CII seeks reactivation of Salem airport
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Salem district has urged the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to take effective steps for the reactivation of Salem airport. A delegation of the Salem district CII called on V. V. G. Raju, Regional Executive Director, Airports Authority of India, Southern Region, Chennai, during his recent visit to the city and appraised him on the immediate need for the reactivation of the Salem airport for the overall development of western region. Selvakumar, Director, Salem airport, was also present on the occasion. The CII delegation which called on Mr. Raju comprised P. Vimalan, Chairman, CII Salem district, and Sundar Ramaswamy, mentor, Entrepreneurship Panel, CII Salem district. According to CII sources here, Mr. Raju informed the delegation that the Salem airport was a full-fledged facility in the region and could resume flight operations at any time. He said that the signing of memorandum of understanding between the State Government and the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Airports Authority of India will enable in reviving the airport under the recently introduced Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) of the Civil Aviation Ministry, without any delay. Mr. Raju said that the AAI had already written to the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu inviting the State Government to participate in the RCS. Brendan Leipsic Authentic Jersey
Delhi’s IGI airport to witness more flight cancellations, delays this foggy winter
With 21 per cent more flights allowed by aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), advancing foggy conditions this winter in addition to no new nearby airports to fall back on for flight diversions, India’s largest and busiest Indira Gandhi International Airport (DIAL) in New Delhi could witness more flight delays and cancellations during the ensuing foggy cold season. A top official with DGCA told Express that two of the nearest airports — Amritsar and Lucknow — operated by state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) have missed two deadlines in their bid to be CAT III-B compliant by October 30. The CAT III-B level of instrument landing system (ILS) enables aircraft to land when the visibility is down to 50 metres. It guides an aircraft in approaching and landing on a runway by a combination of radio signals and high-intensity lighting arrays. Besides, ILS also helps pilots while landing during heavy rainfall. The DGCA official explained that they expect Amritsar airport to be CAT III B-ready by December-end or January next year. But by then, most of the mess due to the winter fog would be nearing its end, the official added. A thick blanket of fog starts building up over Delhi and other parts of northern India around the third week of December and continues for over a month. Last winter, foggy conditions prevailed at the IGI airport for over a month from the third week of December 2015 to the first week of February 2016. Many morning flights were either cancelled or delayed due to extreme fog conditions during this period. Currently, the Jaipur airport is the only nearby option for incoming flights which could be diverted there in case of extreme foggy conditions as it has CAT III-B-level ILS. Von Miller Womens Jersey
Need more time on 5th-gen fighter jet, India tells Russia
In the latest round of India-Russia military talks, New Delhi has told Moscow that it will need more time to examine the proposal to jointly develop the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA). The FGFA, which is under development, is very much a future requirement for the Indian Air Force (IAF) upgrade programme, the Russian side was conveyed last week at a meeting between Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his Russian counterpart General Sergey Shoigu in New Delhi. “We have asked for greater details with regards to the work India will be doing in manufacturing the plane and also technology transfer,” a top source in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. India and Russia have been working to conclude a pending agreement to co-develop the FGFA. New Delhi has told Moscow that it wants a new engine and the plane must have super cruise ability, a 360-degree radar ability, added stealth features among 40-odd other India-specific modifications over the existing prototype. A plane called the ‘T-50’ built by the Russians under the PAK-FA (Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation) programme as FGFA is already being tested as prototype in Russia. Giovani Bernard Womens Jersey
India to become 3rd biggest aviation market by 2026: IATA
India will displace the United Kingdom to become the world’s third largest aviation market by 2026, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said. IATA, which represents some 265 airlines comprising 83% of global air traffic, expects 7.2 billion passengers to travel in 2035, a near doubling of the 3.8 billion air travelers in 2016. These findings are part of IATA’s 20-year air passenger forecast. “People want to fly. Demand for air travel over the next two decades is set to double. Enabling people and nations to trade, explore, and share the benefits of innovation and economic prosperity makes our world a better place,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO. The forecast confirms that the biggest driver of demand will be the Asia-Pacific region. “It is expected to be the source of more than half the new passengers over the next 20 years. China will displace the US as the world’s largest aviation market (defined by traffic to, from and within the country) around 2029. India will displace the UK for third place in 2026, while Indonesia enters the top ten at the expense of Italy,” IATA said. Houston Texans Womens Jersey
Government mulls to remove anomaly restricting FDI in civil aviation
The government is considering to remove an anomaly restricting foreign direct investment (FDI) in the civil aviation sector to attract more overseas funds. The sector is faced with an odd situation wherein a foreign investor, excluding overseas airlines, can acquire up to 100 % stake in a local carrier but not seek a scheduled operator’s permit. The permit can only be given to a company which has substantial ownership and effective control in the hands of Indian nationals. “As this condition restricts and prevents foreign investors to take 100% stake in a domestic airline, there is a need to amend this rule in order to facilitate FDI in the sector,” sources said. They added that due to this anomaly, the moment foreign investors buy 51 % or controlling stake in a domestic airline, the schedule air operator permit gets withdrawn. Roger Maris Jersey
50 yrs on, power-full Punjab, powerless in Haryana
Haryana’s distribution companies that are power surplus need a financial turnaround to cut electricity cost and line losses besides checking corruption and improving revenue recovery. Punjab’s challenge is to manage its surplus power and consumption after private players gave a boost to generation in 2014. It also needs to be pragmatic than populist as free power to farmers has already cost the state Rs 42,000 crore in 14 years! Power-packed Haryana reels under outages What do Bansi Lal, Om Prakash Chautala, Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Manohar Lal Khattar have in common? Besides being chief ministers over the past 20 years, these leaders or their parties promised the people of Haryana 24-hour power. Though the first three were unable to keep their word, Khattar hasn’t been consistent on 24-hour power. Initially, the Khattar-led BJP government said it can’t assure round-the-clock power, but later it talked of gradually giving uninterrupted supply to select villages. Despite power distribution companies Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) claiming to be power surplus, consumers don’t get assured supply. In urban areas, they put up with outages, fluctuations, and deficiencies in customer care. The situation is far worse in rural Haryana. Consumers, particularly domestic, bear the brunt of erratic supply despite promises by successive governments. A bizarre scenario in a state that was not only the first in the country to achieve 100% rural electrification, but where power has always been a politically sensitive sector, especially due to high demand for heavily subsidised agriculture supply. Haryana achieved rural electrification way back in 1971. The state has come a long way from the days when connecting every house was the target. Today, it has 54 lakh consumers, including 41 lakh domestic ones. The quality of power supply remains a concern despite the state’s 10th position with 3.5% of the country’s installed capacity. Empower discoms The two distribution companies, created after unbundling of the erstwhile Haryana State Electricity Board, have adequate power from their generation units, the state’s share from central projects and other sources through long-term agreements. However, supply is hampered by constraints in the distribution system. Poor planning, high line losses, low revenue realisation and corruption have made things worse. “Theft and systemic constraints in distribution are the two biggest challenges. The high rate of theft needs to be controlled and brought down. Deficiencies in distribution network means even paying customers face cuts at times. We also plan to use information technology to improve the quality of supply and services,” says Shatrujeet Kapur, chairman-cum-managing director, UHBVN and chairman, DHBVN. “As not enough attention was paid to distribution, the losses kept mounting for discoms, creating cash-flow bottlenecks at the transmission and generation end also. Commercial losses, including theft, went unchecked, but not much investment was made to improve the operational efficiency and quality of service of discoms. Massive generation capacities were added without commensurate augmentation of the transmission and distribution system and promoting load growth,” says a power expert. Haryana’s own generation capacity has been idle for months and surplus power is sold to other states at a loss. With mounting losses, UHBVN and DHBVN look to the state government for bailouts. The two distribution companies have got a breather with the government taking over 75% or Rs 25,950 crore of their total debt under the Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY), but this won’t help them forever. The discoms will need a financial turnaround. And that’s possible only if they reduce power cost, cut line losses, accurately bill energy supply, reduce corruption and improve revenue recovery. Problem of plenty, populism in Punjab Surplus, deficit and surplus again: That’s the story of Punjab’s power sector in the last 50 years. The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), which was carved out of the public works department (PWD) on May 1, 1967, soon after the state’s re-organisation, was split into two companies – the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited and Punjab State Transmission Company Limited in 2010. The PSEB’s debt-ridden legacy began with the inheritance of a few lakh when it separated from the PWD. In 2010 when it was unbundled, a debt of Rs 16,700 crore was passed on to the PSPCL and PSTCL. In the absence of any major industry in Punjab, the main role of the PSEB, and later the PSPCL, was to feed agriculture, the primary vocation of 70% of the state’s population. The PSPCL provides services to 70 lakh consumers, while the PSEB saw a humble beginning with 6.35 lakh consumers, including 4,600 with agriculture pump-sets. Its revenue collection was Rs 23 crore and it grew to Rs 26,000 crore. Five decades ago, the tariff was 5 annas or 30 paise per unit. Today, a unit costs Rs 4.52. Surge in demand Over the years, Punjab’s power sector has seen a manifold increase in debt, consumer aspirations and political populism. The PSEB saw a sudden expansion in 1968. “Power canvassers were deployed to woo villagers to install tubewells. This led to 2 lakh consumers by 1971,” says YP Mehra, who retired as a PSEB member in 1997. The number of consumers is 14 lakh today, raising the demand from 450 megawatts (MW) in 1967 to 12,000 MW at present. Before the re-organisation, Punjab generated 48 MW from the Joginder Nagar hydel project and 950-MW Bhakra dam. It achieved total rural electrification in 1976. The 440-MW thermal power plant came up in Bathinda in 1969, the 1,260-MW Ropar plant in 1983 and the 540-MW Lehra Mohabbat plant in 1997. The state was reeling under acute power shortage till 2007 and before the assembly elections, deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal decided to bring in private players to boost generation. The government appointed consultants and created special purpose vehicles to set up five power plants at Talwandi Sabo, Rajpura, Goindwal Sahib, Gidderbaha and Mansa. The Talwandi Sabo, Rajpura and Goindwal Sahib plants added 3,960 MW of generation capacity. It took seven years and constant follow-ups with companies, PSPCL and other
Bihar:State eyes 4,000MW of power from December
Senior officials in state energy department, while addressing a function to mark the fourth foundation day of Bihar State Power Holding Company Limited (BSPHCL) and its four subsidiaries on Tuesday, said the state would be able to meet its daily power demand of 4,000MW by December this year. “The state requires around 4,000MW of power daily. As of now, the overall power supply in the state stands at 3,769MW. We have set a target to increase the power supply to 4,000MW from all sources taken together based on augmentation of existing power transmission and distribution capacity,” said H R Pandey, deputy general manager (public relations), Bihar State Power Holding Corporation (BSPHC). As things stand now, maximum power allocation from the central sector stands at 3,003MW. The state is also getting 100MW of power from its Kanti thermal power unit. Besides, 1,010MW is purchased from open market for which short-term and long-term agreements have been signed with different power producers. Besides, the state energy department is also working on a proposal to provide electricity connections to all houses in Bihar over the next 24 months. BSPHC is slated to commence work on providing electricity connection to around 48 lakh above poverty line (APL) families in the rural areas in the state from November 15 under the seven resolves programme of chief minister Nitish Kumar. The survey for the electrification work has almost completed, except for around six districts, where it is in the final stages. CM Nitish Kumar has set the target of 2017-end for completion of electrification work under the mission. “The district survey for the electrification work is almost complete and the bidding process is also underway. All APL families, which do not have access to power, would be provided electric connection under the mission,” said Pratyaya Amrit, chairman-cum-managing director of Bihar State Power Holding Company. “We have been able to create an identity of our own through team work and high work ethics and standards,” Pratyaya added. Energy department officials claimed that per capita power consumption in Bihar has increased from 144 units in 2012 to 258 units in 2015-16. Besides, power availability in the state is likely to increase by over 200MW once the two units of 110MW each at Barauni Thermal Power Station, where renovation and modernisation work has been done, become functional. Work is also going on at the same thermal power station for commissioning of two more units of 250MW each. Nathan Peterman Jersey
‘India should scale up, speed up nuke electricity programme’
India should scale up and pace up construction of nuclear plants to meet its insatiable power demand, renewable programme and climate change targets, the head of an international atomic body has said. “Currently, India has five reactors under construction with 3,300 MW capacity. But this is too little for a country with so many people,” said Agneta Rising, director general of the World Nuclear Association. Comparatively, China has 20 reactors under construction with 22,596 MW capacity, having had the first nuclear electricity in 1994. Oil-rich Saudi Arabia has planned 16 reactors with 17,000 MW, with first nuclear electricity expected in 2022, according to the association’s Asia Special Update report, which listed the kingdom among the newcomers to nuclear energy. India’s first nuclear electricity plant became operational in 1969. India has the technology, expertise and skill to build its own nuclear plants, Rising said, adding there were no restriction on India importing uranium. But despite the knowledge, India takes about seven years or 84 months to complete a reactor, Rising pointed out. The world average of building a reactor was 73 months in 2015. India needs to speed up construction period for each reactor to 73 months, she stressed. “India has a lot of experience of nuclear science and it has all the technologies. But it must be able to scale up or ramp the nuclear electricity programme,” she told . India’s goal is to have 14.5 GWe of nuclear generating capacity online by 2024, up from 6,219 MW at present, the report said. The government has given in principle approval for new nuclear plants at 10 sites in nine states. “It is important to have (nuclear) infrastructure where you can build prosperity and (take care of) health of the people,” said Rising, stressing the importance of electricity supply reliability and the need to reduce pollution across the country for the people. “India needs to get on to do it (nuclear plants) on a scale and increase the construction pace of the plants,” she said. Anthony Mantha Jersey
Power regulator expected to decide on Tata Power’s compensatory tariff case this month
Power regulator Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) is expected to deliver its verdict this month on permitting Tata Power tariff compensation to recover losses suffered by the Mundra Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP) due to high prices of imported coal. The plant has been under the spotlight after the ouster of Cyrus Mistry from Tata Sons. Mistry had raised the issue of the project’s losses in a note to board members. Following a directive of the Supreme Court, the CERC has completed hearing on the compensatory tariff case of two imported coal-based power plants, including a 1980mw project of Adani in Mundra, Gujarat. “The Supreme Court has given time till mid-November for the verdict. The hearing for the case has been completed and we have reserved the judgment and should come out in the next 10 days,” a senior CERC official said. Experts said the Mundra project became loss making after Indonesia issued new regulations that raised the price of coal, while rupee depreciation added to the woes of the project. Mistry had alleged in his note that the Mundra project was a drain on Tata Power’s finances and carries the risk of considerable future impairment. Tata Power has not stopped operations at the plant but has sought a rise in tariff for electricity it generates. The Mundra plant, being operated by Tata Power subsidiary Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd, is presently operating at 70-80% capacity. Association of Power Producers Director General Ashok Khurana said, “Cost under recovery in case of Mundra is result of flawed design of bidding documents as no amount of human ingenuity can take correct call on movement of coal prices for 25 years and non-recognition of change in law in coal source country as force majeure. The same has been accepted by Aptel in its recent judgement.” The Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (Aptel) in April allowed Tata Power and Adani Power’s imported coal-based power plants at Mundra in Gujarat to recover higher fuel costs from consumers under force majeure clause. It directed the CERC to look afresh in the compensatory tariff. Consumers of the project moved Supreme Court against the Aptel order. The Supreme Court has asked CERC to present its verdict by November mid-week. The apex court is set to hear the matter by the end of next month. CERC had in April 2013 allowed CGPL, Tata Power’s unit operating 4,000mw Mundra UMPP, and Adani Power’s 1980mw plant to raise power tariffs from the projects to compensate for an unexpected increase inrecoal cost due to change in Indonesian law. In February 2014, the commission decided 52 paise per unit compensatory tariff for Tata Power’s plant and 41paise per unit for Adani Power’s project. Five procuring states of the two projects moved Supreme Court that stayed the compensation and referred the matter back to Aptel. The tribunal upheld the tariff, which was challenged again by the distribution companies. This time Aptel ruled that CERC cannot alter tariff of projects bid competitively and that the case fell under the ambit of force majeure. Jenissi Management Consultants partner Dipesh Dipu said Tata Power miscalculated the sovereign risk of coal sourcing from another country. “Tata Power bought stake in Indonesian coal mines but that was offset by changes in Indonesia coal regulations and steep rupee depreciation,” he said. Matt Benning Womens Jersey
Promise of 24-hour power on Diwali goes unfulfilled in UP
Lucknow Electricity Supply Administration failed to ensure 24-hour power supply as promised in all localities of Lucknow on Diwali. Local faults and technical problems led to power outages in several places despite maintenance work on various sub-stations ahead of the festival. The control room set up by Lucknow Electricity Supply Administration received 18 complaints of interruptions in power supply on Sunday and Monday. More than 10,000 residents of Gomtinagar Extension went without power supply for nearly five hours on Diwali day and on Monday. It was the fault in the cables supplying power to the area which led to disruption on the festival day. The day after, however, Lesa clamped a shutdown to resolve the problem. Disruption in supply due to excess load was a big reason various localities faced power cut. Aashiana and LDA Colony on Kanpur Road faced short power cuts at least twice on the day of Diwali. Nishatganj faced a half an hour power cut on Diwali day. “Next day, power was cut for an hour,” said resident Ashok Verma. A transformer fault in Rajajipuram led to sudden power cut on the festival day but supply was restored shortly. “We heard the transformer blast but the supply resumed on its own,” said resident Om Prakash Sharma. Vernon Hargreaves III Authentic Jersey