States Weekly: December 27, 2023

Big News: Tamil Nadu and the World Bank approve the Tamil Nadu Climate Resilient Urban Development Program program with an overlay of $300 million; Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) rejects a plea for a 50 percent renewable energy obligation (RPO) procurement mandate; Maharashtra passes the Maharashtra Lokayukta Bill 2022 bringing the chief minister and council of ministers under the anti-corruption ombudsman; Uttarakhand approves the decisions taken by an expert panel drafting a uniform civil code for the state; Telangana  tables the Telangana State Power Sector - White paper stating that the electricity distribution companies (discoms) had debts of $9.78 billion as of October 2023; and more.

Health 

Himachal Pradesh increases the re-employment age for specialist doctors from 65 to 68 in medical colleges to alleviate the shortage of doctors in the state. Source: The News Himachal

Climate Change & Energy

Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) rejects a plea for a 50 percent renewable energy obligation (RPO) procurement mandate from projects within the state. Source: Mercom; In detail: MERC order

Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) allows the annual change in tariff for biomass projects in the state based on the increase or decrease in variable charges like fuel costs. Source: Mercom; In detail: RERC order

Maharashtra passes the Maharashtra Electricity Duty (Amendment) Act, 2023 waiving the electricity duty on the power consumed by Metro operations in the state. Source: Economic Times; In detail: Maharashtra Electricity Duty (Amendment) Act, 2023

Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) reduces tariff rates for certain categories of multi-tenement consumers and waives peak hour charges for specific industries until the installation of smart meters by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Ltd. (TANGEDCO). Additionally, TNERC also reduces the solar rooftop network charges by 50 percent for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) industries. Source: Solar Quarter; In detail: TNERC order

Finance

Nothing critical to report this week.

Industrial Policy & Business Regulations  

Gujarat unveils a draft plan for the expansive development of GIFT City in Gujarat, with a capital expenditure estimated at $743.8 million. Source: Swarajya

Goa Industrial Development Corporation (Goa-IDC) notifies the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (Allotment, Transfer, and Sub-Lease Regulations), 2023 initiating the comprehensive reforms of the laws and regulations governing the functioning of Goa-IDC to align with the Goa Logistics and Warehousing Policy 2023 and Goa Industrial and Investment Policy 2022. Source: Goemkarponn; In detail: Goa Industrial Development Corporation (Allotment, Transfer, and Sub-Lease Regulations), 2023

Kerala scraps the Kerala Tourism Conservation and Preservation of Areas Act 2005 to promote the tourism industry in the state. The act was formulated to regulate unauthorised constructions and to give shape to holistic developmental projects in the tourism sector in the state. Source: Matrubhumi; In detail: Kerala Tourism (Conservation and Preservation of Areas) Act, 2005

Land Acquisition & Labor Regulations  

Bihar launches an e-mapping portal for landowners to increase transparency and minimize disputes over land measurements in the state. Source: Constrofacilitator; In detail: Portal

Assam approves the Draft Guwahati Central Area Local Area Plan, to improve he existing developed areas in the city by improving road network, public spaces, and built up areas. Source: Times of India; In detail: Draft Guwahati Central Area Local Area Plan

Infrastructure & Governance 

Maharashtra passes the Maharashtra Lokayukta Bill 2022 which brings the chief minister and council of ministers under the ambit of the anti-corruption ombudsman. Source: Deccan Herald; In detail: Maharashtra Lokayukta Act, 2022

Tamil Nadu and the World Bank approve the Tamil Nadu Climate Resilient Urban Development Program program with an overlay of $300 million to provide around 2 million people with better access to water and sewerage services in cities. The plan will help 21 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to update their delivery systems and provide quality and efficient water supply and sewerage services to consumers. Source: The Hindu Business Line; In detail: Press release

Telangana  tables the Telangana State Power Sector - White paper stating that the electricity distribution companies (discoms) had debts of $9.78 billion and the accumulated losses of discoms increasing to $7.5 billion as of October 31, 2023. Apart from this, the discoms have to pay $3.44 billion as generation and transmission charges. Source: The Hindu; In detail: Telangana State Power Sector - White paper

Kerala sets up the Kerala urban policy commission aimed at understanding the possibilities and challenges for the future of urbanization in the state.The commission has been set up as per the declaration made in the state budget. Source: Times of India; In detail: Government notification

Uttarakhand approves the decisions taken by an expert panel drafting a uniform civil code for the state. The committee is likely to submit the draft to the state government in January, following which the process to implement it will begin. Source: NDTV; In detail: Uniform Civil Code Expert Committee Portal

Center – State Relations 

Union Parliament passes the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill 2023 reserving one-third of all seats in the state legislative assembly for female candidates. Source: The Hindu Business Line; In detail: Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill 2023

Union Parliament passes the Government of Union Territories (amendment) Bill 2023 reserving one-third of all seats in the Puducherry state legislative assembly for female candidates. Source: The Hindu Business Line; In detail: Government of Union Territories (amendment) Bill 2023

Any Other

Nothing critical to report this week.