Big News

Maharashtra allows nonprofit firms to open schools, Tamil Nadu to set up first state-run solar park, Uttar Pradesh allows death penalty for those dealing with illicit liquor, Andhra Pradesh to now provide pension to transgender citizens, Tripura begins social audit of government programs

Centre- State relations

Nothing critical to report this week

Andhra Pradesh

The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission has directed the state power distribution companies (discom) to not enter in to any new power purchase agreements (PPA) without its permission. Previous PPAs will also be allowed for revision subject to the approval from the commission. Source: The Hindu Business Line

Andhra Pradesh became the third state, after Kerala and Odisha, to approve a policy of providing pensions to transgender citizens of the state. The policy promises $23 every month as social security pension to transgender citizens over 18 years old, as well as ration cards, plots for housing, and financial aid to open businesses. Source: Scroll.in

Bihar

Bihar’s power discoms have proposed a significant hike, five times the fixed monthly charges for certain categories of consumers in the financial year 2018-19. Source: Times of India

New Delhi

Gujarat

Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) completed its e-reverse auction of 500 megawatts (MW) of wind power with a tariff proposal of 3.8 cents per unit, lowest in the country.

Source: Economic Times In Detail: Result of e-reverse auction held

Suzlon, a wind turbine manufacturer, has won a 252 MW contract from a global utility as part of the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) II bid in Gujarat. Suzlon will install 120 units of 2.1 MW of S111 120m in the state.

Source : Money Control In Detail: Press Release

Haryana

Nothing critical to report this week

Karnataka

Tata Power Renewable Energy has commissioned a 100 MW solar power plant project in Karnataka. Source: Hindu Business Line

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan laid the foundation stone for the Rewa ultra mega solar power plant. The project accounts for 750 MW of generation capacity with tariff being lower than 4 cents in all divisions of the plant. The green energy produced will be used for operation the Delhi metro. Source: Money Control

Maharashtra

The Maharashtra government passed an amendment to the Maharashtra Slum Areas Act, 1971, which now entitles all slum residents to rehabilitation arrangements, especially when they are evicted from rehabilitation areas.

Source: The Hindu In Detail: Amendment to the Maharashtra Slum Areas Act, 1971

The Maharashtra Assembly has cleared an amendment to the Maharashtra Self-Financed Schools Act, 2012, which will allow non-profit firms to open schools. Previously, only trusts, registered societies, and government bodies were eligible to run self-financed schools.

Source: The Hindu In Detail: Maharashtra Self-financed Schools (Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2012

Rajasthan

Rajasthan government will allow for one percent reservation for five castes will be provided one percent reservation allowing the groups to seek benefits in educational institutions and jobs. Source: News 18

Tamil Nadu

The center has approved Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) to set up a 500 MW solar park in Ramanathapuram district, first in the country to be set up by a state-owned utility. Source: Times of India

Telangana

Telangana discoms have made no changes to power tariffs for any category for 2018-19 financial year. Source: Times of India

Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh state assembly passed the Excise (Amendment) Bill 2017 and became the third state to allow awarding of the death penalty and life imprisonment to those dealing illicit or spurious liquor if its consumption leads to any deaths. If consumption causes disability, heavy fines and 6-10 years in prison can be imposed on violators. Source: Press Trust of India

The Uttar Pradesh government, under the state repealing act, has repealed 15 laws it considered redundant or obsolete. Source: United India

Hero Solar Energy and SBE Four have won 500 MW solar power projects from the Uttar Pradesh government, expected to sell the power at 3.86 cents and 3.87 cents per kilowatt hour, respectively. Source: Times of India

West Bengal

The West Bengal government plans to create a cyber security center of excellence to execute new blockchain mechanisms to protect government documents from cyber attacks. The center is expected to partner with private firms to conduct research on cyber crimes. Source: India Today

The West Bengal government is seeking clearance from the central government to sell 1,000 MW of power to Bangladesh, in addition to the 250 MW already being sold to India’s neighbor. Source: Millennium Post

The West Bengal government will now start collecting toll taxes from 15 state highways to generate resources for maintenance and expansion of roads, prices for which will be determined by the state’s public works department. Source: Live Mint

Best of the Rest

Meghalaya

Meghalaya became the first state to operationalize the law to allow for a social audit of government programs and initiatives. The Meghalaya Community Participation and Public Services Social Audit Act, 2017 has been implemented on a pilot-basis to 26 initiatives in 18 villages of the northeastern state. Source: Indian Express In Detail: The Meghalaya Community Participation and Public Services Social Audit Act, 2017

Tripura

The Tripura government will allow Child Care Leave (CCL) for women employees with minor children for 730 days with full pay in the duration of their entire service period. Source: India Express

Odisha

The Odisha Assembly passed the Asian Institute of Public Health University, Odisha Bill, 2017 to allow for the establishment of a private university on public health. Source: Business Standard