TAMILNADU
Tamil Nadu to up wind power generation by 440MW
After three years of stagnation, Tamil Nadu is under compulsion to install additional wind power generation capacity to comply with the renewable power obligation (RPO) norms prescribed by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.
In line with the central commission’s norms, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission recently gave its nod to Tangedco to purchase 440.64MW of wind power by floating tenders. It means additional wind power mills have to be installed in the state to meet the requirement. The state has 9,286MW wind power generation installed capacity. However, evacuation is only around 5,000MW.
The pace of growth has been slow in recent years owing to poor response to tenders floated by Tangedco to set up new windmills. A few tenders awarded to wind power companies in 2017 are yet to be commissioned. Moreover, only 70-75% of windmills are functional. The oldest ones with less than 1MW capacity are mostly non-functional and need to be repowered – replaced with higher capacity wind mills. Capacity of windmills in the state varies from 225KW to 2.1MW. Ones with low capacity are not being promoted now.
As per TNERC guidelines, the new tenders will be floated by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) for Tangedco to meet the RPO for 2021-22.
The TNERC has approved a proposal to purchase 440.64MW of wind power through SECI for 25 years at Rs 2.84 plus Rs 0.07 as trading margin, totalling Rs 2.91 per unit to meet Tangedco’s non-solar RPO requirement from 2021-22, said TNERC in its order.
Tangedco had floated a tender in Phase-I for 500MW at Rs 3.46 a unit as upper limit based on the all-India wind tender floated by SECI. Only 450MW of the 500MW was finalized then. PPA was signed with two companies for supplying wind power for 25 years at Rs 3.42 per unit.
INTERNATIONAL
Covid-2019 is official name for disease caused by new coronavirus says WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) says the official name for the disease caused by the new coronavirus is Covid-2019.
It comes after the death toll from the virus passed one thousand. Tens of thousands of people have been infected.
The word coronavirus refers to the group of viruses it belongs to.
Researchers have been calling for an official name to avoid confusion and stigmatisation of any group or country.
US President Donald Trump signs USD 8.3B bill to fight coronavirus outbreak
US President Donald Trump signed an 8.3 billion US
Dollars measure to help tackle the coronavirus
outbreak killed 12 people in the US and infected
more than 200.
The legislation provides federal public health
agencies with money for vaccines, tests, and
potential treatments and helps state and local
governments prepare and respond to the threat.
NATIONAL
Cabinet clears merger of 10 PSBs into 4 banks effective April 1
The Cabinet approved the amalgamation of the 10 public sector banks (PSB) into 4 PSBs that was announced on August 30, 2019.
The merger would come into effect from April 1, 2020.
The Cabinet’s approval will lead to the merger of –
- Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India into Punjab National Bank;
- Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank into Union Bank of India;
- Syndicate Bank into Canara Bank; and
- Allahabad Bank into Indian Bank
According to the government, the merger of the 10 banks will lead to the creation of stronger establishments that will be able to meet the challenge of a $ 5 trillion economy.
Mumbai set to host IOC session in 2023
Mumbai is set to host the 2023 International Olympic Committee’s session after the IOC Executive Board recommended the Indian city for the annual conference.
The IOC Executive Board decided to put Mumbai’s candidature to a vote of the members.
The decision is to be ratified at the 136th IOC session in Tokyo in July this year.
After ratification, this will be the second-ever IOC session to be held in India after a long gap of 37 years.
India last hosted an IOC session way back in 1983 in New Delhi.
Mineral Law Amendment Bill passed in Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha approves Mines and Mineral Laws (Amendment) Bill over the Delhi violence and other issues.
Mines and Mineral Laws
The Bill proposes to remove end-use restrictions for participating in coal mine auctions, and it will open up the coal sector fully for commercial mining for all domestic and global companies. The process for the passage of the bill was underway when the House was adjourned following protests by Opposition members over controversial remarks by a Rajasthan MP against Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her family members.
The bill explains about the coal sector completely for commercial mining. It intends to remove end-use restrictions to participate in coal mine auction. The ordinance allows coal mining by any company present in industries other than steel and power and does away with the captive end-use criteria.
DAY-NULM signs MoU with Amazon for e-marketing of products made by SHGs
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) that functions under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs signed MoU with Amazon for e-marketing of products made by Self Help Groups (SHGs) across the country in urban areas.
The partnership aims to provide access to a wider customer base for products made by SHGs and to strengthen the mission of creating sustainable livelihoods in urban areas.
MHA approves Automated Facial Recognition System to identify bodies, missing children, criminals
Ministry of Home Affairs has approved the automated facial recognition system (AFRS) for the identification of unrecognized bodies, missing children, and criminals.
The approval has been accorded for the implementation of AFRS by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
AFRS will use police records and will be accessible only to law enforcement agencies.
It is expected to facilitate better identification of criminals, unidentified dead bodies, and missing or found children and persons and will not violate privacy.
AFRS will use police records and will be accessible only to law enforcement agencies.
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