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Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal announce tenders for rooftop solar power projects; Andhra Pradesh directs power distribution companies to honor contracts with renewable energy power developers; Goa swears in new chief minister; Rajasthan amends renewable energy certificate regulations; Mizoram passes alcohol prohibition bill; Chhattisgarh allows coal mining in forests; and more.

Center – State relations

The government published guidelines for the implementation of the Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan program which will facilitate the installation of solar pumps and grid-connected solar power plants by farmers. Under the program, the government plans to develop decentralized solar energy and other renewable energy generation plants of capacity up to 2 megawatts (MW). Source: Economic Times In detail: Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan Portal

Andhra Pradesh

The Andhra Pradesh government directed state-run power distribution companies to honor contracts signed with renewable energy developers, offering relief to generators at a time when several clean energy buyers are backing out of agreements and seeking lower tariffs. Source: Economic Times

Bihar

Nothing critical to report this week.

New Delhi

The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission approved the Power Sale Agreement between the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited for the sale of 50 MW of wind power. Source: Sauenergy

Gujarat

Nothing critical to report this week.

Haryana

Nothing critical to report this week.

Karnataka

The Karnataka High Court denied the state regulator’s order imposing retrospective charges related to transmission on renewable energy developers. The developers had challenged a May 2018 order of the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission that imposed retrospective ‘wheeling and banking’ charges on wind, hydro and solar projects. Source: Economic Times

Madhya Pradesh

The Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam Limited announced a tender for 25 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) projects to be developed under the Renewable Energy Service Company model. The bid submission deadline is May 15, 2019. Source: Mercom In detail: RFP & PPA documents for RESCO- III for deployment of SPV Power Plants in Industrial Sector

Maharashtra

Maharashtra’s Housing Department has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The MOU is part of IFC’s ongoing Eco-Cities Program and will support the state government in structuring green building policies providing technical assistance on specific policies/incentives along with their implementation. Source: Economic Times

The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) issued a draft of the first amendments to its open access regulations relating to eligibility, banking, treatment of transmission and wheeling charges among others. The draft is up for comments and suggestions up to April 1, 2019. Source: Mercom In detail: Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (Transmission Open Access) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2019,

Draft Notification ((Distribution Open Access) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2019

The MERC exempted renewable energy Qualified Coordinating Agencies (QCAs) of charges for meter reading, data collection, and communication from paying, scheduling, and forecasting. However, the initial corpus that QCAs must deposit remains unchanged. Source: Mercom In detail: Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (Forecasting, Scheduling and Deviation Settlement for Solar and Wind Generation) Regulations, 2018

Rajasthan

The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission issued new amendments to its regulations on renewable energy certificate and renewable purchase obligation compliance. The new regulations will come into effect from April 1, 2019. Source: Mercom In detail: RERC (Renewable Energy Certificate and Renewable Purchase Obligation Compliance Framework) (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2019

Tamil Nadu

Nothing critical to report this week.

Telangana

The Telangana government and ANI Technologies-owned Ola Cabs, an app-based public transportation company, signed an MOU to strengthen the city’s traffic infrastructure. The first pilot project proposed will map the riding quality of major roads in Hyderabad through a network of vehicles operating on the app’s platform. Source: Live Mint

T-Seva Centre invited applications from entrepreneurs for opening of T-Seva skill centers in all the cities, districts, mandals, and gram panchayats across Telangana under the ‘Swarna Telangana Self-Employment Scheme’. Source: The Hans India

Uttar Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week.

West Bengal

The West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency issued a tender for the development of a 7 MW grid-connected solar PV power plant on turnkey basis at Durgapur, West Bengal. The last date for bid submission is April 10, 2019, and bids will be announced on April 17, 2019. Source: Saur Energy In detail: Tender details

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Chhattisgarh

The Union Environment Ministry gave clearance for open cast coal mining in Parsa in Chhattisgarh’s dense Hasdeo Arand forests. The mine with a capacity of 5 million tons per annum, will be operated by Rajasthan Collieries Limited, a unit of Adani Enterprises Limited. Source: Hindustan Times

Goa

Pramod Sawant, former speaker of the Goa legislative assembly and BJP MLA from Sankhelim in north Goa, was sworn in early Tuesday morning, March 26, as the 11th chief minister of Goa, succeeding Manohar Parrikar, who passed away on March 24 after a prolonged battle with advanced pancreatic cancer. Source: The Hindu

Himachal Pradesh

The Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission issued the draft “Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Rooftop Solar PV Grid Interactive System based on Net Metering) Order, 2019,” with regulations for installation of rooftop systems based on net metering in the state. Source: Saur Energy In detail: Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Rooftop Solar PV Grid Interactive System based on Net Metering) Order, 2019

Jammu and Kashmir

The SECI issued a notice, inviting online bids for setting up of 2 MW solar power plants in Jammu and Kashmir. The detailed request for selection document will be available for downloading by March 29, 2019. Source: Saur Energy

Mizoram

The Mizoram assembly passed a bill to prohibit the manufacture, import, sale, and consumption of liquor for the common people for their general health and to aid in law enforcement. Source: Economic Times

Uttarakhand

The Uttarakhand government shelved its plans to build small hydropower projects in the fragile Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone— created to protect Ganga River’s most pristine stretch between the towns of Gaumukh and Uttarkashi. Source: Daily News Analysis