Vgfcarrotforppp Powerlineprojects

4 Economy www.financialexpress.com NEW DELHI l TUESDAY lMARCH 27 l 2012

In Parliament INTERVIEW: ALOK BHARADWAJ VGFcarrotforPPP PRESIDENT, MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION FOR IT Part payment for Iran crude in rupee Iran has agreed to receive part payment for Hardware giants eyeing India crude oil exports in rupee through Indian powerlineprojects banks, the government said on Monday. On a query if Iran has agreed to part payment in the Indian currency for crude oil sale to India, as alternative production hub minister of state for commerce and industry ■ Intra-state networks to qualify for scheme too Jyotiraditya Scindia said, “Yes Madam”. In the written reply, Scindia informed the Lok Himani Kaushik & ministry and it has now been basedonVGF. Theguidelines Theworld’smostcovetedtechnolo- factor for all global companies, Sabha that confidential commercial Subhash Narayan decided that state govern- fordeterminingbaseunitary gy companies could begin manu- andindeed,theworldislookingat arrangements have been worked out for New Delhi, Mar 26 ments would be given the op- chargecouldberevisedbythe facturingoperationsinIndiaif en- Indiaasapossiblealternativedes- payment in rupee. On a query whether such tion to chose between MTA power ministry from time to abling policies are put in place, tination. Better infrastructure, payment in Indian currency may get LL public-private (with VGF) or the standard time in consultation with the says Manufacturers’ Association political stability,consistency in extended for imports other than crude oil, he partnership (PPP) biding document (SBD) fi- finance ministry and the for Information Technology presi- policies and strong visible intent replied, “Yes Madam, confidential A projects in the pow- nalisedbythepowerministry PlanningCommissiontopre- dent Alok Bharadwaj.In an in- thatsuchinvestmentsarewanted commercial arrangements that have been er transmission sector,in- earlier(withoutVGF)forPPP ventmisuseof theVGFprovi- terviewwithFE’sPPThimmaya, and welcomed are few of the worked out are due to large trade deficit of cluding intra-state trans- intransmission,”saidaPlan- sions.The entire mechanism Bharadwaj talks about the issues points that need discussion at the India with Iran.” The Reserve Bank of India in mission networks,will now ningCommissionofficial. would be reviewed after a pe- faced by the hardware sector and macrolevel.Thebestwayistoask December 2010 withdrew the Asian Clearing qualify for government The MTA has so far been riodof threeyears. the Union Budget’s impact on the investing companies what Union mechanism under which payments grants under the viability- used only by Haryana for de- “Thisisanexcellentmove thesector.Excerpts: willmakethemcometoIndiaand were made to Iran. gap funding (VGF) scheme, veloping the Jhajjar power as now both inter and intra- letthemanswer. We donotneedto making them attractive to transmissionlineonPPPba- state transmission projects What changes do you foresee createourownanswers. Group set up to identify private sector investors. sis and the project has since would be given government for the Indian hardware in- The VGF scheme,fi- been commissioned. With grantstomakethemfeasible dustry after the Budget? condition,alreadydownby reces- Can we expect companies like locations for big ports nalised by the finance min- the model set to become part and attractive.This will cer- The most important task of sionary perils,it would be really Appletosetuptheirmanufac- The government said on Monday that it has istry few years back to pro- of theAct,itsusecouldbeex- tainly spur interest from the anygovernmentistoprovidedri- hard for Indian hardware manu- turing operations in India? constituted a group for identifying locations mote investment in the panded to attract private in- private sector,” said an offi- versforthegrowthof industry.In facturers to have a level playing Why just Apple and why just for developing big ports in three southern infrastructure sector,in- vestments.The absence of cial of a private sector trans- caseof theIThardwareindustry, fieldwithcompetitorsinChinaor expect! We must shape our policy states. “A technical committee has been volves central assistance in missioncompany. there are two ways such drivers Taiwan,orevenVietnam. framework and strengthen our constituted to identify the suitable locations the formof grant for capital The MTA will also be are injected. One,by higher ab- accountability system to get all for the development of major ports in Andhra expenditureupto20%of the available to central trans- sorptionof ITinvariousgovern- What is the way forward for large manufacturing companies Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala,” minister of project cost, while the state mission utility Powergrid ment investments,and the other the industry in that case? to invest in India. Once the appro- shipping GK Vasan said in the Lok Sabha on government — being one of Corporation for participa- is by creating environment that Ourbiggestargumentisthatif priatepoliciesareinplaceandthe Monday. Replying to a question whether theowners—couldalsopro- tion in any future inter-state expands private investment and India wants to create millions of investment atmosphere becomes some states have proposed to invest in the videamatchinggrantwitha transmission projects. penetration of IT.Some positive jobs and if manufacturing has to conducive, we believe there is no development of major ports, Vasan said, “No ceiling of another 20% of Attracting investment in announcements like the move to get topmost priority,the policy reason why IT giants such as Ap- proposal has been received from states for the project cost. transmission holds the key allow external commercial bor- has to be the driver. India has fo- plewon’tconsiderIndiaasaman- investment in the development of major According to sources,the tooverallgrowthof thepow- rowingsformodernisingtollsys- cused on IT software & services ufacturingdestination. ports.” He added: “Response has been power ministry is set to noti- ersectorinthecountry.With tems throughout the country duringthelastdecadeandturned received from the state governments of fyanewmodeltransmission additional generation ca- will increase ICT adoption and asleepysectorintoavibrantglob- What does the immediate fu- Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and agreement (MTA) finalised pacity of about 52,000 MW increase efficiency. The decision al force. The time for scripting a ture hold for the sector? Gujarat for providing land for development of by the Planning Commis- beingaddedin11thPlanand tofullycomputerisethePDSsys- similar success story for IT hard- This fiscal, we have had to another major port.” sion as an addition to the ex- another75,000MWexpected temisabigmove, whichwilldefi- ware sector has come.While for grapple with the floods in Thai- isting provision in the Elec- in 12th Plan, the network of nitelyhave positive implications software and services,lack of land and Rupee devaluation. Coal output to increase tricity Act, 2003, for the VGFactedasdisincentivefor transmission needs of ex- for the hardware industry.One governmentinterventionhelped However,the contracts from the purposesof competitive bid- private investment as load pended fast to enable evacu- negative implication is the in- the industry to prosper,in case of TamilNadugovernmentforlap- to 795 MT by 2016-17 ding. This would allow all carried by several transmis- ation of power from new crease of excise duty as well as thehardwareindustry,lackof in- tops,as part of poll promises, The country’s coal production is projected to states to use this MTA for sion lines is low initially generating stations. theservicetaxfrom10to12%. tervention will cause a demise of came as a big rescue,which ac- increase by over 43% to 795 million tonne PPP projects in both inter- squeezingmargins,especial- The transmission net- local value creations.Hence the counted for 25% of the market (MT) by 2016-17, from an estimated 554 MT in state and intra-state trans- ly if bids are based on trans- work currently stands at TheBudgethasnotaddressed alarmbellsareringingandthein- size of the laptop industry.Now the current fiscal, Parliament was informed mission networks without missionchargesasperSBDs. 245,401 ckm (circuit kms). someof yourkeydemands..... dustry expects more hand hold- the uncertainties of past year on Monday. The projection is based on furtherregulatoryapproval. UndertheMTA,ithasbeen The12thfive year planenvis- The hardware industry conti- ingfromthegovernment. are well behind us and we hope obtaining necessary clearances and The task force on mea- decided that the prospective ages to add another 120,000 nuestofacemanyhurdlesandone there would be significant availability of requisite land for coal mining, sures for attracting private bidders would be awarded Ckm of transmission lines. of themistheinverteddutystruc- India lags far behind in com- spendingfromvariousstategov- minister of state for coal Pratik Prakashbapu investment in transmission projectsonthebasisof lowest Theinter-regionaltransmis- ture wherein import of parts and petition. So what can be done ernments.So the outlook for Patil said in a written reply in the Rajya headedbyPlanningCommis- quote for grant of VGF. In sioncapacityalsoisexpected componentsattracthigherduties to bridge the gap? 2012-13 is bright. Lot depends on Sabha. “As per the draft report of the working sion member BK Chaturvedi these projects,the state elec- to increase from present than the finished products.This IndialagsfarbehindThailand, investment sentiments and ex- group on coal and lignite set up for formu- has approved the use of MTA tricityregulatorswillfixbase 23,800 MW to 32,650 MW by has resulted in many manufac- ChinaandTaiwan,whenitcomes pansion mood in private sector. lation of 12th Five Year Plan, the indigenous with the VGF component for unitary charges that will de- March2012,andto57,000MW turers closing down their facili- to manufacturing. After the 2011 If the Reserve Bank of India re- availability of coal is projected to increase alltransmissionprojects. termine the total transmis- by 2015 and to 75,000 MW by ties and turning into traders.In a Japanese tsunami and Thailand duces interest rates,we will see from 554 MT in 2011-12 (Budget estimates) to “The proposals have also sion charges for the project. 2017, providing enough op- highlycompetitive globalmarket floods,diversifying risk is a big lot faster expansion. 795 MT in 2016-17, provided requisite land is been accepted by the finance Then bids could be invited portunityforinvestments. available for coal mining and all other clearances are obtained in time,” he said. Govt realises R632 cr in FE Labs EXPERTSPEAK fines for illegal mining SURESH BHALLA, REINVENTING THE WHEEL associate professor, The government said on Monday that it has civil engineering realised fines worth R632 crore from department, IIT, Delhi companies and officials found involved in IIT-D develops illegal mining between 2006 and September The cost of such a sensor last year. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, low-cost sensor would be less than minister of mines Dinsha Patel said that one-tenth of the cost of during the same period, the highest amount for monitoring an accelerometer. of fine was realised from Andhra Pradesh Being embedded inside followed by R104.96 crore from Tamil Nadu the structure, the sensor practically and R104.24 crore from Gujarat. The minister concrete health said that since 2006, till the end of the becomes part of the structure and can September quarter of the current fiscal, Sthere anything common to a concrete serve it for verylong periods with no nearly 2 lakh vehicles were seized and 31,033 bridge, a human foot and the flow of traffic? concern of accidental damage court cases filed. The highest number of IWhen it comes to a low-cost sensor illegal mining cases were detected in 2010 at developed at the Indian Institute of Technology, PRADIPTA BANERJI, 73,115 followed by the previous year at Delhi, (IIT-D), to measure vibration patterns in director, IIT, Rourkee 41,578. In the current year so far, 47,254 cases structures, there may be a strong link. were detected in which Maharashtra has the The piezo-based sensor designed by the PZTiscurrentlyusedfor highest number at 20,928. institute’s civil engineering department was active sensingat an primarily aimed at structural health extremelylocallevelto 234 large infra projects monitoring, but its potential applications could extend to mapping foot-sole pressure for detectflaws and damage. running behind schedule clinical applications or as a traffic monitoring Thejuryisstillouton As many as 234 large infrastructure projects, sensor buried in the carriageway. structuralgloballevel including those of roads, power and A sensor made of a piezoelectric material The sensor was primarily aimed at monitoring structural health, structuralhealthmonitoring(SHM)using petroleum, are running behind schedule, the such as quartz, responds to mechanical stress PZT,asitisusedforlocal-levelresponse. government. “... Out of the 566 infrastructure by developing surface charges, a phenomenon but its potential applications could extend to mapping foot-sole projects (R150 crore and above) which are called ‘direct effect’. Conversely, an electric Thekeychallengesareto developsubstantive being monitored by the ministry of statistics field causes it to undergo a mechanical strain. pressure for diabetics or for monitoring vehicular traffic andautomatedinterpretationof online and programme Implementation (MOSPI), The prefix piezo is derived from Greek, which SHMdatathatcanprovidealertswhena there were 234 delayed projects,” minister of means ‘squeeze’ or ‘press’. that further laboratory trials and pilot studies it could be calibrated for action under real structuralorfunctionaldeterioration state (independent charge) for MOSPI In a recent research paper, a team led by are in progress. situations, it said. occursinastructure,andtheintegration Srikant Kumar Jena said in a written reply to associate professor of the civil engineering Piezo composites have been in use as The team also collaborated with the Centre the Rajya Sabha on Friday. Of the delayed department Suresh Bhalla demonstrated that a sensors and actuators in aerospace for Bio–Medical Engineering at IIT-D to adapt of datafromvarioussources projects, as many as 90 belong to the road piezoelectric ceramic (PZT) patch can applications for over two decades though their the same piezo sensor for biomedical transport and highways sector, Jena said complement existing techniques of measuring entry into civil engineering is more recent. applications such as mapping the foot-sole citing a September 2011 report. There are 45 the vibration response of a concrete structure, Currently, the types of sensors widely used for pressure and its distribution. “This is specially STATFACTS delayed project in the power sector and 30 in such as a bridge, by playing the double role of global structural health monitoring (SHM), or relevant for diabetic patients whose foot GAUGING PRESSURE the petroleum sector, he added. Of the total determining strain for the structure as a whole monitoring a structure as a whole, include pressure distribution is sometimes of concern. 48 coal projects, 17 are delayed, he said. and also at a local level. This can serve as a electrical resistance strain gauges, fibre-optic Such patients tend to lose their sensation on Similarly, 26 railway projects and 12 shipping viable alternative to expensive accelerometers, sensors, piezo-electric accelerometers and the sole and are prone to exerting very high and ports sector projects have been delayed. which are widely used to carry out the health ultrasonic pulse transducers. foot pressures leading to foot ulcers,” he says. monitoring of such structures, the team says. “PZT is currently used for active sensing at The team has submitted proposals for Checks in place for capital Bhalla, who heads IIT-D's Smart Structures an extremely local level to detect flaws transfer of the technology to a few companies and Dynamics Laboratory, has come out with a and damages. The jury is still out on under IIT-D’s Foundation for Innovation and market integrity: Meena ready-to-use composite piezoelectric sensor structural global level SHM using PZT, as the Technology Transfer. Bhalla says the sensor has Attributing the volatility in stock markets to especially for reinforced concrete structures. perforce are used for local-level response,” an edge because it can be used with minimum various global and domestic factors, the “The cost of such a sensor would be less than says IIT Rourkee director Pradipta Banerji. He intervention and is less expensive. ■ IIT, Delhi, researchers recently developed a government has said there are systems in one-tenth of the cost of an accelerometer,” he is also on the executive council of the Over the past few years, the quest for better ready-to-use composite piezoelectric sensor for reinforced concrete structures place to protect the integrity of the capital says, adding that the sensor practically International Society for Health Monitoring of sensors for SHM has driven research into market. “The authorities have put in place becomes part of the structure and can serve it Intelligent Infrastructure. areas such as wireless sensor networks and ■ The low-cost sensor is being adapted for biomedical uses such as monitoring foot systems and practices to promote a safe, for very long periods without any fear of In a subsequent paper published in the system identification techniques to interpret pressure on the sole and its distribution transparent and efficient market and protect accidental damage. journal Experimental Techniques, Bhalla's data and assess the condition of structures ■ The team also demonstrated its potential market integrity,” minister of state for Their research paper, published in the team demonstrated the use of the piezo and for life extension of old structures. use to measure traffic flow by embedding finance Namo Narain Meena said in a written Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and sensors for monitoring traffic flow by According to Banerji, some of the key the sensor in the carriageway reply to the Lok Sabha on Friday. Between Structures, notes that the performance of embedding it below the carriageway. challenges currently are to develop ■ Piezo composites are a recent entrant into January 2 and March 16, markets moved in surface-bonded patches like the piezo “Compared with other traffic sensors substantive and automated interpretation of civil engineering applications though they the range of (-) 2.73% to 2.77%, which the electric sensor have been shown to be as available in the market, the proposed sensor online SHM data that can provide alerts when have been used in aerospace applications minister attributed to various major good as accelerometers and can capture is very cost-effective and warrants minimal a structural or functional deterioration ■ The IIT-D piezoelectric sensor has an edge domestic and global factors. The systems frequencies as low as 1 hertz (Hz). “The data processing efforts and hardware costs,” occurs in a structure, and the integration of because it can be used with minimum instituted include advance risk management sensor has been tested in the laboratory the paper noted. The sensor had successfully data from various sources. intervention and is less expensive mechanisms, various limits on positions, environment successfully,” says Bhalla, adding passed tests under different traffic types and — Ajay Sukumaran margin requirements and circuit filters.