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GS Paper: GS3-13.Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc:

  • Natural Gas Grid (NGG)

    A study to facilitate the development of a National Gas Grid is to be undertaken soon by a U.S. entity. The Government has last year envisaged developing the NGG.

    National Gas Grid

    • At present about 16,788 Km natural gas pipeline is operational and about 14,239 Km gas pipelines are being developed to increase the availability of natural gas across the country.
    • These pipelines have been authorized by Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) and are at various stages of execution viz. Pre-Project activities/laying/testing/commissioning etc.

    Aims and Objective

    • To remove regional imbalance within the country with regard to access of natural gas and provide clean and green fuel throughout the country.
    • To connect gas sources to major demand centres and ensure availability of gas to consumers in various sectors.
    • Development of City Gas Distribution Networks in various cities for supply of CNG and PNG.

    NGG Technical Assistance Program

    • The India NGG Technical Assistance programme stems from an agreement in September between PNGRB and the US Trade Development Agency (USTDA).
    • The study will aim at developing an economic basis for building India’s Natural Gas Grid (NGG).

    Utility of the study

    • It would provide an update on the gas demand analysis, including anchor consumers, industries, city gas distribution (CGD) and emerging demand centres such as CNG and LNG for road transport.
    • The study will take a fresh look at the gas supply analysis too. This includes review of LNG imports, domestic supply, potential transnational gas pipeline imports and virtual pipelines.
    • Share of natural gas in India’s energy basket is 6.2% as against 23.4% globally and is expected to increase.

  • National E-Mobility Mission Plan 2020

     

    The Supreme Court has sought the response of the government on a petition that alleges the non-implementation of the National E-Mobility Mission Plan, 2020 (NEMMP), which came out in 2012.

    National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020

    • The plan was launched by the Government of India in 2013 with the objective of achieving national fuel security by promoting electric and hybrid vehicles.
    • It had set a target of achieving a sale of seven million EVs by 2020 and thereby aimed to cut total carbon dioxide emissions by three per cent from the ‘do nothing’ scenario.
    • The government would provide fiscal and monetary incentives for this industry.
    • The plan had made several recommendations for the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), including electric-powered government fleets and public transportation and subsidies for those who opt for EVs.

    What was the petition about?

    • The petition contended that the governmental apathy has violated the fundamental rights of citizens to health and clean environment guaranteed under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
    • The government had failed in its obligation to mitigate the impact of climate change and air pollution partly attributable to emissions from vehicles that burn fossil fuels.
    • Government’s failure to suitably implement these recommendations is the direct cause of air pollution levels that have turned our cities into virtual ‘gas chambers’.

  • [pib] Assam Inland Water Transport Project

    India and the World Bank signed a loan agreement of $88 million for Assam Inland Water Transport Project.

    Assam Inland Water Transport Project

    • A majority of Assam’s more than 361 ferry routes cross the Brahmaputra or serve its islands, providing a crucial means of transport to thousands of commuters in both the urban and rural areas of the Brahmaputra Valley.
    • The project will draw guidance from ‘working with nature’ principles that aim to design new infrastructure or rehabilitate existing infrastructure in a way that works with natural river processes.
    • The terminals will have better access, lighting and signage while the new vessels will allow for individual seats, and separate toilets. Moreover, a strengthened regulatory regime will ensure reduction in overloading, adherence to time schedule and better crew standards.
    • The Project will help Assam improve the passenger ferry infrastructure and its services and strengthen the capacity of the institutions running the inland water transport.

    Significance

    • Inland Water Transport is also a more sustainable mode of transport. And Assam has the largest network of navigable waterways in India.
    • It provides low-carbon and low-cost options when compared to the cost of constructing and maintaining flood-resilient roads and bridges across the long stretches of the Brahmaputra river.
    • Technically better-designed terminals and energy-efficient vessels (both new and retrofitted) will make the ferry services more sustainable with least disruption to nature.

  • [op-ed snap] Power replay

    Context

    Five years after the launch of UDAY, power-sector once again seems to be going deep into the troubles.

    Where the Discoms stand now?

    • Losses increased: The losses of state-owned distribution companies (discoms) risen.
    • Dues increased: Discom’s dues for power purchases have also surged.
      • Dues owed by discoms to power producers, both independent and state-run entities, stood at Rs 80,930 crore.
      • Of these, Rs 71,673 crore extends beyond the allowed grace period of 60 days.
      • Rajasthan leads the states with the most dues, followed by Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

    Components of UDAY and progress made

    • The UDAY scheme, which involved state governments taking over the debt of discoms, had three critical components
    • First-Reduction in AT&C losses: While progress has been made on some of these fronts, it hasn’t been in line with the targets laid out under UDAY.
      • AT&C (Aggregate Technical and Commercial) losses have declined in some states, but not to the extent envisaged.
      • Under UDAY, discoms were to bring down AT&C losses to 15 per cent by FY19.
    • Second- Timely revision of tariffs: While some states have raised power tariffs, the hikes have not been sufficient.
      • In tariff revision decisions political considerations prevailed over commercial decisions.
    • Third- elimination of the gap between per unit of cost and revenue realised: The gap between the average cost per unit of power and the revenue realised has not declined in the manner envisaged.
      • Because of this discoms were forced to reduce their power purchases and delay payments to power producers.

    Way forward:

    • The new plan, being formulated by the government reportedly, aims to address these issues by-
      • Reducing electricity losses.
      • Eliminating the tariff gap.
      • Smart metering.
      • Privatising discoms.
      • Having distribution franchisees.
    • Altering incentive structure: Along with the above, the Centre should also look at altering the incentive structures of states in order to ensure compliance.
    • Provision of penalties: Stiff penalties need to be imposed for not meeting the targets laid out in the new scheme.

     

     

     

  • Places in news: Kolkata Port

    PM Modi has renamed the Kolkata Port Trust after Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, at an event to mark its 150th anniversary.

    History of Kolkata’s port

    • In the early 16th century, the Portuguese first used the present location of the port to anchor their ships, since they found the upper reaches of the Hooghly river beyond Kolkata, unsafe for navigation.
    • Job Charnock, an employee and administrator of the East India Company, is believed to have founded a trading post at the site in 1690.
    • Since the area was situated on the river with jungle on three sides, it was considered safe from enemy invasion.
    • After the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1833, this port was used to ship lakhs of Indians as ‘indentured labourers’ to far-flung territories throughout the Empire.
    • During World War II, the port was bombed by Japanese forces.

    Its administration

    • As Kolkata grew in size and importance, merchants in the city demanded the setting up of a port trust in 1863.
    • The colonial government formed a River Trust in 1866, but it soon failed, and administration was again taken up by the government.
    • Finally, in 1870, the Calcutta Port Act (Act V of 1870) was passed, creating the offices of Calcutta Port Commissioners.
    • In 1869 and 1870, eight jetties were built on the Strand. A wet dock was set up at Khidirpur in 1892. The Khidirpur Dock II was completed in 1902.
    • As cargo traffic at the port grew, so did the requirement of more kerosene, leading to the building of a petroleum wharf at Budge Budge in 1896.
    • In 1925, the Garden Reach jetty was added to accommodate greater cargo traffic. A new dock, named King George’s Dock, was commissioned in 1928 (it was renamed Netaji Subhash Dock in 1973).
    • In 1975, the Commissioners of the port ceased to control it after the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, came into force.

    Significance

    • After Independence, the Kolkata Port lost its preeminent position in cargo traffic to ports at Mumbai, Kandla, Chennai, and Visakhapatnam.
    • The Kolkata port is the only riverine port on R. Hooghly in the country, situated 203 km from the sea.
    • The Farakka Barrage, built in 1975, reduced some of the port’s woes as Ganga waters were diverted into the Bhagirathi-Hooghly system.

  • [pib] State Energy Efficiency Index 2019

    The Ministry of Power and New & Renewable Energy has released the ‘State Energy Efficiency Index 2019’.

    State Energy Efficiency Index

    • The first such Index, the “State Energy Efficiency Preparedness Index 2018”, was launched on August 1, 2018.
    • The index tracks the progress of Energy Efficiency (EE) initiatives in 36 states and union territories based on 97 significant indicators.
    • It is developed by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in association with Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE).
    • It categorizes states as ‘Front Runner’, ‘Achiever’, ‘Contender’ and ‘Aspirant’ based on their efforts and achievements towards energy efficiency implementation.
    • It incorporates qualitative, quantitative and outcome-based indicators to assess energy efficiency initiatives, programs and outcomes in five distinct sectors – buildings, industry, municipalities, transport, agriculture, and DISCOMs.

    Performance evaluation

    • For rational comparison, States/UTs are grouped into four groups based on aggregated Total Primary Energy Supply (TPES) required to meet the state’s actual energy demand (electricity, coal, oil, gas, etc.) across sectors.
    • TPES grouping shall help states compare performance and share best practices within their peer group.
    • Under four categories based on TPES, Haryana, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Puducherry and Chandigarh have been evaluated as progressive states/UTs in the index.
    • The top performing states Haryana, Kerala and Karnataka – are in the ‘Achiever’ category.
    • Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand and Rajasthan performed the worst in each of their groups.

    Utilities of the index

    • It will help states contribute towards national goals on energy security and climate action by helping drive EE policies and program implementation.
    • It will help tracking progress in managing the states’ and India’s energy footprint and institutionalising the data capture and monitoring of EE activities by states.

  • [pib] New Energy Performance Standards for Air Conditioners

    The Central Government in consultation with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has notified new energy performance standards for Room Air Conditioner (RACs).

    240C default setting

    • The 240C default setting has been made mandatory from Jan 1, 2020 for all room air conditioners covered under the ambit of BEE star-labelling program vide this notification.
    • Additionally, the Indian Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (ISEER) as per the new standards will range from (3.30 – 5.00) for split and (2.70 – 3.50) for window air conditioners, which will be applicable from 1st January 2021 onwards.
    • ISEER is the energy performance index used for Room Air Conditioners (RACs) and its assessment is based on the bin hours defined in ISO 16358.

    Voluntary star labelling program

    • BEE launched the voluntary star labelling program for fixed-speed room air conditioners (RACs) in 2006, and this program became mandatory on 12th January 2009.
    • Thereafter, in 2015, voluntary star labelling program for inverter room air conditioners was launched and which was made mandatory with effect from 1st January 2018.
    • The BEE star labelling program for Room Air Conditioners now covers both fixed and inverter RAC up to a cooling capacity of 10,465 watts (2.97 TR).
    • Continual enhancement in performance levels has resulted in substantial energy efficiency improvement of about 43% in the minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for split units, which are the most popular RACs sold in the market.

    About BEE

    • BEE is a statutory body under the Ministry of Power, Government of India.
    • It is assisted in developing policies and strategies with the primary objective of reducing the energy intensity of the Indian economy.
    • BEE coordinates with designated consumers, designated agencies, and other organization to identify and utilize the existing resources and infrastructure, in performing the functions assigned to it under the energy conservation act.

  • National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP)

    Union Finance Minister has unveiled Rs 102 lakh crore of infrastructure projects, under National Infrastructure Pipeline. It will be implemented in the next five years as part of the government’s spending push in the infrastructure sector.

    What is the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP)?

    • NIP includes economic and social infrastructure projects.
    • During the fiscals 2020 to 2025, sectors such as Energy (24%), Roads (19%), Urban (16%), and Railways (13%) amount to around 70% of the projected capital expenditure in infrastructure in India.
    • It has outlined plans to invest more than ₹102 lakh crore on infrastructure projects by 2024-25, with the Centre, States and the private sector to share the capital expenditure in a 39:39:22 formula.

    Key benefits of NIP

    • Economic: Well-planned NIP will enable more infra projects, grow businesses, create jobs, improve ease of living, and provide equitable access to infrastructure for all, making growth more inclusive.
    • Government: Well-developed infrastructure enhances the level of economic activity, creates additional fiscal space by improving the revenue base of the government, and ensures the quality of expenditure focused in productive areas.
    • Developers: Provides a better view of project supply, provides time to be better prepared for project bidding, reduces aggressive bids/ failure in project delivery, ensures enhanced access to sources of finance as a result of increased investor confidence.
    • Banks/financial institutions (F1s)/investors: Builds investor confidence as identified projects are likely to be better prepared, exposures less likely to suffer stress given active project monitoring, thereby less likelihood of NPAs.

    Is NIP a road to $5 trillion economy?

    • Finance minister said that the Rs 102 lakh crore National Infrastructure Projects will help make India a $5 trillion economy by 2025.
    • These projects are on top of Rs 51 lakh crore spent by the Centre and the states during the last six years.
    • The new pipeline consists of 39 per cent projects each by the Centre and states and the balance by 22 per cent by private sector.

  • Millimeter Spectrum

    The DoT plans to auction the 24.75 – 27.25 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum in the 5G band in March-April 2020.

    Millimeter Spectrum

    • The new spectrum under the 5G band called the ‘millimeter-wave bands’ is separate from the 8,300 megahertz (MHz).
    • The millimeter-wave band or extremely high-frequency frequency spectrum is mainly designed for usage in airport security scanners, closed-circuit television, scientific research, machine-to-machine communication, and military fire control.

    What’s so special with this MM spectrum?

    • As the wavelength becomes smaller, the cell size becomes less, which is the footprint of the relay station. This will be used more by the industry.
    • If we you already have fiber connection and want to reach houses, this will be through millimeter bands.

  • Renewable Energy – Wind, Tidal, Geothermal, etc.