Slow Progress in Commissioning Pvt Sector Hydro Power Projects
Indicating slow progress in commissioning of hydro power projects by the private sector, only 3,269 megawatts of capacity has been operationalised so far out of the overall plans for 38,039 MW across the country. As many as 120 hydro projects with a total capacity of 38,039 MW were conceived by the private sector but unfortunately 3,269 MW could be made operational, a senior official said, quoting data of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). The official further said these 20 operational hydro power projects with generation capacity of 3,269 MW include even small hydro power units of above 3 MW. As per the CEA data, 19 private sector hydro power projects having a total capacity of 4,555 MW are under construction while there are 22 projects with 15,058 MW capacity whose detail project reports (DPR) were approved by the authority. At present, the CEA is examining DPR of six hydro power projects having capacity of 3,317 MW while reports of 16 such projects of 5,338 MW capacity were returned to private players for resubmission, the official said. The official also said that private players are still preparing DPR of 31 hydro power projects having a total capacity of 6,502 MW. Earlier in the week, elaborating on reasons for delay in implementation of hydro power projects, Power Minister Piyush Goyal told the Lok Sabha, “The reasons for delay in respect of hydro projects under construction in private sector mainly include law and order issues, rehabilitation and resettlement, natural calamities, geological surprises, environmental clearances, financial constraints, etc.” The minister said that against identified capacity of 148.70 GW of large hydro power projects (above 25 MW capacity), 38.32 GW capacity is under operation while projects of 12.01 GW capacity are under construction. Construction of 94.89 GW of hydro power generation capacity is yet to be taken up, the minister had said. Shane Ray Jersey
Demonetisation: Power distribution companies’ coffers swell with old currency
It is a win-win for the electricity department here because of the demonetisation. Since the defunct 500- and 1,000-rupee notes are acceptable until November 24, the power discom is receiving the maximum dues from defaulters. The officials claimed that the number of consumers who have cleared their dues has increased by 20% in the past one week. “There are 40,838 defaulters in the Ghaziabad zone and during the ongoing demonetisation exercise, we are exhorting them to pay off their dues in old currency notes,” said S K Gupta, chief engineer, PVVNL. “The offer is valid until November 24 and in four days we hope to draw in as many defaulters as possible,”Gupta said. “The power dues amount to Rs 509 crore and if these consumers miss out on this we will issue pink slips to them, which will result in automatic power disconnection,” he said. The Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC), meanwhile, has announced the acceptance of defunct currency for paying house tax. “In keeping with a government order, the GMC will accept old currency notes from house tax payers till November 22 and we are requesting residents to make good use of the opportunity,” said D K Sinha, Ghaziabad additional municipal commissioner. “Going by data available with us, we have collected house tax to the tune of Rs 2.5 crore in old currency notes in the past four days and we hope more people will avail themselves of this opportunity,” Sinha said. As for point-of-sale (POS) swipe facility at petrol pumps in Ghaziabad, the petrol pump officials are at a loss. They are neither aware of all the relevant details on the government’s announcement regarding the POS scheme nor are the new currency notes available with them. “People are already throinging our petrol pumps to enquire about this scheme and we are turning them away politely,” said N K Garg, who owns a petrol pump near Meerut Mor. “The biggest problem is scarcity of cash and no arrangements have been made so far for implementation of the scheme ” he added.For a person wanting daily amenities, this note is redundant. Introduction of lower denomination notes would have addressed the residents’ needs Darnell Nurse Authentic Jersey
Surcharge waiver on power bills to recover Rs4,000cr dues
The state government and the power discom on Saturday announced a surcharge waiver programme for certain domestic and non-domestic consumers, especially in rural areas, to lure them into paying back dues worth Rs 4,000 crore. The two categories for which the waiver has been announced include domestic and the non-domestic consumers using power up to 2kW in rural areas (connected or disconnected), and domestic consumers up to 2kW in the urban areas (disconnected cases only). “The total amount of dues for the two categories eligible under the scheme is Rs 4,000cr,” said Arun K Verma, MD, Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited. The policy will be applicable from November 20 and will cover bills September 30. The surcharge will be frozen as on that date and the scheme is valid till December 31. Under the policy, the consumer can either pay a lump sum amount or six bi-monthly instalments along with the next six months’ utility bills. In case of lump sum payment , an additional rebate of 5% on the principal amount will be given to the consumers. In case of instalments, 40% surcharge will be waived off after one year of payment on six bills, and 30% of the frozen surcharge will be waived off at the end of the second year. The remaining surcharge will be waived off at the end of the third year. In case a consumer defaults while repayment in the first year, 100% surcharge will be revived while 60% and 30% surcharges will be revived if the consumer defaults in the second and the third year, respectively. Connection will be restored after the first payment. Riley Reiff Authentic Jersey
Bangladesh to import only cleaner gasoil from 2017 – energy officials
Bangladesh will lower the sulphur content of all its gasoil imports from January next year, in line with a global trend towards cleaner fuel, two energy officials said on Sunday. The country will only import gasoil with 500 parts-per-million (ppm) sulphur from 2017 and will no longer buy the 2,500 ppm grade, two senior officials of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corp (BPC) told Reuters. The state-owned company, the country’s sole importer of gasoil, has already started importing cleaner gasoil from this year. This year it hasn’t purchased gasoil with 2,500 ppm from any oil companies other than Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC), the biggest supplier of gasoil to BPC with around 1 million tonnes a year. “From next year, we will not import gasoil with 2,500 ppm anymore from any oil companies. We are importing gasoil with 500 ppm only,” said one of the officials, who asked not to be named as they are not authorised to talk to media. BPC buys oil products from a number of oil companies through term deals while it has also started buying a portion through tenders as part of efforts to buy at cheaper rates. Bangladesh imports around 3.0-3.3 million tonnes of gasoil a year to meet demand, while the country’s sole Eastern Refinery produces around 350,000 tonnes, BPC officials said. A shortfall in supplies of natural gas has forced the south Asian country to burn oil, a costlier option, to generate electricity.
India gets six more weeks to respond to Cairn Energy arbitration
India has won a six week extension for replying to USD 5.6 billion claim sought by British oil explorer Cairn Energy plc for being slapped with a Rs 29,047 crore retrospective tax demand. Cairn had in June field a 160-page Statement of claim before a three-member international arbitration panel seeking quashing of the retrospective tax demand on a decade-old internal reorganisation of its India unit and sought USD 5.6 billion in compensation. India was to respond to that Statement of Claims by this month end but at a hearing earlier this month, the arbitration panel gave it time till mid-January to file the response, sources privy to the development said. The government had sought putting on hold the arbitration initiated by British oil explorer against the Rs 29,047 crore retrospective tax demand and instead wanted a parallel arbitration initiated by Vedanta Resources to be taken up first. Sources said the arbitration panel did not clearly give a position on the Indian government’s demand but gave it more time to file the response. The government using retrospective tax legislation, had in January 2014 issued a tax notice on Cairn Energy for alleged capital gains it made on a 10-year old internal reorganisation of its India unit. Three months later in April 2014, it imposed a tax demand of Rs 20,495 crore on Cairn India, the UK firm’s erstwhile subsidiary for failing to deduct tax on the capital gains. Cairn Energy and Vedanta, which had bought Cairn India from the Scottish firm in 2011, had initiated separate arbitrations against the tax demands. Cairn Energy had initiated the arbitration in March 2015 and the three-member arbitration panel had been constituted. But at a hearing last month, the government contended that the proceedings should be put on hold, sources said. Its counsel argued that the government wants the arbitration initiated by Vedanta to be taken up first. Sources said the counsel had also made an application seeking more time to file reply to Cairn Energy’s demand for USD 5.6 billion in compensation. Sources said that in the Vedanta arbitration, the government may contend that tax issues cannot be arbitrated under bilateral investment protection treaty and once it wins a favourable verdict there, it will use the same to quell Cairn Energy’s plea as well. A three-member arbitration panel headed by Geneva-based arbitrator Laurent Levy began hearing Cairn Energy’s plea against tax demand in May and the company filed its ‘Statement of Claim’ in late June. The British firm challenged the tax assessment by seeking an international arbitration under the UK-India Investment Treaty, which unlike the Dutch treaty provides for resolution of tax issues. The UK telecom firm Vodafone has initiated arbitration on a separate retrospective tax under the Dutch treaty. Derek Dorsett Authentic Jersey
Wind up Vijay Mallya’s Kingfisher Airlines: Karnataka High Court
In yet another jolt to beleaguered liquor baron Vijay Mallya, the Karnataka High Court on Friday ordered winding up of his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines Limited for non-payment of dues to a UK-based firm. Pronouncing the judgement, Justice V Kothari observed that since KFA did not pay up dues to Aerotron, the court was ordering winding up of the airline company. “Admittedly the said amount has not been paid within the time provided in the agreement between the contending parties or even thereafter. Thus, satisfied that KFA was unable to pay its debts, the court orders the winding up of the airline company,” Justice Kothari said. As much as Rs 35 crore was due to be paid by KFA to Aerotron, for which an agreement was entered into between the two companies on February 24, 2012, whereby KFA had acknowledged its liability to pay the outstanding amounts in instalments spread over several months between March and October, 2012. Pierre Turgeon Authentic Jersey
Exorbitant air fares: No limit for metro routes as regional fares capped
Is the airline pricing mechanism fair and transparent in India? Why do people booking at the last minute – for emergency travel specially – have to pay a bomb? Well, the easy answer is that last minute bookings will mean most seats on a flight are already full and therefore, as per flexi-pricing rule followed by airlines, you end up paying a hefty premium for coming on board at a late hour. But how much premium is justified? And who decides if this premium is fair? According to data complied by online travel aggregator Makemytrip, a one way Delhi-Mumbai air ticket would have cost you a neat Rs 46,973 in September this year. Bengaluru-Delhi would have cost you Rs 46.906 in the same month. These are peak prices, the maximum that has been charged on these sectors in that month. The minimum fare during the month was Rs 2,198 on Delhi-Mumbai flights and Rs 2,395 on Bengaluru-Delhi flights. It is clear that peak pricing is about 20 times the lowest fare. As of now, there is no control over how much premium an airline can charge for last minute bookings. Civil Aviation Minister A Gajapathi Raju said in a written reply in Lok Sabha yesterday that airlines are free to fix “reasonable” tariff under sub-rule (1) of Rule 135, Aircraft Rules 1937 having regard to all relevant factors including “cost of operation, characteristics of service, reasonable profit and the generally prevailing tariff.” He also said that airlines remain compliant with the regulatory provisions of Sub-Rule 2 of Rule 135 as long as the fare charged by them does not exceed the fare established and displayed on their website. Dragan Bender Womens Jersey
No plan to regulate surge pricing for airlines – Govt of India
The central government has said that it has no plans to impose any limits on the fare charged by airlines in India. The clarification has come in the context of demands in certain quarters that airlines will be the next to see curbs on surge pricing after such limits were placed on taxi services such as Uber. Last week, the Karnataka High Court had dismissed a petition by Uber that had argued that state governments did not have the right to control surge pricing by cab companies. Like airlines, Uber and Ola have different fares depending on the demand. When demand is higher, so are the fares. States like Karnataka and Maharashtra have placed curbs on the maximum fares that taxis can charge. Karntaka, for example, has imposed a limit of Rs 19.5 per km for an air-conditioned cab and Rs 14.5 per km for non-ac cabs. There was speculation that since airlines also work on the same model, they too would see limits placed on the airfares. A ticket between Bangalore to Delhi can vary from around Rs 2,500 in times of low demand to as much as Rs 40,000 in times of heavy demand. Ozzie Newsome Authentic Jersey
Erumeli airport will be counter-productive: Experts
The State government’s new initiatives for a greenfield airport at Erumeli has surprised many in the aviation sector. For, they feel that the State’s urgent requirement is a string of airstrips or two-tier airports capable of ferrying passengers and tourists across the length and breadth of the State. Kerala is the only Indian state having four international airports in a small radius. Experts opine that rather than benefiting the aviation sector even slightly, setting up another international airport in a nondescript region will, to some extend, badly affect the performance of existing airports in the State. Speaking to ‘Express’, a senior official attached to the Kochi-headquartered Air India Express, the low-cost arm of Air India, said Erumeli was a town that came to life for around 68 days a year, when the Sabarimala pilgrim season began. “An airstrip or a small domestic airport capable of handling smaller aircrafts is enough to cater to the needs of Sabarimala pilgrims,” he stated. Cameron Johnston Jersey
Enhancing Regional Air Connectivity is top priority: Aviation Minister
The Indian civil aviation industry is exploring all possibilities for capacity expansion of leading airports in the country as well doing its best to make sure that the regional air connectivity is accomplished as per its UDAAN initiative, Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, said today at the inauguration of the two-day Aero Expo India-2016 organized by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry under the patronage of Ministry of Civil Aviation. Present on the occasion were Jayant Sinha, Minister of State, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Rajiv Nayan Choubey, Secretary, Civil Aviation along with other dignitaries from India and overseas. Raju also stressed that though the domestic civil aviation industry has been growing at a rate of more than 20 per cent in the last few years, admitting that higher passenger growth in civil aviation sector is still a challenge for the government which could be won with addition of capacities in India’s leading airports. Speaking on the occasion, Sinha asked civil aviation industry to grow in such a manner so that its passenger traffic, currently estimated at about 150 million for domestic and overseas sector multiplies manifold and catches on pace with the air traffic of China which presently is calculated at 500 million per annum. In order to achieve this objective, the ministry has been adopting three pronged strategy under its UDAAN commitment which includes expansion of airports capacities, ensure regional connectivity and equip the air passenger with better level of satisfaction and experience under its Air Sewa initiative, emphasized the minister adding that the government would do all possible to transform the civil aviation sector. Choubey reiterated the government commitment for higher growth of civil aviation sector with all possible government’s initiatives in partnership spirit, adding that by December 2016 dozen of schedule commercial operations could begin to connect small towns in the country under its regional connectivity drive. Anthony Brown Authentic Jersey