Power generation up 6% despite low fuel stocks
Power generation expanded by over 6% in March even as 25 thermal power stations battled with a coal stock of less than four days. As per Central Electricity Authority (CEA) data, power generation in March increased 6.39% at 2,550 million units as against the expected 2,397 million units. On the other hand, the fuel stock position at the thermal power stations was abysmal with less than four days of reserves at 25 plants and less than seven days? stock at 30 power stations, the data showed. ?There are many reasons responsible for the increase or decrease in power generation and coal stock is not the sole reason but yes it is one of them,? a CEA official said. Thermal power generation alone witnessed a rise of 6.7% at 2,211 million units against the programmed 2,072 million units. Meanwhile, the power ministry has set a target of generating 9,20,000 million units of electricity this year, of which over 1,50,000 million units is expected to come from the private sector alone. It has plans to add over 7,60,000 million units of coal-based power during 2012-13.
Investments in clean energy rise to $10.2 bn
Becoming the second-fastest growing clean energy market among the G-20 nations, India attracted investments worth $10.2 billion in this segment last year. The clean energy investment in India last year jumped 54% to $10.2 billion, according a report by the US-based non-profit group Pew Charitable Trusts. ?India?s clean energy sector was the second-fastest growing (market) in the G-20 in 2011…,? said the report titled ?Who?s Winning the Clean Energy Race?? ?The wind sector in India led the way, attracting $4.6 billion and spurring deployment of 2.8 GW during the year, a 38% increase in wind generating capacity,? it added. Last year, solar energy investments also saw an increase. In India, 45% of financing ($4.6 billion) was directed towards wind resources, while 41% ($4.2 billion) were into solar last year. ?India?s growth propelled it from 10th to sixth place in the G-20, and the country ranks fifth in terms of five-year investment growth,? the report added.
Cauvery water disputes tribunal chief resigns
Chairman of the Cauvery water disputes tribunal, Justice NP Singh, has resigned from his post citing ill health. Sources in the water resources ministry said Singh (80) had sent his resignation papers earlier this week. The tribunal, which gave its final award on February 5, 2007, asking Karnataka to ensure 192 thousand metric cubit feet (tmc ft) of water annually at Biligundlu on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, was to hear an application moved by the Tamil Nadu government on April 17. ?But following his resignation, the hearing is set to be deferred,? a senior ministry official said. The tribunal was constituted in 1990. Under the provisions of the Inter-state Water Disputes Act, 1956, the Centre can appoint a sitting judge of the Supreme Court or a high court as chairman of a water dispute tribunal.
Filling backlog of reserved vacancies to be expedited
The government has decided to speed up process of filling up all the vacancies reserved for SCs, STs, OBCs and people with disabilities. Officials said the department of personnel and training (DoPT) has asked all the departments to give details of existing vacancies in the reserved categories and efforts will be taken to fill them up. ?We have directed all departments including public sector undertakings to give details of backlog vacancies and efforts taken by them to fill it. They have been told to give the desired information by this month end,? a DoPT official said. According to an official data updated till December 2010, there were a total of 59,809 backlog reserved vacancies as on November 1, 2008.
CIL to fill up supervisory posts to enhance safety
To further reduce mine casualties, Coal India (CIL) has decided to constitute a panel to fill up the vacant supervisory-level posts for enhancing safety at its mines. ?The committee will look into vacant posts pertaining to safety. The committee will also propose necessary relaxation if required for filling up posts of supervisory levels responsible for maintaining safety,? CIL acting chairman and managing director Zohra Chatterji said. ?The recommendations of the committee will be monitored regularly in the CMD meet,? Chatterji added. The fatalities at CIL mines last year came down by 42.2% to 52, over 90 in 2010. It claims that it had registered the lowest fatalities in 2011 since it inception in 1975.