such laboratories, the government would provide fifty per cent funding, he added.

Besides this, a meeting of the farmers from the mango clusters in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra would be convened in Krishnagiri or in Delhi to chalk out measure to establish a representative office of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in the district.

Mr. Sahay asked the investors to start more food processing industries, as it would enhance the value of the agriculture produce and improve the standard of living of the farmers. Though India was the second largest producer of vegetables in the world, only two and half percent of the produce is processed here; due to this Rs.15,000 crore worth vegetables are rotten and become waste.

On the demand of the people's representatives to establish a Food Park in Krishnagiri, Mr. Sahay said the government took a policy decision to establish one park in each State as of now, later on the number may be increased. He also mentioned the Food Park project sanctioned for Dharmapuri district near Morappur.
Contract Farming

The Minister suggested that farmers undertake contract farming to get maximum yield with minimum risk. It would help even the small farmers to become a stake holder. Outside investors undertake farming activities with latest technologies, water management etc., in this case; and even if there was natural calamity or drought, farmers' revenue will not be affected, Mr. Sahay added.

The Union government made Food Processing Industry a tax-less sector. Hence Mr. Sahay appealed to the State to waive the tax on perishable and non perishable goods.

...

http://thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article504770.ece

The work on the proposed manimandapam for Tamizhisai Moovar is scheduled to commence soon, said Parithi Ellamvazhudhi, Minister for Information and Broadcasting after inspecting the site here on Wednesday.

The Manimandapam for the three Tamil composers will be spread over 0.44 acres with a built-up area of 358.80 square metres.

The blueprint envisages the manimandapam at Rs.1.30 crore and three bronze statues of the composers at a cost of Rs.7 lakh each. The project will come up at Rs.1.51 crore.

The mandapam will be conceived geometrically to enable a view of Thamizhisai Moovar from any direction and the central mandapam will have seven kalasams.

Muthu Thandavar (14th century), Arunachala Kavirayar (18th century) and Marimuthu Pillai(18th century), were also called the pre-trinity composers . Arunachala Kavirayar was born in Thillayadi, Marimuthu Pillai in Thilaividangan and Muthu Thandavar in Sirkazhi. The three are regarded as the Tamil-trinity in recognition of their Tamil compositions to Carnatic music.

A manimandapam for them was announced by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in 2000 and an initial cost of Rs.30 lakh was announced for the project.

...

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/hi-tech-check-post-near-tn-ap-border-603

July 8: The transport dep-artment will soon set up a hi-tech check post at Pethikuppam near the border with Andhra Pradesh.
The first of its kind check post will have a database pertaining to all commercial vehicles of Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states. This will help it trace the history of each vehicle at any point of time.

Dedicated computers wo-uld monitor the vehicle that would be passing through the various lanes, which would be attached to weighbridge, barrier, smart card reader and large figure display unit. This will help of-ficials detect overloading that will bring revenue to the government through fines.

“Further, the check post will also end harassment for of the transporter or driver and prevent unnecessary detention of vehicles,” said a senior official of the transport department.

Forest, excise, transport and sales tax offices will ha-ve space at the new check post which would get more work done quickly and earn more revenue to the government.

A detailed project report of the check post is being prepared on the lines of a similar project undertaken in Gujarat. It is likely to come on 40 acres of land with 1.5 lakh square meter of built up area.

...

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/portal-trucker-permits-316



Chennai, July 7: The long queues of truckers outside regional transport offices, waiting for national permits, will soon be a thing of the past.

Truck owners will shortly be able to use a Web portal to be set up by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Delhi, to avoid the inconvenience of going to banks and getting drafts to pay for the permits.

The new portal, http://vahan.nic//npermit.com, will also reduce the burden of the RTOs that earlier had to share the fee collected with transport offices in other states.

The new software developed by NIC will see the money shared automatically between the states once it is credited.

Truck owners had to wait for long hours to get their national permits and the process sometimes took days, a senior official in the transport department pointed out.

“The truckers will now be able to log in to the portal and pay the amount from anywhere through credit or debit card,” the official said. “The permits will be issued within a day.”

As per the earlier rules, the truck owners had to pay Rs 15, 000 in Tamil Nadu for a national permit which allowed them to ply to three states other than TN.

The recent change in the rules will allow the vehicles to ply in all states at the same rate.

...

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/villagers-angry-over-neutrino-project-614

July 8: Fearing a threat to their livelihood due to possible degradation of the environment, people from a cluster of villages expressed their anguish and apprehensions over the Centre’s ambitious neutrino project that is likely to come up in a verdant area bordering the western ghats.

Villagers cornered the scientists and officials with a spate of embarrassing questions at a mass outreach programme organised by the India-based neutrino observatory (INO) on Thursday. The programme was an attempt on the part of the project to dispel people’s fears on having the Rs 960-crore science laboratory housed inside the west Bodi hills near Pottipuram in Theni district.

When some students sought to know how the project would benefit them and whether it would open up direct employment opportunities for the educated youth of the region, the INO cell chairman T. Chinnaraj Joseph, who is also the principal of the American College and who holds a doctoral degree in Sociology, chose to take on the questions. However, he was at the receiving end when the villagers grilled him with queries.

Chinnamaruthu, a Plus-2 student, asked, “You say the lab will have six emergency channels for use during crisis. Then tell us, what danger is awaiting us.” Mr Joseph had to explain that there was “absolutely no danger” like the Bhopal gas leak.

Another asked when their region was already facing an acute power shortage, would not the facility add to their electricity woes. On the use of water, the scientists assured that they would not sink even a borewell. On being repeatedly asked about the large-scale displacement of rock would be caused by the blasting and drilling, the scientists said a muck dumpyard would be created to a height of 12 feet and covered with canvas and then safely disposed of. But farmers like Karuppaiah were not ready to buy their claims. “Ours is a windy region and only we will have to bear the brunt.”

...

This news was posted in some thread 2 days ago .. I could not locate it now.. thought it is relevant to be there in this thread..

Withdrawal of tax benefits would mean that a lot of new SEZs outside of major cities Chennai and Coimbatore would face difficulties in attracting investors...

One can only see SEZs in Chennai have attracted many investors.. and sizeable number in IT SEZs of Kovai... maybe I am wrong if there are more in any other SEZ in the state...

The food SEZ near Tuticorin was able to get only 1 unit for the last 1 year and other proposals are still in discussion stage.. and the one in Nellai-Nanguneri is aslo in discussion stage with investors... So it will be difficult time ahead to get investors coming to these SEZs.

CHENNAI: Special Economic Zone development activity in Tamil Nadu has slowed down because of a sudden change in policy sought to be introduced by the Centre on the tax holiday plan.

The issue relates to the removal of income tax benefits for new SEZ units and units which had invested, but not yet started commercial production and the reduced benefits for new SEZ developers.

Lack of clarity

Officials and developers contend there is lack of clarity on the continuation of Minimum Alternate Tax Benefits to developers and units in SEZs. State government agencies that have promoted Special Economic Zones in the State – ELCOT, SIPCOT, TIDCO – are in a fix.

The Draft Tax Code, which does not confer tax holiday benefit on units inside SEZs, will leave millions of square feet of commercial space across the State unoccupied.

The crux is a direct tax proposal that seeks to confer tax holiday on the developer of SEZs, such as ELCOT, SIPCOT and TIDCO, but not on those setting up individual units inside SEZs.

The proposal is not in line with SEZ Act 2005, a stand alone act of Parliament, say officials.

Almost all States in the country will be affected if the tax proposals take effect, but Tamil Nadu stands to lose significantly because it has a large number of SEZs – both operational (20) and those under notification/development (57).

In 2009-10, the total value of exports was Rs.43,600 crore and total investments were in the region of Rs.16,000 crore.

There were a total of 220 units located in the 20 SEZs, including Infosys, Mahindra, DLF, L&T, CCCL Infrastructure, MARG, TVS Group, Nokia, Cognizant and Foxconn.

This has generated direct employment for 1.62 lakh persons, says State government statistics.



http://www.hindu.com/2010/07/08/stories/2010070864250800.htm

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/auto/auto-components/Ruia-Group-may-acquire-European-auto-component-company-/articleshow/6170475.cms


.....He said the company is focussing on a big project in Tamil Nadu in the tyre segment but declined to divulge details. "We have focussed ourselves more on tyres. It's a big project in Tamil Nadu."

CCCL forms JV with TN govt for SEZ on food processing

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/cccl-forms-jvtn-govt-for-sezfood-processing/101719/on


Consolidated Construction Consortium today entered into a joint venture with Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation for setting up a Special Economic Zone on Food Processing in Tuticorin District.

CCCL Infrastructure Ltd (CIL) Chairman R Sarabeshwar and Industries Secretary and TIDCO Chairman Rajeev Ranjan exchanged documents in the presence of Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin, an official release here said.

As per the JV, CIL would provide the infrastructure facilities for the SEZ at an estimated cost of Rs 550 crore on the 425 acre land in Tuticorin district, it said.

The SEZ would attract investments to the tune of Rs 2,500 crore and provide direct and indirect employment to around 10,000 people, it said.

The city-headquartered company said it has secured orders for over Rs 4,500 crore, to be executed over a period of 18 months as of June 2010. Last month alone the company had bagged orders worth Rs 1,218 crore it added.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/auto/auto-components/Ruia-Group-may-acquire-European-auto-component-company-/articleshow/6170475.cms


.....He said the company is focussing on a big project in Tamil Nadu in the tyre segment but declined to divulge details. "We have focussed ourselves more on tyres. It's a big project in Tamil Nadu."

This is an other major win for TN. They were looking at sites near Madurai and planning to invest 2000 crores.

CCCL forms JV with TN govt for SEZ on food processing

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/cccl-forms-jvtn-govt-for-sezfood-processing/101719/on


Consolidated Construction Consortium today entered into a joint venture with Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation for setting up a Special Economic Zone on Food Processing in Tuticorin District.

CCCL Infrastructure Ltd (CIL) Chairman R Sarabeshwar and Industries Secretary and TIDCO Chairman Rajeev Ranjan exchanged documents in the presence of Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin, an official release here said.

As per the JV, CIL would provide the infrastructure facilities for the SEZ at an estimated cost of Rs 550 crore on the 425 acre land in Tuticorin district, it said.

The SEZ would attract investments to the tune of Rs 2,500 crore and provide direct and indirect employment to around 10,000 people, it said.

The city-headquartered company said it has secured orders for over Rs 4,500 crore, to be executed over a period of 18 months as of June 2010. Last month alone the company had bagged orders worth Rs 1,218 crore it added.

This project is already started and below is the location of the SEZ

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=8.7527588&lon=77.9555511&z=13&l=0&m=b&show=/16674693/Pearl-City-Food-Port-SEZ-by-CCCL


The website of the SEZ is

http://www.pearlcityfoodport.com/

Cheers!

http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report_bgr-energy-systems-eyes-fourfold-jump-in-orders_1391242


....BGR, which now imports BTG, will soon start manufacturing supercritical turbines and generators in Tamil Nadu in association with Japan’s Hitachi. “We should finalise details about investment and the location in two months,” Kumar said.


http://www.mydigitalfc.com/news/bgr-firm-hitachi-jv-july-end-898


.... The company is expected to invest about Rs 3,200 crore in two projects to be set up in collaboration with Hitachi......BGR is looking at a total capex of Rs 3,200 crore for the two JVs, with Rs 1,000 crore expected to be spent on the boiler venture and the balance to be utilised for the turbine-generator venture, with equity contribution at around 30 per cent by both BGR and Hitachi.

V-Guard to have new solar water heater plant


http://www.mydigitalfc.com/companies/v-guard-have-new-solar-water-heater-plant-891



Electrical and electronic products maker V-Guard is moving its solar water heater production to Perundurai in Erode district of Tamil Nadu by setting up a new manufacturing facility. The company will also triple its production once the facility goes on stream.

The Rs 550-crore group has acquired 35 acres of land in SIPCOT industrial area in Perundurai for the new plant that will come up at a cost of about Rs 14 crore. Work on the facility will start next month and by June next machineries from the existing plant in Coimbatore will be moved to the new facility.

http://www.dinakaran.com/image/tamil-nadu-paper-1537.jpg
சென்னை : தமிழகத்தில் மின் உற்பத்தி நிலைமை குறித்து முதல்வர் கருணாநிதி நேற்று ஆய்வு நடத்தினார். துணை முதல்வர் மு.க.ஸ்டாலின், மின்துறை அமைச்சர் ஆற்காடு வீராசாமி, சட்ட அமைச்சர் துரைமுருகன், தலைமைச் செயலாளர் கே.எஸ்.ஸ்ரீபதி, நிதித்துறை செயலர் சண்முகம், எரிசக்தித் துறை முதன்மைச் செயலாளர் (பொறுப்பு) டேவிதார், மின்வாரியத் தலைவர் சி.பி.சிங், முதல்வரின் செயலாளர் (கண்காணிப்பு) அலாவுதீன், சிறப்பு முயற்சிகள் பிரிவு செயலாளர் டி.வி.சோமநாதன் ஆகியோர் கூட்டத்தில் பங்கேற்றனர்.

மின்சார விநியோக நிலைமை, புதிய மின் திட்டங்களின் தற்போதைய நிலை குறித்து அதிகாரிகளிடம் முதல்வர் கேட்டறிந்தார். 600 மெகாவாட் உற்பத்தித் திறன் கொண்ட ரூ.2,475 கோடி மதிப்பீட்டிலான வடசென்னை அனல் மின்நிலையம், 2011ம் ஆண்டு மே முதல் செயல்பாட்டுக்கு வரும்.

600 மெகாவாட் திறன் கொண்ட ரூ.2,175 கோடி மதிப்பீட்டிலான இன்னொரு அனல் மின்நிலையம் வடசென்னையில் *2011ம் ஆண்டு நவம்பரில் செயல்பாட்டுக்கு வரும்.
600 மெகாவாட் திறன் கொண்ட ரூ.3,100 கோடி மதிப்பீட்டிலான மேட்டூர் அனல் மின் நிலையத்தின் 3வது கட்டம் 2011ம் ஆண்டு ஜூலை முதல் செயல்பாட்டுக்கு வரும். 183 மெகாவாட் இணை மின்உற்பத்தி திறன் கொண்ட ரூ.1,125 கோடியே 63 லட்சம் மதிப்பீட்டிலான கூட்டுறவு மற்றும் பொதுத்துறை சர்க்கரை ஆலைகளின் இணை மின் திட்டங்கள் 2011ம் ஆண்டு ஜூலை முதல் செயல்பாட்டுக்கு வரும்.

500 மெகாவாட் வீதம் 1,500 மெகாவாட் மின் உற்பத்தி செய்யும் வகையில், தமிழ்நாடு மின்சார வாரியம் மற்றும் என்.டி.பி.சி. கூட்டு திட்டத்தின் கீழ் வல்லூரில் நிறுவப்பட்டு வரும் மூன்று திட்டங்களில் *2011ம் ஆண்டு அக்டோபர், *டிசம்பரில் இரண்டு திட்டங்களும், *2012 நவம்பரில் 3வது திட்டமும் செயல்பாட்டுக்கு வரும்.
500 மெகாவாட் வீதம் 1,000 மெகாவாட் மின் உற்பத்தி செய்யும் வகையில், என்.எல்.சி. மற்றும் தமிழ்நாடு மின்சார வாரியம் கூட்டு திட்டத்தின் கீழ் தூத்துக்குடியில் அமைத்து வரும் இரண்டு நிலையங்கள் *2012 மார்ச் மாதத்திலும், *ஆகஸ்டு மாதத்திலும் செயல்பாட்டுக்கு வரும்.

800 மெகாவாட் வீதம் 1,600 மெகாவாட் மின் உற்பத்தி செய்யும் வகையில் பி.எச்.இ.எல் மற்றும் தமிழ்நாடு மின்சார வாரியம் கூட்டு திட்டத்தின் கீழ் உடன்குடியில் அமைத்துவரும் 2 மின் நிலையங்கள் *2013 மார்ச் மாதத்திலும், *செப்டம்பரிலும் செயல்பாட்டுக்கு வரும் என்று அதிகாரிகள் தெரிவித்தனர். இந்த புதிய மின் திட்டங்களை உரியகாலத்தில் நிறைவேற்ற வேண்டும் என்றும், தமிழகத்தில் தடங்கல் இல்லாத சீரான மின் விநியோகத்தை மேம்படுத்துவதற்காக அதிகாரிகள் விரைவாக செயல்பட வேண்டும் என்று முதல்வர் வலியுறுத்தினார்.

மத்திய அரசின் மின் நிலையங்களின் மூலமாக கூடங்குளம், கல்பாக்கம், நெய்வேலி, சிம்மாதிரி, கைகா ஆகிய மின் நிலையங்களிலிருந்து தமிழ்நாட்டின் பங்காக 2010 டிசம்பர் முதல் 2011 மே மாதத்துக்குள் கிடைக்க வேண்டிய 1,643 மெகாவாட் மின்சாரத்தை உரிய காலத்தில் பெற ஆவன செய்யவும் அறிவுறுத்தினார்.
தற்போது தொடங்கப்பட்டுள்ள பல்வேறு திட்டங்கள் மூலமாக 2011&*12ம் ஆண்டுக்குப் பிறகு மின்பற்றாக்குறை முழுவதுமாக நீக்கப்பட்ட மாநிலமாக தமிழகம் மாறும்

^^
BHEL's inefficiency has shown again. All the current projects are behind schedule by 6-10 months. I was hoping summer 2011 will be free from Power cut for Industries,now may have to endure for one more year.

BGR-Hitachi project... very good news for the State.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article523883.ece

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00147/20TH-BUS_STAND_147327f.jpg

...

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods-/-svs/construction/TN-eases-capital-subsidy-scheme-for-MSMEs-to-cover-services-biz-facilitation-along-with-manufacturing/articleshow/6106897.cms

Speaking to ET on the sidelines of a seminar on pragmatic policies for promoting MSMEs in TN organised by Hindustan Chamber of Commerce, he said this year, the Government has proposed to more than double the subsidy outgo to Rs 100 crore to give a fillip to the growth of units and entrepreneurship development.

Mr Selvam said the subsidy disbursed was a mere Rs 35.16 lakhs in 2006-07 ( 8 units) and it increased to Rs 4.16 crore ( 32 units) in the next year. After the State took the lead to unveil the MSME policy in 2008 and simplified the procedures for disbursal, it rose to Rs 14.67 crore ( 476 units) in 2008-09. Last year, it spurted to Rs 40 crore ( 1000 units). ...


Additional director, department of industries & commerce, E M Joseph Ravi Devasahayam said whereas now the State owned Sidco is running 92 industrial estates, it is planned to establish 100 estates before the end of eleventh plan. This year, 12 will come up to meet the recommendation of PM task force to set up atleast one industrial estate in each block.

Quoting the quick results of 4th all India census of MSMEs ( 2006-07, he said the State had the largest number of MSMEs in the country ( 15.07%) and also topped in employment ( 15.07%). As on April 1, 2010, TN had 6,31,609 registered MSMEs employing 43.92 lakh persons. They accounted for an investment of Rs 26,136 crore. They produced over 8000 varieties of products. :applause:
MSME development institute director, S Sivagnanam said for manufacturing competitiveness, it is necessary for units to reduce waste, improve productivity, get timely credit and adopt innovative methods. They can utilise different schemes and incentives provided by the Centre.

Sidbi DGM, Vinay Hedaoo said the surge in industrial activity and investment flow in TN has led a to cut throat competition among banks for providing credit. NSIC Zonal GM, A Kamalakannan said over the years the corporation has re-defined its role and expanded operations to different parts of the country.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article523883.ece

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00147/20TH-BUS_STAND_147327f.jpg

...

What is the significance of Radhapuram? Why is this particular news flashed a lot in all the news channels?

Even the big terminus at Hosur was not getting this much attention. And every bus stand is named after some leader.

What is the significance of Radhapuram? Why is this particular news flashed a lot in all the news channels?

Even the big terminus at Hosur was not getting this much attention. And every bus stand is named after some leader.

i think the local DMK MLA suggested to name the BS with Karunanidhi's parents. But people asked to name the BS with kamarajar name. Since elections are nearing CM asked the corporation to name it with kamarajar name itself. To gain publicity, they are putting it in all news channels.

http://www.thehindu.com/business/companies/article526748.ece

After establishing itself in Information Technology, automobile, textile, electronics and leather industries, Tamil Nadu and Chennai in particular, is emerging as a key centre for food processing industry, Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said on Wednesday.

Inaugurating Lotte India Corporation’s plant in the outskirts of the city, Mr. Stalin said that the government was keen to spread the benefits of industrialisation evenly to all parts of the state and has announced special incentives for industries investing in southern districts.

The foundation stone for a food product special economic zone, a joint venture between TIDCO and CCL with a potential to attract Rs. 2,500 crores, will be laid on August 5 at Tuticorin. He urged the investors, particularly Koreans to invest in the SEZ to make it a success story.

Considering the importance of South Korea, one of the major investor in the state with 160 companies in Chennai alone, Mr. Stalin said the government has proposed to establish a country specific industrialcluster for South Korean SMEs near Chennai.

Lotte Group vice chairman Dong Bin Shin said that the Chennai plant, set up a cost of $ 70 million, has an operational capacity of producing 1.8 lakh cartons of Lotte Chocopie which would be exported to Middle East and African nations, besides catering to the Indian market.

Already the Nellikuppam plant was manufacturing candies enjoying a 10 percent market share in the country and 20 percent in the southern states. The Chennai facility will enable the company to capture 5 per cent of market share in biscuits by next year. On diversification, Mr. Shin said the Lotte was looking at the hotel industry. The group is interested in retail but there are regulations, he noted.

...

^^

அன்னிய முதலீட்டை ஈர்ப்பதில் தமிழகம் முன்னணி மாநிலமாகத் திகழ்வதாகவும், தொழில் வளர்ச்சியில் முதலிடத்தை நோக்கி பீடுநடை போட்டு வருவதாகவும் துணை முதல்வர் மு.க.ஸ்டாலின் கூறினார்.

கொரியாவின் முன்னணி சாக்லேட் நிறுவனமான லோட்டே கன்பெக்ஷனரி பிரபல தமிழக சாக்லேட் நிறுவனமான பாரி கன்பெக்ஷனரி நிறுவனத்தை கடந்த 2004ம் ஆண்டு வாங்கியது.

காபிபைட், கேரமில்க், லோட்டோகிங், எக்ளர்ஸ், சாக்கோ, சான்விச் பிஸ்கெட், லோட்டே சாக்கோ பை என்ற உள்ளிட்ட பிரபல வகைகளை இந்நிறுவனம் இந்தியாவில் விற்று வருகிறது.

இதில் இந்த சாக்கோ பை சாக்லேட் உற்பத்தி்க்காக சென்னையை அடுத்த நேமம் பகுதியில் புதிய தொழிற்சாலையை இந்த நிறுவனம் கட்டியுள்ளது.

மாதத்துக்கு 500 டன் சாக்கோ பை சாக்லேட்டை இங்கு உற்பத்தி செய்ய முடியும. இந்த தொழிற்சாலையை துணை முதல்வர் ஸ்டாலின் இன்று திறந்து வைத்து, புதிய சாக்லெட் வகைகளை அறிமுகம் செய்து வைத்தார்.

நிகழ்ச்சியில் அவர் பேசுகையி்ல், தென் கொரிய நாட்டைச் சேர்ந்த லோட்டே நிறுவனம் இந்தியாவில் பல்வேறு தொழில் முதலீடுகளை செய்து வருகிறது.

கொரிய நிறுவனங்கள் இந்தியாவில் அதிக அளவில் முதலீடு செய்துள்ளன. அந்த நாட்டைச் சேர்ந்த ஹூண்டாய், சாம்சங், லோட்டே, எல்ஜின், குவாசின், போஸ் ஹூண்டாய் ஆகியவை தமிழ்நாட்டில் தொழில் தொடங்கியுள்ளன.
சென்னையில் மட்டும் 160 கொரிய நிறுவனங்கள் உள்ளன. இந்தியாவில் 8,400 கொரிய மக்கள் வசிக்கின்றனர். அதில் சென்னையில் மட்டும் 3,000 பேர் வாழ்கின்றனர்.

சென்னைக்கு அருகே தென் கொரியாவின் சிறு, குறு நிறுவனங்களின் தொழில் முனையம் ஒன்றை தமிழக அரசு அமைக்கவுள்ளது.

தகவல் தொடர்பு, வாகன உற்பத்தி, ஜவுளி, மின்னணு, தோல் பொருட்கள் உற்பத்தியில் சென்னை ஏற்கனவே முன்னிலையில் உள்ளது. தற்போது உணவுப் பதப்படுத்தும் தொழிலிலும் தமிழகம் முக்கிய மையமாக வளர்ந்துள்ளது.
தொழில் துறையில் தமிழகம் புகழ் மிக்க கடந்த காலத்தையும், எழுச்சி மிகு நிகழ்காலத்தையும், பிரகாசமான எதிர்காலத்தையும் கொண்டுள்ளது. நாட்டிலேயே தற்போது தொழில்மயமாவதில் தமிழகம் முன்னணி மாநிலமாக திகழ்கிறது.

இந்தியாவிலேயே வெளிநாட்டு முதலீடுகளை ஈர்ப்பதில் முதல் மூன்று மாநிலங்களில் தமிழ்நாடும் ஒன்று.

அமெரிக்காவின் மிகப் பிரபலமான வால்ஸ்ட்ரீட் ஜர்னல், சென்னை புதிய டெட்ராய்ட்டாக உருவெடுத்து வருகிறது என்று புகழ்ந்துரைத்துள்ளது. தொழில் வளர்ச்சியில் அதிக அக்கறை கொண்டுள்ள முதல்வர் கருணாநிதி மாநிலத்தின் அனைத்துப் பகுதிகளிலும் தொழில் வளர்ச்சி காண வேண்டும் என கருதி சிறப்பு சலுகைகளை வழங்கி தொழில் வளர்ச்சிக்கு ஆக்கமும் ஊக்கமும் அளித்து வருகிறார்.

குறிப்பாக தென் தமிழ்நாட்டில் தொழில் வளர்ச்சியை மேம்படுத்த அரசு மேற்கொண்டுள்ள நடவடிக்கை காரணமாக அண்மைக் காலத்தில் அப்பகுதியில் குறிப்பிடத்தக்க அளவுக்கு கணிசமான முதலீடு வந்துள்ளது.

கடந்த வாரம் கூட தூத்துக்குடியில் ரூ.2,500 கோடியில் கூட்டு முயற்சியிலான உணவு பதப்படுத்தும் சிறப்பு பொருளாதார மண்டலத்துக்கு புரிந்துணர்வு ஒப்பந்தம் என் முன்னிலையில் கையெழுத்தானது. இதற்கான அடிக்கல் நாட்டு விழா அடுத்த மாதம் 5ம் தேதி நடைபெறுகிறது.

10,000 பேருக்கு வேலைவாய்ப்பு வழங்கும் இந்த தொழிலில் முதலீடு செய்ய கொரிய நிறுவனங்கள் உள்பட அனைவரும் முன்வர வேண்டும் என்றார்.

நிகழ்ச்சியில் லோட்டே இந்தியா நிறுவனத் தலைவர் யாங் டாக் கிம், நிர்வாக இயக்குனர் மியுங் கி மின், துணைத் தலைவர் டாங் பின் சென், தொழில்துறை முதன்மைச் செயலாளர் ராஜீவ் ரஞ்சன் உள்ளிட்டோர்
கலந்து கொண்டனர்.


http://thatstamil.oneindia.in/news/2010/07/21/tn-leads-attracting-fdi-indl-development-stalin.html

TN to get 3,626 Mw power by end-2011

BS Reporter / Chennai July 22, 2010, 0:45 IST
Tamil Nadu is likely to get 3,626 Mw of power by the end of 2011, both from new power plants being set up by Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) with an outlay of Rs 8,875.65 crore as well as from other upcoming power plants in the state. The state government has said power shortage in the state will be resolved by 2011-12.

“Once these projects come through, power problem will be resolved in the state,” said chief minister K Karunanidhi, who reviewed the status of these projects here.

Currently the state is facing a deficit of around 1800-2000 Mw.


Let us see in 2012 if promises will be kept.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article523883.ece

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00147/20TH-BUS_STAND_147327f.jpg

...

If all bus stands in the state were without shops like this shown in picture people will have a convenient, happy, memorable bus travel experience . Shops should be outside busstands thus not obstructing the bus boarding people.

If all bus stands in the state were without shops like this shown in picture people will have a convenient, happy, memorable bus travel experience . Shops should be outside busstands thus not obstructing the bus boarding people.

After starting operation, you can see the bus stand filled with vendors, filthy toilet, posters on java, hydrocele, and party leaders. memorable to horrible...

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article527050.ece

In order to help commuters using the State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) buses schedule their travel better, a “uniform, centralised call centre will be launched soon,” Transport Secretary Atulya Misra said on Wednesday.

Responding to suggestions made by commuters at the State Consumer Protection Council meeting here, he said

“As there are seven State Transport Corporations, information access is a bit difficult for commuters who travel across districts. Once the call centre becomes operational, they can just call up to seek information about arrival and departure timings of the buses.”

Drinking water

He added that the provision of drinking water in all long-distance buses would be taken up.

Representatives of consumer protection organisations from across the State raised various concerns such as unannounced fare hikes during festive seasons, maintenance of deluxe buses and the need for help and information centres at Regional Transport Offices (RTOs).

Officials from 13 government departments and undertakings took part in the meeting in which a host of issues were raised by consumer activists.

Addressing the meeting, Food and Consumer Protection Minister E. V. Velu said that Section (6) of the Consumer Protection Act provides various rights to consumers.

These include the right to information, the right to choose and the right to redress their grievances. Non-governmental organisations must take up the responsibility to create awareness among consumers about their rights.

...

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article527100.ece

The government will soon come out with an incentive scheme for IT companies planning to set up rural BPO centres.

“We're in the final stages of approval for the scheme that will have a capital subsidy and training subsidy component for rural BPOs,” P.W.C. Davidar, IT Secretary, told The Hindu on the sidelines of ‘An Evening with the IT Minister,' an interactive session hosted by CII-NASSCOM with IT Minister Poongothai Aladi Aruna.

The scheme will set a few parameters, including a minimum requirement of 100 jobs, that the companies will have to fulfil in order to be eligible for the benefits, Mr. Davidar said. “The scheme is likely to be formally be rolled out in a week or so.”

Call to industry

Earlier, addressing the session, Ms. Poongothai Aladi Aruna urged the IT industry to give preference to rural candidates during recruitment. Often, intelligent students from rural background lose out to their urban counterparts during interviews because of the lack of communication skills, she said.

The minister also urged IT companies to increasingly participate in the Tamil Nadu ICT Academy.

The academy, which was a unique partnership model, had “broken the firewall” of scepticism and cynicism normally associated with public-private partnerships, she said.

Lakshmi Narayanan, vice-chairman, Cognizant, said the academy provided the much-needed platform for the IT industry and academia to work together and address common issues. It was launched in the context of the calls getting louder and louder from industry about the lack of employability of graduates.

...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Stalin-pushes-TNs-case-on-power-front-at-NDC-meet/articleshow/6212127.cms

CHENNAI: Faced with a shortfall of 3,000MW of power, Tamil Nadu on Saturday requested the Centre for an early approval of coal linkage for its power projects in the pipeline and also for early commissioning of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant which would provide 960MW of additional power to the state.

"Tamil Nadu's average power demand is 11,000MW and the availability is 8,000MW. Projects in the pipeline are expected to create around 6,500MW of additional installed capacity by 2010-11," deputy chief minister MK Stalin, who represented chief minister M Karunanidhi, told the National Development Council meeting in New Delhi.

Requesting a substantial funding to the state's projects for linking intra-state rivers, he also urged the Union government to initiate talks with state governments, particularly the southern states, for inter-linking of rivers to make effective use of water for irrigation and drinking purposes.

Stating that Tamil Nadu was in a unique position to implement innovative schemes to substantially increase carbon absorbing capacity of forests to mitigate global warming, he said the Centre should release liberal funding for such projects of the state out of the Rs 5,000 crore earmarked for implementation of environmental protection programmes. He also sought funds to construct new link roads for habitations with a population of more than 250 and to upgrade existing village roads.

Pointing out that different states in the country are at different stages of development and each has varied needs, Stalin stressed that the Central schemes should be flexible to enable state governments to modify them to suit local needs.

He also said the proposal to discontinue tax incentives to special economic zones in the revised Direct Tax Code (DTC) was causing concern among developers and prospective investors. "We are of the opinion that concession already formulated under SEZ policy should be continued and amendments proposed in the revised DTC needs to be modified," he said.

Stressing the need to strengthen coastal security, Stalin said the shallow water security should be the responsibility of the Centre just like safety of land border areas protected by the Border Security Force.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Coastguard-to-have-bases-in-TN-Puducherry/articleshow/6207284.cms

CHENNAI: The Indian Coast Guard, in an effort to strengthen presence in the eastern region, plans to have airbases in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry as well as a hangar at Chennai airport for its aircraft.

Talking to the media on Friday after inducting a Chetak helicopter into the force, coast guard inspector-general (eastern region) A Rajashekhar said Tuticorin was a potential spot for the airbase. According to sources, 58 acres have been identified and the government's approval is awaited.

"We are in talks with the airport authorities for a hangar for our aircraft and recently had a meeting with them," said Rajashekhar.

Pointing out that the force needed more pilots, he said they were roping in, on a short-term basis, commercial pilots who had lost their jobs during recession. "We are recruiting at least 10 every six months. We cannot take more as there are not enough aircraft for them to train on," he said.

These pilots would serve in the force for a minimum of 8 years and then extend their tenure if they want. "Patrolling will be easy if there are qualified pilots and enough planes and helicopters," he said.

...

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article535291.ece

The project will be executed through BEL

The Union government has agreed to the State government proposal to implement the biometric family cards project.

The Rs.300-crore project envisages taking up biometric capture of data regarding beneficiaries of the public distribution system (PDS).

A few weeks ago, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram sent a letter to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, conveying the Centre's approval.

The project will be executed through Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), says an official. The agency was chosen by the Centre. According to the Policy Note of the Food and Consumer Protection Department this year, there are about 1.96 crore family cards, of which rice option cards account for 1.84 crore. About 10.7 lakh cards belong to the category of white cards, which are entitled to all commodities except rice.

Around 60,000 cards are meant for police personnel and ‘no commodity' cards account for around 62,000.

The State government had, in its proposal submitted to the Registrar General of Census, conveyed to the Union government that the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) standards would be met. It had also agreed to coordinate with the UIDAI before issuing new cards. As of now, the validity of family cards has been extended up to June 30, 2011.

The official explains that data collected by the State government will be shared with the Union government.

...

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/new-leather-trade-centre-ambur-121

Vellore, July 23: A world-class trade centre exclusively for leather and leather products has been established at Ambur to allow the leather industry to promote its wares and attract international customers.

The four-storeyed, centrally air-conditioned trade centre was established at a cost of Rs 11 crore by Ambur Economic Development Organisation Ltd (AEDOL) with financial assistance of Rs 5.58 crore from the Union ministry of commerce under the industrial infrastructure upgrading scheme. A two-day exhibition from July 24 will mark its inauguration.

“The prime objective of establishing the state-of-the-art trade centre was to promote the business activities of leather and leather product industries,” M. Rafeeque Ahmed, chairman of AEDOL, told Deccan Chronicle. “It will help the leather sector and foreign customers to meet at one venue that has all modern facilities. Seminars, conferences and technical sessions will be conducted at the centre to create awareness among the leather and leather product industries.”

...

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article537084.ece

Tamil Nadu will soon come out with an e-security policy as a concomitant of its e-governance initiatives, IT Minister Poongothai Aladi Aruna said on Tuesday.

Inaugurating the two-day “CeTIT 2010” (Citizens Empowerment Through IT) conference-cum-exhibition, organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), ELCOT, and the Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency (TNeGA), Dr. Poongothai said strengthening the security of data exchange and implementation of clear rules for integration of complex government systems were the key challenges, as the government gave final shape to its e-governance policy.

The implementation of e-district governance, that provides a spectrum of basic services, including issuance of birth, death and solvency certificates, is being formally launched in Coimbatore on August 2. The initiative would be rolled out in other districts in a phased manner. A pilot e-office project for the Ministry of Power and IT would also be launched shortly, she said. Noting that Tamil Nadu was a frontrunner in the implementation of e-governance that sought to reach basic services to the common man and tone up efficiency of government departments, Dr. Poongothai said a successful example was the online issuance of scholarships for Backward Class students. Nearly Rs. 1-crore worth of scholarships had been issued so far and this year work was progressing to replicate the online model for the Adi Dravidar Welfare department.

A comprehensive Health Information Management System that would allow patients registering in any hospital to retrieve case-sheet data at any other networked healthcare institution should be operational in the next 24 months, she said.

Calling for the participation of software application developers to explore m-governance potential, Dr. Poongothai said the government was willing to work with private vendors if the software applications were going to benefit the masses. The Minister launched a portal to guide potential investors in the IT space in Tamil Nadu and an e-governance newsletter to propagate the Best Practices in the sector.

...

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/07/30/stories/2010073054060400.htm

Speaking at the contract signing ceremony, the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr Jitin Prasada, said that “with the signing of seven CBM blocks, new areas totalling 3,727 sq km will become available for exploration and production of CBM resources of about 330.23 billion cubic metres.”

“These blocks located in Assam, Jharkhand, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Tamil Nadu would bring committed investment of $158 million,” he said.

Till date 33 blocks have been awarded and more than 300 CBM wells are already drilled, the Minister said adding, “three CBM blocks have already entered development stage and these are expected to produce seven million standard cubic metres per day (mscmd) of gas by 2013-14.” The total CBM resource in the country is estimated at 92 trillion cubic feet (tcf). Out of this, 8.9 tcf have been established.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/07/30/stories/2010073053710300.htm

The company will fund these projects through internal accruals, debt and potentially consider bringing in a strategic partner for installing these solar generation units. Typically, each unit will be in the range of 5 to 10 MW. We have chosen two locations in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for setting up these solar power generation plants, which will be grid-connected,” he said.

Speaking to Business Line at Solarcon India 2010, Mr Palekar said, “Plans are being worked out in the past 6-9 months and with necessary clearance of Government guidelines, we have decided to go big in this emerging sector....

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/New-cyber-lab-to-train-state-police/articleshow/6230155.cms

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu police, which still finds itself handicapped when it comes to handling cyber crime cases, would soon be cyber-savvy. Direct recruits to the posts of deputy superintendent and sub inspector will now be trained at a specialised cyber lab that is opening at the Tamil Nadu Police Academy. Director general of police Letika Saran will inaugurate the facility on Thursday.

At present, cyber crime investigation is limited to certain commissionerates and to the CB-CID. Even these units are working with limited infrastructure and most of the local crime investigation officials have no expertise in investigation of complex cyber crime cases. The state hitherto had no facility to train police personnel in cyber forensics, evidence collection and cyber crime investigation.

"The new facility can impart training to 20 personnel at a time. It has been set up with the technpartnership of NASSCOM. The in-house experts at the academy apart, NASSCOM will send us two paid experts from the industry to train our personnel. They will be familiarised with tools of cyber crime investigation and forensics," Amaresh Poojari, IGP, training, Tamil Nadu Police Academy, said.

...

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/07/31/stories/2010073151892300.htm

Madurai, July 30

The Information Technology Special Economic Zone at Gangaikondan near Tirunelveli will be ready to take off during November, according to the Minister for Information Technology, Dr Poongothai Aladi Aruna.

She reviewed the progress in the construction with a plinth area of 50,000 square feet on the 500 acre SEZ along with Information Technology Secretary Mr P. W. C. Davidar, on Thursday. She also told reporters at Tirunelveli that the SEZ would be ready for inauguration in November and the buildings and all other infrastructure facilities would be completed before October-end. Syntel, Sutherland and Deccan Services have been allotted land in the 100 acres to be developed in the phase I. To encourage the small players a lower rate for a sq ft at Rs 20 has been fixed.

In IT SEZ at Madurai where companies like HCL, Honeywell and Sutherland Global Services have been allotted land, the facilities for them would be ready in the next eight weeks.

The Tiruchi project would be ready for launch in November and tender has been floated for IT Park at Hosur, she added, the sources said.

...

COIMBATORE: Consumer durables major Videocon is setting up a TV manufacturing unit at Manamadurai in Tamil Nadu with an investment of Rs 1,500 crore.

A memorandum of understanding to this effect would be signed in the presence of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on August 4 at Chennai, Industries Department sources said.

Similarly, MOUs would be signed on that day for a Rs 1,500 crore tyre manufacturing unit of JK Tyres and an LNG Terminal at Ennore by Indian Oil Corporation, the sources said.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/cons-products/durables/Videocon-to-set-up-Rs-1500cr-TV-unit-in-Tamil-Nadu/articleshow/6247171.cms

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/08/03/stories/2010080351641900.htm

Our Bureau Coimbatore, Aug. 2

Promoting industrial growth in tier II and tier III towns and cities appears to be the intent of the State Government.

Presiding over the function marked to inaugurate the Tidel Park Coimbatore (IT-SEZ) by the Chief Minister, Mr M. Karunanidhi, the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr M.K. Stalin, said the Government was keen to ensure balanced growth and therefore mooting IT parks in smaller cities such as Coimbatore, Trichy, Salem, Madurai and Tirunelveli were high on its agenda.

He said the Taramani Tidel Park, established in 2000 during the DMK regime, was operating profitably, generating employment to thousands of young professionals.

Hailing the State's infrastructure, manpower talent and good leadership, he said Tamil Nadu is destined to rise to great heights; the atmosphere is conducive for growth.

Software exports

The State's software exports have risen from $10.2 million to $58.7 million in 2008-09 and the export target for the 2009-10 fiscal is $73.1 million. ‘We are looking at 25 per cent growth year-on-year,” he said.

...

^^
The State's software exports have risen from $10.2 million to $58.7 million in 2008-09 and the export target for the 2009-10 fiscal is $73.1 million. ‘We are looking at 25 per cent growth year-on-year,” he said.

Figures are totally wrong. $ 73.1 Millions equal to only Rs 345 crores..

I think the figures are for tier 2 cities only.

^^
$ 7310.00 Millions or $7.31 Billions could be the correct figure(around Rs 34,000.00 Crorers ). Why use Dollar figures in India (false pride)? We are comfortable with Crores of Rupees...

See how slow highway work is progressing in TN.

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z102/ultraboyxp/06_08_2010_011_001.jpg

courtesy: HT

See how slow highway work is progressing in TN.

courtesy: HT

the worst progress is in TN. :(

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/marketlive/6264296.cms

BGR Energy Systems Ltd has signed joint venture agreements with Hitachi of Japan and Hitachi Power Europe GmbH of Germany for the business of design, engineering and manufacture of Supercritical Steam Turbine Generator and Supercritical Steam Generator Boilers. BGR Turbines Company Pvt Ltd, the JV set up for this purpose, will have its manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu with an estimated investment of Rs 3,000 crore

http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201008060270.html

Based on today's agreement, Hitachi and Hitachi Power Europe will establish manufacturing and sales joint ventures for steam turbines and generators, and boilers, respectively. The steam turbine and generator joint venture will be named BGR Turbines Company Private Limited, with BGR Energy Systems and Hitachi taking 74% and 26% stakes, respectively. The boiler joint venture is to be called BGR Boilers Company Private Limited, with BGR Energy Systems and Hitachi Power Europe, owning shares of 70% and 30%, respectively. BGR Turbines and BGR Boilers are both to be established in August 2010 and they will together invest approximately 50.0 billion yen to construct new manufacturing facilities in Tamil Nadu. Both manufacturing facilities should commence production in 2012. Output will be ramped up in stages, with the facilities eventually able to manufacture steam turbines, generators and boilers for producing 3 GW of electricity per annum. The goal is for BGR Turbines and BGR Boilers to generate revenues of around 100 billion yen combined in fiscal 2017.


BGR Turbines and BGR Boilers will introduce Hitachi's advanced design and manufacturing technologies so that they can produce highly efficient and reliable thermal power generating equipment. And based on BGR Energy Systems' extensive track record in the integrated construction of plants, they will actively develop the steam turbine, generator and boiler business in India, thereby contributing to stable electricity supplies in the country.

http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/BGR-Energy-strikes-52-week-high-after-forming-JV-with-Hitachi/3227944951
The first joint venture (JV) with Hitachi, Japan, is for design, manufacture, installation and commissioning of supercritical steam turbines and generators for thermal power plants while the second joint venture with Hitachi Power Europe GmbH, Germany, is for supercritical steam generators for thermal power plants.

Both the JVs will be set up in Tamil Nadu with an estimated cost of Rs 4400 crore

^^
Not sure what is the correct investment figure. I guess some where between 3000 to 4000 crores. The actual location within TN remain a mystery. But it a good project to come our way after Toshiba. I hope Trichy or one of the southern district bag this project.

http://www.bombaynews.net/story/669204

'Both the projects will involve a total outlay of Rs.4,400 crore (turbine project Rs.3,000 crore and boiler project Rs.1,400 crore) and will be funded with a mix of equity and debt. BGR Energy will fund its portion of equity from its internal accruals,' Chairman and Managing Director B.G.Raghupathy told reporters here.

The two companies together would generate around 3,000 new jobs.

Asked about the location of the two plants, Raghupathy said: 'We have identified three locations along the Tamil Nadu coast and a final decision will be shortly taken. Each project will need around 250 acres -for the plant as well as for the employee housing.'

He said both the projects will be housed nearby if land is not available at one place.

Originally Posted by exorcist
See how slow highway work is progressing in TN.

courtesy: HT

Thanks for the info dude..

I personally felt this as an interesting piece of news. Our land area is certainly lesser than our 2 big neighbouring states. In addition, TN is state having in which all the NH can (most probably) either begin or end. Still from this stats I am surprised to see that still we have more projects than those states. Here again there are 2 possibilities. We might have more projects as NOT many projects have got completed or we have more projects as we have more power at the centre. If its the second case, its good for TN. Else things looks little worse!!

^^
Not sure what is the correct investment figure. I guess some where between 3000 to 4000 crores. The actual location within TN remain a mystery. But it a good project to come our way after Toshiba. I hope Trichy or one of the southern district bag this project.

http://www.bombaynews.net/story/669204

'Both the projects will involve a total outlay of Rs.4,400 crore (turbine project Rs.3,000 crore and boiler project Rs.1,400 crore) and will be funded with a mix of equity and debt. BGR Energy will fund its portion of equity from its internal accruals,' Chairman and Managing Director B.G.Raghupathy told reporters here.

The two companies together would generate around 3,000 new jobs.

Asked about the location of the two plants, Raghupathy said: 'We have identified three locations along the Tamil Nadu coast and a final decision will be shortly taken. Each project will need around 250 acres -for the plant as well as for the employee housing.'

He said both the projects will be housed nearby if land is not available at one place.

Hope, this project would come up either in Trichy/ Perambalur or Nagapatinum coastal area...

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/state-gets-seawater-farming-technology-071

Aug. 5: The barren coastal stretch along Tamil Nadu may soon come alive with jobs and food thanks to sea farming technology developed by the scientists of M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai.

“We have developed a seawater farming model in Chidambaram. Seawater will be used for cultivating mangroves, shrimp and crab farming,” Prof. Ajay Parida, executive director, MSSRF, told Deccan Chronicle.

Prof. Parida said seawater farming was an ideal insurance against the increase in sea level. “The rising sea is led into irrigation channels that will transform barren lands into fertile farms,” he said, adding that the Chidambaram model would soon be extended to other coastal areas.

The seawater farming at Chidambaram is a first of its kind exercise in Tamil Nadu. “This will help farmers grow shrimp, crab and other marine varieties on a commercial scale. The cultivators and consumers will find themselves in a win-win situation,” he said.

The MSSRF scientists have also received two international patents for salinity and drought tolerant varieties of rice developed under the leadership of Prof. Parida. “This kind of rice offers security from tsunamis, global warming and rise in sea level,” he said.

...

Tamil Nadu framing IT, biotech based agriculture strategy...

http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/Business/20100807/1560996.html

Many nationalists were crying that highway department was biased towards TN. But from a Delhi paper we can see how TN is behind in real progress of projects of national highways!

Hope NH 45, NH 7, NH 47 and NH 68 completes the project soon as these are arterial roads connecting TN cities with capital Chennai and another important city Bengaluru.

See how slow highway work is progressing in TN.

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z102/ultraboyxp/06_08_2010_011_001.jpg

courtesy: HT

^^ Tired of those guys. :bash:

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/it-based-agri-strategy-state-soon-738

Aug. 7: The state is preparing a suitable agricultural strategy based on biotechnology and information technology to meet the challenges posed by climate change, said Chief Minister Mr M. Karunanidhi on Saturday.
“We are trying to revive earlier practices like community-care and management of tanks and plan to launch a mission for tank-fed agriculture in Ramanathapuram district,” he said while inaugurating a three-day international conference on “eliminating hunger and poverty” being organised here by the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF).
“Tamil Nadu will have to be prepared to face challenges like a higher average mean temperature and adverse change in rainfall,” he said while emphasising the importance of revitalising agriculture for effectively addressing the problems of hunger and poverty.

...

CHENNAI: Having garnered more than Rs.60,000 crore by way of investment, the State government will cross the Rs.75,000 crore within the next six months, said a top industry official on Wednesday.

Till the commencement of the calendar year 2010, the State government had signed 37 projects worth Rs.46,091 crore that promised employment to over 2.21 lakh people. During the current year, the State government signed three projects valued at Rs.13,000 crore that offered 8,600 direct jobs.

“Currently, we have projects worth Rs.8,000 crore on hand and the agreements will be signed anytime now. Besides, we expect an additional investment of Rs.7,000 crore to flow into the State within the next six months, taking the tally to Rs.75,000 crore. In all, it would be 15 to 20 companies that are capable of providing around 2 lakh jobs,” the official told The Hindu on Wednesday.

Over the last few days, business delegations from Bangladesh and Thailand interacted with the government officials and expressed their interest to invest in automobile, electronics and renewable energy sectors.

A garment manufacturer is setting up a unit in Nanguneri that would provide jobs to nearly 10,000 people, while an engineering unit is establishing a plant in Coimbatore with an employment potential of 1,000 workers.

“They are not major investors, but are classified as major employment provider and hence we have assured them structured package. Bangladesh wants to invest in renewable energy. It is hard to get fresh investment into the State, when every other State in the country is competing with us on equal ground. In this background, touching Rs.75,000 crore in a short span of four years is not a small achievement,” he said.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/08/12/stories/2010081251480500.htm

Call for environment friendly Electrical goods.

The association's ex-officio member Hukmichand D.Shah said at present, 85 per cent of the products are manufactured in other States. If produced here, it would not only generate employment but also bring down prices.

Remember, one of my posts on ways to industrailise all Districts along NHs...

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article569763.ece

Wonder how AP investment figures are twice that of TN's when in fact AP has not headlined any big investments last year (TN had quite a few in Auto)?

Not trying to make a comparison but just trying to understand what these figures actually capture.

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz332/manny_park/Investment_Breakdown_FY10.png

http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_ViewBulletin.aspx?Id=11441#at6

A lot of mineral based industries including pertochem are entering AP due to KG gas basin and mineral rich landscape.
TN's investment are mainly in manufacturing.

^^ That report says 'projects' and not 'investments' or 'FDI'. So, how are saying that those are investments? :nuts:

A lot of mineral based industries including pertochem are entering AP due to KG gas basin and mineral rich landscape.
TN's investment are mainly in manufacturing.

Absolutely right, TN's investment are mainly in manufacturing like automobiles,Engineering,Heavy Vehicles.

Whereas in AP Power Equipment Unit is only largest investment in that state with an amount of 6,500 crores in Chittoor district, no other investments like in TN.

Mineral based industries ,Natural Gas ,and Iron ore are more in AP.

^^ That report says 'projects' and not 'investments' or 'FDI'. So, how are saying that those are investments? :nuts:
That is correct. It is proposed investments and not the actual investments. Chattisgar,Orissa wtc are in the list because of propsed steel plants. AP because of the central projects and proposed public sector refinery's.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/State-police-to-get-mobile-data-retrieval-systems-and-computer-data-retrieval-systems/articleshow/6312532.cms

CHENNAI: The state police's long struggle for modern equipment as part of their modernisation drive has finally borne fruit. The Union home ministry has released Rs 93.85 lakh for 2009-10 to enable the purchase of mobile data retrieval systems, computer data retrieval systems, face and finger print recognition search management systems, global positioning systems and speed dome cameras. However, this year too, no fund allocation has been made for the purcahse of any weapons.

Highly-placed sources in the police department said the fund had been passed and the process for procurement of the equipment had begun. "It has been a struggle to get funding for purchase of the equipment. On several occasions, our request for purchase of weapons and equipment had been denied," a senior official said.

However, the police believe it is better late than never and now plan to make the maximum out of the allocated funds. "The mobile data retrieval system would be of great help in crime investigation as they will allow us to retrieve entire data from seized mobile phones, including those that are password protected or concealed. Similarly, the computer data retrieval systems can retrieve all information from the hard disc of a computer. The face and fingerprint recognition search management system would help police personnel profile the criminals and also cross check the voluminous data on profound offenders in our central server," the official added.

...

TN Govt. announced today that all inefficient Electrical Motors with Pumps used in Villages will be replaced with Modern, highly efficient , fairly high Power Factor sets. They must also insist on suitable pipe sizes for inlet and outlet and power capacity(HP) to optimise on Peak efficiency.I have talked about it long ago and send an Email to Govt. also. Happy now.

Our local Coimbatore sets had lots of design drawbacks earlier.Hope they have upgraded their Design and production skills.

Hope to save 20 percent in Consumption of energy.

^^ That report says 'projects' and not 'investments' or 'FDI'. So, how are saying that those are investments? :nuts:

Would be better if you bother to read the source before commenting. Here is a snippet from the article --- its an RBI study estimating the investment for FY10 based on project cost. Not exactly the most straight forward way. However, RBI is counting only the projects with financial backing --- as in the odds of the investment materializing is pretty high compared to say investment promises bandied around year after year during something like "Vibrant" Gujarat.

Corporate Investment : Growth in 2009-10 and Prospects for 2010-11*
.
.
2. The Approach – Methodology, Coverage and Limitations
.
.
The estimation of capital investment made in this study is largely based on projects in the private corporate sector that were financially assisted by banks/FIs1 . The project reports, evaluated by the banks/FIs for the purpose of sanctioning financial assistance form the source for project-related information such as total envisaged capital expenditure, its phasing details together with information on industry, purpose and location of project. The study inter alia covers many under-construction projects.
.
.
3. Envisaged Investment in 2009-10

The present study captures investment intentions of 796 projects4 sanctioned assistance by banks/FIs in 2009-10 amounting to Rs.5,56,011 crore. In addition, the study captures investment intentions of Rs.32,396 crore proposed by 255 companies contracting ECBs (inclusive of FCCBs) and Rs.1,768 crore intended by 19 companies issuing domestic equity capital during 2009- 10. All together, the new investment intentions of 1,070 companies covered in 2009-10 aggregated to Rs.5,90,175 crore spread over 2006-07 to 2014-15.

3.1 Envisaged capital expenditure of companies sanctioned assistance by banks/FIs

In this section, the analysis is confined to those projects that were sanctioned assistance by the banks/FIs. From the timephasing details that reflect the investment intentions over the implementation period of the projects, the capital expenditure in a given year was estimated. In other words, the likely investment of private corporate sector in a given year may be broadly gauged by suitably aggregating expenditure intended...


Here is a breakdown of projects by industry --- guess like most of you have commented, this does reflect heavy investment in power and steel. But its gotta be ongoing investment than mere proposal. If not, Gujarat will sure lead the pack than the meager (relatively speaking) $16K crores listed for it.

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz332/manny_park/Investment_Break_Down_by_Projects.png

தமிழகத்திற்கு தேவையான திட்டங்கள் குறித்து எம்.பி.,க்களின் கலந்தாய்வுக் கூட்டம் நடைபெற்றது. இந்திய தொழில் கூட்டமைப்பு சார்பில் ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டிருந்த இந்த கூட்டத்தில் முதன்முறையாக தி.மு.க., - அ.தி.மு.க., காங்கிரஸ், மார்க்சிஸ்ட் கட்சிகளின் எம்.பி.,க்கள் கலந்து கொண்டனர்.

தமிழகத்தைச் சேர்ந்த எம்.பி.,க்களை ஒரே இடத்தில் வரவழைத்து, தமிழகத்துக்கு தேவையான முக்கியமான திட்டங்கள் குறித்து விளக்குவதற்கு இந்திய தொழில் கூட்டமைப்பு ஏற்பாடு செய்திருந்தது. டில்லியில் உள்ள இந்திய ஹேபிடேட் சென்டரில் இந்த கூட்டம் நடைபெற்றது. கனிமொழி தலைமையில் தி.மு.க., எம்.பி.,க்களும், தம்பிதுரை சார்பில் அ.தி.மு.க., எம்.பி.,க்களும், தமிழக காங்கிரஸ் மற்றும் மார்க்சிஸ்ட் ஆகிய கட்சிகளின் எம்.பி.,க்களும் கலந்து கொண்டனர்.

தம்பிதுரை பேசியபோது, "கேரளா போன்ற மாநிலங்களைச் சேர்ந்த எம்.பி.,க்கள் தங்களது மாநில பிரச்னை என்றால் ஒற்றுமை காட்டுகின்றனர். அதுபோல முதன்முறையாக தமிழக எம்.பி.,க்கள் அனைவரும் ஒற்றுமை காட்டுவது வரவேற்கத்தக்கது. நாங்கள் எதிர்க்கட்சி வரிசையில் உள்ளோம். தி.மு.க.,விலும் எம்.பி.,க்கள் நினைத்தாலும் கூட முடியாது. நல்ல இலாகாக்கள் இருந்தால் மட்டுமே மத்திய அரசிடமிருந்து திட்டங்களை தமிழகத்துக்கு கொண்டு செல்ல முடியும்' என்றார்.

கனிமொழி பேசுகையில், "இதுபோன்ற முயற்சிகளை மேலும் வலுப்படுத்த, டில்லியிலேயே ஒரு அலுவலகம் கூட திறக்கலாம். தமிழகத்துக்கு தேவையான திட்டங்கள் குறித்து என்ன மாதிரியான உதவிகள் வேண்டுமென்றாலும் எம்.பி.,க்களாகிய நாங்கள் முடிந்த வரை உதவி செய்ய தயார்' என்றார்.

ராமசுப்பு பேசுகையில், "தென்மாவட்டங்களின் வளர்ச்சிக்கு முக்கியத்துவம் அளிக்க வேண்டும். மதுரை - தூத்துக்குடி இரட்டைப் பாதை மற்றும் விழுப்புரம்- திண்டுக்கல் இரட்டைப் பாதை ஆகியவற்றை நிறைவேற்ற வேண்டும்' என்றார்.

பின், அந்த அமைப்பின் சார்பில் தமிழகத்துக்கு தேவையான முக்கிய திட்டங்கள் எவை என விளக்கப்பட்டது.அந்த வகையில், சென்னைக்கு மற்றொரு சர்வதேச விமான நிலையம் தேவை. தற்போதுள்ள விமான நிலையமும் விரிவுபடுத்தப்பட வேண்டும். சென்னை - பெங்களூரு - மும்பை இடையில் சரக்கு போக்குவரத்துக்கு என, தனி ரயில்பாதை அமைக்க வேண்டும். ரூ.500 கோடி செலவில் அமைந்த திட்டமான சென்னை துறைமுகம்- எண்ணூர் துறைமுகம் இடையிலான நெடுஞ்சாலையை விரைந்து நிறைவேற்ற வேண்டும்.கோவை விமான நிலையம் சர்வதேச விமான நிலையமாக்கப்பட வேண்டும். கோவை - திருப்பூர் மற்றும் கோவை - கரூர் இடையில் ஆறு வழிச்சாலை, அவினாசி- மேட்டுப்பாளையம் இடையே ரிங் ரோடு, கோவை விமான நிலையத்தில் குளிரூட்டும் கிட்டங்கிகள், முக்கிய நகரங்களில் இருந்து கோவைக்கு நிறைய ரயில்கள் ஆகியவை நிறைவேற்ற வேண்டும்.எரிவாயு இணைப்பை கோவைக்கு ஏற்படுத்தி தர வேண்டும். கொச்சி - கோவை - பெங்களூரு இடையில் இணைப்பு ஏற்படுத்திட வேண்டும்.

திருநெல்வேலியில் காலை, மாலை இரு வேளைகளிலும் சென்னைக்கு விமான சர்வீஸ் இயக்கிட வேண்டும். வாகை குளம் விமான நிலையத்திற்கு இரவு நேரங்களிலும் விமானங்கள் வந்து போகும்படி செய்ய வேண்டும். திருநெல்வேலிக்கும், தூத்துக்குடிக்கும் இடையில் அமைந்த நெடுஞ்சாலையை விரைந்து நிறைவேற்றிட வேண்டும். சென்னையில் உள்ளது போலவே திருநெல்வேலியிலும் இரண்டாவது ஐ.ஐ.டி., அமைத்து தொழில் வளத்தை பெருக்க வேண்டும்.மதுரை விமான நிலையத்தை சர்வதேச விமான நிலையமாக மாற்ற வேண்டும். தூத்துக்குடி துறைமுகத்திற்கு விரைந்து செல்லும் வகையில் இரட்டை ரயில்பாதை அமைக்க வேண்டும். அதிவேக ரயில்களை இயக்க வேண்டும். தூத்துக்குடி - மதுரை இடையில் எட்டு வழிச்சாலை அமைக்க வேண்டும்.திருச்சியில் உள்ள விமான நிலையத்தை சர்வதேச விமான நிலையமாக்க வேண்டும். ரயில் பெட்டிகளை உருவாக்கும் தொழிற்சாலையை திருச்சியில் அமைக்க வேண்டும். காக்கிநாடா- சென்னை இடையில் போடப்பட்டுள்ள ரிலையன்ஸ் எரிவாயு திட்டத்தை, உடனடியாக திருச்சி வரை நீட்டிக்க வேண்டும். கரூரில் பஸ் பாடி கட்டும் தொழிற்சாலையை கொண்டு வர வேண்டும். மின்சார உற்பத்தி திட்டங்கள் தமிழகத்துக்கு அதிகம் கொண்டு வர ஏற்பாடு செய்ய வேண்டும். கூடங்குளம் அணுமின் நிலையத்தில் தமிழகத்துக்குரியபங்கீட்டை அதிகரித்து வாங்க வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு யோசனைகள் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டன.

தமிழகத்திற்கு தேவையான திட்டங்கள் குறித்து எம்.பி.,க்களின் கலந்தாய்வுக் கூட்டம் நடைபெற்றது. இந்திய தொழில் கூட்டமைப்பு சார்பில் ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டிருந்த இந்த கூட்டத்தில் முதன்முறையாக தி.மு.க., - அ.தி.மு.க., காங்கிரஸ், மார்க்சிஸ்ட் கட்சிகளின் எம்.பி.,க்கள் கலந்து கொண்டனர்.

தமிழகத்தைச் சேர்ந்த எம்.பி.,க்களை ஒரே இடத்தில் வரவழைத்து, தமிழகத்துக்கு தேவையான முக்கியமான திட்டங்கள் குறித்து விளக்குவதற்கு இந்திய தொழில் கூட்டமைப்பு ஏற்பாடு செய்திருந்தது. டில்லியில் உள்ள இந்திய ஹேபிடேட் சென்டரில் இந்த கூட்டம் நடைபெற்றது. கனிமொழி தலைமையில் தி.மு.க., எம்.பி.,க்களும், தம்பிதுரை சார்பில் அ.தி.மு.க., எம்.பி.,க்களும், தமிழக காங்கிரஸ் மற்றும் மார்க்சிஸ்ட் ஆகிய கட்சிகளின் எம்.பி.,க்களும் கலந்து கொண்டனர்.

தம்பிதுரை பேசியபோது, "கேரளா போன்ற மாநிலங்களைச் சேர்ந்த எம்.பி.,க்கள் தங்களது மாநில பிரச்னை என்றால் ஒற்றுமை காட்டுகின்றனர். அதுபோல முதன்முறையாக தமிழக எம்.பி.,க்கள் அனைவரும் ஒற்றுமை காட்டுவது வரவேற்கத்தக்கது. நாங்கள் எதிர்க்கட்சி வரிசையில் உள்ளோம். தி.மு.க.,விலும் எம்.பி.,க்கள் நினைத்தாலும் கூட முடியாது. நல்ல இலாகாக்கள் இருந்தால் மட்டுமே மத்திய அரசிடமிருந்து திட்டங்களை தமிழகத்துக்கு கொண்டு செல்ல முடியும்' என்றார்.

கனிமொழி பேசுகையில், "இதுபோன்ற முயற்சிகளை மேலும் வலுப்படுத்த, டில்லியிலேயே ஒரு அலுவலகம் கூட திறக்கலாம். தமிழகத்துக்கு தேவையான திட்டங்கள் குறித்து என்ன மாதிரியான உதவிகள் வேண்டுமென்றாலும் எம்.பி.,க்களாகிய நாங்கள் முடிந்த வரை உதவி செய்ய தயார்' என்றார்.

ராமசுப்பு பேசுகையில், "தென்மாவட்டங்களின் வளர்ச்சிக்கு முக்கியத்துவம் அளிக்க வேண்டும். மதுரை - தூத்துக்குடி இரட்டைப் பாதை மற்றும் விழுப்புரம்- திண்டுக்கல் இரட்டைப் பாதை ஆகியவற்றை நிறைவேற்ற வேண்டும்' என்றார்.

பின், அந்த அமைப்பின் சார்பில் தமிழகத்துக்கு தேவையான முக்கிய திட்டங்கள் எவை என விளக்கப்பட்டது.அந்த வகையில், சென்னைக்கு மற்றொரு சர்வதேச விமான நிலையம் தேவை. தற்போதுள்ள விமான நிலையமும் விரிவுபடுத்தப்பட வேண்டும். சென்னை - பெங்களூரு - மும்பை இடையில் சரக்கு போக்குவரத்துக்கு என, தனி ரயில்பாதை அமைக்க வேண்டும். ரூ.500 கோடி செலவில் அமைந்த திட்டமான சென்னை துறைமுகம்- எண்ணூர் துறைமுகம் இடையிலான நெடுஞ்சாலையை விரைந்து நிறைவேற்ற வேண்டும்.கோவை விமான நிலையம் சர்வதேச விமான நிலையமாக்கப்பட வேண்டும். கோவை - திருப்பூர் மற்றும் கோவை - கரூர் இடையில் ஆறு வழிச்சாலை, அவினாசி- மேட்டுப்பாளையம் இடையே ரிங் ரோடு, கோவை விமான நிலையத்தில் குளிரூட்டும் கிட்டங்கிகள், முக்கிய நகரங்களில் இருந்து கோவைக்கு நிறைய ரயில்கள் ஆகியவை நிறைவேற்ற வேண்டும்.எரிவாயு இணைப்பை கோவைக்கு ஏற்படுத்தி தர வேண்டும். கொச்சி - கோவை - பெங்களூரு இடையில் இணைப்பு ஏற்படுத்திட வேண்டும்.

திருநெல்வேலியில் காலை, மாலை இரு வேளைகளிலும் சென்னைக்கு விமான சர்வீஸ் இயக்கிட வேண்டும். வாகை குளம் விமான நிலையத்திற்கு இரவு நேரங்களிலும் விமானங்கள் வந்து போகும்படி செய்ய வேண்டும். திருநெல்வேலிக்கும், தூத்துக்குடிக்கும் இடையில் அமைந்த நெடுஞ்சாலையை விரைந்து நிறைவேற்றிட வேண்டும். சென்னையில் உள்ளது போலவே திருநெல்வேலியிலும் இரண்டாவது ஐ.ஐ.டி., அமைத்து தொழில் வளத்தை பெருக்க வேண்டும்.மதுரை விமான நிலையத்தை சர்வதேச விமான நிலையமாக மாற்ற வேண்டும். தூத்துக்குடி துறைமுகத்திற்கு விரைந்து செல்லும் வகையில் இரட்டை ரயில்பாதை அமைக்க வேண்டும். அதிவேக ரயில்களை இயக்க வேண்டும். தூத்துக்குடி - மதுரை இடையில் எட்டு வழிச்சாலை அமைக்க வேண்டும்.திருச்சியில் உள்ள விமான நிலையத்தை சர்வதேச விமான நிலையமாக்க வேண்டும். ரயில் பெட்டிகளை உருவாக்கும் தொழிற்சாலையை திருச்சியில் அமைக்க வேண்டும். காக்கிநாடா- சென்னை இடையில் போடப்பட்டுள்ள ரிலையன்ஸ் எரிவாயு திட்டத்தை, உடனடியாக திருச்சி வரை நீட்டிக்க வேண்டும். கரூரில் பஸ் பாடி கட்டும் தொழிற்சாலையை கொண்டு வர வேண்டும். மின்சார உற்பத்தி திட்டங்கள் தமிழகத்துக்கு அதிகம் கொண்டு வர ஏற்பாடு செய்ய வேண்டும். கூடங்குளம் அணுமின் நிலையத்தில் தமிழகத்துக்குரியபங்கீட்டை அதிகரித்து வாங்க வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு யோசனைகள் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டன.



Hats off to all M.P's, parties & party leaders. :cheers:

spl thanks to organizer.:smug:
"Even the weak become strong when they are united."

Hats off to all M.P's, parties & party leaders. :cheers:

spl thanks to organizer.:smug:
"Even the weak become strong when they are united."

39 biriyani pottalam parcel

^^
Is it a RBI document?Looks like all figures against Total are wrong.percentage adding to more than 100 and totals much less????

^^
Is it a RBI document?Looks like all figures against Total are wrong.percentage adding to more than 100 and totals much less????

Yup!! Right out of the RBI August Bulletin.

http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_ViewBulletin.aspx?Id=11441#at6

I looked it up after some vague article from Economic Times saying these figures are investment intentions without clarifying how they are different from mere proposals.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Finance//articleshow/6308171.cms

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2010/08/18&PageLabel=1&EntityId=Ar00109&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T

Chennai: In a fresh initiative aimed at garnering industrial investments, deputy chief minister MK Stalin will lead a high-level delegation to China and South Korea later this month. The team, comprising industrialists and bureaucrats, will include industries secretary Rajeev Ranjan, executive vice chairman of Tamil Nadu Industrial Guidance and Export Promotion Bureau M Velmurugan and some corporate leaders. They are expected to interact with Chinese and South Korean investors, making a pitch for the country-specific industrial clusters planned near Chennai for small and medium scale enterprises. The Chinese government had recently extended an invitation to Stalin to visit the country. TN coordinating with South Korean trade organisation
Chennai: Deputy chief minister M K Stalin will lead a high-level delegation to China and South Korea later this month. Government of India, which set up a pavilion for the Shanghai World Expo, has requested the state to depute a delegation to explore business opportunities in China.
The state government is also coordinating with South Korean trade organisation, KOTRA to attract investments from that country. South Korea is the 15th largest investor in India. Several South Korean companies have their presence in Chennai. At present there are about 160 Korean companies operating out of Chennai and the city’s Korean population is roughly 3,000.
As per the recent BIZCON report of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, Tamil Nadu is one of the top three investment destinations in the country. A senior official said, “We are hopeful of moving up the ladder in the near future.” He said the list of delegates and the itinerary for the forthcoming visit are being given final touches

^^
Welcome move. Stalin is setting an example.:applause:

Yes... i am liking him!! hope he continues like this!!!

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article580754.ece

The Information Technology (IT) Parks and ELCOT owned 50,000 sq.ft building inside the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Tiruchi, Madurai and Tirunelveli will be ready in the next 8 to 12 weeks time, said P.W.C. Davidar, IT Secretary on Wednesday.

Talking to The Hindu, he said that it would take some more months for the Hosur IT Park to get going as the work order was given recently and the work would commence soon. The IT department was racing against time to complete the ELCOT buildings including infrastructure work for entire SEZs at Tiruchi, Madurai and Tirunelveli.

“We have created the right kind of physical infrastructure and are looking for both big and smaller units to occupy it. We will give them a minimum of one acre of land. We have many engineering colleges around these places and they are doing well and hence finding the right firm will not be a problem,” he said.

Santhosh Babu, Managing Director, Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT), said that a road show will be held in the city during the first week of September to market IT parks as well as ELCOT incubation centres at SEZ. Around 400 CEOs have been invited for the road show.

...

Yes... i am liking him!! hope he continues like this!!!

Many years ( a decade?) after the examples set by Naidu and Krishna, someone in TN is finally trying to emulate them.

Wish him success.

India’s Largest Oil-marketing Firm to Invest $430 Million in Clean Energy

Indian Oil Corporation is looking to diversify into renewable and nuclear energy sectors and has earmarked $430 million for investment in the next five years.
The move comes as no surprise as several other government-owned oil companies have showed interest in investing into renewable energy infrastructure. IOC is looking to develop wind energy, solar energy and tidal energy for commercial sale of power. Additionally, it is also looking to form a joint venture with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India to take full advantage of investment opportunities resulting from the Indo-US nuclear deal.

The company already generates power from wind energy for captive use but intends to foray into power generation for commercial sale, either to the power exchanges or to the grid itself. The company is looking for sites in Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu for setting up solar and wind energy plants; both these states have significant wind and solar energy resources. The company has also registered for roof-top solar installations implying that it could look into small-scale installations coupled with feed-in tariff schemes that ensure higher revenue due to higher tariff rates.

Several oil companies in India are looking to secure their revenue lines by investing into new areas which are supported by the government through various financial incentives. Through the National Solar Mission, which aims at 20,000 MW solar installation by 2022, the government is offering millions of dollars in subsidies for investors looking to set up solar power plants. This is a golden opportunity for the oil companies which have suffered tremendous losses in recent years owing to government subsidies on oil products.

The government recently reduced some subsidies on the petroleum products, freeing the sector of government control to some extent. But this was a good news not only for the public sector companies but also for the private oil companies, like Reliance Industries. Private companies had sold off their filling stations as they could not compete with the government-supported low fuel prices, but now the private companies are making a comeback. Therefore, the public sector companies are looking to invest in safer and high-growth yielding sectors.

Additionally, the government is offering attractive incentives like tax breaks, subsidies on equipment purchase and high tariff rates which can complement IOC’s oil revenue. During the first phase of the National Solar Mission, India aims at installing 1,000 MW of solar power systems, up from the current 12 MW. The government has announced attractive tariff rates at which power will be procured from these power plants. These tariffs are five to seven times more than the tariff rates for coal-fired power plants. The government has also set up a solar energy security fund which will be used to pay the project developers in case the state electricity boards fail to honor their commitments to purchase power from them.

Similar incentives are in place for other renewable energy resources as well. Wind already enjoys a favored status among all renewable energy sources as it has achieved tariff parity with conventional energy sources to some extent. The state governments have been directed by the central government to meet at least ten percent of their power demand from renewable energy sources by 2010. The central government will also introduce the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) scheme which will work in a way similar to the Clean Development Mechanism. States will be required to fulfill their clean energy commitments but if they fail they can buy RECs from authorized clean energy projects. Thus opening up an additional stream of revenue for the project developers.

These initiatives by the Indian government are attracting several private and state-owned investors who wish to make the most of the impending renewable energy revolution. Slowly, but surely, healthy market conditions for the growth of renewable energy technologies are developing in India. No surprise then that state-owned companies are looking to make up for their years of losses by investing in these technologies.

India seeks Taiwanese investment in food processing sector


New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) India Thursday sought investment from Taiwan in the country’s food processing sector.
“Taiwan can become the catalysing agent that can help India feed the world,” Minister for Food Processing Industries Subodh Kant Sahai said here, addressing a visiting 25-member delegation of the Taiwan Association for Food Science and Technology.

“I invite Taiwan to help us enhance our capability in the food processing sector,” Sahai said.

The processed food industry is a major component of the Taiwanese economy. In 2009, this sector posted revenues of $17 billion. In fact, four of the top 10 food companies in China are Taiwanese.

Stating that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called for a second Green Revolution in India, Sahai said that this would be possible only through industrialisation of agri-produce in the country.

“And Taiwan is a leader in this sector,” the minister said.

Pointing out that at $1 billion, Taiwanese investment in India was very low, Sahai said he wanted this figure to grow to “$100 billion in the years to come”.

The minister also called for transfer of food processing technologies from Taiwan to India and joint collaboration in research and development in the sector.

Philip Wen-Chyi Ong, a representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in New Delhi, gave an overview of Taiwan’s achievements in the processed food sector and the opportunities that are available for Indo-Taiwanese cooperation in this area.

Speaking to IANS, Ong said: “All this while, Taiwanese investment in India has been limited to the manufacturing and technology sectors and most of this investment has been made in the state of Tamil Nadu.”

“We are now thinking of diversifying from China (where Taiwan has made heavy investments in the processed food sector) to India.”

Asked about the areas in the Indian food processing sector Taiwan would be interested in, Ong mentioned production of instant noodles and cooking oils and setting up of cold chain facilities.

“I hope to double Taiwan’s investment in India from $1 billion in three years’ time,” he said.

Karnataka’s Minister for Large and Medium Scale Industries, Murugesh Nirani, who was also present, promoted his state as an investment destination in the food processing sector.

Thursday’s meeting was also attended by representatives of India’s information technology, mining, electronics and telecommunications sectors.

Tamil Nadu bans incandescent bulbs to save power..

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu on Friday banned use of old-style, energy intensive incandescent bulbs in offices across the state and ordered the use of compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) to save power.

According to the order, the ban was applicable to state government undertakings, government boards, cooperative societies, local bodies and organisations getting governmental assistance.

Comparing the energy consumption of four crore 60 watts incandescent bulbs and 14 watts CFL for an hour, the government said the use of CFL results in a whopping saving of 1,840 MW.

While the four crore 60W incandescent bulbs burning for an hour would consume 2,400 MW, a similar number of 14W CFLs would consume only 560 MW, it said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Tamil-Nadu-bans-incandescent-bulbs-to-save-power/articleshow/6381655.cms

Tamil Nadu bans incandescent bulbs to save power..



http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Tamil-Nadu-bans-incandescent-bulbs-to-save-power/articleshow/6381655.cms

Good initiative. Someone is thinking :applause:

Tamil Nadu bans incandescent bulbs to save power..



http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Tamil-Nadu-bans-incandescent-bulbs-to-save-power/articleshow/6381655.cms

Wow!! 1860 MW can be saved just by shifting from filament bulbs to tube lights.
I say shoot down all those energy suckers right away!!! They have no reason to stay anymore.

http://epaper.dinakaran.com/pdf/2010/08/21/20100821a_002107013.jpg

40% of revenue comes from TN for India's medical tourism (10,000 crores) - MoS Gandhi Selvan

ரூ.150 கோடியில் ரத்த வங்கி துவக்கம் மத்திய அமைச்சர் காந்திசெல்வன் தகவல்

சேலம்: ""ரத்தத்தில் இருந்து பிளாஸ்மாக பிரித்து எடுக்கும் நிறுவனம் முதல் கட்டமாக சென்னையில் துவங்கப்பட உள்ளது. இதற்காக ரூ.150 கோடி நிதி ஒதுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது,'' என, மத்திய சுகாதாரத்துறை அமைச்சர் காந்திசெல்வன் கூறினார்.

சேலத்தில் நடந்த விழாவில் அவர் பேசியதாவது:தமிழகத்தில் கலைஞர் காப்பீட்டு திட்டத்தின் கீழ் 1.75 லட்சம் பேர் பயனடைந்துள்ளனர். 108 ஆம்புலன்ஸ் சேவை மக்களிடத்தில் வெகுவாக சென்றடைந்துள்ளது. 13 இடங்களில் துவங்க நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்பட்ட சூப்பர் ஸ்பெஷாலிட்டி மருத்துவமனை திட்டத்தில், தமிழகம் தான் முதலாவதாக பணிகளை முடித்துள்ளது. இந்தியாவில் எய்ம்ஸ் மருத்துவமனைக்கு நிகராக சேலத்தில் இந்த மருத்துவமனை அமையும். ஏழை, எளிய மக்கள், சேலத்தைச் சுற்றியுள்ள மாவட்ட மக்களும் இதன் மூலம் பயனடைவர்.

சுகாதார மேம்பாட்டு திட்டத்தின் கீழ் தற்போது இந்தியாவில் ஆறு இடங்களில் சூப்பர் ஸ்பெஷாலிட்டி மருத்துவமனை கட்டப்பட உள்ளது. அதில், தமிழகத்தில் 150 கோடி ரூபாயில் மதுரையில் அமைக்கப்படுகிறது. மருத்துவ சுற்றுலா மூலம் இந்திய அரசுக்கு 10 ஆயிரம் கோடி ரூபாய் வருவாய் கிடைக்கிறது. அதில் 40 சதவீதம் தமிழகத்தில் இருந்து கிடைக்கிறது.அடுத்த முயற்சியாக ரத்தத்தில் இருந்து பிளாஸ்மா பிரித்து எடுக்கும் ரத்த வங்கிகள் செயல்படுத்தப்பட உள்ளன. 150 கோடி ரூபாயில் உருவாக்கும் இத்திட்டம் முதல் கட்டமாக சென்னையில் துவங்குகிறது. அதுமட்டுமின்றி, ரீஜினல் பாராமெடிக்கல் இன்ஸ்டியூட் கோவையில் துவங்கப்படுகிறது. சேலம் - கரூர் ரயில்பாதை பணிகள், முதல்வரின் தீவிர முயற்சியால் நடந்து வருகிறது.இவ்வாறு அவர் பேசினார்.

Dinamalar

தமிழகத்திற்கு தேவையான திட்டங்கள் குறித்து எம்.பி.,க்களின் கலந்தாய்வுக் கூட்டம் நடைபெற்றது. இந்திய தொழில் கூட்டமைப்பு சார்பில் ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டிருந்த இந்த கூட்டத்தில் முதன்முறையாக தி.மு.க., - அ.தி.மு.க., காங்கிரஸ், மார்க்சிஸ்ட் கட்சிகளின் எம்.பி.,க்கள் கலந்து கொண்டனர்.

தமிழகத்தைச் சேர்ந்த எம்.பி.,க்களை ஒரே இடத்தில் வரவழைத்து, தமிழகத்துக்கு தேவையான முக்கியமான திட்டங்கள் குறித்து விளக்குவதற்கு இந்திய தொழில் கூட்டமைப்பு ஏற்பாடு செய்திருந்தது. டில்லியில் உள்ள இந்திய ஹேபிடேட் சென்டரில் இந்த கூட்டம் நடைபெற்றது. கனிமொழி தலைமையில் தி.மு.க., எம்.பி.,க்களும், தம்பிதுரை சார்பில் அ.தி.மு.க., எம்.பி.,க்களும், தமிழக காங்கிரஸ் மற்றும் மார்க்சிஸ்ட் ஆகிய கட்சிகளின் எம்.பி.,க்களும் கலந்து கொண்டனர்.

தம்பிதுரை பேசியபோது, "கேரளா போன்ற மாநிலங்களைச் சேர்ந்த எம்.பி.,க்கள் தங்களது மாநில பிரச்னை என்றால் ஒற்றுமை காட்டுகின்றனர். அதுபோல முதன்முறையாக தமிழக எம்.பி.,க்கள் அனைவரும் ஒற்றுமை காட்டுவது வரவேற்கத்தக்கது. நாங்கள் எதிர்க்கட்சி வரிசையில் உள்ளோம். தி.மு.க.,விலும் எம்.பி.,க்கள் நினைத்தாலும் கூட முடியாது. நல்ல இலாகாக்கள் இருந்தால் மட்டுமே மத்திய அரசிடமிருந்து திட்டங்களை தமிழகத்துக்கு கொண்டு செல்ல முடியும்' என்றார்.

கனிமொழி பேசுகையில், "இதுபோன்ற முயற்சிகளை மேலும் வலுப்படுத்த, டில்லியிலேயே ஒரு அலுவலகம் கூட திறக்கலாம். தமிழகத்துக்கு தேவையான திட்டங்கள் குறித்து என்ன மாதிரியான உதவிகள் வேண்டுமென்றாலும் எம்.பி.,க்களாகிய நாங்கள் முடிந்த வரை உதவி செய்ய தயார்' என்றார்.

ராமசுப்பு பேசுகையில், "தென்மாவட்டங்களின் வளர்ச்சிக்கு முக்கியத்துவம் அளிக்க வேண்டும். மதுரை - தூத்துக்குடி இரட்டைப் பாதை மற்றும் விழுப்புரம்- திண்டுக்கல் இரட்டைப் பாதை ஆகியவற்றை நிறைவேற்ற வேண்டும்' என்றார்.

பின், அந்த அமைப்பின் சார்பில் தமிழகத்துக்கு தேவையான முக்கிய திட்டங்கள் எவை என விளக்கப்பட்டது.அந்த வகையில், சென்னைக்கு மற்றொரு சர்வதேச விமான நிலையம் தேவை. தற்போதுள்ள விமான நிலையமும் விரிவுபடுத்தப்பட வேண்டும். சென்னை - பெங்களூரு - மும்பை இடையில் சரக்கு போக்குவரத்துக்கு என, தனி ரயில்பாதை அமைக்க வேண்டும். ரூ.500 கோடி செலவில் அமைந்த திட்டமான சென்னை துறைமுகம்- எண்ணூர் துறைமுகம் இடையிலான நெடுஞ்சாலையை விரைந்து நிறைவேற்ற வேண்டும்.கோவை விமான நிலையம் சர்வதேச விமான நிலையமாக்கப்பட வேண்டும். கோவை - திருப்பூர் மற்றும் கோவை - கரூர் இடையில் ஆறு வழிச்சாலை, அவினாசி- மேட்டுப்பாளையம் இடையே ரிங் ரோடு, கோவை விமான நிலையத்தில் குளிரூட்டும் கிட்டங்கிகள், முக்கிய நகரங்களில் இருந்து கோவைக்கு நிறைய ரயில்கள் ஆகியவை நிறைவேற்ற வேண்டும்.எரிவாயு இணைப்பை கோவைக்கு ஏற்படுத்தி தர வேண்டும். கொச்சி - கோவை - பெங்களூரு இடையில் இணைப்பு ஏற்படுத்திட வேண்டும்.

திருநெல்வேலியில் காலை, மாலை இரு வேளைகளிலும் சென்னைக்கு விமான சர்வீஸ் இயக்கிட வேண்டும். வாகை குளம் விமான நிலையத்திற்கு இரவு நேரங்களிலும் விமானங்கள் வந்து போகும்படி செய்ய வேண்டும். திருநெல்வேலிக்கும், தூத்துக்குடிக்கும் இடையில் அமைந்த நெடுஞ்சாலையை விரைந்து நிறைவேற்றிட வேண்டும். சென்னையில் உள்ளது போலவே திருநெல்வேலியிலும் இரண்டாவது ஐ.ஐ.டி., அமைத்து தொழில் வளத்தை பெருக்க வேண்டும்.மதுரை விமான நிலையத்தை சர்வதேச விமான நிலையமாக மாற்ற வேண்டும். தூத்துக்குடி துறைமுகத்திற்கு விரைந்து செல்லும் வகையில் இரட்டை ரயில்பாதை அமைக்க வேண்டும். அதிவேக ரயில்களை இயக்க வேண்டும். தூத்துக்குடி - மதுரை இடையில் எட்டு வழிச்சாலை அமைக்க வேண்டும்.திருச்சியில் உள்ள விமான நிலையத்தை சர்வதேச விமான நிலையமாக்க வேண்டும். ரயில் பெட்டிகளை உருவாக்கும் தொழிற்சாலையை திருச்சியில் அமைக்க வேண்டும். காக்கிநாடா- சென்னை இடையில் போடப்பட்டுள்ள ரிலையன்ஸ் எரிவாயு திட்டத்தை, உடனடியாக திருச்சி வரை நீட்டிக்க வேண்டும். கரூரில் பஸ் பாடி கட்டும் தொழிற்சாலையை கொண்டு வர வேண்டும். மின்சார உற்பத்தி திட்டங்கள் தமிழகத்துக்கு அதிகம் கொண்டு வர ஏற்பாடு செய்ய வேண்டும். கூடங்குளம் அணுமின் நிலையத்தில் தமிழகத்துக்குரியபங்கீட்டை அதிகரித்து வாங்க வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு யோசனைகள் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டன.

I already raised a question.............
Where is the airport in tirunelveli........???????

In Gangaikondan an unused run way only there......
Then how can they expect flight service from Tirunelveli to chennai in Mrng and Evng time every day?????

Please answer me guys....................

40% of revenue comes from TN for India's medical tourism (10,000 crores) - MoS Gandhi Selvan

ரூ.150 கோடியில் ரத்த வங்கி துவக்கம் மத்திய அமைச்சர் காந்திசெல்வன் தகவல்

சேலம்: ""ரத்தத்தில் இருந்து பிளாஸ்மாக பிரித்து எடுக்கும் நிறுவனம் முதல் கட்டமாக சென்னையில் துவங்கப்பட உள்ளது. இதற்காக ரூ.150 கோடி நிதி ஒதுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது,'' என, மத்திய சுகாதாரத்துறை அமைச்சர் காந்திசெல்வன் கூறினார்.

சேலத்தில் நடந்த விழாவில் அவர் பேசியதாவது:தமிழகத்தில் கலைஞர் காப்பீட்டு திட்டத்தின் கீழ் 1.75 லட்சம் பேர் பயனடைந்துள்ளனர். 108 ஆம்புலன்ஸ் சேவை மக்களிடத்தில் வெகுவாக சென்றடைந்துள்ளது. 13 இடங்களில் துவங்க நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்பட்ட சூப்பர் ஸ்பெஷாலிட்டி மருத்துவமனை திட்டத்தில், தமிழகம் தான் முதலாவதாக பணிகளை முடித்துள்ளது. இந்தியாவில் எய்ம்ஸ் மருத்துவமனைக்கு நிகராக சேலத்தில் இந்த மருத்துவமனை அமையும். ஏழை, எளிய மக்கள், சேலத்தைச் சுற்றியுள்ள மாவட்ட மக்களும் இதன் மூலம் பயனடைவர்.

சுகாதார மேம்பாட்டு திட்டத்தின் கீழ் தற்போது இந்தியாவில் ஆறு இடங்களில் சூப்பர் ஸ்பெஷாலிட்டி மருத்துவமனை கட்டப்பட உள்ளது. அதில், தமிழகத்தில் 150 கோடி ரூபாயில் மதுரையில் அமைக்கப்படுகிறது. மருத்துவ சுற்றுலா மூலம் இந்திய அரசுக்கு 10 ஆயிரம் கோடி ரூபாய் வருவாய் கிடைக்கிறது. அதில் 40 சதவீதம் தமிழகத்தில் இருந்து கிடைக்கிறது.அடுத்த முயற்சியாக ரத்தத்தில் இருந்து பிளாஸ்மா பிரித்து எடுக்கும் ரத்த வங்கிகள் செயல்படுத்தப்பட உள்ளன. 150 கோடி ரூபாயில் உருவாக்கும் இத்திட்டம் முதல் கட்டமாக சென்னையில் துவங்குகிறது. அதுமட்டுமின்றி, ரீஜினல் பாராமெடிக்கல் இன்ஸ்டியூட் கோவையில் துவங்கப்படுகிறது. சேலம் - கரூர் ரயில்பாதை பணிகள், முதல்வரின் தீவிர முயற்சியால் நடந்து வருகிறது.இவ்வாறு அவர் பேசினார்.

Dinamalar

TN should take advantage of the lead it already has in this field/industry and consolidate it by encouraging private investment in building new hospitals and medical colleges in the state. This is another new industry waiting to be tapped having the potential similar to the IT industry.

Wow!! 1860 MW can be saved just by shifting from filament bulbs to tube lights.
I say shoot down all those energy suckers right away!!! They have no reason to stay anymore.

i think better solution is banning the sale of energy sucking bulbs...Why to make them available in market and spend crores to advice the people in not using it....:banana:

^^ I am not sure if there is a sound legal basis to ban outright the sale of these bulbs.
You can stop using it yourself and can advise others to follow you but can you ban it?

May not be that simple. You need to atleast give some time for transition. The affected party can go to court and obtain an injunction.

TN should take advantage of the lead it already has in this field/industry and consolidate it by encouraging private investment in building new hospitals and medical colleges in the state. This is another new industry waiting to be tapped having the potential similar to the IT industry.

I think TN is already moving in the right direction to reinforce its leadership position in medical tourism. Facilities like the Chettinad MedCity were created for patients and their relatives to stay and get treated for a longer time. With the top hospitals of the country being in Chennai and creating a world of good news (that comes in the media quite often) like completing complex surgeries, installing modern equipment etc. :cheers:, I think its time for the Govt to frame some policies to encourage this practice.

Tier-2 cities are getting AIIMS kinda super speciality hospitals. Of late, Coimbatore is emerging as a healthcare hub in TN after Chennai. All in the positive direction. :banana:

^^ I am not sure if there is a sound legal basis to ban outright the sale of these bulbs.
You can stop using it yourself and can advise others to follow you but can you ban it?

May not be that simple. You need to atleast give some time for transition. The affected party can go to court and obtain an injunction.

Australia has already banned these bulbs all over the country. We need to adopt something similar.

^^ I am not sure if there is a sound legal basis to ban outright the sale of these bulbs.
You can stop using it yourself and can advise others to follow you but can you ban it?

May not be that simple. You need to atleast give some time for transition. The affected party can go to court and obtain an injunction.


Ok, Give 3 months or 6 motnhs time frame, But amend law and act decisively to curb the sales and manufacture(in case production is in TN).

U have to take a decision and apply the same. What use taking half baked action like taking away 1000's of Bulbs and keeping billions intact.

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) today said it will set up a new tractor facility by 2012-13 fiscal with a production capacity of up to 1 lakh units per annum, for which it is looking at South India, including Tamil Nadu.

"We are running out of capacity in India and we are looking to set up a new plant, possibly in South India as we don't have any facility in that region... Tamil Nadu is one of the potential states," Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) President (Automotive and Farm Sector) Pawan Goenka told reporters here.


http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/mahindra-to-settractor-unit-in-south-india/106524/on

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/-PMs-Tirupati-visit-cancelled-again-/articleshow/6435436.cms


TIRUPATI: Will PM Manmohan Singh break the jinx and lay the foundation to the much-hyped Mannavaram project and international airport close to the temple town on August 31? This million dollar question over the uncertainty of PM's visit is doing the rounds here again in the wake of divergent statements made by CM Rosaiah, district minister Ramachandra Reddy and local MP Chinta Mohan on Wednesday.

Speculations over cancellation of the PM's visit (it has been postponed five times already) gained ground yet again after the varied statements of the CM and the minister. Speaking to reporters at Padmavathi guest house here, Rosaiah said a tentative programme of the PM's tour has been fixed for Aug 31. "But we are yet to get the minute-to-minute schedule from the PMO," he said.

Sources said the CM wrote a letter to the PMO 10 days ago, pleading that the PM at least lay the stone for the Mannavaram project on Aug 31 after reports suggested that the neighbouring state of Tamilnadu was also interested in bagging the BHEL project. What is this ?:)

The PMO wrote back on Tuesday stating that the PM's tour is very much on but is subject to the clearance of the nuclear liability bill in Parliament.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/%E2%80%98mini-tn%E2%80%99-project-showcase-state-soon-224

Aug. 24: The state Cabinet on Tuesday cleared in principle the guidelines to create the unique “miniature Tamil Nadu” — a project showcasing the numerous attractions and tourism wealth of the state — near Mamallapuram.
Though the project was conceived a couple of years ago, the tourism department could not implement it since it was unable to find a suitable bidder to finance, build and operate it.
The private firm has to develop and own it for 30 year lease period with periodical review by the tourism authorities at the end of each decade.

...

^^ what they will have in this miniature TN?.... will they have models(miniatures) explaining the tourist places and culture?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/-PMs-Tirupati-visit-cancelled-again-/articleshow/6435436.cms



http://iwwh.blogspot.com/2009/08/andhra-pradesh-bags-ntpc-bhel-project.html

http://iwwh.blogspot.com/2009/08/andhra-pradesh-bags-ntpc-bhel-project.html

Thanks. I knew we were never in the race.

Tidco upcoming projects

http://www.tidco.com/upload/brochure.pdf

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/08/30/images/2010083051801201.jpg

A file picture of an aerial view of Oragadam, near Chennai, which is a hot investment destination in the State.

The Government of Tamil Nadu proposes to build a land bank of 25,000 acres for investors, according to the State's Industries Secretary, Mr Rajeev Ranjan.

As much as 8,000 acres is under the acquisition mode. This chunk is more “concrete” with all administrative clearances obtained — only the process of acquisition is to be completed.

The other 17,300-odd acres are in the “proposal” stage. Here, the land has been identified, but some administrative work needs to be completed before the process of acquisition begins.

The Government will need land, as the State sees a “robust investment pipeline.”

On the anvil are plans to develop all the leading industrial estates — Sriperumbudur, Oragadam, and Hosur.

The State would need large chunks of land ready for making it available to the industry as and when the demand comes up.

Investment

Investment flow into Tamil Nadu has been robust. Even at the height of the recent recession, medium-sized investments (of around Rs 100 crore) were happening. For instance, ebm Nadi set up a plant for Rs 75 crore. Lincoln Electric invested Rs 100 crore in a manufacturing facility. As the recession petered out, big ticket investments have started coming back. The public sector oil major, Indian Oil Corporation, plans to invest Rs 8,000 crore in setting up a LNG terminal and regassification facility at Ennore.

Michelin plans to set up a Rs 4,000-crore tyre plant . There is a distinct possibility of further investments from the French tyre major.

Two joint ventures of BGR Energy and Hitachi are investing Rs 4,400 crore to make boilers and turbines for power projects.

JK Tyres is investing Rs 1,500 crore in a tyre plant. Videocon Industries is to invest Rs 1,500 crore in a facility to make television sets. In addition to these, a number of power projects, such as of GEMAC Energy and Coastal Energen, also are coming up.

Well spread out

For all the investments mentioned above, land is either owned by the project proponents or have been allotted. A point to note is that the investments are no longer concentrated in the established industrial clusters of Sriperumbudur and Oragadam, although Chennai region remains arguably the epicentre of investments, presumably because of the presence of two major ports — Chennai and Ennore.

Still, investments are happening in the upcoming industrial centres. For instance, Michelin is coming up at Thirvoi Kondigai, north of Chennai. Videocon Industries is coming up at Manamadurai, in southern Tamil Nadu. GEMAC Energy's power plant is coming up near Cuddalore. IOC is, of course, at Ennore. BGR-Hitachi is said to be considering Ennore too.

More investments

The future investments will come at these emerging industrial centres. The investment pipeline is indeed robust, as many prospective investors are eyeing Tamil Nadu.

French car manufacturer, Peugeot, is also considering Tamil Nadu. Officials of the company have asked the State Government what it can offer in terms of incentives. Ready availability of land will be a lubricant to a deal. Sharp Corporation of Japan is looking at Tamil Nadu to manufacture solar modules. Hyundai would need to expand its facilities sooner or later.

Since there is no room at Sriperumbudur, the Korean car major will need to look at an alternative site not too far from Sriperumbudur. Cheyyar, where the State Government has enough land, is perhaps a good choice.

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/08/30/stories/2010083051801200.htm

http://newsystocks.com/news/3665716

The southern districts of Tamil Nadu have traditionally been considered an industrially backward area but, no longer.

Significant investments in infrastructure, happening and in the pipeline, for development of roads, port, power and industrial estates and SEZs along with an attractive package of State Government incentives have helped attract large investments here.

THE PACK

Comprising the nine districts: Madurai, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Dindigul, Ramanathapuram, Theni, Virudhunagar, Sivagangai and Kanyakumari, South Tamil Nadu is seeing inflow of investments across a range of sectors. Leading the pack are are Madurai, Turicorin, Tirunelveli and Sivagangai.

Added to infrastructure and incentives are low real estate prices – developed industrial land here costs about a fourth of the prices industries pay in North Tamil Nadu and much lower than for land near Chennai.

State Govt push

A prime mover is the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT), the State Government body that is the nodal agency for setting up industrial infrastructure and has established industrial estates and SEZs in the region.

These include the industrial estates and SEZs at Tuticorin, Manamadurai, Gangaikondan, and Nilakottai. The region's abundance in graduates is an attractor, with Tirunelveli growing as a major education hub.

Apart from Sipcot, private players have also set up industrial infrastructure such as the Rs 550-crore Pearl City Food Port SEZ at Tuticorin by the Chennai-based integrated infrastructure company CCCL, and the AMRL Multiproduct SEZ at Nanguneri by the Hyderabad-based AMR group.

According to Government officials, a landmark development has been the Rs 1,500 crore investment proposed by Videocon at Manamadurai, which is expected to generate 1,000 jobs directly.

The investment by the electronic appliances maker has helped attract more investments by its vendors for whom over 30 acres havebeen allotted. Land at the Sipcot industrial estate at Manamadurai is now fully allotted, they say.

Private Investments

Over the next five years Videocon's Unity Appliances Ltd will set up a production facility for LCD and Plasma screen production, electronic appliances and components.

Government officials also said that at the Gangaikondan Industrial Estate, Tirunelveli District, ATC Tires Pvt Ltd is to invest Rs 400 crore on a tyre-manufacturing facility that will generate over 1,000 jobs.

The company is promoted by Yogesh Agencies & Investments, a Mahansaria company, and Warburg Pincus, the equity investment company, which acquired the Israel-based Alliance Tire Company in a $150-million deal in 2007. ATC will help expand Alliance's production capacity.

Alliance is a global leader in developing, manufacturing and marketing a range of off-highway tyres and passenger vehicle tyres.

Its products are exported to over 65 countries for use in agriculture, forestry, mining and construction industries. Mr R. Sarabeswar, Chairman, Pearl City, says enquiries for space indicate that at least 100 acres land could be allotted by the year end at the 425-acre industrial space which includes a 294-acre notified SEZ.

POWER PROJECTS

The proposed investments in power projects in the vicinity of Tuticorin and Tirunelveli, the proximity to the Tuticorin Port which is undergoing rapid expansion, and the potential for marine and agriculture food products hold promise of investments.

Also, a handful of power plants by a range of private players are coming up in the district which would address the needs of the industry.

Leading companies in food sector, domestic and international – in the US, Middle East and Australia – have made enquiries for space at the food SEZ, he said.

At the AMRL SEZ, where 2,520 acres are to come up, the first phase of 300 acres is ready for occupation and work on an additional 200 acres is to start next month.

TNEB is to set up a dedicated substation for this industrial estate, say company officials. AMRL has signed an agreement for space with eight companies and has sold about 30 acres.

Policy Support

In 2008, the Tamil Nadu Government announced a policy specifically to attract investments to the Southern Districts, apart from the incentives available under the industrial policy of the State.

These are a slew of tax incentives available at a lower threshold of investments in these districts.

Incentives for investments more than Rs 250 crore in districts elsewhere are available to the nine Southern districts for investments amounting to just Rs 50 crore and more. These are in addition to the incentives allowed under the industrial policy.

The benefits are: For investments between Rs 50 crore and 100 crore the VAT payable for three years would be treated as a loan that can be paid after seven years with an interest of 0.1 per cent; investments between Rs 100 crore and Rs 200 crore are eligible to pay four years' VAT in the seventh year with an interest of 0.1 per cent; and investments between Rs 200 crore and Rs 250 crore can get a five-year VAT benefit which can be paid after seven years with an interest of 0.1 per cent.

Also, the industrial policy provides for similar VAT incentives to be repaid with 0.1 per cent interest for investments between Rs 250 crore and Rs 1,500 crore.

In the case of such investments in southern districts, this amount is treated as grant.

Here is another news about industrial growth in TN...dont understand why The Hindu churns this old news again and again

IOC & Petronas joint venture for LPG import terminal


TN: A destination for industrial growth
Projects on cards

Expansion of North Chennai Power Station by 1,200 MW

NTPC-TNEB Joint venture for 1,500-MW plant

Expansion of facilities by Ennore Port

L&T's shipyard-cum minor port complex

Ennore SEZ

Tank terminal projects of Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum

The Tamil Nadu Government has launched a major initiative that will see the integrated development of modern social infrastructure along the major industrial corridors across the State.

Whether it is North Tamil Nadu, the regions surrounding Chennai, that is the centre of industrial investments in the State or the growing areas in the south, the Government has recognised the need to ensure streamlined growth of support facilities to attract the human resource needed to sustain the industrial activity.

Social infrastructure

According to official sources, the two leading Government agencies – the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (Tidco) and the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (Sipcot) – that support industrial growth are now looking at the need to back industrial growth with the creation of planned urban centres.

For instance, according to official sources, Tidco has identified over Rs 18,000 crore worth of investment opportunities in social infrastructure in the areas to the north of Chennai where industrial investments to the tune of Rs 30,000 crore are now under implementation.

These investments are happening in a wide range of sectors including power, ports and ship building, manufacturing, petrochemicals, apart from rapid expansion by existing industries. The new investments alone are expected to create over 1,00,000 jobs that would call for the creation of a self contained urban environment.

This would need huge investments in connectivity and an integrated township to support the population.

The State Government is looking at plans that would enable creation of such a modern township in Thiruvallur District to the north of Chennai.

A proposal under consideration is to create a 1,500 acre integrated township in the region.

Private players active

Recognising the potential of the rapid industrial development, the private sector has not lagged behind in coming out with residential projects on a massive scale. Leading developers have announced major projects in Chennai suburbs to the west and south of Chennai.

For instance, Tidco is facilitating the development of an integrated township by the private sector real estate developer, ETA. ETA Star Property and Tidco are together setting up a Rs 450-crore township at Sriperumbudur to the west of Chennai.

Corridors of excellence

Sipcot, the agency responsible for establishing industrial estates and infrastructure, has initiated studies to upgrade the industrial corridors in the northern and western regions. These are to be developed as “industrial corridors of excellence” that will provide not only industrial infrastructure but also create zones that provide the entire range of amenities and services including healthcare, education, entertainment facilities.

Sipcot has identified three corridors that are to be upgraded and has commissioned expert studies which are in advanced stages. The industrial corridors identified are the Chennai-Sriperumbudur-Ranipet-Hosur region, the Salem-Coimbatore region and the Madurai-Tuticorin region.

According to officials, these corridors cover most of the established and growing industrial zones. Leading consultants, Mott McDonald have been commissioned to draft a plan for the development of the Chennai-Hosur corridor, along NH 4 linking to Bangalore. The comprehensive plan will provide and upgrade basic infrastructure, social infrastructure and modern housing for the benefit of the employees working in industrial units and the population in Sriperumbudur town and its surrounding areas.

Other options

While the Chennai-Sriperumbudur stretch is rapidly developing, the study commissioned would also look at the Ranipet-Hosur stretch. The plans for the other two corridors are being studied by consultant arm of the Mahindra & Mahindra group.

The objective is to ensure the streamlined and planned growth of urban centres around the industrial zones. Sipcot will also coordinate with other Government agencies, they said.


http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/08/30/stories/2010083050750200.htm

^^
I think Mott McDonald has been working on the feasibilty study of Chennai - Hosur corridor for the past 7 or 10 years. I wonder why it takes too long when Japanese are ready to finance completely. Delhi-Mumbai corridor which is a 2 year old project is in much advanced stage comparatively. Atleast it sounds like that.

^^
I think Mott McDonald has been working on the feasibilty study of Chennai - Hosur corridor for the past 7 or 10 years. I wonder why it takes too long when Japanese are ready to finance completely. Delhi-Mumbai corridor which is a 2 year old project is in much advanced stage comparatively. Atleast it sounds like that.

Cutting kuduthirukka mattangea :)

TN has already made her mark for spatial dispersal of industries and balanced geographical spread of population and of economic growth. Like Tidel Park lifting IT growth to phenomenal heights in north TN, Nanguneri is sure to be the inspiration for the south.

Industrialisation of the south will make the expansion of Tuticorin harbour unstoppable. The hinterland is enviably massive. In no way different is Colachel. It is to TN, what Zenshen is to south China; Vizhinjam notwithstanding. The North South Highway is a much valued vertebral column. The ECR is developed enough to serve as an artery. Rail connectivity is in place and air travel will grow in step. What Kannyakumari needs is all what Kancheepuram district already has. Replication is the word. Chennai and Ennore rolled into one should be Colachel.

Reporting power theft can earn you Rs 20,000

Source (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Reporting-power-theft-can-earn-you-Rs-20000/articleshow/6458183.cms)

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board has been grappling with power theft for years, and even has a reward system in place for those who report pilferage but not many have taken advantage of this offer.

"We instituted the system years ago as we cannot crack down on power theft without the help of the public, but not many come forward to make complaints," said a TNEB vigilance and enforcement wing official. "If the information provided is true, the informer will get 20% of the fine amount. The maximum amount given as prize money is Rs 20,000," added the official. The prize money system for the public was introduced 15 years ago. The amount used to be Rs 5,000, it was increased to Rs 20,000 five years ago.

The state's transmission and distribution losses stand at 18%, which runs into crores of rupees. The official said, "People are frightened to provide their name and addresses. They think they may be targeted by those stealing power."

Between April and August this year, the vigilance team detected 3,347 cases of power theft. According to a press release, between April 1 and August 21, the TNEB vigilance team inspected 1,201 high tension (HT) and 62,451 low tension (LT) industries. TNEB also detected seven cases of power theft in the HT industry and 3,340 in the LT connections.

They collected Rs 16 crore in fines. In order to avoid court cases, those found guilty of power theft have also paid a compensation amount of Rs 17 crore.

Among the 23,347 power theft cases, 680 were detected from domestic services, 209 from agriculture connections, 152 from factory, 1,777 from commercial, 480 from temporary connections, four from power loom and educational connections, and 45 are from other service connections.

These thefts were committed by various methods including direct hook, tampering with meters, unauthorised connections, using fake safety labels, and changing electric circuits.

Complaints of power theft can be made by calling 9444406928, 9444018955 and 9445857591 for Chennai region, 9443049456 for Coimbatore, 9443037508 for Madurai, and 9443329851 for Tiruchi.

The implementation of value added tax (VAT) regime in Tamil Nadu by the DMK government from 2007 onwards has resulted in slower growth in commercial taxes revenue, AIADMK General Secretary J. Jayalalithaa said here Monday.

'The state's commercial tax revenue went up to Rs.16,615 crore in 2005-06 up from around Rs.8,000 crore in 2001-02, more than 100 percent growth. The growth rate has come down to 50 percent during DMK's regime at Rs.24,819 crore during 2009-10,' she said.


'The central government is yet to compensate the state to the tune of Rs.3,500 crore towards tax loss on implementation of VAT.'


According to her, the state lost its power to levy taxes with the implementation of VAT in 2007.


Jayalalithaa ridiculed the resolution passed by the DMK members of parliament at their meeting recently opposing the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST)


She said the decision to implement GST within three years of introducing VAT was taken long back. The DMK government by implementing VAT in the state has in fact given its consent for GST.

http://sify.com/finance/tamil-nadu-s-tax-growth-has-halved-jayalalithaa-news-default-ki4oOcbhhai.html

Kia Motors To Set Up Plant In Tamil Nadu

Kia Motors, South Korea's second largest car maker will set up a factory near Sriperumbudur. Tamil Nadu Government has got proposals worth Rs.7000 crore and large chunk of this amount is from Kia Motors.

According to a state official, the TN government has already crossed last year’s investment figure of Rs 12,000 crore, and by the end of the current calendar year,the investment figures will cross Rs 20,000 crore. He also said that, Kia Motors was talking to the state government for setting up a manufacturing plant. Hyundai Motor Company, which already has a manufacturing unit in the state, holds about 35 per cent stake in Kia Motors.

Kia Motors would build a factory in Sriperumbudur with an annual capacity of 3,00,000 units a year, starting from 2012. Hyundai along with Kia Motors will provide more products both for domestic as well as international market.

Tamil Nadu is a leading auto industry hub housing 10 top global auto makers. The state is now focusing on second tire automobile companies. TN government has also signed MoU with JK Tyres which plans to set up a greenfield factory with an investment of Rs 1,500 crore in Sriperumbudur.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/08/26/stories/2010082652181900.htm

Chennai, Aug. 25

Seven projects from Tamil Nadu have been selected under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission programme.

According to official sources, these are: Noel Media & Advertising Pvt Ltd; Gemini Geoss Energy Pvt Ltd; B&G Solar Pvt Ltd; Harrisons Power Pvt Ltd; RL Clean Power Pvt Ltd; Great Shine Holdings Pvt Ltd; and Amson Power Pvt Ltd.

These were among the 21 projects shortlisted by the Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency, the state-run nodal agency for the promotion of renewable energy, from more than 100 project proposals that competed for the support under the JNNSM of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

Each of these seven companies is to set up a 1 MW solar photovoltaic power generation facility connected to the State grid. These are among the 96 projects that have been shortlisted to set up 1 MW solar photovoltaic power generation in various States under the solar mission. (The entire list is available on the IREDA Web site www.ireda.in.)

...

http://www.dealcurry.com/2010093-Cethar-Vessels-Plans-To-Raise-Rs-400-Cr-PE.htm


It will invest around Rs 5,000 crore for setting up the thermal plant of 1,010 MW capacity and a solar farm of 12 Mw in Pudukottai district at a cost of Rs.180 crore.


It is also planning a facility to manufacture turbines for thermal power plants in Tiruchy with an outlay of Rs 1,200 crore. The proposed plant will be set up over the next three years in phases with a total capacity of 4000 Mw.


This year in March, Cethar had signed a MoU with Russia's OJSC Power Machines to manufacture turbines for thermal power plants in India in which OJSC will own the majority stake in the JV. It would invest another Rs.200 crore to expand the production capacity for boilers, to 12,000 Mw from the current 8,000 Mw which is expected to be completed by end of 2011.

Chennai Petroleum to invest INR 20000 crore in expansion

IndianOil Group firm Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd has lined up an investment of INR 20,000 crore over the next five years for capacity expansion.

Mr BM Bansal chairman of IOCL told reporters that "CPCL is planning to set up a 9 million tonnes per annum Brownfield refinery project at Manali at a cost of INR 10,000 crore. This is to replace the aging 2.8 million tonnes refinery.”

He added that the project is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2015.

Mr Bansal said that "Around INR 2000 crore worth of projects were already going on the major CAPEX will be there for the replacement of the CD1 to 9 million tones.”

Besides this project, he said CPCL plans to install a Resid Upgradation unit at an estimated cost of INR 3350 crore, which is expected to be complete by the end of 2013.

http://www.steelguru.com/indian_news/Chennai_Petroleum_to_invest_INR_20000_crore_in_expansion/164661.html

Tamil Nadu expects Rs.30,000 crore from commercial taxes

The Tamil Nadu government is hoping to mop up around Rs.30,000 crore from commercial taxes this fiscal.

During the first five months of the fiscal, the government has earned Rs.12,477.62 crore as against Rs.9,797.57 crore earned during the corresponding period of the previous year.


Last month the government earned Rs.2,680.05 crore, registering the highest ever monthly tax collections.


The state had earned Rs.24,818.84 crore in 2009-10, net of write off of long pending dues under one time settlement scheme.


The government has extended the one time settlement scheme from Aug 31, 2010 to Dec 31, 2010.


The scheme, which was introduced in June, fetched the government Rs.111 crore of pending tax dues.


According to the Commercial Taxes Department, around 1,000 big business establishments remit around Rs.1,400 crore taxes using the electronic payment facility.


The department has installed a new software in its new high end servers so as to get data seamlessly.
http://sify.com/finance/tamil-nadu-expects-rs-30-000-crore-from-commercial-taxes-news-default-kjqqucdfjfd.html

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article673064.ece

The hatcheries in Namakkal Poultry Zone are gearing up for an additional production of 20 lakh egg units per day to meet the demand of the Tamil Nadu Government, which has introduced eggs for five times a week in its ambitious noon meal scheme. The industry has already been supplying 30 lakh eggs per day for it's ‘thrice a week' scheme.

Delighted over the announcement of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Wednesday , the poultry farmers, who have been demanding assistance for the industry's survival, are now optimistic about its further growth.

The President of the Tamil Nadu Poultry Farmers' Association R. Nallathambi says that they were ‘very happy' about the Chief Minister's announcement since it would keep the industry in good health in the days to come. Saying that the government is procuring major portion of stock from Namakkal, he points out that the grain rotting in the godowns across the country could be sold to poultry farmers at a subsidised cost since the price of raw material for feeds have escalated steeply. “The production cost of a single egg today is Rs 2.25,” he points out.

To supply eggs to noon meal centres in different districts of varying distances, the farmers have to charge a minimum of 20 to 25 paise per egg in addition to the day's official base price fixed by National Egg Co-ordination Committee (NECC). As per the government stipulations, each egg has to weigh 46 grams and should be neither less nor more. The Zone as on today has nearly 4.40 crore birds. To meet the demand, it has to be replenished with an additional 25 lakh chicks.

...

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article699324.ece

They will be constructed within six years, says Stalin
As many as 21 lakh houses would be constructed under Kalaignar Housing Scheme within a period of six years. The works were going on in full swing and it would be completed within the stipulated period, said Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin here on Sunday.

He is on a visit to inspect the arrangements made for Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's visit to Kanyakumari district after six years.

The Chief Minister would attend Thanthai Periyar and Aringar Anna birth anniversary celebrations as well as the formation day of Dravida Munnetra Kazagham to be held at South Travancore College exhibition ground on Monday.

...

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/1000-cr-roads-five-months-757

Chennai, Sept. 17: The state government has sanctioned `1,000 crore to see that about 5,000 km of roads damaged in rains and due to underground drainage scheme in various towns across Tamil Nadu are re-laid in 4-5 months.
Deputy chief minister M.K. Stalin, who handles municipal administration department, will be handing over orders to municipalities and town panchayats on Saturday to carry out the work immediately.
The residents of many towns, where underground drainage and water supply scheme taken up in the last four years, will get respite through the scheme as most of the roads were cut open and restored temporarily. Though many of the urban roads were damaged due to rains, the local bodies could not restore them on a largescale due to paucity of funds.

...

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/stalin-s-korea-china-woo-investors-928

Sept. 27: Deputy chief minister M.K. Stalin, along with senior bureaucrats, has embarked on a weeklong trip to China and South Korea to lure investors to Tamil Nadu. Accompanied by industries secretary Rajeev Ranjan, deputy chief minister’s secretary K. Deenabandu, executive vice-chairman of the Tamil Nadu Industrial Guidance and Export Promotion Bureau, M. Velmurugan, Mr Stalin left for Singapore on Monday night. From there the delegation will be visiting Shanghai to attend the grand expo. .

According to sources, Mr Stalin will inaugurate the manufacturing facility at Shanghai established by Coimbatore-based Lakshmi Machine Works (LMW). The Coimbatore firm has put up a Rs 100-crore plant in China to produce textile machines. In the presence of its chairman Sanjay Jayawardanavelu, Mr Stalin will launch the first sale.

The Central government has set up a pavilion for the Shanghai World Expo and asked the Tamil Nadu government to send a delegation to explore business opportunities in China. After visiting various pavilions at the expo, the delegation will be leaving for Seoul, Korea, where it will conduct a seminar on opportunities for investing in Tamil Nadu. “Investors from various countries including Japan, Korea, US and China are showing keen interest in investing in Tamil Nadu. Since we have a large presence of Korean firms in the state, I hope our trip will help in getting more investments. We are expecting nearly 400 delegates to the seminar. Besides Korean firms, we will also interact with Japanese investors,” Mr Stalin told Deccan Chronicle.

South Korea is the 15th largest investor in India and most of their investments are in Chennai. At present there are about 160 Korean companies operating out of Chennai and the city’s Korean population is roughly 3,000. Kilpauk has been fondly called the Korea Town of the city.

On return, the delegation will go back to Beijing where again it will have meetings with potential investors. Companies from Korea, Japan and US are showing interest to invest more in Tamil Nadu. A high-level delegation led by the then chief secretary K.S. Sripathi visited Japan to showcase the state’s potential. Mr Stalin will see Seoul’s Han river and Shanghai river and learn from the authorities about beatification and maintenance of rivers with an eye on a cleaner Adyar and Cooum in the city

Good initiative TN/Stalin :cheers:

- single largest wind power project in India (Rs. 1150 Cr.). Suzlon to execute.


http://www.domainb.com/companies/companies_s/Suzlon_Energy/20100921_supply.html

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/tn-still-most-economically-free/693125/2

The Economic Freedom Rankings for the States of India, 2009 posts sharp changes in the overall levels of economic freedom in the states between 2005 and 2009. While Tamil Nadu retained the top spot, Gujarat moved up from No.5 to No.2, Andhra Pradesh gained four places to claim the No.3 slot, while Madhya Pradesh fell from No.2 to No.6 and Orissa was at No.17, six places down.

The authors of the report by the CATO Institute and Indicus Analytics in partnership with Friedrich Naumann Stiftung caution that though there is a link between economic freedom and growth, the correlation is not very high. However, there is an observable trend illustrating this correlation— AP and Gujarat improved the most and grew at an average of 10.5% between 2004-05 and 2008-09; the states that worsened moderately grew at 8.7% on average; those who came in at the bottom averaged growth rates of 6.7% (in the same period).

The report defines economic freedom as “the absence of government coercion or constraint on the production, distribution or consumption of goods and services beyond the extent necessary for citizens to protect and maintain liberty itself”.

The study uses a robust methodology, analysing three broad areas (further divided into sub-categories)—(i) size of government, (ii) legal structure and security of property rights, and (iii) regulation of credit, labour and business.

The top-scoring states in 2009 were Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh while Bihar, Uttarakhand and Assam came in at the bottom. However, not all states showed an increase in levels of economic freedom, with Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Punjab and many more registering a decline. This is significant because states with higher levels of freedom tend to perform better across a range of economic variables and exhibit higher levels of in-migration.

The report further discusses the significance of a country’s score on economic freedom and its effects on measures of economic development (life expectancy, per capita investment, infant mortality etc); the two are strongly correlated. While correlation does not signify causation, given the strength of the correlation across development and deprivation indicators, it does suggest causation, as pointed out by Bibek Debroy.

But, does economic freedom matter? China, with its autocratic government and low levels of economic freedom, continues to grow at an inexplicably high pace. It can be deduced from China’s (and other developing countries’) example that absolute levels are less relevant than the changes in levels of economic freedom. As Bibek Debroy explains, “when one begins with low levels of economic freedom, even incremental changes can have large and disproportionate effects on growth”.

Laveesh Bhandari opines that while the decline in the median value for economic freedom of the states of India (from 0.38 to 0.36) may not be indicative of long-term trends, it needs to be closely monitored. This implies that despite high GDP growth, the overall economic freedom in the states of India is not improving. Improvements in the size of the government are outweighed by fall in both legal structure and property rights as well as regulation of credit labour and business. Says Bhandari: “As India opens its national markets to international investment and commodity flows, it cannot afford to constrain its own entrepreneurs. For this, economic freedom needs to be improved at the national, state and local levels.”

Among the top-performing states, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat registered the biggest improvements in economic freedom. Swaminathan Aiyar has unearthed (with the help of DA Somayajulu) the factors underlying Andhra Pradesh’s unexpectedly high levels of growth. Despite the state’s welfare subsidies, it “used high public investment and business-friendly policies to accelerate growth”, a strategy of growth-led populism. This strategy helped to strengthen the connection between economic freedom, rapid economic growth and welfare.

Thus, while economic freedom is not the only freedom that exists — political and civil rights, too, have spillover effects on economic freedom — if development and prosperity are the benchmarks, it is most significant

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article819885.ece

Tamil Nadu government would be starting IT Parks in seven cities, Minister for IT Poongothai Aladi Aruna said in Erode.

The IT parks would come up in Coimbatore, Salem, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, Hosur and Vellore. The decision on starting one more park would be taken soon, she said inaugurating a three-day computer fair here.

...

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/neutrino-lab-gets-tn-forest-dept%E2%80%99s-nod-175

Oct. 5: The anxious scientists clamouring to have the controversial India-based neutrino observatory (INO), an underground science laboratory, amidst the west Bodi hills in the eco-sensitive Western Ghats have crossed the initial but major hurdle: the Tamil Nadu forest department has given the go-ahead to house the
Rs 1,000 crore observatory at the proposed site in Pottipuram, in Theni district. “The state forest department has given the clearance and has forwarded its recommendation to the Union ministry of environment and forest for further approval,” INO spokesperson Naba K. Mondal told mediapersons here on Tuesday.
Stating that Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh is “sympathetic to our project” and “knows its importance”, Mr Mondal expressed the hope that the sanction would be obtained as early as possible. “We hope to get the nod as environmental concerns raised earlier (in Singara) are not here. The construction activities for the project are expected to start within a year,” he said.

...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Mega-project-gives-TN-livestock-farmers-a-reason/articleshow/6726230.cms

CHENNAI: Entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu who aim to strike it big in livestock farming have something to cheer about. The central government has approved the salvaging and rearing of male buffalo calves' project, with a financial outlay of Rs 27.7 crores for the year 2010-11.

The scheme, to be implemented under the guidance of state animal husbandry department, aims at the economical rearing of male calves for the production of international quality meat meant for export. The project also aims to provide high quality hides to leather manufacturers.

The scheme will have three models. The mini calf rearing unit targets farmers who already have been rearing calves. The mini unit will have one to nine calves and such farmers will be given 100% interest-free loans. In the second model, aimed at commercial units, the government will provide 25% of the total investment as capital subsidy. The third model is meant for industrial units, having the capacity to rear 1,000 or more calves. The government has approximated an investment of ` 80.4 lakh per unit and will provide 25% of the investment as capital subsidy.

The scheme also envisages to improve by-products such as meat-cum-bone meals, hides and bio-fertilisers.

...

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/2000-mw-wind-energy-soon-994

Chennai, Oct. 8: Electricity minister Arcot M. Veerasamy said on Friday that the state would increase its wind energy generation potential by another 2,000 MW in the coming years. He was speaking at the national conference on bio mass based power generation held at Mamallapuram.
The minister pointed out that TN already ranked first in wind energy generation with a capacity of 5,400 MW. He said while most sugar mills in TN operated only for four months in a year, the plan was to make it operate year round and increase bio mass energy generation by another 60 MW during the year 2011-2.
Speaking at the occasion, Dr N.P. Singh, adviser, ministry of new and renewable energy, government of India, said bio mass energy should reach the villages, as it was truly the poor man’s fuel. “Tamil Nadu is already a leader in renewable energy generation. We want to ensure that it penetrates into the villages and generates income for the poor,” Mr Singh said.

...

http://www.thehindu.com/arts/article834703.ece

Bharata–Ilango Foundation for Asian Culture to come up at Pattipulam

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Sunday laid the foundation stone for Bharata–Ilango Foundation for Asian Culture at Pattipulam Village off East Coast Road near Mamallapuram on Sunday and stated that any dance form was not restricted to one particular section.

While stating that he did not dispute that Bharata Muni was the author of ‘natya shastra,' Mr. Karunanidhi said classical dance was not restricted to any particular section and that graceful movements and artistry alone were required “as the language” for an artist.

Stating that he was happy to note that Indian art, especially its dance forms were widely popular and followed in many parts of the world, especially all over South and South East Asia, Mr. Karunanidhi hoped that the centre would serve as a platform for artists from all over the world to come together, research and express their views. The Chief Minister also said the government would extend its support to the project.

...

RIL's 4 trans-country gas lines well behind schedule...

Kakinada-Haldia (1,100 km), Kakinada-Chennai (445 km), Chennai-Bangalore-Mangalore (600 km) and Chennai-Tuticorin (670 km).

While RIL is still obtaining the Rights of User (RoUs) at some locations, it has currently undertaken only a survey of the second pipeline from Kakinada to Chennai and has not initiated acquisition of land and civil works. "It takes 18-24 months to finish the pipeline after the process of acquisition of RoUs, which RIL began in 2009 and is still going on. It is a fact that they have not started work on ground but they are obtaining the ROUs at the same time. Perhaps the company is apprehensive about the gas availability at present to expand the pipeline network," a senior ministry official told Business Standard.

According to industry experts, another reason for the delay could be that RIL is not able to pump gas to full flow from its gas fields in the Krishna-Godavari basin. Due to low well-head pressure and as a precaution on future gas availability, the company has slowed plans on expanding the pipelines. RIL had earlier conveyed to the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons its inability to raise production beyond 60 million standard cubic metres of gas per day (mscmd)

The pipelines are supposed to meet the gas demand of various companies, including Iffco in Nellore and MFL in Chennai, industrial and city gas distribution demand in Chennai and adjacent regions.

It will also supply gas to Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation’s fertiliser complex in Tuticorin and to Karnataka Power Corporation’s unit in Bangalore, with a tap-off near Chennai on the proposed pipeline. The pipeline would also be operated on a common carrier basis and provide access to third parties.

http://www.businessstandard.com/india/news/ril/s-4-trans-country-gas-lines-well-behind-schedule/411996/

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Neutrino-lab-project-gets-green-signal/articleshow/6772345.cms

The Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has given clearance to the department of atomic energy to set up a neutrino observatory in Bodi West Hills reserved forest in Theni district in south Tamil Nadu. However, the approval is subject to conditions that the project does not entail cutting down trees or causing damage to the forest cover. The MoEF has also insisted on measures to minimize the effect of tunnelling to create an underground lab that would be located 1,000 metres below the surface and to properly dispose of the rock debris resulting from it.

"This will be a world class laboratory for underground science and will give India an edge in research relating to understanding the fundamental laws of nature," Union minister for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh told TOI. "When completed, this will house the world's most massive magnet."

The India based neutrino observatory (INO) project, entailing the study of neutrinos or sub-atomic particles present in the atmosphere, will be executed by the Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and 20 other scientific institutions in the country. A massive detector made of iron, weighing 51 kilotons, will be used to detect neutrinos.

According to Naba K Mondal, INO spokesman and a scientist with TIFR, India will be the fourth country to execute such a massive project after Canada, Japan and Italy. "We expect to begin construction for this project by March 2012 after clearance from the Atomic Energy Commission and the central cabinet," he said.

According to the MoEF, the project is expected to be completed by 2015 at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore. "The lab will be housed in a cavern built at a depth of one km from the surface, at the end of a two-km long tunnel," Mondal said. The MoEF had been keen on locating the project in Tamil Nadu, in view of the state's "conducive atmosphere".

:banana:

http://sify.com/finance/india-plans-two-national-gas-grids-news-default-kktvEjchfdd.html

With the discovery of natural gas in Andhra Pradesh which nearly doubles its availability in the country, India is planning to have two national gas pipeline grids, an official said Tuesday.

'We are aiming at setting up two national gas grids in five years time. One will be in Gujarat and the other in southern India,' Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) chairman L. Mansingh said, speaking at the Chennai 2020 seminar organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here.

He said 25 cities in Tamil Nadu has been identified for development of city gas distribution (CGD) network.

According to him, large parts of Tamil Nadu will be linked by gas pipeline networks granted by the centre.

He said there are four pipeline projects for Tamil Nadu -- Kakinada-Chennai, Chennai-Tuticorin, Chennai-Bangalore-Mangalore and Kochi-Bangalore-Mangalore.

நாகர்கோவில்:திருவனந்தபுரம் ரயில்வே கோட்டத்தின் கீழ் வரும் கன்னியாகுமரி, திருநெல்வேலி மாவட்டப் பகுதிகள் திட்டமிட்டு புறக்கணிக்கப்படுவதால் இவற்றை மதுரை கோட்டத்துடன் இணைக்க வேண்டும் என்ற கோரிக்கை வலுப் பெற்றுள்ளது.

திருவனந்தபுரம் கோட்டத்தில் 650 கி.மீ. தொலைவுக்கு வழித்தடங்கள் உள்ளன. இதில் கன்னியாகுமரி மற்றும் திருநெல்வேலி மாவட்டத்தில், கன்னியாகுமரி- திருவனந்தபுரம் வழித்தடம் 87 கி.மீ. ஆகும். நாகர்கோவில்- திருநெல்வேலி வழித்தடம் 74 கி.மீ. என்று மொத்தம் 161கி.மீ. தொலைவு உள்ளது.

இந்த கோட்டத்தின் கீழ் செயல்படும் 25 சதவிகித வழித்தடங்கள் திருநெல்வேலி மற்றும் கன்னியாகுமரி மாவட்ட பகுதிகளில் இருக்கின்றன. ஆனால் கன்னியாகுமரி மாவட்டத்துக்கு புதிய ரயில்களை இயக்கவும், வசதிகளைப் பெருக்கவும் ரயில்வே பட்ஜெட்டில் நிதி ஒதுக்கீடு செய்யப்படாமல் பல ஆண்டுகளாக புறக்கணிக்கப்படுகிறது.

தமிழக ரயில் நிலையங்களை, கேரள பயணிகளின் வசதிக்காக ரயில்களை நிறுத்திவைக்கும் இடங்களாக ரயில்வே துறை மாற்றியிருப்பதாக பயணிகள் தரப்பில் புகார் தெரிவிக்கப்படுகிறது. கன்னியாகுமரி- மும்பை, கன்னியாகுமரி- பெங்களூர், நாகர்கோவில்- ஹெüரா, கன்னியாகுமரி- ஜம்முதாவி ஆகிய ரயில்கள் திருவனந்தபுரம், எர்ணாகுளம், பாலக்காடு வழியாக சுற்றுப்பாதையில் இயக்கப்படுகின்றன.

இந்த ரயில்களால் கன்னியாகுமரி மாவட்டப் பயணிகளுக்கு பயன் குறைவு.

இந்த ரயில்களை கன்னியாகுமரி, நாகர்கோவிலில் இருந்து இயக்கிவிட்டு வேறு புதிய ரயில்களுக்கு நாகர்கோவிலில் இடமில்லாதபடி அதிகாரிகள் செய்துவிட்டனர்.

நெய்யாற்றின்கரை, குழித்துறை, இரணியல், ஆரல்வாய்மொழி, வள்ளியூர், நான்குனேரி ரயில் நிலையங்களை அமைக்கும்போது தொழில்நுட்பக் கோளாறாக, முதலாம் பிளாட்பாரத்தை லூப் லைனாக வரும்படி அமைத்துள்ளனர்.

திருவனந்தபுரம் முதல் காசர்கோடு வரை பகல் நேரங்களில் இயக்கப்படும் அனைத்து ரயில்களிலும் முன்பதிவு செய்யப்படும் 2-ம் படுக்கை வசதி கொண்ட பெட்டிகளில் முன்பதிவு செய்யாமலே பயணம் செய்ய கேரள பயணிகளுக்காக ஈங்ழ்ங்ள்ங்ழ்ஸ்ங்க் நப்ங்ங்ல்ங்ழ் இப்ஹள்ள் ற்ண்ஸ்ரீந்ங்ற் என்ற வசதி உள்ளது.

ஆனால் இந்த வசதி திருவனந்தபுரத்திலிருந்து நாகர்கோவில், திருநெல்வேலி மார்க்கத்தில் இயக்கப்படும் ரயில்களில் கிடையாது. கன்னியாகுமரி மாவட்டத்தில் ஒரு சில ரயில் நிலையங்களில் முன்பதிவு விண்ணப்பம் மலையாள மொழியில் உள்ளது. நாகர்கோவிலுக்கு அடுத்ததாக உள்ள முக்கிய ரயில் நிலையங்களான குழித்துறை, வள்ளியூர் ரயில் நிலையங்களில் சூப்பர் பாஸ்ட் ரயில்கள் உள்பட அனைத்து ரயில்களும் நின்று செல்ல வேண்டும் என்ற கோரிக்கை இதுவரை நிறைவேற்றப்படவில்லை.

இதுபோல் பல்வேறு பிரச்னைகளையும் இம் மாவட்ட ரயில்வே பயனாளிகள் சங்கத்தினர் சுட்டிக்காட்டுகிறார்கள்.

கன்னியாகுமரி மற்றும் திருநெல்வேலி மாவட்ட ரயில்வே வளர்ச்சி தொடர்ந்து புறக்கணிக்கப்படுவதால் இப் பகுதிகளை மதுரை கோட்டத்துடன் இணைக்க வேண்டும் என்றும் அவர்கள் வலியுறுத்துகிறார்கள்.

கேரள மாநில மக்களவை உறுப்பினர்கள் இணைந்து, கேரளத்துக்கு தனியாக ஒரு ரயில்வே மண்டலம் வேண்டும் என்று ரயில்வே வாரியத்துக்கு நெருக்கடி கொடுத்து வருகிறார்கள். புதிதாக ஒரு ரயில்வே மண்டலம் அமைக்க 3 கோட்டங்கள் தேவை. இப்போது கேரளத்தில் திருவனந்தபுரம், பாலக்காடு என்று இரு கோட்டங்கள் உள்ளன.

இந்நிலையில் கேரளத்துக்கென்று தனி மண்டலம் அமைக்கப்பட்டு அதன்கீழ் தமிழக பகுதிகள் வந்தால் இப்போது உள்ளதைவிட மோசமான நிலைக்கு இங்குள்ள ரயில் நிலையங்கள் தள்ளப்படும் என்று கன்னியாகுமரி மாவட்ட ரயில்வே பயனாளிகள் சங்கத்தின் செயலர் பி. எட்வர்ட் ஜெனி தெரிவித்தார்.

தமிழக ரயில்வே வளர்ச்சியைக் கருத்தில் கொண்டு கன்னியாகுமரி, நாகர்கோவில், திருநெல்வேலி வழித்தட பகுதிகளை மதுரை கோட்டத்துடன் இணைத்து வளர்ச்சிப் பணிகளில் அக்கறை செலுத்த வேண்டும் என்றார் அவர்.

இக் கோரிக்கையை மத்திய, மாநில அரசுகள் பரிசீலிக்க வேண்டும் என்பது இம் மாவட்ட ரயில் பயணிகளின் நீண்டநாள் எதிர்பார்ப்பு.


ஆமை வேகத்தில் மின்மயமாக்கும் பணி


திருவனந்தபுரம்- கன்னியாகுமரி (87 கி.மீ.) நாகர்கோவில்- மதுரை (230 கி.மீ.) வழித்தடத்தை மின்மயமாக்கும் திட்டம் குறித்து பட்ஜெட் அறிவிப்புகளில் வெளியிடப்பட்டிருந்தன.

ஆனால் அவை அறிவிப்புகளாகவே தொடர்கின்றன. கேரளத்தில் திருவனந்தபுரம் முதல் மங்களூரு வரையிலான இரட்டை ரயில்பாதை மற்றும் மின்மயமாக்கும் திட்டப் பணிகள் முழுமை பெற்றுள்ளன.

இதுபோல் கன்னியாகுமரி- மதுரை- திருச்சி- சென்னை வழித்தடம் மின்மயமாக்கும் திட்டமும் குறைந்த நிதி ஒதுக்கீடு காரணமாக ஆமை வேகத்தில் நடக்கிறது.

திருவனந்தபுரம்- கன்னியாகுமரி வழித்தடத்தில் இருவழித்தடம் அமைக்கும் திட்டத்தை செயல்படுத்த ஆய்வு செய்யப்படும் என்று 2004-05 -ம் ஆண்டு ரயில்வே பட்ஜெட்டில் அறிவிப்பு செய்யப்பட்டது. ஆனால் அதுவும் செயல்பாட்டுக்கு வரவில்லை.

http://dinamani.com/edition/Story.aspx?SectionName=Tamilnadu&artid=320193&SectionID=129&MainSectionID=129&SEO=&Title=கன்னியாகுமரி%20திருநெல்வேலி%20ரயில்%20தடங்கள்%20மதுரை%20கோட்டத்துடன்%20இணைக்கப்படுமா?[/EMAIL]

India's Department of Atomic Energy has been given clearance to build a multi-million dollar underground facility to study particles called neutrinos.

The environment and forests ministry gave the go-ahead for the observatory to be built in the Bodi West hills on the coast of southern Tamil Nadu state.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11586298

Liked the title. The article talks about mounting grocery prices.

http://thatstamil.oneindia.in/news/2010/10/22/tamil-nadu-economy-pathetic-condition.html

ஒரு ரூபாய்க்கு அரிசி வாங்கிவிடலாம்... சோத்துப் பிரச்சினை ஓகே. ஆனால் குழம்பு.. சாம்பார், ரசம்? இதற்கெல்லாம் எவ்வளவு செலவாகும்... குறைந்தது ரூ 100!

இதுதான் தமிழகத்தின் நிலைமை. அரிசி விலை என்று நாம் இங்கே குறிப்பிடுவது தமிழக அரசு ரேஷன் கடைகளில் தரும் அரிசிதான். இதை எத்தனைப் பேர் வாங்கிப் பயன்படுத்துகிறார்கள் அல்லது மேலே ரூ 2 வைத்து கடைக்கு விற்றுவிடுகிறார்கள் என்பதெல்லாம் தனி பாலிடிக்ஸ். நல்ல அரிசி வேண்டும் என்றால் அதுவும் கிலோ ரூ 40 வரை போகிறது என்பதையும் மறந்துவிடக் கூடாது!

ஆக, அரிசியை ரூ 40 வரை விலை கொடுத்து வாங்கினாலும், அதற்கு தேவையான சாம்பார் உள்ளிட்ட சைடிஷ் செய்ய ஒரு வேளைக்கு குறைந்தது ரூ 100 தேவை என்பதுதான் நடைமுறை உண்மை.

காரணம்?

மளிகைப் பொருள்களின் விலையேற்றம். இன்றைய நிலவரப்படி, மளிகைப் பொருள்களின் விலையைப் பாருங்கள்...

கடந்த வாரம் ரூ 220க்கு விற்பனையான கிலோ மிளகு விலை, இந்த வாரம் ரூ 240 ஆக உயர்ந்துள்ளது. மலைப்பூண்டு விலை ரூ 250, சாதா பூண்டின் விலை ரூ 220. புளி விலை கிலோ ரூ 65லிருந்து 90க்கு போய்விட்டது.

சன்பிளவர் எண்ணெய் ரூ 65 வரை விற்கிறது. ஒரே வாரத்தில் ரூ 7 வரை உயர்ந்துள்ளது லிட்டருக்கு. கடலை எண்ணெய் ரூ 130 வரையிலும், நல்லெண்ணெய் விலை ரூ 110 வரையிலும் விற்பனையாகிறது. கடுகு, சீரகம், மிளகாய், தனியா என எந்தப் பொருளின் விலையும் குறைந்தபாடில்லை. குறைந்தது 30 சதவீதத்திலிருந்து அதிகபட்சம் 120 சதவீதம் வரை பல்வேறு மளிகைப் பொருள்களின் விலைகளும் உயர்ந்துள்ளன. ஒருவேளை சமையலுக்கு அரிசி தவிர்த்து, மளிகைச் செலவு மட்டும் ரூ 100 முதல் 130 வரையிலும் தேவை.

பருப்பு விலை மட்டும் மூட்டைக்கு ரூ 500 வரை குறைந்துள்ளதாகக் கூறப்படுகிறது. இது மொத்தக் கொள்முதல் விலையில் ஏற்பட்ட குறைவுதான். ஆனால் இந்த விவரம் வாடிக்கையாளர்களுக்குத் தெரியாது என்ற நினைப்பில் பழைய விலைக்கே வைத்து கொள்ளை லாபம் பார்க்கின்றனர் கடைக்காரர்களும்.

இந்த சூழலில் விலைக்குறைப்புக்கு வழியே இல்லையா என்ற கேள்வி எழுகிறது.

"ஒரே வழிதான். சப்ளை அதிகரிக்க வேண்டும். அதற்கு விளைச்சல் இருக்க வேண்டும். ஆனால் இருக்கிற விளை நிலங்களை தரிசாகப் போட்டுவிட்டு அல்லது தொழிற்சாலைகள், வீட்டுமனைகளுக்குக் கொடுத்துவிட்டு, ஊதுபத்தியை உருட்டியபடி இலவச டிவியில், சீரியல் பார்ப்பதில் மூழ்கிப் போய்விட்ட மக்களை என்ன செய்யப் போகிறோம்?", என்கிறார் பேராசிரியர் சபாநாயகம் (சென்னைப் பல்கலைக்கழக பொருளியல்துறை பேராசிரியர் இவர்).

"மக்கள் உழைக்கத் தயாராக இல்லை. எதிர்மறையான கருத்தை வலியுறுத்த வேண்டும் என்ற நோக்கில் இதனைச் சொல்லவில்லை. இதுதான் நிஜம். பிள்ளைகள் சம்பாதித்தாலும், கிராமத்தில் உழைப்புக்கு ஓய்வு தராத மக்கள் இருந்த காலம் மலையேறிவிட்டது.

தமிழகத்தைப் பொருத்தவரை, விவசாயம் சார்ந்த கிராமியப் பொருளாதாரம் நாசமடைந்து ரொம்ப நாளாகிவிட்டது. இப்போது அதுதான் மாநில அளவிலும் எதிரொலிக்கிறது. சென்னை என்பது மாநிலப் பொருளாதாரத்தின் அளவுகோல் அல்ல. இது வெறும் மாயை. மிக நீண்டகாலமாக பாய்ச்சப்பட்ட நச்சு இப்போது அதன் வேலையைக் காட்டுகிறது. மீண்டும் இந்த மக்கள் உழைப்பை விரும்பி ஏற்பார்களா? என்பது கேள்விக்குறிதான்" என்கிறார் கவலையுடன்.

அரசியல்வாதிகள் எதிர்ப்பார்த்தது இதைத்தானே... ஏன் என்ற கேள்வியையே கேட்காமல் எப்போதும் தொலைக்காட்சி / எப்போதாவது கிடைக்கும் இலவசங்களின் போதையில் மக்கள் மூழ்கிக் கிடந்தால் போதும் என்ற நினைப்பில்தானே திட்டங்களே தீட்டப்படுகின்றன!

அதற்கான பலன் கிடைத்துவிட்டது. அபார சாதனைதான்!

^^
Wonderfull piece of news on Tamil Nadu Projects and Development!!! Your taste and choice of news items are bewildering...

^^
Wonderfull piece of news on Tamil Nadu Projects and Development!!! Your taste and choice of news items are bewildering...

Unfortunately development is not always positive or about concrete buildings. Ultimately both you and your leader fail to see the human face and end up bringing these kind of development to the state.

http://www.i-newswire.com/ingersoll-rand-announces-a-new/69027

Ingersoll Rand, a world leader in creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and efficient environments, announced plans to establish a third manufacturing facility in India. The company presently has two local manufacturing operations in Naroda, Ahmedabad, and Sahibabad near Delhi. The new greenfield manufacturing plant will be located in Southern India.

Ingersoll Rand India is based out of 18 locations in the country. The company is listed on the National Stock Exchange of India and on the Bombay Stock Exchange. In India, Ingersoll Rand is working on three key areas – “Productivity” by leveraging its local manufacturing operations in Ahmadabad and Sahibabad, “Innovation” through its engineering R&D centers in Bangalore and Chennai and “Growth” through the expanded footprint it has in the country. Ingersoll Rand is committed to India and recognizes it as a large market

Good news to Ramanathapuram district... synthetic tennis courts and the some information on the chemical complex..

The news is available in the below Link

http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/26/stories/2010102658330200.htm


RAMANATHAPURAM: J.K. Rithish Kumar, Ramanathapuram MP, said that a United States-based company had come forward to set up a chemical factory at Thondi at a cost of Rs.47,000 crore.

Inaugurating two synthetic tennis courts, which were constructed at a cost of Rs.25 lakh as per world class standards, at Seethakathy-Sethupathy stadium here on Sunday, he said a high-level team would visit Ramanathapuram and Thondi in a day or two to study the area. It would also meet the higher officials to discuss the project.

Mr. Kumar said it would provide direct and indirect employment opportunities to hundreds of people. Though the company initially intended to establish the project in Gujarat, Union Fertilizers Minister M.K. Alagiri took special steps to bring the project to Thondi. He said that when the Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, met the DMK representatives of Ramanathapuram district in Chennai recently, he had promised that he would soon make an announcement for establishing a medical college in the district.

How far the below data is true?

இந்தியன் ஆயில் கார்ப்பரேஷனில் 15 வருட அனுபவம் பெற்ற சாதாரணத் தொழிலாளியின் வருடச் சம்பளம் 8,39,757 ரூபாய். எம்.காம். பட்டம் பெற்ற டிரைவர்களின் சம்பளம் வருடத்திற்கு 22 லட்சம் ரூபாய். கெஸ்ட் ஹவுஸ் பராமரிப்பாளர்(படித்தது 5-ம் வகுப்பு) பெறும் வருடச் சம்பளம் 8,56,731 ரூபாய். 8-ம் வகுப்பு மட்டுமே படித்து 1976-ல் வேலையில் சேர்ந்த அட்டெண்டரின் தற்போதைய சம்பளம் ஆண்டிற்கு 45,99,234 ரூபாய்.

CHENNAI: The number of applicants from Tamil Nadu for this year's Common Admission Test (CAT) to be conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) starting Wednesday is markedly lower than many other states. A break-up of the number of CAT applications sold in the country, released by IIM Indore, showed Tamil Nadu lagging way behind Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh -- leaving experts wondering if IIMs hold as much charm for students here as engineering institutions.

"The drop in the number of applicants reflects on the levels of aspirations of the students. After their undergraduation, most students seem content with a job and do not aspire to do an MBA," said Sarith Nair, general manager of IMS India, a coaching centre for CAT. The test, to be held in different cities on different dates, will be spread across almost a month till November 24.

K Swaminathan, founder of Aspire Education felt that MBA aspirants from the state prefer flexible options like one-year MBA or an MBA programme where they can study while they work. "Tamil Nadu is a conservative place, and given the uncertainty of the market, most people have qualms about quitting their job to pursue a management degree," he said.

Professor LS Ganesh, assistant professor at the Department of Management Studies, IIT Chennai agreed. "In Delhi and Mumbai the opportunities are higher and hence more people tend to do an MBA," he says. He also mentions that in recent years focus has shifted from CAT to other entrance examinations for management. "There are a lot of students opting for GMAT which helps them get an MBA in one year from a reputed college at the same fees as charged by the IIMs," he said.

S Balasubramanian who runs TIME, a CAT coaching institute in the city, said during the 11 years that he has been in the industry, he noticed a cultural difference between students in the south and the north. "The mindset here is to land a job as soon as you graduate. Most students don't understand why higher education makes sense. There has to be better awareness," he said.

Nair felt that fewer numbers of applicants for CAT could also be because of the lack of good B-schools in the state. "Apart from LIBA and BIM, none of the top 20 B-schools are located in Tamil Nadu. Students who don't wish to go out of the state don't have many options," Nair said.

Very disturbing trend. We need inst like IIM and other world class Management inst so people will be motivated for higher studies. Most of TN guys who came to US with Bach. degree are happy not doing higher studies whereas people from AP at least get online Masters quickly.

CHENNAI: The number of applicants from Tamil Nadu for this year's Common Admission Test (CAT) to be conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) starting Wednesday is markedly lower than many other states. A break-up of the number of CAT applications sold in the country, released by IIM Indore, showed Tamil Nadu lagging way behind Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh -- leaving experts wondering if IIMs hold as much charm for students here as engineering institutions.

"The drop in the number of applicants reflects on the levels of aspirations of the students. After their undergraduation, most students seem content with a job and do not aspire to do an MBA," said Sarith Nair, general manager of IMS India, a coaching centre for CAT. The test, to be held in different cities on different dates, will be spread across almost a month till November 24.

K Swaminathan, founder of Aspire Education felt that MBA aspirants from the state prefer flexible options like one-year MBA or an MBA programme where they can study while they work. "Tamil Nadu is a conservative place, and given the uncertainty of the market, most people have qualms about quitting their job to pursue a management degree," he said.

Professor LS Ganesh, assistant professor at the Department of Management Studies, IIT Chennai agreed. "In Delhi and Mumbai the opportunities are higher and hence more people tend to do an MBA," he says. He also mentions that in recent years focus has shifted from CAT to other entrance examinations for management. "There are a lot of students opting for GMAT which helps them get an MBA in one year from a reputed college at the same fees as charged by the IIMs," he said.

S Balasubramanian who runs TIME, a CAT coaching institute in the city, said during the 11 years that he has been in the industry, he noticed a cultural difference between students in the south and the north. "The mindset here is to land a job as soon as you graduate. Most students don't understand why higher education makes sense. There has to be better awareness," he said.

Nair felt that fewer numbers of applicants for CAT could also be because of the lack of good B-schools in the state. "Apart from LIBA and BIM, none of the top 20 B-schools are located in Tamil Nadu. Students who don't wish to go out of the state don't have many options," Nair said.

They have not mentioned any numbers.. MH, UP and Andhra has more population so naturally more numbers are expected.. and Bangalore and Delhi are centers with a lot of other state aspirants because of work place.....

Yes it is understandable that a lot of TN graduates dont look at CAT rather wanted to go to US for MS... but I dont think we can read too much into this without the numbers published.

The trend is quite disturbing but it is true. Here students tend get content in their job and I see most of them opting for GRE n GMAT.

But I dont see the point why it has to be tagged with conservatism of the state.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/nagarjuna-oil/s-tn-refinery-to-be-commisioned-next-yr/413499/

Nagarjuna Oil Corporation (NOC), which is setting up a 6-million-tonne refinery at Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu, plans to launch an initial public offer after the refinery is commissioned by the end of 2011.

“We aim to commission the Rs 6,960-crore refinery by the end of 2011. All the units will be operational by March 2012. Thereafter, we will look to dilute part of the 51 per cent promoter equity,” Managing Director S Rammohan said. Nagarjuna Oil is a subsidiary of Hyderabad-based Nagarjuna Fertilisers and Chemicals.The unit would start processing crude oil in December 2011 and achieve full commissioning by March 2012, he said.


The Nagarjuna group had partnered with the Tamil Nadu government and Tata Petrodyne Ltd and a few other companies to implement the refinery project. While Nagarjuna Fertilisers holds 51 per cent stake in the company, 30 per cent is owned by Tata Petrodyne, 10 per cent by Cuddalore Port, 5 per cent by the Tamil Nadu government and 4 per cent by Uhde GmbH.

Rammohan said NOC planned to expand the refinery to 15 million tonnes a year at a cost of Rs 11,000-12,000 crore. “Studies for the expansion will begin after the refinery is commissioned,” he added.

Dream project takes concrete shape

The flagship scheme of the ruling DMK, meant for the poorest of the poor, aims to make Tamil Nadu hut-free by converting all the 22 lakh houses across the state into concrete structures over the next six years. The scheme is gaining momentum in the rural parts, especially the backward districts of Villupuram and Cuddalore, which top the state with the maximum number of huts.

Relying upon IAY would take another 10 years to clear the backlog. So far 21 houses have been completed while another 2,441 houses are in various stages of completion in the district, say officials. Collector P. Seetharaman tells DC construction material, including cement and steel rods, were given to the beneficiaries at a nominal cost. The administration has started nine quarries in the district to supply sand at Rs 312 per unit to the beneficiaries. “We have also engaged 113 self-help groups for manufacturing fly ash and solid cement bricks to bridge the gap between supply and demand. The escalating prices are expected to stabilise in one month,” he adds.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/dream-project-takes-concrete-shape-187

Why people have to cry for poor village people getting free money?
In India, Are any Government servants, politicians or any other person doing their job without getting any free money in form of bribe or something else? So why not the poor villagers or formers should not get free money? why do they have to work hard on the form in HOT sun even after their kids have gone to work (means after their retirement age)?. Why all these educated people like the said professor looking to get more work from these poor people? OR at least did these poor people ever got any good money for their great hard works, never right? So at least they are getting some free money and time now, so let them enjoy for now.

CHENNAI: The number of applicants from Tamil Nadu for this year's Common Admission Test (CAT) to be conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) starting Wednesday is markedly lower than many other states. A break-up of the number of CAT applications sold in the country, released by IIM Indore, showed Tamil Nadu lagging way behind Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh -- leaving experts wondering if IIMs hold as much charm for students here as engineering institutions.

"The drop in the number of applicants reflects on the levels of aspirations of the students. After their undergraduation, most students seem content with a job and do not aspire to do an MBA," said Sarith Nair, general manager of IMS India, a coaching centre for CAT. The test, to be held in different cities on different dates, will be spread across almost a month till November 24.

K Swaminathan, founder of Aspire Education felt that MBA aspirants from the state prefer flexible options like one-year MBA or an MBA programme where they can study while they work. "Tamil Nadu is a conservative place, and given the uncertainty of the market, most people have qualms about quitting their job to pursue a management degree," he said.

Professor LS Ganesh, assistant professor at the Department of Management Studies, IIT Chennai agreed. "In Delhi and Mumbai the opportunities are higher and hence more people tend to do an MBA," he says. He also mentions that in recent years focus has shifted from CAT to other entrance examinations for management. "There are a lot of students opting for GMAT which helps them get an MBA in one year from a reputed college at the same fees as charged by the IIMs," he said.

S Balasubramanian who runs TIME, a CAT coaching institute in the city, said during the 11 years that he has been in the industry, he noticed a cultural difference between students in the south and the north. "The mindset here is to land a job as soon as you graduate. Most students don't understand why higher education makes sense. There has to be better awareness," he said.

Nair felt that fewer numbers of applicants for CAT could also be because of the lack of good B-schools in the state. "Apart from LIBA and BIM, none of the top 20 B-schools are located in Tamil Nadu. Students who don't wish to go out of the state don't have many options," Nair said.

The main reason is that, TN govt keep its student happy in vying for state councilling for engg seats (with 'N' no of engg colleges in every nook and corner of the state, thanks to our politicians), which go abegging to fill their seats with large no of seats going vacant each year. The govt doesn't want its students compete for central institutions because it will reveal the substandard quality of education provided in TN state. That's why it opposes centralised exams for medical institutes citing a bogus reason of protecting the interest of village students. Hence not many students are selected from TN to such world reputed institutes.

Why people have to cry for poor village people getting free money?
In India, Are any Government servants, politicians or any other person doing their job without getting any free money in form of bribe or something else? So why not the poor villagers or formers should not get free money? why do they have to work hard on the form in HOT sun even after their kids have gone to work (means after their retirement age)?. Why all these educated people like the said professor looking to get more work from these poor people? OR at least did these poor people ever got any good money for their great hard works, never right? So at least they are getting some free money and time now, so let them enjoy for now.

It is not only the poor people are getting free money or free stuffs, my friend. There are lot of people who can offer such things by spending little amount of their money also enjoy these free stuffs. The govt has no control or don't want to control over such wasteful spending, so many crores of rupees, because of votebank politics. By providing anything to everybody free the govt keeps the people under the illusion of happy and is not doing its duty rather is spoiling the people not to work.

TamilNadu is going backwards in education. Lack of entrance exam for the engineering colleges is showing its effects. Quality of students in top colleges in TN is becoming bad compared to other top colleges in India. Its my personal experience after being part of the campus interview panel in my company for the past 2 years.

I am strongly for introducing the entrance examinations and improving the quality of the state board syllabus as well as for opening more CBSE schools. Otherwise, TN students will not be able to compete with rest of the students

Entrance exams should be brought back because this is the only exam which was testing the student's ability to apply the theory they have learned and their problem solving capabilities.

Board exams with focus on essay questions cannot bring out the problem solving capabilities of individuals.

Yes it is high time, TN govt stops protecting rural masses and groom them to computer administered tests and make them more competitive.

But there is no doubt TN still produces very competitive and highly talented graduates!

Cheers!

Entrance exams should be brought back because this is the only exam which was testing the student's ability to apply the theory they have learned and their problem solving capabilities.

Board exams with focus on essay questions cannot bring out the problem solving capabilities of individuals.

Yes it is high time, TN govt stops protecting rural masses and groom them to computer administered tests and make them more competitive.

But there is no doubt TN still produces very competitive and highly talented graduates!

Cheers!

at-least if they are not going to have entrance they must change the board exams pattern to have like cbse board questions.. its really high time.

Why people have to cry for poor village people getting free money?
In India, Are any Government servants, politicians or any other person doing their job without getting any free money in form of bribe or something else? So why not the poor villagers or formers should not get free money? why do they have to work hard on the form in HOT sun even after their kids have gone to work (means after their retirement age)?. Why all these educated people like the said professor looking to get more work from these poor people? OR at least did these poor people ever got any good money for their great hard works, never right? So at least they are getting some free money and time now, so let them enjoy for now.

Dear friend, don't give man a fish. Teach him how to fish.

Giving money or television will not lift him out of poverty. Instead it will guarantee his vote to scumbags and family owned TV network and make sure that the rich goes richer by bigger scams.

Being poor is no excuse to get freebies, nor no excuse from political front to exploit them with freebies

Dear friend, don't give man a fish. Teach him how to fish.

Giving money or television will not lift him out of poverty. Instead it will guarantee his vote to scumbags and family owned TV network and make sure that the rich goes richer by bigger scams.

Being poor is no excuse to get freebies, nor no excuse from political front to exploit them with freebies

Couldn't agree with you more.
But for politicians, cheap gimmicks like this get what they want: votes -> power.

At the end of the day, its a reflection of the people than the politicians.

PS: We deserve the kinda leaders we get. Be it Karuna or Jaya.