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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Comply with data privacy, have not shared user data with China: TikTok

News Network

June 30,2020

New Delhi, Jun 30: Short video making app TikTok, one of the 59 apps banned by the Central government on Tuesday, has said that it complies with all data privacy and security requirements under the Indian law and has not shared any information of its users in India with any foreign government, including the Chinese Government.

Taking to microblogging site Twitter, Tiktok India posted the statement issued by Nikhil Gandhi, Head of TikTok, India.

"The Government of India has issued an interim order for the blocking of 59 apps, including TikTok and we are in the process of complying with it. We have been invited to meet with concerned government stakeholders for an opportunity to respond and submit clarifications. TikTok continues to comply with all data privacy and security requirements under Indian law and has not shared any information of our users in India with any foreign government, including the Chinese Government," reads the statement.

"Further, if we are requested to in the future we would not do so. We place the highest importance on user privacy and integrity. TikTok has democratized the internet by making it available in 14 Indian languages, with hundreds of millions of users, artists, story-tellers, educators and performers depending on it for their livelihood, many of whom are first-time internet users," the statement further reads.

Amid border tensions with China in Eastern Ladakh, the Centre had on Monday banned 59 mobile apps including Tik Tok, UC Browser and other Chinese apps "prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity and defence" of the country.

A senior official at the IT ministry said the prime reason to block the apps under section 69 A of Information Technology Act is to stop the violation and threat to the security of the state and public order and to plug the data leaks.

"Almost all of them have some preferential Chinese interest. Few are from countries like Singapore. However, the majority have parent companies which are Chinese," the official said.

This move will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users. This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace, Ministry of Information Technology said.

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war is fought man to man face to face...how china killed how soldier,

and we indian banning there app...what a joke

now bakth will say 56 inch chest modi is hero...

in our counrty we have 100% fool leaders and 80% foolish citizen...we will never develop..

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'Sadaf Jafar, Darapuri, Pavan Rao arrest without evidence, shameful'

Agencies

January 5,2020

New Delhi, Jan 5: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday sàid it was "shameful" that Sadaf Jafar, SR Darapuri and Pavan Rao were arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police for violence without any evidence against them.

He also said that it was a shocking admission by the police that there is no evidence of their involvement.

"Sadaf Jafar, S R Darapuri and Pavan Rao Ambedkar released on bail after police ADMITTED no evidence of their involvement in violence. Shocking admission," he said on Twitter.

"If that were so, why did the police arrest them in the first place? And how did the Magistrate remand them to custody without looking at the evidence," he asked.
"The law says 'find evidence, then arrest'. The reality is 'first arrest, then search for evidence'. Shameful," Chidambaram tweeted.

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Two die, 70 hospitalised after chemical gas leak at LG Polymers in Andhra Pradesh's Vizag

News Network

May 7,2020

May 7: Two people, including a child, were killed and nearly 70 hospitalised after a gas leak at a chemical plant in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam in the wee hours of Thursday, officials said.

People in Gopalapatnam area, where the chemical plant, LG Polymers, is located, complained of irritation in eyes, breathlessness, nausea and rashes on their bodies.

District Collector V Vinay Chand said two people were killed due to the gas leak, while some are in a critical condition.

Close to 70 people have been admitted to the King George Hospital after for treatment, he said.

TV channels showed people lying unconscious on roads.

Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have rushed to the spot.

Reports said the gas leak has been contained.

Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy enquired about the incident and directed the Visakhapatnam district collector to ensure proper medical care for the affected people.

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