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Big News

Telangana defers the second phase of a 4,000 MW Super Thermal Power Project implemented by the National Thermal Power Corporation; Uttar Pradesh announces a crackdown on the state’s ‘sugarcane mafia,’ a group of middlemen that are duping farmers in the state; The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission for the state of Goa and union territories issues new draft regulations for tariffs from renewable sources and for net metering; Maharashtra issues new regulations to provide reservation to Maratha students in post-graduate medical courses; and more.

Center – State relations

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) issued an order allowing GMR Group to run its power plant on imported coal in the event of coal shortage, and to seek compensation for the extra costs. The order will apply to all power plants in India, which will be a significant development for India’s power generation industry, which continues to grapple with stressed assets. Source: Economic Times In detail: CERC order

Andhra Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week.

Bihar

Nothing critical to report this week.

New Delhi

Nothing critical to report this week.

Gujarat

Nothing critical to report this week.

Haryana

Nothing critical to report this week.

Karnataka

The Karnataka government launched district-wise call centers for citizens to file complaints of water scarcity in their districts. This development comes at a time when 3,122 talukas, or counties, of the state are facing scarcity of water. Source: The News Minute

Madhya Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week.

Maharashtra

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) successfully auctioned 250 megawatts (MW) of grid-connected solar photovoltaic power projects in Dondaicha Solar Park (Phase – I), located in Dhule district of Maharashtra. Talettutayi Solar (Solar Arise) emerged as the lowest bidder, quoting a tariff rate $0.041 (Rs. 2.87) per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to develop 50 MW of solar power. Source: Mercom In detail: Original Tender details

The Maharashtra cabinet approved an ordinance to amend the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Act to provide reservation to Maratha students in post-graduate medical courses. The decision comes after the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court had not allowed the state to grant 16 percent reservation for admissions to medical courses, given that the admission process had begun before this decision was announced. Source: Scroll.in

Rajasthan

Azure Power, a leading solar power producer in India, announced that it has commissioned a 150 MW solar power plant in Bhadla solar park in Rajasthan, and that it will supply power to SECI at a tariff of $0.036 (Rs. 2.48) per kWh for 25 years. Source: Mid Daily News In detail: Press release

Tamil Nadu

Farmers in Tamil Nadu have begun protesting a planned hydrocarbon project in the Thiruvarur, Nagappatinam, Pudukottai, and Thanjavore districts of Tamil Nadu. The central government had earlier given in-principle approval to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and the Vedanta group for hydrocarbon extraction in the region. Source: Newsclick

Telangana

The Transmission Corporation of Telangana has asked the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to defer the second phase of 2,400 MW of Telangana Super Thermal Power Project at NTPC’s existing power plant at Ramagundam. The NTPC is currently undertaking the first phase of the project, which will have a capacity of 1,600 MW. Government officials stated that an “appropriate decision at the right time” will be taken regarding the second phase of the project. Source: The Hindu

State-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd has invited bids to supply, install and commission 1,250 kilowatt, three-phase, grid-connected power-conditioning units for 129 MW of solar photovoltaic in Telangana. Source: PV Magazine In detail: Tender Details

Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a crackdown on the state’s ‘sugarcane mafia’ and announced it will use the National Security Act against these groups. The “sugarcane mafia” refers to middlemen procure the crop from small and marginal farmers at cheaper rates and later sell the harvest to mills at much higher government determined state advised price, duping the farmers. Source: Business Standard

West Bengal

Nothing critical to report this week.

Best of the Rest

Goa

The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission for the state of Goa and union territories has issued draft regulations for determining tariffs from renewable sources including solar. The draft is up for comments and suggestions from stakeholders up to June 4, 2019. Source: Mercom In detail: Draft Renewable Energy Tariff Regulations, 2019

The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission for the state of Goa and union territories has issued draft net metering regulations. The regulations will be applicable only to the grid-connected rooftop mounted, ground mounted and floating solar power projects. Source: Sau Energy In detail: Draft Solar PV Grid Interactive System based on Net Metering Regulations, 2019

In a move to resume mining activities in Goa, the state government granted permission to one mining lease to start operations after taking all necessary permissions. The mining company will now have to receive a fresh environmental clearance from the center before receiving consent to operate from the Goa state pollution control board. Source: Times of India

Jammu and Kashmir

The National Institute of Solar Energy, an autonomous R&D institution under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), has invited bids to fabricate, supply, install, and commission 800 solar dryer and space heating systems in Jammu and Kashmir. Source: PV Magazine In detail: Tender details

Kerala

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has issued a tender to lease 1,500 electric buses in a “wet” or “dry” lease. Under a wet lease option, the bidder will provide the buses along with a driver and KSRTC will deploy its own conductor. Under a dry lease option, KSRTC will deploy the driver and conductor, and the bidder will only provide the bus. Source: Mercom

The Kerala State Electricity Board Limited invited interested domestic bidders for the design, erection, testing, and commissioning of grid-connected rooftop solar projects on buildings owned by the district panchayath, or village council, of Thiruvananthapuram. Source: Mercom In detail: Tender details

Meghalaya

The Meghalaya government approved the establishment of a commission to look into the problem faced by farmers in the state. Source: Business Standard