India examining recommendation to impose countervailing duty on Chinese steel imports

NEW DELHI: The Finance Ministry is considering a proposal to impose countervailing duty on steel imports from China, Vivek Johri,

Chairman of the Board of Indirect TaxesandCustoms, toldreportersat anevent.

“Recommendationhascomefrom

Directorate General of Trade Remedies and it is still under examination, we haven't taken a final decision,"Johrisaid.

First Over Dimensional Cargo (ODC) for Numaligarh

Refinery received by Sarbananda Sonowal

NEW DELHI: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal received the first over dimensional cargo (ODC) transported via waterways at Numaligarh Refinery jettyrecently.

This is the first consignment transported by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), nodal agency of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways in charge of inland waterways in the country, for the expansion of Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) capacity from 3 MMT to 9 MMT. The MoU to transport a total of 24 ODC as well as Over Weight Cargo (OWC) for NRL was signed between IWAI and NRL last year in presence of Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal lastyear.

Speaking on the occasion, ShriSonowalsaid,“Today,Assamhas witnessed a memorable event when an ODC was transported from Kolkata to Numaligarh using inland waterways. This is the true realisation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji’s vision of transformation via transportation.

While Modi ji’s commitment to enable Numaligarh to become an energy hub in the region, its capacity expansion in a relatively short duration of time would not have been possible without the smooth transportation of as many as 24 ODC & OWC meant for NRL expansion. Given the thrust to empower the waterwaysofIndia,underthe visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, our ministry took it upontomakethistransporthappenin a swift and smooth manner. With the successful arrival of first ODC at the NRL, traversing a huge distance via waterways, the role of Inland Waterways to empower the growth of Assam as well as that of Northeast India is imminent and I believe it is goingtoplayapivotalroleintherapid transformation of our region via an economical, ecological and sustainablemodeoftransportation.”

The first ODC was transported by an IWAI ship - MV Marine 66 - from KolkatatoNumaligarhRefineryJetty via Indo Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR). The Disel Hydrotreating (DHT) reactor weighs 485 MT in net while the gross weight was 521 MT. The length of this reactor is 31.5meterswhileheightis8.250meters alongwithadiameterof8.00meters.

The ODC left Kolkata on 18 March andreachedNumaligarhaftertravelling fornearlythreemonthsviaBangladesh. IWAI, in assistance from Dredging Corporation of India (DCI), also employedthreedredgersatfivelocations in Dhansiri since March to make this transportation a success. These three dredgers are CSD Mandovi, CSD Brahmini&HSDJiaBhoroli.