Famous Rajrappa Temple, Hazaribagh, Jharkhand

2-yr delay in ONGC's Jharkhand blocks

New Delhi: Oil and Natural Gas Corp.'s (ONGC) plans to start production this year from its coal-bed methane (CBM) block in Jharkand have suffered a delay of around two years because of problems related to land acquisition.

"We can't meet our target. We were planning to start production from our Jharia block. There is a huge problem of land acquisition as for one piece of land there are hundreds of owners. There are no clear titles with little support coming from the state government," said an ONGC executive who did not wish to be identified.

ONGC, which owns a 90% stake in the block—Coal India Ltd holds the balance—was targeting a production of 0.30 billion cubic metres (bcm) from the block in 2007-08.It also planned to increase production to 0.75bcm by 2011-12 and invest Rs950 crore in the project.

"We are hopeful that the production may start somewhere in 2009," the ONGC executive added. Meanwhile, Great Eastern Energy Corp. (GEECL), a part of the YKM Holdings Group, has already started production at its CBM block at Asansol in Assam.


Ravi Mahajan, partner at accounting firm Ernst & Young, said that the problems ONGC was facing at Jharkand were similar to those that plagued "special economic zones" (SEZs). The Union government was forced to draft new guidelines for land acquisition after its SEZ initiative ran into opposition from farmer groups.

CBM is a viable alternative to natural gas as fuel for power generation and the manufacture of fertilizers and ceramics. It is a gas found in coal seams and India has the sixth largest reserves of coal in the world.


A significant production of CBM could help address the country's gas shortage.

Demand for gas in the country is currently 179.17 million standard cubic metres ofgas per day (mscmd), while supply lags far behind at at 80.54mscmd.

After the US, Australia and China, India is the fourth country where CBM is expected to be commercially produced. There are no official estimates of CBM reserves in the country.

The government has thus far awarded 26 CBM blocks for exploration. These are spread over 13,600 sq. km and the total CBM resources in these blocks are estimated at 1,374bcm, which translates into a production potential of around 38mscmd.

http://www.livemint.com/2007/07/17000443/2yr-delay-in-ONGC8217s-Jha.html







Zone of Progess

THIRTY-FIVE years ago, Adityapur, now in Saraikela-Kharsawan district of Jharkhand, was just another industrial zone in the country. The Adityapur Industrial Area Development Authority (AIADA) was established in 1972 by the Government of Bihar for the purpose of promoting industrial growth. There were 50 industrial units at the time. Adityapur is today witnessing rapid industrialisation with about 800 units operating in the zone. This success story is chiefly the result of AIADA's vision, its unrelenting commitment to industrial development and its meticulous planning to transform the region into a preferred destination for investors.

Located some 8 kilometres from the steel city of Jamshedpur, the industrial area stretches up to 12 km along the Jamshedpur Saraikela-Kharsawan State Highway. Developed plots with necessary infrastructure facilities, such as well-laid road network, drainage system, uninterrupted power supply and sufficient water supply, are available in all the seven phases of the industrial area. In order to meet the requirements of various entrepreneurial scales and types, plot sizes ranging from 5,000 sq feet to 45,000 sq feet are offered. Larger plots are available for entrepreneurs wanting to set up large-scale units.

The industrial area houses 791 units - including 11 large-scale, 64 medium-scale, 550 small-scale, and 166 tiny industries. The number of export-oriented units in Adityapur has also been increasing rapidly. There are 20 industrial units exporting their products to over 20 countries, including the United States, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Switzerland, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Canada and Germany and West Asian countries. The total investment in the production units in the zone is approximately Rs.3 ,000 crore and the average annual turnover is about Rs.3,500 crore. The area provides direct employment to over 27,500 people - including the tribal and local populations.

The industrial area houses 480 light engineering works, 41 mineral-based units, 49 plastic and rubber units, 53 chemical industries, 21 food and beverages plants, four pharmaceutical companies, and 21 electrical, four sponge iron and two liquid petroleum gas bottling units.

There are 25 automobile body-building and automobile service centres, 56 ferrous induction casting units and 35 forging businesses in the region. Under the AIADA's direction, a special economic zone for automobile and auto components, with a mall and an Urban Haat, is being set up.

WATER IS SUPPLIED to the industries at the rate of five million gallons a day.

Keeping in mind the basic infrastructure requirements of the existing industrialists and investors, the authority is constructing plain cement concrete roads and widening the existing roads in a 40-km stretch within the industrial area. In order to make the area environment-friendly, the authority has undertaken a tree plantation project. This year, more than 10,000 trees are proposed to be planted in the area.

Uninterrupted power supply to these units comes from the 140-MW grid sub-station of the Jharkhand State Electricity Board. Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd has installed a 400/220 kv substation with a transformer capacity of 315 X 52 MVA, keeping in mind the future requirements. Four substations with 33/11 kv capacity have also been set up to meet the power needs of the zone. The private sector is expected to participate in the supply and distribution of power in the region.

Water is fed to the industries from the Sitarampur natural reservoir, which has a capacity of five million gallons a day. The State government has taken up various projects to augment this capacity to 25 MGD by 2020. The IL&FS Infrastructure Development Corporation, New Delhi, is the project consultant for the scheme. A special purpose company, Adityapur Utilities Ltd, has been registered to undertake the responsibility of rehabilitating and augmenting the present system over a period of 15 years on the basis of public-private partnership.

The AIADA's proximity to Ranchi affords certain advantages. A network of highways and railways connects it to metropolitan cities and other important regions of the country. There is a proposal to construct an airport at Adityapur. In order to meet the demand for high-speed Internet connectivity and cellular phone services, leading service providers such as Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Reliance, Tata Indicom and Airtel are operating in the region. Adityapur also has an independent telephone exchange.

The authority has earmarked 200 acres (80 hectares) of land for an integrated state-of-the-art housing colony for the entrepreneurs and employees within its area of operation. A training centre has been set up to upgrade the skills and improve the quality of the employees. Seminars and conferences on topics ranging from industrial safety to rainwater harvesting and energy conservation are organised regularly at the centre. Institutions such as the National Metallurgical Laboratory, the Indo-Danish Tool Room & Training Centre, the Xavier Labour Relations Institute and a number of private training centres offer vocational courses.

In its effort to improve quality, the AIADA has undertaken a unique programme called "Quality Month" celebration. This programme, designed to bring about quality awareness among industrialists and workers, lasts a month during which various training programmes and visits to big industrial houses such as Tata Steel and Usha Martin are organised. The event culminates in a quality audit of the participating units.

The authority has also set up a Knowledge Centre, which has a collection of 2,500 books on management and technical subjects. The centre has an air-conditioned reading hall, an Internet hall and an information centre for investors. To showcase Jharkhand's rich tradition of art, culture and handicraft, the authority has set up a Heritage Hall.

Key industries

Some important industries operate in the Adityapur industrial area. The $5-million Usha Martin Group set up a steel plant with a wire rod rolling mill in Jamshedpur in 1979 in order to ensure a steady supply of steel for the manufacture of value-added products such as wire ropes, steel wires, speciality wires, conveyor cords, wire rods, bright bars, round bars, hexagonal bars, wire drawing and cable machinery. Today, the plant has an integrated facility that manufactures 3.6 lakh tonnes of speciality steel a year. Of this, more than 35 per cent is consumed internally at its plant located in Ranchi. The plant manufactures wire ropes of sizes ranging from 3mm to 115 mm with a coil weight of up to 85 tonnes. The steel plant is the first of its kind in the country to have received the TPM Excellence Award from JIPM, Japan.

Usha Martin has been quite active in fulfilling its social responsibility. The Krishi Gram Vikas Kendra, a non-governmental organisation established by the company, undertakes social and community projects in the Chotanagpur belt to make the impoverished villages more self-reliant.

Anjaneya Ispat Ltd

Anjaneya Ispat is a pioneer in the production of small-size blast furnaces in the country. The technology adopted by the company to produce pig iron from a small blast furnace was first applied in 2002 in the industrial area. After some initial problems, the small blast furnaces of 50 tonne per day capacity proved to be economical and efficient. The technology was well received by small entrepreneurs owing to the low investment it required. The company is also developing blast furnaces with higher capacities.

Anjaneya Ispat's furnaces are capable of using 100 per cent low-grade iron ore and indigenous coke to produce foundry and steel-grade iron. The method of operating the furnaces is so simple that even non-skilled and semi-skilled workers can use them.

RSB Group

The RSB Group is a leading engineering and components manufacturing business house. Set up in Jamshedpur in 1975 under the name International Auto Ltd, it has become one of the largest engineering and automotive components manufacturing companies in the country, with a turnover of $150 million. The group's core capabilities range from design to manufacturing of aggregates and systems related to commercial vehicles, passenger cars, construction equipment, farm and off-highway equipment.

http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/stories/20070727002909800.htm







Freedom fighter pulling rickshaw in Jharkhand for survival

Hazaribagh (Jharkhand), July 15: While participating in the Quit India movement in 1942, Somar Sundi of Hazaribagh never thought that one day he would have to pull bicycle-rickshaw in an independent India for two square meals.

At 83, Somar Sundi and his family in Matwari locality are learning how to cut on hunger to survive.

When he fell ill recently, Somar was at pain to think that none other than his immediate family came forward to help. The umpteen assurances of financial and medical aid from several quarters are yet to materialise.

"I have made lot of efforts but till date only paper work is going on. No body is looking after us. I have fallen ill since the past one month and I am somehow managing. My children help me out with this tough time," Somar says.

He remembers how he along with others braved the bullets and baton charging of the policemen under the British regime for independence of the country. Today, he is left with only that treasure of old memories and his big family struggles for basic needs.

Somar pulls bicycle-rickshaw despite a poor health so that the hearth at his home keeps burning.

The family lives in a rented house. To pay the monthly rent, the solution the members of the family have arrived at is by cutting down on their food.

Jaswa Devi, Somar's wife, says: "We are earning our livelihood by pulling rickshaws. He is an old man. No body takes care of us. We are paying the rent by killing our hunger. We have no resources and have the responsibility of our children."

She adds: "He gave away his youth and rest of the years for the freedom struggle of the country. But perhaps the countrymen have no time to bother for him."

http://www.dailyindia.com/show/157404.php/Freedom-fighter-pulling-rickshaw-in-Jharkhand-for-survival







Sinosteel blends the Jharkhand route

NEW DELHI: Sinosteel, which has proposed to set up a five million tonne steel plant in Jharkhand, is planning to partner with another Chinese steel firm on the project to be set up at a cost of $ 4 billion.

"Another Chinese steel firm Handan Zongheng Iron and Steel Group has expressed desire to partner with us in the Jharkhand project. We are considering the same," Sinosteel India Managing Director Hongseng Wang told the media.

When asked why Sinosteel preferred Handan, Wang said his company was instrumental in setting up the latter's plant and supplied the entire machinery for it, and so it was emerging as the natural choice.

The Chinese company has already submitted a proposal in May to the Jharkhand government to set up the plant at Silly, about 45 km from Ranchi.

Though Sinosteel is considering partnering with Handan Zongheng, other Chinese steel firms too have expressed their interest for the project, he said.

"We are verifying the land and are awaiting the response of the government," Sinosteel India chief said and exuded confidence that the company hoped to begin construction by end of this year.

The state government has assured Sinosteel India to provide 3,000 acre land needed to set the plant, he said.

Sinsteel planned to produce construction steel from its Jharkhand plant mainly to cater to the burgeoning real estate sector in the country.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Indl_Goods__Svs/Stee

l/Sinosteel__blends_the__Jharkhand_route/articleshow/2191888.cms







Good mineral policy can curb Naxalism, Chhattisgarh CM tells PM

The proposed national mineral policy can help contain the Naxalite menace, a letter by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh to the prime minister has said. The letter seeks greater powers to the states over use of minerals to benefit the people.

With the prime minister identifying Naxalism as the biggest internal security concern, the worst-affected state of Chhattisgarh sees the policy as one of the means of creating jobs and prosperity in all three mineral-rich states that are hit by the menace.

"As your good self is aware, the mineral-owning states of Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Jharkhand continue to be the poorest states of the country and worst affected by Naxalism," Singh wrote to the prime minister on July 12. The mineral-based processing industry, he said, could help improve living standards. "

Removal of regional imbalance and containment of Naxalism in these areas are among the priority tasks before the nation," Singh added.

"It is therefore extremely necessary that our mineral-owning states should in no way be denied their rights to utilise their resources for the economic uplift of the people suffering poverty in the mineral-bearing areas," he said, urging the prime minister to meet the chief ministers of the mineral-rich states before finalising the policy.

http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?leftnm=3&subLeft=1&ch

klogin=N&autono=291420&tab=r







RPG to invest Rs 12K cr in power; expand carbon biz

MUMBAI: The RPG group has earmarked an investment of Rs 12,000 crore for power and Rs 450 crore for carbon black as two of its thrust business focus areas over the next 2-3 year.

"We plan to invest Rs 12,000 crore in our power business of which we have already committed Rs 2,000 crore," RPG Enterprises' Chairman, Harsh Goenka, told media here.

A Rs 450-crore investment has been earmarked for its carbon black businea 2,000 MW thermal power plant and has identified three states where it is assessing the project's prospects.

"We are looking at West Bengal, Jharkhand and Orissa and our decision will be based on availability of coal. Coal-linkages are very important for our project,' Goenka said.

Asked whether the group was considering a gas-based power project, he said non-availability of gas precluded such a project. "I would love to set up a gas-based project, but then, where is the gas?" he asked.

The group was also expanding capacity at its CESC plant whose efficiency, he said, had reached new highs since the group took it over.

"We have reduced transmission and distribution losses from 22 per cent to 13 per cent and enhanced its capacity. Its plant load factor (PLF) is very high and the work-force highly-motivated," Goenka said.

Goenka said that the group distributed power in Noida and was now looking to cater to new markets.

On carbon black, Goenka said "we have decided to set up our fourth plant at Mundra while the location of the fifth will be decided soon."

An investment of Rs 450 crore has been earmarked for expansions in this business.

The group also proposes to set up power plants next to these units. Its three existing facilities are located in Kochi, Durgapur and Vadodara.

With a view to expand its global footprint, especially in the Far East, the group recently entered into a JV with VinaChem of Vietnam in which it will hold a majority stake.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Energy/Power/

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Crimes against women rising in Jharkhand

Ranchi, July 12 (IANS) Crimes against women are on the rise in Jharkhand - the state saw 270 dowry-related deaths last year. But the state women's commission says it simply does not have the wherewithal to help victims.

According to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the total number of crimes against women in 2006 was 3,074, compared with 2,832 in 2005 was 2,547 in 2004. Till June this year nearly 1,800 cases had already been registered.

The crimes include murder, dowry death, dowry torture, rape, molestation, abduction and killing after being branded a witch.

A total of 270 women were killed for dowry in 2006 - the number was 232 and 259 respectively in 2005 and 2004 . So far this year, 82 cases have been reported.

The number of rape cases registered in the state in 2006 was 799 - it was 779 and 642 respectively in 2005 and 2004. And till June this year, the number of rape cases registered was 324.

Around 435 abductions were reported in 2006, whereas the number was 395 and 365 respectively in 2005 and 2004 . As many as 166 cases were registered in 2006 for branding women as witches, 131 in 2005 and 118 in 2004. Till June this year, 42 cases have been reported.

The state women's commission was constituted last year but it lacks basic infrastructure like vehicles, telephones and staff to help victims.

'Without infrastructure, we feel handicapped. We try our best to help the women and sort out their problems but the shortcomings come in our way,' said commission chairperson Laxmi Singh.

Police officials say witchcraft cases are a social issue and only awareness can solve the issue.

'We need to create awareness among the people to minimise the number of cases related to witchcraft,' said R.C. Kaithal, additional director of police, CID.

http://news.monstersandcritics.com/india/news/article_1328951.php/Crimes_agains

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A new saviour for sex workers

PATNA: We love to hate them. We love to call them by names. But how many of us bother to look into the plight of their lives?

Virtually none. So what! There are people from the sex workers' fraternity, who have now decided to work for the uplift of city sex workers.

As it is, having been forced to lead a cursed life due to the taboo attached with their profession, the city sex workers have found a new saviour, a tribal woman, Sarita Kuzur (name changed), from adjoining Jharkhand, who is willing to take up their cause.

Ask Kuzur about the reason for taking pains to work in a city so far away from her native place and pat comes the reply, "I do not want these young girls to go through the harrowing experience which I had after joining this profession."

Mother of two children, she joined this profession around one and half years back after the untimely death of her husband and subsequent denial of the family members to take the load of her children.

"Initially, I had to face the wrath of local goons on the one hand and police on the other. However, the ordeal came to an end when I came into the contact of Durbar Mahila Samanway Committee (DMSC), which not only educated me about the precautions I should take while entertaining customers, but also made me aware about my rights which in turn gave me the confidence to lead a normal life," she told TOI. Talking about her sojourn from a sufferer to an activist, Kuzur said it was all due to DMSC which gave her the confidence to overcome the guilt feeling the sex workers generally carry.

"Hence, as soon as the Bihar unit of DMSC requested me to take up the cause of city sex workers I readily agreed," she added.Least bothered about the time the work might take, Kuzur appeared quite firm in her resolve when asked about the financial loss she might have to suffer while staying away from her place of profession. "I know that my earnings are going to be affected, but with virtually none to take up the cause of people like us it becomes the duty of those in the same profession to strive for whatever can be done to improve the lot of sex workers," she averred.

DMSC Bihar unit co-ordinator Utpal Ganguly said this gesture of Kuzur had encouraged him to do something substantial for the cause of city sex workers. "With a chance to build a rapport with this deprived section, DMSC would now organise a orientation programme for the city sex workers so that they could be equipped with necessary tools to raise voice for themselves," he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Patna/A_new_saviour_for_sex_workers
/articleshow/2206085.cms