Latest news with #Chakraborty
India Today
6 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Hotel rates under watch in Bengal's Digha as tourism booms after temple launch
Digha in West Bengal is witnessing an unprecedented tourism boom following the inauguration of the Jagannath Temple. The surge in tourist footfall has triggered a steep hike in hotel prices, leading to widespread complaints of overcharging, particularly on weekends and festive Jagannath Temple in Digha was officially inaugurated by the West Bengal government on April 30. The temple is architecturally inspired by the 12th-century Jagannath Temple in Puri and enshrines the same newly opened Jagannath Temple has significantly enhanced Digha's appeal, driving the current tourism boom. Tamal Basu, Manager of Basu Group of Hotels Private Limited, linked the price hike to increased demand, saying that room rates have risen from around Rs 2000 to rs 2700 for deluxe rooms, and up to Rs 3500 on weekends. Tourists have reported that hotel tariffs have doubled or even tripled in some cases, with several hotels charging extra even on advance bookings. This abrupt spike has upset many long-time visitors who share a sentimental connection with state government has also stepped in to regulate hotel tariffs, saying that prices cannot be increased arbitrarily. This intervention has received support from both tourists and hoteliers. Following the Chief Minister's directive, the Digha Shankarpur Hoteliers Association also initiated measures to address response to mounting complaints, the Digha Hotel Association has taken corrective steps. All hotels are now mandated to prominently display tariff Chakraborty, Joint Secretary of the Association, acknowledged the grievances, saying, 'Many of the complaints about hotel rates are valid. Several hotels have been overcharging.' He confirmed that the association conducted a meeting on Saturday, June 14, where they reiterated the directive to display tariff emphasised the need for fair treatment of tourists, calling them 'the lifeblood of our hotel industry,' and warned of 'stringent action' against the Rath Yatra festival underway, hotel bookings are peaking once again. Authorities expect over one lakh tourists on the day of the festival. - EndsTrending Reel IN THIS STORY#West Bengal
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First Post
7 days ago
- Business
- First Post
From magnets to fertilisers: China's new trade weapon hits Indian farms
After blocking supplies of rare earths, China has blocked supplies of specialty fertilisers to India, which has led to shortage and rise of fertiliser prices in India. read more A drone view shows a cargo ship and shipping containers at the port of Lianyungang in Jiangsu province, China October 17, 2024. (Photo: Reuters) After blocking rare earths' supplies to India, China has now blocked the supply of specialty fertilisers to India, according to a report. Earlier this month, it emerged that even though China had resumed the exports of rare earths to rest of the world on licence-basis, no licences were being issued to India . The halt in supplies posed a substantial threat to India's automobile industry that depends on Chinese rare earth supplies, particularly magnets. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Economic Times has reported that China has halted specialty fertilisers' shipments to India for two months. These fertilisers are used in the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, and other remunerative crops. China has not blocked such shipments to any other country. Notably, the blocking of rare earths and fertilisers has come at a time when India and China are working to improve their relationship after reaching an understanding for partial disengagement in the standoff in Ladakh last year. The two countries have just resumed the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and are under talks to resume direct flights. Indian imports from China down 80% Indian imports of specialty fertilisers from China are down up to 80 per cent, according to Rajib Chakraborty, the President of Soluble Fertilizer Industry Association (SFIA). 'China has been restricting suppliers of specialty fertilisers to India for the last four to five years. However, this time it is a complete halt,' Chakraborty told ET. A separate report in the newspaper said that farmers are reporting shortages and increase in prices for fertilisers like Diammonium Phosphate (DAP), which is used widely in rabi crops like wheat, pulses, and mustard. 'India's import of DAP from China fell drastically by nearly 75 per cent in the first half of FY25 from corresponding period last year,' Richa Bagaria, Associate Director, CareEdge Ratings, told ET. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As a result, farmers in states like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, have reported shortages of the fertiliser and have said they are forced to pay Rs 250-350 more for a bag of fertiliser, according to the newspaper. Is it about 'PN3'? In its report, the ET mentioned that the blocking of supplies industrial essentials like rare earths and fertilisers has come amid India's block on direct investment from China under 'press note 3'. India issued press note 3, commonly called PN 3, in 2020 that essentially blocked all investments from China unless approved by the Union government. The PN 3 was issued during the India-China conflict in Ladakh in 2020 when China mounted incursions in India. Over the past year, the government has said that there was no plan to relax the provisions. 'I cannot blindly receive foreign direct investment (FDI) because I want money for investment, forgetful or unmindful of where it is coming from…'We want business, we want investment, but we also need some safeguards, because India is located in a neighbourhood that is very, very sensitive,' said Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in October 2024.
Economic Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
After magnets, China now plants agriculture barrier for India
Live Events Local Production Unviable (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel New Delhi: China has halted shipments of specialty fertilisers used to increase the yields of fruits, vegetables and other remunerative crops to India for the last two months, according to top executives of several large importers. China, a global supplier of agricultural inputs, continues to export them to other imports about 80% of its supplies of these chemicals from China. "China has been restricting suppliers of specialty fertilisers to India for the last four to five years. However, this time it is a complete halt," said Rajib Chakraborty, president, Soluble Fertilizer Industry Association (SFIA).Shipments from factories are subject to inspections by the Chinese not been inspecting shipments meant for India, using various procedures to block exports without imposing an express ban, said people with knowledge of the has been restricting the export of key raw materials such as rare earth magnets in apparent retaliation for tariffs and other mandates government approval for investment by countries that have a border with it, specifically aimed at its northern against the backdrop of an escalation in tensions between the two over the past five years, including border skirmishes and China's support for fertilisers are non-subsidised soil nutrients. These include water-soluble fertilisers (WSFs) and liquid fertilisers for foliar and fertigation, controlled release fertilisers (CRFs), slow-release fertilisers (SRFs), micronutrient fertilisers, fortified fertilisers, customised fertilisers, nano fertilisers, bio-stimulants, organic and other value-added and innovative typically imports 150,000-160,000 tonnes of specialty fertilisers in the June-December period, according to some industry India, the market for micronutrient fertilisers is expected to cross $1 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 9.2%, according to the Fertilizer Association of India (FAI).Indian biostimulants are expected to grow to $734 million by 2029, a CAGR of 15.6% while the organic fertiliser market is predicted to increase to $1.13 billion by 2032, a CAGR of 7%, according to the fertilisers enhance crop yields, improve soil health, and optimise nutrient use efficiency, often reducing environmental impact compared to traditional top fertiliser companies such as Deepak Fertilizers , Paradeep Fertilizers and Nagarjuna Fertilizer Company operate in this does not have the technology to produce specialty fertilisers as volumes until now have been low, making it unviable for companies to set up manufacturing facilities locally.'However, specialty fertilisers are now replacing primary fertilisers, thereby increasing their consumption volume,' Chakraborty said, adding that a large number of companies are now interested in setting up manufacturing the meantime, India can also explore other options for importing these fertilisers.'While alternative destinations such as Jordan and Europe can be explored, the challenge is to land these chemicals in time,' said a senior official of a multinational fertiliser urea, diammonium phosphate (DAP) and muriate of potash (MOP) are considered commodity fertilisers with broader applications, specialty fertilizers offer targeted nutrient delivery and formulation for specific needs.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
After magnets, China now plants agriculture barrier for India
Live Events Local Production Unviable (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel New Delhi: China has halted shipments of specialty fertilisers used to increase the yields of fruits, vegetables and other remunerative crops to India for the last two months, according to top executives of several large importers. China, a global supplier of agricultural inputs, continues to export them to other imports about 80% of its supplies of these chemicals from China. "China has been restricting suppliers of specialty fertilisers to India for the last four to five years. However, this time it is a complete halt," said Rajib Chakraborty, president, Soluble Fertilizer Industry Association (SFIA).Shipments from factories are subject to inspections by the Chinese not been inspecting shipments meant for India, using various procedures to block exports without imposing an express ban, said people with knowledge of the has been restricting the export of key raw materials such as rare earth magnets in apparent retaliation for tariffs and other mandates government approval for investment by countries that have a border with it, specifically aimed at its northern against the backdrop of an escalation in tensions between the two over the past five years, including border skirmishes and China's support for fertilisers are non-subsidised soil nutrients. These include water-soluble fertilisers (WSFs) and liquid fertilisers for foliar and fertigation, controlled release fertilisers (CRFs), slow-release fertilisers (SRFs), micronutrient fertilisers, fortified fertilisers, customised fertilisers, nano fertilisers, bio-stimulants, organic and other value-added and innovative typically imports 150,000-160,000 tonnes of specialty fertilisers in the June-December period, according to some industry India, the market for micronutrient fertilisers is expected to cross $1 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 9.2%, according to the Fertilizer Association of India (FAI).Indian biostimulants are expected to grow to $734 million by 2029, a CAGR of 15.6% while the organic fertiliser market is predicted to increase to $1.13 billion by 2032, a CAGR of 7%, according to the fertilisers enhance crop yields, improve soil health, and optimise nutrient use efficiency, often reducing environmental impact compared to traditional top fertiliser companies such as Deepak Fertilizers , Paradeep Fertilizers and Nagarjuna Fertilizer Company operate in this does not have the technology to produce specialty fertilisers as volumes until now have been low, making it unviable for companies to set up manufacturing facilities locally.'However, specialty fertilisers are now replacing primary fertilisers, thereby increasing their consumption volume,' Chakraborty said, adding that a large number of companies are now interested in setting up manufacturing the meantime, India can also explore other options for importing these fertilisers.'While alternative destinations such as Jordan and Europe can be explored, the challenge is to land these chemicals in time,' said a senior official of a multinational fertiliser urea, diammonium phosphate (DAP) and muriate of potash (MOP) are considered commodity fertilisers with broader applications, specialty fertilizers offer targeted nutrient delivery and formulation for specific needs.
Hindustan Times
25-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Bengal transport minister to hold talks with private bus owners associations
Kolkata, West Bengal Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty said he will hold discussion with private bus owners associations in the first week of July for modernising the transport fleet, to make it commuter friendly. Bengal transport minister to hold talks with private bus owners associations The initiatives include introducing the 'Yatri Sathi' app across the transport sector for giving real-time updates about arrival of buses at designated stops. Speaking to PTI, the minister said in the Yatri Sathi app where is my bus feature has already been rolled out in certain routes run by the state transport department in the city as a pilot project, all state undertaking buses will be gradually brought under its anvil by this year. "However, we need to thrash out certain issues with the private bus operators on the issue citing the cost of buying a smartphone for their drivers which will be linked with the app. Apart from bus owners unions, there are unions of bus employees and we need to take them on board. They are arguing a mobile will not cost less than ₹ 8,000 and cite the economy factor and the earning from a bus after several trips," he said. Chakraborty said the transport department has plans to put up digital display boards across bus shelters in the city and neighbourhood and make the waiting time for passengers minimal by streamlining the system. "We are sympathetic to the concern of bus operators and the economic affordability issue. We are also mulling over the idea of bearing the cost of installing android phones in private bus driver cabins by involving some parties. But we have to contemporize the present transport system and infrastructure in the city proper and the surrounding metropolitan area," he added. The minister said to another question, that to minimise the number of road mishaps, the government will also prevail upon bus operators to install mirrors which will cover the blind spot in the driver's cabin. A state transport official said the app has already been introduced on a pilot basis in several state bus routes covering south Kolkata and the area contiguous to airport and sector V Salt Lake and New Town. West Bengal Private Bus and Minibus Owners Association spokesperson Pradip Narayan Bose said the state is exerting pressure on private bus owners to introduce Yatri Sathi's Where is my bus at least in some vehicles by July 25. "We have put forward some proposals at a meeting - i.e. official ratification of ₹ 10 as first stage bus fare, bringing state and private buses under same permit system, making advertising agencies pay ₹ 12,000 annually for carrying back panel advertising boards and improve the road infrastructure," he said. If the state insists without accommodating these concerns, many of the bus/mini buses will stop plying due to non-viability in business, he said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
