Karnataka lifts ban on colas
Mumbai: The Karnataka government has withdrawn the ban order issued on August 14, 2006 prohibiting sale of carbonated beverages in government offices, hospitals, schools and colleges.

With this notification the cola ban is completely lifted across the country.

Following the reports of contamination in carbonated beverages, by the Delhi-based NGO, Centre of Science and Environment (CSE) six states imposed complete or partial bans on cola sales in August 2006.

In September, a division bench of the Kerala High Court quashed the state government's order banning the sale and production of Coca-Cola and Pepsi in Kerala. This was followed by a similar ruling in Uttar Pradesh.

While Karnataka was the last state government to have held on to the ban, the government notification settles the case.
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CII wants excise duty cut by 2 pc: pre-budget
New Delhi: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has recommended cutting the excise duty from 16 per cent to 14 per cent in its pre-budget memorandum.

The CII has asked for reduction of excise duty on processed foods, pesticides, energy efficient triphosphor fluorescent lamps, electric fans, caprolactum and two wheelers to 8 per cent from 16 per cent, on all types of cars to 16 per cent from 24 per cent, and to Rs350 per tonne from Rs400 on cement.

At present most manufactured products attract 16 per cent excise duty and 12.5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT).

In the memorandum, CII has suggested full Central Value Added Tax credit (Cenvat) on capital goods on the date of receipt and allowing payment of excise on used capital goods at the time of removal either on the transaction value or on the depreciated value, as against the present provision of reversal of full Cenvat credit.

Railways eyes budget outlay of Rs50,000 crore
New Delhi: The railway ministry which attained freight revenue of Rs27,000 crore till November 2006 is eyeing a budget outlay of Rs50,000 crore for 2007-08.

The ministry has completed more than 2,800 km of lines in the current fiscal. Last year, it constructed 1,000 km of major lines. Apart from lines, the railways are laying greater emphasis on acquisition of wagons.

As work on the eastern and western corridors of the dedicated rail freight corridor has started, the ministry plans to run locomotive trains with completely new wagons.

For this, the ministry will soon come out with global tenders. Production of wagons has gone up, with 14,000 units already having been manufactured this fiscal, compared with 6,000 last year.
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