Japan stops cash for bullet train after project stalled over land row
The protest against land acquisition for the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project has become a huge roadblock for the cash flow from Japan.
The latest installment that funding agency Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was supposed to release for last quarter, did not reach, said sources from Gujarat government. The JICA stopped the payment on the grounds that the project did not show any progress due to several disputes.
A senior state official, said on condition of anonymity, "As issues over acquisition of land for the bullet train project surfaced in Gujarat as well as in Maharashtra, no progress could be made. The agreements for payment of installment is conditional and the funds arrive from JICA if the progress is constant. The first installment of Rs 125 crore was sanctioned when the Japanese PM visited Gujarat in last September."
"The state government has been trying hard to expedite the land acquisition by talking to farmers. The next installment of fund will not arrive unless the progress is achieved," said the official.
The JICA has agreed to provide nearly Rs. 80,000 crore for the High Speed Rail Project (HSRP) estimated at 1 lakh crore.
The amount to be provided by the Japanese body to India will be given in installments as a soft loan for 15 years. The fund will come in installments.
While the rest of Rs. 20,000 crore will be paid by Gujarat and Maharashtra state government jointly and that too in installments. The special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the project was formed with the equity of Rs. 500 crore in last September only.
The chief secretary of Gujarat Dr JN Singh coordinates with different partner agencies in the project on behalf of Gujarat government. Talking on the issue, Singh said, "The Gujarat government is hardly aware of any development of cash flow from JICA for the project as it is not our purview. If that has happen in any case, the installment will come in future anytime as it comes viz a viz project implementation."
The revenue minister Kaushik Patel said that the Gujarat government was seriously making effort for land acquisition and CM has asked the government to ensure that no farmer should be meted with injustice in due process.
Courtesy: www.dnaindia.com
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Adequate LPG stock in Chhattisgarh, no need to panic, says CM Sai
Raipur (PTI): Amid reports of shortage of commercial LPG cylinder in several parts of the country due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday assured people that they need not worry about the availability of cooking gas in the state.
He asserted that adequate stock of LPG as well as petrol and diesel was available in the state.
Sai said in a statement that authorities have been directed to regularly monitor stock at gas agencies and keep a close watch on the supply chain. Necessary instructions were issued to officials in all districts to ensure a smooth supply of LPG.
The chief minister instructed officials to take strict action if any complaint of black marketing or hoarding of LPG cylinders is received.
Sai urged state residents not to pay attention to rumours and to book cooking gas cylinders as per their actual requirement.
The government was fully alert to ensure the availability of essential commodities to citizens, he emphasised.
Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh Hotel and Restaurant Association has issued an advisory to hotels, restaurants, caterers and other food businesses across the state, urging them to maintain calm and avoid panic buying.
In the advisory, Taranjeet Singh Hora, president of the association, asked members to maintain coordination and immediately inform it about any major disruption in LPG supply.
He cautioned businesses against hoarding cylinders, saying such practices could worsen the situation for the entire hospitality sector.
The association advised hotels and restaurants to prioritise essential kitchen operations, core menu items and already committed banquet events.
Use electric cooking equipment wherever possible for emergency and staff kitchens such as induction cooktops, electric hot plates, electric rice cookers and kettles, the advisory stated.
