First it was Bajaj Auto. And now utility-vehicle manufacturer Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) has taken upon itself to train mechanics especially for the models rolling out of the company's stables. M&M is setting up a training school in Assonora, north Goa for the purpose. "To be set up on a 65-acre plot at Tivim in Assonora, the school will be functional within a year-and-a-half," company sources said. The idea of the school is to train basically jeep mechanics on how to correct automotive faults.

In addition, it will also have training courses for dealers on how to function effectively and also for salespersons and area officers on promotion, sales and finance. BIFR package for Eastern Telecom: The board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR) has sanctioned a Rs 3.63-crore rehabilitation scheme for the joint sector company Eastern Telecom and Technology Ltd (ETTL), envisaging a change in the product mix and an one-time settlement with banks.

Thecompany, a 85-15 joint venture between Dev Vrat Gupta and Satya Vrat Gupta and UP Hill Electronics Corporation (Uphec), would enhance its production capacity of push-button telephones (PBTS) to 2.5 lakh units per annum from the present 1.8 lakh units. Moreover, the company proposes to focus on manufacturing of PBTS for supply to department of telecommunications (DoT).

BHEL thermal sets achieve high PLF:

The thermal power generating sets manufactured by the Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) have registered an all-time high plant load factor (PLF) of 65.4 per cent. These sets have generated 230 billion units, about 79 per cent of the country's thermal power generation during 1997-98, a BHEL spokesman said on Sunday. Notably, BHEL-built 500mw unit at Trombay thermal power station operated uninterruptedly for over 260 days during this period. Seventy three other sets installed in various power stations ran continuously for more than 90 days. According to J Parthasarathy, chairman, Andhra PradeshState Electricity Board, the BHEL sets operating in various power stations in the state have touched an all-time high average PLF of 82.3 per cent.

ONGC unveils Rs 3,500-cr plan:

The Oil and Natural Gas Commission(ONGC) plans to invest an additional amount of Rs 3,500 crore in the eastern region comprising Assam, Nagaland and Meghalaya during the Ninth Plan. This amount was in addition to Rs 5,444 crore, already invested in this region till March 31, 1998, bringing the total investment to around Rs 9,000 crore by the end of the Ninth Plan. This was stated by Bikash Chandra Bora, chairman-cum-managing director (CMD) during his recent visit to ONG eastern region headquarters at Nazira.

Telecom equipment manufacturers plea:

The Indian Telecom Equipment and Cable Manufacturers Association (Itecma) on Sunday urged communications minister Buta Singh to intervene and solve the problems of small-scale units who are suffering because of the "wrong policy decisions" of the telecom department.The association said doing away with the centralised procurement of drop-wire by the department of telecom and instead calling for tenders in 20 telecom circles across the country, besides MTNL, Delhi and Mumbai, would result in small manufacturers having to engage additional resources to participate in the tenders which will increase the cost of production. The association urged the minister to review the decentralised system because it would also increase the centre's expenditure.