Think India Foundation

Meet monorail's first 3 Indian captains

Ahead of August launch, youth share their experience of training & trial runs, and gush about how they enjoy the attention of motorists who stop to click pictures of the rake.

Three young Mumbaikars are set to drive the city’s newest mode of transport — India’s first monorail that will start operating between Wadala and Chembur in August this year.

A total of 21 captains have been appointed and are undergoing training, while 15 more will be recruited in the coming weeks. Like a local train has a motorman, captain is the title for those who will drive the monorail. Read more

Source : www.dnaindia.com

ISS to join hands with US society to harness solar power in space

Chandigarh : The global electricity demand is expected to increase by 87 per cent around 2035. It is believed that by 2050 the world may not be able to fulfill its overall energy requirements in spite of using every available energy resource. In such a scenario, Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) can be seen as a future energy source.

To make this a reality, International Space Society (ISS), India is going to collaborate with National Space Society (NSS), USA, to promote an international consensus on Space-Based Solar Power. Read more

Source : www.indianexpress.com

Green energy from blue sea

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Offshore wind farms to produce power for Kerala

File photo of Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm, Shangai, China. Agency for Non-conventional Energy and Rural Technology (ANERT) is preparing to take up a wind monitoring study to identify potential offshore sites in Kerala.

A few years from now, wind farms located at sea could be churning out clean energy to feed the starved power grid in Kerala. Read more

Source : www.thehindu.com

KSRTC bags award for ITS

BANGALORE: KSRTC ( Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) was bestowed with IIMM SCM innovation award for its venture in intelligence transport system operated in Mysore. 

The award was given during the APCON conclave in Bangalore on Friday. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Mobile apps to monitor clean cookstoves adoption in India

NEW DELHI: Qualcomm Incorporated has developed SootSwap, a mobile application for monitoring the adoption of clean cooking technologies, a company official said.  

Approximately three billion people depend on traditional cookstoves for their cooking needs. A study reveals that four million people die every year as a result of inhaling the smoke produced by cooking over these open fires. Read more 

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Solar-powered irrigation pumpset has its limitations, say farmers

TIRUCHI : Chief Minister’s announcement on 8,000 solar IP sets draws praise

Although Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s announcement on extending 80 per cent subsidy for 2,000 solar-powered pumpsets has elicited hearty approbation from a number of farmers, they have a lurking fear on its efficacy as well.

Mahadhanapuram V. Rajaram, working president of the Cauvery Delta Farmers’ Welfare Association, is sceptical whether such pumpsets would be able to draw water beyond a depth of 50-60 ft (20 metres at the most). Besides, the quantum of water required for irrigation may not be pumped. Read more

Source : www.thehindu.com

Government discussing setting up of Green Energy Corridors

New Delhi: Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia is in Germany to discuss an agreement that would provide support for setting up Green Energy Corridors for transmission of power. 

The aim is to supply 30,000 MW of clean power (wind and solar) to the national grid by 2020. Germany has committed to provide an assistance of Euro 1 billion to India. Read more

Source : english.manoramaonline.com

Greenpeace activists take solar power to Delhi Power minister

New Delhi: Delhi’s Power Minister Haroon Yusuf was in for a shock recently when Greenpeace activists decided to deliver a powerful message to him. To make their point that clean energy can solve Delhi’s energy deficit, they wheeled in a set of solar panels in front of the Minister’s residence and then chained themselves to it.

Greenpeace activists stage a sit-in with solar panels in front of Delhi power minister's residence.

The activists were protesting against Delhi's dull performance on its renewable energy targets as highlighted in the Greenpeace report, ‘Powering Ahead with Renewables: Leaders and Laggards’. Over 75% of Delhi’s electricity comes from coal-fired power plants from other states. During the biggest blackout in India’s history in 2012, Delhi was severely affected and came to a standstill for two days. If decentralised renewable energy like solar power was available, Delhi could have powered itself to a large extent during the grid failure. Read more

Source : www.deccanchronicle.com

Have solar power, can sell to Andhra government soon

HYDERABAD: Hoping to lure residents to opt for solar power by offering monetary benefits, the state government is set to buy power at the rate of Rs 3.50 per unit from domestic consumers who install solar units at their residences and generate power more than their individual requirement.

Hit hard by severe power shortage, the state government is mulling a policy that would allow individual consumers to sell their excess solar power to the state power grid. The cabinet sub-committee headed by finance minister Anam Ramnarayan Reddy has almost finalised the rate at which excess power generated at rooftops, terraces and balconies of individuals' houses, apartments and commercial complexes would be bought. "It would be around Rs 3.50 per unit. We will submit a report to chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy in a week's time," a minister, who is a member of the sub-committee, told TOI. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Sharing the burden of going green

The Centre must make richer, more developed States take up the responsibility for switching to renewable energy and reducing the country’s dependence on coal

If there are two words that describe India’s current energy scenario, they will be: inefficient and starving. Power cuts are back with a bang and the country’s apex electricity regulator has confirmed that 21 major coal power plants are running with stockpile that won’t last beyond seven days. Coal, we all know, won’t last forever; yet we insist that we have more of it. We are importing more coal than ever before without worrying that it is pushing the fiscal deficit to dangerous levels. The over-dependence on this fossil fuel, rather than powering India, has instead turned into an Achilles’ heel in India’s growth story. Read more

Source : www.thehindu.com

Cement-makers want green status for power generated through waste-heat recovery

HYDERABAD : Co-generation of power through waste-heat recovery process in cement plants should be given renewable energy status, according to N. A. Vishwanathan, Secretary-General, Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA). The two-day conference has about 80 presentations from industry experts.

Greener power: Green tech motors from Seimens displayed at the Green Cementech in Hyderabad on Thursday. — P. V. Sivakumar

Speaking at inaugural session of Green Cementech 2013 here on Thursday, he said Indian cements plants were trendsetters in energy conservation measures. Read more

Source : www.thehindubusinessline.com

Google India To Train Engineering Students In Andhra Pradesh On Cloud & Mobile Computing

Google India has taken an important steps to educate engineering students in Andhra Pradesh on latest technologies in the cloud and mobile domain. The company has signed MoU with the Government of AP to train students of the Jawahar Knowledge Centres (JKC) which is run in select engineering colleges across AP. As a part of the agreement, Google will train the trainers & mentors at the AP Society For Knowledge Networks (APSFKNW) and also offer required Google services & software absolutely free of cost to the students. Office of Minister for Information Technology, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, has confirmed the development.

The MoU was signed between IT minister & Nelson Mattos, VP (Europe & Emerging Markets) Google. The state government has allotted 20 acres of land to Google India to setup their campus. The company, in return, has committed to employ 6000 software engineers. Read more

Source : www.crazyengineers.com

Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation seeks ADB loan to fund underground Metro

JAIPUR: To seek funds for construction of underground Metro from Chandpole to BadiChaupar, Phase- I (B), senior officials of Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation (JMRC) on Wednesday met representatives of Asian Development Bank (ADB) in New Delhi.

The Planning Commission had forwarded the proposal to the ADB after the JMRC sought the requirement of loan for the project for Phase I (B). Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Japan can help India in waste water management

Tokyo (ANI): A growing population combined with a huge demand of water for development purposes, has put excessive stress on available water resources in India.

From 813 billion cubic metres in 2010 the demand of water is set to reach 1,093 billion cubic metres by 2025 in the country. Read more

Source : www.newstrackindia.com

Residents of Sukhdev Vihar want waste plant to go, pledge terraces for solar panels

NEW DELHI: Residents of Sukhdev Vihar's Pocket B have embarked on a unique mode of protest against the government's waste-to-energy plant in the area. They have pledged their rooftops for solar panels to increase the city's renewable energy supply so that technology like incineration may be abandoned altogether. 

"We have 18 blocks with four buildings each and there is a lot of open rooftop area that can be dedicated to solar panels. The idea is excellent and we have volunteered the space but would like the government to work with us. Solar power is quite expensive and not everyone will find it easy to install such projects. The government should step up and involve the resident welfare associations in a bigger project to set up rooftop solar panels," Anshu Garg, president of Sukhdev Vihar's Pocket B RWA, said. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Centre plans to set up Information Technology Investment Region in Visakhapatnam

VISAKHAPATNAM: The central government plans to set up an Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) in Visakhapatnam, which already has one of the largest ports in the country, said Union minister of state for communications and information technology Dr Killi Kruparani.

The government also plans to set up two electronic manufacturing clusters, one each in Vizag and Srikakulam, the minister said at a day-long workshop on 'Growth of IT-Vizag Region' organised by Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) here on Monday. The government would offer 50% subsidy for setting up the manufacturing clusters, she said. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

American Business Centre launched in Patna

PATNA: US ambassador to India, Nancy J Powell here on Monday launched American Business Centre (ABC) which, she said, would act as a virtual incubator for stronger US-India business relationship. This would help Bihari entrepreneurs access technology and other information.

The ABC will function from the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) office here. It will act as a clearing house to connect Bihar-based companies with US-based companies with dissemination of catalogues of US products to potential buyers. ABC will also arrange workshops, including one on cold chain logistics programme. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

India seeks US collaboration in education sector

Washington : India has sought academic collaboration with various US institutions to leverage the full potential of the education sector to meet the increasing needs of both the countries, particularly in the fields of information and technology.

The digital world is challenging the traditional lecture-driven teaching in universities. (Reuters) 

"Our academic institutions have been slow to leverage the potential of technology for education. Knowledge networks that link research in the grand challenges of the world have also been slow to develop," Minister of India for human resources development, M Pallam Raju said yesterday. Read more

Source : www.indianexpress.com

Cash-strapped railways body spent nearly Rs 3 cr on foreign trips

MUMBAI: The cash-strapped Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) has spent nearly Rs 3 crore on foreign trips by officials since 2003-04. A reply under the Right to Information Act has revealed that the trips by many officials were pointless and put an unnecessary financial burden on the exchequer, an activist claimed. 

The reply revealed that 121 officials have been abroad to undertake study tours and inspection of projects, and for evaluation of signaling technology and overhead equipment (OHE) related work. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Reliance Power Solar-Thermal Plant Stalled by Water Delay

A Reliance Power Ltd. (RPWR) solar-thermal plant should start up next month after missing a May deadline because Indian authorities failed to lay a water pipeline to the site in time, Chief Executive Officer Jayaram P. Chalasani said.

The 100-megawatt project “is ready to go” as soon as the water arrives, Chalasani told reporters today in Mumbai. The Rajasthan state government is completing the pipeline and the plant should begin generating after testing, he said. Read more

Source : www.bloomberg.com

New technology to instantly convert solar energy into electricity

HYDERABAD : A Vijayawada-based solar energy equipment manufacturer, Jyothi Solar Power Projects has claimed that by using two new technologies together with the existing photo-voltaic (PV) panel system, 91 per cent of the Sun’s energy could be converted into electrical power.

At a meeting to showcase the technologies here on Saturday, P. Lakshminarayana, Director-Technical of the company said they had applied for patents. Read more

Source : www.thehindu.com

Solar power all set to heat things up as state pushes the rooftop scheme

CHENNAI : After making rain water harvesting a mass movement, the state government is now working towards a mass revolution in generating solar power from the rooftops, according to chairman and managing director of Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency, Sudeep Jain.

Embracing the solar panels may seem as alien as bikes once were to bicycle riders, but this too shall pass, is what experts believe | Martin louis

Hit hard by a power crisis, the state is focusing on renewable energy and has now embarked on a major solar energy initiative by announcing the Solar Energy Policy and is trying to generate 3,000 MW in the next few years, said Jain. Interestingly, solar home lighting is being installed in three lakh houses under the Chief Minister’s Solar Powered Green House Scheme (CMSPGHS) and will be completed by 2015-16. Read more

Source : newindianexpress.com

Bengal focus on e-waste management

Calcutta : The Bengal IT department has initiated the process of setting up an e-waste management and processing unit in an adjoining district of Calcutta.

It is scouting for a suitable plot of land in North and South 24-Parganas and Howrah. Read more

Source : www.telegraphindia.com

Civic body survey of 35% slums complete in Aurangabad

AURANGABAD: The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has completed more than 35% of the survey of the city's slums as part of the first phase of the Rajiv Awas Yojna (RAY). 

AMC executive engineer Sikandar Ali on Sunday said the rest of the survey would be completed in the next six months. "As part of the Rajiv Awas Yojana, the government conducts a socio-economic survey of slum dwellers. Other procedures carried out include the issuance of biometric identity cards, generation of web-enabled database, development of maps and preparation of slum rehabilitation plans. The government will plan a housing scheme for slum dwellers after all the other procedures are completed," Ali said. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

GST panel says no to placing mobiles in declared goods list

Mussoorie : State finance ministers today turned down the Centre's request to place mobile phones and tablets in the list of declared goods in the goods and service tax (GST) regime, saying the idea is untenable.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram (right) and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during a press conference in Patna on Saturday. PTI 

The Ministry for Communication and Information Technology's request for placing mobile phones and tablets in the declared goods list came up for discussions at the meeting and was rejected, Sushil Kumar Modi, chairman of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on GST, told reporters after the conclusion of a two-day meeting of the committee. Read more

Source : www.indianexpress.com

Delegation of MPs to visit UK to study renewable energy model

New Delhi : A delegation of MPs will visit the UK to study its renewable energy model and hold discussions on low carbon growth and climate change with their British counterparts. 

The visit is being organised by Climate Parliament, an international network of cross-party Parliamentarians, in association with the British High Commission-India. Read more

Source : www.business-standard.com

Plants being used as alternate source to generate electricity

Washington: Researchers led by an Indian origin professor at the University of Georgia are developing a new technology that will make it possible for plants to generate electricity. "Clean energy is the need of the century," Ramaraja Ramasamy, assistant professor in the UGA College of Engineering and the corresponding author of the paper said. 

"This approach may one day transform our ability to generate cleaner power from sunlight using plant-based systems," he said. Read more

Source : zeenews.india.com

WB-assisted centres of excellence a matter of honour, says CoEP

The College of Engineering Pune (CoEP), which has earned two centres of excellence on its campus under the World Bank-assisted Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP), has called it a honour as well as a responsibility.

The CoEP centres for excellence for inter-disciplinary research, will focus on 'smart renewable energy' and 'signal and image processing'. Other notable institutes have got the nod for only a single centre each under the TEQIP of the Government of India. Read more

Source : www.indianexpress.com

Solar power market sees growth, but challenges remain

Solar power tariff is comparable with commercial rates applied for conventional power obtained from fossil fuels.

Powering ahead: An employee rides a battery powered bike in front of an array of solar panels at the Renergy 2013 conference on renewable energy where solar power was the central theme in Chennai on Thursday. — Bijoy Ghosh

CHENNAI : Correcting the misconception of solar power being expensive, getting bank funding and bottlenecks in acquiring land for solar projects are among the major challenges for those keen on investing in this form of renewable energy say industry experts. Read more

Source : www.thehindubusinessline.com

‘Rajasthan national leader in solar energy’

JAIPUR : Rajasthan is set to play a major role in solar and renewable energy, according to its Governor Margaret Alva.

“Energy is the key to progress. At the same time, it is a big challenge too. Rajasthan is a national leader in solar energy and under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, a majority of the solar projects are located in Rajasthan. In wind energy, India is globally positioned at No. 5, generating 11,000 MW after the U.S., Germany, China and Spain,” she said. Read more

Source : www.thehindu.com

Quality rating of rooftop solar products on cards

Chennai : As numerous solar rooftop products are being rolled out in the country, the Union ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) is contemplating launching a quality rating system for such products on the lines of the star rating model introduced in consumer goods like air conditioners.

“There are some rating systems but these are intended for the companies, not for the products. We are planning to come out with some quality grading system like the star-rating system for air conditioners. We are working out some mechanisms and will come out with a quality rating system for solar rooftop products,” Tarun Kapoor, joint secretary, MNRE told Financial Chronicle at the renewable energy conference, Renergy 2013, here. Read more

Source : www.mydigitalfc.com

Extended deadline for India’s CSP projects until March 2014

India’s Concentrated Solar Power deployment under first phase of National Solar Mission (JNNSM) has failed –as expected- to be commissioned on time. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has extended deadline for commissioning for ten months from May 9.

Seven CSP projects totaling 470 MW were allocated under phase I of JNNSM back in 2010. The projects, promoted by Corporate Ispat Alloys, Lanco Infratech,Hira Group, Aurum Renewable Energy, KVK Energy,Megha Engineering and Reliance Power, had to be commissioned by May 2013 or would face some penalties if delayed. Read more

Source : www.csp-world.com

Companies vie for Punjab solar energy project

CHANDIGARH: A large number of companies have bid for the proposed 300 MW solar photovoltaic power projects by the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA).

Punjab non-conventional energy minister Bikram Singh Majithia said more than 30 companies participated in the bidding process and total bids for 270 MW were received against targeted allocation for in-house capacity of 300MW of solar power projects. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Aadhar will help eradicate poverty in India by 2030: World Bank

The World Bank has described India's Aadhaar card, meant to provide a unique identity number to every citizen, as one of the best example of integration of technology for social welfare use.

Jim Yong Kim, president of the global soft lender, said at a recent function that he believes this massive effort by the Indian government would help in achieving his goal of poverty eradication by 2030. Read more

Source : www.domain-b.com

India May Defer Fines on $1 Billion of Solar Thermal Plants

India plans to defer fines for solar-thermal power developers that failed to complete $1 billion of plants in time as it seeks to spur investment in the industry.

Reliance Power Ltd. (RPWR), Godawari Power and Ispat Ltd. and Lanco Infratech Ltd. (LANCI) are among companies that failed to finish seven projects totaling 470 megawatts by May because of a lack of water and equipment and financing problems, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Joint Secretary Tarun Kapoor said by phone. Read more

Source : www.businessweek.com

Akhilesh asks Centre for extension of metro rail service in UP

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has requested the Centre to approve the projects that would enable extension of the Delhi metro rail service to areas of Uttar Pradesh.    

File Photo

In a letter to Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath, Akhilesh has requested the approval for three metro rail projects ? Dilshad Garden to New Bus Station in Ghaziabad, Kalindi Kunj to Botanical Garden in Noida and from Noida to Greater Noida. Read more

Source : english.samaylive.com

Incentivise relocation of water-guzzling plants

Water is back in the news. It's drought time in Maharashtra. Some legislators have even begun demanding water supply cuts for industry and residences.

In Delhi, there is a clamour for privatisation of water supply. Somehow, India’s policymakers appear to have forgotten that this was how an attempt was made to privatise power supply as well, giving rise to Enron’s entry into India with sovereign guarantees. Without a public utility omnibus law protecting citizen’s interests – as in the US – it’s dangerous to privatise any public utility. Read more

Source : www.dnaindia.com

Plan to introduce sweeping machines hits budget hurdle in Gurgaon

Gurgaon : The Haryana Urban Development Authority’s (Huda) plan to high-tech sweeping machines for city roads has hit a roadblock over budget constraints.

“Compared to last year’s financial estimates, this year’s  budget seems to have increased by a considerable amount and forced senior officials to rethink the plan,” said a senior Huda official on the condition of anonymity, adding that fresh calculations estimates have pegged the expenditure at Rs. 2 crore a month. Read more

Source : www.hindustantimes.com

Ooty model of bio-remediation to save urban waterbodies

CHENNAI : There is a ray of hope for hundreds of urban waterbodies, victims of urbanisation and industrial pollution. A combination of bio-ozolyte treatment process and bio-remediation adopted by the State government to save the Ooty Lake, can be used to recover these polluted water bodies.

According to officials, phosphorus and nitrogen are responsible for the rapid growth of water hyacinth, that has invaded many water bodies. The bio-processes will increase the dissolved oxygen (DO), by bringing down the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). DO improves quality of water and replenishes life in water bodies. Read more

Source : www.thehindu.com

US firm to invest $240mn to light up Bihar's Buddhist sites

Washington : 

A power venture formed by Indian and North American energy professionals plans to create a role model for the world by lighting up famed Buddhist sites in Bihar with a $240 million (Rs. 13 billion) solar energy project as part of a corporate social responsibility initiative.

Founded in 2011, FJS Energy LLC, USA, aims to work around the Buddhist Circuits starting with Rajgir-Nalanda and Bodhgaya in the first phase and then taking up Vaishali and other places. Read more

Source : www.business-standard.com

Allowing quadricycles

Bajaj innovation could help upgrade urban public transport

New Delhi : Car manufacturers are intensively lobbying against Bajaj Auto's attempts at securing approval to market what it calls the "quadricycle" by seeking to meet weaker emission and safety standards than those applicable to cars. They fear that if this is allowed, the upgraded four-wheel version of the currently ubiquitous three-wheeler will eat into the car market by offering a lower price. That is because lower standards will allow the use of cheaper technologies. Mindful of this, Bajaj Auto has from the beginning carefully refrained from describing its product as a car. The firm says it is proposing to essentially make an upgraded three-wheeler that will meet emission standards applicable to similar vehicles in Europe. But while in Europe these are usually used by the old or very young (below driving-licence age) and treated as recreational vehicles, in India Bajaj Auto seeks to launch the quadricycle not just on city roads but highways too, and aim at volume sales.

In the first place, the quadricycle is unlikely to pose any challenge to cars. The disappointing sales of Tata Motors' Nano should make it clear that the Indian consumer does not go for a car simply because it is cheap, even if it scores well technologically. The declining popularity of the Maruti 800, even when it was available in cities, further underlines this preference. Read more

Source : www.business-standard.com

Geo-tagging to map Pune's urban green cover

MUMBAI: Counting trees is no easy task but when Pune civic body did a tree census relying on outdated manual methods, the Bombay high court sought out an expert from IIT Powai and the director of Sanjay Gandhi National Park Sunil Limaye to use the latest technology of geo-tagging to map the green cover.

A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Amjad Sayed had recently relied on a pilot project conducted by Limaye on one hectare of the Borivli national park the only such park within urban limits to direct Pune Municipal Corporation to use geo-tagging as a process to count trees in its urban areas. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Civic bodies asked to make buses safer, more comfortable

PUNE: New buses that will be introduced on city roads will be safer, more comfortable for both passengers and drivers, and will be equipped with in-built ITS technology, if the municipal corporations of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad act on the recommendations of the union ministry of urban development. The ministry has recommended these features to 61 municipal corporations that come under JNNURM.

PMPML, the city public bus transport company has already procured 650 buses under JNNURM funding. However, officials say it plans to make a fresh proposal to procure additional buses that would conform with the new specifications. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Piling e-waste turning Hyderabad city toxic

HYDERABAD: Throwing out your old computer in a garbage dump may lead to mercury poisoning and a possible brain stroke. Confused? Experts on e-waste (electronic waste) management warned Hyderabadis against the hazards of not disposing e-waste properly and going by their claims, the city could have its very own Erin Brockovich story if immediate steps are not taken. 

In fact, some say the city is at the top spot when it comes to illegally converting PC monitors into television sets especially during lucrative periods like the ongoing IPL season, and later dumping them in water bodies. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

India represents only 8% rise in global energy-related carbon emission: Report

New Delhi : This is one battle where India has an upper hand over China. India was responsible for only eight per cent increase of the global energy-related carbon dioxide emission in 2000-10, while China represented 68 per cent, according to a Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) report.

"Though India is better placed, it needs some real policy level intervention from the government. It should focus more on renewable space," said David Nelson, senior director, CPI. However, the report adds that in India, as with China, most new power generation since 2000 came from conventional sources, though the past decade saw exponential growth in renewable energy generation. During the 10 years from 2000, India's wind energy capacity grew by 1,250 per cent. Read more

Source : www.business-standard.com

More skilled workers to help meet Jaipur Metro's August deadline

JAIPUR: The issue of increasing the number of workers at Metro sites surfaced again at the Jaipur Metro Rail Project meeting on Sunday.

Urban development and housing (UDH) minister Shanti Dhariwal in a review meeting with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), managing directior Mangu Singh, has strongly advised that the contractors have to increase the number of workers at the sites to ensure the work is carried out round the clock. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Metro in Bihar capital by 2016: Minister

Patna : 

The Bihar capital city's dream of a Metro train may come true by 2016 if the state urban development minister is to be believed. The project is set to cover a distance of 40-km stretch at a cost of Rs. 8,000 crore, he said.

Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) will conduct survey for the construction of the Metro rail in Patna, Urban Development Minister Prem Kumar said Sunday. Read more

Source : www.business-standard.com

A clean energy strategy for India

Renewable energy resources can provide India a degree of energy security, provide a cheaper alternative to fossil fuels

In 2012 India was the world’s fourth-largest market for new wind power projects. Photo: Bloomberg

At the Clean Energy Ministerial hosted in New Delhi recently, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pledged to double India’s renewable energy capacity by 2017. This target adds to India’s already significant clean energy plans: In 2012 India was the world’s fourth-largest market for new wind power projects, it has ambitious solar energy and state-level targets, and it has significant government programmes on energy efficiency. Read more

Source : www.livemint.com

Raise your start-ups in a class

A global training company that offers classes in technology entrepreneurship is coming to India. It is setting up its first chapter in Bangalore

 Naveen Lakkur believes Bangalore has a large number of aspiring tech entrepreneurs. Photo: Aniruddha Chowdhury/Mint

Technology entrepreneurship that has taken India’s information technology (IT) giants years of planning and persistence can now be nurtured in a classroom. The Founder Institute (FI), a for-profit global training company that focuses on technology-related start-ups and helps entrepreneurs (existing and prospective) create meaningful technology companies through a four-month programme, is coming to India in June.

Whether it is Eren Bali, 28, CEO and co-founder of Udemy, an online learning company in the US that has raised $12 million (around Rs.65 crore), or Quang (who uses only his first name), chief operating officer of Appota Corp., a mobile content provider, in Hanoi, Vietnam, the FI has not only helped develop successful revenue models for technology start-ups but has also put its participants through the rigours of building a company from scratch. Maren Kate Donovan, founder of San Francisco-based Zirtual, a company that provides virtual assistants to handle the personal and official tasks of busy corporate executives, calls the FI a “boot camp for a tech start-up”. “They gave me basic building blocks of starting a company, especially in the very competitive Silicon Valley,” says Donovan, who attended the programme in 2010. Read more

Source : www.livemint.com

Sunny future

As a sun-swept country, India should have been a pioneer in the use of solar power with a photovoltaic panel on every roof. Good policy can help make up for lost time.

The domestic manufacturers of solar equipment are livid at the government’s failure to protect the interests of the solar industry from cheap imports.

Solar is the most secure of all energy sources, since it is abundantly available in India. With crippling electricity shortages, the price of electricity traded internally touched Rs. 7 a unit for base loads and Rs. 8.50 during peak periods. Read more

Source : www.thehindu.com