Update on India’s States: June 21, 2018


The center has increased the renewable purchase obligation target for large power consumers from 17 percent to 21 percent by 2022; The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank approves $1.9 billion loan for infrastructure projects in India; 20 states signed an MOU with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to launch the National Health Protection Mission; Haryana introduces new power subsidy to benefit small and medium enterprises; Kerala launches comprehensive new-born health screening program; Chattisgarh gets a smarter capital; and more.

Center – State relations

The center has increased the renewable purchase obligation (RPO) target for large power consumers from 17 percent to 21 percent by 2022. Source: Quartz Media LLC; In detail: Ministry of Power: Order

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has approved a loan of $1.9 billion for infrastructure related projects in India in 2018. Source: Economic Times

Twenty states signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to launch the Ayushman Bharat – National Health Protection Mission, which gives cashless and paperless access to health services up to $7,322 per year to poor and vulnerable people identified as per the socio-economic caste census. Source: Live Mint

The Union Home Minister has been nominated as the minister of state (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Development of Northeastern region (DoNER) and as vice chairman of the North Eastern Council (NEC). Source: Live Mint

While the Indian economy has grown by 7.7 percent in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to raise it to double digits and requested the states to take a lead on improving exports and to set ambitious growth targets. Source: Economic Times


Nothing critical to report this week.


Nothing critical to report this week.


General Electric Power’s Grid Solutions business has launched a first-of-its-kind Advanced Distribution Management Solution in India in collaboration with Tata Power Delhi Distribution to facilitate advanced monitoring, analysis, and to improve control and planning operations, enabling Tata Power-DDL to enhance the reliability, safety, and efficiency of Delhi’s distribution network. Source: T&D World


Gujarat is on the top of the list of Niti Aayog’s Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) followed by Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. The Niti Aayog has ranked all the states through the CWMI on composite rankings for water management, comprising of 9 broad sectors with 28 different indicators, covering various aspects of ground water, restoration of water bodies, irrigation, farm practices, drinking water, policy, and governance. Source: Financial Express

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board’s ninth round of the city gas distribution (CGD) bidding will cover the districts of Junagadh, Mahisagar, Narmada, Tapi, Dangs, Porbandar, Gir Somnath, and Surendranagar, and parts of Morbi, Botad, Navsari, Kheda, and Surat districts. Gujarat will become the first state to be fully covered by the CGD network after the ninth round of bidding. Source: The Hindu Business Line

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd won two orders worth $18.3 million for setting up solar photo voltaic (PV) power projects in Gujarat. The first order is for a 20 megawatt (MW) plant by Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited, and the second order is for setting up a 10 MW power plant from the Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited . Source: Economic Times


The Haryana government has raised the upper age limit of entry into government service from 40 to 42 years.

Source: Economic Times; In detail: Haryana Government Press Release

The Haryana government has approved the construction of a high speed rail network between Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to the Haryana-Rajasthan border near Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Behrod. Source: Energy Infra Post; In detail: Haryana Government Press Release

To provide affordable power supply to micro and small enterprises, the Haryana government has introduced the “Power Tariff Subsidy Program”. Under this program, micro and small enterprises in ‘C’ and ‘D’ category blocks would be provided a power tariff subsidy of 3 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) / unit for 3 years from the date of release of power connection. Source: Daily Pioneer; In detail: Haryana Government Press Release

To ensure transparency in the allotment process, the state has approved an e-auction with an amendment in the policy for allotment of petrol pumps, compressed natural gas or piped natural gas sites, for various oil companies in the urban estates of Haryana Shehari Vikas Pradhikaran. Only oil marketing companies and city gas distribution companies will participate in the e-auction. Source: Economic Times


To support India’s goal of installing 60,000 MW of wind energy by 2022, Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has ended the feed-in rate route for acquiring wind power and started wind auctions by competitive bidding and fixing a ceiling rate of 5 cents per kWh / unit for wind auctions. Source: Economic Times

The Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board has invited expressions of interest for setting up floating solar power projects over reservoirs in Manvi, Sirguppa, and Ballari City. The power generated from the floating solar plants will be sold to the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited. Source: Mercom


Under the Jan Kalyan Yojana, the state introduced a compensation program which entitles $2,930 per family in case of normal death, and $5,860 per family in case of accidental death, of the primary member of the family, a waiver on previous electricity bills and limiting the monthly electricity bill to $3. Source: Financial Express

The Madhya Pradesh Power Management Company and Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) signed an agreement for providing 500 MW power at lower rates to Madhya Pradesh under Renewable Purchase Obligations for the year 2021-22. According to the agreement, 500 MW will be provided by SECI at the rate 3.7 cents per kWh / unit from the tender of 2,000 MW power. Source: Daily Pioneer


Bus fares in Maharashtra have been hiked by 18 percent due to a rise in fuel prices and incremental increases in the salaries of its employees. Source: India Today

Tata Power Renewable Energy has won a 150 MW-solar PV project on a long-term basis in Maharashtra. This project is a part of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company’s 1,000-MW grid connected solar power projects and has invited bids for a period of 25 years. Source: Economic Times; In detail: Press Release

An MOU was signed between the Maharashtra government and Canada’s Quebec province to increase economic cooperation, in areas of information technology, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and welfare of the tribal community. Source: Times of India, Hindustan Times


The Bhartiya Janata Party won 13 seats out of total 27 in Rajasthan local body by-elections. Source: Financial Express


Union minister for railways, coal, finance, and company affairs inaugurated 300 MW solar power projects established by Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited at a cost of $190.6 million at Virudhunagar and Tirunelveli districts for 15 years. The power generated from these units will be sold to Tamil Nadu power generation and distribution company (Tangedco) at a cost of 6 cents per kWh / unit. Source: Times of India

Infrastructure projects worth $138.3 million for various corporations were sanctioned. The 11 projects which were approved under the smart cities mission, and are from the Thanjavur, Thoothukudi, Vellore, Salem, Madurai, and Erode corporations. Source: Times of India

The Tamil Nadu government will embark on a renewed push towards energy investments totalling over $732 million to bolster transmission infrastructure, modify targets in renewable energy policies and commission a floating solar plant modeled after a similar project in Gujarat. Source: Economic Times


The Telangana state government has established a first-of-its-kind public ‘Eye Bank’ at the Sarojini Devi Government Eye Hospital in Hyderabad. Source: Pharmabiz


As many as 22 more towns and cities of Uttar Pradesh will soon be supplied piped natural gas. Source: Financial Express

To save clean river water, the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Noida Authority signed an MOU, for a 22.3-mile (36 kilometer) pipeline project, to transport Noida’s wastewater to NTPC’s Dadri plant. Noida will be the first city in north India to have a plant run by sewage water. Source: Daily News Analysis

A 1,000-MW solar tender by Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency has been oversubscribed by 870 MW. Acme Solar Holdings Pvt and ReNew Power presented six proposals each, for projects totaling 300 MW and 280 MW, respectively. Azure Power submitted bids for 300 MW, and Adani Group and Essel Group each bid for 250 MW of capacity. Source: Renewables Now


The state government has released a draft auto policy. According to the policy, the transport department will determine fares, routes, the number of autos in each route, and the permitting and registration of autos. Source: Times of India

The West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency has retendered a 10 MW grid‑connected solar PV project to be developed in Bhajanghat. The last date for bid-submissions is July 18, 2018. Source: Mercom

Best of the Rest

Arunachal Pradesh

The Arunchal Pradesh government has signed an MOU with Andhra Pradesh-based Smart Village Movement to facilitate technology innovations and research and development in selected villages of the northeastern state. Source: Money Control

Chhattisgarh

Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the integrated command and control center at Naya Raipur – the upcoming capital city of Chhattisgarh. The center will control and monitor online water and power supply, sanitation, traffic movement, integrated building management, city connectivity, and internet infrastructure (via a data center), under one roof. Source: NDTV

After the Geological Survey of India (GSI) indicated, the possibility of copper reserves in Rajanadgaon, Bastar, and Sarguja regions, the exploration for copper and associated minerals will begin for the first time in Chhattisgarh by Chhattisgarh Copper Limited. Source: Times of India

Jharkhand

The Jharkhand government has reserved $43.9 million per year for six “aspirational districts” for the next three years to end regional imbalances. Nineteen Jharkhand districts that fall under Transformation of Aspirational Districts  of the NITI Aayog are among the 115 Indian districts that face challenges in development parameters such as health, nutrition, education, financial inclusion, among others. Source: Business Standard

Kerala

The Kerala government has initiated a strategy to leverage blockchain technology to streamline purchasing and distribution networks for milk, vegetables, and fish in the state. The project is being implemented through the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council. Source: NDTV

The state government has launched the universal Comprehensive New-born Screening program, the first of its kind in India, which will ensure that all new-borns born in public health facilities will be screened for various developmental diseases and birth defects within 48 hours of delivery. Source: The News Minute

Odisha

The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority signed an MOU with a U.S.-based company, Earth Networks, for producing early weather warnings, such as the detection of precise locations of areas likely to be affected by lightning strikes up to 45 minutes before the occurrence and early weather warnings. Source: Business Standard

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