Fill Indira Sagar Dam to 260 metre: High Court

by rakesh | Sep 9, 2006 | India News

The M.P. High Court in its judgement granted the permission to fill the reservoir upto 260 metre and also directed that the provisions announced under Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal (NWDT) will not be applicable on Indira Sagar Project’s rehabilitation work.

As per the direction of M.P. High Court the excess water more than 255 metre was being released through dam. The state government and NHDC while informing the High Court about the rehabilitation work requested the High court to permit them to fill the reservoir to its maximum level i.e. 260 metre and the M.P. High Court in its decision permitted the reservoir to be filled upto 260 metre as well as exemption in reference time limit has been provided to the oustees.

While welcoming the judgement the Chairman, NVDA, Shri Rakesh Sahni informed that the state government is active and sensitive towards the protection of rights of the affected families, and the Vice Chairman Shri Uday Kumar, NVDA added that the Madhya Pradesh will be benefited due to increase in the limit resulting in generating additional power.

It may be mentioned apart from thousand megawatt power production, the irrigation capacity of one lakh 23 thousand hectare will also become possible under Indira Sagar Project. The reservoir under this project will be made as the biggest reservoir having capacity of 12.2 .billion cubic metre.

Four people washed away by the landslide

by rakesh | Sep 8, 2006 | India News

Now 5% Ethanol blending with Petrol

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.