PNB Launches Mobile payments and SMS Alert Services
The Punjab National Bank has launched “ payments” through its Mobile Banking Channel. The facility was launched by chairman and managing director KR Kamath alongwith Executive Directors MV Tanksale and Nagesh Pydah, during the Circle Head conference of the Bank held at .
With the induction of this facility, customer now will have a hassle free and convenient way of making payment of his utility bills through his Mobile phone without any manual intervention. Thus, this facility will add value to Bank’s existing banking services.
The Mobile Banking facility of Bank is already offering following services: View account balance, Account Statement Request, Account Statement, Online Mini Statement(Quick View of last 10 transactions), Transfer of funds to own accounts, Online Stop payment of cheque, Request for Cheque Book issuance, Cheque Status inquiry, Cheque Status inquiry, Message to Relationship Manager, Changing SMS Password, Activity Inquiry, Transfer of funds to 3rd Party Accounts within Bank, Changing Login and Transaction Password, Offline Request (FD Opening, NEFT, RTGS)
Kamath, CMD, PNB has also dedicated a Pull-SMS facility for PNB’s customers and non customers . Under this product, by sending a SMS to 5607040, the users will get a brief of a new product/scheme launched by the Bank ,thereby enabling him to avail it.

IREDA PRESENTS DIVIDENDCHEQUE TO FAROOQ ABDULLAH
The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has paid a dividend of Rs. 14.54 crore to the Government of India for the financial year 2009-10.
The cheque for the amount was presented by IREDA chairman and managing director Debashish Majumdar to Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah.
The dividend payment for 2009-10 is higher by 29.24 per cent as compared to the amount paid in the previous year by IREDA, an official press release said.
The release said IREDA had posted an all-time high profit before tax (PBT) of Rs. 141.05 crore during 2009-10, which was 64.20 per cent higher than the previous fiscal. It earned a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs. 72.69 crore.
According to the release, loan sanctions and disbursements during the year stood at Rs. 1,823.91 crore and Rs. 890.03 crore as compared to Rs. 1,489.93 crore and Rs. 770.95 crore, respectively, in the previous fiscal.
The principal sectors which are being funded by IREDA are Wind, Small Hydro, Co-generation, Biomass Power and Solar Thermal. The cumulative commissioned renewable power generation capacity addition, as on 31 March 2010, on account of IREDA’s lending operations stood at 2,360 MW, the release added.

RAILWAYS SHINE IN COMMONWEALTH GAMES, WIN 13 GOLD MEDALS
Railway players have done great job in the recently concluded Commonwealth games as they have won 23 Medals for which include 13 Gold medals, 3 Silver Medals and 7 Bronze medals.
Railways has announced special Minister’s Awards for Railway players winning medals in the Commonwealth Games. The awards will be Rs. 10 lakh for Gold Medal winner, Rs. 6 lakh for Silver Medal winner and Rs. 4 lakh for Bronze Medal winner. These awards will be in addition to the awards given by Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB). The awards announced by the RSPB are Rs. 5 lakh for Gold, Rs. 3 lakh for Silver and Rs. 2 lakh for Bronze and a promotion/increment in the Railway service.

Honour for IndianOil
In a thumping recognition of its technological prowess and ability to deploy it for mass benefit, IndianOil’s farmer-friendly Agrospray oil has won the prestigious CSIR award for Science & Technology innovations for Rural Development (CAIRD).
The award was presented by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to Chairman BM Bansal and Director (R&D) Dr RK Malhotra.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Singh appreciated the efforts of IndianOil towards the cause of the rural folk of the country.
Minister for Science and Technology Prithviraj Chavan appreciated IndianOil R&D team for developing bio-degradable, non-toxic, non-phyto toxic agro spray oil.
Introduced for the first time in , IndianOil’s SERVO Agrospray oil is a revolutionary pest control product that can help boost agricultural production in the country.
It is environment friendly, non-toxic, bio-degradable and highly beneficial in diverse agricultural crops such as cotton, pulses, grains, mustard, groundnut, sugarcane, potato, tea, grapes, mango, apple, citrus fruits, etc.
It is also highly effective in controlling certain plant diseases. Economical and non-detrimental for flora, fauna, human health and environment, the SERVO Agrospray oil is one of its kind.
It preserves the freshness and nutritional value of the crop and could help replace harmful and toxic pesticides and insecticides.
The prestigious award carries a shield, citation and cash prize of Rs. 10 lakh and was bagged by IndianOil in the face of stiff competition from over 100 contestants.
This CSIR Award for S&T Innovations for Rural Development (CAIRD) was instituted by Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in the year 2006 to recognise and honour outstanding Science & Technology innovations that have helped transform the lives of rural people.

New directors at NTPC
SP Singh (57 Years) recently took over as Director (Human Resources) NTPC. He is a Graduate in Electrical Engineering from Madhav Institute of Technology & Science, , and completed his schooling from the prestigious Colvin Taluqdar’s College, .
As a Director (HR), he shall head the Human Resource function of the organization along with Power Management Institute, Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Communication, Industrial safely, Resettlement & Rehabilitation etc.
Singh joined NTPC in 1984 and worked for more than 25 years in Engineering Department, looking after various functions of Plant Engineering related Quality Assurance & Inspection, Project Layout engineering, Project Engineering etc.
He served as ED (Corporate Contacts & Materials) and Chief Executive officer, of NTPC Electric Supply Company (A wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC) and lastly as ED (I/C) Human Resources during his tenure in NTPC.
In another development, NN Misra has joined as Director (Operations) of NTPC.
A graduate in Electrical Engineering from , Rourkela in the year 1977, Misra completed his schooling from the Stuwart, passing the Indian School Certificate Examination.
As a Director(Operation), he is responsible for the Operation activities of the entire NTPC Projects.
He joined NTPC in 1977 as Executive Trainee (2nd Batch) in the Electrical Department of NTPC looking after the various functions of Electrical Design, Project Engineering etc.
He also worked as Executive Director, Northern Capital Region, Executive Director(CC&M), Executive Director(HR) and lastly as Executive Director(OS).
He started his career in BHEL in 1975 as Engineer Trainee and worked for 9 years at BHEL, in the Turbo-generator Design Department.
First 500 MW Unit of Jhajjar Project goes on Stream
The first 500 MW unit of the Indira Gandhi Super Thermal Power Project at Jhajjar in Haryana was successfully synchronised with the grid.

The project is being set up by the Aravali Power Company Private Limited (APCPL), a joint venture of the public sector NTPC Limited, Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited and Indraprastha Power Generation Company Limited of the Government of Delhi.

The project is located at Jharli village in Jhajjar district and is one of the power projects that was planned to power the Commonwealth Games, currently being held in Delhi.

NTPC has already commissioned two units of 490 MW each at its Dadri project near here for the Games.