Odisha becomes Centre's focus state for small hydel projects

Centre chooses Odisha as a focus state for small hydel projects

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has chosen Odisha as the focus for the development of small hydropower projects over the next five years. The Ministry will soon be announcing the National Mission for Small Hydel Projects, which will be similar to the National Solar Mission. Through this project, small hydel projects, to the tune of over 750 MW capacity, will be envisaged at the state's canals, barrages, streams, river systems and individual households.

No power generation from Srisailam reservoir from November 2: Krishna River Management Board to Telangana

The Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) has ordered the Telangana Government to stop generating power from the Srisailam reservoir after November 2. It has also said that the total water released should not be more than 3 tmc feet. The decision will bring down the power generation in the state to 3 million units per day. However, according to KRMB, there won't be as much of a demand for power generation as no pumping of groundwater for standing crops will be required by then. Added to that, the Nagarjunasagar will also be operational. The state is unhappy with the decision and has also threatened to challenge the Board's decision in court.

Delhi Jal Board launches the first phase of the Interceptor Sewer Project

Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has initiated the first phase of the 59 km Interceptor Sewer Project, that aims to prevent sewage discharge into the Yamuna river. The project envisages the commissioning of a wastewater intercepting sewer along the Najafgarh, Supplementary and Shahdara drains. The project is divided into six phases for intercepting 210 MGD (million gallons per day) of sewage flowing in 180 subsidiary small drains. As per DJB, the first phase will help divert 6 to 10 MGD of sewage into the treatment plant.

Haryana receives Rs 236 crore to implement 64 irrigation works

NABARD has granted a fund of Rs 236.49 crore to Haryana under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) for the current financial year. The state will use these funds to improve the water management and irrigation potential of 64 irrigation works in 13 districts. The project aims to create an irrigation potential of 1.5 lakh hectares in the state by constructing new channels and rehabilitating and remodelling channels that have existed for 25-40 years. The project will also generate a non-recurring employment of 30.15 lakh man-days.

Sitamarhi residents take up Jal Satyagraha to restore the original course of a local river

Hundreds of residents of Bihar's Sitamarhi district have taken up a 3-day long Jal Satyagraha to restore the original course of the Lakhandei, a tributary of the Bagmati river. The river has gradually moved two kilometers away from its original bed following the construction of bridges across it. This has affected paddy farming in the eight blocks of Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur so much so that Sitamarhi, which was earlier known as a paddy bowl, has since closed down 19 rice mills.

This is a weekly roundup of important news from October 28- November 3, 2014. Also read last week's policy matters updates.