Latest news with #Rs580
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Fast-track Tiger Safari funding and it's implementation: Naik
1 2 Chandrapur: The long-awaited Tiger Safari in Chandrapur is finally moving ahead, thanks to a high-powered meeting led by Maharashtra forest minister Ganesh Naik at the Mantralaya on Wednesday. Chandrapur MLA Kishore Jorgewar has been advocating the idea Tiger Safari to create jobs and boost tourism in the district. During the meeting, Jorgewar emphasised the strategic importance of the safari in enhancing ecotourism and generating local livelihoods. Highlighting the high footfall at Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), he pointed out that visitors often leave disappointed due to low chances of tiger sightings. "The proposed safari will offer guaranteed tiger encounters alongside exotic species, thus transforming Chandrapur into a global wildlife tourism destination," he said. Naik instructed officials to fast-track the project while ensuring it meets world-class standards. "This must be a model of excellence — safe, sustainable, and tourist-friendly," he stressed. Officials were also told to ensure the safari blends well with the local ecosystem. The detailed plan, prepared by FDCM Gorewada Zoo Limited, is being reviewed to iron out any technical issues. The safari trails will be designed to protect the area's natural diversity. Naik directed senior officials to fast-track funding and execution of the project, ensuring that all components adhere to international standards. "The implementation must be robust, timely and world-class, with special attention to safety, biodiversity conservation, and tourism infrastructure," the minister said. Senior forest and ecotourism officials attended the meeting, including HoFF Shomita Biswas, additional chief secretary Milind Mhaiskar, and FDCM CEO Chandrashekhar Bode, among others. Spread over 171 hectares near Forest Academy on Mul Road, the Rs580 crore safari project will feature zones inspired by wildlife from across the globe — Australia, South America, South Africa, and India — including kangaroos, capybaras, jaguars, monkeys, exotic birds and of course tigers.
Gulf Today
20-03-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
BCCI announces $6.7m bonus for victorious India team after Champions Trophy win
The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) handed its team, which claimed the Champions Trophy title earlier this month, a $6.72 million cash bonus on Thursday, an amount three times the winner's purse for the 50-overs tournament. Rohit Sharma and his men beat New Zealand by four wickets in the March 9 final in Dubai to win their second successive global title, following their Twenty20 World Cup triumph last year. The team took home $2.24 million for the Champions Trophy win. The BCCI, the world's richest cricket board, announced an additional Rs580 million for the players, support staff and members of the selection committee for their latest success in an International Cricket Council (ICC) tournament. "Winning back-to-back ICC titles is special and this reward recognises Team India's dedication and excellence on the global stage," BCCI president Roger Binny said in a statement. Rohit Sharma poses with the winners trophy after defeating New Zealand in the final in Dubai. AP "The cash award is a recognition of the hard work that everyone puts in behind the scenes." Board secretary Devajit Saikia said the players deserved the bonus for India's recent domination of limited-overs cricket. "This victory has justified India's top ranking in white-ball cricket, and we are sure the team will continue to excel in the years to come," Saikia said. Reuters
Khaleej Times
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
BCCI announces Rs580 million cash prize for Team India after Champions Trophy victory
The BCCI announced a Rs580 million cash reward for Team India after their victory at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The financial prize will honour players, coaching and support staff and members of the Men's Selection Committee. "Under the able and astute leadership of Captain Rohit Sharma, India dominated the tournament, registering four commanding victories en route to the final," the board said in its statement. Team India began their campaign with a solid six-wicket win over Bangladesh, then secured a convincing six-wicket triumph against Pakistan. They continued their momentum with a 44-run victory over New Zealand before ultimately overcoming Australia by four wickets in the semi-final. Dubai hosted India's matches after it was confirmed as a neutral venue in December 2024. The Dubai International Stadium hosted five matches: India vs Bangladesh on February 20, India vs Pakistan on February 23, and India vs New Zealand on March 2, first semifinal on March 4, and the final on March 9. Other games of the tournament took place in Lahore.
Express Tribune
27-01-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
No reduction in industrial power prices
ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has not endorsed Pakistan's proposal to further reduce industrial electricity prices by Rs2.70 per unit through the complete elimination of cross-subsidies, which the sector is providing to shoulder subsidies to low-end residential consumers. Energy ministry sources told The Express Tribune that the ministry floated the proposal to further reduce electricity prices for industries by Rs2.70 per unit. This would have provided nearly Rs37 billion relief to the industrial sector for the February-June period of this fiscal year. The annual impact had been estimated at Rs89 billion. The proposal was shared with the IMF last week, which has objected to it on the grounds that the government should aim at overall power sector reforms. The IMF's objection was that Pakistan should not implement this proposal in isolation. The government is working on a proposal to move from a general to a targeted subsidies regime in collaboration with the IMF. The new regime may be rolled out in July this year, which would address the issue of cross-subsidies, said the sources. "We have decided not to follow that route and work on a comprehensive proposal to bring down power tariffs for all segments," said Zafar Yab Khan, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy. He was requested to comment on the IMF's observations about the proposal to reduce industrial tariffs by Rs2.70 per unit. It was the second such cut that the government wanted to extend to the industrial sector in the past seven months. But it again ignored the residential consumers who are also cross-subsidising the below 300 units/month consumers' bills. Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had announced a reduction in electricity tariffs for the industrial sector by Rs10.69 per unit to boost production and exports, according to an official announcement by the Prime Minister's Office in June last year. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also chaired a meeting on power tariffs for industrial consumers last week, said the sources. Earlier, the IMF had also not given the go-ahead for a Rs4.80 per unit reduction in electricity prices for consumers by abolishing taxes. This would have provided Rs580 billion annual relief to residential consumers. To compensate for the Rs580 billion losses, the Power Division had proposed increasing the current Petroleum Levy rate of Rs60 per litre and sacrificing the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), according to government sources. The Power Division had proposed that income tax, sales tax, further tax, extra tax, electricity duty, and the television fee being charged on electricity bills be abolished. Many of these taxes are unjustified, but due to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)'s failure to expand the tax base, the bills are used as a tool to collect revenues. The elimination of six types of taxes would have resulted in a Rs4.77 per unit price reduction, but it would have dented federal and provincial revenues by Rs580 billion per annum, said the sources. Out of the Rs580 billion, there was an estimated hit of Rs352 billion on the provinces. The federal government could have sustained a Rs230 billion hit, according to the sources. The per-unit electricity cost, including all taxes and surcharges, is about Rs65 to Rs70 per unit, which has already forced consumers to shift to rooftop solar panels. The plan states that by abolishing income tax and reducing the sales tax to the extent of only input tax adjustment claims of the power producers, the government can reduce the electricity price by Rs4.12 per unit. The annual impact of reducing and abolishing these taxes is Rs502 billion. Under the 7th National Finance Commission award, 57.5% of federal tax collection goes to the provinces as their shares. Then there is an extra tax carrying an annual implication of Rs64 billion. The government collects Rs62 billion in electricity duty, and its elimination would have resulted in a 51 paisa per unit reduction. There is also a Rs35 per bill PTV fee. The government collects Rs16 billion annually in PTV fees, and its elimination could have reduced electricity prices by 13 paisa per unit. There could have been a negative impact of Rs182 billion on Punjab due to the reduction in taxes, duties, and fees. Sindh would have taken an annual hit of Rs86 billion, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Rs54 billion, and Balochistan Rs28 billion.
