30-31.01.22

Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim excluded from WB project for bettering power system

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TheUnion Budgethas once again excluded the two northeastern states ofArunachal Pradeshandbordering China from the World Bank-funded project forpower systemimprovement in the northeast.

According to theBudgetdocuments explanatory note, the project is for power system improvement in six NER states viz. Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and Nagaland. It is funded by the World Bank. Intra-State Transmission & Distribution projects for Sikkim &ArunachalPradesh have been segregated for implementation through budgetary support from Government of India in view of these states having sensitive borders.
Finance ministerNirmala Sitharaman, in her Budget for 2022-23, has proposed allocation of Rs 371 crore as programme component, Rs 273 crore as EAP component in rest of the northeast and Rs 1,700 crore as budgetary support for strengthening of transmission system in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

Segregation of externally aided projects in these two frontier states has its roots since 2009 when China objected to an Irrigation project in Arunachal that was planned by Asian Development Bank for $60-million. The project was subsequently scrapped.

Assam to frame new coal policy

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Assamcabinet ministersJogen MohanandBimal Borahheard the views of the stakeholders for formulating a policy for easy import of coal in various industries ofBarak Valleyand export of betel nuts produced in this southern Assam area.

Taking part in the meeting, the two ministers said a policy would be formulated to facilitate the import of coal from Barak Valley by protecting the interests of all.

Uday Shankar Goswami, on behalf of the brick kiln industries, said 400 metric tonnes of coal were needed to produce 1.5 million bricks a year in each of the 100 brick fields in Cachar district. He also said brick kilns need coal from November to February.

On behalf of the tea planters, it was stated that 25,000 metric tonnes of coal were required for 57 tea gardens in Cachar district alone. The betel growers also proposed to formulate a policy to facilitate betel export outside the valley.

Odisha seeks 25,000cr for disaster-proof power infra

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:Odishahas asked the Centre to consider sanctioning Rs 25,000 crore for disaster-resilient power in cyclone-prone coastal areas of the state and Rs 900 crore for 1,000 mobile towers to improve connectivity in remote areas in the Union Budget to be presented by finance ministerNirmala Sitharaman.

These issues were raised by state finance ministerNiranjan Pujariin the pre-Budget consultation meeting with the Union FM, a senior government functionary said.
The state has pointed out that Cyclones are almost an annual affair for Odisha, causing severe damages to the electrical infrastructure. Odisha has an estimated requirement of Rs 25,000 crore for the creation of disaster-resilient infrastructure with selective underground cabling up to 30km from the coastline. The Centre should consider extending the necessary financial support to Odisha and other cyclone-prone states for disaster-resilient power Network, Odisha has told the Centre.

It has also sought to include private distributor companies under any of Centres power reforms scheme. This apart, it has sought central aid for the proposed new power projects at Upper Indravati (600MW),Balimela(510MW) andUpper Kolab(320MW).

Stating that Odisha has the most number of villages (6,278) without mobile connectivity, the state has sought financial aid for 1,000 mobile towers to be installed at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore. Notably, the Union Cabinet had earlier this month approved 3,933 mobile towers (Rs 3,200 crore).

Odisha has also requested the Centre to upgrade 256 mobile towers in Left-Wing extremism-affected areas to standard 4G towers for better coverage and data capability.

Odisha has asked the Centre to continue with the GST compensation to the states beyond July 2022, at least till 2025-2026 citing that in recent years the states own tax revenue as a Percentage of gross state domestic product (GSDP) has declined, especially since the introduction of the GST.

Push for organic farming welcomed

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The Agrofood Chamber of Commerce and and theTamil Nadu Foodgrains Merchants Association Limitedhave welcomed the push for organic cultivation, oil seeds and millet cultivation, use of drones for digitisation of farming and modernising farm practices and water Irrigation techniques at 44,000 crore.

They said that the announcement to prepare DPR for the five river linkage projects including theKrishna Pennar and Pennar Cauvery projects will not only improve irrigation facilities and resolve the drinking water problem inTamil Nadubut will also pave way for creation of waterways transport, which would be cheaper than other modes. The foodgrains merchant body said that no announcement on the Cauvery – Thamirabarani river linking project was a disappointment.

The chamber stated that promoting millet consumption and branding is a shot in the arm for Tamil Nadu farmers. Promotion of chemical-free natural Organic Farming would increase the export opportunities of our farm products and processed food products, its presidentN Jegatheesansaid.

The chamber also expressed disappointment for not banning import of FMCG and not prohibiting domestic corporate giants from entering into retail trade.

E-passports to benefit Keralas expat community

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The announcement in the Union budget about the rolling out of next-generation e-passports will enhance the international travel experience of lakhs of expats and others by facilitating smooth and faster passage through immigration posts and would also make the passports more secure and tamper proof.

The new e-passports, which will have embedded chip, will be rolled out in 2022-23. The microchip will contain information about the passport holder like name, address, date of birth and other details and it is expected to facilitate quick verificationat the immigration posts across the globe. Also, the e-passports are expected to enhance security of passports, eliminate data tampering and passport forgery.

Many expatriates welcomed the decision and said that it will take India to the growing league of over 100 countries which have already upgraded from traditional passports to e-passports.

KIMS is now a designated ICMR clinical trial centre

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TheKarnataka Institute of Medical Sciences(KIMS), Hubballi, has been selected by the Indian Council of Medical Research (Icmr) as a centre for clinical trials, making the institute the first and only government facility in Karnataka to be among the handful of such campuses across the country.

Clinical trials are done to study the impact of any medicine or vaccine.

ICMR had invited applications from medical colleges to start clinical trials after setting some conditions.

The opportunity to learn from clinical trials is limited in government colleges as most of them do not have clinical trial centres. The KIMSs selection could be a boon for medical students to learn and hone their skills in clinical trials and help the existing staff in medical colleges to upgrade their skills in the clinical trials, Kaulgud said.

Drillmec to invest $200 million in setting up global oil rigs manufacturing hub in Hyderabad

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Italian oil and gas rigs manufacturerDrillmec SpA, which is a subsidiary of Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL), is investing $200 million (approx. Rs 1,500 crore) in setting up a global manufacturing hub at Shahabad on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
As part of the new ,Drillmecwill be setting up a manufacturing facility for oil rigs and ancillary equipment, R&D centre as well as a centre of excellence for imparting training in cutting-edge technology in this sector. Drillmecs investment is expected to create job opportunities for about 2,500 people.

The Italian player also inked a Memorandum of Understanding with theTelanganagovernment on Monday morning in the presence of Drillmec CEO Simone Trevisani and Telangana Industries ministerKT Rama Rao.

As part of the agreement, Drillmec SpA and the Telangana governments department of industries & commerce will also be floating a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for setting up an equipment manufacturing unit.

Drillmec SpA CEO Simone Trevisani said the Italian player is also interested in future investment in the Hydrogen fuel project in India.

Andhra Pradesh: Kribhco to set up Bio-Ethanol project at Sarvepalli in Nellore district

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Tirupati MPDr M Gurumoorthyalong with APIIC andAP industries departmentofficials met Union minister of state for Chemicals and FertilizersBhagawanth Khubaat New Delhi.

The Union ministry of chemicals and fertilizers has directed Kribhco to establish aBio-Ethanol projectatSarvepalliinNelloredistrict within the next six months.
Formal approvals have been accorded by the ministry for establishing the Bio-Ethanol project at Sarvepalli.

This Bio-Ethanol project will bring in the much needed investments to this region besides providing a plethora of EMPLOYMENT opportunities to the local youth.

APIIC had allotted 289.81 acres of land to Kribhco to establish a plant for manufacturing phosphates and DAP (Fertilizer) plant with an of Rs.700 crore. Though the land was handed over to Kribhco in 2015 itself, the project hit a road block due to Logistics and other related issues.

Despite pandemic, budget is futuristic: Goa CM Pramod Sawant

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Goa chief ministerPramod Sawantsaid the Union Budget 2022-23 presented by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday was futuristic.

The chief minister further tweeted, The budget is formulated keeping in mind to enhance the Gati and Shakti of the economy for the bright future of the country, giving true to every sector of the economy. I am sure that this exercise is indeed a blueprint for the next 25 yeras, ie Amrit Kaal as said by FM.

Maharashtra feat: Pune set to pilot unique land digital identification initiative

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The state has selected Pune to pilot the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) project for facilitating IT-based management of records.

Christened “Aadhaarfor land”, the 14-digit Unique Land Parcel Identification Number aims at identifying every surveyed parcel of land and also preventing any fraud related to land.

Union finance ministerNirmala Sitharaman, in herBudgetspeech, mentioned about ULPIN and encouraged all states to roll out the process. Pilots on the project have been carried out in select districts of 10 states, includingMaharashtra.The other states are Haryana, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, , Goa, Madhya Pradesh andKarnataka.

For Pune district, all land parcels were marked and numbered according to their latitude and longitude coordinates. The unique number will have ownership details of a plot, besides its size and longitudinal and latitudinal details up to the taluka level and beyond.