PM Dedicates Dabhol-Bangaluru Pipeline To Nation

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, dedicated to the nation 1, 000-km-long natural gas pipeline from Dabhol in Maharashtra to Bengaluru in Karnataka recently in the presence of the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dr. M. Veerapppa Moily, and the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Textiles, Ms. Panabaka Lakshmi. This pipeline is laid by Gail India and it has connected South India to the national gas grid for the first time. It has been constructed at an investment of Rs.4,500 crores with a design capacity of 16 MMSCMD of natural gas which can produce 3,000 MW of clean energy.

There seems to be some revival in economic activity and effect is now visible on core sector companies. Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) achieved total sales of 9.7 lakh tonnes in November 2013, registering a 10% growth over same month last year. The company accelerated its export sales, with shipments to the tune of 61,000 tonnes during November 2013, representing a three-fold growth. Cumulative exports of 3.2 lakh tonnes in April-November 2013 were up 72% on year-on-year basis. Keeping pace with its modernisation and expansion plan, Chairman SAIL CS Verma recently witnessed commencement of production from the rebuilt Coke Oven Battery in SAIL Durgapur Steel Plant.

Coal India envisages for setting up sixteen washeries out of which, six are in BCCL in the state of Jharkhand, four in MCL in the state of Odisha, three in CCL in the state of Jharkhand, one in ECL in the state of West Bengal and two in SECL in the state of Chattisgarh. So far work order to set up four washeries, three in BCCL and one in CCL, has been issued. Total set up cost for these four washeries is estimated to be Rs.636.32 crores.