States Update: March 18, 2020

Big News: Government approves 485 miles of green highway project; Parliament passes law for commercial mining of coal; Andhra Pradesh clears $3.45 billion power dues to power generators; Uttar Pradesh mandates 25 percent procurement from micro, small, and medium enterprises; Jammu and Kashmir offers multiple incentives to attract investment; and more.

Center – State relations

The government approved a proposal for the construction of 485 miles of green highways at a cost of $1.03 billion in four states - Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh. Source: Economic Times In detail: Press Release

The Parliament passed The Mineral Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020 that will open the coal sector fully for commercial mining by domestic and global companies. Source: PIB In Detail: The Mineral Laws (Amendment) Act

The government raises excise duty on petrol, diesel by $0.04 per liter. This is the steepest hike in 8 years. Source: The Hindu In Detail: Notification SAED; Notification RIC

The government has invited ‘Expression of Interest’ for selling its stake of 52.98 percent in India’s second biggest oil refiner Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL). Source: Economic Times In Detail: Bid Document

Andhra Pradesh

The Energy Department of Andhra Pradesh has cleared power purchase dues of $3.45 billion, and has devised a strategy to clear the pending bills in the next few months. Source: Economic Times

Bihar

Nothing critical to report this week.

New Delhi

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal invoked the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 to impose a complete ban on social, religious and political gatherings of more than 50 people in the national capital. Source: Hindustan Times In detail: Delhi NCT Order

Gujarat

The Gujarat government has issued a notification declaring coronavirus as an epidemic disease under the Indian Epidemic Act, 1897. Source: Deccan Herald

Gujarat has approved the proposals to install solar systems in the state at an approximate cost of $1.83 million. Source: Mercom In detail: Press release

Haryana

The Haryana government declared the contagious coronavirus infection an epidemic. Source: Mint In detail: Haryana Epidemic Disease, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020

Karnataka

The Karnataka government has notified Karnataka Epidemic Diseases, COVID-19 Regulations 2020 to contain the outbreak and spread of COVID-19. Source: Mint

Madhya Pradesh

The Kamal Nath-led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh scored a 10-day reprieve as the assembly session was adjourned, without any trust vote, until March 26 over coronavirus. Source: NDTV

Maharashtra

Nothing critical to report this week.

Rajasthan

The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) has directed captive solar projects to pay 50 percent of standard transmission and wheeling charges. The directives will be implemented on energy storage, net metering, transmission, and wheeling charges. Source: Mercom In detail: RERC Orders

Tamil Nadu

Nothing critical to report this week.

Telangana

Nothing critical to report this week.

Uttar Pradesh

To promote the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, Uttar Pradesh has mandated 25 percent procurement by the state government departments and public sector undertakings from the state MSMEs. Source: Business Standard In detail: Notice (In Hindi)

The Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency has announced a state subsidy of $202.50 per kilowatt for rooftop solar projects that will be set up under Phase II of the grid-connected rooftop solar program. Source: Saur Energy In detail: Notice (In Hindi)

In a bid to curb air, land, and water pollution in the severely polluted areas in the state, the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) has imposed new and stringent emission standards for industries. Source: Hindustan Times In detail: Notification

West Bengal

Nothing critical to report this week.

Best of the Rest

Assam

Effective from April 1, the tariffs for Assam Power Generation Company Limited (APGCL) have been reduced by $0.002 to $0.005 per kilowatt-hour across all categories. Source: G Plus In detail: APGCL tariff petition

Himachal Pradesh

The government of India, World Bank and the government of Himachal Pradesh have signed an $80 million loan agreement to improve water management and agricultural productivity in Himachal Pradesh. Source: Jagran Josh In detail: World Bank press release

Jammu and Kashmir

In order to facilitate investments in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the following incentives are offered to attract entrepreneurs:

· Allotment of land at subsidized rate.

· Cheaper power tariffs.

· Subsidy on purchase & installation of diesel generators.

· Subsidy on installation of Quality Control/Testing Equipments.

Source: Press Information Bureau

Manipur

The Manipur government has issued regulations to deal with coronavirus. Source: Outlook

Meghalaya

The Meghalaya cabinet approved the Meghalaya Residents, Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill, 2020. Source: North East Now

Mizoram

The Mizoram government has formally sealed international borders and inter-state borders, barring few entry and exit points, as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Source: North East Now

Tripura

The Tripura government would provide 600,000 environment-friendly solar study lamps to students for sustainable illumination. Source: India Today

Uttarakhand

The Uttarakhand government has declared novel coronavirus an epidemic and has shut all multiplexes, cinema halls, degree colleges and technical institutes across the state till March 31. Source: Business Standard