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Big News: Delhi exempts road tax on electric vehicles; Chhattisgarh offers incentives for small and medium business; Telangana allows 50 percent reservation for women in local urban bodies; Goa becomes the first state to provide tap water connection to every rural household; Uttar Pradesh reverts decision to privatize power distribution company; and more.

Industrial Policy & Business Regulations

Chhattisgarh cabinet approves amendments to its Industrial Policy 2019-24. The amendments provide for a range of incentives for entrepreneurship and micro, small, and medium enterprises among the scheduled castes and tribes. Source: The Week In detail: Chief Minister’s Tweet (In Hindi)

Punjab eases the application process for stamp-duty refund under Industrial and Business Development Policy, 2017. The refund can now be claimed upon commencing commercial production. Source: Punjab News Express In detail: Press Release

Land Acquisition & Labor Reforms

Nothing critical to report this week

Infrastructure

Delhi exempts all battery electric vehicles (EV) from road tax. The government plans to pay subsidies to eligible EV purchasers within two days through a software developed by the ICICI Bank. Source: Mercom In detail: Gazette Notification

Maharashtra cabinet approves Ease of Doing Business norms for the state’s hospitality sector. The new norms will reduce the number of hospitality licences required to do business within the state from 70 to 10. Source: Hotelier India In detail: Cabinet Decision (In Marathi)

Telangana amends Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Act, 1955 to allow 50 percent reservation for women in local urban bodies. The amendment also provides for an increase in GHMC budget’s green cover fund from 2.5 percent to 10 percent. Source: Times of India In detail: Press Release

Power & Renewable Energy

The Telangana State Electricity Regulatory Commission releases draft regulations for demand-side management (DSM) initiatives of distribution licensees. DSM helps grid operators improve the efficiency and stability of the power grid by flattening the electricity load curve. Source: Mercom In detail: Draft Regulation

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) issues guidelines for wind power procurement. The order provides details on mode of power procurement, energy banking, transmission, wheeling, scheduling, and system operation charges. Source: Mercom In detail: TNERC order

Oil & Gas

Nothing critical to report this week

Water & Sanitation

Goa becomes the first state in the country to provide 100 percent tap water connections to rural areas. The state is also in the process of getting national accreditation for 14 water quality testing laboratories to strengthen its water testing facilities. Source: DNA In detail: Press Release

Health

Nothing critical to report this week

Business Negative Reforms

Uttar Pradesh rolls back its decision to privatize one of its five power distribution companies following protests by the state’s power department employees. Source: Business Standard

Any Other

The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority directs state governments to ban the use of diesel generators from October 15, 2020, barring for essential or emergency services use in the National Capital Region. Source: NDTV In detail: Order

Delhi approves the Tree Transplantation Policy for preservation of trees in the national capital. The policy mandates transplantation of 80 percent of the total trees affected by a development or construction project. Source: The Hindu In detail: Policy

Centre – State relations

The union cabinet approves a standard electronic bidding procedure for market-based price discovery of natural gas across various contractual regimes. Source: Economic Times In detail: Press Release

The Ministry of Power proposes draft electricity rules for reduction of late payment surcharge levied on power distribution companies. Per the new rules, late payment surcharges must reflect the prevailing interest rates. Source: Mercom In detail: Draft rules