Hydel firm responsible for 2013 flood in Srinagar: NGT
Holding a private hydroelectric company responsible for aggravating the situation during the 2013 flash flood in Srinagar town, the National Green tribunal (NGT) has directed GVK-Alaknanda Hydro Power company to pay Rs 9 crore as compensation to flood-affected residents of the town in Pauri district for damage caused to properties and also for the restoration of flood-affected areas. Thousands of metric tons of muck swept by strong currents of the river Alaknanda during the torrential rain on June 16 and 17 caused massive destruction in the town. The NGT found the company responsible for not disposing of the muck and debris generated due to the construction work for the 330 MW Srinagar hydroelectric project as per the guidelines. When torrential rains lashed the town on June 16 and 17, 2013, the gates of the dam were closed because of which the reservoir got filled up. Later, when the gates of the dam were opened suddenly, a huge volume of water gushed out and flooded some areas of the town. The force of the water was so great that it swept the debris and muck and deposited them in the flooded areas. Prem Ballabh, vice-president of Srinagar Bandh Apda Sangharsh Samiti, an organisation of 96 members who had lost their properties in the flood, said, “The flood water would have receded fast had there been no muck and debris. The water remained for long thereby destroying our houses and other structures. The 96 members of the samiti whose properties were lost or damaged will get part of the compensation amount depending on the quantum of loss they suffered.” According to Vimal Bhai, convener of Matu Jansangthan, the company has also not constructed a retention wall, because of which the damage was more. The tribunal has directed the company to pay Rs 9,26,42,795 to the Emergency Relief Fund Authority within 30 days as compensation to be paid to the victims affected by the incident. The tribunal also directed Alaknanda Hydro Power Co Ltd to pay an amount of Rs 1 lakh each to the applicants, as well as to Bharat Jhunjhunwala, another respondent, to meet the cost of litigation. It also directed that 1% of the amount of compensation awarded shall be deducted from the said deposited amount and remitted to the registrar, National Green Tribunal, as per the National Green Tribunal Rules, 2011. The tribunal also directed the Uttarakhand government to issue necessary directions to the district magistrate of Pauri to depute a s ub-divisional magistrate to look after the claims made by the affected people. D.J. Hayden Jersey
Kenya Power, Toshiba sign pact to reduce distribution losses
Kenya Power and Toshiba Transmission & Distribution Systems (India) Pvt Ltd (TTDI), a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, have entered into a pact for implementation of a pilot project aimed at decreasing distribution losses in the national grid. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) will guide installation, testing and evaluation of equipment that will be supplied by TTDI, on a trial basis, to improve efficiency and reduce both technical and commercial losses in the distribution network, a press statement said. “As the network grows in tandem with the rapid increase in the number of customers, we experience both technical and commercial losses. We are focused on bringing down the system losses from the current 19 per cent to single digit figures in the medium term,” Kenya Power Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer Ben Chumo was quoted as saying in the statement. The pilot project will involve installation of new type of transformers (amorphous distribution transformers) manufactured by TTDI in the distribution network, to of enhance efficiency, the statement said. In addition, TTDI, under guidance from Kenya Power, will supply safe and eco-friendly solid insulated switchgears and gas insulated transformers to fight vandalism. “TTDI has made concerted efforts to understand and respond to the needs of Kenya Power. I believe this MoU reflects KPLC’s positive evaluation of TTDI’s high quality products and of our proposal to contribute towards achieving stable electricity supply,” TTDI chairman & MD Katsutoshi Toda said. Austin Hooper Jersey
Govt’s top priority to reduce T&D losses: Energy secy
The top priority of Rajasthan government is to reduce electricity transmission and distribution loss and put an end to the losses incurred by discoms, a top official of energy department has said. “This is possible only if we work together and bring Rajasthan on number one position in electricity sector”, said Sanjay Malhotra, Principal Secretary, Energy Department. He was addressing a review meeting here yesterday. Shrimat Pandey, Chairman Discoms has instructed the chief divisional engineers to verify actual loss in industrial sectors. He further clarified that it will be the executive engineers who will be responsible to bring down the losses in industrial sectors in a target based manner. Kevin Pillar Authentic Jersey
Discoms ‘sense’ DERC notification as AAP’s influence
In the wake of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) notification on compensation for unscheduled outages, power discoms are apparently sensing a “disturbing” trend of the AAP government trying to “influence” the power regulator. Tata Power discom (TPDDL) has already filed a petition with the DERC challenging the notification that still awaits the nod of Lt Governor Najeeb Jung even as a senior government official yesterday said the High Court verdict will not affect the notification issued by the power regulator. Power experts have also cited “practical difficulties” towards implementing the order. It will require replacing the existing meters, numbering around 50 lakh, with smart meters which may entail investment of a few thousand crores as they cost multiple times more than the existing ones. “Delhi government influencing the ‘independent’ regulator raises a very disturbing trend of attempt to influence DERC. This is against the spirit of the Electricity Act, 2003. The basis of the power reforms was to establish the independence of the regulator and to limit the interference of the state government,” a source said. The DERC had issued the order, which includes making the discoms liable to pay Rs 100/hour to customers in case of power cuts exceeding two hours, following directions from the city government in this regard. The Delhi High Court had recently quashed the directions of the government where prior approval of the LG was not taken before issuing them although it did not affect the notification issued by DERC. Experts also pointed towards section 57 of the Electricity Act, 2003 which says that before determination of compensation, the licensee (discoms) concerned shall be given reasonable opportunity of being heard and that automatic imposition of compensation by way of regulation is “not possible”. While the government has pulled up the BSES discoms over their “atrocious” performances, the Reliance ADAG-owned company has blamed power theft and its inability to augment infrastructure like installing sub-stations despite repeated reminders to the authorities concerned to provide land. The city’s power sector was privatised in 2002. Willie Snead IV Authentic Jersey
Bengal keeps out poor, midddle-class, agriculture from power tariff hike
The West Bengal government has kept the agriculture sector, middle class and below poverty line (BPL) consumers out from power tariff hike, state Power Minister Shobandeb Chattopadhyay said on Thursday. “I can assure you that the government will not allow the rates to be increased for domestic, BPL and agriculture segments. I cannot verify the changes allowed by the regulator in the categories outside these right now. “High rise buildings and bulk consumers of electricity might face an increase in the price,” Chattopadhyay said at the sidelines of an energy seminar organised by The Bengal Chamber. Average power tariff of West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (WBSEDCL) is getting dearer by 23 paise with effect from July billing cycle. The minister noted that the discom (distribution company) is already getting a subsidy of over Rs 400 crore. “State government provides subsidy to the distribution company so that tariff rate upto 300 units can be kept at a relatively lower rate for domestic consumers,” an official of State Electricity Regulatory Commission told IANS. Chattopadhyay further said West Bengal will achieve 100 per cent electrification by mid 2017. The government is working to electrify entire Sunderbans population and 95-97 per cent work has already been completed. Ramon Humber Authentic Jersey
CMR Group chief donates 23 acres land for intl airport project
Farmers and businessmen are coming forward to relinquish their land for the international airport coming up at Bhogapuram in the district. Chairman of the CMR Group, Mavuri Venkataramana has handed over 23 acres of land in Bhogapuram mandal to the district collector for the mega project, to be developed by Bhogapuram International Airport Company Ltd (BIACL), a press release issued by District Collector office said. Venkataramana voluntarily handed over the 23 acres of land and also urged the farmers to come forward to relinquish their lands to the district administration for the project, which will boost development of the district and was essential for it. According to the release, farmers in Kavuluwada village in the district have so far handed over 23 acres of land, while more farmers were willing for acquisition by the government. Shea Weber Jersey
India to summarily reject ICAO’s proposed carbon emission tax
As part of its strategy to counter the carbon emission tax proposed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations’ aviation watchdog, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government will seek a formal response from the Indian carriers on the issue. India expressed its disagreement to ICAO president Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu during his visit to New Delhi earlier this month, according to a senior official from the ministry of civil aviation who did not want to be named. The official said the Indian government would reiterate its discomfort when the ICAO Council meets in Montreal, Canada, next month to address these carbon emission issues and would again point out that Indian carriers are not willing to abide by the proposed tax. According to ICAO, the tax is meant to control emission in the aviation sector. India has also pledged to reduce emissions, as committed at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris last year. Though the aviation sector was not included in the Paris agreement adopted by 195 countries in December 2015, all the member countries have been asked to take measures voluntarily as per their national climate action plans. Tremaine Edmunds Jersey
Airstrip in Kalyan alternative site for new airport? Aviation min does aerial survey
Eyebrows have been raised after aviation minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju conducted an aerial survey on Tuesday of the site in Navi Mumbai earmarked for the international airport and an airstrip belonging to the defence authorities. Problems with rehabilitation of project-affected people in Navi Mumbai may have forced the government to survey the land in Kalyan to send out a message, said a source. “The only drawback is that the land available in Kalyan is smaller than that in Navi Mumbai, which ultimately reduces the scope for international operations. On the Kalyan plot, there is an airstrip built during the Second World War,” the source added. Vinod Geete, a real estate consultant, said any move to shift the airport out of Navi Mumbai would jeopardize the realty boom, which areas like Ulve, Belapur, Kharghar and Panvel have been witnessing. Nearly all clearances for the airport are already in place and contractors were to start the pre-development work soon. When asked why the project-affected were reluctant to leave their houses to pave way for the ground-levelling work to start, BJP legislator from Panvel Prashant Thakur said, “Going by their past experiences, they were uncertain whether or not Cidco would hand over plots with all civic amenities within 12-18 months.” He added, “The government had sanctioned the project-affected rent for 12-18 months, but it was not sufficient as developing the plots would take longer. Even today in Sector 35 there are no civic facilities despite the area having tall residential towers.” Tyrone Crawford Womens Jersey
Wifi to be allowed on Indian Civilian aircraft in 10 days
Passengers on civilian aircraft are all set to enjoy the benefits of long elusive WiFi on board aircraft flying in and out of India, as the Home, Telecom and Aviation ministries have reached on a consensus on the issue, said a senior Civil Aviation Ministry official on Wednesday. “We will soon, within 10 days, be allowed to allow wifi on board aircraft flying in and out of the country,” civil aviation secretary R N Choubey said at the Air Passenger Association of India’s (APAI) silver jubilee celebrations. He was replying to a question on how soon the government would be able to permit wifi on board aircraft in India. Choubey went on to point out that there was a security issue and the ministries of home, telecommunications and aviation ministries have almost achieved consensus on the issue. The celebrations were attended by several Union Ministers including Ram Vilas Paswan, Consumer Affairs Minister, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Textiles Minister Smriti Irani. APAI founder D Sudhakar Reddy said that they have travelled a long way during this period and made significant contributions in protecting the interests of passengers. Hailing all stakeholders for their unstinted support in making APAI a success, he said that the organisation was successful on many fronts to ensure consumer rights. “Because of our hard lobbying, compensation for wounded passengers were raised from Rs 40,000 to Rs 1 lakh and air taxes were reduced for handicapped and disabled passengers.” Aaron Ekblad Womens Jersey
‘India poised to become one of world’s largest aviation markets’
Driven by a strong passenger traffic growth, India is poised to become one of the largest aviation markets in the world, according to a global body of airports. The Airports Council International (ACI) said that major commercial airports in China, India and Korea remained the major driving forces for the robust air passenger growth in the Asia-Pacific region. “India is also poised to be one of the largest aviation markets in the world in the years to come. “The combination of a move towards a more liberalised market for aviation, coupled with stronger economic fundamentals, helped the country become one of the fastest- growing markets in the world,” ACI said in a release. In June, passenger traffic grew 9.9 per cent in the Asia-Pacific region, higher than 8.8 per cent year-to-date growth rate. As per ACI, international and domestic passenger traffic were strong during the first half of 2016 at 10.1 per cent and 8.2 per cent, respectively. “Major commercial airports in China, India and Korea remained the major driving forces for the robust air passenger growth in the region (+12.1 per cent, +17 per cent and +14.1 per cent, respectively),” the release said. Kelly Hrudey Authentic Jersey