May 31, 2018

Big News

The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy has started a renewable power purchase compliance group; World Bank Board approved a $500 million rural roads program; Maharashtra, Manipur, and five union territories rolled out intra-state e-way bill system for movement of goods over $736; Karnataka state power regulator has imposed new charges on renewable energy; new governors appointed in Odisha (Ganeshi Lal) and Mizoram (Kummanam Rajasekharan); Punjab state government is selling "surplus" power to states in northern India.

State - Center relations

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has started a renewable purchase obligations (RPO) compliance cell to ensure all States adhere to the RPO targets defined by the government till 2022. The government's target of achieving 175 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy by 2022 is also associated with the fulfilment of RPO of state distribution companies (discoms). Source: The Hindu Business Line

The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved a $500 million additional financing for the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Rural Roads Project which will build 4350 miles of climate resilient roads. The World Bank has invested over $1.8 billion in loans and credits mostly in the economically weaker and hill states across northern India - Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. Source: World Bank Press Release

Maharashtra, Manipur and five union territories (Chandigarh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, and Lakshadweep) rolled out intra-state electronic way (e-way) bill system for movement of goods worth over $736 within the state. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council announced the e-way bill starting with inter-state from April 1 and intra-state from April 15, this will help boost tax collections by clamping down on cash based trade. Source: Financial Express

Andhra Pradesh

The Andhra Pradesh government has initiated Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Parks Policy (M Parks) with the objective of creating at least 200 such parks across the state by the year 2023.Each M-Park will have an investment of $33.1 million to create 1,500 jobs in each of the 175 assembly constituencies. Source: Money Control; MSME Policy Andhra Pradesh; Life Cycle Strategy for Development of MSME Sector

Bihar

Nothing critical to report this week.

New Delhi

Delhi power discom BSES announced an air conditioner replacement program which will allow consumers to save up to $110 annually depending on the type of air conditioner. A similar proposal will also be launched soon for BSES Yamuna Power Ltd (BYPL) consumers of east and central Delhi. Source: Economic Times

The 15.4 mile-long Janakpuri West-Kalkaji Mandir stretch of the Delhi Metro's Magenta Line is to be inaugurated which will bring domestic terminal of the city airport on the DMRC network. Source: Money Control

Gujarat

Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) has invited bids from independent power producers (IPPs) for 1,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity for eleven months, from August 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019. Bids have been invited under the central government's policy,allowing flexible utilization of domestic coal at power generating stations. Source: Times of India

National Institute of Wind Energy has extended the deadline for submission of expression of interest )to June 8 from May 25 and also relaxed eligibility norms for 1 GW offshore wind capacities to be set up off the Gujarat coast. Source: Business Standard

In detail: Express of Interest Document

The Gujarat government is coming up with a new water recycling policy where civic agencies of its big cities and class A municipalities (having population of more than hundred thousand) will be required to reuse every drop of treated water.

Source: Times of India ; The Gujarat State Water Policy 2015 ; A Report on Review of Draft Gujarat State Water Policy in line with National Water Policy - 2012

Haryana

Nothing critical to report this week.

Karnataka

Karnataka chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, the head of coalition government of the Congress and JD (S), won the trust vote in the state assembly with 116 votes. Source: The Hindu

The new order passed by the Karnataka state power regulator has imposed transmission and wheeling charges on renewable energy from the end of March 2017, on wind projects from October 2013, and on mini hydropower projects from January 2015, for those selling the power directly to a corporate entity, and not to a state utility. However, the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) had promised no change in transmission and wheeling charges till end-March 2018, and the new order is a breach of that promise. Source: Economic Times

Madhya Pradesh

The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet cleared a proposal to hike the pension amount by more than double as per the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations. Source: Zee Business

Maharashtra

Nothing critical to report this week.

Rajasthan

Nothing critical to report this week.

Tamil Nadu

The Chennai Metro Rail service connecting four major transport hubs in the city was launched. Source: The Hindu

The state-owned Neyveli Lignite Corporation India has commissioned 300 MW of grid-connected solar photovoltaic projects in the state of Tamil Nadu. Source: Mercom India

Telangana

Life Insurance Corporation of India will implement an insurance program for farmers in Telangana starting August 15. Farmers will get an insurance cover of $7,360 each. The Agriculture Department will prepare a list of eligible farmers, and pay the premium. Source: The Hindu Business Line

Uttar Pradesh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated two important highways, the 14-lane Delhi-Meerut Expressway and the Eastern Peripheral Expressway. Source: Live Mint

West Bengal

The state power department has started using SEEDN technology for strengthening the power distribution system which emphasizes on quick identification of faults in electricity supply lines. Source: Millennium Post

Best of the rest

Assam

A 70 MW Lakwa replacement power project was inaugurated in Upper Assam. The project is implemented by Wartsila India Private Limited and Assam Power Generation Company Limited. Source: The Telegraph

Assam Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of the Sakhalin Region (Russian Federation) on Trade-Economic, Scientific-Technical, and Humanitarian Cooperation during the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. Source: North East Now

Chhattisgarh

State-run Hindustan Copper has entered a joint venture with Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation for exploration and mining of copper and associated minerals in Chhattisgarh. Source: Money Control

Goa

The electricity department has estimated $250 million for upgrading the existing infrastructure to ensure quality power supply. Center will contribute 50 percent funds in the form of grants and 50 percent also in terms of the long-term loan to carry out the upgradation of power infrastructure. Source: Navhind Times

Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh has launched three welfare programs to mark completion of four years of the Narendra Modi government at the center. These schemes are "Jan Manch" for redressal of public grievances, "Mukhya Mantri Swavlamban Yojana" aimed at providing assistance to the unemployed youth and, "Himachal Grihini Suvidha Yojana" for offering gas cylinder security and gas stoves to those, not covered under the Ujjwala Yojana. Source: Business Standard

Jharkhand

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated projects worth $3.9 billion in Jharkhand, including the Sindri urea plant, The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS),an airport in Deoghar district and 800mw x5 super thermal power plants in Patratu of Ramgarh district. Source: Economic Times

Meghalaya

The cabinet has approved installation of 2G and 4G mobile towers in uncovered parts of Meghalaya for $575 million, while raising total fund limit for telecom project in the northeast region. Source: Deccan Chronicle

Odisha

BJP leader of Haryana, Professor Ganeshi Lal has been appointed as the Governor of Odisha while party's Kerala unit chief Kummanam Rajasekharan will become Governor of Mizoram. Bihar governor Satya Pal Malik was additionally discharging the duties of the Odisha governor since March, 2018. Source: The Hindu

The state cabinet approved four rural water projects worth $63 million which would benefit over 353,000 people in 307 villages across three districts. Source: Times of India

Punjab

The Punjab state government is selling "surplus" power to states in northern India facing an acute shortage of power because of low availability of coal at a rate of between 1.03 cents and 1.17 cents per unit, making a profit of 66 percent on the cost of generation. Source: Tribune India