GDP to grow 8.1 percent this year

The central government has recently announced that the Indian economy is estimated to grow at 8.1 percent this fiscal against 7.5 percent last year, riding on a strong performance by the manufacturing and services sector.

According to advance estimates of GDP released by the Central Statistical Organisation, agriculture is projected to grow 2.3 percent this year against 0.7 percent last fiscal. Despite abundant rains, the primary source of water for a majority of Indian farms, farm sector performance is expected to be below the 4 percent level that the government is striving for.

While the GDP during the current fiscal based on 1999-2000 price levels, was projected to increase to Rs 25,866 billion, the per capita income was estimated to rise 5.9 percent to Rs 20,813 compared with Rs 19,649 at the end of March 2005.

The advance estimates also beat RBI's projection of 7.5-8 percent growth. Most research agencies had projected GDP growth to be around 7.5-7.7 percent this year. But in recent months there have been some concerns of an economic slowdown with corporate profits declining and production in some sectors like mining, electricity and petroleum slowing down. Economists said that a large part of the decrease in corporate profits could be attributed to losses posted by state-owned oil companies, while the other sectors fared better.

Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram said the sensex crossing the 10,000 level and the 8.1 percent growth projection in GDP offered a heady combination. He added that the high growth was on account of fiscal prudence, judicious allocation of resources, tightening of expenditure and timely completion of projects that resulted in checking cost escalation.

"The 8.1 percent growth projection had only vindicated what we have been saying all along that the economy will bounce back", deputy chairman of the planning commission, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia said, adding that India should now aim for 10 percent growth.

- - Times of India

The Board of Directors of the Associated Cement Cos Ltd (ACC) very reluctantly accepted the request of Mr Tarun Das to step down as Chairman and Director of ACC.

During his six years of tenure as Chairman, Mr Das led ACC by ensuring the highest standards of corporate governance as well as social responsibility, while inspiring ACC to pursue excellence in all the areas of activities. Consequently, his tenure saw ACC's turnover cross the 1 billion US dollar mark, production exceed 16 million tonnes in a year and the profit grow beyond Rs 5 billion in 2005.

His chairmanship of ACC will also be remembered for bringing back the sharp focus of ACC to the core business of cement and concrete.

The Board appointed Deputy Chairman, Mr Narottam Sekhsaria as Chairman. Mr Sekhsaria, one of the most respected leaders and entrepreneurs of the Indian cement industry, was till recently the Managing Director of Gujarat Ambuja Cements Limited. He has been associated with ACC for the last six years. The Board also decided to appoint Mr Paul Hugentobler, member of Executive Committee of Holcim, as Deputy Chairman.

Incidentally, in its meeting held on February 17, 2006, the Board of Directors unanimously appointed Mr Shailesh Haribhakti - Managing Partner of a leading accounting firm, "Haribhakti & Co." and chief executive officer of "Haribhakti Group" - and Mr Anil Singhvi, present Managing Director of Gujarat Ambuja Cement Ltd, as directors of ACC.

- ACC press releases

Coming after a decade, the central government's ground-water survey has found that Delhi and northern states are in bad shape, drawing much more water than is recharged every year. And with some southern states joining the water shortage list, about 30 percent of the country now needs to be concerned about its depleting ground-water.

The survey tracks just quantity, not quality. The list of units assessed - blocks, taluks, mandals, districts and considered over-exploited, where withdrawal is much more than recharge, now stands at 839. A decade ago, when the Central Ground-water Board last came out with a report, the figure was 673 blocks.

Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Daman and Pondicherry have exploited more than 100 percent ground-water. Swanky Gurgaon - on the outskirts of Delhi - is also on the problem list. In Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and UP, 70 percent or more of the ground water available - on an average - has been used. Andhra Pradesh has the highest number of over exploited units. Chandigarh has not used ground water.

Officials, maintaining that latest figures were not comparable with those of 1995 since methodology is different this time, accept the overall message isn't good. Ground water use is more and recharge is not keeping pace in dry or agriculturally-intensive states. The monsoon is critical to recharge.

The just-finalised report, Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India 2005, tracks the shallow aquifers which are mined, mainly for agriculture and recharged annually. Around 15 percent of the 5,723 units assessed are over-exploited, 4 percent are critical and 10 percent are semi-critical. Thirty blocks are saline. The number of over-exploited and critical units is "significantly" higher - more than 15 percent of the total - in Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Daman and Pondicherry.

Large swathes of territory remain 'safe' in terms of quantity. Ground water in the east and north-east hasn't been mined much. The deep aquifers, stable beneath the level recharged every year, are much intact. But shallow aquifers aren't.

The report terms a decline of 10-20 cm a year significant. So while semi-critical blocks require cautious development, critical and over-exploited areas need intensive monitoring with development linked to conservation measures. Water resources secretary, Mr J. Hari Narayan says they are "very strongly" suggesting that states develop regulatory systems. Officials say they have circulated a list of new critical areas to state pollution control boards to help them regulate industry..

- The Times of India


Rural water: PM's priority

Kicking off a two-day conference of states on rural drinking water supply and sanitation recently, prime minister, Mr Manmohan Singh termed the supply system as "woefully inadequate" and called for a greater role for panchayats and local bodies.

Talking about water supply being a key agenda under Bharat Nirman, the prime minister underlined an urgent need for addressing five aspects - elimination of backlog and provision of safe water to habitations not covered or those which have slipped back from full coverage; water quality; handing over water supply management to local institutions and building their capacity; improving comprehensive management of water supply and mobilising communities to link good health and safe water supply.

Promising that funds would not be a constraint in the implementation of these vital programmes, Mr Singh said the centre had increased the allocation to Rs 40.5 billion in 2005-2006.

Addressing the conference organised by the Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission, rural development minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said the main purpose of the meet was to have an appraisal of the rural water supply and sanitation programme with state ministers for deciding the future course of implementing it under the Bharat Nirman action plan.

- The Times of India

Three projects for Mumbai

The Maharashtra government will be submitting three proposals worth Rs 57.8 billion to be taken up under the recently launched Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM). The decision to submit these projects was taken at a steering committee meeting chaired by chief minister Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh recently

The projects which the state government wants the centre to look into include a sewage project worth Rs 23.76 billion, the Rs 18 billion stormwater drainage mechanism and the Rs 16 billion Upper Vaitarna drinking water supply scheme. With the easing of pressure to repeal the archaic Urban Land Ceiling Act, the state government is confident of receiving substantial central aid for the city.

- The Times of India

Port improvement project on cards

In a bid to attract bigger ships, the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) have decided to undertake an ambitious project to deepen, widen and extend the 28.5 km long channel used for navigation around Mumbai.

Authorities said this is the first time that such an exercise is being undertaken in Mumbai. The task will cost them more than Rs 8 billion and the expenses will be shared by MbPT and JNPT in the ratio of 1:7. The JNPT recently floated tenders for the project which will be completed within 27 months of the contract being awarded.

The Mumbai channel is about 28.5 km long and nearly 26.36 km of it is regularly used by vessels frequenting MbPT. At present, the channel is about 325 to 350 m wide and 11.1 m below chart datum (depth at low tide level). It will be widened to 425 m. The depth will be 13.8 m chart datum at the channel entrance and 12.8 m at JNPT junction.

- The Times of India

Expressway gets extra mileage

Four years after the Mumbai-Pune expressway brought the two cities closer, the state government plans to extend it from Kalamboli near Panvel to Sion to enhance traffic flow.

The extra leg will reduce commuting time between the two cities by another 30 minutes. According to the plan, the Panvel - Sion corridor will be widened, with dedicated lanes for heavy and light vehicles. Service roads will be built for entry and exit at various points. The expressway expansion will take place under the aegis of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).

Mr Ramanath Jha, managing director of MSRDC said that they hoped to start work in March 2007 and complete the expansion by September 2008. The 22-km link will cost the government Rs 8 billion. Officials said that there would be no hike in toll. But there will be access control to the main roadway.

- The Times of India

DS Constructions bags expressway project

Infrastructure company, DS Constructions, has said that it has bagged the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Project, the longest expressway in the country by Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation (HSIDC) on a build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis.

The project would be constructed at a cost of Rs 18 billion through a special purpose vehicle company. The other members of the consortium include the UK-based Apollo Enterprises and the Hyderabad-based Madhucon Project Ltd.

- Business Line

Gammon India gets NHAI projects

Gammon India Ltd has informed that the company has secured four projects from National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd (NHPCL). The projects are valued approximately at Rs 10.05 billion.

- Business Line

Cement production up by 14 percent in January

Cement output recorded 14.25 percent increase in January 2006 to 13.07 million tonnes (mt) against 11.44 mt a year ago, said the latest updates of Cement Manufacturers' Association. Despatches clocked 14.34 percent rise to 13.08 mt from 11.44 mt in the monthly review period. Last month's production was 4.8 percent higher than 12.47 mt in December 2005 while the dispatches figure was 4.06 percent more than 12.57 mt dispatches of the previous month. Production stood at 10.25 percent higher at 115.4 mt for April-January period of 2005-2006 as against 104.67 mt in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. Despatches grew by 10.43 percent to 115.08 mt from 104.21 mt during the 10-month review period.

- The Economic Times

Mr Anil Singhvi appointed MD of Ambuja Cement

The Board of Directors of Ambuja Cement elected Mr Narottam S. Sekhsaria, founder, promoter and managing director of the company as non-executive vice chairman of the company, pursuant to his stepping down as managing director for personal reasons. Having been Chief Executive for last 23 years, the time was ripe that the day-to-day management and leadership should be handed over to a younger person and he should move on to a mentorship and strategic role in the company.

Mr Anil Singhvi (aged 46 years), whole-time director of the company, who has been instrumental in the strategy and growth of the company was appointed as Managing Director of the company, by the board.

In another development, the company was informed that the existing promoters of the company on January 28, 2006 had sold 2 billion equity shares constituting approximately 14.8 percent of the equity share capital of the company to Holcim. To further strengthen its partnership with Holcim in the Indian cement sector, the promoters of the company have entered into a shareholders agreement with Holderind Investments Ltd. (Holcim an indirectly held wholly owned subsidiary of Holcim Ltd.). As per this agreement, Holcim will make an open offer to the shareholders to buy upto 20 percent of the equity share capital of the company. Post closure of the open offer, Holcim will nominate three directors on the board of the company. Holcim has expressed its firm belief in the entrepreneurial and management capabilities of the management team of the company and it will work with the existing promoters and management team to further strengthen the company's position in the Indian cement sector.

The board of directors of the company welcomed this move as it will bring further value to the shareholders of the company and accorded its no objection to the open offer. Mr Vinod Kumar Neotia (Non-executive Director), Mr Harshvardhan Neotia (Non-executive Director and Mr Pulkit Sekhsaria (Whole-time Director) have resigned as directors of the company.

- Ambuja Cement press release

Construction workers training programme

Construction industry is the second largest employer, next only to agriculture. It is estimated that about 32 million citizens earn their livelihood through this industry. Further, it is estimated that the average annual turnover of this industry is 2800 billion. Being such a large industry and thereby playing a major role in the growth and development of the nation by building the precious infrastructure, the human resources (HR) requirements are indeed large and complex. Further in the era of globalisation and liberalisation of the economy, it is needed important to have world class HR for the industry to survive. Unfortunately, this resource of the construction industry is not upto the mark and improvement is needed on several fronts.

In the context of construction works, Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC) has identified 47 trades that prevail in this industry. CIDC is already conducting training and certification programmes in these trades through its 17 institutes established all over the country. CIDC has been nominated by Director General of Employment and Training, Ministry of Labour and Employment for its scheme for certification of the skills of workers in the informal sector.

In order to give a substantial thrust to the training programme for construction works, CIDC has entered into a partnership with the government of Haryana through an MoU. The MoU was signed between CIDC and Department of Vocational Training and Technical Education, government of Haryana on 30th January 2006.

The objective of the joint initiative as laid down by honourable chief minister of Haryana are to:

(i) develop a pool of world-class construction workers who are formally recognised as being professionals
(ii) enable the workmen to be proud of their skills, gain respect among peers and to raise their social status
(iii) enable the workmen to be recognised as deserving of better emoluments and working conditions
(iv) raise the quality of construction in Haryana to world-class levels

CIDC has accepted the challenge and with the cooperation of the government of Haryana will embark on a large scale drive to get construction workers their due place in the socio-economic stream, they being the real builders of the nation.

- CIDC news release

IstructE Structural Awards 2006

The Institution of Structural Engineers (IstructE), UK, has invited entries for the "Structural Awards 2006". The annual structural awards are the world's pre-eminent awards for structural engineering excellence, recognising and rewarding the work of the world's most talented structural designers and their indispensable contribution to the built environment.

IstructE has changed the categories for the Structural Awards to better reflect the breadth of projects for which structural engineers are responsible. However, small your project, the Structural Awards have a category for you.

Entries will be accepted for structures that have been completed in the last year (between April 7, 2005 and April 7, 2006). The deadline for submissions is April 7, 2006.

For more information including full category definitions, judgment criteria and further details on how to enter, logon to www.structuralawards.org.
For further information, please contact Ms Lucy Pile at pile@istructe.org.uk.

- IStructE appeal

Two publications from NICEE

National Information Centre of Earthquake Engineering (NICEE) have reprinted the following two publications for distribution in India.

• Earthquake rebuilding in Gujarat, India (Recommended Price Rs 150): NICEE has reprinted this EERI publication for distribution in India only. This report is based on a field investigation of a five member multi-disciplinary team in the area affected by the 2001 Bhuj Earthquake in Gujarat under the leadership of Prof C.V.R. Murty. The original monograph of EERI is priced at US $15.00 plus postage.
  
• Keeping Schools Safe in Earthquakes (Recommended Price Rs 200): NICEE and Geo Hazards International (GHI) have reprinted this OECD publication on School Safety and Security. Articles in this publication are valuable from the view point of not only safety of the schools but also of the entire built environment.
  

Interested persons in India may request copies by sending an e-mail with their complete name, affiliation, organisation and postal address to nicee@iitk.ac.in. Please specify which of the publications you are ordering. The cheque or draft should be payable to "National Information Centre of Earthquake Engineering, IIT Kanpur" and mailed to Ms Snehal Kaushik, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Kanpur 208 016. Outstation cheques will be accepted and may include an additional amount of Rs 25. Amount can be paid online at http://www.niece.org/NICEE_pubs.htm.

It may be noted that NICEE has been authorised to distribute these only in India; persons from other countries must purchase these directly from the original publisher.

- NICEE press release

New CD-ROM from ACI

ACI 318-05 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary and the PCA Notes are electronically linked and indexed on a new, easy-to-use CD-ROM, allowing users to search, find and print necessary information. The cost of the CD-ROM is US $ 189.50 (ACI members, US $ 143.00).

Now available for a limited time - a special package offer containing both the ACI 318-05/PCA Notes on CD-ROM and ACI Building Code Requirements of the 20th Century CD-ROM at a savings of 10 percent is a compilation CD-ROM containing every ACI 318 building code requirement, commentary and supplement published between 1908 and the end of the 20th century - a total of 27 documents.

For more details, contact:
American Concrete Institute
P.O. Box 9094
Farmington Hills,
MI 48333-9094
USA
Web: www.concrete.org