The Hindu Business Line : Thursday, December 28, 2006

NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY
Orb Energy branch in Mangalore
Orb Energy has opened its fifth branch in Karnataka in Mangalore. A company release said here that Orb Energy — which has branches in Kumta, Kundapur, Udupi and Shimoga - has plans to open 25 branches in Karnataka and ... More

COURTS/LEGAL ISSUES
Mahyco Monsanto looking for out of court settlement
BT COTTON ROW More

ECONOMY
Rupee appreciates 1.7 per cent this year
Spurt in imports squared off by rising FII inflows More

States' fiscal health has improved: RBI study
`More efficient tax administration, higher grants helped' More

ENVIRONMENT
Plea to delink Sabarimala from Periyar Tiger Reserve
TDB wants quick implementation of master plan More

HOTELS
CGH Earth to consolidate in South
To open properties in TN, Puducherry More

INFRASTRUCTURE
REC to issue more capital gains bonds
The Finance Ministry has allowed Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd (REC) to issue capital gains tax exemption bonds for Rs 3,500 crore. REC can now issue these additional bonds between December 27 and March 31 next year. Investments in such ... More

PETROLEUM
Garware Offshore to expand fleet
Garware Offshore Services Ltd is planning to expand its fleet of Platform Supply Vessels (PSVs), fitted with the latest dynamic positioning system, in the wake of the surge in demand for offshore vessels. The company has already placed orders for ... More

Deora appeals to Mulayam to cut ST on petrol, diesel
The Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr Murli Deora, on Wednesday appealed to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, seeking his immediate intervention for reducing sales tax on petrol and diesel which would lessen ... More

IndianOil to automate 2,000 outlets
IndianOil will complete automation of 2,000 outlets at an approximate cost of Rs 300 crore within the next year. Mr G.C. Daga, Director - Marketing of IOC, told newspersons here on Wednesday that the company had already automated 80 outlets ... More

POWER
Cost uncertainties of nuclear plants
Controversies about nuclear vs. coal-fired technology aside, the more pertinent issue is comparative costs between the two, especially the hidden future costs. More

STEEL
Record world steel output despite cuts
Production cut on weak demand, rise in Chinese exports More

TAXATION
Oil cos pitch for `nil' rate of CST
Central sales tax (CST) has become a thorny issue for India Inc, including those who do not come under the value added tax (VAT) regime. The latest to join the bandwagon for doing away with CST is the domestic petroleum industry. Citing the ... More

RADIO/TV
`DTH doing well in rural markets too'
Movies of your choice and entertainment on demand and interactivity have helped direct to home (DTH) players make gradual but yet certain inroads into the cable-driven Indian market. More

Zee to invest Rs 900 cr in digital cable service
Zee Group announced, on Wednesday, that it would be investing Rs 800-900 crore in its digital cable service over the next two years. It's company, Wire and Wireless India Ltd, (formerly known as Siti Cable Network), would be using the investment ... More

EDUCATION
IIM-B is for entrepreneurs too
Offers teaching, research, short-term programmes More

Gateway ties up with Sastra to train teachers
Four modules will be covered under the programme — change management, crisis management, handling conflicts and handling difficult people. More

TELEVISION SETS
High-end segment growth drives consumer electronics in 2006
LCD, plasma TVs post significant sales More

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
DLF IT Park in Chennai to be ready soon
The six-million sq ft DLF IT Park@Chennai, a special economic zone, will soon be ready for occupation marking DLF's entry into the IT hub in the South, according to a press release from the company. According to sources in the know, the ... More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
G.K. Gupta is new FIEO President
The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) has a new President in Mr G.K. Gupta, Managing Director of Vijay Silk House, Mumbai. He has been elected for a period of two years at the 200th managing committee meeting of ... More

OFFICE EQUIPMENTS & SUPPLIES
`Stationery market to sustain growth momentum'
More cos entering branded segments of writing instruments, notebooks More

MINERALS
Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand seek ad valorem royalty for all minerals
The Chief Ministers of Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, Mr Naveen Patnaik, Dr Raman Singh and Mr Madhu Koda respectively, came together on Wednesday to urge the Central Government for a revision of royalty on iron ore, coal and other ... More

EVENTS
IMMA stone fair in Chennai next month
The Indian Monument Manufacturers Association (IMMA) will organise the third stone fair in Chennai from January 4 to 7 to showcase the granite industry's creativity and its offering for the global markets. The IMMA Stone Fair 2007 to be held at ... More

ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Growing pains
The drive and freedom to innovate that makes stars of small companies should not fall prey to the processes that come in as they grow. More

INCOME TAX
Avoid last minute rush: RBI
The Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday urged the income-tax assessees in Delhi to avoid last minute rush and remit their I-T dues sufficiently in advance of the due date. This advice comes in the wake of the "far too heavy" rush ... More

NATURAL CALAMITIES
Remembering a tragedy
As the images of the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami struggle to fade from memory, the lessons learnt could well prove to be a saving grace. More