Haryana and Punjab incentivize farmers to not burn crops to combat pollution; power-sharing struggle continues in Maharashtra; new data shows India’s maternal mortality rate is on the decline; Bihar phasing out diesel-run auto-rickshaws; Himachal Pradesh announces IT subsidies; Haryana approves new policy for treated waste water; Meghalaya passes ordinance forcing short-term visitors to register in the state; Punjab prepares draft Clinical Establishments Act; and more.
Center – State relations
The Registrar General of India has released new data showing that India’s maternal mortality rate has declined from 130 to 122 per 100,000 live births. Source: Hindustan Times In detail: Press Release
Nothing critical to report this week.
In an effort to check pollution, the Bihar government has decided to phase out diesel-run auto-rickshaws from the state capital and surrounding urban areas by March 2021. Source: Hindustan Times
Delhi’s air quality dipped to the ”very poor” category again on Sunday due to an increase in incidents of stubble burning and a change in the wind direction. Source: NDTV
President Ram Nath Kovind approved the controversial Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Bill. The bill was introduced to the Gujarat state assembly sixteen years ago by Narendra Modi, who was then the chief minister of the state. Source: The Wire
The Gujarat government gave its approval for a compressed natural gas terminal in Bhavnagar with a proposed investment of $266.5 million. Source: Money Control
In compliance with the Supreme Court order on stubble burning, Haryana will pay small and marginal farmers who have not burned stubble in their fields. Source: The Tribune
To de-stress ground and surface water resources, the Haryana government has approved a policy on reuse of treated waste water for non-potable purposes. Source: Outlook
Nothing critical to report this week.
Nothing critical to report this week.
The Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena have been unable to resolve their disagreements over power-sharing in the state and no new government has been formed. Source: NDTV
Nothing critical to report this week.
Tamil Nadu is getting a sum of $451-million as a loan from Asian Development Bank (ADB) to strengthen the power infrastructure in the state. Source: Financial Express In detail: Press Release
Nothing critical to report this week.
The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd has decided to start a new scheme under which consumers can pay dues in installments. Source: Live Mint
The West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission has given its approval for the investment proposal for 70 megawatts of solar projects in four districts of the state and ordered the state distribution companies to submit their power requirement plans to fulfill their renewable purchase obligation. Source: Mercom
Best of the Rest
Assam
The French Development Agency and the government of Assam signed a $55 million project agreement to support the state government’s initiative to restore Assam’s forest ecosystems and preserve their biodiversity. Source: Economic Times
Himachal Pradesh
The Himachal Pradesh government unveiled Information Technology/Information Technology enabled Services (IT/ITeS) and Electronics System Development and Maintenance Policy 2019 at the Global Investors’ Meet. Under this policy, eligible IT/ITeS firms will receive lease rental subsidies during the first five years of commercial operation. Source: The Tribune In detail: IT/ITeS and ESDM Policy 2019
Kerala
German bank KfW has offered a $200-million soft loan for rebuilding the Kerala roads damaged in the devastating floods of 2018. This comes on the heels of World Bank’s decision to allow a $250-million development policy loan for the ‘Rebuild Kerala Initiative’. Source: Financial Express
Meghalaya
The Meghalaya government has passed an ordinance making registration on entry mandatory for visitors who intend to spend more than 24 hours in the state. The ordinance will eventually become an amendment to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, 2016. Source: Scroll.in
Mizoram
Over 4,000 displaced Bru families, lodged in the relief camps in North Tripura district, are scheduled to return to neighboring Mizoram by November 30. The government has announced that this is the ninth and final round of the repatriation. Source: The Wire
Punjab
The state government has finally prepared a draft of the Clinical Establishments Act, Punjab 2019. This act will regulate minimum standards for health faculties and make is so that no health facility, government or private, will be able to deny emergency life-saving medical treatment to anyone based on inability to pay. Source: Times of India
In compliance with Supreme Court orders, the Punjab government finalized a scheme to compensate small and marginal farmers who are managing paddy residue by the in-situ method and not by setting it on fire. Source: Times of India
