Infrastructure: Renewables is the driving force of energy production in India
As per REC data 12,145 villages electrified out of promised 18,452 in 1000 days (i.e. by May 1st 2018.) Promise within grasp. Good luck !!
Spreading light to the remotest villages
The Rural Electrification Corporation data shows that these villages—located in 19 states—have been electrified in 510 days. Of the 5,559 villages that are still dark, a majority are in north-eastern states like Arunachal Pradesh (1,229) and Assam (945), as also eastern states like Odisha (848), Jharkhand (858), Bihar (570) and Chhattisgarh (464). April 16 to Jan 17 data ~ Renewables contributed 5.7% of India’s energy prodn. But renewables growth is 26% vis a vis 5% of conventional. Calculations by RN Nayak (ex CMD PGCL) ~ 4 million res rooftop installations needed to achieve solar targets. Mass movement necessary.
Rising renewables
Renewables is the driving force of energy production in India. However, the total solar installation till date stands at 9,000MW, with rooftop panels accounting for 1,020MW. The target set by the government is about 1,500MW in FY17. The balance 38,500MW needs to be installed over the next 5-6 years.Regional air connectivity set to takeoff. Along with UDAN scheme, Cabinet clears R4500 cr package to rejuvenate 50 unserved airports.
50 unserved airports to be revived
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has cleared the project which aims to revive 50 unserved and underserved airports. Fifteen airports/airstrips each would be revived during 2017-18 and 2018-19, while 20 would be taken up during 2019-20. Parliament told 20 of 44 hydro-electric power projects (>25 MW) under implementation are stalled ~ aggregating to 6329 MW. That’s large!
Stressed hydro projects a cause for concern
According to power minister Piyush Goyal, a staggering amount of R30,147 crore has already been spent on these stressed 20 hydro projects. He also added that the government has sanctioned the proposal regarding basin-wise reassessment of hydro potential in the country. India’s untapped Municipal Bond market: USA raises $300 billion ‘Munis’ per yr. Cum raise in India = R1750 crs till date. SmartCities?
Bonds of urban development
The importance of raising funds through municipal bonds cannot be overemphasised. The richest municipal body of India, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, earned 33% of its revenue in 2015-16 from octroi, which will go away once the goods & services tax (GST) is introduced. Hyd Metro mngmnt expects entire 72 km project to be ready by June 2018. No mean feat considering huge challenges faced on various fronts.
Light at the end of the metro tunnel
An 11-km stretch of the Hyderabad Metro project is expected to be completed by mid-2017, and another 18-km stretch by the end of this year. This, despite many challenges, including right of way issues and mass litigation. Congratulations to Delhi Airport for being ranked 2nd Best in world by Airports Council Intl in the 40million+ passengers/annum category.
Delhi airport’s mega achievement
In a significant achievement, the Delhi International Airport Limited’s (DIAL’s) Airport Service Quality (ASQ) score increased from 4.96 in 2015 to 4.99 in 2016, taking it to the second-best airport globally, only after Incheon in South Korea. Green order: SuprCourt has said that industries that do not have effluent treatment plants will not be allowed to run. Implementability?
Supreme Court slams polluting industries
The Supreme Court has directed all industrial units to have their primary effluent treatment plants up and running in three months. Failure to comply would result in disconnection of power.
Source:FE
