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Andhra Pradesh forcing wind power firms to lower tariffs while simultaneously looking to add additional wind power; Tata Power sets up India’s first grid-scale battery storage in Delhi; Kerala launches an online single window clearance portal, promising to ensure approvals for investment proposals within 30 days of the application; Punjab approves The Punjab Food Grains Transportation Policy 2019-20; National Thermal Power Corporation threatens to curtail power supply to Jammu & Kashmir due to lack of payment; Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan announce new reservation policies for various groups and communities in their states; and more.

Center – State relations

The World Bank approved a proposal to provide $1.54 billion to India to improve safety and operational performance of its 733 large dams across 18 states over the next 10 years. The money will be utilized under the World Bank’s ongoing Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Programme. Source: Times of India

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced a $70 increase in the financial assistance to farmers under the state’s Annadata Sukhibhava program. Farmers in the state will now receive $126 a year, which is separate from the $84 per year announced by the center for farmers how own less than five acres of land. Source: Times of India

The Southern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh Limited and Eastern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh Limited issued Request for Selection to procure 600 megawatts (MW) of power from wind-solar hybrid projects with energy storage technologies for a period of 25 years. Source: Mercom In detail: RFS document

The Southern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh Limited and Eastern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh Limited announced they will reopen power purchase agreements signed with wind generators to revise tariffs so that they are cheaper and comparable to tariff rates in recent years. The move has sparked fears among renewable energy companies, who fear other states could follow suit, leading to a rise in non-performing assets in the sector. Source: Indian Express

Bihar

Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Sushil Kumar Modi presented the budget for the state of Bihar for the financial year 2019-2020. The budget estimated a revenue surplus of $28 billion, and announced allocations of $4.86 billion for education, $2.2 billion for rural development sector, and $1.24 billion for energy. Source: The Hindu In detail: Budget Highlights

The central government approved the Patna Metro Rail project, which will be executed in five years with an estimated cost of $1.87 billion. Source: NDTV In detail: Press Release

Bihar’s Economic Survey report for 2018-19 highlighted the state’s progress in the power sector. According to the survey, the per capita consumption of electricity in the state rose from 134 kilowatts in 2011-12 to 280 kilowatts in 2017-18. Power availability in rural areas also increased from an average of 6-8 hours in 2012 to 18-20 hours in 2018, and in urban areas from 10-12 hours in 2012 to 22-24 hours in 2018. Source: Times of India In detail: Economic Survey Report

New Delhi

The New Delhi government announced a nearly three-fold increase in the profits for ration providers, who will receive $0.02 per kilogram for food, compared to $0.0009 earlier. Source: Economic Times

Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited announced that they installed India’s first grid-scale battery-based energy storage system at their sub-station in Rohini, Delhi. They also stated that this system will address key challenges such as peak load management, system flexibility, frequency regulation, and reliability of the network. Source: The Hindu Business Line In detail: Press Release

Gujarat

Nothing critical to report this week.

Haryana

The Haryana government decided to reserve 10 percent of posts in all departments, boards, corporations, and local bodies of the state government, as well as 10 percent of seats in all government and government-aided educational institutions reservation to persons belonging to the economically weaker sections of the general category. Source: The Hindu In detail: Press Release

The Haryana cabinet approved an amendment to the Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Rules, 1976, which will increase the fees for those requesting additional time for construction of community sites, ranging from $9,795 for low potential development areas of the state to $13,994 for high potential development areas. Source: Times of India In detail: Press Release and Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Rules, 1976

The Haryana cabinet approved the detailed project report of the Delhi-Gurugram- Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Behror Urban Complex Regional Rapid Transit System corridor and approved a contribution of $900 million towards the project. Source: The Tribune In detail: Press Release

The Haryana government announced a new youth policy, which will be aligned with the National Youth Policy. The sports and youth affairs department within the government of Haryana will serve as the nodal department for the implementation of this policy. Source: Siasat In detail: Press Release

Karnataka

The Karnataka government passed the state’s Finance Bill despite rebellions from certain members of the Congress party, which is the main alliance partner of the government Janata Dal (Secular)-led government. Source: Live Mint

The Karnataka cabinet announced a decision to implement the recommendations of the Sarojini Mahishi Committee report of 1986, mandating a 100 percent quota for the hiring of Kannadigas in clerical jobs in the state. Source: The News Minute

Karnataka chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy launched a new program called the ‘MSME (micro, small, and medium enterprises) Sarthak’ to develop a ready-to-use system where quality raw materials, loans and advances, and working capital will be provided to foster the development of MSMEs in the state. He also announced that the government will develop a new industrial policy for the state. Source: Your Story

Madhya Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week.

Maharashtra

Nothing critical to report this week.

Rajasthan

Following five days of protests by Gujjars who are seeking reservations and quotas for members of their community, the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a bill reserving five percent of government jobs and seats at education institutions to five communities, including Gujjars. With the passage of this bill, more than 50 percent of such jobs and seats in the state are now reserved for specific communities and groups. Source: Indian Express

The Rajasthan assembly passed the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and the Rajasthan Municipality (Amendment) Bill to end the minimum education criterion for panchayat (village council) and municipal election candidates. Source: NDTV

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot presented an interim budget with various new programs, including a waiver of all outstanding cooperative short-term crop loans for all farmers up to $2,798. Source: India Today In detail: Rajasthan’s budget at a glance

Tamil Nadu

Nothing critical to report this week.

Telangana

The revenue department of the government of Telangana notified the final creation of two new districts - Mulugu and Narayanpet - in the state, bringing the total number of districts in Telangana to 33. Source: Economic Times

Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh government announced it will set up five biofuel projects in the state with an investment of $237.89 million. Source: The Hindu Business Line

West Bengal

The West Bengal government announced it will develop a third pump storage power plant at Purulia under a public-private partnership model and that it has already received early interest proposals from investors. Source: First Post

Best of the Rest

Himachal Pradesh

The Himachal government has signed a $40.8 million development policy loan pact with the government of India and the World Bank for improving water supply and sewerage services in greater Shimla area. Source: The Tribune In detail: Press Release

Jammu and Kashmir

State-run power generation company, National Thermal Power Corporation, has threatened to curtail power supply to Jammu & Kashmir from February 19 unless the state’s power development department clears unpaid bills of nearly $280 million. Of the total outstanding dues, as much $227.5 million has been pending for more than 60 days. Source: Financial Express

Kerala

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched the Kerala Single Window Interface for Fast, Transparent Clearances, or K-SWIFT at the Ascend Kerala 2019 investors’ meeting. Through this single-window interface, the government will ensure that all approvals for investment proposals are made within 30 days of application. Source: The Hindu Business Line In detail: KSwift Portal

Punjab

The 15th Finance Commission has set up committee to examine and resolve Punjab’s food-related debt, currently at $4.3 billion which the current government. Source: Business Standard In detail: Press Release

The Punjab cabinet approved The Punjab Food Grains Transportation Policy 2019-20 for transportation of food grains from mandis to its storage points at minimum rates through competitive tenders from various transporters. Source: Punjab News Express In detail: Press Release

Victims of the 1984 riots and terror attacks in Punjab are all set to get a major relief following a decision by the Punjab Council of Ministers to reserve five percent of land plots and houses under the Urban Estates, Improvement Trust, and Pepsu Township Development Board for victims. Source: 5 Dariya News In detail: Press Release

Uttarakhand

The Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency announced a new tender to establish 200 MW of grid-connected solar power projects under the Uttarakhand Solar Energy Policy-2013 (amended as of 2018). Source: Mercom In detail: Tender details