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  • Jindals plan to acquire equity coal in Australia

    The Sajjan Jindal controlled JVSL is planning to pick up equity coal in a n Australian coal mine, to tide over the raw material shortage that threatens to cripple the steel

  • Jindal Power & Essar Steel seek coal-to-gas tech

    Jindal Power and Steel and Essar Steel have approached SASOL for technology to convert coal to gas for use in their steel plants. The Indian companies are interested in the SASOL-Lurgi fixed bed dry

  • 20,000-crore Jindal project to take off soon in Maoist heartland

    <p> At a time when the Mamata Banerjee government is locked in a bitter courtroom battle with the Tatas over Singur land, a review of another major project involving the Jindals and entailing an investment of Rs.20,000 crore on Friday ended on a positive note setting the stage for the project to begin later this year.</p>

  • Iron in the soul

    This fortnight 12 tribals were killed in a police firing in Orissa. Their crime: protesting against the acquisition of their land for an industrial park. The state says that it had acquired some

  • Hisar MLA’s firm in K’taka mining mess

    Investigators followed the money trail to zero in on the alleged attempts made by the JSW Group to influence the then Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa by giving huge illegal gratifications to his kin. The

  • State seeks status of coal blocks allotted to MCL and Jindal group

    The state government has sought detail status of two coal blocks which were allotted jointly to Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) and three other O P Jindal group firms seven years ago. “Information regarding the present status of the coal blocks and end use projects of the co-allocatees of the coal block is not available in this department. Furnish coal block allocation letter and approved mining plan to this department at the earliest for reference and necessary action,” state steel and mines department told MCL, the subsidiary of Coal India Ltd (CIL).

  • On the upswing

    The West Bengal Power Development Corporation's Bakreswar Thermal Power Project in Birbhum district. WEST BENGAL has emerged as one of the fastest-growing States in India and is the third largest economy in the country. So its growing reputation as a preferred investment destination should come as no surprise. The State has registered a high growth in real State domestic product (SDP) over the past eight years and is one of the top-ranking States of the country in terms of growth in per capita income. Despite being one of the most populous States in the country and the State with the highest population density, West Bengal achieved a growth in per capita income of 5.72 per cent in 2004-05, well above the national growth rate of per capita income in the same year, which was 5.2 per cent. In the period between 1991 and 2004, West Bengal's share of foreign direct investment (FDI) was $1,789.3 million. However, between 2004 and 2006 alone, the State attracted FDI worth $119 million, spread over 178 new industrial units that are being set up now. The State's exports also grew from $816.1 million in 1995-96 to $3,769.5 million in 2004-05. In fact, with respect to the volume of export, it has been found that West Bengal ranks seventh amongst all the States. According to different human development index indicators such as literacy rate and life expectancy at birth, the State has performed impressively. In the National Census 2001, West Bengal's literacy rate was estimated to be over 69 per cent as against the national average of 65 per cent. Urban market The sheer volume of the State's market is its primary attraction. With a population of around eight crore, according to the 2001 Census, and with steady economic growth in terms of the net State domestic product (NSDP) and per capita income, West Bengal has more people with greater disposable income than many other States. West Bengal is, in fact, the third largest State in terms of savings, with the commercial banks accounting for almost Rs.855 billion. Besides, West Bengal is ideally located, with a vast hinterland, comprising Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Sikkim and the north-eastern States, that increases the market size by about another 180 million consumers. West Bengal is also one of the most urbanised States in the country, with an urban population, according to the 2001 Census, of 22.5 million persons, 60 per cent of whom are below 30 years of age. This, in the context of rising incomes and the general boom in urban renewal and economic activity, has resulted in an increasing demand for quality goods and services. Kolkata, the State capital, alone accounts for a consumer profile of around 10 million, and major towns such as Siliguri, Durgapur, Asansol and Malda are also on an upswing. Rural market SUSHANTA PATRONOBISH South City, a Rs.10-billion multi-use project in the heart of Kolkata. It is not just the urban market that is undergoing a paradigm shift; it is happening in the rural sector too. With the enormous potential that exists in agriculture and farm products and food processing and agro-based industries, the State government is looking into investment proposals of considerable value from corporates for the procurement and large-scale marketing of agro products. This is expected to facilitate an increase in rural purchasing power and consumption profile. Agro industries With six agro-climatic zones, West Bengal offers an extensive variety of environments for the development of temperate, sub-tropical and tropical agricultural and horticultural produce. Agriculture contributes 30 per cent of the SDP and employs 57 per cent of the workforce. In fact, the State accounts for 30 per cent of India's potato production, 27 per cent of its pineapple production, 12 per cent of its banana production and 16 per cent of its rice production. The State ranks number one in the country in meat production (including poultry) and is one of the largest producers of fish, satisfying nearly 80 per cent of the country's carp seed demand. West Bengal also accounts for around 10 per cent of India's edible oil production and is the second largest tea-growing State in the country, contributing around 21 per cent of the total production in the country. A study conducted by the Government of India estimates that the investment potential in the State's food processing industry is Rs.154.52 billion over the next 10 years if the processing level is increased from the existing 2 per cent to 10 per cent in the same period. West Bengal has certain intrinsic strengths that give it an advantage in the field of food processing: vast agro raw material resources, six agro-climatic zones, an abundant supply of water from the many rivers across the State, fertile alluvial soil, low-cost and skilled labour, self-sufficiency in power, a large domestic market, and easy access to markets in the Asia-Pacific region, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar. In a recent conference on industries, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee emphasised the need for a modern market mechanism in the agricultural sector in the State. "Even though agricultural production is increasing, there is no proper method of preservation. As a result 10 to 20 per cent of the vegetable produce perishes every year mainly because of the lack of a modern marketing mechanism. We want more companies investing in this sector, and that will also help the economy in rural areas grow,' he said. Floriculture, including ornamental plant production, is an emerging industry in West Bengal. The State produces around 58,000 tonnes of flowers every year and has more than 10,000 acres (1 acre is 0.4 hectares) of land devoted to that purpose. Flowers are mainly grown in Kalimpong, Panskura, Ranaghat, Thakurnagar, Bagnan and in regions around the State. The main flowers produced are tuberose, gladiolus, rose, gerbera, carnation and cockscomb, and the countries that import flowers from West Bengal include the Netherlands and the United Kingdom and West Asian states, mainly Sharjah. The State government has already set up a floriculture park at Mungpoo in north Bengal, and a mega flower mart is also coming up in Kolkata at a project cost of Rs.250 million. Apart from these, there is a multi-storied flower market at Panskura, and another floriculture park is being developed at Jagulia in Nadia district. The State government recently received a $33-million proposal for setting up an open-air floriculture park on 200 acres of land at Rajarhat in Kolkata. Iron and steel PTI Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd. is India's second largest integrated petrochemical complex. Apart from being one of the main priorities of the State government's industrial drive, the iron and steel sector is one of the oldest industries in the State. The establishment of the Bengal Iron Works at Kulti in Bardhaman district in 1870 ushered in the era of iron and steel in the State. The growth of the industry in the State is largely related to the proximity of raw materials, skilled manpower, port facilities and the vast market for iron and steel products. In the period 1991-2004, as many as 243 new iron and steel units were set up, involving a total investment of $1,856.8 million. In fact, between 2002 and 2004 alone, 108 iron and steel projects, with a total investment of $414.3 million, were implemented. According to the State government, the largest investment in 2007 also came in the steel sector. JSW Steel of the Sajjan Jindal Group is setting up the 10 million-tonne-capacity integrated steel plant

  • 53 coal blocks face axe for delay; many held by biggies

    New Delhi: The government is looking at cancelling 53 captive coal block allocations that have come under the coal ministry’s scanner for the failure of allottees to meet timelines for starting production,

  • Apex court reserves order in Jindal Stainless, Orissa Mining case

    THE Industrial Development Corporation of Orissa (IDCOL) on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that if Jindal Stainless (JSL) be given licence to develop the Tangarpada chromite mines in the state, it will make a super profit. The decision of the state government for a JV with Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) for the development of the mines is in best interest of the state, said IDCOL.

  • MSL in race to buy Indonesian mining firm

    Pramugdha Mamgain NEW DELHI MAHARASHTRA Seamless (MSL), the flagship company of the Rs 3,000-crore DP Jindal Group, is in the race to acquire an Indonesiabased iron ore mining firm for around Rs 300 crore. It is learnt that Indonesian firm has iron ore reserves of close to 20 million tonnes. If the deal goes through, MSL would also establish a 1 million tonne steel plant close to the iron ore deposits in Indonesia with investments of up to Rs 1,200 crore.

  • Bharat Forge plans steel unit in West Bengal

    Speciality steel-maker Bharat Forge on Thursday announced its decision to set up a one-million-tonne integrated steel unit in West Bengal. It is also in talks with the State Government for setting up a manufacturing hub here on the lines of the one proposed in Maharashtra. The steel unit, which would make high-grade steel for the engineering and the automobile sector, would also have a 500 MW power plant along with some downstream units. While the main unit would be set up by Kalyani Steel, a group company, a forging unit might be set up by Bharat Forge, Amit B. Kalyani, Executive Director, Bharat Forge, said. Earlier, he signed a memorandum of understanding with the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation and the West Bengal Mineral Development and Trading Corporation (WBMDTC) towards setting up the steel unit, in the presence of State Industry Minister, Nirupam Sen. WBMDTC would help source coal for the project. Mr. Sen said that they were shown two sites for the project, one at Salboni near the Jindal project and another in Durgapur. Mr. Amit Kalyani said the detailed project report would be ready in 12 months. The Bharat Forge group is also planning to locate its eastern regional headquarters in Kolkata and efforts are now on to find about four acres close to the city.

  • Mine or yours?

    Mine or yours?

    Dust haze: Elephants struggle to coexist with steel animals in Saranda

  • Power cos to get coal blocks without bidding

    New Delhi Notwithstanding the CAG stance favouring the auction route for allocation of natural resources, power companies such as NTPC, Tata Power, Rpower and Jindal Power might get another set of captive coal blocks without having to go through the bidding process. The new rule on coal block auctions finalised by the coal ministry proposes to carve out a portion of the country’s coal reserves for the power sector that would be offered to companies through state-run corporations. Those companies that have been awarded a power project on the basis of tariff-based competitive bidding would be eligible for this exclusive allocation, official sources said.

  • Ispat may Buy 26% in JSWs Ratnagiri Project

    Proposed transaction in JSW Energy will be for about . 100 cr Ispat Industries, the Dolvibased steelmaker that was acquired by Sajjan Jindal

  • Dying for a river

    Dying for a river

    In Raigarh district of Madhya Pradesh, tribals are fighting to save their only source of water from an industrial house. A woman has already died while sitting on a hunger strike

  • JSW Energy to invest Rs 4,500 crore in coal mines abroad

    The Sajjan Jindal-promoted JSW Energy is planning an investment of Rs 4,500 crore to acquire coal mines abroad and another of Rs 10,000 crore in West Bengal through a joint venture with group company JSW Bengal Steel.

  • Copper unit comes a cropper

    Copper unit comes a cropper

    Sterlite Industries' proposed copper smelting unit and jetty are a threat to the well being of the people of Ratnagiri. A recent report on the unit supports the people's protest

  • Efficiency versus democracy

    Industrialist Ratan Tata has reportedly written to the prime minister cribbing about delays in implementing big buck projects. In his capacity as the chair of the government s investment commission

  • The Team

    T&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; H&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; E &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; T&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; E&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A&nbsp;&nbsp; M STEERING GROUP To lend

  • Shape up or ship out

    Shape up or ship out

    Pollution control board sets November deadline for brick kiln manufacturers to clean up their act

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