Uttar Pradesh government imposes a ban on the manufacture, storage, sale, and transport of all plastic and thermocol items; Maharashtra joins the National Health Protection Mission; West Bengal releases its “Information Technology and Electronics Policy”; Arunachal Pradesh announces the termination of 100 more hydroelectric projects in the state due to poor performance; and more.
Center – State relations
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has written to various state governments, asking them to ease procedures for the implementation of renewable energy power projects. MNRE has also removed regulatory hurdles such as the mandatory registration with and approval from state agencies for renewable energy. Source: Business Standard
State-run Rural Electrification Corporation said it has inked a loan agreement with German bank KfW for $228 million facility that would be used to finance clean energy projects in India. Source: Economic times In detail: Press Release
A report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis titled “India: Vast Potential in Solar-Powered Irrigation” recommended switching conventional irrigation-pump systems to solar-powered ones in India, noting that it would generate a large amount of savings and generate income for farmers. Source: The Hindu In detail: Press Release and “India: Vast Potential in Solar-Powered Irrigation” Report
The AP-Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (SPDCL) is establishing a gas-insulated substation worth $11.44 million near the state guest house in Vijayawada, as well as installing 18 new indoor substations at a cost of $643,460 each. Source: The Hindu
The Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has issued a tender for the development of 160 megawatts (MW) of solar-wind hybrid power project with battery energy storage system (BESS) at Ramagiri, located in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. Source: Mercom In detail: SECI Tender details
The Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission has fixed the generic levelized tariff for power generated from solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for FY 2018-19 at $0.059 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) without accelerated depreciation (AD). With AD the tariff will be around $0.06/kWh. Source: Mercom In detail: Tariff Order
Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced a series of “smart city” projects in Delhi, including free Wi-Fi and high-speed broadband, 50 LED interactive screens, and two hi-tech nurseries, among others. Source: Economic Times In detail: Press Release
A seven-member team of senior officials from the United States Food and Drug Administration will visit Gujarat on Monday to engage with state officials, as well as provide training and assist with capacity building in the pharma sector. Source: The Hindu Business Line
On India’s Independence Day this year, the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar inaugurated the state’s first civilian airport at Hisar. Source: Financial Express In detail: Press Release
Chief Minister Khattar announced that the turnover of the public-sector enterprises (PSEs) in Haryana increased from $7.07 billion in 2014-15 to $8.2 billion in 2016-17. The number of profitable PSEs also increased from 20 in 2014 to 26 in 2017. Source: Economic Times In detail: Press Release
BIOD Energy announced that it will commission a 100-ton bio-diesel manufacturing facility to process used cooking oil and other multi-feedstock and produce bio-diesel in Bawal in Haryana by November this year. Source: Economic Times
The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis noted that Karnataka has the highest renewable energy generation of any state in India. However, it also recognized that only 600 MW of the state’s 2,000 MW Pavagada solar park is operational now. Source: Times of India In detail: Karnataka’s Electricity Sector Transformation
Gurgaon-based power and energy company Exicom has won a bid by NTPC Limited to establish electric vehicle charging infrastructure for 120 kilowatt (kW) and 50 kW EV off-board DC chargers of Combined Charging System standard for e-buses in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Source: Auto Car Professional In detail: Press Release
Pune has topped the charts in the of Ease of Living Index rankings launched by the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry. The ease of living framework comprises four pillars namely Institutional, Social, Economic and Physical which are further broken down into 15 categories and 78 indicators. Source: The Hindu Business Line In detail: Ease of Living Index 2018
The Maharashtra government wrote to the center stating that has taken an “in-principle” decision to join the National Health Protection Mission (NHPM). Maharashtra had earlier cited financial constraints following the $3.14 billion farm loan waiver as hurdles to joining the government’s flagship health program aimed at providing health coverage to 107.4 million families across the country. Source: Indian Express
Nothing critical to report this week.
The Tamil Nadu Energy Development Authority has issued a tender for the selection of bidders for the installation of 50 MW of grid connected rooftop solar systems in the state. The rooftop solar projects have a potential total capacity of 110 MW will be installed atop 25,000 government buildings in the state of Tamil Nadu. Source: The Hindu
The Telangana state government announced two major schemes on India’s 72nd Independence Day – free eye screening for all citizens and life insurance for farmers. Under “Kanti Velugu”, the entire population of 37 million will be provided free eye care. The second scheme is the “Rytu Bima” program, aimed at providing life insurance coverage $7,152 to every farmer between the ages of 18 and 59 years. Source: NDTV In detail: Government Order and Kanti Velugu Portal
The Telangana government has launched Disaster Response Force vehicles in Hyderabad to combat possible flash floods, heavy rains, building collapses, and fire mishaps. Source: Financial Express
In phase two of its ban on plastic products, the Uttar Pradesh government imposed a blanket ban on the manufacture, stocking, sale, and transport of all plastic and thermocol items. Source: Economic Times In detail: Government Order
To speed up stalled and proposed projects in Uttar Pradesh, the state government has decided to adopt the land pooling model employed by states such as Gujarat and Maharashtra, to boost urban infrastructure without land acquisition hurdles. Under this model, the government can amass small and contiguous land parcels, usually agricultural land, for infrastructure development. Source: Business Standard
The government of West Bengal released its “Information Technology and Electronics Policy, 2018” with a vision to make West Bengal one of the leading states in the IT sector in India. The announcement of the policy coincided with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s event to launch the Bengal Silicon Valley hub in New Town. Source: Times of India In detail: Information Technology and Electronics Policy 2018
Infosys said that it would invest $14.3 million in the first phase of its development center in a 50-acre facility in the Bengal Silicon Valley in Kolkata. The new center will generate employment for over 1,000 engineers. Source: Economic Times In detail: Press Release
The West Bengal government has expanded its flagship women welfare program “Kanyashree,” which gave unmarried girls a cash incentive to remain unmarried until they turned 18, by removing the ceiling on annual family income. Source: The Hindu Business Line
Best of the Rest
Arunachal Pradesh
Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced that the state government would terminate 100 more hydroelectric projects allotted to various private developers based on poor performance, days after terminating 15 project with a total generating capacity of 1586.4 MW of power. The projects have now been handed over to state-owned companies. Source: The Sentinel
Assam
Indian state-run utility NTPC has issued a tender for a 900 kW grid-connected rooftop solar PV project at the 750MW Bongaigaon Thermal Power Project in the Kokrajhar district of Assam. Source: PV Tech In detail: Tender details
A World Bank team will be assessing an Assam government proposal for a $104.6 million eco-tourism project on August 21. If cleared, this will be the single biggest tourism project to be undertaken by the international financial institution in India. Source: The Telegraph
Goa
The Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited had announced a tender aimed at modernizing the city’s power infrastructure and install Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, or SCADA, compact power systems in light of erratic power supply in the city during the monsoons. Source: Times of India In detail: Tender details
Himachal Pradesh
In an attempt to promote renewable energy and expand the usage of solar power in irrigation, the Himachal Pradesh cabinet has approved $32.6 million for its “Saur Sinchayee Yojana” program, which is expected to provide 5,850 agricultural solar pumping sets to farmers in the hilly state. Source: Mercom
Jharkhand
Damodar Valley Corporation announced plans to set up a 1500 MW pumped storage at an estimated investment of $743.5 million in Jharkhand and will soon float tender inviting bids for a detailed project report. Source: The Telegraph
Jammu and Kashmir
The agriculture department of Jammu and Kashmir and the National Seed Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a seed processing and storage center in the Kathua district. Source: Devdiscourse
Kerala
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a financial assistance of $71.5 million for flood relief to the state in addition to the $14.3 million announced by the Home Minister Rajnath Singh last week. Source: Times of India In detail: Press Release
Meghalaya
Meghalaya health minister A L Hek said the state government has decided to extend the policy period of the Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS-III) until October 1 this year. Once the policy period ends, the government will implement the new MHIS-IV, which had already been approved in convergence with the center’s Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Swasthya Suraksha Mission or Ayushman Bharat. Source: Daily Pioneer
Nagaland
Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio appealed to the center and Naga groups involved in the ongoing parleys to expedite the peace process and arrive at a political solution to the insurgency problem as soon as possible. Source: Business Standard
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio launched the “CM Dashboard,” an electronic window outlining a comprehensive view of various e-Governance projects and schemes running in the state. The dashboard is aimed at ensuring proper monitoring of all government schemes in a transparent manner. Source: Business Standard In detail: CM Dashboard Website
Odisha
On India’s 72nd Independence Day, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a universal health scheme in Odisha that will benefit 7 million families. Beneficiaries of the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) will get medical assistance of $7,150 and women will get an additional $2,860. Source: Economic Times In detail: Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana
Barely two weeks into the maiden solar power auctions in Odisha, the state-owned bulk power trader, Gridco, is dithering on signing power purchase agreements with the successful bidders. Gridco is concerned over the wide difference in prices between level 1 and level 2 bidders. Aditya Birla Renewables emerged as the lowest bidder, quoting a competitive price of 4 cents per unit (kWh). However, three other bidders at level 2 quoted a price of 4.5 cents per unit (kWh). Source: Business Standard
Puducherry
The electricity department of Puducherry has initiated several projects to upgrade power distribution infrastructure in the urban areas of Puducherry, including the installation of new transformers and the replacement of oil-type ring main units with the gas-based units. Source: The Hindu
Punjab
The Central Electricity Authority’s latest Load Generation Balance report for the year 2018-19 has projects that Punjab will remain surplus power, maintaining 22.5 percent extra electricity that can be sold in the open. Source: Times of India In detail: Load Generation Balance report 2018-19
Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh announced a slew of development projects worth over $514.7 million for the Ludhiana district, ranging from infrastructure to water supply and industries to education. Source: NDTV In detail: Press Release
After rejecting participation in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY), Punjab is set to announce its own crop insurance policy of its own that does not include Punjab’s key objections to the central scheme. A final decision would be taken only after a formal presentation to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. Source: Times of India In detail: Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana Website
Four months after the joint electricity regulatory commission enhanced the power rates in Chandigarh by 8 percent, the electricity department in Punjab is set to levy higher fuel and power purchase cost adjustment (FPPCA) charges for the first quarter. FPPCA is the difference of per kWh actual cost of power purchase and per kWh approved cost of power purchase. It varies each quarter and is levied to cover up losses, if any. Source: Hindustan Times
Sikkim
Sikkim has become the first Indian state to assess its carbon footprint and estimate a trend for emissions. As part of the “Sikkim Climate Inventory and Monitoring System” launched last year, all sectors in the state, like transport, tourism, industry, roads, and agriculture, are being studied to estimate their respective carbon emissions. Source: Down to Earth
