48% of infra projects over R150 cr delayed

A little less than half of the 569 big central sector infrastructure projects costing R150 crore and above are running behind schedule due to various hurdles, Parliament was informed Tuesday. “As on June 1, 2013, 569 central sector projects costing R150 crore and above are on the monitor of this ministry. Of these, 277 projects are running behind schedule,” minister of state (independent) for statistics and programme implementation Srikant Kumar Jena said.

GAIL may sell some stake in China Gas

State-owned gas utility GAIL India plans to sell part of its 4.6% stake in Hong Kong-listed city gas distribution firm China Gas Holdings. GAIL,

which made a strategic investment of R137 crore by acquiring 210 million shares of China Gas in 2005, will sell part of the holding, minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Panabaaka Lakshmi told the Rajya Sabha.

IOC may cut Iran oil imports by 23%

State-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) plans to cut crude oil imports from Iran by over 23% in the current year, petroleum minister M Veerappa Moily said Tuesday. IOC imported 1.566 million tonne of oil from Iran in the 2012-13 financial year.

Six CPSEs closed in last five years

The government Tuesday said six central public sector enterprises (CPSEs), including Indian Oil Technologies and Bihar Drugs, have been closed down in the

last 5 years. “Six CPSEs have been closed in the country in the last five years,” minister of heavy industries Praful Patel told the Rajya Sabha.

Hydropower?s share falls to 17.55%

The share of hydropower in the nation’s energy mix has dropped to 17.55% in more than 40 years, Parliament was informed Tuesday. “The share of hydro power in the energy sector has declined from 43.5% in 1969-70 to 17.55% as on June 30, 2013,” power minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

Govt to seek nod for Mahila Bank funds

The government said Tuesday it will seek Parliament approval for allocation of R1,000 crore for setting up Bhartiya Mahila Bank. ?It is proposed to solicit the approval of the Cabinet to include the allocation of R1,000 crore to the Women?s Bank in the first supplementary to be approved in the current monsoon session of Parliament,” minister of state for finance Namo Narain Meena said.

RIL asked to provide records for audit

With the CAG alleging that Reliance Industries was delaying furnishing of records for audit, the oil ministry has ordered the Mukesh Ambani-run firm to provide records ?as early as possible?. ?The ministry has taken seriously the issue raised by Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) in audit of KG-D6 block…,” minister of state

for petroleum and natural gas Panabaaka Lakshmi said.