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Tamil Nadu attracts $1.4 billion in investment proposals through its single window clearance since November 2017; Goa amends its 2017 State Energy Policy to include a 50 percent subsidy for small producers and consumers of solar power; Nagaland will set up a National Center for Disease Control in the state; Gujarat approves a proposal for three imported coal-based power plants to raise tariff rates, leading to higher power prices for consumers; Indian National Congress leads in state elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, while regional parties lead in Mizoram and Telangana; and more.

Center – State relations

A High Level Committee, headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, approved $426.8 million for Kerala as an additional assistance, $75.4 million for cyclone-hit Andhra Pradesh, and $18.3 million for Nagaland, which was also hit by floods. The funds will be disbursed from the National Disaster Response Fund. Source: The Hindu Business Line

The Election Commission announced the results of the elections in five states – Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, and Telangana. The Indian National Congress defeated the BJP in head-to-head contests in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, and is poised to form a government in those states. The regional parties Mizo National Front and Telangana Rashtra Samiti won in Mizoram and Telagana, respectively. Source: BBC News In detail: Election Commission Website

Andhra Pradesh

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency has invited Andhra Pradesh to showcase its best practices in first-ever energy efficiency training week for India in collaboration with International Energy Agency in Delhi. The program is aimed at building capacity among Indian policy makers at all levels of governance. Source: Times of India

The Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with France’s Dassault Systemes to enhance the employability skills of students of the state in research and development and technology. The MOU guarantees training for 100,000 engineering and polytechnic students within a period of three years. Source: Times of India

In detail: Press Release

South Korean automobiles company Kia Motors signed an MOU with the Andhra Pradesh government to collaborate on promoting electric vehicles (EVs) in the state and to develop local EV infrastructure. Source: The News Minute

The Andhra Pradesh government signed an MOU with China-based Sunny Opotech Technology Company to establish an optical devices manufacturing unit in Tirupati with an estimated investment of $70 million. The unit is expected to generate around 4,000 jobs. Source: New Indian Express

Bihar

Nothing critical to report this week.

New Delhi

The Delhi government’s nodal agency for rooftop solar projects, the Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Management Center, has launched a tender for setting up 35 Megawatt (MW) grid-connected rooftop solar projects in the capital. Source: Economic Times

Gujarat

Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani launched a mobile application to collect used cooking oil from restaurants and food processing units in the state and convert it into bio-fuel. Source: Economic Times

The Gujarat government issued an order to allow tariff hikes by three imported coal-based power plants owned by Adani Power Ltd, Tata Power Co. Ltd, and Essar Power Ltd. The companies will now amend their power purchase agreements with the Gujarat Urja Vikar Nigam Ltd, passing the higher cost of coal on to consumers in the state. Source: Live Mint

Governor Matt Bevin of Kentucky will lead a delegation of the U.S. Chambers of Commerce, the U.S.-India Business Council and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development to the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in January 2019. The delegation will also travel to Uttar Pradesh. Source: The Hindu In detail: Press Release

Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani approved the creation of a $7 million Science & Technology Innovation (STI) Fund to provide assistance of up to $70,533 to recognized central and state universities and colleges to develop latent talents, encourage creativity research and development in strategic fields in the knowledge-based ecosystem. Source: Times of India

Haryana

Nothing critical to report this week.

Karnataka

The Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited has issued a tender for the development of 50 MW (10 MW x 2 blocks + 15 MW x 2 blocks) of grid-connected solar projects at Pavagada Solar Park, in Karnataka. Source: Mercom In detail: Tender Notification

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development has approved a loan of $131.8 million to Karnataka to improve infrastructure in rural areas in the state. Source: The Hindu Business Line

Madhya Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week.

Maharashtra

The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited has issued a tender for the purchase of power on long term basis from 1,000 MW grid-connected solar photovoltaic power projects. In this tender, the discom has set the maximum tariff at $0.04 per kilowatt-hour and will enter into a power purchase agreement with the selected bidder for a period of 25 years. Source: Mercom In detail: Tender details

The state government launched the State of Maharashtra Agribusiness and Rural Transformation (SMART) in 10,000 villages, or one quarter of the total villages in the state, to achieve sustainable farming within the next three years. The focus is on villages which are reeling from the ongoing agriculture crisis in the state, as well as lack of infrastructure and assured value chains. Source: Indian Express In detail: Project details

The Kingdom of Bahrain’s investment promotion arm, the Economic Development Board signed an MOU with the Maharashtra Government to provide a framework for cooperation to promote financial technology in their respective markets. Source: Business Standard In detail: Press Release

Walmart India announced that it has identified properties for new stores in eight cities in Maharashtra, and will provide employment to 30,000 – 35,000 persons in the state. Source: DNA

Maharashtra’s power regulator has set up a two-member fact-finding panel to probe the “unduly high” utility charges by Adani Electricity after explanations offered by the private-sector distributor failed to convince the state agency. Source: Economic Times

Rajasthan

Nothing critical to report this week.

Tamil Nadu

Since its launch on November 1 last year, the total investment proposals made through Tamil Nadu’s single window clearance portal has crossed the $1.4 billion mark. The investment by 277 companies will lead to the recruitment of 44,793 people. Source: The Hindu Business Line In detail: Single Window Clearance Portal

Welspun Enterprises announced it has signed an MOU with the National Highways Authority of India for a $280.7 million highway project in Tamil Nadu. Source: Economic Times

Telangana

Nothing critical to report this week.

Uttar Pradesh

The Power Grid Corporation has won a project to set up a transmission system to evacuate electricity from the 1,320 MW Jawaharpur thermal power project and to construct a substation in Uttar Pradesh. Source: Economic Times

The latest auction by the Uttar Pradesh government for 550 MW of projects by the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency has resulted in surprisingly low winning tariffs. The auction attracted bids between $0.042 and $0.043 per unit, with the National Thermal Power Corporation quoting the lowest bid of  $0.042 per unit to win 85 MW. Source: Economic Times

The Uttar Pradesh government has approved a project to develop a $21.8 million freight village in Varanasi adjoining the inland waterways terminal on the Ganga River aimed at boosting the logistics industry in the city. The Varanasi freight village will be developed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India. Source: Business Today

West Bengal

Nothing critical to report this week.

Best of the Rest

Goa

The Goa government has amended the Goa State Energy Policy 2017 to include a 50 percent subsidy for small producers and consumers of solar power. This subsidy will replace an earlier interest-free loan that the government provided small producers and consumers. Source: Times of India In detail: Goa State Energy Policy 2017

Jharkhand

The Jharkhand government announced a plan to set up one small cold store of 30-ton capacity each in every farm block in the state. This plan will build on the government’s earlier scheme to up 46 such cold stores in July 2018.  However, the success of the plan depends on uninterrupted power supply to these cold stores. Source: Financial Express

Kerala

The Kerala government inaugurated the Kannur airport, making the state the first in India to have four international airports. Source: The Hindu Business Line In detail: Kannur Airport

Meghalaya

The Meghalaya government announced a new policy barring teachers of government-aided schools in Meghalaya from taking part in politics. Those teachers who wish to enter politics must quit their job if they want to contest an election. Source: North East Today

Nagaland

The government of Nagaland signed an MOU with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to set up a National Center for Disease Control in the state. Source: North East Today In detail: Twitter announcement

Odisha

The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Department of the Odisha government signed an MOU with the Quality Council of India to implement the Zero Defect Zero Effect Certification Scheme for MSMEs in the state. Source: Orissa Dairy

The Odisha government approval a proposal by the Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited to construct 18 new transmission projects in areas where power availability is not stable and reliable. Source: Money Control

Punjab

The Punjab Cabinet approved the setting up of a new international civil terminal at the Indian Air Force station at Halwara in Ludhiana district. The civil terminal will be developed jointly by the Airports Authority of India and the Punjab government through a joint venture company to be constituted specifically for this purpose. Source: NDTV In detail: Press Release

After facing a loss of $98 million, the Punjab Cabinet approved a proposal by the cooperative department of the Punjab government to merge 20 District Central Cooperative Banks with the Punjab State Cooperative Bank. Source: Indian Express In detail: Press Release

The Punjab cabinet approved the draft Punjab Water Resources (Management and Regulation) Bill, 2018, aimed at ensuring judicious, equitable and sustainable utilisation and management of the state’s critical water resources. The bill creates a Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority, led by a chairman and two members to be appointed by the state government. Source: Tehelka In detail: Press Release

The Punjab cabinet approved a One Time Settlement (OTS) policy to give entrepreneurs of promoted and loanee companies who have defaulted their loans a final chance to settle their dues with the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation (PSIDC) and the Punjab Financial Corporation (PFC). The PSIDC needs to recover  between $11.2 million and $14 million, while the PFC needs to recover between $980,235 and $1.4 million Source: Financial Express In detail: One Time Settlement Scheme (OTS)- 2018 for PSIDC

Sikkim

The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation has bagged debt-laden Lanco’s 500 MW Teesta hydropower project in Sikkim under insolvency proceedings for a tentative value of $126 million. Source: Economic Times

Tripura

Bogged down with a huge debt burden of $1.54 billion and a proportionate interest payment liability, the Tripura government announced it will take out a loan of $28 million to continue funding projects necessary for the state’s development. Source: The Sentinel Assam

Uttarakhand

The Uttarakhand government tabled a supplementary budget of $343.4 million in the state assembly to meet additional expenditure incurred for the financial year 2018-19. Source: Hindustan Times

Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat released the Vision 2030 document, outlining the goals for sustainable development and economic development of the state. Source: Daily Pioneer In detail: Uttarakhand Vision 2030