The Solar Independent Power Producers Association (SIPPA) has petitioned the Government not to go ahead with imposition of anti-dumping duty on Solar PV modules in the larger interest of the country and instead put in place a long-term policy to ensure best outcomes for the solar industry.

In a representation to the Department of Energy, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and other related departments, SIPPA said India has achieved the lowest costs of solar energy creating a ripple effect among the financers and investors at the international level.

Majority of the 42 coal blocks fall under the forest area

The Coal Ministry has warned the government that the ambitious programme for exploration of 42 coal blocks identified for offer through competitive bidding during the XII Plan could be adversely hit unless the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) changes its existing guidelines for exploration with enhanced density of boreholes, as majority of these blocks fall under the forest area.

A hike of nearly Rs. 10 a litre for the bulk diesel consumers that includes the railways, transport undertakings and the defence, cement, mines and power sectors will trigger an all-round hike in public road transport costs, rail fares, costs of cement and other infrastructure related activity across the country.

The oil marketing companies (OMCs) have also quietly raised the price of the domestic non-subsidised LPG cylinder by Rs. 46.50, a move that is likely to impact those who consume more than nine cylinders a year.

Even as the Union Cabinet gave its nod on Thursday to raise the cap on supply of subsidised LPG cylinders to nine cylinders from six per year per household, the oil marketing companies (OMCs) were gearing up to marginally raise the diesel prices, which could happen by Thursday itself.

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), which met under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, authorised the OMCs to periodically raise the diesel prices in small quantum to cover up the Rs. 9.60 paise per litre loss being incurred by them.

Sounding a strong warning, including severe shortage of coal for thermal power plants, the Coal Ministry has predicted serious implications for the southern States of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and many northern and western States if important railway lines connecting coal fields in Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhattisgarh are not completed in the next three years.

In a note to the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Railways, the Coal Ministry has stated that it would not be possible for the State-run Coal India Limited (CIL) to achieve either the targeted production of 615 million tonnes of coal by 2016-17 or any incremental coal production during the 12th Five Year Plan if the railway tracks in these three coal producing States are not put in place in the next three years.

Pressing ahead with the Kelkar Committee recommendations and grappling with massive under-recoveries, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry has initiated a Cabinet note to raise the cap on subsidised LPG supply from six to nine cylinders a household a year, and increase diesel, LPG and kerosene prices in phases.

As the Finance Ministry refused to share the subsidy burden of the oil marketing companies, the Petroleum Ministry is pressing for a phased price increase to cut the subsidy down to the bare minimum during the next two-four years.

State-owned India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) and Hindustan Salts Ltd (HSL) on Thursday joined hands to develop tourism centres in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU), valid for three years, was signed by ITDC vice-chairman and managing director Lalit K. Panwar and Hindustan Salts Ltd chairman and managing director R.K. Tandon.

The committee for strict monitoring of KG D6 block operator

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas has expressed its disappointment over the Petroleum Ministry’s failure to initiate penal action against Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) for its failure to achieve the production outlined under the Field Development Plan (FDP) for the KG D6 block. “The Committee is disappointed that the reply of the Ministry does not indicate any penal action on the operator for shortfall in achieving the FDP that will arrest the decline in natural gas production.

Cabinet will have to clear proposal: Moily

The Manmohan Singh government indicated on Tuesday that the cap on the subsidised LPG cylinders would go up from six to nine a household a year. “I think it is likely to go up definitely from six to nine cylinders, and the Cabinet [Committee on Political Affairs] will have to grant its approval to the proposal,” Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Veerappa Moily told journalists at a function here on Tuesday.

Asks Petroleum Ministry to withhold approvals for their failure to submit records

Upset at the repeated failure of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) to submit for audit records and information relating to the Krishna Godavari D6 block, the Comptroller and Auditor-General has asked the Petroleum Ministry to withhold all approvals to the Mukesh Ambani-owned company, except in emergency situations.

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