By
Posted on

Big News

Solar Energy Corporation of India cancels a 2,000-megawatt (MW) wind power tender due to under subscription; Karnataka makes progress on its state education policy; Jammu and Kashmir approves its first-ever trade and export policy; Rajasthan objects to key amendments by the center to the Electricity Tariff Policy;Goa's legislative assembly passes several important land-related bills; and more.

Center – State relations

Solar Energy Corporation of India has canceled a recent 2,000-megawatt (MW) wind power tender, which was under subscribed, owing to lack of sufficient transmission infrastructure. Four developers — Renew Power, Adani Green Energy, Sprng Energy, and Alfanar Energy — had submitted technical bids for a capacity of 300 MW each at the auction last month. Source: Economic Times In detail: Original Tender Information

While the center's capital expenditure in the fiscal quarter from April-June was more than 25 percent higher than April-June 2017, the state governments are focused on their efforts to reduce borrowing and ensure fiscal consolidation. Data from 14 states show that their aggregate capital expenditure April-June this year was $4.5 billion, a meagre 11 percent of the combined annual target and 19 percent lower then the states had undertaken a year ago. Source: Financial Express

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh has emerged the "front-runner" in the field of energy efficiency according to the States' Energy Efficiency Preparedness Index (SEEPI) released by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and NITI Aayog. Source: The Hindu In detail: Press Release and State Energy Efficiency Preparedness Index

The U.S. Trade Development Agency (USTDA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with IL&FS Energy Development Company Limited on the sidelines of the Indo-Pacific Business Forum hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to develop a 41-MW hybrid wind, solar, and energy storage power plant in Andhra Pradesh.

Source: Economic Times In detail: Press Release

The Andhra Pradesh government is planning to establish a 'iHub' (an intelligent hub), a first-of-its kind global research center for scientific learning with an initial investment of $35.7 million spread over five years. To this end, the state government has signed an MOU with UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP).

Source: Money Control

The state government has launched 'Mukhya Mantri-Yuva Nestham', a scheme through which an allowance of $15 per month will be provided to the nearly 1.2 million unemployed youth in the state. Source: India Today

Bihar

An MOU was signed between power distribution companies - North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited and South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited - and Energy Efficiency Services Limited to install smart prepaid meters in 130 towns and adjacent rural areas covering approximately 1.8 million customers in the state. Source: The Telegraph In detail: Press Release

New Delhi

Union Minister Hardeep Puri and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal inaugurated the Lajpat Nagar-Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus corridor of Delhi Metro's Pink Line Source: The Hindu In detail: Press Release

Delhi raced ahead of Gujarat to be ranked as first in a list of 21 states and union territories with the most investment potential, according to a report by economic think-tank NCAER. The national capital is followed by Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and West Bengal. Source: Indian Express In detail: NCAER-State Investment Potential Index

Gujarat

Nothing critical to report this week

Haryana

Nothing critical to report this week

Karnataka

The Karnataka Higher Education Council has given in-principle approval to the Karnataka State Education Policy. Source: The Hindu In detail: Draft of Karnataka State Education Policy

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (MPUVNL) has tendered 33 MW of total capacity under the Renewable Energy Services Company (RESCO) model that outlines specific project sites, a data room, as well as pre-cleared power purchase agreements and subsidies from state as well as central government. Source: PV Magazine

Maharashtra

The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) issued final regulations for the forecasting, scheduling, and deviation settlement for solar and wind power generation in the state. According to the new regulations, MERC would impose the deviation charges on project developers and procurers for under as well as over injection of power into the grid. Source: Mercom In detail: Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (Forecasting, Scheduling and Deviation Settlement for Solar and Wind Generation) Regulations, 2018

The Maharashtra government announced it would stand as a guarantor for loans to be disbursed to youth from the Maratha community under a scheme to extend financial assistance to backward communities. Source: Economic Times

State Minister Babanrao Lonikar announced that the Maharashtra government has approved over $1 billion to complete the drinking water projects in scarcity-hit areas. Source: Financial Express

Rajasthan

The Rajasthan government has written to the power ministry, objecting to key amendments to the Electricity Tariff Policy, 2016, such as the penalty proposed for gratuitous load shedding as well as the targets and time-lines set for discoms to have long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) and comply with renewable purchase obligations.

Source: Financial Express

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is expected to face a power deficit of 204 million units in 2018-19 as per the annual load generation balance report released by Central Electricity Authority (CEA). While the report in 2017-18 said Tamil Nadu will have a power surplus to the extent of 8,663 million units, the state ended the year with a deficit of 167 million units. Source: Times of India In detail: Load Generation Balance report 2018-19

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) chairman has approved guidelines on distance criteria, type of crushing machinery and air pollution control measures for the production of manufactured sand (M-sand). ** Source:** The Hindu In detail: Guideliens on M-sand units

Telangana

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has issued a tender for 150 MW of solar power capacity at sites of coal mining group Singareni Collieries Co Ltd in Telangana. Source: Renewables Now In detail: Tender details

Telangana Diagnostics, a center-funded state-run service which falls under the center's National Health Mission, will be scaled up to cover the entire state following successful runs in Hyderabad. Source: The Hindu

KT Rama Rao, Telangana Minister of Industries & Commerce announced that the Telangana government will set up a biotech and pharma facility, B-Hub, with an investment of $8.7 million. The state-of-the-art hub, which will have a scale-up manufacturing facility for biopharma-based research and development, will come up at the Genome Valley. Source: The Hindu Business Line

Uttar Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week

West Bengal

Nothing critical to report this week.

Best of the Rest

Chhattisgarh

The Startup India Yatra, which started in Raipur and heads to Bilaspur next, was well-received by students in Chhattisgarh, who lined up to register for the first boot camp organized as part of the yatra. Source: Knn India In detail: Press Release

Goa

The state legislative assembly passed the Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Bill, 2018, which will empower the government to take action against the landfilling in eco sensitive areas and restore them. The assembly also approved the passage of the Goa Regularization of Unauthorized Construction (Amendment) Bill, 2018, and the Goa Requisition and Acquisition of Property Bill, 2017. Source: Times of India In detail: The Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Bill, 2018 and the Goa Regularization of Unauthorized Construction (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

The Goa Assembly unanimously passed a resolution to allow the state government to urge the center to amend a central legislation governing the mining sector, allowing the state to bypass a Supreme Court order that had banned mining since February that revoked 88 mining leases in Goa. Source: Indian Express

Himachal Pradesh

Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has issued a tender for 1MW / 1MW per hour of battery energy storage as part of a 2MW solar PV project at Kaza, Himachal Pradesh. The battery will be located at Rangreek, near Rong Tong Hydro Power Station, 12,000 feet in altitude, facing annual temperature ranges of -40°C to 30°C, and the tender has noted that the battery "shall be designed for maximum flexibility with regard to site-specific voltages, frequency, phase imbalance, and protection requirements." Source: PV-Tech In detail: Tender Details

Jharkhand

Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das said that the state government would buy milk produced locally as part of the goal to double the income of the farmers by 2022. The chief ninister said that by increasing milk production the farmers of the state could tap a whopping $58.3 million rural economy which presently was going to milk supplied from other states. Source: Financial Express In detail: Press Release (in Hindi)

Jammu and Kashmir

The Jammu and Kashmir government has approved the first-ever trade and export policy, aimed at transforming the state's economy into a competitive export-led entity. Source: Financial Express In detail: J&K Trade & Export Policy 2018-28

Amul, the largest milk cooperative of India, and the state government of Jammu and Kashmir have signed an MOU to establish a high-tech milk plant in Jammu. Source: Deccan Chronicle

Kerala

Petroleum and natural gas regulatory board (PNGRB) awarded the city gas projects in Kasaragod, Kannur, and Mahe to IOC-Adani Gas Pvt Ltd.

Source: Times of India

Meghalaya

Niti Aayog and Meghalaya government have decided to work as partners for developing a blue print for Meghalaya's development. Source: The Shillong Times

Odisha

The Software Technology Park of India (STPI) will start a next generation incubation center for electronics and IT start-ups in Gothapatna, Odisha, which will be able to accommodate more than 100 entrepreneurs and will include a fabrication laboratory facility to develop prototypes. Source: Times of India

Aditya Birla Renewables Ltd, part of diversified business conglomerate Aditya Birla Group, won a tender to establish a 75 MW solar power project in Odisha by offering the lowest bid of 4 cents per unit for a tender by Gridco for 200 MW in solar power projects. Source : Business Standard In detail: Tender Details

Punjab

The agriculture department of Punjab said it will provide $57.6 million in subsidies to farmers to purchase of 28,641 pieces of farm equipment to manage paddy residue. Source: Times of India In detail: Subsidy Details (in Punjabi)

The Punjab cabinet approved a policy for regularization of colonies, plots and buildings falling under unauthorized colonies, which states that any developer, resident welfare association or co-operative society can apply for regularization of unauthorized colonies, he said.

Source: Money Control In detail: Press Release

The Punjab cabinet approved the operational guidelines regarding fiscal incentives under the industrial policy of the state, which include investment subsidies by reimbursing net State Goods and Service Tax for a period of 15 years subject to 200 percent of Fixed Capital Investment, 100 percent electricity duty exemption, 100 percent exemption/reimbursement of stamp duty, 100 percent exemption of CLU/EDC charges, and employment generation subsidy. Source: Indian Express In detail: Industrial Policy 2017