Uttarakhand, GAIL form JV for power plants

With the natural gas all set to reach Uttarakhand, the government-owned State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited (Sidcul) is holding talks with GAIL to set up two 300-Mw gas-based plants at Kashipur and Haridwar areas.

"We have already held talks with senior officials of GAIL to set up gas-based power plants in Uttarakhand," said a top official of the Sidcul.

This is the first diversification move by Sidcul which had set up several key industrial estates like Pantnagar and Haridwar in the hill state.

GAIL is constructing two pipelines to bring them to Kashipur and Haridwar areas in the hill state from Uttar Pradesh in one year’s time. Since the industries are currently facing the heat of the power crisis in the hill state, the Sidcul is taking the new initiative to provide gas-based energy to these industries which includes some of India’s big names like Nestle, Tata Motors and Hero Honda.

GAIL began constructions of these pipelines last year with the construction of Karanpur-Moradabad-Kashipur-Rudrapur pipeline in the first phase with a cost of Rs 250 crore. The pipeline will be 182 km in length. Similarly, the other pipeline is being brought from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh to Haridwar district of the state.

Besides this, Sidcul has also evinced interest in the city-based gas distribution. With the people in the hill state facing shortage of LPG cylinders, the Sidcul is also gearing up to prepare a blueprint for the city-based gas distribution in cities like Dehradun.

Nestle, Bajaj among 374 units causing pollution in U'khand

The strong industrialisation owing to hill-based tax incentives during the past few years may be a feel good factor in Uttarakhand. But all that glitters is not gold.

The Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB) has identified nearly 374 industries causing pollution in the hill state. These industries include some big names like Tata Motors, Hindustan Uniliver, ITC, Hero Honda, Hindustan Zinc, Bajaj Auto and Nestle.

These are the findings of a survey conducted by the UEPPCB, which has now estimated that these industries may be discharging 15,000 metric tonnes of hazardous waste per annum in various forms like chemical effluents.

For this purpose, the UEPPCB has now given the task of managing waste from these industries to three companies – Bharat Oil, Continental Petroleum and Ambuja Cement. While Bharat Oil has put up its common hazardous waste treatment and storage disposal facility at Roorkee in Haridwar district, the other two companies are ferrying the waste outside the state for the disposal.

“We are regularly keeping checks on these industries so as to keep the environment green. The job becomes more important in Uttarakhand which has the tag of an environment-friendly state,” said Amarjeet Singh Oberai, Environment Officer of UEPPCB.

“Last year, we issued notices for closure to nearly 52 industries which were causing pollution,” said an official of the UEPPCB. These industries can store hazardous waste for a period of 90 days under the stringent environmental norms, thereafter, they have to get rid of the waste material, the official added.

Some of the industries like Hero Honda have set up their own facilities for hazardous waste management.

BS

Tatas to set up permanent Nano unit in Uttarakhand

Although Tata Motors decided to set up the mother plant of Nano at Sanand, Gujarat, its interim production has already started in Pantnagar

PTI Dehra Dun: Tata Motors, which has already started interim production of Nano car from Pantnagar in Uttarakhand, is also planning to set up a small permanent production unit of the world’s cheapest car in the industrial town.
“Tata Motors officials have conveyed to us that they are considering to set up a small permanent production unit of Nano in Pantnagar,” Chief Secretary I K Pande said.
Although Tata Motors decided to set up the mother plant of Nano at Sanand, Gujarat, its interim production has already started in Pantnagar, where the auto major produces Ace mini trucks.
However, Pande added that the company officials have not yet indicated that they would set up a new unit or convert the interim unit to permanent production facility for Nano.
Meanwhile, when contacted the Tata Motors spokesperson said, “It is Tata Motors’s view that even after the mother plant at Sanand becomes operational Tata Motors will continue to manufacture a certain volume of the Nano at Pantnagar. We do not have any other information to share”.
The Sanand plant will have the capacity to produce 2.5 lakh cars initially expandable up to 5 lakh cars.
Pande further added that the state cabinet also gave its approval to provide lease rent concession to Tata Motors for 1,000 acres of land, where the company is making ace trucks.
“Tata Motors will pay the lease rent for 1,000 acres of land at the rate of Re one per square meter,” he said, adding the lease rent concession was being provided to the company as it has set up a mega project in the hill state.
Following the approval of the proposal, Tata Motors would get a concession of Rs1.5 crore per annum in the lease rent, he said.
Normally the lease rent from industries are charged at the rate of Rs 5 per sqmt, Pande said.
Pande said the company officials have given assurance to set up a depot and sell 80% of vehicles from Uttarakhand, so that the hill state would earn a revenue of Rs200 crore per annum as VAT and other taxes.
Tata Motors’ shifted its ultra-cheap Nana car project to Sanand, Gujarat following protests by farmers led by opposition leader Mamta Banerjee

Soruce: http://www.livemint.com/2008/10/17164818/Tatas-to-set-up-permanent-Nano.html