Pune: Pharma and biotech major Wockhardt has received US FDA nod to launch 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg and 300 mg extended release tablets of Lamotrigine, a drug used in the treatment of epilepsy. This is the generic name for the brand Lamictal XR.
The company will be launching the product immediately. The US market for the drug is pegged at $250 million.
Wockhardt will manufacture the extended release tablets at its Aurangabad facility. The technology for extended release tablets was developed in-house, the company said.
Success in my Habit
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Ministry targets awarding 42 port projects this year
Mumbai: The shipping ministry has decided to aggressively pursue port development in the country and has set a target to award 42 such projects in the current year.
“In the current year, the ministry of shipping has set an ambitious target of awarding 42 new port contracts for a total worth of Rs 15,000 crore. These new ports will add a capacity of 250 million tonnes,” G K Vasan, shipping minister, said at a conference. “The ministry has set a target to achieve a capacity of 3,200 million tonnes at Indian ports by 2020 and around 2,600 million tonnes of it all is planned by 2016-17.”
Of the 42 projects, 17 have already been awarded, and the rest will be undertaken by March 2013.
The minister termed the projects “ambitious”, as only four-five had been awarded in recent years.
Outlining the fund raising for the ports sector, P K Sinha, secretary, shipping ministry, said the the finance ministry had approved a total of Rs 3,000 crore of bond issues by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust ( JNPT) at Navi Mumbai, Dredging Corporation of India and Ennore Port. JNPT will be raising Rs 2,000 crore and the other two will raise Rs 500 crore each by March, he said.
JNPT green signal for Trans Harbour Link: Deora
Milind Deora, minister of state, shipping, said JNPT had given a no-objection certificate to the Maharashtra government for the Mumbai trans-harbour link project and the work would now be taken up soon.
“The ministry of shipping has instructed both, JNPT Port and Mumbai Port, to extend the fullest cooperation to the project and all support will be given to ensure its expeditious implementation,” the minister said.
The project is about providing greater connectivity between Mumbai and the future new airport in Navi Mumbai. JNPT had cast apprehensions on the project, as it was proving to be a hindrance in the plan to build a fifth terminal.
L Radhakrishnan, chairman, JNPT, said the port would review its plans for the fifth terminal and change the project accordingly.
“In the current year, the ministry of shipping has set an ambitious target of awarding 42 new port contracts for a total worth of Rs 15,000 crore. These new ports will add a capacity of 250 million tonnes,” G K Vasan, shipping minister, said at a conference. “The ministry has set a target to achieve a capacity of 3,200 million tonnes at Indian ports by 2020 and around 2,600 million tonnes of it all is planned by 2016-17.”
Of the 42 projects, 17 have already been awarded, and the rest will be undertaken by March 2013.
The minister termed the projects “ambitious”, as only four-five had been awarded in recent years.
Outlining the fund raising for the ports sector, P K Sinha, secretary, shipping ministry, said the the finance ministry had approved a total of Rs 3,000 crore of bond issues by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust ( JNPT) at Navi Mumbai, Dredging Corporation of India and Ennore Port. JNPT will be raising Rs 2,000 crore and the other two will raise Rs 500 crore each by March, he said.
JNPT green signal for Trans Harbour Link: Deora
Milind Deora, minister of state, shipping, said JNPT had given a no-objection certificate to the Maharashtra government for the Mumbai trans-harbour link project and the work would now be taken up soon.
“The ministry of shipping has instructed both, JNPT Port and Mumbai Port, to extend the fullest cooperation to the project and all support will be given to ensure its expeditious implementation,” the minister said.
The project is about providing greater connectivity between Mumbai and the future new airport in Navi Mumbai. JNPT had cast apprehensions on the project, as it was proving to be a hindrance in the plan to build a fifth terminal.
L Radhakrishnan, chairman, JNPT, said the port would review its plans for the fifth terminal and change the project accordingly.
Indian Economy is Growing says Anand Sharma
New Delhi: Shri. Anand Sharma, Minister of Commerce and Industry stated that Indian economy is growing and despite the economic crisis that engulfed the world. He was addressing a plenary session at 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas today in Kochi. He said that the country’s GDP will grow in the coming years, generating new job opportunities. The FDI policy is made more rational and friendly. The national investment rate is around 33-34%, and by the end of 12th Plan the aim is to increase to 36, he added.
Addressing the plenary, Shri.Kamal Nath, Minister of Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs said that the India is facing challenges in infrastructure development, especially in urban sector. Today, around 430 million people are residing in cities and in the next decade, the number will increase to 600 million. Similarly, at present, there are 53 cities in India, and it will rise to 72 in the next decade years, each having a population of one million.
Shri. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, said that encouraging long term FDI flows would be more fruitful. Shri. P K Kunhalikutty, Minister of Industries and Information Technology of Kerala, Ms. Naina Lal Kidwai, President, FICCI also spoke on the occasion.
Addressing the plenary, Shri.Kamal Nath, Minister of Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs said that the India is facing challenges in infrastructure development, especially in urban sector. Today, around 430 million people are residing in cities and in the next decade, the number will increase to 600 million. Similarly, at present, there are 53 cities in India, and it will rise to 72 in the next decade years, each having a population of one million.
Shri. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, said that encouraging long term FDI flows would be more fruitful. Shri. P K Kunhalikutty, Minister of Industries and Information Technology of Kerala, Ms. Naina Lal Kidwai, President, FICCI also spoke on the occasion.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Nalco commissions first wind power project
Kolkata: National Aluminium Co Ltd (Nalco) has commissioned its first wind power project at Gandikota in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. The Government-owned company invested Rs 275 crore for the 50-MW Suzlon-erected project.
Nalco signed a power purchase agreement with the State’s power transmission utility Transco last week and has begun injection of power to the State grid, B.L. Bagra, Nalco’s Finance Director, told Business Line. The windmill project has received clearance from the Ministry of Forests and Environment.
Nalco is setting up its second wind power project, also of 50 MW, in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. “The cost of this project, would be around Rs 190 crore,” Bagra added. The company has placed an order for the Rajasthan project to Gamesha, selected to tender. It is expected to be in operation in the next seven months.
Nalco, a large thermal power consumer for its aluminium smelting in Odisha, is obliged to generate renewable energy under electricity regulations. According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the Indian Wind Turbine Manufactures Association (WTMA) has reported that public sector units have so far established around 1135 MW of wind power projects in the country, besides solar power projects of 27 MW.
Nalco signed a power purchase agreement with the State’s power transmission utility Transco last week and has begun injection of power to the State grid, B.L. Bagra, Nalco’s Finance Director, told Business Line. The windmill project has received clearance from the Ministry of Forests and Environment.
Nalco is setting up its second wind power project, also of 50 MW, in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. “The cost of this project, would be around Rs 190 crore,” Bagra added. The company has placed an order for the Rajasthan project to Gamesha, selected to tender. It is expected to be in operation in the next seven months.
Nalco, a large thermal power consumer for its aluminium smelting in Odisha, is obliged to generate renewable energy under electricity regulations. According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the Indian Wind Turbine Manufactures Association (WTMA) has reported that public sector units have so far established around 1135 MW of wind power projects in the country, besides solar power projects of 27 MW.
NASSCOM partners with NIIT to enhance IT-ITeS skills of graduates
New Delhi: The NASSCOM Sector Skills Council (SSC), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NIIT for three years to offer enhanced training programmes to students through its training campuses all across the country, NIIT said in a statement.
The alliance is aimed at training over 1 lakh students over three years and will offer training programmess designed, developed and endorsed by the industry through two initiatives- FSIT (Foundation Skills in IT) - for engineering graduates and Global Business Foundation Skills (GBFS) - for graduates of all streams.
While FSIT aims to develop foundation skills in IT, GBFS has been specifically designed to meet the needs of the BPO/KPO and the LPO industry. NIIT will also leverage its on-campus delivery model - NIIT Careers@Campus, to enhance employability skills of all graduates.
The training programme has been designed by IT-ITeS Sector Skills Council at NASSCOM and the programmes will be certified through the NAC and NAC-Tech assessments. The collaboration between NASSCOM's IT-ITeS Sector Skills Council (SSC) and NIIT will start by training 30,000 students in the first year.
"While diverse efforts and initiatives have been taken by the industry and academia at various levels, there is a lot that can and needs to be done. This initiative of NASSCOM with NIIT is a step-forward in the same direction and is aimed to scale quality of our graduates. We believe our initiative will go a long way in contributing towards achieving the scale that is required by the industry," NASSCOM president Som Mittal said in a statement.
The alliance is aimed at training over 1 lakh students over three years and will offer training programmess designed, developed and endorsed by the industry through two initiatives- FSIT (Foundation Skills in IT) - for engineering graduates and Global Business Foundation Skills (GBFS) - for graduates of all streams.
While FSIT aims to develop foundation skills in IT, GBFS has been specifically designed to meet the needs of the BPO/KPO and the LPO industry. NIIT will also leverage its on-campus delivery model - NIIT Careers@Campus, to enhance employability skills of all graduates.
The training programme has been designed by IT-ITeS Sector Skills Council at NASSCOM and the programmes will be certified through the NAC and NAC-Tech assessments. The collaboration between NASSCOM's IT-ITeS Sector Skills Council (SSC) and NIIT will start by training 30,000 students in the first year.
"While diverse efforts and initiatives have been taken by the industry and academia at various levels, there is a lot that can and needs to be done. This initiative of NASSCOM with NIIT is a step-forward in the same direction and is aimed to scale quality of our graduates. We believe our initiative will go a long way in contributing towards achieving the scale that is required by the industry," NASSCOM president Som Mittal said in a statement.
World’s largest solar telescope planned at Ladakh
Kolkata: The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), has zeroed in on Ladakh as the probable destination for the world’s largest solar telescope. Work is likely to begin by the end of this year.
The 2-metre class state-of-the-art National Large Solar Telescope built by IIA at an expected cost of Rs 150 crore is planned for completion in 2017.
According to SS Hasan, former director, IIA, the organisation had initially zeroed-in on three sites – Hanle and Merak near Ladakh’s Pangong Lake or Devasthal near Nainital in Uttarakhand.
The proposed telescope, which will be used to observe the Sun during the day needs long hours of sunshine and clear visibility conditions.
“It took us over four years to finalise the site. We hope to complete the project by 2017,” Hasan told reporters on the sidelines of the plenary session of the 100th Indian Science Congress.
The device will help Indian scientists carry out “cutting edge research” aimed at studying the Sun’s atmosphere.
Hasan said further, the back-end instrument will be constructed in India while night-time instruments will come from Germany. Apart from the IIA, which is the nodal agency, the other institutes involved in the project include Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and Inter-University Centre.
Currently, the world’s largest solar telescope is the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope having a diameter of 1.6 metres. It is located in Kitt Peak National Observatory at Arizona in the US.
The 2-metre class state-of-the-art National Large Solar Telescope built by IIA at an expected cost of Rs 150 crore is planned for completion in 2017.
According to SS Hasan, former director, IIA, the organisation had initially zeroed-in on three sites – Hanle and Merak near Ladakh’s Pangong Lake or Devasthal near Nainital in Uttarakhand.
The proposed telescope, which will be used to observe the Sun during the day needs long hours of sunshine and clear visibility conditions.
“It took us over four years to finalise the site. We hope to complete the project by 2017,” Hasan told reporters on the sidelines of the plenary session of the 100th Indian Science Congress.
The device will help Indian scientists carry out “cutting edge research” aimed at studying the Sun’s atmosphere.
Hasan said further, the back-end instrument will be constructed in India while night-time instruments will come from Germany. Apart from the IIA, which is the nodal agency, the other institutes involved in the project include Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and Inter-University Centre.
Currently, the world’s largest solar telescope is the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope having a diameter of 1.6 metres. It is located in Kitt Peak National Observatory at Arizona in the US.
12th Plan doubles allocation to science, tech Ministry: Reddy
Kolkata: Union Science and Technology Minister S. Jaipal Reddy said on Friday that the Centre’s allocation for the Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Ministry has been doubled for the 12 {+t} {+h} Plan period.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony of ‘Children Science Congress’ as part of the 100 {+t} {+h} Indian Science Congress here, Reddy said, “In the 12 {+t} {+h} Five-Year Plan, the combined planned allocation for science and technology and earth sciences has been nearly doubled from Rs 33,000 crore in the previous Plan period.”
New policy
Commenting on the newly announced Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, the Minister said the policy would lay stress on innovation.
According to him, there is a need for integrating science, research and innovation to develop valuable technologies.
Doctoral fellowship
“We have also initiated a PM Doctoral Research Fellowship in partnership with industry. Already 30 (such) fellowships have been awarded to doctoral students,” Reddy added.
“The country today has over 700 R&D, technical and development centres of the top global companies, employing over 1.5 lakh scientists and engineers.
“This confidence of global majors in our youth has given fillip to some of India’s best and talented young technocrats to become first generation technopreneurs,” Reddy said.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony of ‘Children Science Congress’ as part of the 100 {+t} {+h} Indian Science Congress here, Reddy said, “In the 12 {+t} {+h} Five-Year Plan, the combined planned allocation for science and technology and earth sciences has been nearly doubled from Rs 33,000 crore in the previous Plan period.”
New policy
Commenting on the newly announced Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, the Minister said the policy would lay stress on innovation.
According to him, there is a need for integrating science, research and innovation to develop valuable technologies.
Doctoral fellowship
“We have also initiated a PM Doctoral Research Fellowship in partnership with industry. Already 30 (such) fellowships have been awarded to doctoral students,” Reddy added.
“The country today has over 700 R&D, technical and development centres of the top global companies, employing over 1.5 lakh scientists and engineers.
“This confidence of global majors in our youth has given fillip to some of India’s best and talented young technocrats to become first generation technopreneurs,” Reddy said.
Net Direct Tax Collections Figures for April-December 2012-13 Up by 13.70 per cent
New Delhi: Gross Direct Tax collections during April-December of the Financial Year 2012-13 was up by 8.01 percent and stood at Rs. 4,28,278 crore as against Rs. 3,96,530 crore in the same period last year. While gross collections of Corporate Taxes showed an increase of 4.94 percent and stood at Rs. 2,83,170 crore as against Rs. 2,69,850 crore during the same period last year. Gross collections of Personal Income Tax was up by 14.57 percent and stood at Rs.1,44,376 crore as against Rs.1,26,012 crore during the same period last year.
Net Direct Tax collections was up by 13.70 percent and stood at Rs. 3,68,322 crore, as compared to Rs. 3,23,956 crore in the same period in the last fiscal.
Growth in net collection of Wealth Tax was 1.55 percent and stood at Rs.656 crore as against Rs.646 crore during the same period last year, while growth in Securities Transaction Tax (STT) was (-) 12.46 percent and stood at Rs.3,294 crore as against Rs.3,763 crore during the same period last year.
Net Direct Tax collections was up by 13.70 percent and stood at Rs. 3,68,322 crore, as compared to Rs. 3,23,956 crore in the same period in the last fiscal.
Growth in net collection of Wealth Tax was 1.55 percent and stood at Rs.656 crore as against Rs.646 crore during the same period last year, while growth in Securities Transaction Tax (STT) was (-) 12.46 percent and stood at Rs.3,294 crore as against Rs.3,763 crore during the same period last year.
DM Healthcare to invest Rs 2,300 cr in Kerala
Kochi: DM Healthcare, a leading healthcare conglomerate in West Asia and India, has firmed up plans to invest Rs 2,300 crore in Kerala over a period of three years. Of the total investments, the group has earmarked Rs 1,100 crore this year.
This includes Aster Medcity in Kochi at an investment of Rs 500 crore, DM Wayanad Medical College and WIMS Hospital at a cost of Rs 250 crore, a 200 bed super speciality hospital in Kannur at an investment of Rs 100 crore.
Speaking to Business Line on the sidelines of the Global Healthcare Summit, Azad Moopen, Chairman, DM Healthcare, said the group aims to reach people across geographies with the objective of making quality healthcare accessible to people in the countries of its operation. DM Healthcare is currently present in four GCC countries and India with a network of 150 establishments, offering diverse and comprehensive healthcare facilities.
Referring to Aster Medcity in Kochi, he said the first phase of the project is on track for commissioning during the second half of this year. The first phase includes a 550 bed Core Hospital with 9 Centres of Excellence (COEs) in various super-specialties like Cardiology, Ortho, Oncology etc.
The 40-acre Medcity campus will have a 500 seat medical convention centre, a 4-5 star hotel etc. A high-end residential facility of about 1.5 million square feet is also planned.
The addition of nearly 3,000 beds to the existing 750 beds in Kerala under DM Healthcare’s operations through Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences is likely to provide direct employment opportunities for at least 12,000 people, he added.
On the Wayanad project, Moopen said he is trying to address the healthcare requirement by setting up a Medical College with 700 bed hospital in 50 acres in this backward district with poor medical care facilities.
This includes Aster Medcity in Kochi at an investment of Rs 500 crore, DM Wayanad Medical College and WIMS Hospital at a cost of Rs 250 crore, a 200 bed super speciality hospital in Kannur at an investment of Rs 100 crore.
Speaking to Business Line on the sidelines of the Global Healthcare Summit, Azad Moopen, Chairman, DM Healthcare, said the group aims to reach people across geographies with the objective of making quality healthcare accessible to people in the countries of its operation. DM Healthcare is currently present in four GCC countries and India with a network of 150 establishments, offering diverse and comprehensive healthcare facilities.
Referring to Aster Medcity in Kochi, he said the first phase of the project is on track for commissioning during the second half of this year. The first phase includes a 550 bed Core Hospital with 9 Centres of Excellence (COEs) in various super-specialties like Cardiology, Ortho, Oncology etc.
The 40-acre Medcity campus will have a 500 seat medical convention centre, a 4-5 star hotel etc. A high-end residential facility of about 1.5 million square feet is also planned.
The addition of nearly 3,000 beds to the existing 750 beds in Kerala under DM Healthcare’s operations through Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences is likely to provide direct employment opportunities for at least 12,000 people, he added.
On the Wayanad project, Moopen said he is trying to address the healthcare requirement by setting up a Medical College with 700 bed hospital in 50 acres in this backward district with poor medical care facilities.
DM Healthcare to invest Rs 2,300 cr in Kerala
Kochi: DM Healthcare, a leading healthcare conglomerate in West Asia and India, has firmed up plans to invest Rs 2,300 crore in Kerala over a period of three years. Of the total investments, the group has earmarked Rs 1,100 crore this year.
This includes Aster Medcity in Kochi at an investment of Rs 500 crore, DM Wayanad Medical College and WIMS Hospital at a cost of Rs 250 crore, a 200 bed super speciality hospital in Kannur at an investment of Rs 100 crore.
Speaking to Business Line on the sidelines of the Global Healthcare Summit, Azad Moopen, Chairman, DM Healthcare, said the group aims to reach people across geographies with the objective of making quality healthcare accessible to people in the countries of its operation. DM Healthcare is currently present in four GCC countries and India with a network of 150 establishments, offering diverse and comprehensive healthcare facilities.
Referring to Aster Medcity in Kochi, he said the first phase of the project is on track for commissioning during the second half of this year. The first phase includes a 550 bed Core Hospital with 9 Centres of Excellence (COEs) in various super-specialties like Cardiology, Ortho, Oncology etc.
The 40-acre Medcity campus will have a 500 seat medical convention centre, a 4-5 star hotel etc. A high-end residential facility of about 1.5 million square feet is also planned.
The addition of nearly 3,000 beds to the existing 750 beds in Kerala under DM Healthcare’s operations through Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences is likely to provide direct employment opportunities for at least 12,000 people, he added.
On the Wayanad project, Moopen said he is trying to address the healthcare requirement by setting up a Medical College with 700 bed hospital in 50 acres in this backward district with poor medical care facilities.
This includes Aster Medcity in Kochi at an investment of Rs 500 crore, DM Wayanad Medical College and WIMS Hospital at a cost of Rs 250 crore, a 200 bed super speciality hospital in Kannur at an investment of Rs 100 crore.
Speaking to Business Line on the sidelines of the Global Healthcare Summit, Azad Moopen, Chairman, DM Healthcare, said the group aims to reach people across geographies with the objective of making quality healthcare accessible to people in the countries of its operation. DM Healthcare is currently present in four GCC countries and India with a network of 150 establishments, offering diverse and comprehensive healthcare facilities.
Referring to Aster Medcity in Kochi, he said the first phase of the project is on track for commissioning during the second half of this year. The first phase includes a 550 bed Core Hospital with 9 Centres of Excellence (COEs) in various super-specialties like Cardiology, Ortho, Oncology etc.
The 40-acre Medcity campus will have a 500 seat medical convention centre, a 4-5 star hotel etc. A high-end residential facility of about 1.5 million square feet is also planned.
The addition of nearly 3,000 beds to the existing 750 beds in Kerala under DM Healthcare’s operations through Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences is likely to provide direct employment opportunities for at least 12,000 people, he added.
On the Wayanad project, Moopen said he is trying to address the healthcare requirement by setting up a Medical College with 700 bed hospital in 50 acres in this backward district with poor medical care facilities.
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