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Tuesday, November 26, 2013


Food licensing goes online in Maharashtra

Ranjana Diggikar,TNN | Nov 27, 2013, 05.34 AM IST
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AURANGABAD: The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration's (FDA) system saw an online launch on November 22, equipped with software for processing applications for food and beverage licensing. With this smart turn towards the Internet, heaped files at FDA offices will now be history.

"The FDA has gone online from November 22, all over the state. The status of hoteliers, traders and food joints who had earlier registered with the FDA and the food business operators who have procured licences according to the Food and Safety Act 2006, will be uploaded on the website www.fssai.gov.in," said Chandrashekhar Salunke, FDA joint commissioner (Food), Aurangabad division.

Salunkhe said that one can now apply for registration and licences at the click of a mouse. "This would help speed up the process and maintain complete clarity and smoother functioning on both sides throughout the process," Salunkhe told a news conference on Tuesday.

FDA assistant commissioner (Food), Aurangabad division, M D Shah said, "As per the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) 2006, food business operators need to apply for renewal norms for licences one month before the expiry date."

"An operator would procure his/her licence within 60 days{why 60 days?why not 6days?delay may increase corruption} of the online application. Moreover, operators can also check the status of applications online and will receive alerts regarding renewal date and licence status," Shah said.

"Till now, 8,185 registrations and 4,365 licences have been issued manually in Aurangabad district. All these records will soon be available online. Food business operators with business worth less than Rs 12 lakh per annum have to register themselves with the FDA and if the annual business is more than Rs12 lakh, they have to obtain a licence from the FDA," said Shah.

No takers for 1.3 lakh flats in Mumbai, says report

Nauzer Bharucha,TNN | Nov 27, 2013, 05.29 AM IST
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READ MORE Knight Frank India|Realty market|economy|flats in Mumbai

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MUMBAI: The city's residential market is in dire straits with 1.30 lakh unsold flats, while another 2.90 lakh homes are under construction, reveals a report.

A Knight Frank India Mumbai realty market research report released on Tuesday said the unsold inventory level in the Mumbai metropolitan region is almost 44%. Around 47,488 apartments were launched between January and September, a considerable 28% drop compared to last year.

Due to the weakening demand, the residential market will require over two years to exhaust the existing unsold inventory, the report stated. Shishir Baijal, chairman and managing director of Knight Frank said the rise in interest cost and decline in net profits during 2013 will compel developers to lighten inventory load and deleverage their balance sheets.

"Demand however, is likely to remain subdued over the initial part of 2014 as the market continues to bottom out against the backdrop of a sluggish economy," he added. The launch of new residential projects plummeted over 40% compared to peak levels in 2010. Approximately 47,488 units were launched during the January-September 2013 period; a considerable 28% drop compared to last year.

Interestingly, 34% of the projects were launched in Ambernath, Bhiwandi, Mumbra and Karjat. About 19% projects commenced in the Virar-Palghar stretch, 18% in Navi Mumbai, 10% in Bandra, Andheri, Goregaon, and a measly one per cent in south Mumbai. "The Navi Mumbai story lost some momentum as its share of units launched dropped 18% in 2013 from 22% last year. Inordinate delays in the execution of major infrastructure projects such as the new airport and Trans-Harbour link coupled with comparatively dearer inventory have caused a lull in market activity," the report mentioned. It predicts that a price correction is on the anvil as there are no takers for premium projects. "Developers are looking to tap into the largest chunk of buyers seeking apartments priced up to Rs 75 lakh. An estimated 74% of units under construction today are targeted at this price,'' it said.

"In a bid to liquidate their higher priced inventory, developers have been open to in the premium segment, to reduce prices up to a maximum of 25% in favour of a sizeable up-front payment," said the report. For instance, prices in some south and central Mumbai locations like Parel and Mahalaxmi have declined close to 10% over the previous three quarters. "Unsold inventory pressure in Mumbai is the highest among all other cities and is depicting a growing trend. We expect a more pronounced price correction which may drive the market to a better equilibrium," said Samantak Das, chief economist, director- research and advisory services, Knight Frank India.

Friday, November 22, 2013

SC orders elite Willingdon club to take BMC's eating house licence

Shibu Thomas,TNN | Nov 23, 2013, 02.31 AM IST
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READ MORE Willingdon Club|Supreme Court|Willingdon Sports Club|Sports|Badminton

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MUMBAI: Putting to rest a two-decade-old dispute, the Supreme Court earlier this week ruled that the elite Willingdon Sports Club has to obtain a BMC 'eating house' licence for the food its serves its members.

A division bench of Justices G S Singhvi and V Gopala Gowda struck down a Bombay high court verdict and gave the club four weeks to apply. It added that the BMC was free to impose penalty on the institution for failing to take a licence and asked the club to shell out Rs 50,000 as litigation cost.

The order is likely to have a cascading effect on other exclusive clubs in the city, mainly requiring them to apply to the BMC for an eating house license.

"The object of incorporating the requirement of a licence for an 'eating house' or 'catering establishment' is to ensure that public hygiene is maintained at the place/premises where the food is prepared and/or supplied for consumption. It is also intended to ensure safety of the people engaged in the preparation of food and supply thereof as well as all those who consume the articles at the particular place/premises," said the judges.

Willingdon club had argued that it did not need the license because its main activity is providing sporting facilities to its members, and the catering facilities were incidental. It added that its services were exclusively for its members and not for the general public.

The Bombay high court in 2009 upheld this contention and ruled that the club was not required to take an eating house license.

The apex court, hearing a BMC appeal, did not agree. It said the club's catering facilities fell within the definition of eating house in the BMC Act and members of the club came within the term "public".

"No doubt the primary activity of the club is to provide sporting facilities to the members, but the supply of food is an integral part of such activity and the catering department of the club satisfies an essential component of the facilities provided by the club," said the judges.

"Not only this, many join the club in the name of availing sporting facilities only for the purpose of spending their time in leisure and for enjoying the facilities provided by the catering department of the club. Thus, even though profit may not be the motto of catering facilities provided by Willingdon Club, it certainly gains by these facilities," the court added.

The dispute goes back to 1990 when the BMC asked the club to get the licence. 
 
Letters passed between the corporation and the club, and the later also deposited Rs 2.7 lakh. In 1999, the BMC insisted on the licence and asked it to pay a further Rs 1.2 lakh. The club challenged the notice in the high court and won the first round before the SC accepted the BMC view.

New cluster plan to include illegal flats

Clara Lewis,TNN | Nov 23, 2013, 02.32 AM IST
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READ MORE cluster redevelopment|Amin Patel

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MUMBAI: Occupants of unauthorized flats and shops will be legally rehabilitated as part of the state government new cluster redevelopment policy. Critics said this sop is a virtual indictment of the government, which has failed to curb illegal constructions.

TOI has learnt that the government plans to offer rehabilitation area of 250 sq ft to 700 sq ft premises to all such occupants.

These residents will have to bear the cost of construction and there will be no incentive for the developer for rehabilitating them, said sources.

Congress MLA Amin Patel from South Mumbai who has the maximum number of old and dilapidated buildings in his constituency said the government has to accept that there has been a systemic failure. " "We cannot throw them out. Where will they go? We need to rehabilitate else the planned development of the city cannot happen,'' he said. The Campa Cola society is a glaring example of the systemic failure.

The cluster redevelopment policy was formulated post-2005 floods when a number of old and dilapidated buildings crashed. The state government then decided to take up block redevelopment rather than single buildings that were resulting in a very skewed development of the city. However, the 2009 policy did not find many takers and now the government is drawing up a fresh policy to replace the earlier one. This is likely to apply across the city.

Like in case of slum-dwellers, here too there will be a cut-off date. "The debate is should it be January 1, 1995 as for all slums or January 1, 2000 as for slums on land meant for vital projects like Dharavi, the airport and the Mumbai Urban Transport Project or should it be 2011 wherein slum-dwellers who have bought pre-1995 structures as late as 2011 are to be considered eligible on payment of a transfer fee.''

Sources said the new cluster redevelopment policy was submitted to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Thursday by the urban development department. "It is likely that he may approve it by Saturday,'' said sources.

Amongst the incentives of residents is a minimum rehab flat of 323 sq feet or 30 sq metres if the cluster rehabilitation is limited to one acre. "But if it is a mega-cluster then depending on the size of the plot the incentive will go up by 10%, 15% to a maximum of 25%. Along with fungible fsi, the flat size can go up to 545 sq feet,'' said sources.

The government will also relax the condition on property ownership for redevelopment from 100% to 70% . Similarly 70% of tenants will need to give consent. Patel who had proposed the change said the government has conveyed it will accept the proposal.

Unlike the old policy where the government had no role to play in land acquisition, under the new policy it will step in and aid in acquiring the remaining 30% of land.

The BMC as planning authority will draw the boundaries of each cluster thereby ensuring that the city gets its infrastructure and public amenities. The cluster redevelopment will be detailed in a Urban Renewal Scheme master plan along with the civic Development Plan and a comprehensive plan for every cluster. Each of these plans have to merge into each other so that there is planned development of the city, said sources.

Once the Mumbai plan is approved the governme

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Yes, the Dabhol Power Station in Maharashtra, India is currently active as of January 31, 2024. The 1,967 MW gas-fired power plant resumed operations in 2015 after a two-year hiatus due to a shortage of domestic gas. However, the plant has had to stop operating frequently due to losses and a lack of buyers for its expensive electricity. In 2015, the plant's owner, Ratnagiri Gas and Power Private Limited (RGPPL), was split into two companies to ensure a regular supply of natural gas:
  • Ratnagiri Power: Manages the power plant
  • Konkan LNG: Operates the LNG facility 
    Wikipedia
    Dabhol Power Station - Wikipedia
    After repairs to the equipment, the power station resumed operations at 100% of its installed capacity of 1967 MW in 2010, however it has had to often stop operation due to losses and a lack of buyers for its expensive electricity. As of 2016, the power plant continues to operate at a loss, selling energy to the MSEDCL and Indian Railways at a highly inflated rate. In 2015, it had a debt of Rs. 10,500 crore. In a bid to revive the loss making plant, in September 2015, the Company owning the power plant RGPPL was split into two separate Power and LNG entities, one to manage the power plant and the other to manage the import of LNG.
    Power Technology
    Dabhol Power Plant, Ratnagiri District, Maharashtra, India
    26 Feb 2021 — The plant resumed operations in 2015, following a two-year hiatus. To ensure a regular supply of natural gas, RGPPL was split into two firms, namely Ratnagiri Power and Konkan LNG. Ratnagiri Power manages the power plant, while Konkan LNG operates the LNG facility.
    The Economic Times
    Dabhol power plant recommences production
    26 Nov 2015 — NEW DELHI: Dabhol power plant in Maharashtra today recommenced electricity generation after remaining shut for nearly two years. #Elections with ET. Lok Sabha Voting Phase 3: All the latest news. "The Dabhol power plant, owned by Ratnagiri Gas and Power Private Limited (RGPPL), restarted electricity generation this morning after having been shut for nearly two years due to shortage of domestic gas," an official release said. The plant is producing 290 MW power initially which will be sold to the Indian Railways, it said. "The electricity generation will be further scaled up in the coming months.
    Power Technology
    Power plant profile: Dabhol Power Station, India
    31 Jan 2024 — Oil and gas in North Africa: How intelligent fibre sensing is transforming Algeria's pipeline security. Premium Insights. January 31, 2024. Power plant profile: Dabhol Power Station, India. Brought to you by. Thermal. Share. Dabhol Power Station is a 1,967MW gas fired power project. It is located in Maharashtra, India. According to GlobalData, who tracks and profiles over 170,000 power plants worldwide, the project is currently active. It has been developed in multiple phases. Post completion of construction, the project got commissioned in 1998. Buy the profile here. Smarter leaders trust GlobalData. Premium Insights Dabhol Power Station.
Why did Dabhol fail?
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What was the particular background to the Dabhol Power project?
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Dabhol Power Station - Wikipedia
The power plant was finally rehabilitated and taken over by Ratnagiri Gas and Power (RGPPL), which successfully revived and operates the plant.

 Dabhol lies idle but consumers continue to pay

Ashish Roy, TNN | Nov 22, 2013, 03.05 AM IST
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READ MORE massive loan default|Dabhol lies idle
NAGPUR: The Union ministry of power (MoP) has suddenly woken up from its deep slumber over the 1,980 MW Dabhol plant lying idle since July 15 as banks have sounded an alarm over a massive loan default. Ratnagiri Gas and Power Private Limited (RGPPL), the company that runs the plant, collectively owes Rs8,500 crore to ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank, SBI and Canara Bank.

However, the state government has never taken up the issue with MoP even though MSEDCL consumers are paying around 17 paise per unit for a plant that is not generating a single unit of electricity. The consumers are effectively paying over 19.5 paise per unit due to electricity duty. The state government is pocketing this 2.5 paise per unit amount. Interestingly, MSEDCL, which is collecting this money from consumers, is not passing it on to RGPPL, which has complained to MoP in this regard.

This is not the first time that consumers are being unnecessarily penalized for the jinxed plant. They had paid a surcharge of 35 paise unit for four months from December 2009 to March 2010 to meet extra Rs650 crore maintenance cost of Dabhol.

Even otherwise Dabhol power has almost been the costliest for MSEDCL. According to MSEDCL official if the plant functioned at full capacity then the price of power would have been around Rs3.75 per unit (at earlier Reliance gas price). "However, when it functions at only one-third capacity it increases to Rs5.81 per unit. This shows that whenever the generation reduces the power rate goes up because the fixed cost remains the same."

The 17 paise per unit surcharge was finalized by Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) in the tariff order for 2012-13. RGPPL was to be paid Rs1,854 crore as fixed charges by MSEDCL in addition to variable charges that depend on fuel cost.

Dabhol needs 8.5 mmscmd (million standard cubic meters per day) gas for running at full capacity of 1,800 MW. However, the supply from Reliance' KG basin has been dwindling continuously and now has stopped completely. The plant can't be run on imported gas because it is far costlier and will make power rate too high.

RGPPL is in bad financial shape.[Ratnagiri Gas and Power Private limited (RGPPL] It incurred a loss of Rs1,156 crore in 2012-13 as the generation was less by over 9,000 million units (MUs) than the target. This is up from over 3,000 MUs in 2011-12.
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