VHP gives ultimatum on Ram temple
Ayodhya: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has announced 15 March as the temple construction D-day at the disputed site in Ayodhya.

VHP leaders Ashok Singhal and Ram Janambhoomi Nyas president Paramhans Ram Chandra Das gave the ultimatum to the BJP-led NDA coalition at the Centre on 10 February saying, "If the obstacles in the way of temple construction are not removed by 12 March the Rambhakts would start shifting the already crafted stones for the proposed temple from different workshops to the Ram Janambhoomi complex area from 15 March."

They demanded the handing over of the 67 acres of land acquired by the government in 1993 which did not form part of the disputed territory to the Nyas to avoid any confrontation.
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Cryogenic engine test fired
Bangalore: India successfully test fired an indigenously developed powerful cryogenic engine used in rockets to launch satellites in geostationary orbits, 36,000 km above Earth.

The test at the Indian Space Research Organisation's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre at Mahendragiri hills in Tamil Nadu carried out on 9 February was the first full test after the prematurely-aborted mid-February 2000 test.

The successful test firing of the cryogenic engine came nearly two years after a failed attempt in mid-February 2000. The five countries who have the capability to launch rockets with cryogenic engines are the US, Russia, France, China and Japan.
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Govt plans 74% telecom FDI cap
Mumbai: The government is planning to increase the 49 per cent foreign direct investment cap in telecom services companies to 74 per cent.

If it materialises, the main beneficiary will be top foreign institutional investors (FIIs) which have lined up major investments for the telecommunications sector.

This could also boost investment in the telecom sector.

Bharti Tele-Ventures and Hutchison have made presentations before the government for the relaxation in the FDI limit.
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Nasscom, Tie & CII alliance formed
Mumbai: Nasscom, The Indus Entrepreneurs (TIE), the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) are set to forge an alliance to provide platform for use of IT services in the entertainment sector.

The alliance would help Indian companies to exploit opportunities like developing animation and special effects software.

Nasscom wants to build Mumbai as a global hub for IT services specific to entertainment industry.

Nasscom is planning to commence a programme to facilitate small IT companies to systematically scale-up their operations for catering the global market.

The programme was likely to begin first in Mumbai, where promoters and senior officials from large IT companies would provide guidance on changes in management practices and a scan for venture funds.
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World Book Fair generates Rs 100 cr business
New Delhi: World Book Fair 2002, which concluded here recently, generated more than Rs 100 crore business and attracted 10 lakh visitors.

The fair was visited by 500 foreign trade delegates who offer opportunities in buying and sales of copyrights, terms right and possibilities of co-publishing rights.

A total of 1,036 publishers including 37 publishers from 23 foreign countries showcased their titles at the event.
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Motorcycles sales zoom
New Delhi: Domestic two-wheeler sales surged ahead by 14.8 per cent during the first ten months of this fiscal due to a boom in motorcycle market. However, sales of scooters remained flat while mopeds continued to slide.

A total of 34.6 lakh vehicles were sold during April-January 2001-02 as compared to 30.1 lakh vehicles in the same period in 2001, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

Motorcycle sales went up by an impressive 34.8 per cent at 23.3 lakh units against 17.3 lakh units in the year-ago period whereas scooters posted a flat growth at 7.33 lakh units (7.31 lakhs units last year).

Moped sales slipped by 28.4 per cent to 3.9 lakh units from 5.4 lakh units during the year-on-year period.

India's largest motorcycle maker Hero Honda posted a 37.7 per cent rise at 11.5 lakh units (8.3 lakh units).

Pune-based Bajaj Auto's motorcycle sales grew by 27.2 per cent at 5.6 lakh units (4.4 lakh units) while that of TVS Motor went up by 17.6 per cent at 3.4 lakh motorcycles (2.9 lakh units).

LML witnessed a 69.4 per cent growth at 38,409 motorcycles (22,668 units) whereas new entrant Kinetic Engineering sold 36,738 motorcycles during the review period.

Sales of Yamaha Motor went up by 52.6 per cent at 1.7 lakh units (1.1 lakh units).

Motorcycle sales of Royal Enfield Motors grew by 7.3 per cent at 18,367 units during April-January 2001-02 (17,114 units in year-ago period).

Scooter market leader Bajaj Auto, continued its revival, posting a 3.7 per cent rise in sales at 3.1 lakh units ( 2.8 lakh units) while that of Chennai-based TVS Motor went up marginally by 1.82 per cent to 1.2 lakh scooters.
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Indian phone market zooms
Mumbai: The number of phone lines in India could more than double by 2005 to nine per hundred people, Union Telecoms Secretary Shyamal Ghosh said.

Ghosh was speaking to reporters at the annual seminar of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom).

The nation of more than a billion people has just four telephones per 100 people -- one of the lowest teledensity rates in the world.

But India is now adding 10,000 telephone lines per hour and 250,000 mobile phones per month.
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HPMC enters global market
Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) cleared its entire surplus stock of apple juice concentrate by exporting 780 mt to Germany, USA and Ghana besides selling 400 mt to Nestle India.

In addition, it exported two mt of cider vinegar to Ghana and supplied its products under the brand name, 'Apple-Tapple' in tetrapack to airliners and railways. Besides, 30,000 bottles of apple wine have been delivered in Kerala.

An agreement has been signed with multinational company Indage Group of Industries for setting up joint venture fruit based wine manufacturing units in Shimla and Kullu districts.

Two new products Orange Ditto and natural apple juice in tinned packs would be launched soon. Apple and plum wine in the brand name 'Kalpa Cider and Wine' was launched recently.
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Software for the hearing impaired
Coimbatore: The computer science department in the Dr Mahalingam College of Engineering and Technology (MCET) has developed a unique software for the hearing impaired.

The software has been developed in Tamil. It was being imaged in English and other Indian languages.

About a thousand common words used in daily life have been incorporated in this software after classifying them into meaningful categories.
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PSU insurers trim third-party cover
Bangalore: Publicsector insurance companies have begun cutting back on third-party insurance cover for commercial vehicles.

This move had already been put in place by three of the four insurance companies - United India Insurance Company, National Insurance Company and New India Assurance Company. The fourth one, Oriental insurance Company, was expected to follow suit soon.

Currently, commercial vehicle operators, which include both passenger buses and goods transport vehicles, take third-party cover after a period of 10 years, when the assets are fully depreciated.

Private sector insurance companies are already staying away from third-party cover to commercial vehicles. Private sector insurers are already restricting their motor insurance portfolios to just personal transport vehicles.
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