Govt allows private cos to import duty-free wheat, pulses
New Delhi: In a bid to curb spiraling prices of wheat and pulses the Union Government has allowed duty-free import of wheat by private parties and halted all exports of pulses with immediate effect. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Prices (CCP).

The prices of wheat and pulses have been zooming up in recent times. Spot wheat was quoting at Rs865 a quintal in Delhi on Wednesday, 13.8 per cent more than last year's corresponding level of 760 a quintal while the increase has been sharper in pulses: from Rs1,748 to Rs2,450 (40 per cent) for chana or chickpea and from Rs1,855 to Rs3,155 (70 per cent per cent) for urad or black gram.

The government has allowed flour millers, biscuit manufacturers and bread makers to import wheat on the same condition applicable to the State Trading Corporation of India (STC). Till now, wheat was freely importable at 50 per cent duty, with STC given approval to import up to 35 lakh tonnes (lt) duty-free for the public distribution system. Today's decision will allow private actual users also to import wheat at zero duty.

The government has not indicated any quantitative limits on duty-free imports on private account, but said that they would be allowed "till the start of the next rabi harvest". This would mean till end-March 2007, which is also the cut-off date for duty-free import of pulses that the Government announced earlier on June 8. The imports are to be allowed under tariff rate quota.
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Maharashtra CM moots transit camps on mill lands
Mumbai: Chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has asked the Maharashtra Area and Housing Development Authority (MHADA) to prepare a scheme for constructing transit camps on mill lands for rehabilitating residents of old and dilapidated buildings in Mumbai.

Deshmukh said that MHADA should take initiative to seek financial assistance from financial institutions, some of which have shown willingness to finance redevelopment schemes of old buildings. He said under the redevelopment scheme, MHADA should make available flats of 225 sq.ft each free of cost to tenants. If tenants want a bigger sized flat, then additional space should be made available to them at reasonable rates.

Officials said pre -monsoon survey carried out by MHADA showed that 103 buildings have become dangerous to live in. And 58 of these buildings need urgent repair, while the rest have to be reconstructed completely. He also said MHADA would require around Rs300 crore for carrying out this task.
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Chandigarh to host 'e-Revolution 2006' in July
Chandigarh: Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh have come together to give a boost the IT industry in the region and promote the Chandigarh Capital Region into a knowledge hub.

Chandigarh has emerged as a cluster attracting many IT/ITeS companies and will host the international IT conclave called 'e-Revolution 2006' in July. The event will serve as a platform for all the three governments to create value in the business eco-system for IT-ITeS industry and explore opportunities for shared services in the national e-governance initiative.

Haryana, Punjab and Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) would be the major partners of e-Revolution 2006 along with Nasscomm, Chandigarh IT Club and Society for Promotion of IT in Chandigarh as associates.

Government officials said software exports have been growing at 70 per cent per annum in the northern region. With IT boom happening in this region, the export potential is likely to go up. Companies like Wipro, Microsoft, TCS, Satyam, Oracle, eSYS, IBM and many more are setting up their base here. About $200 million annual software exports are expected in the next two years with setting up of IT parks.

Chandigarh has an IT Park where DLF, IBM Daksh, Outerbay, Virsa Systems, Infosys and Net solutions have set up operations. Wipro, Bharti Televentures, eSYS, and Tech Mahindra are soon to begin operations. The companies are expected to catalyse an investment of upto Rs4,000 crore. Haryana has recorded IT exports worth more than Rs55 billion, while Punjab has recorded about Rs425 crore of software exports during 2005-06.
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