Hurdle-buster
Notwithstanding Coal India’s track record, coal secretary Anil Swarup is confident that the PSU will double its output by 2019. It seems Swarup, who has taken up the job recently, is banking on his coordination skills to push CIL projects. Prior to this, Swarup was heading an inter-ministerial cell in the PMO to expedite stuck infrastructure projects. CIL has been blaming factors like delayed clearances and lack of last mile connectivity for the delay in its mining projects. With Swarup on its back, will CIL pick up pace?
Medicine in India
The government may not have any appetite to run sick PSUs as a rule, but it won’t hesitate to make an exception when deciding the fate of sick enterprises making life-saving drugs. It is thinking of reviving six sick PSUs, including IDPL and Hindustan Antibiotics, which produce drugs for cancer and tuberculosis. The grapevine has it that the proposal fits in with the government’s ‘Make in India’ policy, which is designed to revive the manufacturing sector.
