Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Now, post offices outside city retail solar lamps

Looking for an eco-friendly solar lamp to tide over the power cuts? You might be able to pick up one at your neighbourhood post office. The Chennai circle of India Post is selling solar lamps through 19 post offices across Tamil Nadu to give a fillip to its retail post initiative.

"The demand has been on the rise so we will make the lamps available in other post offices too," says M S Ramanujan, postmaster general. The department started selling solar lamps in Chengalpet from September 2011. In February, post offices in Vellore and Kanchipuram started selling the lamps to cover... Read more..

Date : Mar 4

Source: Times of India

IIT-Gandhinagar to set up Rs 1,200cr campus

The new campus of Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IIT-GN) will be constructed at the budget of Rs 1,200 crore. The work is set to begin within six to nine months, and the campus will flaunt some of the most environment-friendly green buildings in the country.

IIT-GN, which is one of the six new IITs set up in 2008-09, has been allotted the campus of Vishwakarma Government Engineering College at Gandhinagar for the time being. The institute has been allotted a 450-acre plot in Palej village of Gandhinagar district for its campus.

"The preparation of the master plan... Read more..

Date : Mar 4

Source: Times of India

Renewable energy fund on the cards

The government is considering setting up a separate corpus out of the existing national clean energy fund to help finance renewable energy projects. Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee is likely to announce this in the forthcoming Budget.

The proposal is that the government will set up the corpus out of the money collected in the clean energy fund and, then, seek matching contributions from multilateral agencies like World Bank as well as the private sector, sources said.

The move is in line with key suggestions made by a parliamentary panel, the Estimates Committee of Lok... Read more..

Date : Mar 4

Source: The Financial Express

Solar power from cricket stadium to light up Rajkot

Other than hosting matches, the Madhavrao Scindia International Cricket Stadium on Race Course Road will be put to another interesting use. In the near future, the stadium's roof will have solar panels installed, which will power nearly 40,000 streetlights that dot Rajkot's roads.

Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) has invited international bids for preparing a detailed project report for its 'Solar Power Cricket Stadium.' RMC commissioner Ajay Bhadoo said that proposals have been invited from qualified and experienced consultancy firms and institutes. "We thought that if the... Read more..

Date : Mar 4

Source: Times of India

HAREDA building bags award for solar features

'Akshay Urja Bhawan', office building of the Haryana Department of Renewable Energy and HAREDA, has been awarded for 'Exemplary Demonstration of Integration of Solar Passive Features' during National Conference on Green Design 2012 held at New Delhi.

Stating this here today, a HAREDA spokesman said this award was given away by Mr Arun Maira, Member Planning Commission and Dr R K Pachauri, Director General, TERI and President, Association for Development and Research on Sustainable Habitats (ADARSH) during the conference which was organised by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy,... Read more..

Date : Mar 3

Source: ElectroIQ

Solar-Powered Micro Grids Change Lives of Indian Villagers

In Uttar Pradesh, one of India's poorest states, a pair of US-born entrepreneurs is creating a new model for energy delivery to villages far from the grid. The founders of Mera Gao Power build and operate solar-powered micro grids to provide low-cost lighting and mobile phone charging to village houses, giving many rural people access to both light and power for the first time in their lives.

For many villagers in off-grid areas in India, their only source of light after dark comes through kerosene powered lanterns, which can cause serious health issues, both from the fumes released... Read more..

Date : Mar 2

Source: Tree Hugger

Experts propose green tax to penalise polluters

As India is undertaking major tax reforms for the taxation of goods and services, a group of state-level policy makers have suggested green taxes to be integrated in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to tackle issues of pollution and maintain a sustainable growth.

The experts, which included chairman of Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister Dr C Rangarajan and director of Madras School of Economics D K Srivastava and other dignitaries, while deliberating on a state-level policy makers’ decision here on Friday, suggested the need for mechanisms for green taxes in GST to... Read more..

Date : Mar 2

Source: IBN Live

Mining boom is leading to landgrab

The global mining, oil and gas industries have expanded so fast in the last decade they are now leading to large-scale "landgrabbing" and threatening farming and water supplies, according to a report by environment and development groups in Europe, Africa and India.

"The catalogue of devastation is growing. We are no longer talking about isolated pockets of destruction and pollution. In just 10 years, iron ore production has more than doubled, coal has risen 45% and metals like lithium by 125%. Across Africa, Latin America and Asia, more and more lands, rivers and aquifers are being... Read more..

Date : Mar 2

Source: Hindustan Times

Why no action against MV Rak owner: HC to Centre

Observing that the Director General (DG) Shipping should have given the insurer of the MV Rak carrier — a vessel that sank 20 miles from the city’s coast on August 4 last year — a hearing before blacklisting it, the Bombay High Court on Thursday asked why the authorities had let the owner of the sunken vessel get away.

Astra Asigurari Insurance and Reinsurance Company (AAIRC), the Romanian insurer of the MV Rak vessel, had moved court contesting the order of the DG Shipping issued on September 2, 2011 asking the port authorities not to allow any other vessel with a certificate of... Read more..

Date : Mar 2

Source: Express India

In soup, OPG Power offers new tech to ease pollution fears

In an attempt to broker peace, OPG Power’s chief executive has said the company is willing to spend an additional Rs 100 crore to install new technology to reduce water requirements for its proposed power plant near Mundra in Kutch.

OPG’s planned 300-MW coal-fired power plant has faced stiff legal and on-ground resistance from local fishermen who fear, among others, that the plants use of sea water for cooling would adversely affect the marine life. Power plants circulate water to cool machinery and discharge warm water back into the sea, causing water temperatures to rise.

“... Read more..

Date : Mar 2

Source: Express India

CWG Village gets Green Award

The Common Wealth Games Village-RESIDENTIAL PROJECT, constructed by one of India’s premier real estate developers EMAAR MGF Construction Pvt. Ltd., was today conferred with the prestigious Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) plaque for its green building design initiative. The Commonwealth Games Village has been awarded TWO STAR TERI-GRIHA – rating.

The plaque was presented at the inaugural function of the 3rd National Conference on Green Design by Arun Maria, Member Planning Commission to Emaar MGF Construction Pvt. Ltd for its Commonwealth Games Village... Read more..

Date : Mar 2

Source: News 24

Indian tech honchos turn angel investors

There is an emerging breed of tech professionals donning the angel investor hat in India. These include big names like Rajan Anandan, MD of Google India, Deep Kalra, CEO of Makemytrip, Vishal Gondal, CEO of Indiagames, and Raman Roy CMD of Quattro BPO Solutions.

Even relatively younger entrepreneurs, like the founder of InMobi, Naveen Tiwari, who recently invested in e-commerce logistics enabler Chottu.in, are seeding startups. At the angel stage most startups have business models or ideas defined, but do not necessarily have a regular revenue inflow or client base. So tech... Read more..

Date : Mar 2

Source: Times of India

Centre studying offshore wind power potential in TN, Gujarat

The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is testing the feasibility of offshore wind power development in states like Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.

A draft feasibility report on the same has been prepared by Scottish Development Intern-ational, an international trade and investment arm of the Scottish government, said a higher official from the Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET).

The Centre has identified indicative areas in the Southern Peninsula and the Gujarat region, where offshore wind power assessment and development could be developed. The places... Read more..

Date : Mar 2

Source: Business Standard

'Enforce stringent law to curb exploitation of natural resources'

The government should enforce a stringent law to curb exploitation of natural resources, said CM Sunta, former director of radiation safety division, Atomic Energy Regulation Board. He was addressing a seminar organized by Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University on clean energy option to mark the National Science Day on Wednesday.

He spoke about renewable energy options like bio-fuels, bio-mass, geothermal, hydroelectricity, solar energy, tidal power, wave power and wind power. He said that solar energy and wind energy are the cleanest sources of energy. According to Sunta, deserts in... Read more..

Date : Mar 2

Source: Times of India

Ray of sunshine for a green Delhi as solar-powered rickshaws are set to take to the road

The Capital is turning green with a vengeance. After promoting the use of electric cars and the use of green technologies, Delhi will soon see the solar-powered rickshaws on its roads.

Around 1,000 of these rickshaws, which come in three variants, will be introduced in different parts of the Capital by June. Senior officials of the Delhi government's environment department said the final plan is to increase the number of such rickshaws, also called soleckshaws, to at least 10,000.

The plans also include allowing the use of these rickshaws by licensed operators at key... Read more..

Date : Mar 2

Source: Mail Online India

Now, post offices outside city retail solar lamps

Date : Mar 2

Source: Times of India

Cooking-Oil Imports by India Seen at Record as Harvests Decline

Cooking-oil imports by India, the biggest palm oil buyer, will climb as much as 12 percent to a record after dry weather and excessive rain curbed oilseed crops, according to GG Patel & Nikhil Research Co.

Purchases will total 9.2 million metric tons to 9.4 million tons in the year that began on Nov. 1, compared with 8.37 million a year earlier, said Managing Partner Govindlal G. Patel, who has traded vegetable oils for more than three decades. India bought a record 8.82 million tons in 2009-2010.

Enlarge image Cooking-Oil Imports by India Seen at Record

An... Read more..

Date : Mar 1

Source: Bloomberg

Suzlon’s Repower Unit Gets German Bank Loans Totalling $1 Billion

Suzlon Energy Ltd. (SUEL), India’s biggest wind-turbine maker, climbed as much as 15 percent after its Repower unit got a 750 million euro ($999 million) loan, helping erase investor concerns it can’t pay back bondholders.

Banks led by BayernLB Holdings AG, Commerzbank AG (CBK) and Deutsche Bank AG (DBK) agreed the syndicated loan with a 2.5 year term, Repower Systems SE (RPW) said today in a statement sent by e- mail. The loan will refinance the existing 600 million euro credit facilities Repower agreed in May 2009, according to the company, based in Hamburg, Germany.

Suzlon... Read more..

Date : Mar 1

Source: Bloomberg

GAIL releases first sustainability report: Value beyond Business for 2010-11

G C Chaturvedi, Secretary, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India today has released the first Sustainability Report of GAIL (India) Limited in presence of B C Tripathi, Chairman and Managing Director, GAIL. This report proposes a roadmap for GAIL (India) Limited for improving three key aspects of sustainability - "People" (human capital and local communities), "Planet" (natural capital), "Profit" (the economic value) in business processes and operational endeavours to make a positive impact upon economic growth, ecological balance and social progress. During the occasion, Sudhir... Read more..

Date : Mar 1

Source: India Infoline

Sunderbans poster boy of climate change's ill effects: Study

The Sunderbans, a world heritage site, is becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate change and government policies must take into account present and future climate impact to counter the scenario, says a study on the mangrove forests that straddle the Indian state of West Bengal as well as Bangladesh.

The study titled "Living with changing climate" has been carried out by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a New Delhi-based public interest research and advocacy organisation. It was released by West Bengal's Sunderbans Affairs Minister Shyamal Mandal Wednesday.

"... Read more..

Date : Mar 1

Source: Zee News

Union Budget 2012: Government may continue breathing incentives into wind energy sector

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is seeking extension of existing incentives for the wind energy sector in the upcoming Union Budget. This would ensure growth momentum in the coming years after the sector added record 10,500 megawatt in the 11th five year plan, government and industry officials said.

The sector is expected to add another 15,000 mw in the next five years. In the past, wind energy has thrived even as other sectors missed targets. It was helped by generation-based incentives to independent power producers and accelerated depreciation available to captive users... Read more..

Date : Mar 1

Source: Economic Times

Solar in India poised to take off

Solar in India is poised for major growth, even if the government doesn’t take on possible initiatives to make financing easier.

Because of that incredible market potential, the Solarplaza conference Solar Future: India II—in Jaipur, India, this week—is incredibly well attended.

Industry leaders and business people have gathered there to discuss the opportunities and challenges in India’s solar market.

As with all markets, securing financing is at the top of the list of challenges, said Edwin Koot, CEO of Solarplaza. And conquering those challenges will be top on the... Read more..

Date : Mar 1

Source: Clean Energy Authority

Heavy rains, deficiency of micro-nutrients hit food production, say experts

Heavy rainfall, deficiency of micro-nutrients in the soil, especially zinc, and some other factors have led to a decline in Goa's food production, according to experts and agriculturists.

At least 21% of soil in Goa is affected by shortfall of zinc and 5% of boron, as per a survey done by National bureau of soil survey and land use planning, Nagpur, some time back. The survey had identified 32 soil series with medium to high potential, especially Batim and Calangute for rice cultivation and medium production in Chapora, Gudi in Salcete and Carvem in Quepem. "The soil series found... Read more..

Date : Mar 1

Source: Times of India

Import restrictions to boost local solar power equipment makers

India will encourage local manufacturers of solar power equipment and restrict imports to help domestic industry grow in the competitive environment, minister for new and renewable energy Farooq Abdullah said on Wednesday.

The approach would be reflected in the second phase of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM), he said at a conference organised by Assocham, an industry body.

"Phase II of the mission would be 'Indianised' and we will put in all efforts to save the domestic industrya¦ The government will limit imports and encourage domestic manufacturing to... Read more..

Date : Mar 1

Source: Economic Times

Food security needs to be central to agri agenda: Sec'y

Food security should be at the core of country's farm agenda as feeding the growing population with scarce resources is a big challenge, Union Agriculture Secretary P K Basu said today.

"To meet the challenges of 21st century and to feed a billion plus population with only 2.3 per cent of global land resources and about 4.2 per cent of water resources, food security has to be at the core of the agriculture development agenda," Basu said while addressing at convocation of the College of Agriculture of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), here today.

A PAU release, quoting... Read more..

Date : Mar 1

Source: Economic Times