HIMACHAL PRADESH

Exploring the possibility of generating and using green hydrogen as fuel and promoting power storage projects like pump storage and battery energy storage system are the key features in the draft of the New Power Policy of the state. The policy, which is likely to be revealed soon, will replace the Policy that was notified way back in 2006.

Green hydrogen is at an early stage of entering the Energy sector in India. Its good that the State Government is keen on exploring the possibilities of using hydrogen as fuel in power sector and energy storage projects. All stakeholders in power sector will be happy with this initiative, said a power sector expert. The draft of the New Power Policy was distributed among various stakeholders on November 6, and they were asked to revert with suggestions by November 30.

Hydrogen is emerging as an important Source Of Energy since it has zero carbon footprints. Given the abundant availability of water, the state is in an advantageous position as far as the generation of green hydrogen is concerned, said the expert.

Also, theres a lot of thrust on promoting and enhancing solar power. The state has set a target of generating 1995 MW energy through solar projects by 2030. The other key objectives put forth in the draft include harnessing and commissioning 10,000 MW of hydro energy by 2030 and have an operation capacity of 20,948 MW, expediting development of hydro-electric projects, promoting and establishing a power trading entity in the state, to protect the rights of local inhabitants for Irrigation and drinking water, etc.

Sat Prakash Bansal, Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP), said that the university and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) would soon organise an international conference on Promotion of Buddhist Studies and Culture across Buddhist Circuit. Its aim is to promote Buddhist culture in India and in Buddhist circuit.

He said that the central university and the IBC would jointly organise the conference in February next year. The Dalai Lama, Chief Minister, Governor and the Union Culture Minister were expected to attend it. Bansal said that the representatives of seven countries with whom they wanted to promote relations would also be invited.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigams (SJVN) subsidiary Green Energy Limited (SGEL) and Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) at Guwahati for developing 1,000 MW floating solar power projects in Assam by incorporating a joint venture company.

An of Rs 6,000 crore will be made by the SJVN for developing the project. During the construction and operation stages, approximately 4,000 persons will get direct and indirect EMPLOYMENT. Carbon emissions reduction to the tune of 1,07,383 tonne for first year and 24,70,732 tonne for complete life span will be achieved from this project.

Assam has the floating solar power generation potential of around 3,000 MW, out of which SJVN would develop 1,000 MW floating solar projects across the state, spread over 4,500 hectares of water area.

Archana Thakur of Palampur is the first woman engineer of the state to head the state PWD. She was appointed the Engineer-in-Chief, PWD, by the .

She said it is the dedication to service that had brought her the honour of heading the prestigious PWD, which faced the toughest challenge of cutting hills to make roads, which are a lifeline in a state like HP that has negligible air and rail connectivity.

The Central government will provide a financing facility worth about Rs 1,600 Crore throughfor Himachal Pradesh Power Sector Development Programme. With the state Equity, the total programme cost will be approximately Rs 2,000 crore. This programme aims to undertake holistic power sector reforms to allow for improvements in RENEWABLE ENERGY integration in the state.

The key result areas through which this is being targeted is improvements in utilization of states power sector Resources (such as hydro and solar), improvements in reliability of states grid at transmission and distribution level and strengthening of institutional capacities of various states power utilities/agencies.

Through this programme, efforts will be made towards promotion of integrated resource planning to allow comprehensive planning of the power sector, piloting demand response management, improving the technical utilization of the existing Hydro Power assets to facilitate increased integration with other sources of renewable energy.

Union Minister for Commerce, and Textiles Piyush Goyal announced to set up a Weaver Services and Design Resource Center in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh.

This centre will help in encouraging the attractive handicraft products of the state and provide a better platform to export these products at the international market.

The Minister announced this while addressing at an interaction programme with handicrafts and handloom artisans.

Programme was organized under Seva & Samarpan Abhiyan to commemorate the golden jubilee year of statehood of Himachal Pradesh on September 27, 2021.

Himachal Pradesh has the tremendous talent and potential with magical hands that weaves beautiful art products. Thus, there is a need to work proactively by State & Central Ministries in order to bring these products into the international market to get more befits. More attention should be paid on modernizing the design, packaging, quality and Marketing in order to provide weavers a better price for their products at international market.

Prof Sikander Kumar, vice-chancellor, also said university is also going to provide laptop to all the teachers to strengthen online Education. He said tenders for the same have already been invited.

According to him,digitisationwork of library has already been completed.
Prof Kumar said university would provide Rs 50,000 to each teacher as project funding to produce quality research work. He said grant of Rs 1 lakh is also being given to each department for academic activities.

He said in 2019, four new departments were started in the University Institute of Technology, including civil, electrical, electronics & Communication engineering and applied sciences & humanities. Defense studies, library science (UG & PG), Environment science and Microbiology were introduced last year.

The Chief Minister further said that the would soon hold a meeting with the employees so that they get an opportunity to take up their issues.

He assured the Federation that the endeavour of the State Government would be to amicably resolve all the genuine issues of the employees, as the Government wants to maintain cordial relations with its employees.

Thakur also urged the employees to work with greater dedication and commitment to make Himachal Pradesh a model State in the country. He assured the members of the Federation that their interests would be safeguarded at all cost as they are part and parcel of the Government.

Shoolini University has clinched the third place in the country in the fresh Times Higher Education (THE) university rankings, which just recently came out. The university has also been ranked 77th in all of Asia.

The hallowed Indian Institute of Science-Bangalore has managed to cling to the top position in the country while the JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research-Mysore has secured the second place in the country. It may be noted that out of over 10,000 universities across Asia, only 928 of the institutions were ranked.

For the safety of Dams,Himachal Pradeshgovernment has constitutedState Dam Safety Organisation(SDSO) andState Committee on Dam Safety(SCDS) in the directorate of energy to be headed by chief engineer (energy). TheSDSOwill keep perpetual surveillance, carry out inspections and monitor the operation and maintenance of all specified dams falling under their jurisdiction to ensure continued safety of such specified dams and take such measures as may be necessary to address safety concerns.

In a recent notification issued, chief engineer (energy) has been appointed as the technical head of SDSO while deputy chief engineer (dam safety) will be the head. There will be six other members. Similarly, chief engineer (energy) will be the ex-officio chairperson of SCDS and there will be 14 other members.

The Dam Safety Act 2021 stated that SDSO, for the purpose of enabling it to make decisions compatible with public safety, will make investigations and will gather data as may be required for proper review and study of the various features of the design, construction, repair and enlargement of dams, reservoirs and appurtenant structures under their jurisdiction.