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The central government requests states to ensure the “must-run” status of renewable energy plants; Wind energy companies in Andhra Pradesh face curtailment in wind energy production; DERC reduces the rates at charging stations for EV’s; Maharashtra invites bids for solar projects; Maharashtra inaugurates drone based mapping; Tamil Nadu returns unused funds to the center; Telangana exempts IT industry from shops act provision for five years; Rajya Sabha bifurcates the state of Jammu and Kashmir; and more.

Center– State relations

The central government announced that the power distribution companies will pay the agreed full tariff to the renewable energy producers during the period of non-supply of electricity. Source: Economic Times

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has decided to extend fixed charges payable by power distribution companies for the consumption of power generated from solar, wind, and small hydro projects. Source: Live Mint

The central government notified the states that they cannot curtail generation of renewable energy without providing written justification to generating companies. Source: Economic Times

Power Grid Corporation of India is the successful bidder under tariff based competitive bidding to establish transmission system for the following projects:

(1) ‘Transmission System for providing connectivity to Renewable Energy Projects at Bhuj-II (2000 megawatt (MW)) in Gujarat on a build, own, operate, and maintain (BOOM) basis. The letter of intent dated July 31, 2019 has been issued to Power Grid.

(2) ‘Transmission system associated with LTA application from Rajasthan SEZ (Part -C)’ on a BOOM basis. The letter dated July 31, 2019 has been issued to Power Grid. Source: Business Standard

Andhra Pradesh

Wind energy companies are facing a major setback due to the curtailment in wind energy production by the state government especially as generation is the best at this time of the year. Source: The Hindu Business Line

The battle between renewable energy companies and Andhra Pradesh is getting intense as the state has sought the cancellation of 21 wind power purchase agreements. Source: Economic Times

The state government terminated the Polavaram large irrigation contract awarded to Navayuga Engineering based on the report of an expert committee appointed to look at irregularities. Source: Economic Times

Bihar

Nothing critical to report this week.

New Delhi

The Delhi Electricity Regularity Commission (DERC) reduced the rates at charging stations for e-rickshaws and other electric vehicles to help curb pollution levels. Source: News 18

The Delhi government convened a monsoon session of the Delhi assembly from August 22-26 to discuss issues like formalizing illegal colonies and proposed free travel for women in metro. Source: Times of India

The new electricity tariff rates for 2019-20 were announced by Delhi’s power regulator. The new rates will be applicable from August 1, 2019. Source: Economic Times In detail: Tariff Schedule for FY 2019-20

Gujarat

Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited has received a letter of award from Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd to set up a 250 MW solar project in Dholera Solar Park in Gujarat. This is in addition to a 100 MW project awarded by GUVNL in May 2019 for the Raghanesda Solar Park. Source: Money Control

Gujarat-based Torrent Power Limited has issued a request for selection for the purchase of power from 300 MW of solar power projects in the state. This procurement will help Torrent Power achieve its renewable purchase obligation. The last date for the submission of the bids is September 4, 2019, with technical and financial bidding scheduled for September 5 and September 12, 2019, respectively. Interested bidders need to pay an amount of Rs.1 million ($14,466) as the earnest money deposit. Source: Mercom

Haryana

Nothing critical to report this week.

Karnataka

The state government in Karnataka approved Goodrich Aerospace Service Pvt. Ltd’s $68.8 million investment to establish a unit for manufacturing aircraft evacuation systems, lighting systems, cargo systems, seating systems, and electrical power systems. Source: The Hindu Business Line

Madhya Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week.

Maharashtra

The Maharashtra government accorded the infrastructure status to the Mumbai-Pune ultra-fast hyperloop transport project that seeks to reduce the travel time between the two cities to 23 minutes. Source: Business Standard

The Maharashtra State Power Generation Corporation has issued a notice inviting bids for the development of 137 MW (AC) of solar projects in three districts. The scope of work for this tender includes the design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, testing, and commissioning of the following projects:

60 MW solar project in Sindala, Latur District

52 MW solar project in the vicinity of four thermal power plants- Bhusawal, Koradi, Parli, and Nashik

25 MW solar project in Dhule District. Source: Mercom

The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission approved the deviation to the competitive bidding guidelines for the procurement of power from solar projects sought by the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited. Source: Mercom

The Maharashtra government inaugurated the Drone based Mapping Project being carried out by Survey of India, the national mapping agency of the country under the Ministry of Science & Technology. Source: Economic Times

Rajasthan

The Rajasthan assembly passed an amendment bill to prohibit the opening and running of hookah bars in the state. The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) (Rajasthan amendment) bill, 2019 was passed by a voice vote. Source: News18

Tamil Nadu

The state returned $526.9 million of $848.5 million allocated by the center for various programs in 2017-18 which included housing scheme for the poor and scheduled castes. Source: Times of India

Telangana

The Telangana government passed an order to exempt all the Information Technology and IT-Enabled Services (ITES) from certain provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Shops and Establishments Act, 1988, for a period of five years. Source: The Hindu Business Line

The Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation Limited has floated a tender for 1-1,000 kilowatt of grid-connected rooftop solar power projects. The bid submission deadline is August 13, 2019, and the technical bids will be opened on the same date. The price bids will be opened on August 16, 2019. Source: Mercom In detail: Tender details

Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation will adhere to the letter of credit system for power purchases from August 1, 2019, but has kept independent power producers within the state outside of the new payment security mechanism. Source: Financial Express

West Bengal

The West Bengal government initiated a program to increase the electric consumption efficiency of municipalities across the state to 15 to 40 percent by servicing the pumps used in water supply. Source: The Telegraph

Best of the Rest

Assam

The Assam government introduced a bill in the assembly that would empower the state to remove illegal encroachments from the land belonging to religious institutions. Source: Economic Times

Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh gained the fourth position in fiscal year 2019-20 under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act among the top 10 states in the country. Source: Daily Pioneer

Goa

The Goa assembly passed a bill which allows women in the industrial sector to work during the night shift. Source: First Post

Jharkhand

The Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency has issued a tender for setting up LED solar streetlights across the state on a turnkey basis. The bid submission deadline is August 19, 2019. The opening date for technical bids is August 21, 2019. Source: Mercom

As per the state government’s first initiative in the country, the beneficiaries of the Pradhan

Mantri Ujjwala Yojana program in Jharkhand will receive a free refill of their LPG cylinders. The distribution of 1.2 million new LPG connections and the refilling of cylinders will begin from August 23. Source: The Hindu

Jammu and Kashmir

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has moved a bill in the Rajya Sabha to bifurcate the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories (UT) Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh, the UT in Ladakh will have no legislature while the other UT of Jammu and Kashmir will have a legislature. Source: India Today

The central government passed a bill that will provide 10 percent reservation to the Economically Weaker Sections in educational institutes and government jobs to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir. Source: Financial Express

Mizoram

The National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme was launched across Mizoram to control and eradicate hepatitis in the state. Source: Eastmojo

Nagaland

Nagaland launched a new vaccine called Rotavirus Vaccine as part of the routine immunization program across the state for diarrhoea prevention.

Source: North East Today

Odisha

Healthcare services in Odisha are being made more effective and more transparent by a state government initiative to widen the use of social media by health institutions across the state.

Source: News18

State-owned National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) Ltd has shut down three 500 MW units of the 3000 MW (6x500) super thermal power station at Kaniha due to lack of supply of fuel aroused after a workers strike. Source: Business Standard

The state government in Odisha has signed a memorandum of understanding with the central government to set up another four IT and software parks in addition to the four software parks in Odisha which are currently operational. Source: Ommcom news

Odisha issued a notice inviting tender for seven blocks- five freehold deposits and two chromite blocks in auctions of mineral blocks, lapsing by March 31, 2020. Source: Business Standard

Punjab

The state government in Punjab has again defaulted on clearing the amount of subsidies which are to be paid the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited. Source: Times of India