The trans-border trade with Bangladesh through Dawki-Tamabil route resumed from Monday following a meeting held between BSF and BDR, official sources said. The route had remained closed from October 30 after two BSF personnel were killed allegedly by Bangladeshis. Tea exports up: Tea exports is estimated to have increased by 27 per cent in quantity and 35 per cent in value during the first five months of the current fiscal against the corresponding period last year, the Tea Board sources said. Exports during April-August this year increased to 80.27 million kg from 63.05 million kg last year, they said. In terms of value, it increased from Rs 509.29 crore to 689.92 crore this year, they said.

Seafood sector seeks funds

: The Indian seafood industry, hit hard by the recent ban by the European Union, has sought liberal financial assistance from the government for upgrading about 400 seafood processing units in the country. According to president of the Indian Seafood Exporters Association Abraham Tharakan at least Rs1,000 crore additional investment is needed to upgrade these units to fullfill the latest international quality obligations. Majority of the units were not in a position to invest such a huge amount,he said.

New disinfection knowhow from Russia

: Russian researchers have developed a new disinfection technology for water treatment and other applications. The technology, called electrochemical activation (ECA), has been developed at the All Russian Institute of medical Engineering, says a paper presented at the recently concluded water Asia'97 in Deslhie. Eca involves electrochemical treatment of liquid with natural or added salts at dilute concentrations to produce solutions with disinfection and sterilizing properties having wide applications.

Coffee growers dispute

: Coffee growers, led by their South India and Karnataka organisations, have disputed the coffee production estimates for the current season (July 97-June 98) of 2.30 lakh tonnes made by the coffee board. The actual crop is expected to be between 2.10 lakh tonnes and 2.13 lakh tonnes, chairman of Karnataka Planters Association (KPA) A Mohsin told reporters in Bangalore on Monday.

Coffee conference

: Coffee planters have sounded skeptical about India hitting the union government fixed coffee output target of three lakh tonne by the end of the Ninth Plan. The planters view was enunciated at a coffee conference of the United Planters Association of South India (UPASI), which was told that achieving nine per cent annual growth to reach the three lakh tonne figure was impracticable.

Aviation safety panel

: A committee on aviation safety has held the present set up of the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) was unsuitable and inadequate for its responsibilities and suggested converting it into a fully autonomous eight-member body. The proposed new body called the civil aviation authority (CAA) should have 40 per cent increase in the authorised strength of officers for effective monitoring of airworthiness and licensing activities, the committee recommended in its report submitted to the civil aviation minister, CM Ibrahim recently, the source added.

Garment exporters' demand

: Garment exporters have urged the government not to go ahead with certain proposals in the Income Tax Bill, 1997 to be placed in the parliament, as it would further cripple the garment industry which is suffering from the recessionary trend in the international markets. The proposed dilution of sections 10a and 10b of the bill and amendments in the existing tax benefits will further cripple the garment industry, president of garment exporters association HKL Magu said in a release.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.