NEW DELHI, NOV 19: The Government announced on Friday night that it would amend the Electricity Regulatory Act to enable two or more states and union territories to establish a joint electricity regulatory commission and cleared introduction of Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Bill in the coming session of parliament.The decision to amend the ER Act of 1998 was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet, an official spokesperson said.The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) also approved over 14 per cent increase in the cost at Rs 1028.59 crore of Chandrapur high voltage dicret current transmission lines project.The back to back transmission project of the Power Grid Corporation was commissioned in March 1999 at an investment of Rs 1020.52 crore and cost revision, incorporating the impact of Rs 76.94 crore of interest during construction, would take care of an additional fund requirement of Rs 8.07 crore for the remaining work.Likewise the CCEA approved a revised cost of Rs 101.75 crore, reflecting an increase of over nine per cent, for the transmission system associated with Salal phase two hydro power project in Himachal Pradesh.The project was intented for evacuation of power from the generating station to the northern region.The spokesperson said amendment in regulatory act was considered in view of demands from small north eastern states including Sikkim for a single regulatory commission to cut down expenditure and economise use of personnel.Meanwhile, the GIG bill will provide for the registration and protection of geographical indication of goods like Basmati rice and Darjeeling tea, an official spokesperson said after the Cabinet meeting.This along with, Patents (Amendment) Bill, Trade Marks Bill and Designs Bill will enable India to discharge commitments under the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement.The Trade Marks Bill has already been cleared by the Cabinet for introduction in Parliament.Geographical indications refer to any indication which define the goods as originating in the territory of a country or a region or locality in that territory, and where a given quality, reputation or other characteristics of the goods is essentially attributable to its geographical origin.Some well known Indian examples of geographical indications are Malabar pepper, Alleppey green cardamom, Alphonso mangoes, Pashmina shawls and Kolhapur chappals.Commerce and Industry Minister Murasoli Maran on Thursday had said that all the four bills will be taken up during the winter session of Parliament.
