Government has no plans to buy Enron stake
New Delhi--The government was not planning to buy Enron Corps 65 per cent stake in the Dabhol Power Company, the minister of state for power Jayawanti Mehta told Parliament today.
Enron earlier in the day had said that it wanted to sell its stake in Dabhol for at least $1 billion.
The Maharashtra State Electricity Board has termed the $1-billion offer for sale of Enrons 65 per cent stake "too costly", and also demanded a rupee to rupee parity instead of the dollar denomination.
They said Enron had not made it clear as to how it arrived at the figure and whether these include the debts, gas contracts and other performance guarantees said official sources.
When contacted, MSEB chairman Vinay Bansal said it would be too premature to comment on DPCs offer.

Sources say, MSEB feels that the central power utility National Thermal Power Corporation should take over the project. Sources said MSEB had no plans to pick up the stake and "was pleased with the fact that DPC had approached the Centre and not the state government".
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Zoellick exhorts India to join WTO round
New Delhi-- United States Trade Representative, Robert Zoellick speaking at the first ever joint luncheon meeting organised by the three apex chambers of commerce and industry, CII, Ficci and Assocham, here on Thursday, sent a clear message to the Indian government and industry.
He said that the US has been working with all the members of the World Trade organisation (WTO) - developed and developing nations alike - to ensure a successful launch of a new round of global trade negotiations devoted to growth and development.
He said that he was hopeful that India - a leader in the developing world would work with the US.

In his meeting with Union finance minister Yashwant Sinha, Mr Zoellick reportedly confessed that the support for a new round within the WTO was now around 60 per cent. The US believes that two months back there was a 50:50 division within the WTO on a new round, now it is 60:40 in favour of a new round. Indian officials point to this 40 per cent gap and say the US must meet Indias concerns on implementation issues if the gap has to be further bridged.
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Exit norms will be easier with amendments to ISP policy
New Delhi--The government is planning an amendment in the Internet service providers (ISP) policy and mooted a proposal to remove a clause on forfeiture of bank guarantees of those ISPs who have not started services within the stipulated period of time.
The aim is to make exit easy and financially less painful.
The proposed amendment in the rules will enable ISPs, who have not started the services as yet, to exit after their licences are cancelled and the bank guarantees refunded, a government source said.
Many companies, which had obtained licences in 1998 (when the policy was announced) without realizing the operational difficulties, now want to exit. The proposed amendment will give them a chance to exit easily.
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