NGT orders criminal action against TSGenco
In a massive blow to the Telangana State Power Generation Corporation Limited, the southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered criminal proceedings against its officials for illegally initiating construction of the 1,080 MW Bhadradri Thermal Power Station in Khammam district without procuring the mandatory environmental clearance. In a landmark judgement delivered on July 11, the green tribunal directed the Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEF & CC) to take “appropriate criminal action [against TSGenco] under Section 15, 16 and 17 of the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986” for failing to comply with the norms of the Act. The action, the tribunal categorically stated, must be initiated “within a period of four weeks” from the day of the order and the prosecution be “completed expeditiously”. Incidentally, the Act allows for imprisonment “for a term which may extend up to five years” and fine of up to Rs 1 lakh. Further, lashing out at the Telangana Pollution Control Board for failing to take any against the offenders so far, it directed it to “take penal action against the officials [of TSGenco] who are responsible for such activity under the Water Act and Air Act.” Such action too, the two-member bench of the NGT noted, “shall be initiated within four weeks”. As per the rulebook, such construction activities need a ‘Consent to Establish’ from the concerned pollution control board before commencement of any work. The TSGenco had none. It also failed to conduct any public hearing prior to initiating the project. Trouble for the thermal power station began in October 2015 when members of the Human Rights Forum (HRF) noticed massive construction underway at the site – without a prior EC required under the Environment Impact Assessment Notification of 2006. Subsequently, the forum petitioned before the NGT which, while admitting the application on December 12, 2015, issued “an order of status quo” on the project. Yet, the construction continued. Condemning the violation, the NGT, earlier this month, stalled all work at the site with immediate effect. While observing the impossibility of directing the demolition of the “structures already put up”, it instructed the Experts Appraisal Committee of the MoEF & CC to decide whether “proper impact assessment [of the project] is possible” now and to take a call on the fate of the project. It allowed the experts committee eight weeks’ time to communicate the same to the Union ministry. Reacting to the “landmark” judgement passed by the NGT bench – comprising Justice P Jyothimani and P S Rao – V S Krishna, general secretary of the HRF, said: “It is a rare and extraordinary order. We now look forward to the MoEF and PCB implementing the order and initiating necessary action against those responsible for the violation.” He added, “This order sends out a strong message to authorities who think they can get away with such brazen illegalities. Now, we hope that the experts committee rejects any further appraisal of the project.” In its argument before the NGT, TSGenco, while refuting all charges, had justified the project on grounds that the new state of Telangana was reeling under a shortage of power – deficiency of 2,900 MW – forcing the government to purchase power from neighbouring states. This particular project, it noted, was therefore significant and had to be completed as soon as possible. Its defence, however, has been cold-shouldered by the green tribunal. Aaron Donald Womens Jersey
MSEDCL to pay 16,000 crore for power it will never need!
It is a miscalculation that defies all logic. The number of power purchase agreements (PPAs) that MSEDCL has signed is so large that it doesn’t require all the electricity that it will get from those agreements. However, as per the PPA clauses, it will have to pay capacity charges to the generation companies and this will be recovered from common consumers by the way of higher tariff. The agreements were signed when ex-deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar held the power portfolio. This excess payment in the coming four years will be to the tune of about Rs4,000 crore every year. These payments will be made to Mahagenco, NTPC, Adani Power (Tiroda) and RattanIndia (Amravati). MSEDCL is already paying capacity charges to these generators. It is only now that the miscalculation has been found out by studying MSEDCL’s multiyear tariff petition (MYT). The impact of the miscalculation can be gauged by comparing MSEDCL’s revenue gap in coming four years with the excess payment. The company will face a revenue gap of Rs56,000 crore for the period 2016-17 to 2019-20 if tariff is not increased. Of this, Rs16,000 crore will be excess payment. This means that the tariff hike required will reduce by 28.5% if this excess payment was not to be made. If the total back down (generation reduced deliberately due to oversupply) is compared with the demand for power, the miscalculation is equally shocking. This summer, the peak demand for power was over 17,000MW. Against this, the total back down in 2016-17 is 6,379MW, in 2017-18 it is going to be 8,961MW, 2018-19 — 7,257MW and 2019-20 — 6,463MW. Drew Hutchison Authentic Jersey
Hard to do business in India, but will remain here: AirAsia CEO
AirAsia group chief Tony Fernandes has said it was hard to do business in India due to protectionist policies and “vested interests”, but his joint venture carrier AirAsia India was here for a long haul. Defending the slow-paced growth of AirAsia India, he said the aviation sector here was a “double marathon” and not a “sprint”. “I am not going to storm in like a bull in China shop like Vijay Mallya did, and get caught. Now we have a (civil aviation) policy and the the policy is very clear on what we have to do. So talk to us in a few years time,” he told PTI when asked about the growth plans for his airlines. Observing that the BJP-led government has “at least delivered 80 per cent of what it talked about” in the draft aviation policy, the AirAsia chief said “it is hard (to do business) in India (as) there are so many vested interest who were trying to keep some of the incumbents happy.” “So at least they changed it (norm for international flying by domestic carriers) and we are clear what we need to do. And I would not be dead by the time 5 years come along with 20 aircraft we had before,” the AirAsia (Berhad) Group Chief Executive Officer told PTI on the sidelines of the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK last week. Ryan Jensen Jersey
Defence department agrees to give land for runway expansion
One more hurdle in the way of the runway expansion at the Trichy airport was cleared as the ministry of defence gave an in-principle nod to accept alternative land in exchange for the land which will be handed over to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) for the expansion works. According to P Kumar MP, who chaired the Airport Advisory Committee meeting held at the Trichy international airport here on Saturday, out of the 510 acres of land needed for the runway expansion, 165 acres was attached with the defence department. “As per norms, airport authorities have identified the alternative land to be handed over. Since authorities from the defence in principle accepted to hand over the land for expansion purpose, a major obstacle has been cleared,” he said. Regarding the remaining 345 acres, which comprises purambokku, wet and dry lands, the file is said to be with the transport secretary. “Once the file is signed by the respective authorities, the district revenue officials would expedite the process for acquiring the remaining lands. This would pave way for the expansion of runway from the existing area of 8,000 sqft to 12,000 sqft,” airport authorities said. Jason Spezza Jersey
Provide info on flights at IGI Airport: NGT to Aviation Ministry
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Ministry of Civil Aviation and aviation regulator DGCA to provide data on domestic and international flights at IGI Airport with details of their departure and arrivals. A Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also directed the government to file note on the mitigating steps taken by it to notify noise-level standards for airport noise zones within two weeks. “Statement be filed in relation to the extent of domestic and international flights with the details of departure and arrivals… “Statement shall also consist of measurement of noise level at the recipient end. In other areas, the decibel level be shown at the time of taking off and landing of aircraft, for both, day and night. What is their noise level in the residential area during the day and night times? It must state as to what are the contributing factors of noise in the surrounding area of the airport,” the bench said. The matter is now listed for hearing on August 22. Ryan Callahan Authentic Jersey
India to develop Palaly as regional airport
India is carrying out a feasibility study on the Palaly airport to assess its suitability to be utilised as a regional airport. This airport is now a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF)-run facility and is used for military and civilian flights in Sri Lanka. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) is now carrying out a feasibility study on the Palaly airport to see how it could be developed, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director General H.M.C. Nimalsiri told the Sunday Times. About four months ago, an AAI team visited Palali to ascertain how the airport could be developed as a regional airport, he said. India has already supported the development of the Palaly airport, providing financial assistance for the reconstruction of about 1,000 metres of the existing 2,300-metre runway.This was done in 2010 on an agreement between the former Mahinda Rajapaksa government and India. Vontaze Burfict Womens Jersey
Regional airlines may get cheaper loans
The government is exploring ways to assist regional airlines in raising loans at cheaper interest rates to import aircraft as a part of the regional connectivity scheme. The civil aviation ministry held a meeting with non-scheduled airlines in which concerns related to the regional connectivity scheme were raised by the operators. “We feel the non-scheduled operators are the most prospective players who will come immediately to become a part of our scheme. Their response in the meeting was encouraging but they had certain concerns which we aim to address,” said a senior civil aviation ministry official. The official said that the present procedure of leasing aircraft becomes tedious for airlines and ministry is looking forward to resolving this. Under the current norms, an aircraft cannot be mortgaged for raising loans to lease another aircraft. The official said it may propose to the Union finance ministry to allow financial institutions to give loans against aircraft mortgage. “We raised the issue related to raising capital and lowering interest rate for acquiring aircraft. There is a need for finance to be made available to us at a lower interest rate and financial institutions should come forward,” said Bhupesh Joshi, governing board member of Business Aircraft Operators Association. Adam Vinatieri Jersey
From next month, airlines to pay huge compensation for cancellation or denying boarding to flier
Cancelling a flight or denying boarding to a flier is going to cost heavily to domestic airlines as the new guidelines by the aviation regulator DGCA provides for massive compensation in such cases. As per the revised compensation norms, which are effective from August 1, an airline will have to pay up to Rs 10,000 to a flier in the case of cancelling/delaying a flight beyond two hours, while the compensation for not allowing a passenger to board the flight stands at up to Rs 20,000. As of now airlines offer a meagre amount of up to Rs 4,000 for both denied boarding and cancelling a flight. Mack Hollins Jersey
Reliance’s fuel exports dip below 10 million tons in April-June
Reliance Industries exported less than 10 million tons of petroleum products for the first time after three quarters, mainly because of increased demand at home. The company exported 9.8 million tons of petroleum products in April-June. In the quarter ended March, the country’s largest petroleum exporter dispatched 10.8 million tons for the overseas market. The company’s exports of refined products during the first quarter of 2016-17 were higher than the 8.5 million tons in the first quarter of 2015-16, pointing to a slow recovery in the export market. The demand for petrol in the domestic market rose 10 per cent, diesel 4.7 per cent and jet fuel 11 per cent during April-June. Exports constituted the bulk of Reliance Industries’ petroleum sales, cornering 59 per cent of the total volume, the company said in a presentation to analysts. Domestic sales undertaken from its own retail outlets and to bulk customers and public sector companies were 4.1 million tons while captive consumption was 2.7 million tons. Reliance Industries’ export earnings continued to dishearten analysts, declining 9.4 per cent to Rs 332.82 billion ($4.9 billion) during the quarter from Rs 367.17 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year due to lower product prices. Of this, exports of refined products were Rs 286.10 billion ($4.2 billion) during the first quarter of 2016-17 as compared to Rs 323.52 billion in the same period a year ago. “Higher retail and PSU sales resulted in lower exports, quarter on quarter,” the company said. Initiatives, including automation, helped the company’s 1,022 retail outlets. These included adding 72 outlets during the quarter. Sales volumes of petrol and diesel were up 21 per cent, quarter on quarter. “The retail outlet throughput was 230 kilolitres per month during the quarter compared to 160 kilolitres per month of key competitors,” the company said. Trans-connect loyalty sales accounted for 30 per cent of diesel sales. Key initiatives in retail included strategic tie-ups with service providers for providing credit solutions. The company also enhanced its supply infrastructure to service retail, bulk and PSU oilmarketing companies through five terminals owned by it and nine hired ones besides 19 depots. The company re-secured its customer base with more than 3.8 per cent market share in bulk sales of diesel after deregulation in October 2014. It also received extension of supplies to Indian Railways and the state transport unit in Pune. “Every 10th Indian Railway locomotive is fuelled by RIL,” the company said. Further, Reliance Industries’ LPG business sales grew by 10 per cent, year on year, to 214,000 tons. During the quarter, it also tested and developed 4 KG LPG cylinder which it plans to launch next month. Retail ATF sales volume grew 38 per cent y-o-y. RIL now has substantial market share at 10 out of 25 airports where it operates, the company said. Troy Brouwer Jersey
MIDC, ONGC in talks over water treatment project
ONGC and MIDC are in talks to set up a Rs 4-5 billion desalination plant at Uran that will yield 20 MLD water, ensuring self-sufficiency for the oil and gas major. Preliminary talks have already been held and a high-level MIDC team is scheduled to visit the plant site in the coming week to do a reconnaissance. MIDC is the principal supplier of 17 MLD treated water to ONGC for the oil refining and natural gas production processes at their Uran unit. However, ONGC took a severe hit last year in June when production process suffered due to erratic supply, said sources. The oil and gas giant is looking for regular supply, as shutting down plants due to erratic water supply affects the processing units. A day’s loss is pegged at several millions. This season, ONGC is getting around 13-14 MLD which is short of its requirement. MIDC has signed MoU with Singapore government for sharing technology on use of recycled water. This will help the state industrial development agency to join the open bidding process for the prestigious project, said MIDC sources. The desalination project will supply treated water through a costly reverse osmosis membrane treatment that only allows water to permeate and filters out all dissolved solids. High pressure is required for the process which yields fairly pure water. But a further disinfection treatment can also be done, if required, where the treated water is exposed to sun rays in open storage tanks for oxidation. Matt Bosher Jersey