24.12.21

IIT-G makes low-cost, recyclable solar cells

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TheIndian Institute of Technology Guwahati(IIT-G) researchers have developed cost-effective, highly efficient perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to produce electricity from sunlight that can have over 21% power conversion efficiency about 5% more than conventional solar panels.
This cutting-edge technology in emerging perovskite-based semiconducting devices, developed by the team, is considered the most promising due to their low-cost, ease of manufacturing as roll-to-roll devices, high material availability and easy recyclability.

The hybrid perovskite-based solar or photovoltaic devices are easy to manufacture and easily recyclable were developed by achieving significant power conversion efficiencies by utilizing economical solution-based photovoltaic device processing techniques even at mild room temperature and obtaining high ambient, thermal and optical stability that can be easily achievable in northeast-like environment. The Centre has recently given a push to semiconductor manufacturing in the country, which can be a big boost for this new kind of solar cells.

Deaths by accidents in Odisha increase by 16% from last yr

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Deaths due to road accidents across the state increased by nearly 16% from January to September this year as against the three corresponding quarters in 2020. This was revealed in the latest data shared by the state crime branch with the transport department.
Altogether 3,708 persons have died in road accidents in the first nine months of this year. This figure had stood at 3,197 for the same period in 2020.

There has been a steady increase in the number of fatalities from 2014 (3,931 deaths) to 2020 (4,738deaths), a jump of about 21%. This despite theSupreme Courtcommittee on road safety having asked the states to take steps to reduce fatalities by 10% every year from 2015 onwards.
The Supreme Court committee observed that though the violation of helmet law resulted in about 41% deaths, the state government did precious little to address the issue. The committee also expressed displeasure over poor enforcement related to suspension of DLs in 2020 and 2021. Over-speeding contributed to 69% of the accidents, but action against the violators has been lacking, the committee observed.

Vedanta to put Rs 60,000 crore into semiconductors

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Days after the government announced a mega incentive package to bring in semiconductor investments into the country,Anil AgarwalsVedanta grouphas said that it will invest up to Rs 60,000 crore to set up a sophisticated chip and glass manufacturing ecosystem in India over the next three years.

It is also finalising technology and equity partnerships and joint ventures with top fabrication makers across the world. This is Agarwals second attempt at bringing in semiconductor investments into India. The fresh charge will be led through AvanStrate, a Japanese glass substrate manufacturer that Vedanta had acquired in December 2017 from the Carlyle Group.

India does not have a chip manufacturing ecosystem, despite being a significant consumption market for semiconductor-led industries, and depends solely on costly imports. The funding from our groups side will be through equity and debt, apart from potential partnerships, Hebbar said, adding around 80% of production will be used for domestic market, while rest will be for exports

Protests Against Keralas Silver Lining Project

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Several political parties and civic organizations, such as the K-Rail SilverLine Viruddha Janakeeya Samiti, have protested “Kerala’s SilverLine project.”

Highlights:

MPs have signed a petition opposing the project, claiming that it is an “astronomical scam in the making” that will add to the state’s debt.

Furthermore, environmentalists believe that the project will have a significant negative impact on the environment because its route passes through wetlands, paddy fields, and hills.

SilverLine is a project for a semi-high-speed railway. It envisions trains traveling at 200 km/h between Kerala’s northern and southern ends.

The project’s total cost is estimated to be Rs 63,940 crore. Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod will be connected by a 529.45-kilometer rail link.

Through 11 stations, it will cover 11 districts. Travel time from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram will be reduced from 12 hours to less than four hours at 200 km/hr.

“Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL)” is in charge of the project. Kerala’s government and the Union Ministry of Railways collaborated on the project. The project’s completion date is set for 2025.

Several urban policy experts have expressed concerns that Kerala’s existing railway infrastructure will not be able to meet future demands.

Because of the curves and bends on the existing stretch, the majority of the trains travel at a 45 km/h average speed.

This government is working on the SilverLine project, which will relieve congestion on the existing stretch and allow commuters to travel more quickly.

Aside from that, the project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create jobs, and aid in the expansion of Ro-Ro services, as well as connect airports and IT corridors and allow for faster development in the cities it passes through.

Karnataka assembly OKs anti-conversion bill

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TheKarnatakalegislativeassembly passed a controversial anti-conversion bill amid a din and day-long debate by the opposition parties. The bill is aimed at curbing illegal religious conversions.

The Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021, introduced in the assembly on Tuesday, was passed by voice vote even as Congress members protested from the well of theHousedemanding more time for debate on the legislation.

The government is likely to introduce the bill in the legislative council, where BJP does not have a majority, on Friday, the last day of the session. After assessing the chances of the bill passi-ng, sources said the party may table the bill or refrain from doing so for now.

Telangana govt opposes dividing SLBC

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TheTelanganagovernment has raised objections to splitting Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) into two components instead of a single component in the gazette notification issued by the Union ministry of water resources.

The state government said in the notification it was mentioned that intake, tunnel, appurtenant structures (mean structures such as spillways) and Nakkalagandi reservoir as one component and additional 10 tmcft intake and appurtenant works as another component. Telangana engineer-in-chief (ENC) C Muralidhar said in the letter that the united AP government had enhanced the ayacut under SLBC from three lakh acres to four lakh acres but the quantum of water utilisation was not enhanced accordingly from 30 tmcft to 40 tmcft.

National highways in Andhra Pradesh doubled in 7 years, says Nitin Gadkari

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Andhra Pradesh has bagged several key infrastructure projects particularly in the development ofnationalhighways in the last seven years as the Centre has doubled the total length ofNHsby spending a whopping Rs 35,000 crore.

This is considered to be highest growth rate theAPhas ever witnessed. The Centre is also readying plans to invest close to another Rs 88,000 crore to develop national highways in next few years. Responding to a query posed by BJP MP GVL Narasimha Rao, Union road transport and highways minister NitinGadkarion Wednesday said the national highways in AP were doubled in the last seven years of Narendra Modis tenure.

He said the total length of national highways which were spread over 4,193 km in 2014, have now touched 8,183 km with almost 100 per cent increase. Gadkari said the Centre is willing to develop important stretches of highways inGunturdistrict soon after getting the feasibility reports.

Goa IPB clears 4 projects worth Rs 230 crore with potential to create 1,489 jobs

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TheGoa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board(IPB) met on Thursday and cleared four investment proposals, which could bring in Rs 230 crore of investment to the state and also createjobsfor 1,489 people.

Chief ministerPramod Sawant, who chaired the meeting, said that the projects would benefit Goa immensely.

The investment proposals are for light engineering firms, manufacturing, agro-food processing and an automotive service facility.

In the entire year, IPB has conducted just four board meetings and has approved projects with an investment of Rs 832.1 cr and which could create employment for 3613 individuals. IPB said that 78% of these jobs will go to locals.

IPB is also in the process of drafting new rules and regulations under the new Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation of Single Window Clearance Act, 2021. The board, which is headed by Sawant, has already approved a new methodology for land allotment, which uses a points-based system to evaluate project proposals. The investment score is then evaluated against the advertised land bank in the state.

The board has already identified unused land across various industrial estates in Goa and has invited project proposals from potential investors.

Mumbai: Bills for OBC quota in local body polls passed

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The Maharashtra Assembly on Thursday cleared two bills providing 27% reservation to the OBC in the local body polls. These bills were originally ordinances that were issued by the rural and urban development departments and have been challenged in the SC. While clearing the bills, the opposition and the government engaged into a verbal spat blaming each other for the loss of political reservation to the OBC. Cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal said the Centres decision to not share the empirical data has put the OBC reservation across the country in danger.

Haryana Chief Minister launches ‘drug-free society’ drive

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Launching a drug-free society campaign, the Haryana Chief Minister (CM), Manohar Lal Khattar, on Thursday administered oath to hundreds of students, teachers and other prominent people to say no to drugs. All should make efforts for restricting themselves from the drug menace, he added.

This step was initiated by Union Minister of State Kaushal Kishore, who fixed a goal to administer oath to say no to drugs to 75 lakh people by 75th Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav on August 15, 2022. So far, 10 lakh people have taken a pledge to de-addiction.