Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu oppose the center’s plan to enforce advance payments to power generators; Andhra Pradesh convenes committee to review development plans created by the previous government; New Delhi to bring back odd-even days for auto use in November; Gujarat to stop all new permissions for thermal power projects; Haryana to follow Assam with Citizens’ Registry; Multiple states refusing to implement new Motor Vehicles Act which introduces heavy fines for traffic violations; Arunachal Pradesh terminates 22 sanctioned hydropower projects; Jammu & Kashmir tries to expedite power sector reform; Kerala offers draft Net Metering policy; and more.
Center – State relations
Gujarat has one again topped the Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) index followed closely by Punjab and Andhra Pradesh. The LEADS index is based on indicators such as infrastructure, services timelines, traceability, competitiveness, security, operating environment, and efficiency of regulation. Source: Economic Times
The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission for the state of Goa and the Union Territories has issued the generic tariff applicable for renewable energy projects for the financial year 2019-20. Source: Sauenergy In detail: Generic Tariff order
The Solar Energy Corporation of India has announced the signing of multiple Power Sale Agreements worth 930 megawatts (MW) with three state-run electricity distribution companies (discoms) from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala. Source: Sau Energy
Discoms of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have opposed the central government panel’s recommendation to make advance payments to power producers. Source: Financial Express
State-owned utility Power Grid Corporation of India has won an inter-state power transmission project under a tariff-based competitive bidding process, which would benefit Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Source: Sau Energy
The 68th Plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) was held in Guwahati from September 8-9, 2019. The Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the NEC will earmark 30 percent of its fund for focused funding of priority areas and deprived sections of society in the North East. Source: Orissa Diary In detail: Press Release
The Andhra Pradesh government set up a five-member committee of urban planning experts to review developmental plans initiated by the government and suggest a comprehensive strategy for the development of the state, including the upcoming capital Amaravati. The committee is to submit its report in six weeks. Source: Live Mint
NITI Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar expressed concern over Andhra Pradesh’s “huge” revenue deficit and increasing unbudgeted expenditure even as the YSR Congress Party government pitched for “liberal” assistance from the national planning body as well as the 15th Finance Commission, citing losses due to the state’s bifurcation. Source: NDTV
In a softening of its stance, the Andhra Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has communicated its willingness to renegotiate clean energy tariffs with developers. Source: Live Mint
Power distribution companies in Bihar only collect 30 percent of the cost of supplying electricity in revenue, according to a study conducted by researchers from the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE), University of Chicago, and Yale University. Source: Economic Times In Detail: University of Chicago
New Delhi will enforce strict restrictions on use of private cars from Nov. 4-15 to curb pollution, its chief minister said on Friday, in an effort to improve air quality that tends to deteriorate sharply in winter months. Source: Reuters
The state government is setting the stage to launch a campaign against single-use plastics starting Oct. 2, to mark the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth. In addition to a likely ban on single-use plastic, the state government has drawn up a comprehensive plastic collection and segregation plan for the state. Source: Times of India
Gujarat government announced that it will not give fresh permissions for setting up new thermal power stations in the state. Source: Indian Express
With just 50,000 households coming forward to avail the Gujarat government’s subsidy scheme for solar rooftops in the residential sector in the past three years, the government announced several relaxations including extending the Surya Urja Rooftop Yojana scheme to cover group housing societies and residential welfare associations. By financial year 2021-22, the government targets to cover rooftops of 800,000 households with photovoltaic systems to produce 1,600 MW of solar power. Source: Indian Express
Haryana will soon prepare a citizens’ list along the lines of the recently published Assam National Register of Citizens or NRC, to check illegal immigration, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Sunday. Source: NDTV
Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal launched two insurance schemes for registered small and medium traders in the state namely Mukhyamantri Vyapari Samuhik Niji Durghatna Beema Yojana and Mukhyamantri Vyapari Kshatipurti Beema Yojana. Source: Economic Times
Raising concerns over the health scenario in Karnataka, the infant mortality rate (IMR) in the state has gone up from 24 to 25 in 2017, according to the Sample Registration System 2017. Karnataka had successfully brought down IMR from 28 in 2015 to 24 in 2016. Source: The Hindu
Madhya Pradesh is among the states which have refused to implement the new Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019, primarily owing to heavy fines provided in it. Chief Minister Kamal Nath has urged the Union government to reconsider the penalties under the act for traffic violations. Source: Deccan Herald
Nothing critical to report this week.
Rajasthan launches a public information portal — promising to provide information about government authorities and departments suo motu to the public in the true spirit of the Right To Information Act. Source: The Hindu In detail: Jansoochna Portal
The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued a draft order inviting suggestions and comments to determine pre-fixed levelized tariff and the rate of purchase of excess electricity by the discoms under the government’s KUSUM program that aims to solarize India’s agriculture. Source: Mercom In detail: Draft order
The Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited has floated tenders inviting interested bidders to develop 113.5 MW of decentralized solar projects spread across various clusters of the state. The projects would include the installation of solar systems between 0.5 MW and 2 MW and would be developed on a ‘build-own-operate’ basis. Source: Mercom In detail: Rfs document
Nothing critical to report this week.
Innolia Energy, a U.S.-based company, has announced the launch of phase one of the $31.6 million integrated solar, lithium ion battery, and electric vehicle assembly facility in Telangana. Source: The Hindu Business Line
Telangana has joined the list of states that have refused to implement the new Motor Vehicles Act that has introduced hefty fines for traffic violations. Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has announced that the state does not “intend to harass people” and declared that Telangana will have its own law. Source: India Today
The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued draft regulations for captive and renewable energy generating projects in the state. These regulations will be effective from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2024. Source: Mercom In detail: UPERC (Captive and Renewable Energy Generating Plants) Regulations, 2019(CRE Regulations, 2019)
The Uttar Pradesh cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has cleared a floating solar power plant on Rihand Dam with an investment of $105.4 million. It will be the first water surface floating solar power plant in Uttar Pradesh and the largest in the country. Source: Economic Times
Nothing critical to report this week.
Best of the Rest
Arunachal Pradesh
The Arunachal Pradesh government has terminated 22 sanctioned hydro-electric projects with a potential to generate 3,800 MW due to non-performance. Source: Hindustan Times
Assam
The final list of Assam National Register of Citizens with individual statuses of all the 33 million applicants has been published online. Source: India Today
Himachal Pradesh
The Himachal Pradesh agency for renewable energy, Himurja has announced its new program that seeks to deploy 28 MW solar energy projects in the state. The state has invited proposals from local entrepreneurs for setting up ground-mounted solar power projects with capacities ranging from 250 kilowatts (kW) to 500 kW. The projects can be set up on private land owned by the applicant or on leased land. Source: Sauenergy
The government of Himachal Pradesh has signed two agreements for setting up 250 MW of solar power projects in the state. The estimated cost of the projects is $139.7 million. The two companies that signed the deal with the Himachal Pradesh government are ReNew Power and CSE Development (India), Private Ltd. Source: Mercom
Jharkhand
Flipkart, India’s leading ecommerce marketplace, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the government of Jharkhand to onboard the Jharkhand’s artisans, weavers, and craftsmen onto Flipkart Samarth – an initiative aimed at enabling and handholding craftsmen from across India to set up an online business. Source: Your Story
Jammu and Kashmir
The Jammu and Kashmir government announced its first major move to invite private investors to buy land in the region to set up twin medi-cities, or cities with expanded medical infrastructure, was cleared by the State Administrative Council and governor. Source: The Hindu
As a part of power sector reforms, the governor’s administration has decided to complete unbundling of Power Development Department and Power Development Corporation before October 31, 2019 when the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh would be formally established. Source: Daily Excelsior
Kerala
The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued a draft of net metering regulations for renewable energy systems. The commission has sought suggestions from the public and other stakeholders after which a final hearing will be scheduled before the finalization of the draft regulations. Source: Mercom In detail: Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (Renewable Energy and Net Metering) Regulations, 2019
Nagaland
Nagaland has launched an IT electricity billing system under the Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme scheme of the government of India in nine towns of Nagaland. Source: Eastern Mirror
Punjab
Government e-Marketplace (GeM), under the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry and government of Punjab, has signed an MOU to set up a GeM Organizational Transformation Team Project Management Unit in the state. Source: KNN In detail: Press Release
Uttarakhand
Following the Manipur model, the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UCPL) has now decided to install prepaid power meters in state-owned buildings and establishments in a phased manner from next month. The UPCL has purchased over 7,000 prepaid meters to launch the ambitious project which aims to cut down the losses of the discom. According to the records, state government departments owe over $35.1 million to the UPCL. Source: Times of India
