The Hindu : National : GoM planned for restarting Dabhol project

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Friday, Sep 03, 2004

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National

GoM planned for restarting Dabhol project

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 2. The Union Cabinet today decided to set up a Group of Ministers (GoM) to recommend measures to restart the Enron-promoted Dabhol power project in Maharashtra, which was shut down two years ago due to payment crises.

The GoM will look into various issues, including the provision of a Central Government guarantee for financial institutions to raise loans from the market for restarting the generation of power.

Announcing the decision, the Union Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram, said the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, would soon decide on the members of the GoM. Mr. Chidarambaram clarified that he was not involved in the decision to set up the GoM as he had earlier represented two of the promoters, GE and Bechtel, as a lawyer.

National Tax Tribunal

The Cabinet, which met this morning, also cleared a draft legislation for the setting up of a National Tax Tribunal with 25 benches. The proposed Tribunal will replace the jurisdiction of high courts in tax matters. The aim is to ensure speedy disposal of the large number of tax cases pending in courts. The Tribunal will have a chairman and two judicial members each in the 25 Benches.

The previous NDA Government had introduced a similar Bill in Parliament, but it had lapsed following the dissolution of the 13th Lok Sabha.

Plant breeders' rights

The Cabinet also paved the way for the implementation of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act by clearing the creation of the post of the chairperson for the authority. The chairperson will be an officer of the rank of Secretary to the Central Government.

The Act was passed by Parliament in 2001 to provide an effective mechanism for protection of plant breeders' rights. It was enacted to fulfil India's obligations under the WTO TRIPs agreement and stimulate investment in R&D for the development of new plant varieties. The authority will have its headquarters at the National Agriculture Science Centre here.

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