SAIL iron ore production, dispatch show uptick
Iron ore mines under Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) produced 5.19 MT of iron ore and dispatched 5.11 MT in the first quarter of the current fiscal 2018-19, an increase of 15.4 per cent and 16.7 per cent, respectively, compared to the corresponding period last year. Less loading time of rakes and their return from steel plants led to this improvement. Among SAIL mines, Kiriburu, Meghahatuburu, Gua and Chiria are in Jharkhand while Bolani, Barsua, Taldih and Kalta are in Odisha
Coal growth
Central Coalfields, which set its highest-ever production target of 76.35 MT of coal during 2018-19, produced 11.4 MT in the first quarter (March-June 2018), clocking 12 per cent growth compared to the corresponding period last year. This quarter, 17.7 MT coal was dispatched, recording 11 per cent growth. Supply to thermal power plants grew by 12 during the period. CCL increased its contribution to state coffers in royalty by over 50 per cent in four years, from Rs 925 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 1,501 crore in 2017-18, which would touch the Rs 2,000-crore mark in the current fiscal, CMD Gopal Singh said. He said the Coal India subsidiary would achieve its production target by expanding ongoing projects such as Magadh, Amrapali, Karo and Ashoka coalfields
Stake in freight firm
Tata Motors Finance Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Motors, on July 10 picked up a 26 per cent stake in TruckEasy, a tech-based freight aggregator owned by Loginomics Technologies Solutions, Bangalore, its first investment in a start-up. Formed in 2015, TruckEasy gives timely and reliable service for transporting needs of businesses within Bangalore. TruckEasy will use this investment to expand its footprint to more cities. Girish Wagh, Tata Motors president (commercial vehicles business unit) said this investment from Tata Motors would help TruckEasy access the automobile company’s network to expand to multiple locations in India. “TruckEasy is promoting entrepreneurship among transporters,” he said
Water projects
Nabard sanctioned Rs 373.27 crore to Jharkhand under its Rural Infrastructure and Development Fund for 12 drinking water projects in nine districts, Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Chatra, Garhwa, Giridih, Koderma, Pakur, Simdega and Seraikela-Kharsawan. The projects will supply drinking water to 4.4 lakh people
Empower goals
Manufacturer of cement and ready-mix concrete ACC, on July 6 held its first regional-rural football championship in Chaibasa, to foster skill development through sports. ACC hosted the three-day football tourney for 20 teams across eight villages in Chaibasa. Four were girl teams
