Posts Tagged ‘Chennai’
Written by admin on 06 February 2012
Chennai, Feb 6 (IANS) Naman Ojha (104) and Robin Bist (104 not out) helped themselves to centuries as the Central Zone took a decisive step towards a berth in the final of the Duleep Trophy with an overall lead of 488 by close of play on the penultimate day of their semi-final match against South Zone here Monday.
Having gained a first innings lead of 110, the Central Zone, overnight 127 for one, piled up 378 for five in their second knock as South bowlers toiled for little rewards.
A 140-run partnership between Ojha and Mohammad Kaif (43) for the second wicket followed by an unfinished 160-run association involving Bist and Bhuvnesh Kumar (59 not out) featured the third day’s play that saw South Zone, after an early strike, going through the motions.
South began the day on a promising note, dismissing first innings centurion Kaif who added just two runs to his overnight score of 41. Kaif top-edged a pull off Abhimanyu Mithun to mid-wicket where Amit Verma took a brilliant catch, with the ball coming from over his shoulder.
Mohnish Mishra was lucky to survive a confident appeal for leg-before when Mahesh rapped him on the pads with a delivery that ducked back in while Ojha went into his shell approaching the hundred mark.
It allowed the South Zone bowlers to get back on top while their seamers showed greater discipline to stick to stump-to-stump line. However, the introduction of left-arm spinner K.P. Appanna loosened their hold on the batsmen.
The spinner came in for some stick, especially at the hands of Mishra, while Ojha, looking rather subdued, was dismissed soon after he got to his century when he was castled by Stuart Binny who was brought on just before the lunch break.
In the very next over, Appanna dismissed Mishra (33) who was beaten by the flight and holed out in the deep where Manish Pandey took a well-judged catch, running to his right.
Thereafter, Central batsmen made no haste with an obvious intention of setting a huge target while the South Zone players also did not show any urgency as the proceedings drifted along at a sedate pace.
Post lunch, Central lost Parvinder Singh (17) who became Binny’s second victim and the Karnataka seamer was the pick of the bowlers, sticking to a fuller length while occasionally troubling the batsmen with the one that moved off the seam. Surprisingly though, he was used rather sparingly.
Bist and Bhuvnesh Kumar then pressed on, grinding a progressively dispirited South Zone bowling into total submission as Central moved into an unassailable position by stumps.
Brief Scores:
At Chennai: Central Zone 293 and 378/5 in 122 overs (Naman Ojha 104, Robin Bist batting 104; Stuart Binny 34-2, Abhimanyu Mithun 60-1) vs. South Zone 183
Tags: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
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Written by admin on 06 February 2012
Chennai, Feb 6 (IANS) India’s number three tyre manufacturer JK Tyre & Industries Ltd has bagged the order from Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt Ltd to supply tyres for its Bharat Benz trucks, said a top company official.
“The latest original equipment manufacturer (OEM) client for us is Daimler India that will be rolling out trucks at its plant here,” Raghupati Singhania, vice chairman and managing director, told reporters here Monday.
He, however, declined to comment on the order volume and whether JK Tyre is the sole tyre vendor for Daimler India’s trucks to be branded as Bharat Benz.
According to JK Tyre officials, the Daimler India’s order will be met by its Rs.972 crore plant here commissioned Sunday.
Daimler India is expected to launch its trucks sometime in themiddle of this year.
According to Singhania, the company supplies 14 percent of its truck tyres and 55 percent of its car tyres to OEMs and the balance in the replacement market.
The highly automated Chennai factory is JK Tyre’s sixth plant in India and will have a workforce of around 450.
“The Chennai plant has a capacity to roll out 2.5 million passenger car radial tyres and 400,000 truck radial tyres. Ramping up the production in a gradual manner, we will reach full production in six months time,” Singhania said.
He said the company’s total car radial tyre capacity is now 7.5 million tyres and 1.4 million truck radial tyres per annum.
According to Singhania, the 100 acre Sriperumbudur plant would save the company freight cost – tyres and raw material cartage – as earlier JK Tyres had served the southern market from its plants in Karnataka and elsewhere in India.
Singhania said imports of car radial tyres is a major issue faced by the domestic manufacturers, and the government should levy anti-dumping duty on such tyres as it had done in the case of truck tyres sometime back.
He said nearly 40 percent of the passenger car radial tyre market is garnered by imported tyres, leaving the domestic companies with little pricing power.
“The pricing power is with the customer,” Singhania said.
According to him, Chinese tyre makers who reduced their output last year are in the process of increasing their production this year which would affect the domestic players.
He said the company is looking to acquire rubber plantations overseas while urging the government to develop plantations in other areas within India.
Tags: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
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Written by admin on 06 February 2012
Chennai, Feb 6 (IANS) The central government cancelled the Antrix Corporation-Devas Multimedia deal for reasons of national security and not for purported loss of revenue in sale of spectrum, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office V. Narayanasamy has said.
He also said the government was not discriminating between space scientists and Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officials and, based on their culpability, punitive action would be taken against the latter too.
“We did not cancel the deal due to media pressure or the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) estimation of loss. The government cancelled the deal on the issue of national security,” Narayanasamy told IANS on phone.
A committee comprising B.K. Chaturvedi and Roddam Narasimha that went into the controversial deal has ruled out cheap selling of spectrum by Antrix to Bangalore-based Devas.
“Concerns of cheap selling of spectrum to Devas have no basis whatsoever. Space spectrum is not comparable to terrestrial spectrum. Devas was also required to obtain licences from Department of Telecommunications, Department of Information Broadcasting for providing services to customers and would have to pay, apart from transponder leasing charges, other charges which would be determined by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) based on consultation mechanism,” the committee declared.
Portions of the report were made public Saturday night by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Some portions of the Chaturvedi-Narasimha panel have been withheld under Section 8 (1) (a) of Right to Information Act 2005.
As per the deal, Antrix was to provide 70 MHz S-Band spectrum to Devas, which is into multimedia services. Antrix would provide the spectrum by leasing out transponders of two satellites to be built mainly for Devas.
The CAG estimated the loss to the exchequer to the tune of Rs.2 lakh crore because of the deal. The centre later scrapped the controversial deal.
Indian space agency ISRO Saturday also made public only the conclusions and recommendations of a report by a five-member panel led by former Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) Pratyush Sinha.
On the basis of the Sinha panel’s recommendations, the government Jan 13 debarred the four space scientists from holding any government post or being on an any official committees. The four are former ISRO chairman G. Madhavan Nair; A. Bhaskaranarayana, former scientific secretary at ISRO; K.R. Sridharamurthi, former executive director of Antrix, the commercial arm of ISRO; and K.N. Shankara, former director of the ISRO satellite centre.
The committee also recommended actions under pension rules against retired officials S.S. Meenakshisundaram and Veena Rao, and against G. Balachandran and R.G. Nadadur under the relevant service rules.
A view has gained ground that a witch hunt is on against the four retired space scientists.
Asked about this, Narayanasamy said: “The government is not discriminating between retired space scientists and serving IAS officials. We will take action against the serving officers based on their culpability in the whole issue. Action will be taken in stages after studying in detail.”
However, he declined to reveal the reasons for making public only selective portions of the two reports.
A top source said portions of the report that have been withheld consist of cabinet notes and others dealing with internal security which is not for the public.
ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan told reporters in Bangalore Monday: “Whatever I have to say is up in the report. I have nothing more to say. There is nothing personal in this.”
Refuting Nair’s charge that he was not given an opportunity to be heard by the Sinha panel, Narayanasamy said: “The committee report clearly states that Nair had met Sinha apart from submitting his views in writing. Other people had given their views in writing to the panel.”
He also did not agree with the general view that ISRO’s activities have slowed down over the past two years.
“It is a wrong impression. I myself have witnessed two successful rocket launches. The failure of two GSLV (geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle) launches is owing to problems in the rocket’s cryogenic engine,” Narayanasamy said.
Tags: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
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Written by admin on 05 February 2012
Chennai, Feb 5 (IANS) Top seeds and favourites Egypt had to work overtime to beat a spirited India 2-1 in the final to annex the WSF Under-21 World Cup team championship here on Sunday.
The defeat notwithstanding, the Indian team could justifiably feel proud of their performance against Egypt, who in recent times have produced an array of World-class players.
In the first singles, Ravi Dixit fought for all his worth and even took a game off Marwan El Shorbagy, the world junior champion, but ultimately, the Egyptian carried far too much firepower and came through 11-4, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7.
The second singles was a cliff-hanger as Dipika Pallikal found herself in a spot after losing the first two games to the talented Nour El Sherbini, before staging a remarkable fight back.
Pallikal, ranked No.14 to the Egyptian’s 23, took the crucial fourth game after saving a couple of match balls and then sustained the pressure to clinch the fifth to keep India in the hunt.
The third singles also proved to be as exciting as Karim Abdel Gawad held off a spirited challenge from Ramit Tandon in four games.
Tandon all but made a mockery of the World rankings as he kept pace with the No.42 ranked Gawad and nearly took the match into the fifth game, but squandered an 8-6 lead in the fourth.
Ranked No.334, Tandon put in a plucky performance and surprised the Egyptian with some telling shots and had the Indian won the first game, the story might have been different. Gawad managed to take it and then raced away with the next before encountering and overcoming some stiff resistance from Tandon.
The results:
Final: Egypt beat India 2-1 (Marwan El Shorbagy bt Ravi Dixit 11-4, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7; Nour El Sherbini lost to Dipika Pallikal 11-7, 11-4, 8-11, 12-14, 5-11 Karim Abdel Gawad bt Ramit Tandon 12-10, 11-4, 6-11, 11-8).
For 3-4 positions – England beat France 2-0 (Charles Sharpes bt Lucas Serme 14-12, 7-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-5; Emily Whitlock bt Cyrielle Peltier 11-5, 11-7, 11-7).
For 5-6 positions – Hong Kong beat Australia 2-0 (Yeung Ho Wai bt Jamie McErvale 4-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-5; Tong Tsz-Wing bt Sarah Cardwell 7-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5, 14-12).
For 7-8 positions – Malaysia beat Germany 2-1 (Affeeq Aeefeen lost to Rudi Rohrmuller 7-11, 3-11, 7-11; Rachael Arnold bt Franziska Hennes 11-13, 11-6, 6-11, 11-5, 11-7; Sanjay Singh bt Valentin Rappa 11-7, 11-3, 11-7).
Tags: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
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Written by admin on 05 February 2012
Bangalore/Chennai, Feb 5 (IANS) A five-member team probing the Antrix-Devas deal has indicted former ISRO chairman G. Madhavan Nair and three other scientists for the controversial contract that resulted in an estimated loss of Rs.2 lakh crore, while another panel has disputed the CAG’s estimation of the loss amount. The scientists Sunday slammed the team for its one-sided report.
The indicted scientists also rapped the Indian space agency for not putting all the facts in the pubic domain.
The probe team, chaired by former Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) Pratyush Sinha, concluded that there have been serious lapses of judgement on the part of various officials, and in some cases, actions verged on the point of breach of public trust in the deal between the Indian space agency’s commercial arm Antrix and Devas Multimedia.
However, a two-member High Powered Review Committee has contested the loss projection by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and has also has ruled out cheap selling of spectrum to Devas.
Nair was termed the report ‘one sided’.
‘I can categorically say that the Sinha team report is one-sided and not based on all facts. Let me first get its report and study. Then I will be able to rebut it to defend my position,’ Nair, during whose tenure the $300 million Devas deal was signed in 2005, told IANS in Bangalore.
The other indicted Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are: A. Bhaskaranarayana, former scientific secretary at ISRO, K.R. Sridharamurthi, former executive director of Antrix, and K.N. Shankara, former director of the ISRO satellite centre.
As per the deal, Antrix was to provide 70 MHz S-Band spectrum to Devas, by leasing out transponders of two satellites to be built mainly for Devas.
The CAG estimated the loss to the exchequer was to the tune of Rs.2 lakh crore. The centre later scrapped the controversial deal.
ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan had announced that the reports of two committees that looked into the controversial deal would be made public.
Late Saturday, ISRO uploaded on its website the conclusions and recommendations of both the panels.
Expressing surprise at the odd timing of the reports’ release, Nair said a quick reading of its conclusions and recommendations shows that its report was not based on facts or data, and also inconsistent with the report of the review panel, headed by former cabinet secretary B.K. Chaturvedi and Space Commission member Roddam Narasimha.
‘Anyone can find out how the Sinha report is inconsistent and at variance with the Chaturvedi panel report. For instance, issues related to launch of satellites, leasing of transponders and spectrum pricing mechanism have not been addressed as per rules and regulations governing contracts,’ said an upset Nair.
Echoing Nair, Bhaskarnarayana said the Chaturvedi panel report vindicated their stand.
‘We have been saying that scarce national resource was not given away to any private party at throwaway prices. That is what the Chaturvedi report concluded,’ Bhaskaranarayana told IANS.
Meanwhile, Sridharmurthi sought the entire policy, the Devas agreement and the entire procedure adopted to be made public for the truth come out.
On the recommendation of the Sinha report for action against him and the three others, Nair said:
‘A committee, headed by a former IPS officer (Sinha), does not understand space business. Its conclusions are distorted. Its report too should have been released in full to ascertain the basis of its recommendations for action against us.’
Clarifying that the deal was not to solely benefit or profit Devas, Nair said the contract was to ensure a decent return to the government even at the risk of using new technology at a time when India was still under the sanctions regime of the US and other western nations for the Pokhran-II nuclear test.
The prime minister had set up the Chatruvedi committee Feb 10, 2011 and the Sinha panel May 31, 2011 to study the former’s report and fix responsibility.
ISRO uploaded on its website most of the Chaturvedi report, while releasing only the conclusions and recommendations of the Sinha team probe.
On the basis of the Sinha team’s recommendations, the government Jan 13 debarred the four tainted scientists from holding any government post or being on any official committees.
Tags: Chennai, Karnataka
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Written by admin on 05 February 2012
Chennai, Feb 5 (IANS) Central Zone took a firm grip on the Duleep Trophy semifinal against South Zone by stumps on the second day with an overall lead of 237 runs and nine wickets in hand.
Resuming at their overnight score of 292 for eight, Central Zone’s first innings ended at 293 and they then dismissed South Zone for 183 before ending the day at 127 for one in their second knock with opener Naman Ojha going strong on 79 and Mohd Kaif on 41 here Sunday.
It was a disappointing performance by South Zone, most of whose batsmen were guilty of injudicious shot selection on a pitch that initially afforded some movement, but otherwise was fairly slow and placid.
Off-spinner Jalaj Saxena who was brought into attack rather late, came away with three wickets in his nine overs to complement seamer Bhuvnesh Kumar who also picked up three.
The day though began on a promising note as South wrapped up the Central innings in just two overs, but made a mess of their reply revolved around a 55-run partnership between Amit Verma (42) and Stuart Binny (56) for the fifth wicket.
South Zone’s response was marred by fall of early wickets. Opener Robin Uthappa did not make any impact as he was caught behind attempting an ambitious drive off Bhuvneshwar Kumar and then his partner Abhinav Mukund retired due to a painful wrist that he had suffered while fielding.
Worse still, skipper Subramaniam Badrinath and Dinesh Karthik departed in quick succession to leave South Zone in a precarious position at 47 for three.
Badrinath was slow to respond to the second run and was caught short at the non-striker’s end while Karthik edged Pankaj Singh to wicket-keeper Naman Ojha in the very next over.
Thereafter, Verma and Binny steadied the ship with a very productive association that ended with the introduction of Jalaj Saxena who had the former caught by Piyush Chawla.
Both Verma and Binny applied themselves, something that other top order batsmen failed to do so as the slow paced pitch demanded patience and strokeplay was fraught with risk.
However, once the partnership was broken, the South Zone innings came apart as the tail-enders did not put up much resistance to concede a lead of 110 to Central.
In their second knock, Central opener Ojha, unperturbed by the early departure of Vineet Saxena, batted with a lot of freedom and assurance to hammer the South attack that wilted under the onslaught.
Kaif, the first innings centurion, proved an ideal foil with a watchful knock of 41 as he seemed content to play second fiddle to Ojha.
Tags: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
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