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Five state-owned oil companies sign a joint venture agreement to develop, build, operate, and maintain the North-East Natural Gas Pipeline Grid; Andhra Pradesh approves India's largest Integrated Renewable Energy Project; the Chhattisgarh government launches 'SKYHack 2018,' a portal to connect entrepreneurial youth to incubators, accelerators and mentorship programs in the state to foster start-up growth; the Manipur government suspends mobile internet services for five days; the Puducherry legislative assembly passed a government resolution seeking statehood for the Union Territory and more.

Center – State relations

Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan have topped a list of states with the highest solar power generation capacity approved under solar parks in India, according to data released by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) of the total 26,449 megawatt (MW) capacity projects in India's solar parks. Source: Economic Times In Detail: List of Solar Parks approved under the Solar Park Scheme of MNRE

Five state-owned oil companies - IOCL, ONGC, GAIL, OIL, and NRL - signed a joint venture agreement to develop, build, operate, and maintain the North-East Natural Gas Pipeline Grid as a step towards the Urja Ganga Gas Pipeline Project. Source: Economic Times In Detail: Press Release

Andhra Pradesh

A World Bank panel announced it would deliberate for nine months whether an investigation is required into the allegations of possible threat to livelihoods and the environment, following a request from the center and the state government of Andhra Pradesh to finance infrastructure projects in the planned state capital of Amaravati. The announcement came as the World Bank was preparing a loan of $300 million, which was to be co-financed by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Source: Financial Express In Detail: Request for Inspection

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched the e-Pragati core platform, a digital initiative, is aimed at connecting citizens to 34 departments, 336 autonomous organizations and 745-plus services. Source: The Hindu In Detail: E-pragati Portal

The state government of Andhra Pradesh approved the proposal by Greenko Energies Private Limited (GEPL) to establish India's largest Integrated Renewable Energy Project in Kurnool district. The project comprises 1,000 MW solar energy plants, 550 MW of wind energy plants, and 1,200 MW standalone pumped storage facility. Source: The Hindu In Detail: Integrated Energy Project Approval Order

Bihar

The Bihar State Power Holding Company Limited established a micro unit at Vidyut Bhavan in Patna as part of its green project aimed at generating 1 kilowatt of electricity a month using wind and solar energy. The micro unit can also supply 120 units of electricity to households. Source: Times of India

The Energy and Resources Institute, under its "Lighting a Billion Lives" campaign is working in partnership with the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society's JEEViKA program to make clean energy products affordable for local women-based self-help groups in select districts of Bihar. Source: The Telegraph In Detail: Press Release

New Delhi

Power distribution company BYPL has signed an agreement to source 100 MW wind power that will help meet its renewable power obligations. Source: Economic Times In Detail: Press Release

Gujarat

The National Institute of Wind Energy, an autonomous institution under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, installed a remote sensing instrument - LiDAR - to assess offshore wind resource availability at Gulf of Khambat, off the Gujarat Coast. Source: Mercom In Detail: Press Release

Haryana

Cab-hailing firm Ola has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Haryana government's department of employment to create 35,000 entrepreneurial opportunities in the state. Source: Livemint In Detail: Press Release

The Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued an order amending the terms and conditions for determon of tariff from renewable energy sources, renewable purchase obligation and renewable energy certificate. Source: Mercom In Detail: Order from HERC

Karnataka

Infosys Foundation signed an MOU with Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited to build a metro station at Konappana Agraharam, near the Infosys campus in Electronics City, for $29 million. Source: The Hindu In Detail: Press Release

Madhya Pradesh

Jain Irrigation received an order worth $142 million from Madhya Pradesh government to execute the Mohanpura Major Project to bring 228,475 acres of cultivable command area under micro irrigation. Source: Money Control In Detail: Press Release

Maharashtra

Mytrah Energy (India) Pvt Ltd won an order for the development of 100 MW wind power project for the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd at a tariff of 4 cents. Source: The Hindu Business Line

Essel Infraprojects Ltd established a subsidiary in Maharashtra called the Nagpur Solid Waste Processing & Management Pvt. Ltd will construct Maharashtra's first waste to energy plant with a capacity of 800 tonnes of waste with an investment of $31.8 million. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation will also contribute $10.1 million as viability gap funding to execute the project under the Swwachh Bharat Mission. Source: Economic Times

Indian Railways signed an agreement with the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (MahaMetro) to create a mass rapid transit system in Nagpur. Source: Devdiscourse

A report from the Comptroller and Auditor General notes that the government of Maharashtra, given its debt of $57.5 billion, has failed to utilise the higher borrowings for the development of the state. Source: Indian Express In Detail: Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on Economic Sector for the year ended March 2017

State finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar announced a special package of $3 billion for the underdeveloped Vidarbha and Marathwada regions of the state, focusing on the development of industries, irrigation facilities, agriculture, and tourism in these two regions. Source: Economic Times In Detail: Announcement from finance minister Mungantiwar (in Marathi)

Rajasthan

The Rajasthan Cabinet decided to provide a guarantee to the State Apex Cooperative Bank to take a loan worth $727 million from the National Cooperative Development Corporation to fund the state government's crop loan waiver scheme for farmers. Source: The Hindu

Under an MOU signed between the Rajasthan government, Energy Efficiency Service Ltd. (EESL) and ESCO, the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) is investing more than $14.5 million on replacing sodium tube lights with LED lights on the streets to save up to 50 percent of energy. Source: Times of India

Tamil Nadu

Chief Minister E Palaniswami inaugurated three railways over bridges and seven river bridges, built at a cost of $23.3 million in districts including Coimbatore, Cuddalore, and Tiruchirappali. Source: NDTV In Detail: Press Release

Telangana

The Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation Limited has invited a tender for the design, supply, installation and commissioning of solar photovoltaic (PV) water pumping systems across the state. Source: Mercom In Detail: Tender details

Uttar Pradesh

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved a proposal by the Uttar Pradesh government to upgrade the district hospital at Deoria and establish a new medical college at a cost of $36 million. Source: Business Standard In Detail: Press Release

The Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) has issued draft guidelines to establish a private solar park in the state. The draft is open for comments up to July 31, 2018. Source: Mercom In Detail: Solar Park guidelines 2018-19 (In Hindi)

Power Grid Corporation of India signed an MOU with Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation (UPPCL) for energy efficiency and agricultural demand side management program. Source: Business Standard

The National Solar Energy Federation of India, representing solar energy developers, has requested the Energy Minster of Uttar Pradesh to intervene and stop the possible cancelling of a 1,000-MW solar PV auction conducted last week by the UPNEDA. Source: The Hindu Business Line

West Bengal

The West Bengal government signed an MOU with the National Health Agency to implement the center's health insurance scheme under the joint banner "Ayushman Bharat - Swasthya Sathi." Source: Economic Times

The chairman of the 15th Finance Commission N.K. Singh said that the commission has taken a "serious note" of the West Bengal government's debt overhang issue and would explore options within its mandate so that it does not remain a "permanent drag" on the state's economy. He also lauded the state government's performance during the past few years. Source: Financial Express In Detail: Press Release

Best of the Rest

Chhattisgarh

The Chhattisgarh government has launched 'SKYHack 2018' in an effort to invite innovative minds to become a part of the collective effort in creating an app ecosystem, and is providing youth a chance to explore and become a part of the thriving start-up culture in the state, through its partner resources – incubators, accelerators, and mentorship programs of 36Inc. Source: Daily Pioneer In Detail: SKYHack 2018 Portal

Jharkhand

The Jharkhand state government has amended its policy binding independent power projects (IPPs) setting up a thermal power plant in the state to share at least 25 percent of the energy generated by the plant, increasing the limit to 35 percent. Source: Daily Pioneer In Detail: Jharkhand Power Policy 2018 Draft

Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das announced that the state government will pay the premium for crop insurance of farmers, and will also give farmers seeds of pulses and oilseeds for alternative farming on subsidy. Source: Money Control In Detail: Press Release

Kerala

According to the Public Affairs Index 2018, which examines governance performance in the states through a data-based framework and ranks them on social and economic development, Kerala stands as the best-governed state in the country. Source: First Post In Detail: Public Affairs Index

The cabinet has cleared a new industrial policy that seeks to ease procedures for granting clearances to investors and focuses on promoting private industrial estates, optimum utilization of local resources, and development of the micro, small, and medium industries sector. Source: The Hindu In Detail: Kerala State Industrial & Commercial Policy 2018 (in Malayalam)

The state government has turned down a central government proposal to restrict cross-subsidy in the power distribution sector at 20 percent, arguing that it will impose a heavy financial burden on farmers, marginalized sections and domestic consumers. Source: The Hindu

Manipur

All political parties of Manipur, except for the Indian National Congress, have demanded a special session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly be convened to discuss the framework agreement reportedly signed by the center and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland in 2015. Source: Business Standard

The Manipur government suspended mobile internet services for five days to curb rumours-mongering through spread of hate videos and messages in the state. Source: Economic Times

Meghalaya

The North Eastern Hill University announced the establishment of an incubation center for business start-ups in the state, which intends to provide funds and mentor sustainable social business models over the next two years, the official said. Source: Outlook India In Detail: Press Release

Odisha

Odisha government decided to increase its Contingency Fund size from $58 million to $203 million in order to meet growing expenditure. Source: Financial Express

Climbing expenses on implementing the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission, as well as resource limitations in the state, has forced Odisha to opt for an 'adjustment budget' in this fiscal instead of its usual supplementary expenditure provision. Source: Business Standard

Mahindra Susten, Azure Power, and Hero Future Energies have sent proposals to the state government of Odisha to install solar plants of 100 MW capacity apiece in the state. Source: Business Standard

Puducherry

The Puducherry government has submitted a revised Detailed Project Report of $143 million to the center for strengthening of transmission and distribution network and solar generation in the Union Territory to meet the increasing power demand. Source: The Hindu

The Legislative Assembly of Puducherry passed a government resolution seeking statehood for the Union Territory. Source: The Hindu

According to a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, the gross state domestic product (GSDP) of the Puducherry in 2016-17 stood at $4 billion, a growth of 11.68 percent compared to the year before. However, the report also noted that the Union Territory was also heading towards a debt trap, with its outstanding fiscal liabilities increasing $854.9 million in 2012-13 to $1.2 billion in 2016-17. Source: The Hindu and Times of India In Detail: Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on Union Territory Finances Government of Puducherry

Punjab

The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has approved an order allowing the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited to recover a sum of $21.2 million due to an increase in fuel cost adjustment (FCA) surcharge for power generation. Source: Energy Infra Post In Detail: Order from PSERC

Minister for Industry Sunder Sham Arora signed several MOUs worth $87.5 million to establish 41 new steel industrial units at Mandi Gobindgarh Fatehgarh in the Sahib district of Punjab, and announced that the state government would implement the new industrial policy after the policy is approved by the cabinet in a meeting on July 25. Source: Times of India In Detail: Press Release

Tripura

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region has approved three projects of $26 million for Tripura. Source: United News of India