National
Indian Oil pays Rs 2,935 cr VAT to Odisha government
Bhubaneswar, Sep 19 (IANS) Indian Oil has paid Rs 2,935 crore to the Odisha government towards value added tax (VAT) for Paradip Refinery, said a statement on Tuesday.
The oil company has paid the tax for the period between November 2015 — when the refinery commenced commercial operations — and July 2017.
The development was a follow up of the meeting between Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan held in the national capital last month to resolve the VAT deferment issue between Indian Oil and the state government.
The Odisha government agreed to extend the deferment of VAT on products produced by Paradip Refinery and sold in the state from 11 to 15 years but with a cap of Rs 700 crore per year, said the statement.
Based on the follow-up discussions held in the Joint Working Group under the chairmanship of the Petroleum Secretary, and consisting of senior representatives of Indian Oil and the state government, it was agreed that Odisha government will henceforth receive regular VAT/GST revenue from Indian Oil, out of which Rs 700 crore per annum will be given as interest-free loan to Indian Oil for 15 years.
Complimenting the state government and Indian Oil for agreeing on a middle path and a mutually acceptable solution, Pradhan said that the new arrangement will give a big boost to industrial growth in Odisha.
Indian Oil’s investment of over Rs 40,000 crore in Paradip Refinery and allied facilities is the single largest investment by a corporate in Odisha.
More investments are in the offing, including expansion of refining capacity, and downstream petrochemical options like Polypropylene, Mono Ethylene Glycol, Paraxylene, Petcoke gasification, which will go a long way in the development of Odisha as a petrochemicals hub.
Pradhan urged the state government to facilitate Indian Oil’s expansion plans in order to create downstream petrochemical and allied industries in Odisha.
Over a period of time, this will enable the state to increase its revenue and also create additional employment avenues for the youth of the state, he said, adding that it will also lay the foundation for a new industrial ecosystem, facilitating industrialisation and fiscal consolidation.
–IANS
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National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.