NO LIGHT AT THE TUNNEL'S END

Article Abstract:

The Power sector in India is facing a severe crisis as State Electricity Boards (SEBs) have not paid their dues to central power utilities. SEBs owe Rs6,881.95 crore to National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) as of March, 1998. The dues have gone up by another Rs1,500 crore by August 1998. The other central utility, National Hydroelectric Power Corp (NHPC), has to receive arrears of Rs1,351 crore from the SEBs(till August 1998). The SEBs are unable to pay the dues since they can't charge the consumers high rates. Further, the loss of power during transmission is very high. The SEBs are also not getting payments from Coal India Ltd, railways and other government departments. Even the formation of boards have not proved helpful. In an effort to meet the funds crunch, the Power Ministry suggested issue of tax-free bonds.But central utilities refused the idea since they have to pay interest on the bonds. The banks that provide working capital are trying to impose strict norms and demanding lien on part of the receivables. According to Mr V Raghuram, Senior Energy Adviser to the Confederation of Indian Industry, immediate reforms in SEBs with a restructured power tariffs only can help the SEBs come out of the current crisis. (um)

Government regulation (cont), Electric Utilities, Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution

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WILL THIS CRANE EVER BE AIRBORNE?

Article Abstract:

The National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) of Bangalore is reviving its light transport aircraft (LTA) project. The project had been designed in the early 1990s but prototype development was not started due to lack of funds. The LTA, which has been named as Saras, will be a 14-seater costing about Rs15 crore. NAL requires about Rs135 crore to build two prototypes. It is being planned that the department of science and technology will provide a substantial portion of the project cost. (khr)

Comment:

Is reviving its light transport aircraft project named Saras, a 14-seater costing about Rs15 crore

Product information, Aircraft Manufacturing, Civilian Aircraft, Aircraft, Article, National Aerospace Laboratories

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