Karnataka emerged as the top state in the country for power generation in the in the renewable energy sector, generating 12,169 MW from renewable energy products; Tamil Nadu announced its first solid waste management policy and strategy, implementing the Solid Waste Management Rules; Telangana recommends the dissolution of its state assembly months before the end of its term; Odisha Legislative Assembly passes a resolution to establish a legislative council in the state after opposition parties, Congress and BJP, walk out in protest, and more.

Center – State relations

The European Union has agreed to provide financing of $4 million to help evolve a low-carbon urban transport system between Kochi, Ahmedabad, and Nagpur, helping India improve its sustainable transport policy. The funds will come through Agence Francaise de Developpement under an agreement signed between India and France for the initiative, which has been named as “Mobilise Your City” (MYC). Source: NDTV In detail: Press Release

The National Thermal Power Corporation announced it has commissioned its first charging station for electric vehicles in Vishakhapatnam in line with the government’s plan to promote electric mobility. Source: Economic times

The Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Alibaba Cloud to adopt cloud computing frameworks within the government model. Source: Financial Express

Nothing critical to report this week.

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) approved a land pooling policy that will allow the city to acquire 1.7 million housing units capable of accommodating 7.6 million people on September 7. The DDA’s highest decision-making body approved the policy during a meeting chaired by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, and now awaits the nod of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Source: The Quint

Power generation by private sector units in Gujarat in 2017-18 declined by 17 percent, from 51 million kilowatt-hours (kWh), or units, in 2016-2017 to 42.5 million kWh. Source: DNA 

Nothing critical to report this week.

The Karnataka government announced a grant worth $69,460 for start-ups that can provide solutions for rural development in the state. Source: Money Control

Karnataka emerged as the top state in the country for power generation in the in the renewable energy sector. As of March 2018, Karnataka generated 12,169.4 megawatts (MW) from renewable energy products. Source: The Hindu In detail: District Wise Solar power projects allotted/proposed and commissioned details

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation has made oil and gas discoveries in Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal that may potentially open up two new sedimentary basins in the country. Source: Economic Times

The Maharashtra State Power Generation Company has invited expressions of interest (EOI) to set up a manufacturing unit for solar module and cell components in the state. The power generation company will provide the land required to set up the manufacturing unit. The deadline to submit an EOI is September 29, 2018.  Source: Mercom  In detail: EOI for setting up of solar manufacturing plant in Maharashtra

The National Thermal Power Corporation has invited bids for solar module package, which involves the manufacturing, supply, storage, installation, and commissioning of solar photovoltaic modules, for the development of Anta solar project located at Baran district in Rajasthan. Source: Mercom In detail: Tender Details

The Tamil Nadu government expressed serious concern over the Terms of Reference of the 15th Finance Commission. Chief Minister K Palaniswami opposed the reference to control of expenditure on government’s “populist programs,” arguing that “Populist is a subjective term which has a very fine line of difference with popular schemes. Tamil Nadu has a number of social welfare schemes designed with specific socio-economic objective and cannot be termed ‘populist.’” Source: Business Standard

The state government of Tamil Nadu announced its first solid waste management policy and strategy, and will implement the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. Source: The Hindu In detail: Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016

The Telangana cabinet recommended dissolution of the state assembly months before the end of its term. Source: The Hindu

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao announced a pay revision, increasing salaries by 35 percent for electricity industry employees in the state for the year 2018-19. Source: Times of India

Chinese company Haier signed an MOU with the Uttar Pradesh government for a 123-acre land parcel to set up its $426 million industrial park at Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh. The new facility would help the company expand its market share and reach in India. The company would invest the entire amount over the next four years in two phases and the production would start by mid-2020 from this proposed unit. Source: Economic times

The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited has set a deadline of October 15 to provide legal power connections to households which steal electricity from power cables in an attempt to curb power theft. Below poverty line families and those under the Socio-Economic Caste Census categories will be provided free electricity connections, while others will be charged $7, which can be paid in 10 instalments. Source: Times of India

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development has approved funding of $46.5 million under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund to West Bengal. The fund will be used for 158 minor irrigation projects and 23 flood protection projects. The minor irrigation projects are expected to benefit 20,506 hectares, covering a population of 309,000 in 699 villages of 22 districts, while the flood protection projects would address the problem of rapid bank erosion caused by rivers. Source: Money Control

Best of the Rest

Chhattisgarh

Integrated power transmission and distribution company, Transrail Lighting Limited, has announced successful commissioning and charging of 220 kilovolts (kV) substation at Gendpur in Chhattisgarh. Transrail had been awarded a turnkey contract for engineering, manufacturing, supply, erection, testing, and commissioning of a 220/132/33 kV substation at Gendpur (Kawardha) by Chhattisgarh State Power Transmission Company Limited. Source: The Week

Himachal Pradesh

Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy, Statkraft announced that it has acquired the 100 MW Tidong hydropower project in Himachal Pradesh, India. The Tidong hydropower project is located on Tidong River, a tributary of Sutlej River, and will advance Statkraft’s strategy to develop renewable energy generation. Source: Energy Infra Post In detail: Press Release

Jammu and Kashmir

The State Administrative Council (SAC) of Jammu and Kashmir approved the establishment of a new infrastructure company, the Jammu and Kashmir Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation, and authorized it to raise a loan not exceeding $1.1 billion from various financial institutions to complete all unfunded, languishing projects in the state. Source: State Times

The governments of Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir signed an agreement to resume work on the $387 million Shahpur Kandi dam project, and have decided to complete the project within three years. Source: Times of India

The Jammu and Kashmir SAC approved formation of a joint venture between the center and the state government to develop the 850 MW Ratle Hydro Electric Project. Under the terms of the agreement the project will be transferred to the state within a period of seven years from the start of commercial operation of the project. Source: Economic Times

Manipur

Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh announced that the state government has signed an MOU with VFS Global to set up citizen facilitation centers in the state which would provide 50 services to the public under a single window. These services includes obtaining ration cards, caste certificates, marriage certificates, income certificates, and the Aadhar ID. Source: Morung Express

Meghalaya

The Meghalaya state government has decided to increase the maximum age limit for the appointment of all teachers from primary school to colleges from 27 to 32 years. The decision will also increase the age limit for teacher candidate who belong to Scheduled Tribes to 37 years. Source: The Shillong Times

A national Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign is scheduled to be conducted in Meghalaya from September 24. The campaign aims to eradicate measles and control rubella/congenital rubella syndrome by 2020, and will target all children from 9 months to 15 years of age. Source: The Shillong Times

Mizoram

Mizoram launched the third edition of Mizoram micro start-up capital competition to promote a healthy entrepreneurship ecosystem in the State. While announcing the competition, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla urged youth to come forward and take active participation in the state’s flagship New Economic Development Policy. Source: North East Now

Odisha

Amid a walk out by opposition Congress and BJP members, the Odisha Legislative Assembly passed a resolution to establish a legislative council in the state. Source: Business Standard

Punjab

Costs of electricity for owners of small and medium scale industries reached 14 cents per kWh, although Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had made a campaign promise to keep rates at 7 cents per kWh. The reason for the increase is that Punjab State Power Corporation Limited has started charging industrial clients fixed load cost over and above the power consumed. Source: Times of India

Sikkim

Chief Minister Pawan Chamling launched the Sikkim Data Sharing and Accessibility Platform portal and the State Direct Benefit Transfer portal. Source: North East Now

Tripura

Tripura launched a new government e-marketing portal to boost marketing of products manufactured in the state. Source: Telegraph India