Update on India’s States: September 11, 2019

Andhra Pradesh approves new sand mining policy; Delaware and Gujarat sign sister-state agreement; Haryana boosts water and power subsidies for farmers; Karnataka widens ambit of its Solar Park policy; Rajasthan releases draft wind and solar policies; Tamil Nadu’s chief minister, K. Palaniswami, visits New York to meet investors; Uttar Pradesh increases electric power rates; West Bengal passes resolution opposing the National Register of Citizens in Assam; Assam re-tenders 70 MW of solar projects due to lack of interest; Chhattisgarh drops land rates for industrial zones; Meghalaya introduces new law regulating private universities; and more.

Center – State Relations

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued a clarification regarding the subsidy applicable for rooftop solar installations by individual residential households under phase-II of grid-connected rooftop solar program. In its official memorandum, the MNRE states that subsidy under Phase-II of the grid-connected rooftop solar program will be available to all eligible households for installation of rooftop solar as per regulations of respective State Electricity Regulatory Commission and program implementation guidelines. Source: Mercom In detail: Subsidy details

The state cabinet approved the new sand mining policy to curb sand mafia in Andhra Pradesh. As part of this AP Mineral Development Corporation will undertake sand mining and transport to prevent any irregularities. Source: Sakshi Post

Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy met with officials from the Shanghai-based New Development Bank (NDB), who have sanctioned a loan of $836.3 million for the state. The NDB delegation said that the loan will be approved soon. The amount is set to be used by the state government for social infrastructure projects. Source: The News Minute

The Andhra Pradesh cabinet approved the decision to merge the debt-ridden Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation with the state government, creating a Public Transport Department for the state. Source: The News Minute

The Andhra Pradesh cabinet approved the cancellation of the Polavaram hydropower project contract with Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd. (NECL), worth $448.3 million and called for new tenders with a reverse-tendering process. This comes after the High Court’s order to cancel the termination orders of NECL issued by the state government from taking up the project. Source: Deccan Chronicle

The Andhra Pradesh government accorded permission to Andhra Pradesh Power Finance Corp to raise $697 million through a bond issue. The bond issue will be raised through private placed  Andhra Pradesh Power Bonds. Source: Times of India

Nothing critical to report this week.

Delhi has dropped by six places in the ranking of the world’s most livable cities, descending to rank 118th on the list. The ranking came in, September 4, after an annual survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit. While New Delhi has registered the biggest decline in Asia this year, Mumbai also fell two places since last year to rank 119th on the list. Source: News 18

Gujarat government and the state of Delaware signed a sister state memorandum of understanding (MOU). The MOU was signed in Gandhinagar, by Gujarat’s chief minister and Delaware’s secretary of state. Source: All India Radio

Ahead of assembly polls, the BJP-led Haryana government announced a $662.1 million interest and penalty waiver on crop loans taken from cooperative banks, benefiting around 1 million farmers in the state. Source: Live Mint

Haryana government announced to waive surcharge on electricity bills of tube wells. Source: Economic Times

The Karnataka cabinet has decided to introduce amendments to the Karnataka Solar Policy (2014-21), which would lower the output requirement for solar parks from 100 MW to 25 MW, and make more plants eligible for subsidies from the center. Source: The Hindu

Nothing critical to report this week.

The Asian Development Bank will provide $200 million to upgrade rural roads to all-weather standards in 34 districts of Maharashtra with an aim to improve road safety and better connectivity with markets. Source: Business Standard

The Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation has issued a draft version of its policy on wind and wind-solar hybrid projects. Rajasthan aims to deploy 2,000 MW of wind power capacity to fulfill the renewable purchase obligation of state distribution companies. Source: Mercom In detail: Draft Rajasthan Wind & Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy 2019

The state government of Rajasthan has come up with a new draft solar policy. The proposed policy package aims to establish the state as a global hub for solar with 50 GW of installed generation capacity within 5-6 years. It envisages an R&D hub for the deployment of renewable energy technologies and solar-wind hybrid projects, with a focus on improving efficiency and reducing balance-of-system costs. Source: Pv-Magazine In detail: Draft Rajasthan Solar Energy Policy 2019

More than 16 firms in the United States have committed investments to the tune of over $376.3 million in Tamil Nadu during the ongoing visit of Chief Minister K Palaniswami to that country, the state government said. Source: Economic Times

Nothing critical to report.

Uttar Pradesh’s power sector watchdog approved 8-15 percent tariff hike for different categories of rural and urban consumers. Interestingly, the power tariffs had remained unchanged during 2018-19 in run up to the Lok Sabha elections. Source: Business Standard In detail: Tariff details

In an unprecedented show of solidarity, the West Bengal legislative assembly passed a resolution opposing the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam. Source: The Hindu

Best of the Rest

Assam

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act has been extended for six months in Assam effective from August 28 after reviewing the law and order situation in the state. The act, which empowers security forces to conduct operations and arrest anyone anywhere without prior notice, has been in effect since November 1990. Source: Deccan Herald

The Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL) has retendered 70 MW of grid-connected solar projects to be developed at Amguri Solar Park in Sivasagar district of the state. The tender was initially floated in January 2019. “The response from the developers was poor due to the upper tariff cap of $0.0049 per unit, or kilowatt-hour (kWh). We have now revised the ceiling to $0.0056 per kWh,” an APGCL official said. Source: Mercom

Chhattisgarh

The Asian Development Bank and the Government of India signed a $350 million loan to rehabilitate and upgrade about 528 miles of state highways and major district roads in Chhattisgarh, which will improve transport connectivity and enhance people’s access to basic services and livelihood opportunities. Source: Asian Development Bank Press Release

In a bid to boost industrial development in the state, the Chhattisgarh government announced that land allotment rates in industrial areas will be reduced by 30 percent in next few months. Additionally, the land would be provided at cheaper rates, and capital, interest subsidy, tax rebates and several other benefits would be provided for the establishment of food processing, minor forest produce, and herbal-based industries, said Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Source: Hindustan Times

Jharkhand

 

Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das inaugurated Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna. “In 2014, only 25 percent of the people had access to Ujjwala Gas and now [the] Modi government is trying to make it accessible to all the poor families regardless of their religion and caste.” Source: Economic Times

Jammu and Kashmir

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region, Jitendra Singh, said that the model of development initiated in the northeast will be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.  Source: Economic Times

Meghalaya

The state government introduced the Meghalaya Private University Regulatory of Establishment and Maintenance of Standard Bill, 2019 on the opening day of the autumn session of the assembly.  Source: The Sentinel Assam

Mizoram

The center has approved $48.7 million for the ninth phase of Bru repatriation from six relief camps of neighboring Tripura, according to a senior home department official. Source: Arunachal Times

With over 1.9 million people excluded from the final NRC in Assam, the government of neighboring Mizoram has asked its officials not to issue temporary Inner Line Permits to those whose names did not figure in the citizens register. Source: Hindustan Times

Tripura

The autumn session of Tripura assembly concluded amid a walkout by the Opposition Members of the legislative assembly, with four bills passed on the final day including the Essential Services Maintenance Bill, which would stop government employees from organizing strikes. The other bills that were passed include: Tripura Electricity Duty Bill; The Salaries, Allowances, Pension and Other Benefits of the Ministers; Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of Opposition, Government Chief Whip Bill; and the Members of the Legislative Assembly (5th amendment) Bill. Source: Indian Express

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1 comment for “Update on India’s States: September 11, 2019

  1. Ramaneswara Rao
    September 12, 2019 at 10:13

    Wonderful coverage on India… please keep the good work towards better than the best..

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