The Irrigation and Water Management Ministry in collaboration with the Power and Energy Ministry will construct a large scale hydro electricity plant in Wellawaya to generate 300 GWH. This plant will be able to generate power and add 300 GWH to the National Grid, the Irrigation and Water Management Ministry said.

EU sets target for non-food biofuel The European Parliament recently voted to limit the use of food crops as biofuel. It proposed that at least 4 per cent of the total biofuel used in vehicular transport should come from non-food crops, dubbed second generation biofuels. It can also come from biomass, green electricity and hydrogen produced from renewables. Green campaigners have

Food A Bigger Culprit In India Than In The West, Says Study Madhavi Rajadhyaksha | TNN If you've been blaming your allergic cough, running nose and itchy skin on flowering trees or neighbourhood pets, it's time to do a rethink. Insects, particularly mosquitoes, cockroaches and dust mites, are to blame for nearly 50% of the allergies in India. And food

While the inflationary pressure has gone out of control from the government, commodity prices have been steadily increasing. During the week, price of fish jumped by 6%, fruits and vegetables by 3% and moong dal and spices by 2% and 1% respectively. Despite export bans, skimmed milk was costlier by 7% and imported edible oil by 1%. Furnace oil was costlier by 3% and light diesel oil by 2%.

Lack of buying interest, inadequate storage spaced cited as reasons for the fall in prices.

Rice production in the State is dwindling. Though there was a fluctuating trend between 2003-04 and 2005-06 in its production, the output of the item showed a sharp decline during 2006-07.

Declining agricultural productivity and the increasing demand for foodgrains have emerged as a big challenge before the country.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, while presenting his Budget for 2008-09 today proposed abolition of Value Added Tax (VAT) from rice, pulses, atta, maida, suji and besan.