27 Aug 2008

It is still unclear after all the months of labour pain where TATA’s Nano will finally be born, but sources say Singur’s loss may be Uttaranchal’s gain.

The Uttaranchal government has assured the TATAs a red carpet welcome if the country’s largest industrial house plans an exit from West Bengal.

Uttaranchal Chief Minister, B C Khanduri sais, “We welcome the TATA group here in Uttaranchal and establish their project. We are talking with TATAs at an official level and we hope that we will be able to reach at a conclusion very soon. It will be good for Uttaranchal as with the coming of the TATA Group, employment will be generated. And it will be beneficial for the TATAs too as they can reap the benefits of subsidies and special privileges that have been allotted to Uttaranchal by the Central Government.”

TATA already has a plant in Pantnagar, which manufactures the mini-truck Ace. If they relocate to Pantnagar, TATA could roll out the much awaited dream car Nano by tweaking the existing infrastructures.

Pantnagar has the capacity of manufacturing over 2.5 lakh Ace trucks. The plant has the capacity to manufacture an additional 40,000 Nanos.

A resident of Uttrakhand, Amit Kumar says, “If TATA’s Nano plant will reach Uttarakhand, it will be very beneficial for our generation as we are educated but don’t have good jobs. If the Nano plant is estanblished here, this problem of unemployment will be solved.”

Meanwhile, in Singpur the Opposition party and farmers are stuck on the return of 400 acres of land to the farmers from whom it was acquired.

Ever since Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress party launched an agitation at the project site, the work at the construction site of TATA Motors has come to a standstill.

Despite the assurances of the government of West Bengal, the Chairman of TATA Group, Ratan Tata is keeping his fingers crossed and is looking for alternate options if compelled to move out of Singur.

News Source: http://www.ibnlive.com

Nainital, 26 Aug 2008

In Nainital, the cheap Chinese goods that have flooded the markets in recent years are receiving a tough competition.

Led by one Nirmala Shah, the neighbourhood women here have prepared such attractive candles that they have become a challenge to the Chinese candles’ popularity.

The local candles are both attractive and cheap.

Sold under the brand name ‘Anmol’ (the invaluable), these candles come in different varieties, shapes and sizes. Aromatic, perfumed and non-perfumed, these varieties come in a different price range and are cheaper than the Chinese candles.

“Our family members are involved into making these candles and some of our neighbours have joined us. We sell these candles in the shop that is owned by my husband. We also send our products to Delhi and many other places,” said Nirmala Shah, Manager, Anmol Candles.

The candles made and sold by Nirmala Shah can be used for decorative as well as lighting purposes.

Residents believe that the local cottage industry candles are of a better quality than the Chinese ones. Their shapes are more attractive than the Chinese ones, which could only be used as showpieces.

“These local candles are of good quality and can be used as showpieces as well as for lighting while the Chinese candles can only be used as showpieces,” said Rajeev, a local consumer of Nainital.

Anmol candles, are available in shapes of animals, ice cream cones, fruits and trees, are beautifully carved.

“We have come from Maharashtra and we have liked these candles. Candles in the shape of ice creams, fruits, Santa Claus and flowers look real,” said Sunanda, a Maharashtrian tourist.

For over a decade, Chinese candles were in high demand in the markets here and other places of the Uttarakhand. The Chinese products had affected the Indian cottage industry manufacturing candles.

‘Anmol’ is holding a candle to women elsewhere in India. By Vibhav Porov(ANI)

News Source: http://www.newstrackindia.com

4 Aug 2008

Uttarakhand government has decided to extend tax holiday and other benefits to tourism industry and hotels in the state that is home to attractions like Rishikesh and Haridwar, Tourism Minister Prakash Pant said on Monday.

“In the industrial policy announced by the state government up to 2010, tourism has been given the status of industry and as such tax holiday and other benefits will be extended to tourism indsutry,” Pant told reporters at a press conference.

He said tourism budget in the state, created seven years back, has increased to Rs 92 crore from Rs 82 crore in the previous year.

The state government, he said, encourages private-public partnership to promote tourism in the state where tourists outnumbered population. Uttarakhand has a population of 84 lakh while the number of tourists visiting the state in 2007-08 was 2.22 crore, he said.

In the first six months of the current year, over 1.41 crore tourists including nearly 58,000 foreign tourists had visited Uttarakhand, he said.

The focus of the Uttarakhand Tourism Board was to develop tourism-related resources of the state in an eco-friendly manner with active participation by private sector and local communities.

News Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com