Tamil Nadu sugar workers' bonus
The Tamil Nadu government on Friday announced a bonus and ex-gratia payment of 20 per cent for employees of 16 cooperative and three public sector sugar mills in the state for 1998-99. An official press release said that 15,000 employees would receive a total amount of Rs 6.58 crore as a result of the government's decision. The bonus quantum, which includes ex-gratia payment, is the same as that paid to sugar mill employees last year. The 20 per cent bonus would be calculated with Rs 2,500 as the maximum monthly salary, and would be implemented for all employees without any ceiling in basic salary for eligibility. The employees would get either productivity-linked bonus or 20 per cent bonus fixed by the government, whichever is higher. The remaining amount would be paid ex-gratia, the release said. The Chief Minister, M Karunanidhi, ordered payment of bonus based on the recommendation of the commissioner for sugar, who was acting on appeals by the union leaders, it said.

Orissa power supply losses
The losses in the power supply network in five Orissa districts following the super-cyclonic and floods was Rs 29.67 crore, as per preliminary estimates by the North Eastern Electric Supply Company (Nesco). Of the five districts under its jurisdiction--the loss was Rs 11 crore in Balasore district, 7.50 crore in Jajpur, 5.72 crore in Bhadrak, 3.55 crore in Mayurbhanj and Rs 1.90 crore in Keonjhar, company sources said. However, the total figure might go up as the losses in power supply network in the rural areas of Bhadrak, Jajpur and Balasore were yet to be ascertained due to continued inundation. The sources said power supply has been restored in parts of Keonjhar, and the adjacent areas of Mayurbhanj and Balasore.

Bullion prices show mixed trend
In restricted activity, prices showed a mixed trend on the bullion market in Mumbai on Friday, as both the precious metals, gold and silver moved in opposite directions. The market closed early on account of Dhanteras festival. Standard gold opened better at Rs 4,600 and after moving in a narrow range, closed at the same level, showing a small gain of Rs 5 over the previous day's close of Rs 4,595. The 22-carat gold was nominally quoted higher at Rs 4,255 as against the last close of Rs 4,250. However, ten-tola gold bar (.999 purity) declined by Rs 100 to Rs 53,800 from Rs 53,900. Ready silver (.999 fineness) and tenderable silver fell by Rs 25 each to Rs 8,215 and Rs 8,220 from yesterday's close of Rs 8,240 and Rs 8245 respectively, while raw silver (.916 fineness) declined by Rs 30 to Rs 8,080 from Rs 8,110 due to good arrivals of raw silver.

Crop insurance claims approved
The central government has approved the claims of crop insurance of Andhra Pradesh for the khariff season 1998 amounting to Rs 29.61 crore, under the comprehensive crop insurance scheme, C Ramachandra Rao, state minister for cooperation, said in Hyderabad. Of this, the state government would bear an amount of Rs 9.87 crore as one third share. The General Insurance Corporation (GIC) would bear the remaining amount, an official release quoting Rao said. The minister further said that 1,89,866 beneficiaries from 266 mandals have been covered for paddy and other commercial crops. The amount would be disbursed to the farmers through cooperative banks and commercial banks within 15 days.

(Reuters & Agencies)