Heavy Rains Warning

Heavy Rains Warning 

Heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls over Gujarat region, Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Saurashtra, Kutch & Diu is predicted for today and tomorrow.  Moderate ainfall is also expected to occur at most places in the region.  Heavy to very heavy is also predicted at a few places on 30 July and isolated heavy to very heavy on 31 July 2015 over the same region.


Similarly, the Indian Meteorological Department predicted that rainfall would occur at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places over south Rajasthan during next 72 hours. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also expected at isolated places over north Rajasthan on 30 July 2015.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall would also occur at isolated places over southwest Madhya Pradesh during the next 24 hours.

A depression over southwest Rajasthan & neighbourhood intensified into a deep depression and lay centered, over southwest Rajasthan adjoining Gujarat state at 0830 hours IST of today. The system would remain over the same region during next 48 hours. Thereafter, it would move slowly northwestwards and weaken gradually.

Squally winds with speed reaching to 45-55 kmph along and off Gujarat & north Konkan coasts are expected during next 48 hours. Sea condition would be rough to very rough along and off Gujarat & north Konkan coasts during the same period. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea along & off Gujarat & north Konkan coasts during the same period.

Another depression is also set over northeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh & West Bengal. It remained practically stationary and lay centred there at 0830 hrs IST of today.

Because of this heavy to very heavy rainfall would occur at isolated places over the Gangetic West Bengal during next 48 hours and heavy to very heavy at a few places during the subsequent 24 hours.

Heavy rainfall would occur at isolated places over Odisha during next 48 hours and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places during subsequent 24 hours.

Squally winds with speed reaching 45-55 kmph along and off West Bengal & north Odisha coasts are expected during next 72 hours. Sea condition would be rough to very rough over North Bay of Bengal during the same period. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea along & off West Bengal and north Odisha coasts during the same period.

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Competition Commission of India Finds Hyundai, Reva and Premier to be in Contravention of the Competition Law 

The Competition Commission of India (‘the Commission’), in its order dated 27.7.15 has found 3 Car Companies, namely, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (Hyundai), Mahindra Reva Electric Car Company (P) Ltd. (Reva) and Premier Ltd. (Premier) to be in contravention of the provisions of the Competition Act, 2002 (‘the Act’). The instant order is in continuation of Commission’s main order in the same case dated 25.08.2014 vide which the Commission had inter alia imposed penalties on fourteen out of the seventeen car companies under Section 27 of the Act. 

The order against Hyundai has remained pending pursuant to the writ petition filed by it in the Madras High Court challenging the jurisdiction of the Commission. In regards, Reva and Premier, the order remained pending because of the applications filed by them requesting for striking out of their names from the array of parties. Accordingly, the Commission decided to pass a separate order against these three car companies after affording them reasonable opportunity to make their submissions in respect of the findings of the Director General (DG) in its investigation. 

After taking into account the findings of the DG and the detailed submissions by these three car companies, the Commission found their conduct to be in violation of the provisions of section 3(4) of the Act with respect to their agreements with local Original Equipment Suppliers (OESs) and agreements with authorized dealers whereby they imposed absolute restrictive covenants and completely foreclosed the aftermarket for supply of spare parts and other diagnostic tools. Further the Commission found that the said car companies, who were found to be dominant in the aftermarkets for their respective brands, abused their dominant position under section 4 of the Act. The car companies were found to be indulging in practices resulting in denial of market access to independent repairers as the latter were debilitated to provide services in the aftermarket for repair and maintenance of cars for want of genuine spare parts. Further, these car companies were also found to be using their dominant position in the market for spare parts and diagnostic tools to protect their market for repair services, thereby distorting fair competition. 

The Commission has prescribed the same corrective measures to Hyundai, Reva and Premier as were prescribed in the main order dated 25.08.2014 to infuse competition in the after sales market in the automobile sector. To reiterate, the order directed the car companies to cease and desist from indulging in conduct which has been found to be in contravention of the provisions of the Act. The car companies were also directed to adopt appropriate policies which shall allow them to put in place an effective system to make the spare parts and diagnostic tools easily available in the open market to customers and independent repairers. Further, the Commission directed the car companies to not to put any restrictions or impediments on the operation of independent repairers/garages. 

The Commission imposed a penalty calculated at the rate of 2% of its average turnover on Hyundai amounting to Rs. 420.2605 crores (Rupees Four Hundred and Twenty Crores, Twenty Six Lakhs and Five Thousand only) which is to be deposited within 60 days of receipt of the order. Considering the mitigating factors that worked in favour of Reva and Premier, the two car companies were absolved from paying monetary penalty. 

Detailed order can be seen at Commission’s website www.cci.gov.in 

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Shri Ananth Kumar condoles the death of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam 

Shri Ananth Kumar, Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers has expressed his sorrow over the sudden demise of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India. 

“With the passing away of Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, India has lost a great visionary who ignited minds with his great intellect and also had the utmost compassion for and touched every Indian alike, young and old, rich and poor, haves and have-nots. He was the ideal President, Scientist and Thinker. 

He was very dear to every Indian’s heart, and it is a great personal loss for me as I had the honour and good fortune to spend many inspiring moments with him. Every interaction with him left me in awe of this extraordinary man. 

I pray to the Almighty to bestow peace to this great soul Dr. Kalam, who has left a void in every Indian’s life.” 

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