Giving a push to
economy hit by slowdown , the Indian government on Wednesday unveiled a slew of policy measures including relaxation of spectrum rules for the telecom companies, assuring coal linkages to power sector and according environmental clearances to a mega hydel project.
A flurry of activities in the economic ministries, apparently at the instance of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), is aimed at sending a strong signal that the government wants to tackle the slowdown by fast-tracking decision making, sources said.
The economic growth rate during the current fiscal is expected to
slowdown to 6.9 per cent from 8.4 per cent a year ago.
At the instance of the PMO, Coal India will sign by March-end agreements for supply of fuel to power projects commissioned up to December 2011.
The decision addresses long-standing tussle between the state-controlled coal sector and private power producers and follows constitution of a Committee of Secretaries (CoS) constituted by the Prime Minister to look into issues.
Giving a major advantage to old GSM operators, the government said all telecom service providers would be allowed to hold higher spectrum of up to 10 MHz. Current prescribed limit is 6.2 MHz of GSM spectrum.
In another important decision, Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan has given the green signal for construction of a 1,750 MW Demwe Lower Hydro Electric hydel project in Arunachal Pradesh on Lohit river, overruling ecological concerns.
Sources said that the Prime Minister's office was in favour of giving green clearance to the project, as demanded by the state government. .
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