(NDTV) Pakistan did not figure in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s New Year call list as he dialled the leaders of the neighbouring countries and highlighted India’s commitment to the “Neighbourhood First” policy. In his conversation with the leaders of Bhutan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal, PM Modi focused on the “vision of shared peace, security, prosperity and progress for all of India’s friends and partners in the region”, the government said in a statement. Less than a year ago, on February 14, a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed killed 40 paramilitary soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama.…
Author: Aruna Sharma
(PTI) The government has cancelled the allotment of a coal block for the power project in Jharkhand, as even after a decade of allotment no significant progress was made to operationalise it. The coal block was allotted in 2009, to Karanpura Energy Ltd — an SPV of erstwhile Jharkhand State Electricity Board (JSEB). “It is noted that even after lapse of 10 years since allocation of the coal block (Mourya coal block), no significant progress has been made to operationalise the coal block,” the coal ministry said in a letter to the company.Due to long delays in development of coal block, show cause notices were served by the coal ministry to…
(TH) The Railways is accelerating its efforts to install and use renewable energy as part of its objective to reduce carbon footprint and reduce its power costs. It aims to source about 1,000 MW of solar power and about 200 MW of wind power by 2021-22. Currently, it consumes 200 MW of clean energy. The Railways’ total power requirement is estimated at about 2000 MW. Railways is working on solar rooftop, ground-mounted and wind power projects on railway buildings, stations, hospitals and vacant railway land lying with different zones. The renewable energy projects are being implemented by the Railway Energy Management…
(PTI) State-owned power giant NTPC has decided to procure and use six million tonnes of agro residue-based pellets to co-fire its power plants along with coal in 2020, in its endeavour towards more sustainable power generation. Currently, NTPC is using agro residue-based pellets at its Dadri thermal power plant. In 2020, the company would use these pellets, made out of stubble and husk, in its 21 thermal coal-fired power plants across the country. The company has 24 coal-fired thermal power plants. In addition to this, the firm has nine more coal-fired power plants under joint ventures or of subsidiaries. A company official said, “The tendering…
(PTI) Jet fuel or ATF price was on Wednesday hiked by 2.6 per cent and that of non-subsidised cooking gas LPG by Rs 19 per cylinder on the back of a rise in international rates. Price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), used to power aeroplanes, was raised by Rs 1,637.25 per kilolitre, or 2.6 per cent, to Rs 64,323.76 per kl in Delhi, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers. This is the second straight monthly increase in rates warranted due to firming up of prices in the international market.In India, which is dependent on imports to meet 84 per…
(PTI) Strategic divestments in Air India, Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) and Container Corporation of India (Concor) are “unlikely” this fiscal, a senior government official said on Thursday. The Finance Ministry’s Department of Investments and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) official said that the process “throws surprises”, causing delays. It can be noted that the government has set ambitious targets from the disinvestments in FY20 at Rs 1.05 lakh crore. When asked about what happens to the target if the process in three of the most big-ticket companies gets delayed, the official declined to comment.
Let this New Year be the one, where all your dreams come alive, So with a delightful heart, put a start to this year anew. Team Khabarindia wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year Ahead.
(ET) The oil ministry has proposed reducing the goods and services tax on compressed natural gas (CNG)-driven vehicles to 5 per cent — at par with electric vehicles — from the current 28 per cent to help the government’s drive to popularise gas vehicles. This could mean more than 20 per cent reduction in prices of CNG vehicles. The ministry is seeking support from the finance ministry to cut GST rate on CNG vehicles to make them more affordable, people aware of the development. Natural gas emits 25 per cent less Co2 than petrol on every unit of energy produced. The government aims to raise the share of natural gas in country’s primary energy…
(ET) Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office has proposed waiving a tax on coal to help finance pollution-curbing equipment, according to documents, but the move would also make coal more competitive in price with solar and wind energy. Modi’s office has proposed waiving the carbon tax of 400 rupees ($5.61) per tonne that was levied on the production and import of coal, according to the documents reviewed by Reuters. The documents say the savings would improve the financial health of utilities and distribution companies, and help the power producers to install pollution-curbing equipment.The prime minister’s office and the power ministry did not respond to requests seeking comment on…
(LiveMint) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday restricted urban cooperative banks (UCBs) from offering large corporate loans through several changes to lending norms, after depositors lost large sums of money following the crisis at Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank. The regulator slashed single and connected borrower exposure for UCBs, hiked the priority sector lending (PSL) target and specified a portfolio mix for at least half of their loan books. The guidelines will be applicable from 31 March 2023. The prudential exposure limits for UCBs for a single borrower and a group of connected borrowers were lowered to 10% and…