Shinde raps States on power generation and losses
New Delhi: The Centre today asked State Governments to increase power generation capacities and reduce commercial losses to make the electricity sector financially viable and encourage greater private participation.

"Many States have not added any significant capacity in the last 5-10 years. This has worsened the power scenario in the country," the power minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde, said at a meeting with power and energy secretaries of States here.

According to the minister, the ministry would take up the matter of the States not spending their allocated funds on capacity expansion with the Planning Commission. Also, the efficiency level of State utilities is far below that of the national average, he said.
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India-US formulate action plan for stepping up bilateral trade
New Delhi: India and the US have agreed on an action plan aimed at stepping up bilateral trade to approximately $60bn in three years from the current $30 billion level.

The fourth meeting of the US-India Trade Policy Forum, co-chaired by the US deputy trade representative, Karan Bhatia, and the commerce secretary, S.N. Menon, discussed tariff and non-tariff barriers, trade, investment, services and intellectual property rights.

The attempt to formulate a higher level of bilateral economic engagement comes ahead of a planned visit to the U.S. by the union commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath in the third week of June.

The next meeting of the Trade Policy Forum will be held on June 22 in Washington.
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Agreement on 20 pc bonus for port and dock workers
Kochi: With an understanding arrived at between the Indian Ports Association (IPA) and five recognised federations of port and dock workers, employees in the port and dock sector will now receive 20 per cent profit-linked reward (bonus) per annum commencing from the financial year 2002-03.

According to a statement issued by P.M. Mohammed Haneef, general secretary of the All India Port and Dock Workers' Federation, the decision would be placed before the governing body of the IPA, which is scheduled to meet in Mumbai on Wednesday.

The approval of the Union Government and the Shipping Ministry would be obtained subsequently, he said.

A formal settlement would be signed under the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act before the Chief Labour Commissioner and thereafter the parties will obtain a consent award in terms of the settlement from the National Tribunal in Mumbai where a reference in the matter is pending.
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Oil PSU officers defer strike as Delhi HC issues notice to ONGC and Centre
New Delhi: Officers of public sector oil companies have postponed their proposed indefinite strike to July 17, with the Delhi High Court issuing notices to the Centre and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) on the matter.

According to Oil Sector Officers Association (OSOA), the strike was called in support of their demands for periodic pay revisions every five years; 100 per cent DA neutralisation with effect from January 1, 1996; 50 per cent DA merger; and immediate release of additional stagnation increments.

The association was also seeking an entry-level salary of Rs50,000 per month (from Rs20,000 at present) for management trainees and commensurate rise in emoluments at senior levels.

Demanding a competitive salary, the association said that multinational and private sector companies were poaching on talented manpower in the sector. ONGC, which is largely a technical organisation, has lost almost 1,000 people in the last two years.

The strike was originally slated to begin on Wednesday morning.

According to Oil Sector Officers Association (OSOA) members, the Delhi High Court asked the association to postpone the strike and this was agreed to on the assurance of counsel for ONGC that the management and the Government would try to resolve the issue at the earliest.
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