by rakesh | Sep 9, 2006 | World News
I am grateful to Gov. Bill Richardson and Ambassador Khidir Ahmed. Both have worked tirelessly with National Geographic and the Chicago Tribune to secure Paul’s release. In a telephone conversation this evening Paul told me he’s concerned about the safe return home of his Chadian interpreter and driver — Suleiman Abakar Moussa and Idriss Abdulraham Anu — who are scheduled to be released with him in El Fasher Saturday. I assured him that I and the National Geographic Society will take responsibility for getting them home safely.
Chris Johns is in Khartoum, Sudan, with Governor Richardson’s delegation.
Source: National Geographic Society
by rakesh | Sep 8, 2006 | India News
NAHARLAGUN,Arunachal Pradesh, 07th Sept Due to heavy landslide near Sarong Gompa 50 KM away from Tawang at Landa GG BRTF road a private Gypsy bearing the registration NO. AR-03/0731 boarding four people which was coming towards Tawang was washed away by the landslide....
by rakesh | Sep 8, 2006 | India News, National
08-09-2006 : New Delhi The President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has condemned the bomb blasts in Malegaon town in Nashik District of Maharashtra today. In a letter to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh, the President has conveyed his condolences to...
by rakesh | Sep 8, 2006 | India News, National
Sept-08,2006 18:51 IST PM CONDEMNS MALEGAON BLAST APPEALS FOR PEACE AND COMMUNAL HARMONY...
by rakesh | Sep 8, 2006 | India News
In this connection, the process of procurement of ethanol by the OMCs through national competitive bidding has commenced as OMCs have begun issuing public notice for procurement of indigenous anhydrous ethanol in different States. With this the stage is set for taking up the national programme for blending 5% ethanol with petrol countrywide except North East, J&K, Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, w.e.f. 1st November 2006. Earlier, the 5% ethanol blended programme (EBP) was started in 9 sugarcane growing States and contiguous Union Territories (UTs) in 2003. This however did not make substantial headway for a number of reasons viz decline in sugarcane production, restrictions on interstate movement of ethanol and the backing out by suppliers, etc. The procurement of ethanol from the domestic market would help the sugarcane-growing farmers with better returns and supplement the availability of petroleum products in the country.
Shri Deora has been personally directing the efforts to revive this programme. A series of meetings have been held with the stakeholders such as ethanol suppliers, Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) and the OMCs.
The Petroleum Minister had earlier directed that open bidding process should be commenced forthwith by the OMCs for purchasing ethanol in which all suppliers can participate and the price discovery is achieved in an open and fair manner. He did not favour approve the suggestion for direct purchase as it was felt that this method is non-transparent and thus has potential of embroiling the EBP Programme in controversy. Shri Deora opines this could adversely affect the implementation of EBP Programme hence not advisable to follow.
Shri Deora has further directed the OMCs to put out a clear tender in the market. OMCs have been given the complete commercial freedom to protect their commercial interests in arriving at workable ethanol pricing to take forward this important programme of blending 5% ethanol with petrol.
