Why the long delay in making Doon an international airport?
Over one lakh foreign tourists visit Uttarakhand every year. A significant number of NRIs also make a trip to the state. All of them have to take a circuitous route to reach the state as they are forced to break their journey in a big city like Delhi or Mumbai. Several hours of transit and flying time of these tourists can be saved if the long-pending proposal of converting Dehradun’s Jolly Grant airport into an international airport is realised soon. Many feel that at least, as a first step, flights from Dubai or Kathmandu can be started. “All US and European cities are connected with non-stop flights to a place like Dubai and tourists would definitely prefer taking an onward flight from Dubai to Dehradun rather than flying Dubai- Delhi and then catching another flight to Dehradun,” said Rahul Semwal, a travel planner based in Dehradun. Albert Wilson Womens Jersey
Air India plans to rope in consultant to chalk out business strategy
Air India plans to rope in consultant for hand-holding and to help it chalk out short and long-term business plan strategy as it seeks to turn profitable by March 2019, much ahead of the original deadline of fiscal 2021-22. The government-owned carrier has recently issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the purpose of selecting a consulting entity that has expertise in airlines sector in this regard. Air India, which has reported an operating profit of Rs 105 crore for the fiscal ended March 2016, the first time since Indian Airlines merged with it in 2007, is staying afloat on a Rs 30,000 crore government bailout. “The consulting firm shall review existing internal processes and prepare business plan strategy for short and long-term (10 years), engagement would also include benchmarking as per industry standards,” Air India said in the RFP document. Besides, the firm would also carry out gap analysis, recommendations for changes and detailed implementation blue print, keeping in mind current and future market scenario, handhold Air India in implementing these plans, it said. Air India along with its two subsidiaries –Air India Express and Alliance Air — at present has a fleet of over 130 aircraft in its fleet, comprising Airbus, Boeing, ATR and CRJ planes. The airline commands 14.7 per cent market share in the domestic air space. David Pastrnak Authentic Jersey
Rs 250-cr for city airport revamp, 85K employments planned
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has planned to spend Rs 250 crore in next two-three years at the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) and to generate 85,000 employments directly and indirectly. AAI Chairman Dr Guruprasad Mohapatra on Tuesday informed that the AAI will spend Rs 250 crore for its proposed land-side development project at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here thereby providing employment facilities to nearly 85,000 persons, directly and indirectly. “The AAI has identified nearly 60 acres of land for the proposed land-side development to facilitate the passengers and aviation related activities such as Hospitality and Convention, Airport Business District (Retail &Commercial) and Logistics and Warehousing to cater the growing dynamics of Bhubaneswar Airport wherein an investment of Rs 250 Crore has been anticipated with direct and indirect employment generation of 35,000 and 50,000 respectively,” Mohapatra told reporters here. Dan Hampton Jersey
Bengaluru airport sees highest growth in India this year
The Kempegowda International Airport has recorded the largest growth in passenger and cargo traffic in the January-September period compared to Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi. In passenger traffic, Bengaluru recorded a 22.4% growth followed by Delhi at 21.5%, Hyderabad at 21%, and Mumbai at 11.7%. In international passenger traffic too, the city has recorded the highest growth at 11.7%. For Bengaluru, this translated to 1.8 million passengers. Delhi comes second at 10.2%. In terms of cargo traffic, the Kempegowda airport is the only metro airport to have recorded a double digit growth at 10.8%. Hyderabad had the lowest growth rate at 3.8%. The city airport handled 11 million passengers, both domestic and international, during this period and has been witnessing a blistering growth. Hyderabad had seven million passengers. In terms of absolute numbers, the Delhi airport, however, handled the largest at 2.7 million passengers followed by Mumbai at 2.2 million passengers. Ali Marpet Authentic Jersey
Angry pilots go online to protest against DGCA draft, term it danger to air safety
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation draft, that proposed draconian measures against pilots who are found by the airline doctor to have falsely reported sick for duty, has precipitated anger amongst pilots across the country. Several pilots took to online platforms to denounce the draft and call it a danger to air safety. On November 7, TOI had reported that the DGCA had put out a draft that said the government could debar a person from temporarily or permanently holding a flying licence if…in its opinion, it is necessary to do so in public interest. The draft came in the wake of last week’s flight disruptions suffered by Jet Airways after a number of its pilots reported sick and went off their assigned flight duty, sans prior warning. Aviation safety experts criticized the draft that gives the airline management power to act against pilots it feels have reported sick ‘too often’, especially during festivals and weekends. An online petition by pilots on change.org received 1,979 signatures till Tuesday evening, in protest against the draft. The draft, which will come into effect from December 1, is open for suggestion and comments till November 23. Sharrif Floyd Jersey
No power cut for delayed bill payment in Gujarat
The state finance department has issued a notification ordering that essential services like electricity, water, and gas not be suspended for non-payment of bills, till November 24. The notification comes a day after the PM’s announcement that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes were being withdrawn. The notification said that since the finance department of the central government has imposed certain restrictions on withdrawals – Rs 10,000 from a bank account in a day and Rs 20,000 in a week till November 24 – paying certain bills would not be possible. Hence the state government has ordered all boards, corporations, and companies not to disconnect essential services till that date. Education has also been covered in the notification, as have drainage systems. The state government has also stipulated that no interest shall be recovered on late payments in the period in question. A review meeting was held to discuss these precautionary arrangements. Among those who attended the meeting were the additional chief secretary to the home department, the chairman of finance department, and officials of the Reserve Bank of India and public sector and private banks. Jake Bean Jersey
Siemens Ltd launches its most energy efficient IE3 range of low voltage motors
Siemens Ltd announced the launch of its new range of energy efficient motor SIMOTICS 1LE7. Siemens announced its locally – manufactured IE2 and IE3 industrial motors are capable of offering an average monetary savings of up to 8 – 20 per cent, the company said in a media statement. As of now, 1 out of 2 energy efficient low voltages IE motor sold in India is from Siemens, the company statement added. “These new motors have been introduced to help energy intensive industries like cement, metals, mining, power, textiles, pulp and paper etc., achieve significant reduction in energy consumption and thus reduce their carbon footprint,” said Siemens in a media release. Energy–efficient products for the Indian market are a major part of Siemens sustainability initiative. “Siemens began the manufacturing of motors in India since 1966 and the SIMOTICS 1LE7 will prove to be a reliable and efficient innovation which will boost the performance of energy intensive industries,” said Bhaskar Mandal, Executive Vice President and Country Division Lead, Process Industries & Drives Division, Siemens India Marquel Lee Authentic Jersey
LNG option for power on back burner
Despite a weakening power position in the State owing to the elusive monsoon, there is a lack of interest among authorities to rely on NTPC for additional requirement. The gas-based plant of NTPC at Kayamkulam has been idling for most part of the year in the absence of adequate orders for power generation from the KSEB. Orders The State has been giving orders to the unit to generate electricity as a stop-gap arrangement. Though the government has been maintaining that the higher power generation cost is the reason behind low utilisation of the facility, NTPC has disputed it. While NTPC has been offering power to the State at Rs.6.30 a unit, the actual cost incurred by the government is much less, according to sources in the power sector. The KSEB had been getting 180 MW from the NTPC Talcher plant in Odisha under a special package at Rs.1.20 to Rs.1.80 a unit, sources in the power sector said. Package The package had been offered as a mechanism to offset the impact on Kerala’s power scenario arising out of the higher cost of production at the Kayamkulam unit. The facility has been utilised by the State since 2005. Kerala has been getting over 1100 MW from NTPC units including Kayamkulam. In effect, the average cost of power being supplied to the KSEB by NTPC comes to about Rs.3.50 per unit. In the absence of the reduced rate for power from Talcher, Kerala’s power purchase bill would have gone higher, according to theses sources. Kerala, having an installed power generation capacity of 2,891 MW, has a demand exceeding 4,000 MW. Less than 10 pert cent of the 360 MW capacity of the NTPC plant is being utilised now. Uncertainty With the prevailing uncertainty over the Athirappilly power project, it is certain that the State government will have to depend on alternative sources, but little attention is being paid to utilise power from the Kayamkulam plant to its full capacity. A top official of Petronet LNG said the government could take initiatives such as extending gas pipeline on land or under sea as well as waiving of the local taxes on LNG in a bid to run the Kayamkulam plant throughout the year. “Monetary calculations apart, the induction of LNG as fuel at the plant would usher in an eco-friendly power generation regime in a State which is known for a clean and green environment.” Such a move is all the more relevant now against the backdrop of the recent National Green Tribunal order to four north Indian States to make use of compressed natural gas for running vehicles, in a bid to curb pollution. The critical problems faced by the country’s capital city due to pollution should be an eye opener to Kerala, the official said. Babe Ruth Authentic Jersey
Govt plans to boost setting up of biomass power plants
There is a renewed interest in biomass power plants, which can not only generate electricity but also help dispose of — in a carbon-neutral manner — agriculture waste, burning of which in Punjab and Haryana is partly blamed for the alarming levels of pollution Delhi is experiencing. Minister of New and Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal held a meeting of top officials on Monday to consider increasing incentives to boost this segment. “We are thinking of a scheme to encourage setting up of biomass plants using agricultural waste, but I cannot say anything more at the moment,” said Santosh Vaidya, joint secretary at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), told ET. The government already provides financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh per MW for setting up biomass power plants, and Rs 15 lakh per MW for co-generation projects by sugar mills (using sugarcane waste left over after juice extraction). Such plants cost around Rs 4.5-6 crore per MW, while generation expense is around Rs 3.25-4.00 per kwH. They are also entitled to concessional import and excise duties while acquiring equipment, as well as a tax holiday for 10 years. But unlike sun and wind energy, this segment has been languishing in India. At the end of 2015-16, the country’s total biomass power installed capacity (along with co-generation units) was 4831.33 MW, with another 1150 MW under construction. Capacity addition has in fact slowed in the past three years, from 465.6 MW in 2012-13 to 412.5 MW in 2013-14, 405 MW in 2014-15 and 400 MW in 2015-16. Barring Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, no state added any biomass power or co-generation capacity in the last fiscal year. Rather, leading players like Orient Green Power have been trying hard to sell off their biomass power assets, as they are not profitable. Punjab has a biomass power and co-generation installed capacity of 155.5 MW, of which around 62.5 MW are in operation. In Haryana, the capacity is 45.3 MW. “The Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) has been urging the Punjab and Haryana governments to set up biomass power plants since 2008 as one of the solutions to Delhi’s pollution crisis,” said Polash Mukerjee, researcher at the Centre for Science and Environment. “A target of 600 MW of installed capacity was set for Punjab years ago, but without any timeline. It has since been revised to 500 MW by 2020.” Six more biomass power plants are under construction in Punjab which on completion will raise effective the capacity to 110 MW from 62.5 MW. “But even after these are completed, they will use up only around 1 million tonne of agricultural waste, which is just 5% of the 20 million tonne Punjab produces,” said Mukerjee. Darius Leonard Womens Jersey
Himachal Governor underlines importance of energy efficiency
Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat today asked the children to come forward and educate their families, neighbourhood and society about the importance of energy conservation. “If every individual works honestly in their respective fields, the country would definitely become ‘Vishwa Guru’, for which there is a need to change the mindset of people,” he said at the prize distribution function of the state-level painting competition on Energy Conservation organised by Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd at Rajbhawan here. The painting competition was held under the National Campaign on Energy Conservation of Ministry of Power and Bureau of Energy Efficiency. The Governor urged the children to come forward and educate their families, neighbourhood and society about the importance of energy conservation. He said that energy played a vital role in the development of nation and it was the responsibility of every citizen to conserve every bit of it. He also underlined the need to develop a sense of patriotism and dedication towards the nation among the children and added that this spirit of love would help the country in its march towards progress. Devvrat said that unless children were taught values like discipline, patriotism and sensitivity towards those in need, they could not become good citizens. He urged the teachers to sensitise young minds towards issues like environment protection and selfless service towards society. The Governor added that the Rajbhawan had taken several steps to check the misuse of power after taking inspiration from Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVNL). Vic Beasley Womens Jersey