COMPUTERESE IN CHINESE: When in
China, turn
Chinese. The US-
based Microsoft
Corp seems to
have no qualms
about following
this strategy. It has just set Chineselanguage standards for its much-
vaunted operatint system Windows
95 being sold in Beijing. Microsoft
has signed a pact with two units of
China's electronics industry min-
istry - the state technology supervision administration and department
of computer informalisation. The
retail price of this version is expected
to be 10-15 per cent higher than
the US $100 price being offered in the
US market.
GOING GREEN: The Kakinada-based
Nagarjuns Fertilisers, and Chemicals Limited (NFCL) has created a
green belt I lan in width to the west
of its project site in Kakinada, Andhra
Pradesh. The company has planted a
total of 2 Jakh saplings consisting of
137 species in an expanse of 667 ha.
This is the NFCL's way of 4cknowledging the bounty bestowed uopn us
by nature, says V V Kumar, general
manager. The green belt also abounds
in animal life representing almost a
mini-zoo. An aviary for birds and a
fruit orchard have also been developed. Treated effluent is being used
for irrigating the green belt, Cultivated at a cost of Its 1,638.15 lakhs.
LEARN WHILE YOU WASH: Become
cyberspace-literate as you do your
washing... this is
the message that
Bubbles laun-
derette at Priargate, Derby, in Britain,
conveys to its clients. Customers at
Bubbles would be shown how to
access the worldwide cyberapace web
while their clothes are being churned
in the washing machines. Free calls
and tuitions will be provided to them
by the Derby University.
COURTING COTTON: Maikaal Fibres
Limited, whose cotton toamlfaCtUrIng plant is located in Khargone,
Madhya Pradesh, is increasing its
output of bio-cotton in 1995-1996, to
nearly 500 tonnes. Apart from
shoring up Maikaal's green credentials, the manufacture of bio-cotton
makes sound business sense.
Explains Mrigendra Jalan, copromoter and managing director of
the company: " Bio-catton refers to
cotton that is grown without the use
of any artificial insecticides or pesticides. There are price premia to be
earned by selling bio-cotton to the
right customers."
GREEN REFRIGERATOR:
Come April 1996,
and India will get its
first too per cent
CFC-free refrigerator, courtesy the
Hyderabad-based
Allwyn group.
Giving details of the project, S N
Tripathi, chief executive of Allwyn,
said that the non-CFC refrigerators
would incorporate German technology. While other companies manufactored fridges with non-CFC compressors only, some 400 gin of CFC
was retained for insulation. Allwyn,
however, would replace the CFC in
both the compressors and insulation
with non-CFC substances.
RICE OF FAME: The Delhi-based
Proagro Seeds Company has broken
new ground with its hybrid rice variety called 'Hybrid Rice 6201'. The
rice yields will now he 20 to 25 per
cent more than the present varieties.
Compared to six tonnes per ha of
ordinary hybrid variety rice,
Proagro's new variety will yield eight
tonnes per ha. Hybrid Rice
International, a new company
founded by Proagro with Japan
Tobacco Inc, Japan Asia Investment
Corporation and Nippon Hybrid
Rice International as partners, will
undertake further research to develop, produce and market the hybrid
variety of rice.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.