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NOTE 23 - CERTAIN AGED RECEIVABLES
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Receivables [Abstract]  
Loans, Notes, Trade and Other Receivables Disclosure [Text Block]
NOTE 23 – CERTAIN AGED RECEIVABLES

The receivable and other assets as of March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013 include certain aged receivables in the amount of $0.5 million for both periods.  These aged receivables were decreased from $2.03 million to $0.5 million in 2013 because we realized the arbitration award amounting to $1.5 million from National Highway Authority of India in December 2012.The Company received payment of the money owed on December 31, 2012 by a deposit on our bank account in Andhra Bank, M G Road, Ernakulam, Kerala. The aged receivables in FYE 2013 are due from the Cochin International Airport.  Cochin International Airport is partially owned by the State Government of Kerala.  The receivables have been due for periods in excess of one year as of March 31, 2014.  These receivables are included in Accounts Receivable and have been classified as current for the following reasons:

The Company’s subsidiary in India, TBL, worked on the building of an airport runway at the Cochin International Airport. During the execution of these projects the clients of the Company requested several changes to the engineering drawings.  The claims of the Company against each of the clients involve reimbursement of expenses associated with the change orders and variances as well as compensation for delays caused by the client.  The delay part of the claim involves equipment that is idle on the job, including interest or lease charges for the equipment while it is idle, and workers that are idle, among others.  The expense reimbursement involves cost of new material including any escalation in the cost of materials, usage of equipment, personnel and other charges that were incurred as a result of the delays caused by the change orders.  These invoices were disputed by the clients and referred to arbitration. The process of arbitration involves each party choosing an arbitrator and the arbitrators appointing a third chief arbitrator. Each party then presents its case over several months and the arbitrator makes an award.

The receivables occurred and became due when TBL won the arbitration award against Cochin International Airport on July 22, 2009. The arbitration awards stipulate that interest be accrued for the period of non-payment.  However, the receivables do not have an interest component as the Company will try and use the accrued interest as negotiating leverage for an earlier payment.   Although the receivables are contractually due, and hence its classification as current, it may take the Company  anywhere from the next 30 days to 6 months to actually realize the funds, depending on final verdict to happen in few months.  The Company continues to carry the full value of the receivables without interest and without any impairment, because the Company believes that there is minimal risk that these organizations will become insolvent and unable to make payment.