Gas row: Reliance Industries slaps arbitration notice on government

May 11, 2014

Mumbai, May 11: Reliance Industries (RIL) and its partners BP and NIKO, the contractor group of the Krishna-Godavari basin (KG-D6) block, have slapped an arbitration notice on the government. They have sought the implementation of the domestic natural gas pricing guideline 2014 that was notified on January 10, 2014 – after the government approved the Rangarajan formula doubling gas prices to $8.4 per unit from April 1.

Despite RIL's insistence to put in place the gas price hike, the petroleum ministry indicated to the contractor that gas prices would only be announced for the second quarter. RIL said this has resulted in a loss to the contractor group and the government of Rs 300 crore a month.

While the ministry was to notify the new gas price for April-June quarter, the Election Commission on March 24 advised deferment of announcement till poll codes are lifted.

Reliance_Industries RIL's move may make things difficult for next government as they will be expected to soon tackle the issue of gas price hike. The matter may get more complex if the Lok Sabha elections throw up a fractured verdict.

The ministry's decision has forced RIL to keep selling gas at $4.2/mmbtu after April 1. RIL believes this is in contravention of the PSC and detrimental to the economic interests of the contractor group and the government.

Without any clarity, the companies said they are unable to sanction planned investments of close to $4 billion this year. In addition, this will also delay the ability of the companies to appraise and develop other significant discoveries made last year. Overall, they were planning to invest $8-10 billion in the next few years to significantly increase production from the KG-D6 block.

This domestic production is essential for not only meeting India's energy needs but also helping conserve foreign exchange which is required for imports of natural gas into India.

The RIL-led companies have also promised to work with the government to achieve a prompt and efficient resolution of the ongoing dispute.

Debashish Mishra of Deloitte told dna, "Any new gas production in the country is possible only at certain point price and $4.2 is not that price. Prices will have to be increased to promote exploration in country and price of $8.4 is certainly better than importing gas at $16-$18."

In a note to media, RIL has explained what forced RIL to file a notice of arbitration on the government. They believe that they were left with no other option.

"Having made a major discovery in 2013, we were getting ready to start investing in the development of discovered resources. We were upbeat over the opportunity to invest over $8-10 billion in development of discovered resources over the next 3-4 years. These investments could have significantly increased our production by 2019. This would also help the country avoid LNG imports of more than $75 billion," claimed RIL.

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Two-day nationwide bank strike from Jan 31 over wage revision

Agencies

January 16,2020

New Delhi, Jan 16: United Forum of Bank Unions has decided to observe a two-day strike on January 31 and February 1, demanding early wage revision settlement which has been due since November 1, 2017, said the All India Bank Employees Association.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present her second Union Budget on February 1.

Banks will also hold a strike on March 11, 12 and 13. Also, an indefinite strike will be held from April 1.

General Secretary, All India Bank Officers' Confederation West Bengal Sanjay Das has stated that the nationwide strike has been called over several demands.

"The demands include--wage revision settlement at 20 per cent hike on payslip components with adequate loading thereof and scrapping off New Pension Scheme (NPS)," said Das.

There are several demands to hold the strike including the merger of special allowance with basic pay, updation of pension, improvement in the family pension system, five-day banking, allocation of staff welfare fund based on operating profits and exemption from income tax on retiral benefits without a ceiling.

"Other demands include-- a uniform definition of business hours, lunch hour etc in the branches, introduction of leave bank, defined working hours for the officers and equal wage for equal work for the contract employee," said Das.

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Political design behind Jamia, Shaheen Bagh protests to ruin nation's harmony: PM Modi

News Network

February 4,2020

Feb 4: Amid the agitations against Citizenship Amendment Act, National register of Citizens and National Population Registration across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that there is a "political design" behind all these protests including in Delhi's Jamia and Shaheen Bagh to ruin the harmony of the nation.

"Be it Seelampur, Jamia or Shaheen Bagh, protests held over the past several days regarding the Citizenship Amendment Bill. Is this just a coincidence? No. This is an experiment," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first election rally for Delhi polls at Karkardooma.

"There is a political design behind all these protests including Jamia and Shaheen Bagh. These protests are a conspiracy to divide India. These protests are going to ruin the harmony of the nation," he asserted.

Lambasting the opposition parties including Congress and Aam Aadmi Party for supporting the ongoing protests, he said: "But AAP and Congress are provoking people. Constitution and tricolor are being kept in front and attention is being diverted from the real conspiracy."

"These people were doubting the ability of our forces during surgical strikes. Do citizens of Delhi want such people in power? These people are saving those who want to break India into pieces," he added.

People have been protesting at Jamia and Shaheen Bagh against CAA, NRC and NPR. Members of the Opposition have deemed CAA "discriminatory and anti-Constitution" while the Centre has maintained that the new law has no effect on Indian citizens.

Recently, two firing incidents took place near Jamia Millia Islamia University.On Sunday night, the firing incident was reported near gate number five at the university following which people including some students of the varsity gathered outside the Jamia Nagar police station. They returned from the Jamia Nagar police station after their complaint was registered.

Earlier, a student sustained injuries after a young man fired at the protestors near Jamia.

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Once again incorrect statement and only to divert people attention. Every one knows who is ruining image of our nation. this govt has completely failed in all aspects and trying to survive by misguiding the citizens. Economy is reaching zero and GDP is coming down day by day, Banks and industries on getting closed. youths are unemployed due to no chance. However, Govt is giving false statement that nothing to worry and our economy if growing. this govt has brought black bills of CAA and MPR only to divide the society and keep them engaged and forget the falling economy. If this situation continues, our nation will be one of the poorest countries in the world. This govt is trying to sell all Govt hold units like Railway, Insurance, etc to private companies only to help the industrialists and to get commission from them. LIC was running in profit till 4 to 5 years back, but now its running in loss. Huge amount of money from LIC is taken by Govt to hide the downfall of economy. Only God can save our country from the hands of present looters + decoits.

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'Corona special tea' with immunity-boosting ingredients becomes hit in Warangal

News Network

July 22,2020

Warangal, Jul 22: Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, an outlet in Telangana's Warangal has started selling 'anti-corona' tea. The tea has become an instant hit with the locals as the beverage is laced with natural immunity-boosting ingredients.

"We sell tea named 'anti-corona'. It has natural immunity-boosting ingredients such as ginger, black pepper, cinnamon powder, among other things. A mixture of these ingredients boosts our immunity," Shiva, the owner of the tea shop said.

"Better immunity is needed to fight the coronavirus infection in the body. So we have started preparing this tea and selling it during the coronavirus pandemic," he added.

Prabhakar, a customer at the tea stall said, the tea was a "corona special tea," and it has Ayurvedic mixtures which help to boost the immunity of the human body.

"The tea is prepared after adding the Ayurveda mixtures to milk. This is good for your health. I, along with my family members and friends, come here every day. We drink this tea thrice a day," Prabhakar added.

According to the Union Health Ministry, there are 46,274 COVID-19 cases in Telangana. Meanwhile, India's coronavirus count stood at 11,92,915 on Wednesday morning.

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