India hikes import on sugar ~ scraps Excise duty on ethanol made from molasses

For most South Indians, day starts with a tumbler of ‘coffee’ – the concoction of coffee beans decoction, milk and …… sugar ~  ‘the sweet thing’.  The English word "sugar" originates from the Arabic and Persian word shakkar, and has its equivalent ‘sharkara’ in Sanskrit ~ it is ‘sakkarai’ in Tamil.

In 2009, the Union Government allowed private traders to import refined sugar at zero which had earlier been  restricted to public sector trading firms such as STC, MMTC; however,   there was  10-lakh-tonne quantitative restriction on import  and the regulation that  duty free import of refined or white sugar to be done only through Electronic Data Inter-change (EDI) ports. 

Sugar mills are mostly seasonal industries with crushing starting from October onwards and peaking in January, generally ending in March or April – and depending upon the availability of supply could run longer also. The Govt. Used to fix the price at which cane can be purchased from the farmers – known as minimum procurement price. Some States also provide transport subsidy for every tonne of excess sugarcane sent for crushing.  A few years ago, in a major shift, the Centre unshackled the then  Rs. 80,000-crore sugar industry by abolishing the monthly release mechanism and doing away with the mills’ obligation to supply levy sugar for subsidised distribution under the Public Distribution System, thus allowing market forces to come into play.

Much water has flown under the bridge and now to help cash-starved sugar mills clear dues worth Rs 21,000 crore to farmers, the government has  hiked import duty on sugar to 40 percent and scrapped the excise duty on ethanol made from molasses.  While India imports very small quantity of sugar, the scrapping of excise duty will give the millers Rs 5 per litre extra on ethanol they produce from sugarcane. The customs duty has been hiked from 25 percent to 40 percent.  The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an official statement said.

According to commodities research, after the hike in the import tax,  the sugar price is expected to  increase by Rs 100 per quintal in the next 3-4 months. In the past one year, prices of sugar plunged nearly 19 per cent to Rs 2,725 per quintal on April 28. The commodity was trading at Rs 3,353 on the same day a year ago. The measures will significantly improve the adverse price sentiments in respect of sugar and would improve the liquidity in the industry, facilitating the clearing up of arrears of cane dues to farmers, the government said in a statement on Wednesday. As on 31 March 2015, the cane dues arrears stood at  Rs 20,099 crore.

The government also slapped the tax on imports of raw sugar that refiners turn into whites, or refined sugar, to sell in world markets.  Equity market experts believe, the rise in import duty will not change the long term fortune of sugar industry.  Among the major sugar stocks on the basis of market capitalisation, the share price of EID Parry (India), Bajaj Hindusthan, Shree Renuka Sugars, Balrampur Chini Mills and Bannari Amman dipped – a few sugar scrips like Bannari Amman surged still.

However, no decision was announced on the demand to create a buffer stock of sugar on government account and industry body ISMA urged the government to quickly decide on its request to buy out 10 per cent of current year's sugar production amounting to 3.5 million tonnes "to help the industry come out of the crisis in the short run and ensure that a major portion of cane price arrears of farmers are cleared before the start of the next sugar season." The government has reduced to six months the period for discharging export obligations under the Advanced Authorisation Scheme for Sugar to prevent possibility of any leakage of such sugar in the domestic market.

It is stated that in the recent times, ex-factory prices of sugar have fallen to Rs 22-24/kg in the country, while the cost of production is over Rs 30/kg. Sugar production of India, the world's second largest producer, is estimated to be higher than the domestic consumption for the fifth year in a row this year.

So sugar too is not sweet for the farmers !

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

30^th Apr 2015.

Bali Nine ~ Veloso escapes execution at last moment.... Philippines's eligible bachelor !

‘Bali Nine’  is the name given to a group of nine Australians convicted for smuggling 8.3 kg (18 lb) of heroin valued at around A$4 million from Indonesia to Australia.  That is being discussed hotly globally.  Australia has recalled its ambassador to Indonesia for consultations after two Australians were among eight drug smugglers executed by firing squad early this day.  Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott called the executions "cruel and unnecessary" because both men, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, had been "fully rehabilitated" during a decade in prison.

9 were to be executed – but  there was a surprise last-minute reprieve for Philippines woman Mary Jane Veloso after the Indonesian attorney general responded to calls from Manila that she should be spared to act as a witness against the woman expected to be charged with trafficking her.  Even as  Australia made an 11^th  hour plea for clemency for the Bali nine pair, Philippine President Benigno Aquino ramped up lobbying to save the life of a Filipina maid at a summit of South-East Asian leaders in Malaysia.  Mr Aquino met his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo during a three-day summit of leaders of the 10-nation Association of South-East Asian Nations, which began on Sunday.  A huge campaign to spare the life of mother-of-two, Mary Jane Veloso, the only woman among those slated for execution, had been under way in the Philippines for days. Veloso, 30, has consistently maintained she was duped by an international syndicate to smuggle 2.6 kilograms of heroin into Indonesia in 2010.

Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III is the 15th President of the Philippines since June 2010. Aquino is a fourth-generation politician: his great-grandfather, Servillano "Mianong" Aquino, served as a delegate to the Malolos Congress; his grandfather, Benigno Aquino, Sr., served as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from 1943 to 1944; and his parents were President Corazon Aquino and Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr.

Born in Manila, Aquino joined his family in their exile in the United States; returned to Philippines in 1983 shortly after the assassination of his father and held several positions working in the private sector. In 1998, he was elected to the House of Representatives as Representative of the 2nd district of Tarlac province. Following the death of his mother on August 1, 2009, many people began calling on Aquino to run for president.  In 2010,  Aquino was sworn into office as the fifteenth President of the Philippines, succeeding Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.  In 2013, TIME named him one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.

Although the official residence of the president is the Malacañang Palace, Aquino actually resides in the Bahay Pangarap (House of Dreams), located within the Palace grounds. An interesting piece of info is that he in the ranks of Atal Behari Vajpayee and Abdul Kalam.  When the Philippines elected Benigno Aquino president in 2010, many predicted the country’s most eligible bachelor would soon claim his next big prize: A first lady.

It didn’t happen with then girlfriend Shalani Soledad, a local politician he dated for two years. Nor would it be his stylist Liz Uy, television host Grace Lee, or any of the string of other women to whom Aquino has been romantically linked. When the South China Morning Post asked the 55-year-old Aquino whether he was still hopeful of settling down with someone, he said: “A little less now than I was before.”

Aquino with TV host Grace Lee

He said three of his friends now have daughters old enough to be dating. Aquino said he told them: “You know, by the time I have a daughter who’s gonna … be going out on dates, I’ll probably be senile and won’t understand any of it anymore’. So God has a perfect plan for all of us.” The state of Aquino’s love life has long been tabloid fodder. One gossip columnist claims to have counted 18 girlfriends – and that was before Aquino even became president. Lately, he has been linked to 25-year-old Filipino-German beauty queen Pia Wurtzbach, who described the balding bachelor as “very fun to talk to.”

Aquino points to a childhood experience seared into his memory. His senator father, after whom he was named, was jailed by the Marcos dictatorship on charges of committing murder and subversion when Aquino was 12. “There was somebody who was detained in the same facility as my father – and he never got any visitor for a period of five years, apart from those who visited his cellmate. So when you talk about [being abandoned], that guy represents to me what it meant to be abandoned and still stand up to your beliefs.” He said the story taught him to look for “somebody [who] will stand by you regardless of what or whatever.”

“Ours was not gonna be a simple life. So not just anybody can withstand the pressures of it,” said Aquino, who was 23 when his father was assassinated, 26 when his mother Corazon was pressured into the presidency, 27 when he nearly died himself from gunshot wounds, and 50 when he was catapulted into the presidency after the death of his mother.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

29^th Apr 2015.

Partly sourced from http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/ 

Sunil Narine called again ~ cannot bowl Off-spinners !!!

The assistant coach, Paul Farbrace, has no intention of letting England be distracted ahead of the third Test in the West Indies - either by internal changes or external barbs.  England are 1-0 ahead going into Friday’s decider in Barbados, in sight of a first away series victory since India in December 2012. But they are also striving to keep other agendas out of their eyeline, with the England and Wales Cricket Board currently courting a high-profile director of cricket to take responsibility for the national side and a first Ashes gauntlet already laid down by Steve Smith.

There has thus far been more speculation than clarity around the recruitment of a new supremo – a position created after the managing director Paul Downton was sacked at the start of the Caribbean tour. Former captains Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan and Alec Stewart have all shown a tentative interest, though the precise job specification has yet to be made public. England’s head coach, Peter Moores, and Farbrace himself, would be forgiven for wondering where they would stand should any of those voices enter the dressing room but one thing is certain: another win would go a long way towards strengthening their hand.

Even as West Indies struggle against the visitors, losing a  Test and drawing another one with lot of drama – there are more than handful of West Indians out here performing well in IPL 8  - those who come readily come to mind are :  Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Smith, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russel, Lendl Simmons, Chris Gayle,  Darren Sammy ..

Of them, the mystery spinner Sunil Narine skipped the World Cup and returned to IPL after undergoing tests – and sadly, his  return from a bowling ban  is not lasting  too long.  The news is that he has  now been banned from bowling offspinners after being reported for suspect action on 22 April.  Narine, who has played five times for KKR this season, made a return to competitive cricket with a new action and hasn't been very successful either — picking up two wickets at an average of 73.50.

Thought  there have been bowlers with suspect actions – many fast bowlers went unscathed.  Somehow, the off-spinners have been taunted by this far too often ! It is their ‘doosra’ that lands them in trouble - Saqlain Mushtaq  who hit it big early, was successful but many other off-spinners were reviewed and questioned on the legitimacy of their doosras – they include : Bruce Yardley,   Kumara Dharmasena, Muttiah Muralitharan, Harbhajan Singh, Shoaib Malik, Saeed Ajmal,  Johan Botha., Sacharitha Senanayake,  Marlon Samuels, Shane Shillingford,  Mohammed Hafeez,  Prosper Utseya,  Sohag Gazi.............. and do you know one unlikely Indian who was called for ‘throwing’ at Bridgetown in 1983.

Narine  was in Chennai at  -  Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute,  a deemed university  operating in Porur, Chennai for a biomechanical analysis of his bowling action.    Sunil Narine was praised  by players and the media alike for retaining his 'mystery' despite the change in action — but the officials spotted something awry in the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

It is not good news for KKR and Narine as the BCCI Suspect Bowling Action Committee‎ after reviewing the evidence of the match footage and the analysis provided by SRASSC  has concluded that  Narine’s bowling action for his off-spinner, contravenes Law 24.2 (as read with Law 24.3) of the Laws of Cricket and therefore the player is now banned from bowling the off-spinner in matches organised by the BCCI, including the IPL. He may however continue to bowl his other deliveries (the knuckle ball and the quicker straight ball)," said a BCCI statement.

Narine wasn't picked for KKR's sixth match and it remains to be seen whether he plays again for the defending champions. If Narine bowls the offspinner again this season, then the on-field umpires would apply Law 24.2 and call no ball and, at the end of the match, would issue a further report.  Narine may undergo a course of bowling rehabilitation and take corrective measures to ensure that his action does not contravene Law 24 and may then request a further official assessment by the committee.

BCCI had earlier banned Narine, whose ‘doosra’ was under the scanner, during the 2014 Champions League T20 ~and how his off-spin is found illegal !! 

Narine with his re-worked action,  has had a rather ordinary time for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing IPL season - with just two wickets from five games at an economy rate of 7.35. Now that he will not be allowed to bowl his stock delivery, the West Indian’s effectiveness will be reduced further. It remains to be seen if the Knight Riders play him since the Kolkata side has some viable spin options ...

Though not in a serious note, the Indian wicket-keeper Syed Kirmani was called for ‘chucking’ in a Test at Bridgetown in 1983.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

30^th Apr 2015.

Madurai - Vaigai ~ Albert Victor Bridge and Viceroy Earl of Dufferin

Indian Trains have Names besides the Numbers. As you would know, Trains now have 5 digit numbers – earlier they were 4 digits.  Many a  trains are named after Gods, rivers, important places in the origin or destination – ……. and regularly more get added to the long list..  Some are named after personalities and some after traits too.. there are some luxurious trains too…….  On August 15, 1977, a train woke up the people  as it began its inaugural journey from the temple town of Madurai with 16 yellow and green livery coaches and a matching YDM4 diesel loco.

The town hailed in Sangam literature Madurai has Vaigai flowing.  Vaigai river originates in Varusanadu hills,  in  the Western Ghats range, and flows northeast through the Kambam Valley,  running through Madurai, eventually emptying  into the Palk Strait in Ramanathapuram District. The Vaigai is 258 kilometres (160 mi) long,. 

Across the river is the old bridge, an engineering marvel of British Raj named  ‘Albert Victor Bridge’- reportedly named after its engineer ! 

A web search today, on its history did  not reveal any direct matches.   There is some reference about a Prince.  Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale (1864 – 1892), was the eldest son of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII), and the grandson of the reigning British monarch, Queen Victoria. From the time of his birth, he was second in the line of succession to the British throne, but never became king: he died before his father and his grandmother, the Queen.

Albert Victor was known to his family, and many later biographers, as "Eddy". When young, he travelled the world extensively as a naval cadet, and as an adult he joined the British Army, but did not undertake any active military duties.  Albert Victor's intellect, sexuality and mental health have been the subject of much speculation.  The foreign press suggested that Albert Victor was sent on a seven-month tour of British India from October 1889 to avoid the gossip which swept London society in the wake of the scandal.  During the trip, Albert Victor met Mrs. Margery Haddon, the wife of a civil engineer, Henry Haddon.  On his return from India, Albert Victor was created Duke of Clarence and Avondale and Earl of Athlone on 24 May 1890, Queen Victoria's 71st birthday.

~and there is little to connect this man with the person after whom the Vaigai bridge is named after as ‘Albert Victor’bridge !!  ~ understand that the foundation for the bridge was laid on 8^th Dec 1886 by Viceroy Earl of Dufferin. 

Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin  [1826 – 1902) was a British public servant and prominent member of Victorian society.  In his youth he was a popular figure in the court of Queen Victoria, and became well known to the public after publishing a best-selling account of his travels in the North Atlantic.  He was one of the most successful diplomats of his time.   His long career in public service began as a commissioner to Syria in 1860,  later in Canada  bolstering imperial ties in the early years of the Dominion, and in 1884 he reached the pinnacle of his diplomatic career as eighth Viceroy of India. Following his retirement from the diplomatic service in 1896, his final years were marred by personal tragedy and a misguided attempt to secure his family's financial position. He was chairman of a mining firm that went bankrupt after swindling people, although he was ignorant of the matter.

In 1888, he published the Report on the Conditions of the Lower Classes of Population in Bengal (known as the Dufferin Report). The report highlighted the plight of the poor in Bengal, and was used by nationalists to counter the Anglo-Indian claim that British rule had been beneficial to the poorest members of Indian society. Following publication of the report, Dufferin recommended the establishment of provincial and central councils with Indian membership, a key demand of Congress at that time.

the plaque at Madurai Jn

Getting back to first para it is 12635/12636 – Vaigai Express, a super fast day express train running between Madurai and Chennai via Tiruchirappalli.  The name 'Vaigai Express' has been always popular among not only the rail users but also among rail fans of two different generations as the train had won the hearts of lakhs of people who had known and experienced it right from the early days.  Due to the demand for a day train between Madurai and Madras, which gradually began to increase from the 1970s, the Southern Railway introduced this service on 15^th Aug 1977.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

27^th Apr 2015.