Deora urges oil companies to bring more outlets under third party norm
Mumbai: The petroleum ministry headed by Murli Deora has asked oil marketing companies to bring more retail outlets under third party certification to to ensure the quality of fuel supplied by these outlets and prevent adulteration of petroleum products.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation already has a large number of outlets under third party certification. Deora who is reviewing anti-adulteration measurers being taken up by the admitted that price difference between subsidised products and free priced products is the main driver for adulteration. But he told oil companies to put in place a stringent system to counter adulteration.

Deora said oil companies should undertake surprise inspections at retail outlets and introduce GPS (global positioning system) on petrol tanks that could track down tanks in transit and detect adulteration of fuel by transporters.
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Raha promises first MRPL retail outlet by Diwali
Mangalore: Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals which is planning to enter the retail marketing of petroleum products may open an outlet under its own brand name by Diwali this year said Subir Raha, chairman of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and MRPL.

Raha said ONGC's retail outlets under the brand name OVaL (ONGC Values), had received good response on diesel and petrol sales in Mangalore.
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Frames 2006 to begin in Mumbai
Mumbai: Frames 2006, the three-day annual convention on media and entertainment, organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), will be inaugurated by Priyaranjan Dasmunshi, minister for information and broadcasting, along with Tessa Jowell, UK secretary, department of culture, media, on March 22.

Frames 2006 will present issues such as programming for a mass audience, cinema exhibition business in India, a vision for India as an animation hub, independent film maker versus the studio, financing options for the Indian entertainment industry, managing the international icon brand, VFX in Hollywood movies, emerging revenue options for the industry, focus on radio, animation co-production, digital entertainment, film marketing and distribution.

The meet will also discuss issues like NextGen TV, IP in animation, beyond linear television networks, maximising the ROI on cinema exhibition, building a valuable gaming market, entertainment options for young Indians, the next wave in TV promos, mobile entertainment, master class in making of animated movie, the works.
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Sugar prices to be northbound in 2005-2006
New Delhi: The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) in its latest report has said that sugar prices are expected to show a rising trend as consumption is likely to outstrip production in 2005-2006 sugar year.

Increasing global prices and eagerness of sugar mills to fulfil their re-export obligation are also expected to add to the upward pressure. In addition in the Budget proposals, the government merged basic excise duty with additional excise duty on sugar and although, the move does not mean a hike in the effective levy on sugar, it opens the door for Value Added Tax CMIE said.

In case if VAT is levied on sugar, it would not have any adverse impact on profitability of sugar mills as the burden would be passed on to the consumer meaning that consumers would pay a higher price for sugar.
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Rajasthan grain markets to go on strike against VAT
Jaipur: Wholesale grain markets in Rajasthan will be on an indefinite strike from tomorrow to protest the increase in sales tax from the current 4 per cent to 12.5 per cent under Value Added Tax from April 1. The state government has levied a higher tax rate on small businessmen said the Rajasthan Khadya Padarth Vyapar Sangh general secretary Babulal Gupta. He said the Rajasthan government had not abolished the 4 per cent Mandi Tax. He added that it would be impossible to trade if the rate of taxation was very high.

He said all the 247 Krishi-Upaj mandis in the state would be on an indefinite strike from tomorrow.
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