CBEC to Issue Bio-Metric Cards to Custom Agents

MUMBAI, Feb 25: The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) today said it will issue bio-metric cards to custom house agents to check frauds and misuse of services.

"Bio-metric smart cards will be issued first in Mumbai in all the three Customs zones. Once this is rolled out, a fraudulent person will not be able to file the documents anywhere in the city as his fingerprint will not match and his photo will be flashed across all zones. Also, a wrong person cannot take delivery of the cargo, so this will reduce the incidences of frauds," according to CBEC chairman SK Goel.

He said there were about 10 cases of frauds with regard to contraband selling of red sandalwood which prompted this initiative.

"There were many cases of frauds relating to the red sandalwood, so we thought of this idea," he said.

"We have already prepared 10,000 bio-metric cards for Mumbai and will also make 15,000 more cards for the custom house agents and their employees. So in all, we will be issuing 25,000 bio-metric cards," Goel added.

The cards will also be rolled out nationally after seeing the response here. "Once this system is successful in Mumbai, we will replicate it in other places also. Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have already expressed interest," Goel said.

The CBEC has invested Rs 92 lakh in the project and expects to recover the cost when they issue the cards. The bio-metric smart cards will be issued for Rs 500 each, replacing the earlier laminated plastic cards that were given at Rs 50.

When asked that if the Aadhar cards can be used instead of these smart cards, Goel said, "when the Aadhar card is made available to all the people, then we will think of integrating this with the Aadhar card or develop it on the same model."

DLF sells 350 flats for Rs 500 cr in luxury housing project at Gurgaon

NEW DELHI, Feb 22: DLF, the country's largest realty firm, has sold 350 flats worth about Rs 500 crore in a luxury housing project at Gurgaon.

The housing project 'The Primus', which is part of a 450 acre integrated township - DLF Garden City, was launched yesterday and all the flats were sold on the same day.

According to sources, the company achieved a sales booking of about Rs 500 crore from this project.

When contacted, a company spokesperson said: "We have received overwhelming response for this project. The company got more applications from customers than the number of flats it offered."

DLF has earmarked an investment of Rs 8,000 crore to develop the integrated township at Gurgaon within 2-3 years.

The proposed township - DLF Garden City - will be spread over sectors 86, 87, 90, 91 and 92 (new Gurgaon), and will comprise of group housing, commercial and plotted development.

The Garden City will have plotted development projects, namely The Primus, Regal Gardens and New Town Heights, besides housing a commercial complex -- Galleria 91.

As per plans, the project will offer plots of different sizes ranging from 250 to 502 sq yards.

Besides, the institutional sector will house educational, cultural, religious and healthcare facilities.

DLF is currently constructing 3,200 apartments in about 100 acres of this townships.

The company has total developable potential at 349 million sq ft and currently 45 million sq ft of projects area are under construction.

Union Budget to be tabled on March 16

NEW DELHI, Feb 8: The government on Tuesday said the Budget will be presented on March 16, more than two weeks later than usual, on account of assembly polls in five states. The annual financial statement along with the Finance Bill and the Appropriations Bill will be presented by FM Pranab Mukherjee four days after the Budget session starts with President Pratibha Patil's address to both Houses of Parliament. This will be followed by a debate on the motion of thanks on the President's address.

The rail Budget will be presented on March 14 and the Economic Survey - the document that provides and overall assessment of the economic situation - will be tabled on March 15.

"We will be recommending to the President that Budget session may be summoned on March 12 and continue up to March 30," parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal told reporters after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA). The minister was hopeful of Opposition's co-operation in transaction of financial business.

The second part of the Budget session, after a three-week recess during which Parliamentary Standing Committees deliberate on proposals of different ministries, will be held from April 24 to May 22. This is only the third time when the Budget presentation has been delayed. The first time was in the mid-70s, and again in the mid-1990s. Traditionally, the Budget is presented on the last day of February.

This year the government chose to defer the Budget due to elections in five states - Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur - that will be completed on March 4 and counting is slated for March 6.

Mukherjee, who will be presenting his fifth Budget in a row, including the interim Budget in 2009, faces a tough task with the economy slowing down and a fiscal problem at hand. At the same time, the global economic situation remaining grim and coalition politics restricts his ability to take hard decisions.

Customs officials are facilitators & not regulators: Pranab

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, Feb 2: Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has exhorted customs officers to remain more vigilant against the smuggling of drugs, arms and fake currency notes.

Speaking at a function here to commemorate 50 years of the enforcement of the 1962 Customs Act, Pranab Mukherjee said that he was confident that the officers and staff of Indian Customs "will continue to strive hard to fulfil the onerous responsibility cast on them and rise to the occasion to meet the future challenges."

At the same time the Finance Minister appreciated the "sea change" witnessed in the working culture of the customs officials. "From a role of the regulator they have now become more of facilitators," Mukherjee said.

While pointing out that the customs collection went up from Rs 254 crore in the 1960s to Rs 1.47 lakh crore in 2010-2011, Mukherjee said there was a need to improve revenue realisation.

"On my behalf, the Secretary (Revenue) is continuously breathing down their (Central Board of Excise and Customs and Central Board of Direct Taxes) necks to improve revenue, because our demand and requirement is much more," he said.

The FM added that the challenges facing the department are evolving everyday but the department is prepared to tackle them. “I am happy that the Customs Department has incorporated changes on the technological front into its functions and has been able to reap its benefits. Though the challenges abound in the form of drug and narcotics smuggling, FICN and smuggling of the antique items, the department is geared to handle them. I am pleased that the country is in the safe hands of the young employees of the department,” he said.

The Minister urged the Customs and Central Excise Department to further enhance its efficiency and deliver on all fronts with a focus on certain strategic objectives including increasing competitiveness of Indian business by use of modern customs operating methods and facilitating legitimate trade by improving customs control systems and reducing administrative burden.

The programme was attended by a large number of retired and serving custom officers, probationers and the representatives of trade and industry and Minister of State for Finance Namo Narain Meena.

With increasing number of private ports, special economic zones and trade activities Finance Secretary RS Gujral said that there was acute shortage of officers and staff in the department.

"The finance ministry is in the process of expediting cadre review and some decision is expected in the matter within a month," Gujral said.

Former CBEC chairman and architect of the customs act, MG Abrol, CBEC chairman SK Goel and CEO of Hero Motocorp Pawan Munjal also addressed the gathering.

Abrol also shared his experience about drafting the act.

The programme started with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp.

Deputy commissioner (customs) Deepshikha Arora was the emcee of the event.

The finance minister also gave away 'WCO certificates of merit' to officers of the department for their meritorious services.

Customs -- Guardians of India's economic frontiers

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, Jan 23: The Customs will participate in the Republic Day Parade with a tableau titled Indian Customs - The Guardian of Our Economic Frontiers. The tableau will move along with a new signature tune, Pragti Ki Dhadkan.

The participation is one of the many initiatives to celebrate the 50th year of the Customs Act, 1962.

Besides being a significant contributor to Central Government revenues and facilitating the movement of international passengers and goods, Indian Customs protects our economy, environment, wildlife and heritage by checking smuggling including that of fake Indian currency notes, endangered species of flora and fauna, art and antiques.

The Customs Department has presence at international airports, sea ports and land customs stations including Attari and Munnabao.

A tableau presents the myriad facets of the working of the customs and the proactive role it plays in facilitating trans-border movement of persons and goods while exercising eternal vigilance. The tableau has four elements.

To draw attention to the Customs presence in Indian waters, a customs patrol boat with officers keeping a lookout with night vision binoculars is featured. The public most readily relates to the customs presence androle at international airports.

The professional approach of the customs at the international airport is depicted through facilitation accorded to international passengers clearing customs through the green channel. At the same time, customs screening of passengers and their baggage is in process and a conveyer belt adds to the typical scene at the airport.

A scene of a customs station with the crane lifting an import or export container is also included. This portion shows customs officers responsible for assessment of duty and clearance of goods working in an automated environment. It also depicts the typical environment of clearance of cargo through a customs station.

A scene from the Indo-Pakistan land customs station in Attari is also depicted.

The Indian Customs tableau is of special significance as January 26 is also observed as Customs Day. The World Customs Organisation (WCO) celebrates January 26 as International Customs’ Day. Usually, the Indian Customs celebrate by releasing full-page advertisements informing the public about the event, their achievements and the tasks ahead. At various Customs offices in the field, officers and staff get together and take pledges rededicating themselves to the service of the nation.

This year, too, the WCO has suggested a new theme and urged all member-organisations to be innovative in taking forward the theme in all facets through 2012. This year, the theme is connectivity, and the call is to dedicate 2012 to promoting connectivity, including enhanced cooperation and communication, under the slogan Borders Divide, Customs Connects.

Announcing the theme, the Secretary General of the WCO said: "Connectivity encompasses people-to-people, institutional, and information linkages that underpin and facilitate the achievement of Customs' main goals."

Last year, the WCO theme was Knowledge a Catalyst for Customs Excellence.

The Customs not only collect taxes but also enforce the Customs Act, governing imports and exports of cargo, baggage, postal articles; arrival and departure of vessels, aircraft and so on; discharge agency functions by enforcing prohibitions and restrictions on imports and exports under various legal enactments; prevent smuggling and narcotics drug trafficking and carry out international passenger processing. Over the years, the Customs has introduced a number of measures to facilitate trade and enhance compliance with Customs laws.

Automation of Customs EDI for electronic processing of various declarations filed with the Customs, introduction of risk management system and self-assessment procedures are some of the highlights of facilitations in recent years.

IFFCO announces Surinder Jakhar Trust

NEW DELHI: IFFCO Managing Director, Dr. U S Awasthi, announced to start a trust called surinder Jakhar trust at his hometown Abhohar for the betterment of agriculture and promote new technologies in horticulture.

Chairman IFFCO N P patel unveiled the statue of late Surinder Kumar Jakhar today at IFFCO's Gurgaon Building "Surinder Jakhar Bhawan" at Sec 32, Gurgaon in the prsence of Dr. Balram Jakhar, former Governor of Madhya Pradesh and father of late Surinder Jakhar. Besides Dr. U S Awasthi, also present on the occasion were IFFCO Borad of Directors, employees and other guests. Members of Jakhar family were also present at the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Awasthi said "today is the 365th day without the great leader and I could not express the loss I feel at his demise. Fighting tears Dr Awasthi said that when I look at his statue it seems as if he is still there."

He said his love for IFFCO and his relentless effort to improve the lot of farmers are hard to find.

The Managing Director informed that it was his inspiration that the entire board decided to keep the price of fertilizer unchanged despite 25 percent erosion in the value of rupee thereby suffering loss to the tune of Rs 300 crores. "Viability and sensitivity are pillars of any institution, Jakhar used to say and IFFCO is following these principles despite many hurdles created by power inimical to us," added Dr Awasthi.

A tearful Balram Jakhar thanked IFFCO profusely for showing such love and concern for his son and its former Chairman. Surender was godlike and how I wish the world to be populated by a soul like his, he said. Human material assessment is my field as I have been in several positions in government and outside but I am yet to meet a man who could be as good as Surender, Senior Jakhar said in quivering voice.

Dr G N Saxena, Director of Cooperative development at IFFCO said that in international cooperative year (declared by UN) we vow to carry forward on the path shown by the great leader.

Today, Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) is world's leading processed fertilizer marketing entity in cooperative sector with a turnover of Rs.16800 crores in year 2009-10. It’s a cooperative society, which is wholly owned by its member societies with a vast marketing network of 40,000 cooperative societies reaching more than 5.5 crore farmers in India.

IFFCO broke all its previous records in 2009-10 by producing 82 lakh MT of fertilizers from its five production units in India which comprised of 43 lakh MT Urea & 39 lakh MT NP/NPK/DAP respectively. IFFCO sold 118 lakh MT fertilizers in India in 2009-10.

For the ninth successive year IFFCO paid dividend to its member shareholders at the rate of 20% of share value.

IFFCO is having 19 Associates & Subsidiaries under its fold with diversified interests in sectors like General Insurance, Power Generation, Rural Telecom, SEZ and Mining apart from its core business of fertilizers with joint ventures outside the country like Legend International- Australia, JIFCO- Jordan, KIT-Dubai, OMIFCO-Oman, ICS Senegal and recently added Growmax Agri Corp – Peru & Americas Petrogas Inc – Argentina.

In India, IFFCO Power-ICPL, IFFCO Kisan SEZ, IFFCO Sanchar –IKSL, IFFCO Insurance-IFFCO-Tokio, Rural Development-CORDET, Forest Development-IFFDC, Community Service-Kisan Seva Trust, IFFCO Foundation, IPL – Potash. At global business level, it’s having successful MoU’s with Phoschem-USA, PhosAgro-Russia & Mosaic – USA for fertilizer supply.

IFFCO is also emphasizing on Energy conservation & use of alternate energy resources and has implemented various projects in this area apart from sale of carbon credits to overseas agencies.

IFFCO is committed to the farmers of India and it will keep on surpassing its previous records to emerge as the global leader in both the production as well as marketing of fertilizers.

Large Data Center Coming to India, as Regional Demand Booms

Tulip Data Center Services is setting up a 900,000 square foot (83,612.7 square meters) data center in Bangalore, the largest in India, to benefit from scale and target growing demand for collocation, cloud, and managed services in India and neighboring countries.

Lessons from Amazon Cloud Lightning Strike OutageNew Point-of-Sale Strategy Boosts Service and SecuritySeven Reasons to Consider Virtualization Twitter Checking Out Eastern Sites for Data Center20 Million Google+ Users May Exist by the WeekendFacebook Shares Green Data Center Designs But Keeps x86Some 75,000 square feet of "raised floor space" that could be occupied by IT systems and networking racks is already available, and top multinational companies including IBM and Hewlett-Packard have signed up as customers, said H.S. Bedi, chairman and managing director of Tulip Telecom, the parent company, in a phone interview on Tuesday.

IBM was the design consultant for the data center which, has a power usage effectiveness of 1.5., Bedi said. PUE measures the energy efficiency of a data center by dividing the total power consumption of the data center, including cooling and lighting systems, by the power consumption of IT systems.

Tulip's strategy is to sign up large system integrators and service providers which in turn sell the data center services to businesses and other customers, said Ravikant Sharma, an analyst at IDC in India.

Tulip will benefit from economies of scale, as other third-party data centers in India are typically smaller, with up to 175,000 square feet of area, Sharma said.

The data center is already attracting both local businesses and foreign companies that have operations in the country. Customers in the Middle East and South East Asia are also looking to set up data recovery centers at the Tulip Data City, Bedi said.

Indian data center capacity is poised to touch 6.6 million square feet by 2016, with service providers driving majority of the growth, Gartner said in November.

The data center colocation and hosting market in India is estimated to reach US$609 million this year and $1.3 billion in 2016, according to the research firm.

Tulip will increase the raised floor space as the orders come in. It has already sold 16 percent of the raised floor space and by March next year it will have sold about 25 percent of the space. It hopes to achieve full capacity of 400,000 raised floor space in less than two years.

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