CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu government is working towards producing around 183 MW of electricity from bagasse acquired from 12 sugar mills in the state from February next, State Industries Minister P Thangamani said today.

Chennai Corporation to tap into alternative energy to light up coastal roads in newly-added areas

Imagine 15-metre towers with micro wind turbines above and four solar panels below vying with huge palm trees to create a geometrically regular pattern along the East Coast Road.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has deferred the proposal for the 1,600-MW Uppur thermal power plant in Ramanathapuram district, which could lead to a delay in its commissioning.

According to the minutes of the 42 meeting of the reconstituted expert appraisal committee (thermal) of MoEF held early in February, the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO) had failed to identify environmentally acceptable alternative sites to the Uppur thermal power plant. This is required for determining terms of reference for environment clearance.

The Tiruchi District Consumer Movement urged the Centre to allot the entire quantum of power generated in the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) to the State considering the abysmal power scenario in the State.

A resolution to this effect was adopted at a meeting to celebrate the International Women's Day, Consumer Day and the memorial day of Muthuvelan, founder of the Movement, held here recently. J.Selvaraj, president, presided over the meet.

Solar fences, early warning systems and trip wire systems are some of the new initiatives that will be in place to reduce man-animal conflict in Valparai plateau.

In this highly conflict-prone zone, where herds of elephant and leopards often stray into human habitations, the Forest Department will provide 20 km of solar power fencing to residential colonies in Valparai and Manambolly ranges to the save lives and crop.

"India needs to develop nuclear energy in addition to all other forms of energy to meet its ever-growing demand. With a large pool of talented engineers and scientists, India can confidently manage a large nuclear energy programme safely and efficiently," M.R. Srinivasan, former Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, and expert committee member on Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP), said in Coimbatore on Wednesday.

Responding to the demands from the public, especially the poor and the middle class, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Tuesday announced a partial rollback of the power tariff hike. It is a move that is expected to grant a big relief to middle class households from the steep hike in their bi-monthly electricity bills.

Reading out a suo motu statement in the Assembly, even as the DMK, DMDK and CPI(M) staged a walk-out after being refused permission to raise the tariff hike issue, Ms. Jayalalithaa said the government had no authority to reduce the tariff fixed by the Tamil Nadu Energy Regulatory Commission (TNERC),

In a bid to repatriate 800 Indian Star tortoises, which were seized while being smuggled out of the country, Tamil Nadu forest officials have sought the help of molecular biologists to identify their place of origin.

Two types of Star tortoises are present in the country – one set found in the Western parts in Gujarat and Rajasthan and the other type in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and also in the neighbouring island country, Sri Lanka. They are smuggled out of the country for use as exotic pets and delicacies.

With the Union Government removing the accelerated depreciation benefit for investors in wind mill projects from April 1, 2012, investment in the wind energy sector will not be attractive to the small captive investors, according to K. Kasthoorirangaian, Chairman of Indian Wind Power Association.

Investors had the option to go in for accelerated deprecation or generation-based incentive. According to a recent notification of the Income-tax Department, for wind mills installed from April 1, 2012, depreciation is restricted to 15 per cent plus 20 per cent of the investment in wind mills, as against 80 per cent extended so far.

In the last three months, one person died and 12 others were diagnosed with the A (H1N1) virus in the State, according to a release from the Department of Health and Family Welfare here on Monday.

The infection was found to have affected people in Chennai, Coimbatore and Tiruppur. The only death reported is that of a 72-year-old farmer who had succumbed to the infection due to old age and delay in seeking treatment.