While the move could free up grid capacity struggling to keep up with rapid renewable rollout, it would be a major setback for green ambitions. India aims to double clean power capacity to 500 gigawatts by the end of the decade.
Green activists are livid with Centre postponing the compliance date for thermal power plants to install emission regulation machinery for the sixth time.
Exclusive review of ministry's plan shows it aims to augment India’s coal and hydro capacity and revamp key policies to boost thermal and hydroelectric power generation capabilities.
The decision has been taken keeping in mind the expected increase in electricity demand during the summer season due to higher temperatures across the country.
The water cess was opposed by Union govt, as well as neighbouring states of Punjab & Haryana. Sukhu govt says it decided to levy tax 'in line with' BJP-ruled Uttarakhand.
The new policy will come into effect from April 2024 for commercial and industrial consumers and a year later for most other consumers except those in the agricultural sector.
Union govt letter dated 31 March says states imposing cess on hydel projects may not get access to power from central government's pool of unallocated quota in Central Generating Stations.
In its letter to states & UTs, power ministry says large regulatory assets created by SERCs without specifying mandatory trajectory for their recovery is in contravention of law.
In first 2 months of 2022-23, several power plants ran out of coal due to delays in transportation. As a result, Indian Railways had to cancel passenger trains to make way for freight trains.
In 109 of 165 thermal power plants that are currently operational, the actual coal stock is less than 25 per cent of normative stock that they are mandated to keep.
The cooperation ministry is working on a war footing. Even if cooperative societies are in the state list, the Centre is doing its best to streamline and reinvigorate the sector.
Premier David Eby, the leader of the minerals- and gas-rich province of British Columbia, spoke with executives at Tata Steel and Reliance Industries on a trade mission to India.
Overall, President Droupadi Murmu has approved Gallantry awards to 70 armed forces personnel, including six posthumous, on the eve of 77th Republic Day.
No nation other than China can negotiate one-on-one with Trump on an equal footing. That’s why the middle powers who so far formed the core of multilateral bodies now feel orphaned.
State utilities struggling to buy electricity because, free electricity has bankrupted the discoms. Electricity Reform is urgently needed, to give all subsidy as Direct Cash Transfer, instead of reducing the bill itself.
State utilities struggling to buy electricity because, free electricity has bankrupted the discoms. Electricity Reform is urgently needed, to give all subsidy as Direct Cash Transfer, instead of reducing the bill itself.