Himachal Pradesh government has sought Centre's approval for levying generation tax on hydroelectric projects in the state. It has also demanded extension of the industrial package till 2013. Chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal raised the issues in a letter written to Union finance minister P Chidambaram recently, official sources said on Monday. Mr Dhumal pointed out that under Article 288 of the Constitution the state could levy generation tax. He also urged the Centre to extend the industrial package announced by the previous NDA regime to its original period of 2013.

The Himachal Pradesh Government has sought the Centre's approval for levying generation tax on hydro electricity projects in the State and extension of the industrial package till 2013. The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, raised the issues in a letter written to the Union Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, recently, official sources said today. Mr Dhumal has pointed out that under Article 288 of the Constitution of India, the State could levy generation tax. BUDGET SPEECH

Per capita water availability in Pakistan reduced to an alarming figure of 1070 cubic meter in 2007 while the country has lost the storage capacity equivalent to 5.13 MAF due to silting in the reservoirs of Tarbela, Mangla and Chashma.

Suez expects to land "multiple" large-scale projects in Brazil after a consortium led by the French electricity and water group won a concession for a $5 billion hydroelectric plant in the Amazon. Due to merge with state-owned gas supplier Gaz de France in coming weeks, Suez said the Brazilian deal would be profitable despite agreeing to sell two-thirds of its production 45 percent below market prices.

With the Indo-U.S. civilian nuclear deal hanging in the balance, the government is framing a policy for importing power from neighbouring countries including Pakistan to overcome the peaking shortage, say highly placed sources. Work on the policy is being expedited. For, although India considers Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar a natural market for hydroelectricity, competition could be round the corner. Both Nepal and Bhutan have started inviting foreign participation in the power sector.

Despite recommendations of the Rangarajan Committee and the Prime Minister's Reconstruction package, much of which is dedicated to power sector, non-transfer of two major projects to Jammu and Kashmir by the union power ministry has dashed all hopes of addressing the issue of acute power shortage and consequent drainage state's scarce revenue.

Underlining India's close economic and strategic relations with Bhutan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday pledged to extend the Indian rail network into its northern neighbour. Dr. Singh made this commitment to his Bhutanese counterpart, Jigmi Y. Thinley, on the first day of a two-day visit to the country the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 15 years.

To tied-over energy shortfall, the government is planning 40,000 mw of hydroelectric power generation capacity during the 12th (2012-17) and 13th Plan (2017-22). "We are making preparations for power projects in the 12th and 13th Plan, and are planning to add 40,000 mw capacity in the hydro sector,' Central Electricity Authority (CEA) chairman Rakesh Nath said here. Project sites in states with hydro potential are being identified.

JUNEAU, Alaska: Conservationists swoon at the possibility of it all. Here in Alaska, where melting arctic ice and eroding coastlines have made global warming an urgent threat, this little city has cut its electricity use by more than 30 percent in a matter of weeks, instantly establishing itself as a role model for how to go green, and fast.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to announce a fairly large grant to Bhutan when he travels there on Friday on a two-day visit, which is aimed at further consolidation of the bilateral energy cooperation. The Prime Minister will hold wide-ranging talks with his Bhutanese counterpart Jigme Y. Thinley on issues of mutual interest, including India's development cooperation with the Himalayan kingdom. The PM will also meet 28-year-old King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and his father, the former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck.