By
Posted on

Big News

Bihar announces a ban on use of plastic bags and sheets; Delhi approves slum redevelopment policy; Jammu and Kashmir establishes a Real Estate Regulatory Authority to promote regulated and planned growth of the real estate sector; Meghalaya approves draft Meghalaya Telecom Infrastructure Policy, 2018; Tamil Nadu releases its food processing policy; Uttar Pradesh offering 5 percent rebate to electric power customers paying on time; and more. 

Center – State relations

Nothing critical to report this week.

Andhra Pradesh

The Andhra Pradesh government granted permission to the Andhra Pradesh Power Coordination Committee and state power distribution companies to cancel a 2016 continuation agreement and a 1998 power purchase agreement with Hinduja National Power Corporation Limited, Visakhapatnam, following several delays in the project completion schedule that led to rising capital costs. Source: The Hindu

Bihar

The Bihar government announced a ban on use of plastic bags and sheets in urban areas in the state beginning December 23 and in rural areas beginning January 14. Source: The Tribune In detail: Notification on the Ban on Plastic

The state-run National Thermal Power Corporation acquired the 720-megawatt (MW) Barauni thermal power plant in Bihar from the Bihar State Power Generation Company Ltd. The plant has 220 MW capacity and is building another 500 MW of capacity. Source: Economic Times

New Delhi

The Delhi Development Authority approved a slum redevelopment policy, which promises to streamline the process of slum redevelopment projects in the city. Source: Times of India In detail: Draft Slum Rehabilitation Policy

Mahindra Electric Mobility Limited signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SmartE, one of India’s largest electric vehicle fleet operators, to support SmartE’s deployment of the first 1,000 Mahindra Treo and Treo Yaari electric three-wheelers in Delhi by March 2019. Source: Live Mint

Gujarat

The Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited 700 MW grid-connected solar photovoltaic tender saw significant oversubscription, with interested companies submitting bids aggregating to 1,750 MW. Source: Mercom

Haryana

The Haryana government has launched new scheme to allow defaulters to settle the old pending electricity bills before December 31, 2018. Under the scheme, the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam will relax tariff rates for up to 20 kilowatts (KW) for domestic consumers, and up to 5 KW for non-domestic consumers. Source: Millennium Post

Karnataka

The Karnataka legislative assembly passed the Karnataka Land Revenue (Second Amendment) Bill, 2018 to amend the required sections of the Karnataka Land Revenue, Act, 1964 to facilitate disposal of pending applications for regularization of certain parcels of land. The assembly also passed a bill to amend Karnataka Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 to implement a new return filling system, and the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, 2018. Source: Business Standard In detail: Karnataka Land Revenue (Second Amendment) Bill, 2018

Madhya Pradesh

Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath was sworn in as the 18th chief minister of Madhya Pradesh on December 17. Source: Daily Excelsior

Maharashtra

In an attempt to reduce child mortality rate, the state government has decided to provide a baby care kit worth $27.80 each to children born in state health care centers or government hospitals. Source: Times of India

According to data in Maharashtra, 36 percent of individuals trained under the state’s Skill India campaign found employment. While the scheme covered 540,000 beneficiaries in the state, only 200,000 of those trained received job placements or became self-employed. However, the figures only hold true for only six months after placement, as the government did not track candidates beyond that period. Source: Times of India

Rajasthan

Nothing critical to report this week.

Tamil Nadu

The Finance Ministry announced that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide the Tamil Nadu government with a loan of $31 million to develop tourism and boost jobs in the state. Source: Money Control In detail: Press Release

The Tamil Nadu government unveiled its food processing policy in order to increase farmer incomes, reduce food waste, add value to farm products, and ensure a healthy food processing industry. Source: Times of India In detail: Tamil Nadu Food Processing Policy 2018

The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation has issued a tender for 500 MW of wind power capacity. It is the second 500 MW tender launched by the state utility, more than a year after the first. The latest round requires a minimum bid size of 25 MW with a tariff ceiling of $38.03 per megawatt-hour. Source: Wind Power Monthly

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission rejected a plea made by Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited for tariff protection of $0.062/kilowatt-hour (kWh) for 400 MW solar power projects. The Commission has instead agreed on tariff rate of $0.043/kWh for these projects. Source: Mercom In detail: Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission Order

Telangana

Telangana Rashtra Samiti president K. Chandrashekhar Rao was sworn in as the chief minister of Telangana for a second term. Source: The Hindu

Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh electricity regularity commission decided to provide five percent rebate to rural consumers who pay their bill on time. The commission had earlier decided on a one percent rebate. Source: United News of India In detail: Addendum/Amendment to Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Fees and Fines) Regulations, 2010

Chinese smartphone maker Vivo announced an additional investment of $555.8 million over a period of four years towards opening a new manufacturing plant in Uttar Pradesh that will generate 5,000 jobs. Source: Economic Times

The Uttar Pradesh government announced a decision to replace the open electricity wires with insulated cable lines in its villages in order to curb power theft and prevent electrocution incidents caused by the uncovered wires. Source: Times of India

West Bengal

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that between 2011 and 2018, West Bengal has recorded an increase in solar power generation from 1.2 MW to 53.2 MW. Source: Business Standard In detail: Twitter Announcement

Best of the Rest

Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu inaugurated Shi Yomi district, one of the three districts recently created by the government in the state. Source: The Telegraph 

Assam

The government of India and the ADB signed a $60 million loan agreement to finance riverbank protection works, renovation of flood embankments and community-based flood risk management activities in critically flood-prone areas along the Brahmaputra river in Assam. Source: NDTV In detail: Press Release

Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh chief minister-designate Bhupesh Baghel has promised that his government will fulfill the promise of waiving off farmers’ loans within 10 days of forming the government. Source: India Today

Himachal Pradesh 

The Legislative Assembly of Himachal Pradesh State has passed the Himachal Pradesh Goods and Services Tax (GST) Amendment Bill 2018, which exempts traders with a turnover of $27,924 or less from the tax. Source: Taxscan In detail: Himachal Pradesh Goods and Services Tax (GST) Amendment Bill 2018 (in Hindi and English)

Smile Train India, a non-government organization, signed an MOU with the National Health  Mission in Himachal Pradesh provide free surgeries for the children with  congenital cleft lip and palate. Source: 5 Dariya News

Jammu and Kashmir

The Jammu & Kashmir State Administration Council approved an amendment to the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), inserting a new section defining the offense of “sextortion.” Under Section 354E of the RPC, the new law explicitly bans sexual exploitation of women by public servants and by those in positions of authority. Source: The Hindu

The Jammu and Kashmir government will set up its first Real Estate Regulatory Authority in the state to promote regulated and planned growth of the real estate sector. Source: Economic Times

The Jammu and Kashmir government December 14 declared 75 services in various departments to be ”online only” as a part of the Business Reforms Action Plan aimed at improving ease of doing business in the state. Source: Money Control

Manipur

The center announced the creation of a tribunal to adjudicate matters related to extension of ban imposed on eight insurgent groups in Manipur for five more years over continued involvement in unlawful and violent activities. Source: Money Control

Meghalaya

The Meghalaya cabinet has approved a proposal from the Power Department Act as a guarantor for $23.6 million out of a total $111.1 million that the Meghalaya Power Generation Corporation Limited plans to raise by issuing bonds. Source: The Shillong Times

The Meghalaya government signed an MOU with the National Center for Geo-informatics to support the implementation of the Meghalaya Geographical Information System project. Source: North East Now In detail: Twitter Announcement

The Meghalaya cabinet approved the draft Meghalaya Telecom Infrastructure Policy, 2018. The policy will be effective from January 15, 2019. Source: North East Now In detail: Draft Meghalaya Telecom Infrastructure Policy, 2018

Mizoram

Mizo National Front chief Zoramthanga was sworn as Mizoram’s new chief minister. Source: NDTV

Nagaland

The Nagaland government signed an MOU with the Lotha Hoho to resolve a dispute on oil production in the state. The Lotha Hoho had filed an public interest litigation against the government regarding the government’s questionable deal with Metropolitan Oil and Gas Private Limited, its decision to fix an eight percent royalty on oil production, and the rules regarding revenue sharing with non-oil bearing districts in the state. Source: Nagaland Post

Puducherry

The Puducherry government has passed the Puducherry Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill 2018 to implement a new return filing system. Source: The Hindu

Punjab

The Punjab Assembly passed a resolution suggesting a land swap with Pakistan to bring the historic Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara into Indian territory. Source: Economic Times In detail: Press Release

The Punjab Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging the Central government to enact the Women’s Reservation Bill to provide 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislative assemblies. Source: NDTV In detail: Press Release

In its winter session, the Punjab legislative assembly unanimously passed an amendment to the Punjab GST Amendment Bill, the Punjab Panchayat Raj Bill, and the Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners Bill and the Punjab Regulation of Cattle Feed, Concentrates and Mineral Mixtures Bill, 2018. Source: Tax Scan In detail: The Punjab Panchayat Raj Bill

Canadian immigration minister Christopher Kerr held a meeting with Punjab technical education, industrial training and employment generation minister Charanjit Singh Channi and signed an MOU with the Punjab government to streamline the migration of youths from Punjab to Canada. Source: Times of India In detail: Press Release