Talks on with APIIC to identify suitable site for the project

India’s major power producer National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has decided to launch a fresh initiative to speed up work for establishing 4,000 MW coal-fired Greenfield power project near Visakhapatnam. Having completed the full design capacity of 2,000 MW with Unit 4 (500 MW) going commercial on September 30, NTPC Simhadri Super Thermal Power Plant at Parawada has no space for further expansion. Hinduja National Power Company Ltd is in advanced stage of commissioning a 1,040 MW power plant at Palavalasa, close to Simhadri.

The cyclone has left two people dead so far

The coastal districts of Tamil Nadu were hit by Cyclone Nilam this evening. With wind speeds of up to 100 km/hour, it severely affected many areas in Tamil Nadu, as well as Andhra Pradesh. According to PTI reports, the cyclone left two people dead. Most industrial houses, schools and offices in the coastal districts were closed on Wednesday. Heavy winds damaged roads here, as well as those in other coastal areas. Power cuts were also reported. Initial estimates pegged economic losses from the storm at Rs 70-80 crore. Government officials said the figure was expected to rise.

At the instance of Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, changes have been introduced in the proposed draft Land Acquisition Bill. According to the revised draft, the consent of 80 per cent of the landowners has been made obligatory if it procured for private purposes. Earlier, the proposal was to secure the consent of just 67 per cent of the landowners. But, if the land is acquired for a public cause, the no consent was required.

Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar disclosed this to reporters after his meeting with Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh over the issue. He said, “A detailed discussion was made in the last GoM. Some of them suggested changes and these were discussed and finalised on Monday.”

With the Finance Ministry cold-shouldering the proposals for giving incentives to special economic zones (SEZs) to revive investor interest in them, the Commerce Ministry is likely to approach the Cabinet on the issue in a last-ditch effort to revive the sagging fortunes of these SEZs.

The Finance Ministry and the Commerce Ministry officials have met a number of times on the issue but without any concrete solution emerging. “There has been no word from the Finance Ministry on the issue despite repeated reminders. Keeping in mind the importance of the issue, we are now contemplating going to the Cabinet directly. It is the Cabinet that will take a final call on the issue,” a senior Commerce Ministry official said.

Bhubaneswar/New Delhi: Posco India has sought more time from the Centre for implementing Rs 54,000 crore SEZ project near Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district, as the South Korean steel giant could no

Says it has made significant progress in securing the minimum required land for the project

Steel maker Posco India has sought an extension of the in-principle approval for its multi-product special economic zone (SEZ), proposed to be set up near Paradeep in coastal Odisha. The approval for the project expires on October 25. The steel maker has requested the Odisha government to forward its no-objection certificate (NOC) to the board of approvals under the Union commerce ministry, as required under Rule-4 of SEZ Rules, 2006.

Lower minimum area of land required for multi-product SEZs to 250 hectares from 1,000

Many key changes are in the works to change the contours of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) policy and boost growth across these units. Following a discussion paper last November, the commerce ministry has prepared a draft SEZ policy, detailing revision in the minimum land requirement for these zones, easier contiguity norms, clarity in land sale and transfer, relocation of the zones, development of infrastructure, extending focus market schemes to these units and exit policy for developers and units, among others.

General agreement on most clauses, GoM to finalise loose ends in a few days

The group of ministers (GoM) on the land acquisition Bill on Tuesday agreed to present the draft legislation before the Cabinet in two weeks. The GoM would go through some consultation and tying up of loose ends at a meeting this week between Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who is also the GoM chairman.

The government has cancelled its earlier permission for the Adani Group's Special Economic Zone (SEZ) over 1,840 hectares (ha) in Mundra (Gujarat), for violation of three rules.

Adani has a larger SEZ project in the same region and this is not affected by the government decision. Sources in the Union ministry of commerce and industry said Adani Ports and SEZ's project in question did not conform to the contiguity norms. And, breached a rule requiring the SEZ site to be vacant before approval was sought for the tax-free zone. Besides, the site was land-locked.

New Delhi Nothwithstanding the thickening cloud of scandals around it, the UPA government is pressing ahead with its reforms agenda. A group of ministers (GoM) on Tuesday approved the long-pending land bill for Cabinet consideration after resolving disputes between ministries.

As per the final draft, approval of two-third of land owners and affected families will be required for acquiring land for PPP and private sector projects with defined public purposes. If the Bill is approved by Parliament —the plan is to introduce it, vetted earlier by the relevant House panel, in the Winter session — it will remove yet another hurdle for investors and spur economic activity.