INDO-US WORKSHOP HELD TO EXPLORE RENEWABLE
ENERGY
Chandigarh ,August 4, 2008
U.S. Department of State under the Asia Pacific Partnership on
Clean Development and Climate and Punjab Energy Development agency
today held a two days "Workshop on Grid Connected Renewable
Energy and Cogeneration/ Independent Power".
In his keynote address Mr. A.S. Chhatwal, Secretary Science &Technology
dwelled on the major policy initiatives of the state govt. in
promoting the Renewable Energy based projects. He said that the
purpose of the workshop was to promote policy and regulatory changes
and encourage incentives to accelerate the development and interconnection
of renewable energy and distributed generation projects into the
Indian power system. He added that the workshop was expected to
draw distribution utility executives, project developers, regulators,
investors, and Government policy makers.
He said that Punjab Energy Development Agency which is the state
nodal agency for the promotion and development of Renewable Energy
and Energy Conservation in the state of Punjab was already actively
promoting the setting up of Co-generation and Independent Power
Projects based on various renewable energy sources such as Small
Hydro, Biomass and Solar Power. The state had already peak load
shortages especially during harvesting seasons and to fill up
these demand supply gaps, renewable energy projects shall be contributing
their generation capacities. PEDA was already doing / planning
a no. of projects / activities in partnership with various international
and national organizations such as JBIC, USAID, BPCL, KFW etc.
This workshop was one of the initiatives to address the major
issues on grid connectivity and regulatory matters relating to
renewable energy power projects.
Panel discussions and keynote addresses were given on topics
such as, Interconnecting to the power grid, Maintaining grid reliability
and stability, Successful policies, regulation and incentives
for renewable/cogeneration development, and Successful renewable
energy and cogeneration technologies and projects.
Ms. Tricia Williams from USEA gave the welcome address. Mr. Padmanabhan
from USAID gave a detailed overview of the USAID programmes in
India in Renewable Energy sector. Mr. T.P.S. Sidhu proposed the
vote of thanks
Expert speakers included, Arun Bhalla of PTC India Limited and
Jaspal Deol of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, MR.
Dilip Kmar Guru from GE Infra Energy, US.
Participants from Private Developers / IPPs, Industry, Govt.,
Regulators, State Nodal Agencies, Utilities, Equipment Manufacturers,
Co-generators etc. were there.
The workshop started today would conclude tomorrow.
BADAL VISITS ANANDPUR SAHIB TO INQUIRE
THE WELL BEING OF THE VICTIMS OF NAINA DEVI TRAGEDY
PUNJAB GOVT. TO BEAR ENTIRE EXPENDITURE OF TREATMENT OF INJURED
SRI ANANDPUR SAHIB AUGUST 4, 2008
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal accompanied by
his Media Adviser today visited Sri Anandpur Sahib and met all
those who were injured in yesterday's tragic stampede at Mata
Naina Devi shrine. Meanwhile, the death toll in the tragedy has
risen to 145 out of whom 129 bodies had been identified. Out of
these 104 belongs to Punjab, 15 to Haryana and 10 to Himachal
Pradesh. 16 bodies are yet to be identified. The maximum causalities
50, were reported from the Patiala district.
According to Mr. Harcharan Bains, the Chief Minister was also
scheduled to visit the site of accident in Naina Devi but was
informed by the Himachal Pradesh authorities that all the injured
had been shifted from there to the hospital at Anandpur Sahib.
Mr. Badal stayed at Sri Anandpur Sahib for two hours and visited
the hospital to enquire the well being of all the injured admitted
there and also shred his sympathies with the families of the hapless
victims of the tragedy. The Chief Minister also assured the victims
that the state government would bear the entire expenditure on
their treatment and directed the district administration to make
adequate arrangements to refer the injured either to PGI or some
super-specialty medical institutes even outside the state as per
the advice of the doctors attending on them.
Later, Mr. Badal also visited the Gurdwara Takhat Sri Keshgarh
Sahib to offer his prayers to give strength and courage to the
members of the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss
and grant peace to the departed souls. Arambh of Sri Akhand Path
Sahib would be held here tomorrow in the memory of the deceased
and for the speedy recovery of the injured.
It may be recalled here that the Chief Minister had already announced
an ex-gratia grant of Rs.1 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased,
besides Rs.50,000 and Rs.25,000 for the seriously injured and
injured respectively.
Talking to the media persons, Mr. Badal called for effective
arrangements to be ensured especially in view of such special
occasions where large number of devotes were likely to converge
at these holy shrines. He also mentioned that the Shiromani Gurdwara
Parbandhak Committee had also assured to extend all possible help
to the victims of the tragedy.
MLA Sri Anandpur Sahib Baba Ajit Singh and President Youth Akali
Dal Mr.Kiranbir Singh Kang also accompanied the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, President Shiromani Akali Dal Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal
also directed the President of the Youth wing of SAD Kiranbir
Singh Kang to gear up the volunteers of the Youth Akali Dal to
provide maximum help to the victims and the next of their kin
in this hour of crisis.
15 NGOs NABBED BY VB--DDPO CONVICTED IN
GRAFT CASE
Chandigarh August 4:
State Vigilance Bureau, in a drive against corruption in public
life, arrested 15 Non-Gazetted Officers (NGOs) in 14 different
cases last month and was able to secure the conviction of one
Gazetted Officer in a graft case.
Disclosing this here today Mr. Harcharn Singh Bhullar, Joint
Director (Admn.) Vigilance Bureau Punjab said that Bureau has
put up its best efforts to eradicate corruption amongst public
servants and others in every sphere in the State. In this direction,
the Vigilance officers have registered trap cases, disproportionate
assets cases and criminal cases and ensured that suspect did not
escape judicial punishment in the various courts in the State.
During the month of July, VB had registered 4 criminal cases against
the suspected officials to probe into the allegations.
Giving details he added that in the last month, the court of
Mr. G.S Gill Special Judge Nawan Shahar had convicted DDPO Nawan
Shahar Mr. Parminderjit Singh Sodhi after founding him guilty
on graft charges and imprisoned him for two years jail term with
Rs. 3000/- fine. In case of default in depositing fine, the accused
has to undergo three months more imprisonment.
INDO-US WORKSHOP HELD TO EXPLORE RENEWABLE
ENERGY
Chandigarh ,August 4, 2008
U.S. Department of State under the Asia Pacific Partnership
on Clean Development and Climate and Punjab Energy Development
agency today held a two days "Workshop on Grid Connected
Renewable Energy and Cogeneration/ Independent Power".
In his keynote address Mr. A.S. Chhatwal, Secretary Science &Technology
dwelled on the major policy initiatives of the state govt. in
promoting the Renewable Energy based projects. He said that the
purpose of the workshop was to promote policy and regulatory changes
and encourage incentives to accelerate the development and interconnection
of renewable energy and distributed generation projects into the
Indian power system. He added that the workshop was expected to
draw distribution utility executives, project developers, regulators,
investors, and Government policy makers.
He said that Punjab Energy Development Agency which is the state
nodal agency for the promotion and development of Renewable Energy
and Energy Conservation in the state of Punjab was already actively
promoting the setting up of Co-generation and Independent Power
Projects based on various renewable energy sources such as Small
Hydro, Biomass and Solar Power. The state had already peak load
shortages especially during harvesting seasons and to fill up
these demand supply gaps, renewable energy projects shall be contributing
their generation capacities. PEDA was already doing / planning
a no. of projects / activities in partnership with various international
and national organizations such as JBIC, USAID, BPCL, KFW etc.
This workshop was one of the initiatives to address the major
issues on grid connectivity and regulatory matters relating to
renewable energy power projects.
Panel discussions and keynote addresses were given on topics
such as, Interconnecting to the power grid, Maintaining grid reliability
and stability, Successful policies, regulation and incentives
for renewable/cogeneration development, and Successful renewable
energy and cogeneration technologies and projects.
Ms. Tricia Williams from USEA gave the welcome address. Mr.
Padmanabhan from USAID gave a detailed overview of the USAID programmes
in India in Renewable Energy sector. Mr. T.P.S. Sidhu proposed
the vote of thanks
Expert speakers included, Arun Bhalla of PTC India Limited and
Jaspal Deol of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, MR.
Dilip Kmar Guru from GE Infra Energy, US.
Participants from Private Developers / IPPs, Industry, Govt.,
Regulators, State Nodal Agencies, Utilities, Equipment Manufacturers,
Co-generators etc. were there.
The workshop started today would conclude tomorrow.
