फिलहाल नहीं बढ़ेंगे डीजल के दाम

नई दिल्ली: खराब मॉनसून की मार झेल रहे किसानों के लिए अब एक बड़ी राहत की खबर है। भारत सरकार ने डीज़ल की कीमतों में बढ़ोतरी के प्रस्ताव को फिलहाल टाल दिया है। इससे किसानों पर बोझ कम होगा और महंगाई दर भी नहीं बढ़ेगी।

जलाशयों और नदियों में घटते पानी की वजह से सिंचाई और बुवाई के लिए डीज़ल पंपों पर किसानों की निर्भरता बढ़ती जा रही है। डीज़ल की मांग बढ़ रही है। किसान तनाव में हैं। लेकिन फिलहाल खराब मॉनसून से जूझ रहे किसानों के लिए बड़ी राहत की ख़बर ये है कि पेट्रोलियम मंत्रालय ने डीज़ल की कीमतों में बढ़ोतरी के प्रस्ताव को टाल दिया है।

यानी डीज़ल पर सब्सिडी कम करने की यूपीए−2 की योजना फिर खटाई में पड़ गई है। डीज़ल की कीमतों में एक रु बढ़ोतरी से 8000 करोड़ तक कमाई हो सकती है सरकार डीज़ल पर सब्सिडी घटाना चाहती है। डीज़ल कारों पर एक्साइज़ डूटी बढ़ाने के प्रस्ताव पर भी बात हो चुकी है। लेकिन कार कंपनियों के विरोध की वजह से सरकार प्रस्ताव आगे नहीं बढ़ा पायी है।

वजह यूपीए के सहयोगी दलों का विरोध भी है जिसे मौजूदा राजनीतिक हालात में दरकिनार करना सरकार के लिए मुश्किल है। सूत्रों ने एनडीटीवी को बताया है कि डीज़ल की कीमतों में बढ़ोतरी कर सरकार ममता बनर्जी को और नाराज़ नहीं करना चाहती है।

संसद का मानसून सत्र अगले महीने से शुरू हो रहा है और महत्वपूर्ण विधेयकों को पास कराने के लिए ज़रूरी है कि सरकार सभी सहयोगी दलों को साथ लेकर आगे बढ़े।

Gujarat High Court orders all vehicles to switch to CNG in 1 year

The Gujarat High Court has ordered the state government to ensure that all public and private vehicles registered in the state switch to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) within a year.

"State is directed to pass necessary orders within shortest possible period, at any rate not exceeding one year from today, compelling the owners of all vehicles having registration in Gujarat to use natural gas, and if necessary, even at higher prices, for the protection of the lives of the citizens living in the state," the court said in its order Wednesday.

The court was hearing a petition filed by an environmental NGO Dhanghdhra Prakruti Mandal, which said that pollution levels in Ahmedabad were as high as those in Delhi and Mumbai, but the Centre did not provide environment-friendly natural gas to the city under the Administered Price Mechanism (APM). CNG costs Rs 53 per kg in Ahmedabad, while it is priced at Rs 38.35 a kg in Delhi.


The NGO had pleaded that the price difference was due to the "discrimination of the Centre" towards Ahmedabad, where the courts have made it mandatory for auto-rickshaws to use CNG.

The court also directed the Centre to allocate natural gas, including CNG, to Ahmedabad city at the same price as it supplies to Delhi and Mumbai under the APM.

It also directed the Centre to immediately implement the order and declined to grant a stay on the ruling for the Central Government to approach the Supreme Court.

The order will create difficulties for the central government because of the limited gas production in the country. The auto sector comes under city gas distribution category, which is fourth in the priority list, after fertiliser, LPG and power.

Importing gas might be the other option, but to create the infrastructure for it in less than one year might not be feasible. India has two LNG terminals-Petronet and Shell- for gas imports, both in Gujarat. However, both Petronet and Shell have legally binding supply agreements with consumers outside Gujarat too. The two terminals deliver 40 million units per day against the overall requirement of 190 million units.

Gujarat accounts for 11 per cent of petrol and diesel sales in the country, so this order will have a major impact of state-run oil retailers in terms of revenues. Shares of Indian Oil, BPCL, and HPCL may fall today. Auto manufacturers may also find it difficult to set up facilities for gas engines within one year time.

Toyota pips General Motors, regains no. 1 crown globally

Toyota bounced back from safety recalls and natural disasters, selling 4.97 million vehicles globally in the first half of the year to retake its crown as the world's top automaker from General Motors Co.

The Japanese company sold about 300,000 more cars and trucks than GM did in the first half of the year, a lead large enough that it will be difficult for GM to catch Toyota in the final six months of 2012.

GM said it sold 4.67 million vehicles during the first half. Both companies released their numbers Wednesday.

For Toyota Motor Corp., the numbers underline a powerful rebound from a period of dismal sales, and the resilience of its brand as it gains traction in new markets such as China and Southeast Asia while clawing back lost market share in the U.S.

Both companies have said in the past that they don't care about the global sales leadership and are focusing on making profits. But the crown is a matter of corporate pride for both automakers.


GM doesn't plan to drop out of the race, though. The company's sales and market share grew in China, and Chevrolet, its largest brand, has seen record growth for seven straight quarters, spokesman Jim Cain said. GM sales should rise because 70 percent of its U.S. models will be refurbished or all-new in the next two years, said Cain.

"We are in the early days of the most aggressive rollout of new products in our history, which will help us press our advantage in the U.S. and China and grow profitably around the world," he said, declining to comment on whether the company expects to pass Toyota in the second half.

Assam violence: More people injured in overnight clashes, death toll rises to 41

Guwahati:  Fear and uncertainty continues to grip Assam with more people being injured in overnight firing. Seven days of ethnic clashes have claimed 41 lives and have left nearly two lakh villagers homeless.

There have been fresh clashes and cases of arson and more people have been injured in ethnic clashes between minority Bangladeshi immigrants and Bodos. At least three people were injured in firing in Baksa district late last night.

1. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is scheduled to visit Kokrajhar today.  The Centre has asked the Assam government to catch the "ring leaders" who instigated violence in the state.
2. 13 columns of the Army have been deployed in Kokrajhar, Chirang, Dhubri and Bongaigaon. Idefinite curfew and shoot-at-sight orders are also in place in these four districts that are most affected by the violence.
3. The exodus of people from villages affected by the clashes continues. They are taking shelter at about 120 relief camps set up by the government.
4. Entire villages have emptied out after houses were burnt down. Buses, cars and schools were set afire too. In the last seven days since clashes began, nearly two lakh people have had to flee their homes. Over 10,000 people have reportedly escaped to neighbouring West Bengal.
5. The Army yesterday mobilised about 1000 troops to enforce peace in the areas. "The troops are also carrying out flag marches in these areas," officials said.
6. Trains were also targeted in the clashes and the entire North-East was cut off by rail for the last two days. But special trains will run today to help stranded passengers. The Army is helping to ensure that the tracks are clear. Union Home Secretary RK Singh said that 2,000 Central security personnel have been deputed to guard Guwahati-bound trains and railway tracks.
7. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi held a meeting of government officials in Guwahati yesterday to take stock of the situation. Assam's police chief J N Choudhury visited the violence-hit districts and met top security officers.
8. The situation had been tense since early July when two migrants were killed. Two more were killed on July 19, but police failed to identify the killers. On Friday last (July 20), four former Bodo Liberation Tigers men were killed. The Bodos retaliated by attacking migrants.
9. The BJP has alleged that illegal immigration from Bangladesh was responsible for ethnic and communal discord and has asked the government to seal the border with the neighbouring country.

Maruti runs out of Swift, DZire stocks as Manesar plant remains shut

Maruti Suzuki India on Wednesday said it has run out of stock of its two best-selling models, Swift and DZire, which are produced at the Manesar plant where it has declared lockout following violence last week.

The company has, however, not stopped bookings for these models.


"We do not have any stock of Swift and DZire at our factory. About 10,000 cars of both the models are on transit and that is the inventory at present," Maruti Suzuki India chief operating officer (marketing and sales) Mayank Pareek said.

When asked if Maruti would stop taking orders for these models, he said: "Our booking is going on and we will not stop it. We have informed the dealers and customers about the situation.

"We tell the customers that this is the current situation (about the production at Manesar) and if even after that, they want to book the car, then it shows the strength of the two brands."

Pareek was confident that customers will remain loyal to the company. "During the strikes in last year also, we did not stop booking. Our rivals are still offering discounts to attract customers, but we are receiving huge response to our cars without any scheme even in our crisis period."

He said at present Swift has a booking order of 55,000 units, while DZire has 65,000 bookings. Out of these, 80 per cent are for the diesel variants. There is no order backlog for SX4 and A-Star models, which are also produced at the Manesar plant.

Asked how long it could take to clear the backlog, Pareek said: "Assuming that production starts today, it will take us 4-6 months to clear the backlog depending upon the variants."