Gujarat: New Solar Power Policy-2021announced:
Gujarat Government has announced its new Solar Power Policy – 2021 on tuesday. As per the policy, any person, developer or industry can set up a solar project in its premises or land without any limit. A limit of only 50 per cent of sanctioned load/contract demand for industry to set up the solar project has been removed in the new policy. Addressing the press conference at Gandhinagar, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that this policy will bring down power cost to industry from Rs. 8 per unit to around Rs. 4.50. It will reduce the production cost, which will help the state manufacturers to be globally competitive. According to the policy, the power consumers will be able to set up solar projects on their rooftop or vacant place. They can also offer their space to third party for power generation and utilization. Security deposit given to power companies has been cut from Rs. 25 lakh per MW to Rs. 5 lakh per MW. New solar power policy will remain effective for the next five years.
Leh: Country’s highest Meteorological Centre inaugurated at Leh:
Union Minister of Earth Sciences, Dr Harsh Vardhan, virtually inaugurated India’s highest Meteorological Centre in Leh. After Itanagar Centre in Arunachal Pradesh, Leh Meteorological centre at 3500 meters highest from mean sea level is the highest in the Himalayan region. With four Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) a Meteorological Department centre for Ladakh region started working from tuesday. Despite Covid pandemic, within Nine months of time the new centre is established to cater the arid cold desert and geo politically all important Ladakh weather requirements.
Madhya Pradesh: State cabinet approves Dharma Swatantrata (Religious Freedom) Ordinance 2020:
The Madhya Pradesh cabinet approved the Dharma Swatantrata (Religious Freedom) Ordinance 2020. State Home Minister Narottam Mishra said that the Ordinance has been sent to the Governor for assent. The Madhya Pradesh Religious Bill 2020 was approved by the State Cabinet on Saturday and would have been tabled in the upcoming session of Assembly which has now been cancelled. Under the provisions of the Ordinance forced conversion of a woman will be punishable for a term up to 10 years and minimum fine of Rs 50,000. Specific provisions are also made in the cases of religious conversion of minors, groups, or of those belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Blood relatives, including parents of victims of such religious conversion, can file complaints and any marriage solemnized only for the purpose of converting a person will be considered null and void. A provision is also being made that those willing to convert need to apply before the district administration two months in advance. The new ordinance will replace the Freedom of Religion Act 1968.