India joins elite club with successful test of scramjet technology
Bangalore: India has joined a handful of countries, which have the capability to develop the scramjet technology. The technology will help build a new type of supersonic rocket that could reduce satellite-launching costs by nearly 90 per cent, the nation's space agency said Tuesday.

The so-called Supersonic Combustion Ramjet - or Scramjet - technology should eventually help India build lighter and faster rockets, the Indian Space Research Organization said.

Conventional rockets carry their own oxygen to burn as fuel, but Scramjet rockets will take oxygen from the atmosphere, making them lighter and faster.

The announcement comes on the back of a successful test by Indian scientists this week of a prototype Scramjet engine for seven seconds. The test simulates travel at six times the speed of sound, said a space agency spokesman, S. Krishnamurthy. The fastest that a conventional aircraft can fly while taking in air is Mach 3.2, or 3.2 times the speed of sound, achieved by the US Air Force's SR-71 Blackbird.

Scientists hope Scramjets will eventually be able to reach speeds as high as 24 times the speed of sound. The US has already carried out a flight test with a scramjet engine, while the Europe Union, Japan, China, Russia and Australia are in different stages of testing their technologies.

Developers hope that Scramjets could bring the cost of launching satellites from the current level of US$12,000 or more per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of payload to less than US$1,000.

'The agency also said that now that they had proven the technology on the ground they hope to do a flight-test within two years, though mastering the technology might take up to 10 years from now.
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Farm sector growth seen at 3 per cent; Pawar
New Delhi: Union agriculture minister, Sharad Pawar has said that the Rabi season has progressed well, brightening the prospects of achieving an over three per cent farm sector growth during the current fiscal. Pawar was speaking after launching a new NABARD-sponsored scheme for dairy and poultry industry here.

He said that rice procurement has gone up by 10 lakh tonne this year, while coverage under wheat crop has also been reported to be higher than last year. He, however, declined to give any production estimate for wheat, the main crop in Rabi, by saying that it is too early to project any estimate, as the crop is still to enter the maturing stage.
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Food subsidy cut put in abeyance
New Delhi: The decision to reduce the quantity of food grains available under the public distribution system (PDS), aimed at bringing down the food subsidy bill has been put on hold till the issue is discussed with all UPA allies and supporting parties, said Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar.

Pawar said he "would explain the entire position behind the food subsidy cut to the Cong party, CPM and CPI," he said.

The Government took the decision last week to reduce off-take quantity of food grains for both above poverty line (APL) and below poverty line (BPL) families to 20 kg and 30 kg respectively, while increasing the issue prices for wheat and rice under PDS.

As a result of this move, food subsidy for 2005-06 would come down by Rs4,524 crore. The Minister said that the decision to reduce food subsidy was focussed on only those above poverty line and not for those families who are below the poverty line. The issue price of wheat and rice were formulated in 2000 and since 2003 there has been no revision even as procurement prices have increased every year, he said.
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Government considers 100 pc FDI in airports through automatic route
New Delhi: The Government is seriously considering allowing 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in airports through the automatic route.

The suggestion mooted by the commerce ministry is under active consideration by the group of ministers headed by agriculture minister. Currently, 100 per cent foreign participation in the sector is allowed but there is a sectoral cap of 74 per cent. If the foreign company wants to invest more than 74 per cent it has to apply for FIPB approval.

The move would give a boost to the proposed up-gradation and modernisation programme announced by the aviation ministry for 35 non-metro airports and the greenfield airports to be set up in consultation with the States.
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Govt. to sell Tide Water Oil to ONGC
New Delhi: The Government wants to sell public sector company Andrew Yule's entire 26.22 per cent stake in Tide Water Oil Company to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation.

Tide Water Oil, which makes lubricants, is a subsidiary of Andrew Yule and Company, which is into industrial equipment and tea business.

Andrew Yule holds 26.22 per cent stake in Tide Water Oil, the sale of which would fetch the Government around Rs37.6 crore based on the current price of the company scrip, currently quoting at Rs1,650 on the bourses.

Apart from Andrew Yule, the BRPSE is also likely to discuss the proposal for the revival of Scooters India. The sale of stake in Tide Water Oil is part of the overall plan of reviving Andrew Yule, which is expected to come to around Rs170 crore.
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Govt to get out of Maruti completely
New Delhi: The Government has said that it plans to completely exit Maruti Udyog. The process of sale of 8 per cent shares in the company by the Government has reached a final stage.

Bids have been invited from public sector financial institutions and tomorrow is the last date for submitting the same. The bids will be opened on Thursday.

As many as 36 public sector financial institutions, including banks and insurance companies, have submitted their expression of interest.
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Subsidised power tariffs for low users to continue
New Delhi: The new Power Tariff policy will continue with provisions of cross subsidy to people below poverty line, who consume electricity below a specified level.

The policy prescribes measures for calculating tariffs for electricity generation, transmission and distribution projects. On the issue of open access surcharge, the policy says that consumers who want to select their own electricity suppliers by way of open access would have to pay a surcharge to compensate the loss in revenue to the discom.

The surcharge would not be linked to the average cost of purchasing power as was earlier proposed but instead to the top five per cent of purchase costs for electricity board. The surcharge would be reduced progressively at a linear rate to a maximum of 20 per cent of its opening level by 2010-11.
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SEZs for Haryana approved
Chandigarh: The Central Government is likely to approve eight more Special Economic Zones (SEZs) including five mega projects in Haryana.

The SEZs would come up in the districts of Ambala, Jhajjar, Karnal, Mewat, Mohindergarh, Rewari and Rohtak as a part of the drive to ensure overall development of the state.

Chief minister of Haryana, Ranjit Singh Hooda assured all help of the State Government in redressing the grievances of the industry and creating a more industrial friendly climate. The SEZs would have their own power plants and they would come up as a package and would not be dependant on others.

Till now ten SEZs have already been approved by the Centre for Haryana. Hooda said state has taken steps to improve industrial-labour relations.
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