:bash::bash::bash:

Waste?

Wot waste?

Here in Canada, .... 'meatpacking' plants are turning thier meat ... 'waste'..., basic meat plant tailings and other gunk :banana: ... to ... 'bio-diesel'. I 've been to their plant ... Get in touch with me. I'll hook u up, good!

Fact is re: India, this could boom as 'bio-diesel' in big demand, even Globally, and the input is locally available ... wot world u live-in?

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Thanks.

Here, talk to Nishank ji. I am sure he'll be able to understand you better.

nishankramesh@gmail.com

...

Shocking L&T has not moved to Hardwar or Pantnagar ... L&T has $ Billions worth industrial estate in prime north Bombay facing forest & Lake area ... bang opposite ... across forest etc. to world famous Hiranandani Complex ...

L&T must consider ... turning its ind. estate to ... heck ... co-develop ... with Hiranandani's whynot ... even though they have in-house construction Co. .. Godrej, Tata, Mafatlal, ... everyone doing it ... cash-in and re-locate to Uttarakhand ... Save tons of money, make tons of money and move-into the aerospace industry big-time ... they are already big in nuclear ... time for Tata (already in ... setting up aerospace/helicopter factory in Hyderabad) ... Godrej, L&T to sign production agreements with NAL re: Saras and other aeroplanes in R&D ... even production mode ... lots of talent available in the new region of Uttarakhand from ... hehe ... BHEL ... HAL at Kanpur, IIT Delhi, Roorkee, Kanpur ... whynot ... L&T Mgmt. needs to wake-up & scale-up ... I fear many old 'System Integrator' Co.'s are into old school ... keep-the-job/keep -the-hordes-out ... mentality still ... here's a google maps grab of L&T industrial estate inn north Bombay ... no can do ... chk next post ...

..

Whois ... Nishank-g ? More info. pls. ... serious?


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Sure Kronik.. :)

...

Shocking L&T has not moved to Hardwar or Pantnagar ... L&T has $ Billions worth industrial estate in prime north Bombay facing forest & Lake area ... bang opposite ... across forest etc. to world famous Hiranandani Complex ...

L&T must consider ... turning its ind. estate to ... heck ... co-develop ... with Hiranandani's whynot ... even though they have in-house construction Co. .. Godrej, Tata, Mafatlal, ... everyone doing it ... cash-in and re-locate to Uttarakhand ... Save tons of money, make tons of money and move-into the aerospace industry big-time ... they are already big in nuclear ... time for Tata (already in ... setting up aerospace/helicopter factory in Hyderabad) ... Godrej, L&T to sign production agreements with NAL re: Saras and other aeroplanes in R&D ... even production mode ... lots of talent available in the new region of Uttarakhand from ... hehe ... BHEL ... HAL at Kanpur, IIT Delhi, Roorkee, Kanpur ... whynot ... L&T Mgmt. needs to wake-up & scale-up ... I fear many old 'System Integrator' Co.'s are into old school ... keep-the-job/keep -the-hordes-out ... mentality still ... here's a google maps grab of L&T industrial estate inn north Bombay ... no can do ... chk next post ...

^^^^

Pls. chk link ...

http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&tab=wl[/IMG]http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

& thanks kronik, sudheesnair for seconding ... now meknows whois Nishank-g!


:banana::banana::banana:

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.
2 Million sq. feet ... No way ...

The numbers don't match the pic.!

The 1'st L-shaped bldg. ... looks like ...itself is likely .5-.75 Mil. sq. ft. ... hehe ... are they ... Under-Invoicing?

.
OK ...
Me needs a 'facilitator' to go between ... Nishak-g and me as tech. provider ... whois?
So sorry, I don't speak Indo-Pakistani 'political' language ...

Anyone ... whois?

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/>/\\//\/\/

.
OK ...
Me needs a 'facilitator' to go between ... Nishak-g and me as tech. provider ... whois?
So sorry, I don't speak Indo-Pakistani 'political' language ...

Anyone ... whois?

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/>/\\//\/\/

UP, I don't think has much chance of growth. We will send highest number of policy makers to Delhi and mooch on others.

.
Waddyamean ?

Methinks so too ... but don't u see the threads. Be surprised ...
I was ... Noida, Grtr Noida, Ghaziabad, Dadri ... all in UP ... surprise ...
I mean ... look -it ... Mayawati not paying any commission to me ;) ... so there ...
but there is Lucknow-Kanpur industrial corridor in UP ... so pls. let.'s don't give yet ...
This Taj Expressway also pretty hot-shot ...

So, UP is Ultaa Pradesh ... given ! Still, not hopeless ... even here .... 1 can isolate .. Eastern UP ... yes ... totally, Western UP ... not so much anymore ... and Green Rev., Development spreading east ... 1 thing, it is my opinion that # 1 benefit of Delhi-Mumbai Corridor may go to de-populating eastern UP & Bihar, already too many factory workers in Punjab & Maha from UP/Bihar ... also getting booted ... !


This DMIC is like Japan colony to be ... already Maruti & Hero Honda there to export lots of 'low-end' Japan shit ... once DMIC picks up speed, Japs r gonna invest/take over big time ... + this Narmada water going to semi-arid DMIC lands making big demand for agri labour re: spread of Green Rev. to that area ...

Bihar also smartning up under Nitish & gonna make new airport & tourist circuit for rich Buddhist retirees, after II World War, only now such things like 'rich Buddhist retirees' ... hehe ... available in Tiger economies etc. Hope ... there is ...

Parsvnath Planet - 10 to 17 fls - Lucknow


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May
copyright Parsvnath
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http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/infrastructure/Pratibha-Ind-bags-order-worth-Rs-29430-cr-from-UP-Jal-Nigam/articleshow/5242364.cms

Infrastructure company Pratibha Industries today said it has bagged an order worth Rs 294.30 crore from UP Jal Nigam.

The company has secured the contract of 'Meerut Water Supply Project' from UP Jal Nigam, Meerut, Pratibha Industries said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

The scope of work includes installation of water treatment plant, overhead tank and laying and commissioning of distribution system. The project is to be executed in 24 months including four months trial run, the filing added.

Shares of Pratibha Industries were trading at Rs 240.40 on the BSE, up 8.46 per cent from its previous close.

Uttaranchal has an above national average literacy record, around 75-80%, it has always been that way. One of the things that Dehradun is known for is its quality of schools.

Uttaranchal also has some fairly decent universities.

1. IIT Roorkee
2. HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar, Garhwal
3. GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar
4. Kumaon University, Nainital
5. Gurukul Kangri University, Haridwar
6. University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun

More importantly, Dehradun has always been the center for higher learning and research. This list will show the unsung gem that ddn is.

1. Indian Military Academy
2. Rashtriya Indian Military College
3. Forest Research Institute
4. Indian Institute of Petroleum
5. Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology
6. Survey of India
6. Zoological Survey of India
7. Geological Survey of India
8. Archelogical Survey of India
9. Botanical Survey of India
10. Wildlife Institute of India
11. Indian Institute of Remote Sensing
12. Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration
13. National Institute of Visually Handicapped
14. Defense Electronics Applications Labs, (DRDO)
15. Instrument Research and Development Establishment (DRDO)
16. Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy
17. Ordnance Factory, (MoD)
18. Keshava Deva Malviya Institute of Petroleum Exploration
19. Central Soil and Water Conservation Research & Training Institute

In addition, Dehradun is also a Presidential retreat, manned by The President's Bodyguards.
..

Wotabout ... Doon School ... methinks after ... maybe even before ... Archie's Comics' Riverdale High ... Doon ... Welham's ... most famous ... also in Uttara .. Nainital side ... 1 has St. Joseph's, Birla School, Sainik School etc.

MENTAL ... wotis ???

Answer: Mental is Lohia Motor Co., Scooter India Ltd, DCM Toyota or even Maruti ...
NOT ... putting up plants in Haridwar/Pantnagar ... whynot ... hehe .. MENTAL!
The Japanees ... Honda/Yamaha/Suzuki ... have Indian moto Co.'s by the balls.
Bajaj is choking ... eyeballs popping ... it's even .. not only started to make motorcycles (...w/o the Bajaj Chetak type ... 'TILT' technology, where grown men with mustaches were seen fully dressed gingerly tilting those Band-Baja ... j Chetaks ... forwhat ??) ... hehe ... bullying/molesting ... madraasiii's ... TVS types ... Basicaly cleaning-up for the Japanistanis (... hehe ... meknows ... so y only 1 'i' in Japanistani and 'iii' in madraasiii's .... )

Question: Anyone know how they get out all the 'shit' (factory output) from Haridwar/Pantnagar ... do they got rail lines running up them thar hills ...

And ... OMG ... them Hill-Billies in Uttarakhand ... MAN ... real ... LALLU-PANJUS ...

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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Footbridges-to-make-Ambala-road-safe/articleshow/5248833.cms

A steel overhead footbridge each at Derabassi and Bhankharpur on the Ambala-Chandigarh road is National Highway Authority of India’s solution for the twin problems of traffic congestion and accidents taking place there. Officials said the two structures would cost Rs 5 crore and will be built by March-end.

NHAI has also proposed extending the highway’s drains till Ghaggar river to end waterlogging. It also intends to widen the service lane below Zirakpur flyover to deal with the traffic bottleneck at the point where the road to Patiala meets the highway.

Sources in NHAI stated that steel bridges in Bhankarpur and Derabassi were needed as when the detailed project report for the highway was prepared five years back, issues like rapid growth in the area and pedestrian movement on the road were not foreseen. NHAI’s project director Anil Dahia said work for the bridges would be completed on priority.

An authority team had visited Derabassi and Zirakpur in January this year to examine the feasibility of constructing paths for pedestrians. That had happened after district administration approached the authority on the issue of reducing accidents at the two spots.

Also, in December 2008, the late Capt Kanwaljeet Singh, who was Punjab’s minister of cooperation at the time, had gone with MP Naresh Gujral, state’s PWD minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa and representatives of farmers in Zirakpur and Derabassi to meet Union minister of road transport, highways and shipping, T R Baalu. In that meeting, they had demanded that overhead passages be constructed opposite Sukhmani institute in Derabassi and at Bhankarpur. Baalu had ensured them that he would personally see to it that the project was executed.

Sources said waterlogging on the highway was also a major problem. They added water entered houses adjacent to the road as the drainage system did not work effectively. Extending the drains up to Ghaggar river could deal with that issue, they added.

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Kushinagar-airport-gets-Centre-nod-to-invite-bids/544270/

The Rs 560-crore greenfield Kushinagar international airport project in Uttar Pradesh is finally ready to take off. A committee headed by the infrastructure and industrial development commissioner has cleared request for qualification (RFQ) and request for proposal (RFP) for the project and the document now awaits nod from the state Cabinet before the bid process is set in motion.

The project, which is being touted as integral for the integrated development of the entire Buddhist circuit, is to be built under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode on a design-build-finance-operate-transfer (DBFOT) basis.

“The detailed project report (DPR) has been cleared by the Centre and we are waiting to go to the market for bidding. We hope to invite bids from national as well as international developers by November 25 and expect to hand over the project to the developer by March next year,” said an official of the state government on the condition of anonymity.

The basic qualification required for bidding for the project is previous experience in airport operation or even an airport commissioning experience and a net worth of Rs 300 crore. The bid parameter will be the minimum viability gap, the official added.

While the state government has already received the Centre’s and the Airport Authority’s recommendation to go ahead with the project, it has now applied for a clearance from the Air Force and the environment ministry.

It may be mentioned that the circuit is a big draw among Buddhists pilgrims, particularly from East Asia, South-East-Asia and South Asia but tourism prospects in the area still suffer due to the lack of infrastructure facilities. It is this gap that the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Corporation (UPTDC), which is pursuing the project, aims to fill by commissioning an international airport in the area.

An international airport at Kushinagar is necessary to cater to the traffic originating from Japan, China, Taiwan, Myanmar, South Korea, Bhutan, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Aarogyam, Haridwar

Resort - Spa - Apartments

http://images04.olx.in/ui/3/73/28/46896528_1.jpg

Link (http://guwahati.olx.in/resort-spa-apartments-at-haridwar-near-patanjali-yogpeeth-iid-46896528)

ADAG switches on its Rosa plant

TOI epaper

Rosa (Shahjahanpur): It was a perfect gift from a son to his father on his birth anniversary on Monday. The 77th birth anniversary of late Dhirubhai Ambani was chosen by Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group (ADAG) to switch on its Rosa Power plant in Uttar Pradesh.

Around 9.05 am, the plant got synchronised with the state grid, becoming northern India’s first thermal power plant in the private sector to do so. Around 20 MW of power flowed into the state grid from 300 MW Phase-I of the project, which went operational.

“The total capacity of the project, costing Rs 6,000 crore, is going to be 1,200 MW,” said Reliance Power CEO JP Chalsani. He said that more and more power would be injected into the grid. The first unit would get fully operational by April 2010, even as the company started installation of a turbine which would generate another 300 MW, expectedly by July 2010. The second stage of 600 MW is likely to get operational by March 2012.

What makes the project significant for UP is that 900 MW would be supplied to the UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL). The rest 300 MW would be used as ‘merchant capacity’ — company can sell it to others.

The total installed capacity of all thermal power plants in the state at present is around 4,072 MW. But on an average, generation hovers in the range of 1,600 to 2,000 MW. Rosa is expected to improve the power scenario in the state.

Spread over an area of around 1,500 acres, the project started in June 2007. The plant would take water from Garrah river which flows nearby. Around 75 cubic metres of water taken in would then be heated into steam to turn turbines of over 250 tonnes at a pace of 3,000 rotations per minute in order to generate the requisite power.

As far as the fuel supply is concerned, the project would be getting coal from Ashoka mines in North Karanpara district in Jharkhand, situated around 850 Kms away. The Indian railways would be helping in bring the fuel to the plant’s coal yard from where it would be transported to the crushers by Reliance Power’s own coaches. The company also plans to utilise the flyash generated into its own cement manufacturing units.

Omaxe Heights, Lucknow

All copyrights: http://www.omaxe.com/delivered_projects_omaxe_heights_lucknow.php

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Looks like they had a redesign. The render show'd pink towers with domes on top. It's posted somewhere in this thread.

Wait, those are grey and these are pink.

OK an update with pics i clicked yesterday:

1. OMAXE HEIGHTS (http://www.omaxe.com/residential/lucknow/omaxe_heights/main.php)



http://img156.imagevenue.com/loc617/th_55396_20102008158_122_617lo.jpg (http://img156.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=55396_20102008158_122_617lo.jpg)http://img239.imagevenue.com/loc518/th_55403_20102008159_122_518lo.jpg (http://img239.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=55403_20102008159_122_518lo.jpg)

Ashok Leyland flags off largest manufacturing facility in Pantnagar (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/auto/automobiles/Ashok-Leyland-flags-off-largest-manufacturing-facility-in-Uttarakhand/articleshow/5648043.cms)

CHENNAI: Ashok Leyland’s new commercial vehicle plant at Pantnagar in Uttarakhand, flagged off on Friday, is said to be its largest manufacturing facility. Set up on 190 acres with a built up space of two lakh sq mt, it is also one of the most integrated manufacturing facilities in the Indian commercial vehicle industry.

"Best in class industrial architecture combined with the latest manufacturing technologies has created a truly modern facility that is also ecology sensitive as reflected in the selection of machinery and processes", the company said.

The company has pumped in an investment of over Rs 1100 crore to create a capacity of 75.000 vehicles on top of the current one lakh capacity in the existing plants. Due to the tax concessions in the new State, it will enjoy a cost advantage of Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 per vehicle.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal inaugurated the plant on Friday in the presence of Union Minister for heavy industries and public enterprises, Vilasrao Deshmukh and company officials.

Hinduja group chairman, S P Hinduja said , " We will continue to support Ashok Leyland in its investment and growth plan. The quick economic recovery augurs well for the auto industry. We are committed to continued expansion in the future. The plant is an example of this".

ALL MD, R Seshasayee said, " With the opening of this plant, Ashok Leyland’s centre of gravity will shift from south to North India. We will further consolidateour north India base when we transform Alwar ( in Rajasthan) bus body making unit into an integrated bus manufacturing plant in the next 3 to 4 years.

Company officials said the plant has the latest generation equipment sourced from global leaders in Japan, US and Europe and India. It is highly energy efficient and designed to be operator friendly. It is also designed on lean manufacturing principles and process control for high quality of outuput.

ALL has created a large capacity water body for water harvesting with water treatment and recycling to ensure zero discharge. Over 75 acres have been earmarked for green cover area and over 10,000 trees have been planted.

The company intends to maximise local value utilisation and create employment for local population. It will open a new career for the youths by sponsoring them for a three to four year courses in association with a reputed technical training institute.

Uttar Pradesh clears seven new thermal power plants

Lucknow, April 20 – The Uttar Pradesh cabinet Tuesday gave its nod for setting up seven new thermal power plants to bring an additional 4,500 MW of power in the energy-starved state, an official said. The new plants would entail an investment of more than Rs.25,000 crore.


Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation chairman Navneet Sehgal said: ‘Each of these plants are coming up in the private sector and would be set up through the MOU (memorandum of understanding) route.’ ‘Under the arrangement, the state would provide land and water for setting up and running the plant,’ he said. And once the entrepreneurs sign an MOU with the state government, the plants would be in place within the next four years, the official added.


Five of the proposed plants are to be set up by Hindustan Bajaj Ltd. With a capacity of 90 MW, these are to come up in Pilibhit, Lakhimpur-Kheri, Shahjahanpur, Gonda and Utraula.


Besides, Bajaj Hindustan was also given clearance to set up a 1,980 MW plant in Lalitpur, while Lanco Infratech received the nod to set up a 1,320 MW thermal power station in Fatehpur.
http://www.indiatalkies.com/2010/04/uttar-pradesh-clears-thermal-power-plants.html

^^^ that will increase power production in the state considerably!

^^^ that will increase power production in the state considerably!

^^ Thanks for the acute observation. It will also increase water consumption considerably.

^^ Thanks for the acute observation. It will also increase water consumption considerably.

and that increase development in the state!

Rs.305.34 crore plan to clean Ganga at Allahabad approved

A Rs.305.34 crore proposal to clean up river Ganga at Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh where river Yamuna converges with it was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) Friday.

'The CCEA (Friday) approved the proposal of sewerage and non-sewerage schemes for pollution abatement of river Ganga at Allahabad under the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) of the ministry of environment and forests at an estimated cost of Rs.305.34 crore,' a government statement said.


The project cost will be shared on 70:30 basis between the central and state government. While the centre will give Rs.213.74 crore, government of Uttar Pradesh will provide Rs. 91.60 crore for the project.


The project aims at minimising pollution of the river and improving its eco-system in the city.


'The pilgrims using the river water at Allahabad for religious purposes, including during the Maha Kumbh in 2013, will also be benefitted. In addition, general hygiene and sanitation conditions in Allahabad will be significantly improved. It will also add to the aesthetics of the area. The project will be completed within 34 months,' the statement said.

http://sify.com/news/Rs-305-34-crore-plan-to-clean-Ganga-at-Allahabad-approved-news-National-kexoachhfjd.html

Infinite Computer bags Uttarkhand R-APDRP project

New Delhi: Infinite Computer Solutions has bagged the IT modernisation project of Uttarakhand Power Corporation.

The project is a part of the larger Restructured Accelerated Power Development Reforms Program (R-APDRP), an initiative driven by the government in collaboration with the states.
The project aims to bring in actual, demonstrable performance in terms of sustained energy loss reduction in the power sector.

Power Finance Corporation (PFCL) has been designated by Government of India as the Nodal Agency for R-APDRP.

Key objectives of R-APDRP span from data acquisition at distribution level to monitoring of results for steps taken to provide an IT backbone and strengthening of the Electricity Distribution System across the Country.

The objective of the program is reduction of AT&C losses to 15 per cent in project areas.
As part of the deal, Infinite will supply, install and commission integrated solution within the broad framework and specifications prepared by a Committee under the guidance of Ministry of Power.

It covers all the components of the project including hardware, software, networking; GIS among others which shall help the utilities improve their performance.

APDRP will work towards establishing reliable and automated systems for sustained collection of accurate base line data, and the adoption of Information Technology in the areas of metering, billing, energy accounting and customer care to provide the right information and experience to customers.

This modernisation of the IT systems will also help curb revenue leakages and ensure increase in overall revenues and thus contribution to the exchequer.

http://www.igovernment.in/site/infinite-computer-bags-uttarkhand-r-apdrp-project-37453

Uttarakhand move to clean up Ganga

A massive turnaround awaits 63 towns in Uttarakhand, courtesy a move aimed at equipping them with civic infrastructure so as to stop huge amount of solid and liquid waste from passing into the River Ganga and all its tributaries that take their course from the central Himalayan region.

``As part of this move that aims at removing pollution from the river Ganga in Uttarakhand, a massive afforestation of its catchments and the catchments of all its tributaries is also being undertaken," said State Water Resource Minister Prakash Pant.

Speaking to Hindustan Times on Saturday he said under the project cleaning of almost all the major rivers originating from Uttarakhand would be taken up. These channels would also include the rivers like the Yamuna and the Kali that ``too are tributaries of the Ganga as these too finally merge in the Ganga'' Pant clarified.

Saying that under the move being taken as part of the centrally sponsored multi-crore National River Ganga Conservation Project India's biggest river system would be made pollution free by 2020 he said under the programme National Ganga River Basin Authority had allotted a fund of Rs 2644/ crore for Uttarakhand.

``The project aims at preventing a vast amount of solid and liquid waste generated in the 63 towns across Uttarakhand from passing into the river Ganga and its tributaries so as to restore these channels to their pristine condition'', Pant said. As part of this move, according to him, various works are likely to be undertaken, which would include laying of sewerage networks, setting up of Sewage Treatment Plants, besides putting in place a system for a speedy and scientific disposal of solid garbage. Other important works to be taken under the project are construction of Sulabh Sauchalayas (public conveniences), strengthening of the riverbanks by taking several measures like afforestation and building of bathing ghats (cement-concrete platforms) etc along the populated river front areas.

``Besides, as part of the project engineering structures would also be put up along the banks of the rivers so as to check soil erosion caused by floods'', Pant noted while clarifying that sensitising the people to the need for cleaning the river Ganga and its tributaries would be an important component of the national project.

Sharing with Hindustan Times the details of the progress achieved so far he said under the first phase of the project all civic works had been completed in Uttarakhand's two major low lying towns namely Haridwar and Rishikesh through which the river Ganga passes before it moves on to the vast Gangetic plains.

``Similar civic and other works aimed at cleaning the Ganga are being carried out in 10 other towns as part of the project's second phase, which would be completed in 2010 itself'', Pant said. He identified these towns as Ranipur (BHEL), Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Karnprayag, Gopeshwar, Joshimath, Badrinath and Uttarkashi. ``Similar civic works would be taken up in rest of the towns as well,''he told Hindustan Times.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Uttarakhand-move-to-clean-up-Ganga/Article1-541352.aspx

Excellent effort indeed ,

[QUOTE=sanjusky;56983943]Uttarakhand move to clean up Ganga

A massive turnaround awaits 63 towns in Uttarakhand, courtesy a move aimed at equipping them with civic infrastructure so as to stop huge amount of solid and liquid waste from passing into the River Ganga and all its tributaries that take their course from the central Himalayan region.

Jaypee group in healthcare foray

Mumbai: Infrastructure behemoth Jaypee Group, with revenues in excess of Rs 10,000 crore, is set to enter the healthcare industry.The diversified group, with presence in power, cement, hotels and education verticals, will soon be launching its flagship hospital in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.Industry sources said the multi-speciality tertiary care hospital will be titled Jaypee Medical Centre Noida.

“It is a part of the group’s ambitious township project called Wish Town, spread across 1,162 acre, in Noida’s Sector 128. Featuring 415 rooms (500 beds), the medical centre will offer advance healthcare facilities and latest diagnostic services,” said a source.Manoj Gaur, executive chairman and CEO, Jaiprakash Associates Ltd was not available for comments. A detailed questionnaire requesting financial details and future plans for the healthcare foray remained unanswered at the time of this article going to print.



Industry sources said the healthcare foray is a logical extension of the company’s realty business, which mainly comprises large township developments in north India. The group’s ambitious infrastructure projects include the Yamuna Expressway (formerly Taj Expressway), a six-lane (extendable to 8-lanes) access-controlled road that is expected to reduce travel time between Delhi and Agra, connecting them via Mathura.

“The group has five land parcels at various locations on the Yamuna Expressway development. These land parcels will largely be used for residential and commercial developments and are very likely to have education and healthcare facilities,” said the source.

Fitch Ratings analysts Shashikant Ranjan and Nikhil Gupta in a recent report said the outlook for India’s healthcare sector is stable for 2010.They expect the industry to expand by 10-15% and the revenues of industry players to increase as occupancy rates rise for existing hospitals, and newly commissioned facilities become operational.

“Healthcare being a high-operating-leverage business, Ebitda margins are likely to improve with capacity utilisation, and also due to hospitals increasing their focus on high-margin tertiary and quaternary services. Expansion will continue to be driven by a persistent demand-supply gap and significant investments funded by private sources… Increasing concentration of reputed players in metropolitan cities should see many established players chalking out plans to spread to Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities to increase their catchment area. However, a limited supply of doctors and trained medical staff will continue to restrict industry growth,” the analysts said.

According to independent research estimates, India will need to add 3.1 million beds by 2018, calling for an immediate investment of $82 billion (Rs 4 lakh crore). The favourable demand-supply gap, and the promising state of the Indian healthcare sector overall, has prompted significant investment in the last few years.

There were substantial investments announced in 2009 by several private equity firms, including Global Technology Investment Group in Nova Medical Centres ($60 million), International Finance Corporation in Max India ($33 million), India Venture Advisors in Kavery Medical Centre ($20 million), and India Venture Advisors’ second healthcare fund ($150 million).

The private sector is expected to continue to make substantial investment, and to contribute nearly 80-85% of the sector’s total annual spend. Within healthcare, the most favoured sectors for investors are likely to be diagnostic services, medical devices, hospital chains, and wellness products and services.

http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report_jaypee-group-in-healthcare-foray_1385215

Maya reviews development works

Lucknow, May 29 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today directed Divisional Commissioners and District Magistrates to hold weekly meetings to review projects related to development of basic amenities.

At a high-level meeting here, she took a serious view of "poor quality" of roads constructed in Varanasi.

The Chief Minister directed stern action against the guilty persons, officials said.

Directing a high-level technical examination of the completed work, she said if any shortcoming in quality was detected, action should be taken against concerned officials.

Mayawati reviewed various development works including construction of bridges and roads in Varanasi, Allahabad, Ayodhya and Faizabad and issued necessary directives to the officials.

Earlier, State Advisory Council chairman Satish Chandra Mishra informed her about various development projects being executed in Allahabad, Faizabad and Ayodhya.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/677286_Maya-reviews-development-works

Reliance Power To Acquire Reliance Infrastructure�s Gas Plants

Reliance Power is to acquire three gas-based power plants of Reliance Infrastructure for an enterprise value of Rs 1,095 crore, the company announced on Friday.

Reliance Power is the arm of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group which acquires Reliance Infrastructure that has the capacity to generate 433 MW.

The deal is reported to be advantageous to the Reliance Infrastructure also as the company requires Rs 3,000 crore (as equity) to develop its infrastructure projects. However, the details regarding the cash transaction and cash receipt by Reliance Infrastructure were not disclosed.

Reliance Infrastructure had acquired Rosa Power Project in Uttar Pradesh from the Aditya Birla group in 2006. Rosa Power Project has the capacity of generating 1,200 MW, according to the sources.

According to the deal, the R-Power will buy Reliance Infrastructure’s 220 MW unit at Samalkot in Andhra Pradesh, 48 MW unit at Zuarinagar in Goa and 165 MW unit in Kochi, reports said.

Reliance Power will now have the operational capacity of 1,000 MW.

http://www.india-server.com/news/reliance-power-to-acquire-reliance-27350.html

its very good can I help u.

India's first integrated waste mgmt plant coming up in Kanpur (http://sify.com/finance/india-s-first-integrated-waste-mgmt-plant-coming-up-in-kanpur-news-news-kgfbapfciad.html)

Infra firm a2z Infrastructure will set up India’s first integrated municipal solid waste management plant in Kanpur.

The project touted to be Asia’s largest would comprise management of the city’s solid waste in an environment friendly manner and subsequent power generation for captive and merchant use.

Majority of the fuel used in the plant will be RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel) derived from solid waste, which is considered a better replacement for coal with lesser emissions.

The power plant is scheduled to be operational by March 2011 and will have the capacity to produce 15 Mw power.

a2z Infrastructure, a subsidiary of A2Z Maintenance and Engineering Services Limited, has been awarded the project by Kanpur Municipal Corporation (KMC).

"India produces 1,42,000 tonnes/day of municipal solid waste, which is growing by 5 per cent per annum," a2z Infrastructure CEO Rajneesh Mehra told newspersons today.

KMC had awarded a2z Infrastructure the mandate for processing and disposal of solid waste in 2008. This mandate has now been extended to cover collection and transportation.

In October 2009, a2z Infrastructure had commenced processing/disposal of waste. Currently, it processes 1,500 tonnes/day of municipal solid waste in Kapur, which has a population of over 3 million.

Kanpur had stood 10 th among India’s 423 cities in a report of union ministry of urban development for 2009-10 for sanitation.

"We believe that next year Kanpur would rank top in cleanliness too," Kanpur Municipal Commissioner R Vikram Singh said.

a2z Infrastructure currently has a portfolio of approximately 6,000 tonnes/day of solid waste across cities such as Kanpur, Indore, Patna, Varanasi, Meerut etc.

The company produces 150 tonnes/day of compost from municipal solid waste under brand name of Vasundhara. The company plans to scale compost production to 300 tonnes/ day by August 2010.

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A walkthrough video for...

Phoenix United Mall, Alam Bagh, Lucknow

IkUvFPfv71w

Phoenix United Mall, Agra

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/4602/agra.jpg

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/2131/agrarv.jpg

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/4602/agra.jpg

Link (http://www.npapl.com/html/mall/agra_mall.html)

phoenix Mall has opened...and its awesum!

source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=398306

Falcon Tyres, part of the Rs 3,000-crore Ruia Group, intends on spending over Rs 800 crore this fiscal to undertake an expansion of its Mysore unit and establish another greenfield facility in Uttarakhand, which will hike the tyre maker's production capacity to 2.3 million pieces per month. The firm, along with its subsidiary Monotona Tyres, currently produces 1.3 million pieces every month. Subsequent to the expansion, which is likely to cost at least Rs 300 crore, monthly production is expected to touch 1.8 million pieces.

At the same time, another newly-formed subsidiary of Falcon Tyres is to set up a new factory at Uttarakhand, with an initial monthly capacity of 500,000 pieces. This new facility is to entail an investment of about Rs 500 crore.

“The Uttarakhand plant will supply to OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) such as Hero Honda, which have their factory in the area. I am hopeful that the plant will be operational by the end of this fiscal,” Ruia Group chairman Pawan Kumar Ruia said, on the sidelines of Dunlop India's annual general meeting, here today.

With a total capacity of 2.3 million pieces per month, Ruia claimed, the group would become the biggest manufacturer of two and three-wheeler tyres globally. On the status of Dunlop India, the country's oldest tyre manufacturer which the Ruia group acquired in 2005, he said that production would be stablised at 30 tonnes per day and subsequently, would be taken up to 60-70 tonnes per day by the end of the fiscal.

“At Dunlop India, we hope to achieve a turnover of Rs 550 crore this fiscal,” Ruia added. In 2009-10, the firm's income had stood at Rs 180.70 crore.

Mall cuture in UP villages too


Not many know that malls exist in villages too and they are growing faster in numbers than the urban ones. These rural malls are posh, sleek and are driven by state-of-the-art technology akin to urban malls. But in some respect they are far more utilitarian than the urban ones. A villager can buy branded t-shirts, pairs of jeans, washing power or mobile phone or a DVD


ayer; refill diesel in his tractor and take more for his pump sets, carry an LPG cylinder home, buy seeds and fertilizers and even interact with agronomists to improve agriculture.
Uttar Pradesh (UP) alone has 150 of them of different players—mainly DCM Sriram’s Hariyali, ITC Ltd’s ‘Chaupal Sagar’, Triveni group’s Triveni Khushali Bazaar and Rohtas group’s Khushali Krishi Kendra.

So if one ever passes buy one of these malls, that generally are near highways, then one may not miss the scene of families reaching the mall on a tractor of a bullock cart, then carting a shopping trolley laden with soaps, shampoos, groceries, garments, seeds, insecticides, fertilizers to the tractor or bullock cart to return home with goods. They also take ‘solutions’ away for their agriculture problems.

“Our malls are changing rural India—both the way villagers live as well as do agriculture,” said Rajesh Gupta, president of Hariyali Kisaan Bazar--hailed as the largest national rural chain with 302 outlets in eight states (UP, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Andhra Pradesh).

These malls go beyond premises—the agronomists at the malls even go to fields of individual farmers and offer solutions and make suggestions related to agriculture—free of cost.

While ITC too is a big player in the market like DCM Sriram Consolidates Ltd, the other two are smaller. But all are now into agronomy consultancy too.

ITC is currently in only three states—UP, MP and Maharashtra. It has seven malls in UP. One of the officers at a Choupal Saagar said that now with malls agronomist’s knowledge inputs, the farmers are able to extract 30 to 32 quintal of rice from an acre of paddy field while the output earlier was between 20-25 quintal.

But Hariyali claims to be the pioneer as well as the biggest player in the business. “We are also unique in the sense that we also provide agronomy solutions to the farmers—to help to select crops for cultivation and the varieties, offer solutions to fight crop diseases, and how to make more money by increasing efficiency of agricultural practices and productivity through our agronomy advisory services,” said Gupta. Hariyali is flagship DSCL (DCM Sriram consolidates ltd, Delhi. These malls even buy back farm produce.

So when last year Amar Singh, 29, a small farmer from village Dakarganj, Faridpur, Bareilly (243 km north west of Lucknow) entered the mall in Bareilly he never knew that his would begin making an extra income of Rs 6,500 a year. “I have a small farm of three acre. The ‘doctors’ (this is what he calls agronomists) were there. I just started speaking to them and they reached my field. They suggested me to grow watermelons as an intercrop (a crop that is grown within the vacant rows of spaces between a main crop) among the rows of my sugarcane crop. I adopted the practice and it increased my income,” said Amar Singh.

The first Hariyali Kissan Bazaar that offers total customer offerings (TCO) including agri products, FMCG (fast moving consumer goods), consumer durables (like fridge, tv or DVD players), lifestyle and apparel etc came up in UP’s Shahjahanpur district 168 km north west of Lucknow.

So with a branded bottle of an anti-dandruff shampoo or a DVD player, farmers bring home solutions to farming and farm business problems they face.

Uttarakhand clears new industrial proposals

After a long wait, the Uttarakhand government has quietly cleared 25-26 proposals from the industries for the purpose of expansions and new manufacturing facilities in the state.

State Industries Minister Bansidhar Bhagat confirmed the development and said the state would receive an investment of over Rs 400-500 crore through these proposals.

Initially, the government had received over 60 proposals from industries to set up new units or go for substantial expansion in the state. But after the expiry of cent percent excise duty exemption, a key component of the concessional industrial package (CIP) 2003 in March, the response to buy land reduced considerably. “Less than 50 per cent of the applicants finally showed interest in buying industrial plots,” a source close to the development said.
ITC was the main beneficiary under the new allotment as it got nearly 8-9 acres of land at the industrial estate of Haridwar. The sources said barring ITC, most of the other industries are not so prominent.

These industries had submitted proposals to the State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited (SIDCUL), a nodal agency for industrial development, to buy land at industrial estates of Pantnagar and Haridwar as well as at Pharma City and Sigaddi Growth Centre at Kotdwar. All these industrial estates have been developed by SIDCUL where over 1,500 industries including top companies like Tata Motors, Nestle and HUL had set up units during the past few years with an investment entailing more than '16,000 crores.

Most of these industries had got land between 300 sq meter to 1,000 sq meter in the four industrial areas. The main rush was for Haridwar and Pantnagar where 32 acres and 75 acres of land was vacant. But most of the new proposals are only for Haridwar. For the rest of the industrial estates, there was hardly any interest shown by the industries.

Technically, the proposals should have been put before the empowered committee headed by the Industries Minister, who is its chairman. But since all the files related to these proposals were lying in the office of Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank for clearance, Bhagat was finding it difficult to make any intervention.

But following a lot of pressure from certain quarters, the government finally cleared the new proposals without making any announcement.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/uttarakhand-clears-new-industrial-proposals/408180/

:cheers:

Uttar Pradesh Power Corp to spend Rs 1,100 crore on new substations

Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) is spending Rs 1,098 crore on new substations for improving the power supply situation.

The state power utility is setting up 522 new substation of 33/11 kilovolt (Kv) all over UP to prevent overloading and subsequent tripping.

UPPCL Chairman and Managing Director Navneet Sehgal today reviewed the progress of the project and directed officials to speed up the work.

While, a majority of the substations were approved last year, the work on 132 substations has started in this financial year.

The substations of 33/11 Kv are low capacity units primarily catering to households and markets. However, these substations are vulnerable to frequent tripping due to overloading, especially in summers, and resulting in long duration of breakdown in power supply.

The new substations are being set up in Saharanpur, Meerut, Moradabad, Aligarh, Agra, Kanpur, Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Bareilly, Lucknow, Faizabad, Devipatan, Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, Mirzapur, Varanasi and Allahabad divisions.

Meanwhile, All India Power Engineers Federation has said the central and state governments should appoint trained engineers on all the key posts, including principal secretary, of all engineering departments.

The Federation has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UP Chief Minister Mayawati to make an announcement in this regard on the occasion of Engineers’ Day that falls on September 15, which is the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya.

The Federation said if India were to grow by 10 per cent and compete with China, all the development works need to be put under the management of engineers. Besides, the country needs to take proactive steps to check the flight of good engineers from India.

The main reason for underachievement of the targets of all the 11 Five Year Plans is the non-inclusion of engineers in core management of development projects, Federation Secretary General Shailendra Dubey said.

http://sify.com/finance/uttar-pradesh-power-corp-to-spend-rs-1-100-crore-on-new-substations-news-news-kjpbOWacfid.html

:cheers:

Bajaj Hindusthan to invest Rs 10,000 cr in thermal power

Kushagra Bajaj-promoted Bajaj Hindusthan, the country’s biggest sugar producer, plans to invest up to Rs 10,000 crore to set up 1,980-Mw thermal power capacity in Uttar Pradesh. The company already has an MoU in place with the state government for setting up thermal power capacity of 2,430 Mw.

“The company is betting big on power, given the huge demand. It has applied to the state government for another 1,980 Mw power capacity. It has plans to get into power generation in a big way,” said an informed source. The country’s peak power deficit is more than 12 per cent.
The company has an existing captive power capacity of 430 Mw, which is based on bagasse, a byproduct of sugar. Of the earlier announced 2,430-Mw capacity, 450 Mw (90x5) thermal capacity will be attached to five sugar mills and is likely to be operational in the second half of 2011. The company had secured coal linkages for 450 Mw, while it had sought linkages for the remaining 1,980 Mw (660x3) capacity, the source said. The company has also been scouting for overseas coal mines.

The 1,980 Mw (3X660) coal-fired power plants are being set up in Lalitpur district. The project would entail acquisition of 1,500 acres in Mirchwara village, about 60 km from the source of water at Rajghat Dam in Lalitpur.The funds for the Rs 10,000-crore project would be arranged through internal accruals and debt. Land acquisition for the project is on and construction work is likely to start in the next 12-15 months.

The Bajaj Hindusthan group runs 16 sugar mills, all in Uttar Pradesh. In the recent past, Bajaj Hindusthan has tried to diversify into segments like bagasse-based particle board and medium-density fibre (MDF). It has set up three plants to manufacture 50,000 cubic metres of particle board and 160,000 cubic metres of MDF.

It has also ventured into ethanol production from molasses, a byproduct of sugar mills. The purpose behind the diversification is to insulate and cushion from uncertainties in the sugar business. Sugar has been a politically-sensitive commodity in India and attracts regular policy intervention, both at the Central and state levels.



http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/bajaj-hindusthan-to-invest-rs-10000-cr-in-thermal-power/408490/

:cheers:

UP to invite bids for 2,000-MW power project

Lucknow, Sep 19 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh government will soon invite competitive bids to set up a 2,000-MW thermal power project between Greater Noida and Bulandshahr, alongside the Yamuna Expressway. A proposal in this regard was approved by the state's Energy Task Force (ETF) at a meeting presided over by Chief Secretary Atul Kumar Gupta here yesterday, official sources said. Bids will be invited soon by the UP Power Corporation Limited from private companies, they said, adding that the corporation will arrange land, water and coal linkages for the plant. The contract will be awarded to the company that offers power at the lowest price to UPPCL. The ETF also approved a proposal to appoint Adani Energy Ltd as the mine developer for Orissa's Chendipara coal block, which will supply coal to UP for the next 25 years. The state has 50 per cent share in the Chendipara coal block. The ETF also approved UPPCL's proposal to award a contract to set up a 1,980-MW thermal power project at Bargarh, in Chitrakoot, to the company that agrees to sell the maximum quantum of electricity from the plant to the state. A proposal for setting up an additional 660-MW unit under the proposed 1,320-MW thermal plant at Bhognipur, near Kanpur, was also sanctioned.

PTI

^^ Now THIS is news!! I've had the fortune (sometimes misfortune) of having lived in UP when I was young. My strongest memories were of unbelievable power cuts in cities like Lucknow, Muzzafarnagar, Bijnor (pretty much covers large, medium, small cities).
I think starting with Rosa - UP seems to have suddenly gone on overdrive to fix this malady!!

Does anyone know the list of all power projects which are proposed/under construction/upgradation in Uttar Pradesh?

I think it will be worthwhile to track this on SSC - lifting UP out of its infrastructure logjam would be a model for all other BIMARU states (I'm also very impressed with the strides MP is also making, especially in the power sector)

LANCO Anpara Power Ltd is setting up a 1200 MW (2x600 MW) coal based thermal power project n Uttar Pradesh, India. LANCO won the Anpara C power project through the first ever competitive bid under the Electricity Act 2003.

Anpara C is a fast track project with all major approvals in place, including the clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The Uttar Pradesh Government has already tied up for the project’s coal and water linkages. It has also put in place 765 KV transmission line for power evacuation and power purchase agreement with distribution companies promoted by the Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board. Anpara is a pithead project with coal mines just 25 km away and a Merry-Go-Round (MGR) system already exists for transportation of coal in railway wagons.


Lanco Anpara Power Project In Uttar Pradesh, India (http://www.lancogroup.com/power/underimpli/anpara.html)


By the end of the current fiscal, Lanco Infra is expected to start operations at its coal-based Udupi II (600mw) and Anpara (1200mw) thermal power projects apart from two hydro projects with 75mw capacity.


Lanco to commission Anpara this Fiscal (2010) (http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report_lanco-well-poised-to-ride-infra-boom_1437079)


Lanco Anpara, a group company, has entered into a MoU with Uttar Pradesh to enhance its capacity by 660 mw. This will take up the project capacity to 1,860 mw, from 1200 mw under implementation.


Lanco Anpara to increase its capacity to 1860 mw (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/01/30/stories/2010013053601000.htm)

UP clears seven new thermal power plants

The Uttar Pradesh cabinet has the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for setting up seven new thermal power plants in the State. These projects, entailing an investment of Rs 25,000 crore will generate an additional 4,500 MW of power. Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd Chairman Navneet Sehgal said Each of these plants are coming up in the private sector and would be set up through the MOU route. Under the arrangement, the state would provide land and water for setting up and running the plant.

Five of the proposed plants are to be set up by Bajaj Hindusthan Ltd., the country's leading sugar producer. The company has planned foray into thermal energy sector and plans to set up power plants at Pilibhit, Lakhimpur-Kheri, Shahjahanpur, Gonda and Utraula. Lanco Infratech has received the nod to set up a 1,320 MW thermal power station at Fatehpur.

The company also plans to set up power plants at Pilibhit, Lakhimpur-Kheri, Shahjahanpur, Gonda and Utraula. Lanco Infratech has received the nod to set up a 1,320 MW thermal power station at Fatehpur.

Besides this, the state government has given also clearance to Bajaj Hindusthan to set up a 19,809-mw coal-fired power plant in Lalitpur district of Bundelkhand. The project will be implemented by Lalitpur Power Generation Company Ltd, a SPV set up by UPPCL. Around 150 acres of land has been identified for the project at Mirchwara village of Lalitpur. Water will be sourced from the Rajghat dam through a pipe line. The project, which is expected to commence operations by 2012, will provide 90% of the electricity generated to the state.




Uttar Pradesh clears Seven New Power Projects totaling 4500 MW (http://www.projectsmonitor.com/POWDIST/up-clears-seven-new-thermal-power-plants)

^^ first of all i think that these days all the political parties are looking for developing infrastructures heavily because of 3 reasons

1) moti kamaai by awarding tenders to the favoured companies... ex jaypee in UP

2) they have themselves bought the land at minimal prices and if development take place then the prices will skyrocket

3) vote bank politics

http://thermalpower.industry-focus.net/index.php/uttar-pradesh-thermal-projects.html this is for UP

and for all the thermal power plants in india http://thermalpower.industry-focus.net/index.php/industry-overview/342-list-of-upcoming-thermal-plants-in-india.html

UP sugar sector hots up on high output hopes

Lucknow: With yet another sugar season in the offing, hectic efforts are on in the sugarcane sector in Uttar Pradesh, the second largest sugar producing state in the country.

While on the one hand cane area reservation meetings between the farmers, the millers and the the cane department officials of the nine zones where sugarcane is cultivated in the state are in progress, on the other, both millers and farmers are worried about the extent of benefit and loss that the recent floods in some of the sugarcane growing districts.

Surprisingly, the cane reservation meetings of the seven of the nine zones that have been held so far have been a rather lackluster affair. The meetings, which are otherwise not only lengthy but also tremendously heated and well attended, have this year shown little of the fire that is usually visible at such meetings.

However, according to insiders of the cane department, the reason for this is that farmers have adopted a 'wait-and-watch' attitude and are averse to open up their cards at present.

“The initial euphoria of a 17.5% increase in cane area and its resultant increase in availability of sugarcane among the sugar mills has started waning away. News of the standing water in sugarcane fields and the exact extent of the loss in sugarcane yield is keeping them on tenterhooks,” said a cane department official.

A shortage of cane availability will force them into a situation quite like last year, when the mills indulged in massive cane grabbing at whatever price was quoted by the farmers. In fact, by the end of the last season, the industry was paying farmers as high as Rs 300 a quintal, while the state advised price (SAP) fixed by the state government was only Rs 165 a quintal.

SAP is the minimum price that millers must pay the farmers in order to procure for the forthcoming crushing season but are free to offer any incentive over and above SAP.

In fact, at all the cane reservation hearings held so far, the farmers have been demanding that the SAP of cane not be less than Rs 300 a quintal this year. “Everyone is getting a hike in their earnings, right from the central government employees to the state government employees. They why should we not get a reasonable hike in earnings? Why should we continue to get a paltry...

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/UP-sugar-sector-hots-up-on-high-output-hopes/682562/

^^ first of all i think that these days all the political parties are looking for developing infrastructures heavily because of 3 reasons

1) moti kamaai by awarding tenders to the favoured companies... ex jaypee in UP

2) they have themselves bought the land at minimal prices and if development take place then the prices will skyrocket

3) vote bank politics

http://thermalpower.industry-focus.net/index.php/uttar-pradesh-thermal-projects.html this is for UP

and for all the thermal power plants in india http://thermalpower.industry-focus.net/index.php/industry-overview/342-list-of-upcoming-thermal-plants-in-india.html

You're probably right!!! But as long as the idiot politicians MAKE money but IMPLEMENT the projects - the people still win!! This is better than the socialist days pre-liberalization - when the politicians MADE money and NOTHING was implemented.

Ansal API to invest Rs 4,500 cr in hi-tech city in UP

NEW DELHI: Realty firm Ansal Properties and Infrastructure (Ansal API) plans to invest about Rs 4,500 crore to develop the second phase of its 2,500 acre hi-tech city adjoining Greater Noida.

According to sources, the company would soon launch the second phase of its integrated township 'Megapolis' at Dadri covering 650 acre of area where it would offer 1,900 plots and build nine million sq ft each of housing and commercial space.

The project cost for the second phase would be around Rs 4,500 crore and the company expects to realise nearly Rs 7,500 crore in the next three-four years, they added.

When contacted, Ansal Hi Tech Townships Chief Operating Officer Rakesh Kaul said: "The company would soon approach the Uttar Pradesh government for signing the development agreement for the second phase of Megapolis and the project would be launched only after that".

Kaul declined to give further details about the project. In mid-2008, Ansal API had bagged a hi-tech city project from the UP government spread over 2,500 acre, which can be extended to 9,000 acre.

The company had then announced an investment of Rs 13,000 crore to develop this township at Dadri near Greater Noida. It had also expected revenue to the tune of Rs 26,000 crore from the township, which would be completed by 2016.

Ansal API had raised Rs 225 crore from HDFC AMC through dilution of 8.5 per cent stake in the project.

Sources said the company had sold so far about 80 per cent of its total saleable area in the first phase comprising 500 acres.

The hi-tech city would have an education city, a medicity and one 18-hole signature golf course designed by Nick Faldo, apart from polo and equestrian facilities.

The company would construct four hotels in three and five star categories, comprising about 250 rooms in each hotel. It would also house five shopping malls.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/real-estate/news-/Ansal-API-to-invest-Rs-4500-cr-in-hi-tech-city-in-UP/articleshow/6583884.cms

UP gives nod to 2-k mw thermal power project

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has given nod to the setting up of a 2,000 mw thermal power project through competitive bidding process along the Yamuna Expressway project between Greater Noida and Bulandshahr.

The state Energy Task Force (ETF) headed by the state chief secretary gave its approval to the project, which was earlier supposed to be set up as a joint venture between the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation and Greater Noida Authority.

According to sources, bids will be invited soon from private companies and the UP Power Corporation will arrange for the land, water and coal linkages for the plant. “The company, which offers the maximum power to the state at the lowest cost will be awarded the contract” said an official of the Corporation.

Apart from this, the ETF has also given in principle approval for the setting up of 9 more power projects, including those at Bargad, Auraiyya, Farukhabad and Sandila through the MoU route. These nine projects will together produce 8170 mw of power. “Land for four projects has already been identified. The one in Bargad will produce 2,000 mw power, Auriyya will produce 700 mw, Farukhabad to produce 250 mw while Sandila will produce 1,320 mw power. The UPPCL will enter into a MoU with those companies who submit proposals for these projects,” said the official.

In another interesting decision, the ETF has also given its approval for appointing Adani Energy the mine developer and operator for Chendipara coal block in Orissa. UPPCL has signed an agreement with the company to this effect. Adani Energy will mine block and supply coal to UP for the next 25 years. It may be mentioned that UP has 50% share in the 40 million tonne Chendipara coal block. Apart from UP, Maharashtra and Chhattisgah also have a share in the block. UPPCL had invited bids for the selection of mine developer and has found Adani Energy as the most suitable for extracting coal from Chendipara and supply it to the various power houses in the state for 25 years.


Uttar Pradesh on a roll!! :cheers:


Uttar Pradesh gives nod to 2000 MW Power Project (http://www.financialexpress.com/news/UP-gives-nod-to-2-k-mw-thermal-power-project/684761/)

TCS to set up UP Data Centre

India’s largest software exporter Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been selected to set up the State Data Centre in Uttar Pradesh for the e-delivery of government services.

Four companies, including HCL had bid for the project, however, TCS bid was found to be most economical to the government and selected, UP IT and Electronics principal secretary Chandra Prakash told Business Standard.

All the data and services pertaining to the different government departments will be centralised in the Data Centre at Lucknow. This is part of the ambitious e-governance programme of the Mayawati government.
The Data Centre would entail an expenditure of Rs 19 crore and would be set up in the next six months. It would facilitate e-delivery of various services to the people, especially in remote areas.

A common service centre known as Jan Suvidha Kendra (JSK) would be set up between every six villages to deliver these services. The work for setting up the JSK is already underway. JSKs provide online income tax, caste, death, birth and domicile certificates, besides issuance/renewal of ration card, old- age pension etc.

The Data Centre would store all the information pertaining to the departments at one place in digital form. This would help in extracting inter-departmental souring of information and consequently foster better coordination and save time.

Earlier, the government had undertaken updating of all the official websites on real time basis with the help of National Informatics Centre (NIC).

UP has been making fast strides in e-governance. A smart card system is likely to be introduced for public distribution system (PDS) under the food and civil supplies department to stop pilferage and illegal diversion of ration.

On pilot basis, 6,000 JSKs had been set up to offer services online, which would soon be ramped up to 17,000 with the help of private parties.



Business standard

UP in pact with private co to set up 600-mw power plant
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh is all set to have a 'powerful' year-end, with the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited signing a memorandum of understanding with a private company, Creative Thermolite Power on Thursday, for the setting up of a 600 mw coal-based power plant in Bargarh, in Chitrakoot district of Uttar Pradesh. This will be followed by the signing of three more MoUs with private companies for the setting up of a 1,320 mw project in Bhognipur, 1320 mw project in Sandila and 300 mw project in Farukkhabad within the next fortnight.

Speaking to FE on the company's first foray into power sector, Sanjay Govil, chairman and managing director of Creative Thermolite Power said land for the Rs 3,000-crore power project, which will be operational by 2014, has already been identified and work on getting other clearances, such as water and coal linkages and environmental approval, will be initiated very soon.

“Most of the 500 acre will be needed for the project are barren and hence, land acquisition will not be a problem. Apart from being in step with the state government's goal of providing 24-hours power to the state, the project will also provide a lot of employment to the local youth,” said Govil.

For Creative Thermolite Power, a consortium of Infinite Computer Solutions and Eldeco, this will be its first foray into the power sector.

“The opportunities in the power sector in Uttar Pradesh are immense and we at Creative wanted to utilize this opportunity and also chip in to fill the shortage in the power sector in UP,” said Govil.

Once the project is ready, the powerhouse will supply 50% of the total electricity produced to be produced to the state at a tariff that is determined by the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) while the rest of it will be sold to buyers in the open market.


Source : Link (http://www.financialexpress.com/news/up-in-pact-with-private-co-to-set-up-600mw-power-plant/704075/)

Here is a compilation of a bunch of recently announced Power Projects in UP!! If these come up - it will be a windfall in the development of one of the most backward states in India!!

a2z Infrastructure : 15 MW
Creative Thermolite : 600 MW
Rosa Power Project : 1200 MW
LANCO Bhognipur : 1320 MW
LANCO Anpara : 1860 MW
Bajaj Hindusthan : 1980 MW
2430 MW
Jaiprakash Power
Bara Thermal Power Project (Phase- I) : 1980 MW (Financial Closure Completed)
Karchana Thermal Power Project : 1980 MW (Financial Closure Completed)
Neyveli Lignite (PRO) : 2000 MW
----------------------------------------------
Total : 15635 MW

^^ add this also ;)

UP inks MoU with Lanco group for power plant at Bhognipur

The Uttar Pradesh government has signed an agreement with Lanco group to set up a 1320 MW power plant in Bhognipur area of Kanpur Dehat district, officials said today.

Power secretary Navneet Sehgal and Lanco Anpara Private Limited director, R Rajgopalan signed the MoU for the plant, at a function here yesterday, power department sources said.

The plant, which would take five year's for completion, would provide 90 per cent power to the state at rates fixed by the state electricity regulatory commission.

The Lanco group is also setting up Anpara C plant in Sonebhadra district of the state and its first unit of 600 MW capacity would start generating power in December this year, while the second unit of the same capacity would be ready in April next year, they added.

source (http://www.steelguru.com/indian_news/UP_inks_MoU_with_Lanco_group_for_power_plant_at_Bhognipur/173970.html)

^^ Done- Would love to hear about the implementation details of these projects!!

^^ one more in the planning stage

NLC to set up over Rs 2,000-cr coal-fired power plant in UP

State-owned Neyveli Lignite Corp has proposed to set up 4,000 Mw coal-based power plants in the states of Orissa and Uttar Pradesh while a wind mill in Tamil Nadu, Parliament was informed today.

“Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) proposes to set up coal-fired power plants of 2,000 Mw capacity each in Orissa and Uttar Pradesh...and is also setting up a 50 Mw wind power plant at Trinelveli district (Tamil Nadu) at the cost of Rs 313 crore,” Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

Industry observers say that the coal-fired power plants could cost the mini-ratna company as much as Rs 20,000 crore.
All three projects are yet to be approved by respective state governments, the Minister added.

“Details of land and households will be known only after the state governments approvals have been obtained for setting up of the power plants,” Jaiswal said.

The 4,000 Mw power plants require as much as 2,000 acre of land and the wind power project would need an area of 100 acres, he said.



source (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/nlc-to-setover-rs-2000-cr-coal-fired-power-plant-in-up/414962/)

del

UP would become self energy sufficient by 2014

Here is some heartening news to light up Diwali celebrations. The state government on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Lanco Anpara to set up a 1,320 Mw thermal power plant in Bhoginipur in newly carved out district Rama Bai Nagar.

The decision comes within a week after the state government entered into an agreement with another private company for setting up a 600 Mw thermal power station in Bargarh in Chitrakoot district.

Secretary (energy), Navneet Sehgal said that the objective is to make the state self-sufficient in terms of energy.

He claimed UP would become self energy sufficient by 2014 and each district would get uninterrupted power. For that, he said, the state government is in the process of roping in more private companies for setting up thermal power stations. The project was earlier cleared by the state cabinet and subsequently by the energy task force. Sehgal said the project is likely to come up within a period of four years and 90% of the energy produced by the plant would be pumped into the state grid.

This is the fifth such unit which would be set up through an agreement. Before this, UP government had entered into an agreement with a company for setting up a 1,980 MW power plant in Lalitpur, 1,320 MW Bhoginipur (phase-1), 450 MW from sugar mills and 600 Mw in Bargarh. Lanco has already been handed over Anpara-C previously under the case-2 bidding. Sehgal said the first unit of 600 MW would start functioning by December this year.


Source : Link (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Govt-signs-MoU-for-power-plant/articleshow/6874230.cms)

^^ Done. Removed the "Invited projects" crap from the original stats ! Added Jaiprakash power project 2x1980 which have completed Financial Closure! Removed 2380 MW from Bajaj - its been shelved.

UP Power Projects

a2z Infrastructure ------------------------------------ 15 MW
Creative Thermolite Chitrakoot ------------------- 600 MW (MoU Signed - 4 Nov 2010)[/I]
Rosa Power Project --------------------------------- 1200 MW (U/C)
LANCO Bhognipur ------------------------------------ 1320 MW (MoU Signed - 5 Nov 2010)
LANCO Anpara ---------------------------------------- 1860 MW (U/C)
Bajaj Hindusthan Lalitpur -------------------------- 1980 MW (MoU Signed - April 2010)
Neyveli Lignite ---------------------------------------- 2000 MW (App)
Jaiprakash Power:
Bara Thermal Power Project (Phase- I) -------------- 1980 MW (U/C)
Karchana Thermal Power Project --------------------- 1980 MW (Financial Closure Completed)
Total -------------------------------------------- 12935 MW

^^ time to edit from proposed to approved

UP govt approves signing of power project

The Uttar Pradesh government today approved signing of an agreement between UP State Power Generation Corporation and Niveli Lignite Corporation for setting up of a 2000 Mw thermal power project in Kanpur.

The decision in this regard was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mayawati here.

As per the decision, the state would get at least 75 per cent of the power generated, the government spokesman said, adding that the plant would be established in Ghatampur of Kanpur district.

Meanwhile, Mayawati also directed the Uttar Pradesh Forest Corporation (UPFC) to provide 50 per cent of the total profit generated from tendu leaves to those who collect it.

The work of collecting tendu leaves for the bidi industry is done by local labourers, who sell it at UPFC centres.

These labourers are currently issued coupons and paid Rs 500 for 50,000 tendu leaves.

source (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/up-govt-approves-signingpower-project/116787/on)

^^ Done ! Don't know what the whole deal is with Tendu leaves - but leave it to UP to come up with something esoteric :D

^^ another one sigma ji this time 1200 MW more at Rosa :cheers:

Will invest Rs 6,000 cr to double Rosa capacity by Mar 2012: Reliance Power

NEW DELHI: Anil Ambani-led Reliance Power on Thursday said it will invest Rs 6,000 crore to double the generation capacity of its Rosa thermal plant in Uttar Pradesh to 2,400 MW by March 2012.

"The power generation capacity of the Rosa Power Project would increase from 1,200 MW to 2,400 MW," the company said in a statement.

The company claimed it will complete the project by March 2012.

The Rs 6,000 crore capex for doubling the capacity of the power plant by March 2012, will take RPower's total investment on the Rosa project to Rs 12,000 crore, the statement said.

The Rosa power project is a 1,200-MW coal-based power plant being set up in two stages of 600-MW each. The first stage of the project has been fully commissioned and work on the second stage is on in full swing.

Production from the second phase of the project is likely to commence in one year, RPower said.

The electricity generated by the plant is being supplied to Uttar Pradesh Power Company Limited (UPPCL) under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

Coal for the project is sourced from the Ashoka Mine in Jharkhand's North Karanpura Block, which is situated around 850 km away, through a long-term coal supply linkage granted by the Ministry of Coal.

A long-term coal supply linkage for Stage-II of the project has also been secured from Ministry of Coal and the funding requirement has been tied up from a consortium of banks led by IDBI Bank .

source (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/power/Will-invest-Rs-6000-cr-to-double-Rosa-capacity-by-Mar-2012-Reliance-Power/articleshow/7030151.cms)

TCS signs MoU for UP e-governance

Uttar Pradesh State Data Centre to start functioning in six months

In a major e-governance initiative, the Uttar Pradesh government today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India’s largest software exporter Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for setting up of a State Data Centre (SDC) here.

The SDC, which will entail an investment of about Rs 20 crore, is expected to become functional in the next six months. All the data pertaining to the different government departments will be centralised in SDC for delivery of services over web.
Earlier, four companies, including TCS and HCL had bid for the project and TCS’s bid was found to be most economical to the government.

The MoU was signed by TCS Vice-President and Head (government industry solutions unit) Tanmoy Chakrabarty and UP Development Systems Corporation Limited (UPDESCO) Managing Director Narendra Singh Kushwaha.

E-governance has three components — State Wide Area Network (SWAN), Common Service Centres (CSC) and SDC.

While, SWAN refers to online connectivity for e-governance (being provided by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited), CSCs are the outlets to deliver the services (to be set up by private entrepreneurs) and SDC is the central data pool, UP IT and Electronics principal secretary Chandra Prakash told Business Standard.

“TCS would establish and manage the SDC for the next five years and host databases of various government departments,” he said.

The CSCs, which are known as Jan Suvidha Kendra, are being set up all over the state to deliver the services remotely. CSCs would provide online income tax, caste, death, birth and domicile certificates, besides issuance/ renewal of ration card, old-age pension etc. People would also be able to lodge complaints against government officials.

The government will set up a total of 17,900 CSCs in UP, of which 6,200 had already been set up, mostly in rural locations. Till date, 22 services were being offered through CSCs, which will be ramped up to 35.

“From December 30, all the services would be available at CSCs,” Prakash added.

At present, the National Informatics Centre (NIC) was managing a small data centre for e-governance. Chakrabarty said TCS was facilitating e-governance projects in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan. “Besides, we have already set up SDCs in Karnataka and Puducherry.”

source (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/tcs-signs-mou-fore-governance/417076/)

Plenty of updates on the UP Power Scene!!

UP Power Projects

Creative Thermolite Chitrakoot ------------------------- 600 MW (MoU Signed - 4 Nov 2010)[/I]
NTPC Meja ---------------------------------------------- 1320 MW (U/C) (Tenders Invited for Supply of 2x660 MW Turbines (http://tenders.indiamart.com/details/552328547/))
LANCO Bhognipur --------------------------------------- 1320 MW (MoU Signed - 5 Nov 2010)
LANCO Anpara ------------------------------------------ 1860 MW (U/C)(1200 MW to be commissioned in March 2011 (http://www.lancogroup.com/power/underimpli/anpara.html))
Bajaj Hindusthan Lalitpur ------------------------------ 1980 MW (MoU Signed - April 2010)
Jaiprakash Power:
Bara Thermal Power Project (Phase- I) ------------------- 1980 MW (U/C)(Placed Order for three units of 660 MW each from BHEL (http://www.rttnews.com/Content/TopStories.aspx?Id=1138512))
Karchana Thermal Power Project ------------------------ 1980 MW (Groundwork Started (http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/Company/Fundamentals/Directors-Report/Jaiprakash-Power-Ventures-Ltd/532627))
Neyveli Lignite ---------------------------------------- 1980 MW (MoU Signed)(Mou Signed Dec 1st - To be setup at Ghatampur, Kanpur) (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/neyveli-to-set2000-mw-plant-in-kanpur/416905/)
Rosa Power Project ------------------------------------ 2400 MW (U/C) (Fastracked and Capacity Doubled (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/r-power-to-double-rosa-project-capacity/417009/))
Total -------------------------------------------------- 15420 MW

sigma ji more news on many power projects and even on Neyveli Lignite's plant and great to see their progress very very fast :cheers:

Neyveli to set up 2,000 Mw plant in Kanpur

Rs 10,000 crore plant to be completed by 2014.

Moving ahead with its ultimate goal of becoming self sufficient in power generation, Uttar Pradesh government today signed an MoU with mini ratna Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) to set up a 2,000 Mw thermal power plant at Ghatampur, Kanpur.

The project is estimated to cost Rs 10,000 crore and entail acquisition of 2,500 acres of land. UP will get 75 per cent of the power generated subject to the approval of central electricity regulatory commission.
The MoU was signed by NLC CMD A R Ansari and UP Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam CMD Navneet Sehgal here.

The project’s equity ratio between Tamil Nadu-based NLC and Nigam will be 51 and 49 per cent respectively, while 70 per cent of the project would be funded by debt and 30 per cent by equity capital.

In recent months, UP has taken the MoU route for power projects totalling almost 10,000 Mw, while work has already started in three other projects at Bara, Karchhna and Meja totalling 4,600 Mw.

State chief secretary Atul Kumar Gupta said the government was hopeful to ramping up its power generation capacity by 1,700 Mw this fiscal and 2,300 Mw next fiscal.

The state government will acquire the land and provide water linkage for the Ghatampur project, Ansari said. The project to be built with energy efficient super critical technology and is proposed to be complete by 2014.

“While initially, the power plant would be of 2,000 Mw capacity, it would be expanded in future,” Sehgal informed.

The project will generate direct and indirect employment opportunities of 800-1000 and 8,000-10,000 respectively and boost the development of ancillary units in the periphery.

Meanwhile, the first boiler of Anpara C project was lit up and is likely to be synchronized within a month contributing 600 Mw of power to the state.

“Besides, another 600 Mw unit is expected to be synchronized by March 2011,” Sehgal added.

source (http://www.business-standard.com/power/news/neyveli-to-set2000-mw-plant-in-kanpur/416905/)

so you can edit the following changes

Neyveli Lignite- land to be acquired chosen and water linkages done

karchana of jaypee- work started

lanco anpara- two units by march 2011(1200 MW)

sigma ji more news on many power projects and even on Neyveli Lignite's plant and great to see their progress very very fast :cheers:



source (http://www.business-standard.com/power/news/neyveli-to-set2000-mw-plant-in-kanpur/416905/)

so you can edit the following changes

Neyveli Lignite- land to be acquired chosen and water linkages done

karchana of jaypee- work started

lanco anpara- two units by march 2011(1200 MW)

Yea - the 2000 MW is infact the 1980 MW in my list. (2000 MW is technically incorrect since the turbines are 660 MW each - thereforce 660x3=1980) - this figure is in the article.
As for Anpara - I have a confusion over The Anpara that is proposed and Anpara C - from the looks of it - these are two different projects (since the semantics of their description indicate different project structures..am scouring the web to make sure this is the case...if u sure they're one and the same..let me know)

As for Anpara - I have a confusion over The Anpara that is proposed and Anpara C - from the looks of it - these are two different projects (since the semantics of their description indicate different project structures..am scouring the web to make sure this is the case...if u sure they're one and the same..let me know)

the lanco anpara=anpara C lanco website (http://www.lancogroup.com/power/underimpli/anpara.html)

and according to their website it is 1200 MW and same is in the article

So Lanco Anpara-c(1200 MW) will be functional by march 2011 :)

^^ Great!! Thanks!! :)

Plenty of updates on the UP Power Scene!!

UP Power Projects

Creative Thermolite Chitrakoot ------------------------- 600 MW (MoU Signed - 4 Nov 2010)[/I]
NTPC Meja ---------------------------------------------- 1320 MW (U/C) (Tenders Invited for Supply of 2x660 MW Turbines (http://tenders.indiamart.com/details/552328547/))
LANCO Bhognipur --------------------------------------- 1320 MW (MoU Signed - 5 Nov 2010)
LANCO Anpara ------------------------------------------ 1860 MW (U/C)(1200 MW to be commissioned in March 2011 (http://www.lancogroup.com/power/underimpli/anpara.html))
Bajaj Hindusthan Lalitpur ------------------------------ 1980 MW (MoU Signed - April 2010)
Jaiprakash Power:
Bara Thermal Power Project (Phase- I) ------------------- 1980 MW (U/C)(Placed Order for three units of 660 MW each from BHEL (http://www.rttnews.com/Content/TopStories.aspx?Id=1138512))
Karchana Thermal Power Project ------------------------ 1980 MW (Groundwork Started (http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/Company/Fundamentals/Directors-Report/Jaiprakash-Power-Ventures-Ltd/532627))
Neyveli Lignite ---------------------------------------- 1980 MW (MoU Signed)(Mou Signed Dec 1st - To be setup at Ghatampur, Kanpur) (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/neyveli-to-set2000-mw-plant-in-kanpur/416905/)
Rosa Power Project ------------------------------------ 2400 MW (U/C) (Fastracked and Capacity Doubled (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/r-power-to-double-rosa-project-capacity/417009/))
Total -------------------------------------------------- 15420 MW

So Reliance Dadri project is out of the window now?

Anil like Amar Singh. Behen ji dislike Anil.

^^ as of now it is on.. only the issue is gas and also land acquisition is moving swiftly

U'khand to boost horticulture with 20,000 'polyhouses'

The mountainous terrain, a fragile environment, small and fragmented holdings, a complete lack of irrigation facilities and poor marketing infrastructure, among other factors, has hampered the growth of horticulture in Uttarakhand.

To overcome these odds, the state government has launched an ambitious project to set up cluster-based modern polyhouses – 20,000 of them by 2013-14 – in the hill state to boost the production of vegetables and flowers. A polyhouse is a protective shade made up of polythene, semi-circular or elongated in shape, and used for growing high-value agricultural products.

Under the chief minister’s Protected Cultivation Scheme, farmers will get 50 per cent Central subsidy under the Horticulture Technology Mission and the remainder of the amount will be available through loans from various banks for setting up polyhouses.

The polyhouses will range in size from 100 sq meters to 300 sq meters.

“This is an ambitious project of the chief minister for which we have already invited technical bids from various companies for providing poly-houses to farmers,” said horticulture secretary Vinod Fonia.

After the technical bids, the government will invite financial bids from these companies, Fonia said. In the first phase, the government has set a target of creating 4,000 polyhouses in the current financial year. The targets for 2011-12 and 2012-13 are 5,000 polyhouses each, rising to 6,000 in 2013-14.

However, Fonia added, “We are running behind our target of setting up 4,000 poly-houses this year. We may not be able to achieve this target due to some problems in vendor selection.”

So far, the state government has received about 700 applications from farmers. According to an official report, the state government has already identified 750 clusters in about 5,000 villages where it sees tremendous scope for the horticulture sector.

Through this project, the government is aiming to increase the productivity of cash crops by four to 10 times. The project will also provide support for capacity building among local youth and employ local artisans in the construction of polyhouses.

source (http://www.business-standard.com/sme/storypage.php?autono=417276)

^^ Wait - is this (Reliance 5500MW) Dadri Project different from the one that started delivering power to Delhi for the CWG right - just to confirm?If Yes - Then Any point in adding Reliance Dadri to the list? Its a massive project but a lot cobwebs exist - its a huge friggin' behemoth and am tempted to add it...what say you all?

NVM ^^ Found this!! The Reliance Dadri project has been bumped up to 7480 MW !!! :banana:


Reliance Power applies to Power Ministry for gas allocation

MUMBAI: Anil Ambani owned Reliance Power's projects are getting a fresh lease of life and this time from the Ministry of Power . The government is inviting fresh applications this month for power plants which will get special recommendation by the Power Ministry for gas allocation in the 12th Five Year Plan. Reliance Power has applied for gas allocation for two of its biggest power projects in Dadri and Jambusar.

“We have already got applications for 120 power projects. After processing the applications, the Power Ministry will recommend these power plants for gas allocation to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas,” a top Central Electricity Authority (CEA) official told ET Now asking not to be quoted.

The criteria for selection of the power projects will be based on the following - 30 per cent weightage to land availability, 20 per cent to projects located in states facing acute coal shortage, 20 per cent to projects using sea water instead of fresh water, 20 per cent to efficiency of the plant and 10 per cent to environmental clearance.

According to CEA documents, Reliance Power’s Dadri plant of 7480 MW capacity already has land available. The company’s 7200 MW Jambusar plant has already been allotted 1900 acres land and transfer of land is in progress. The Jambusar plant will also use sea water for its operation. The two plants have massive gas requirement. Dadri has requested 35.90 mmscmd and Jambusar 34.56 mmscmd of gas.

Reliance Power stock soared 8.89 per cent to Rs 188.69 on the Bombay Stock Exchange on Thursday. If Reliance Power is selected by Power Ministry for recommendation to the Petroleum ministry then it will get a priority in gas allocation.

This could be a huge advantage for Reliance Power which needs gas to begin raising funds for its Dadri plant which had been stuck due to litigation. Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group’s (ADAG) Reliance Natural Resources had been fighting a legal battle with brother Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries for gas allocation.

The Supreme Court delivered its verdict in this landmark case on May 7 this year after which the two companies signed a Gas Sale Master Agreement on 25 June 2010. RIL announcement had said “The agreement will be subject to government’s gas utilization policy and Empowered Group of Ministers (EGOM) decision.”

EGOM is currently discussing gas allocation for power projects until 2012 which includes ADAG’s 2,400 MW Samalkot expansion project in Andhra Pradesh. Simultaneously, Power Ministry is also preparing a policy for gas allocation to power projects in the 12th Plan.

Other companies which have also applied for getting Power Ministry’s recommendations include NTPC, Tata Power, JSW Energy , GMR Infra and Lanco Infratech. The application deadline is November 20.


Source : Link (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/power/Reliance-Power-applies-to-Power-Ministry-for-gas-allocation/articleshow/6909521.cms)

UP Power Projects

Creative Thermolite Chitrakoot ----------------------- 600 MW (MoU Signed - 4 Nov 2010)[/I]
NTPC Meja ------------------------------------------------- 1320 MW (U/C) (Tenders Invited for Supply of 2x660 MW Turbines (http://tenders.indiamart.com/details/552328547/))
LANCO Bhognipur ---------------------------------------- 1320 MW (MoU Signed - 5 Nov 2010)
LANCO Anpara -------------------------------------------- 1860 MW (U/C)(1200 MW to be commissioned in March 2011 (http://www.lancogroup.com/power/underimpli/anpara.html))
Bajaj Hindusthan Lalitpur ------------------------------ 1980 MW (Land Acquisition in Progress)
Jaiprakash Power:
Bara Thermal Power Project (Phase- I) ----------------- 1980 MW (U/C)(Placed Order for three units of 660 MW each from BHEL (http://www.rttnews.com/Content/TopStories.aspx?Id=1138512))
Karchana Thermal Power Project ------------------------ 1980 MW (Groundwork Started (http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/Company/Fundamentals/Directors-Report/Jaiprakash-Power-Ventures-Ltd/532627))
Neyveli Lignite Power Project ----------------------- 1980 MW (MoU Signed)(Mou Signed Dec 1st - To be setup at Ghatampur, Kanpur) (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/neyveli-to-set2000-mw-plant-in-kanpur/416905/)
Rosa Power Project ------------------------------------- 2400 MW (U/C)(Fastracked and Capacity Doubled (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/r-power-to-double-rosa-project-capacity/417009/))
Reliance Dadri Power Project ------------------------ 7480 MW (U/C) (All requisite Land Acquired - Gas Supply under negotiations (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/power/Reliance-Power-applies-to-Power-Ministry-for-gas-allocation/articleshow/6909521.cms))

Total ----------------------------------------------- 22900 MW

^^ dadri plant was always 7480 MW but was reduced to 5500 MW due to gas problems.. and after KG gas matter was solved it was again increased to 7480 MW

but i doubt that it is U/C because it is not in the projects at the site of reliance power as well as reliance infra...

and yes it is different from the dadri NTPC which is i think of 1980 MW(not sure though)

^^ Ok - I'll keep it on until we hear the word "scrapped". I'm optimistic since its usually a sign of successful execution when a project is situated in a zone/corridor/city/town that already has another project successfully implemented. The locals aren't that unaware of the pros and cons and land acquisition, which should be a big issue for "virgin" territories shouldn't be an issue the second time around...

Still - almost 23000 MW for UP. Who'd have though ten years ago UP - which was literally powerless -would be aiming to become power surplus? Mayawati seems to be doing a marvellous job - at least where electricity is concerned..

Talks on with NTPC for setting up of 2,000 mw unit in Bilhaur

LUCKNOW: If talks materialise, the state might have another power generation unit in Bilhaur area. The unit will have a capacity of at least 2,000 megawatts that may amply contribute in improving the power scenario of Uttar Pradesh.

Talks to this effect took place between officials from UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) and their counterparts in the National Thermal Power Corporation ( NTPC). Though the two parties have not come to a conclusion, UPPCL chief Navneet Seghal has offered that if NTPC allocates 70% of the power generated from the unit to UP, there may be a deal.

Sehgal also reviewed the progress of various projects undertaken by the corporation to strengthen the transmission network in the state. Directing officials, he said that in order to eliminate overloading, a robust infrastructure was needed. Thus, the work must be taken up on war-footing.

Read more: Talks on with NTPC for setting up of 2,000 mw unit in Bilhaur - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Talks-on-with-NTPC-for-setting-up-of-2000-mw-unit-in-Bilhaur-/articleshow/7068179.cms#ixzz17aj1yO8X

looks like maya has gone :nuts:

^^ I remember, around 15 years ago - we used to go to Meerut, Lucknow and Muzzafarnagar - and the people there used witness 10-12 hours of power cuts (lesser in Lucknow but still) - every fifteen twenty minutes!! watching Cricket was the most frustrating experience ever....
Those days - people used to laugh when people suggested that the govt should construct power plants. it was an IMPOSSIBILITY !! No scope of further discussion. Summers were a misery!! How much has changed...

^^ two more-2230 MW :nuts:

UP govt signs two MoUs for 2230 MW power generation

Uttar Pradesh government today signed two MoUs with Bajaj Hindustan and Parekh Aluminex for generation of 2230 MW power in the state.

Secretary Power, Navneet Sehgal signed the MoUs with Bajaj Hindustan Vice Chairman Kushagra Bajaj for setting up 1980 MW power plant at Bargarh (Chitrakoot) with the cost of Rs 10 thousand crore and Parek Aluminex Director Vineet Parekh for setting up of 250 MW power plant costing Rs 1250 crore at Fatehgarh.

All these projects would be completed by 2014-15 and would provide direct job opportunities to 1200-1500 people and indirect employment of Rs 10-15 thousand people, Chief Secretary Atul Kumar Gupta said.

Sehgal on the occasion said that by 2014 the state would become power surplus and people of the state would get 24 hours power supply.

source (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/up-govt-signs-two-mous-for-2230-mw-power-generation/119197/on)

@sigma some news on lalitpur Bajaj Hindustan

The work on the acquisition of land on this plant is on, while the coal linkage application is pending with the Centre. It is likely to be commissioned in 2014.

and you may add this also in your list

Besides, on January 14, 2010, the company had signed an MoU for cogeneration of 90 Mw each at five of its sugar mills, totaling 450 Mw. Bajaj controls 16 mills in Uttar Pradesh

source (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/bajaj-hindusthan-inks-mouup-for-rs-10-k-crore-power-plant/418296/)

^^ Done. I had those sugar mills plants in my list earlier. I know for a fact that those plans are strictly on experimental turf (one of my relatives owns a mill that's vying for its own captive plant) - the government is talking about them - but is not ready to supply evacuation infrastructure. It probably means these plants will scale down the capacity to 5-10 MW for its own limited consumption.

@sigma some news on lalitpur Bajaj Hindustan



and you may add this also in your list



source (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/bajaj-hindusthan-inks-mouup-for-rs-10-k-crore-power-plant/418296/)

Also - the Chitrakoot plant mentioned in that news source, thats new right? The only other Chitrakoot plant ive heard of is in the list....

Also - the Chitrakoot plant mentioned in that news source, thats new right? The only other Chitrakoot plant ive heard of is in the list....

yup its new

UP Power Projects

Parek Aluminex ------------------------------------- 250 MW (MoU Signed - 14 Dec 2010 (http://news.chennaionline.com/newsitem.aspx?NEWSID=b4418913-1ebc-4d70-82bc-591a39d7033d&CATEGORYNAME=BIZ))
Creative Thermolite Chitrakoot --------------------- 600 MW (MoU Signed - 4 Nov 2010)[/I]
NTPC Meja ------------------------------------------ 1320 MW (U/C) (Tenders Invited for Supply of 2x660 MW Turbines (http://tenders.indiamart.com/details/552328547/))
LANCO:
Bhognipur ------------------------------------------- 1320 MW (MoU Signed - 5 Nov 2010)
Anpara ---------------------------------------------- 1860 MW (U/C)(1200 MW to be commissioned in March 2011 (http://www.lancogroup.com/power/underimpli/anpara.html))
Bajaj Hindusthan:
Lalitpur ---------------------------------------------- 1980 MW (Land Acquisition in Progress (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/bajaj-hindusthan-inks-mouup-for-rs-10-k-crore-power-plant/418296/))
Chitrakoot ------------------------------------------- 1980 MW (MoU Signed - Dec 15th (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/bajaj-hindusthan-inks-mouup-for-rs-10-k-crore-power-plant/418296/))
Jaiprakash Power:
Bara Thermal Power Project (Phase- I) ---------------- 1980 MW (U/C)(Placed Order for three units of 660 MW each from BHEL (http://www.rttnews.com/Content/TopStories.aspx?Id=1138512))
Karchana Thermal Power Project ---------------------- 1980 MW (Groundwork Started (http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/Company/Fundamentals/Directors-Report/Jaiprakash-Power-Ventures-Ltd/532627))
Neyveli Lignite Power Project ----------------------- 1980 MW (MoU Signed)(Mou Signed Dec 1st - To be setup at Ghatampur, Kanpur) (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/neyveli-to-set2000-mw-plant-in-kanpur/416905/)
Reliance:
Rosa Power Project ----------------------------------- 2400 MW (U/C)(Fastracked and Capacity Doubled (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/r-power-to-double-rosa-project-capacity/417009/))
Dadri Power Project ----------------------------------- 7480 MW (U/C) (All requisite Land Acquired - Gas Supply under negotiations (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/power/Reliance-Power-applies-to-Power-Ministry-for-gas-allocation/articleshow/6909521.cms))

Total ------------------------------------------------ 25130 MW

One more addition to the flock.

UP signs two MoUs for 2230 MW power generation

Lucknow, Dec 14 Uttar Pradesh government today signed two MoUs with Bajaj Hindustan and Parekh Aluminex for generation of 2230 MW power in the state.

Secretary Power, Navneet Sehgal signed the MoUs with Bajaj Hindustan Vice Chairman Kushagra Bajaj for setting up 1980 MW power plant at Bargarh (Chitrakoot) with the cost of Rs 10 thousand crore and Parek Aluminex Director Vineet Parekh for setting up of 250 MW power plant costing Rs 1250 crore at Fatehgarh.

All these projects would be completed by 2014-15 and would provide direct job opportunities to 1200-1500 people and indirect employment of Rs 10-15 thousand people, Chief Secretary Atul Kumar Gupta said.

Sehgal on the occasion said that by 2014 the state would become power surplus and people of the state would get 24 hours power supply. - (Agencies)


Source : Link (http://news.chennaionline.com/newsitem.aspx?NEWSID=b4418913-1ebc-4d70-82bc-591a39d7033d&CATEGORYNAME=BIZ)

And the hits just KEEP ON COMING!! Guess soon as I get some more info on the extension - I'll bump up the Bajaj Hindustan portfolio!!! :banana:


A meeting of the energy task force here on Friday decided to grant approval to sugar major Bajaj Hindusthan to set up a 1,980-mw power plant in Bargad and also allow it to set up an extension at the Lalitpur power plant. It may be recalled that the state government had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Bajaj Hindusthan group in April this year, in which the group was to set up a 1,980-mw capacity plant in Lalitpur district of Bundelkhand.

Along with the extension, the project will be of almost 4,000 mw capacity, very close to the figure that was originally sought to be set up by the NTPC at the behest of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

With this, Bundelkhand will now have two powerhouses, Bargad (1,980 mw) and another in Lalitpur (3,960 mw).


Source : Link (http://financialexpress.com/news/four-power-projects-in-up-get-etf-nod/716734/0)

UP plans megapolis along Yamuna Expressway

In an out of-the-box way of policy-making which creates an urban zone 10 times the size of Noida, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to convert the entire rural belt along the Greater Noida-Agra expressway into an urban zone, making it the biggest such plan attempted in India. The Mayawati government issued a notification on Monday bringing 1,187 villages spanning six districts along the Yamuna Expressway under the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority, cutting short a process that would otherwise have taken years.
In terms of size, this will be bigger than Greater Noida or Delhi, its nearest competitors. The decision is expected to prevent the haphazard growth of urban sprawls on the flanks of new highways. The state government has decided to notify an area of 10-15 km on the left of the almost-finished Yamuna Expressway and up to the river Yamuna on the right side, for “organised and well planned development”.

Uttar Pradesh principal secretary (industrial development) VN Garg told FE that this is one of the most ambitious efforts of the state government in transforming a rural area into an urban one, which will also serve as a corridor for industrial and infrastructural development. “At present, it is a transitional phase and the evolution from rural to urban will take time, but we see immense scope of growth in this area. In fact, some of the work has already started. The construction of Agra Ring Road is in progress, the Formula One racing track is getting ready for 2011 championship, plans for developing five townships along the Expressway are in progress and a lot of urban development work is being carried out by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority, including the setting up of a gas-based power plant. Such large-scale activities take their time, but progress has been steady,” he said.

Mayawati’s plan ensures a far higher rate of compensation to farmers for their land, as these will now be classified as urban areas. An integrated development plan will also offer industry the chance to make a long-term assessment of the potential of the entire stretch and the state government assured of rising revenues for a long time, as the area turns into either a complex of small bustling industrial cities or one large metropolis.

The plan will cover approximately 2,36,682 hectares in 1187 villages, (131 in Gautam Budh Nagar, 40 in Bulanshahr, 105 in Aligarh, 420 in Maha Maya Nagar, 431 in Mathura and 60 in Agra).

The infrastructure building along the expressway may also trigger further private development and buttress the state government’s plans to set up an international airport at Jewar.

“This is perhaps one of the most imaginative projects to come up in the country. What’s more important, at one go, the specifics of an area of 2,36,682 hectares with a population of about 20,96,860 will be changed. If everything goes according to plan, the future is mind-boggling and the result worth watching over a period of time,” said another official associated with the project. He said this project is almost 10 times bigger than Noida.

However, putting to rest fears that farmers will have to forgo their land for this ambitious project, Garg completely ruled out the acquisition of land in this notified area and said that the purpose is to have a “planned development for industrial and infrastructure purposes and farmers need not be apprehensive about their land. On the contrary, such development will add value to their land,” he stated.

However, there are detractors who have already started voicing concerns over such a vast tract of rural, agrarian land turning urban as also of an urban, industrial area which is yet to have any of the urban facilities. There are also concerns of the rural economy being shattered and food security. But for all this, the state government’s only response is that urbanisation is the only way to the future. “With a growing population, transition from rural to urban is the only way forward and what we are aiming is to do so in an organised, planned manner, with phased activities,” added Garg.

source (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/up-plans-megapolis-along-yamuna-expressway/724820/0)

:nuts:

Mayawati is going nuts totally...entire Lucknow is dug up for renovation which includes better sewage system and underground communication and electrical systems....renovation of roadside stuff and three multi level car parks U/C!!!!!looks like a chunk of pre CWG delhi has come to Lucknow!!!

Ganj makeover will complete before new year: SAC chief

LUCKNOW: BSP national general secretary and chairman of State Advisory Council (SAC), Satish Chandra Mishra on Sunday reiterated that the civic authorities were committed to get the renovation of Hazratganj completed before the new year. Mishra, who was inspecting the ongoing civil works in the locality, promised that the renovated Hazratganj would be dedicated to the public as soon as possible.

He, however, said that it was up to the traders as to how soon they complete renovation of the buildings. Mishra's projection comes in the wake of the traders fixing December 26 as the date for holding grand celebrations in the wake of the UP market completing 200 years of existence.

Notably, Mishra had flagged off the renovation in July after consistent efforts of traders to convince the state government about the importance of the market bore fruit.

Earlier in the day, traffic through the market was put under restriction even as the civic works went full steam. It was around 11am that the BSP leader visited the market with a host of senior administrative officials. The officials visited various parts of the market and took stock of the ongoing civil works.

The officials also interacted with the traders and asked them to get their share of work completed in time.

Traders were under pressure of getting the buildings renovated while the civil works are carried on. But the renovation work was hampered after the road was dug up, first for constructing a storm water drain and then for trenches on both the sides. It was only after a significant stretch of the road along the market was covered up, that renovation of buildings started.



Times of India

@sigma the list we have made is only of private players... there will be projects from state board as well :cheers:

Unitech Machines wins 250-MW power plant contract

Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Unitech Machines Ltd (UMT) for setting up a 250-MW coal-fired power plant in Auraiya district.

The company will invest Rs1,250 crore to set up the proposed plant at Auraiya. The project has a contractual completion deadline of four years and 90% of the electricity produced would be utilised within the state.

source (http://www.moneylife.in/article/8/12351.html)

looks like it is project a week for maya :nuts:

@sigma the list we have made is only of private players... there will be projects from state board as well :cheers:



source (http://www.moneylife.in/article/8/12351.html)

looks like it is project a week for maya :nuts:

Yes!! I don't care if she's making money in the process. As long as these gets built - she's due for a Nobel Prize IMO!! She's surely turning my homestate from the shithole that it was to the almost respectable entity its becoming. UP still has a looooooong way to go - but such progress was unheard of a decade ago....

Yes!! I don't care if she's making money in the process. As long as these gets built - she's due for a Nobel Prize IMO!! She's surely turning my homestate from the shithole that it was to the almost respectable entity its becoming. UP still has a looooooong way to go - but such progress was unheard of a decade ago....

I'd wait for the results before getting my expectations up. If she indeed gets all this stuff done, I will respect her forever, and will even vote BSP if she contests in Bangalore next time. My initial impression of her was very low, with the spree of statue building and all that, but things seem better now. Keeping my fingers crossed.

I'd wait for the results before getting my expectations up. If she indeed gets all this stuff done.

well this is happening we will have a six lane expressway by next year and also have a F1 race in UP next year!!!! :cheers:

The development in UP, Bihar , orissa , WB , MP and chattisgarh really makes me happy .

I hope all these get build ... Bihar is also suddenly on a power plant building spree after roads in last five years and my home state of Jharkhand is also planning to sell its defunct power plants to NTPC . Its all great news .. :banana:

^^ your state jharkhand will be power surplus within 6 months as maithon power project goes online by max jun 2011(click here and see in growth plans (http://www.tatapower.com/media-corner/presslease/pdf/fy11-q2-financial-results-12nov-10.pdf))

:cheers:

^^ your state jharkhand will be power surplus within 6 months as maithon power project goes online by max jun 2011(click here and see in growth plans (http://www.tatapower.com/media-corner/presslease/pdf/fy11-q2-financial-results-12nov-10.pdf))

:cheers:

Is that all? Jharkhand was 1000 MW deficient? I know that industrial development as well as rural electrification is still low compared to others - perhaps that contributes to lower per capita electricity usage!!

^^ jharkhand needs about 800-1200 MW and has a shortfall 200-300 MW(i may be wrong though) and i am sure that maithon will at least give 35-45% power to jharkhand so yes that will be enough IMO and if not then by 2012 Q1 we will get adhunik thermal power plant of 300-400 MW and the industries mostly steel plants have their captive plants so they do not need power from state grid

Department of Industries and Infrastructure Development of UP has website updated daily with information of some of key infrastructure projects.

http://udyogbandhu.up.nic.in/

Status of different projects under implementation

http://udyogbandhu.up.nic.in/ppp_status.htm

In Power sector UP govt is absolutely clear that govt wont do any investment and everthing will be developed in private sector. About Generation many have posted information of different projects. UP is first state to go for private investemnt in transmission. In distribution agra is already handed over and kanpur is in pipeline which will happen after 2012 elections if BSP wins elections. If mayawati wins next election we will see almost all major cities will be handed over to private player.

Only after Gujarat UP is working to divide agriculture power distribution from commercial / residential distribution. This will significantly reduce lossess.
UP is only 3rd state to have dedicate police force to prevent power thefts and this year alone 35,000 raids were done to stop power theft.
If everthing falls in place in next 3-5 years we will see all in UP will gte 24hrs power without voltage fluctuations.



well this is happening we will have a six lane expressway by next year and also have a F1 race in UP next year!!!! :cheers:

http://www.upeida.in/




[QUOTE=m_1973;69146529]Department of Industries and Infrastructure Development of UP has website updated daily with information of some of key infrastructure projects.

http://udyogbandhu.up.nic.in/

Status of different projects under implementation

http://udyogbandhu.up.nic.in/ppp_status.htm

Department of Industries and Infrastructure Development of UP has website updated daily with information of some of key infrastructure projects.

http://udyogbandhu.up.nic.in/

Status of different projects under implementation

http://udyogbandhu.up.nic.in/ppp_status.htm

In Power sector UP govt is absolutely clear that govt wont do any investment and everthing will be developed in private sector. About Generation many have posted information of different projects. UP is first state to go for private investemnt in transmission. In distribution agra is already handed over and kanpur is in pipeline which will happen after 2012 elections if BSP wins elections. If mayawati wins next election we will see almost all major cities will be handed over to private player.

Only after Gujarat UP is working to divide agriculture power distribution from commercial / residential distribution. This will significantly reduce lossess.
UP is only 3rd state to have dedicate police force to prevent power thefts and this year alone 35,000 raids were done to stop power theft.
If everthing falls in place in next 3-5 years we will see all in UP will gte 24hrs power without voltage fluctuations.
:banana:
Is BIMARU going to be history soon? I think so....!!!

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/destination-urban-pradesh/726940/

In Uttar Pradesh, the biggest state in the country, the pressure to transform cities and provide them with a workable infrastructure is getting stronger. Especially when seen in the context that out of the 5,161 cities in India, 704 are in UP and out of these 704, 54 cities with more than one lakh population have 60 per cent urban population and another 505 cities with 10,000 to one lakh population have 37 per cent urban population. Fifty-nine per cent of the state’s GDP comes from urban areas, and 70 per cent of all new jobs are created in urban centres


But while the decision to create a grand megapolis may be the latest path-breaking decision of the Mayawati government, it is definitely not the first. Only recently, the state government had embarked on its bold, first-in-the-country initiative to outsource the implementation of the annuity scheme of its new and progressive resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) policy to land owners and farmers to private financial institutions, mainly banks and insurance companies.

Complete document on R&R policy can be downloaded from Udyog Bandhu website








:banana:
Is BIMARU going to be history soon? I think so....!!!

Is that all? Jharkhand was 1000 MW deficient? I know that industrial development as well as rural electrification is still low compared to others - perhaps that contributes to lower per capita electricity usage!!


Jharkhand is a small state with population of around 2.2 crores and also is very sparsely industrialized ans as SSCaddict said most of the big steel plants like Bokaro and Jamshedpur have captive power plants. Also rural electrification is low and agricultural usage of electricity is minimal.

The state govt jsut had 2 poer plants ( tenughat and patratu) and both only run at like 20% of capacity generating around 2-300MW of electricity. The state Govt. is also planning to give 76% of stake in these power plants to NTPC.

Hopefully we will have ample electricity soon in Jharkhand !!

For BIMARU states to come out of backwardness corruption and population growth has to be checked.

Contrary to popular perception that Mayawati is one of most corrupt politician some significant steps are taken in past 3years to check corruption in most of departments.

First of its kind initiative in India UP govt recruited 39,000 police personal based on absolutely transparent & merit based system. The initiative was ver well appreciated by Home Minister & few state govt now wants to replicate it.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Police-recruitment-mired-in-corruption-Union-home-secretary/articleshow/7134888.cms

People do not get recruited as constables and sub-inspectors unless money is paid and, therefore, the first level at which you have to stop corruption is at this recruitment process."

Pillai however said he was happy at the recruitment processes in Uttar Pradesh being "very transparent."

"I am happy to state that in Uttar Pradesh...39,000 constables were recruited, I think in a very transparent and merit-based manner," he said.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/up-among-top-2-domestic-investment-destinations/419089/


Uttar Pradesh registered a growth of 75 per cent (year-on-year) and 4.7 per cent share of total investment commitments made during April-September 2010-11.

According to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) Investment Meter (AIM), Uttar Pradesh attracted massive investment plans of about Rs 2,05,000 crore during the first half. Power and services were prominent sectors which attracted major investments.

Among the top 20 investment attracting states, Karnataka has emerged as a preferred destination with the highest share of over nine per cent in domestic investment plans.

According to the AIM assessment for corporate investments across states and sectors, total investment plans of India Incorporated increased significantly from Rs 7,970,000 crore in 2009 to Rs 10,097,000 crore during the current financial year.

The availability of rich mineral resources like coal and iron ore along with cheap availability of manpower helped Jharkhand rank amongst the top three states in attracting corporate investments.

Gujarat and Orissa secured fourth and fifth position by attracting investment plans worth Rs 1,96,000 crore and Rs 1,91,000 crore respectively.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/up-among-top-2-domestic-investment-destinations/419089/


Uttar Pradesh registered a growth of 75 per cent (year-on-year) and 4.7 per cent share of total investment commitments made during April-September 2010-11.

According to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) Investment Meter (AIM), Uttar Pradesh attracted massive investment plans of about Rs 2,05,000 crore during the first half. Power and services were prominent sectors which attracted major investments.

Among the top 20 investment attracting states, Karnataka has emerged as a preferred destination with the highest share of over nine per cent in domestic investment plans.

According to the AIM assessment for corporate investments across states and sectors, total investment plans of India Incorporated increased significantly from Rs 7,970,000 crore in 2009 to Rs 10,097,000 crore during the current financial year.

The availability of rich mineral resources like coal and iron ore along with cheap availability of manpower helped Jharkhand rank amongst the top three states in attracting corporate investments.

Gujarat and Orissa secured fourth and fifth position by attracting investment plans worth Rs 1,96,000 crore and Rs 1,91,000 crore respectively.

That's odd - I read somewhere that GUJARAT and MAHA came 1st and 2nd in the overall category!! Would be great if UP came out trumps for a change - but I really don't think its the case - Let me see if I can dig up that thread - its in SSC!!

del

Agra outsources door-to-door garbage collection to private firm

Residents and visitors to Agra, the city of the Taj Mahal, can hope to have a cleaner city with the local municipality outsourcing door-to-door garbage collection to a private company.

The Agra Municipal Corporation has collaborated to operate a network to lift and transfer municipal waste and domestic garbage and process it into an alternative energy source.

'An agreement between the corporation, Ultra Urban Infrateck Ltd and Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam has been signed. The Kuberpur solid waste management plant will become functional soon,' Municipal commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey told IANS.

Door-to-door collection of garbage will be funded by levying user charges which will be collected by the private company. The firm will have to lift and transport at least 80 percent of the municipal garbage daily, failing which a penalty will be imposed, officials said.

According to an estimate, the city of 1.6 million generates around 750 tonnes of domestic garbage daily. The corporation has already worked out a deal with the manufacturers of petha sweets in the city for disposal of their waste material for a fee.

Similar arrangements are being worked out with other major polluters.

'The catch is whether the residents of the city would agree to pay a user charge to the company. Many are already questioning the motives of the corporation which collects house tax and various other levies from the citizens,' social activist Ravi Singh told IANS.

The corporation has continued with its anti-polythene drive, confiscating several quintals of plastic bags each day over the past fortnight.

'Now both the retailers and consumers are coming forward to support the ban. This will make a significant difference to the level of cleanliness in the city in the coming days. We have no intention of easing pressure, but will begin fining those found using polythene,' Municipal Commissioner Pandey said.

source (http://www.sify.com/news/agra-outsources-door-to-door-garbage-collection-to-private-firm-news-national-km2qajcaafe.html)

UP govt clears 4 new mega thermal power plants

Four new thermal power plants of 1320 MW each will be set up in Uttar Pradesh to meet the growing energy needs of the state.

A high profile government body, Energy task Force (ETF), approved setting up of the power plants in the state, official sources said.

A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting held by ETF Chairman and UP Chief Secretary Atul Kumar Gupta.

It was decided that MOUs in this direction would be signed soon, they said adding that the four plants would have total capacity of 1320 MW each.

While NTPC will be setting up thermal power plant in Bihlaur, Kanpur, private companies Torrent Power will setup a plant in Sandila, Wellspun Energy in Ghazipur and TSBC in Khurja, they said.

source (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/UP-govt-clears-4-new-mega-thermal-power-plants/730652)

OMG!! :banana::banana::banana:

Taj city hopes for cleaner, greener 2011

The city of the Taj can look forward to a whole lot of new developments in 2011, from banning of polythene bags, a much-needed war on encroachments around historical monuments, streamlining traffic and completion of the vital Yamuna Expressway.

The once Mughal capital seems headed to transforming into a modern metropolis.

The most important development is the banning of polythene bags from Jan 1, announced by the Agra Municipal Corporation.

The other new year initiatives are: war against encroachments by district authorities in tandem with the Archaeological Survey of India to free historical monuments of trespassers and a comprehensive scientific plan to streamline traffic movement in the city from Jan 1.

A lot of groundwork has gone into reducing pollution, improving water supply and cleaning up the place. The Japanese Bank has committed to funding the laying of a conduit line from a Ganges canal to divert 140 cusecs of water for Agra. Work on the project is likely to be completed in 2011.

Agra residents are keenly watching the fate of these major initiatives which in the past have always been stalled or fallen flat for want of support from political decision-makers. 'This time the district officials have been clever in roping in the local leaders and the corporators of the municipal body,' Surendra Sharma, president of the Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society, told IANS.

Municipal commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey says, 'We will overcome. This time people of Agra are supporting our initiatives.'

The Yamuna-Express way, a project of Jaypee Cement, to link Agra and Greater Noida on the outskirts of the national capital, is likely to be completed in the new year. Earlier it was expected to be completed before the Commonwealth Games in October, but land acquisition disputes and farmers' agitation delayed the project. Once completed, tourists would be able to zip into Agra in just one-and-a-half hours.

Agra has already got a new fleet of around 60 CNG run-Marco Polo buses. The city commuters have begun switching over to these buses from the ubiquitous auto-rickshaws. Several projects under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNRUM) are set to upgrade civic amenities in 2011.

The annual 10-day festival Taj Mahotsava promises to be a grand affair. The authorities have for the first time made efforts to involve the local people in the decision-making process and in selecting the theme and the artistes by popular consent. The tourism industry showed signs of resurgence after years of lull. Most hotels have reported full occupancy in the new year. Some have taken advantage of the space crunch by inflating room tariffs.

The tourism industry is also waiting for the international airport project to take off. The airport would help tourists land directly in Agra without touching down in New Delhi. An extra day added to their itinerary would mean longer stay in Agra and therefore higher spending. 'But the political bosses in the state seem bent on siting the new airport at Jewar (100 km from Agra close to the Yamuna Expressway), evidently to help the Jaypee group,' tourism industry leader Sandeep Arora told IANS.

The Taj Mahal, Agra's and India's main tourist draw, is to get a new facilities centre in the new year to ensure there is no chaos at the main entrances. Security too will be stepped up. Free ambulance and medical aid would be made available from January.

For the builders the recent buoyancy in the real estate market is expected to boost this sector. Quite a few half-finished projects are waiting for customers, even offering attractive schemes. At least three new malls are ready for opening as well as a couple of new hotels on Fatehabad road tourist complex. A dozen township projects by big builders like Unitech and Parsvanath are coming up near the Shamshabad-Fatehabad Road.

On the power front, the situation appears to have improved after the private discom Torrent took over in April.

The polluted waters of the Yamuna river have grabbed international attention. Seven years after the Supreme Court blocked the Taj Corridor project, which envisaged the construction of an entertainment and shopping complex, debris of the ill-conceived project is yet to be removed and the river cleaned up. The forest department claims there has been a marked reduction in air pollution after the closure of some polluting industries.

The past year was full of problems, from floods to dengue and swine flu scare. But Agraites hope the coming year will be better

source (http://www.sify.com/news/taj-city-hopes-for-cleaner-greener-2011-news-national-km4kEgbcbgh.html)

Oh man - this is fantastic - I remember Agra from college days! When Yanni came to perform - they tried cleaning it up - it was better than before - but it was so filthy and everything had been done so poorly - I wondered what agra LOOKED like before that attempt!!
Looks like Mayawati's trumped in this one too!! Now if only they would extend such lagrasse to eastern UP as well - which is really is in a poor poor shape!!

Welspun, Torrent Power, NTPC & THDC sign MoUs with UP govt for power plant (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/power/welspun-torrent-power-ntpc--thdc-sign-mous-with-up-govt-for-power-plant/articleshow/7202523.cms)


LUCKNOW: The Welspun group, Torrent Power, NTPC and THDC have signed separate MoU’s with the Uttar Pradesh government to set up four power plants of 1,320 MW each in the state. The companies would invest Rs 26,400 crores over the next 4-5 years and when commissioned would together generate 5,280Mw of power.

The $3 billion home textile to infrastructure major Welspun group would be setting up a 1,320 MW thermal power plant in the backward district of Ghazipur. The project would entail an investment of Rs 6,600 crore and would supply 100 per cent of the power generated to the state government, said Managing Director, Welspun Energy Ltd, Vineet Mittal. Work on the plant would begin in 18 months time and power generation would commence from 2016.

Oh man - this is fantastic - I remember Agra from college days! When Yanni came to perform - they tried cleaning it up - it was better than before - but it was so filthy and everything had been done so poorly - I wondered what agra LOOKED like before that attempt!!
Looks like Mayawati's trumped in this one too!! Now if only they would extend such lagrasse to eastern UP as well - which is really is in a poor poor shape!!

infra wise east up is better than west but its people are poorer!!!almost every major power plant of up is in east up plus the roads their are also very good and the region has higher literacy rate too but lots of crime and poverty!!!

infra wise east up is better than west but its people are poorer!!!almost every major power plant of up is in east up plus the roads their are also very good and the region has higher literacy rate too but lots of crime and poverty!!!

Tell me about it. I've been to Gorakhpur, Bjijnor and those two towns (amongst others) can really put one into depression!!!

I think they should change the name of all districts of UP. I feel they have just named them for the sake of naming. Like aa big family with 10-11 children and naming them ramesh,suresh,tharkesh,rakesh,mala,kamla,sunita,anita etc.

Tell me about it. I've been to Gorakhpur, Bjijnor and those two towns (amongst others) can really put one into depression!!!

bijnor is in western UP!!!!and gorakhpur is a very nice city with some really gud things first is its railway station only and villages in gorakhpur have really good roads!!!and gorakhpur,is the central station for NE railways which is busiest of all in Indian Railways!!!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Indian_Railways_network.png

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/5096699160_926f6c756f.jpg

Old Kool, if you live there, why donot u take fotos and post here. we donot have fotos of awadh and poorvanchal area of Ootpardesh

Thank you

^^ ya sure but for Lucnow only buddy!!!be prepared for some cool pics!!

Ok. I am.

bijnor is in western UP!!!!and gorakhpur is a very nice city with some really gud things first is its railway station only and villages in gorakhpur have really good roads!!!and gorakhpur,is the central station for NE railways which is busiest of all in Indian Railways!!!


Yep - I know bijnor is in WUP. Its Gorakhpur that I really wanted to highlight. ITs where my Grandfather stayed for most of his life - and the last District Magistrate was my relative. We've been there (not in the past 4 years) many many times , more than 35 to 40 times over the past two decades. Winds of change didn't seem to be touching it - In short - It's not what I would call a pleasant place to live in. To a person STAYING there - heaven begins at home. And my critique of that town and many others used to be directed at DM-saab as well !!

However, if things have changed dramatically in the past 4 years - please do elaborate! Pics would certainly help to clear any misconceptions!
My point is NOT to deride a place - it is, after all, my ancestral city!! The point is - its vapid criticism of place that helps highlight its abundant weakness, and hopefully get the powers-that-be to do something. Chest thumping on very few good points only leads to decadence - a valuable lesson my relative taught me! According to him, most civil servants in Gorakhpur (and the rest of UP for that matter) are SO corrupt and inept and political - that getting anything to barely function is considered a miracle!!!

FYI - Citing a Railway Station as an example does NOT highlight a place's highpoint!! And I've seen Gorakhpur Junction many times - its nothing to be proud of (though its better than the nightmares of Gonda and others) - and THUS neither should it be used as an argumentative item to highlight a place! Heres' the gorakhpur railway station!

http://blogmandu.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/gorakhpur_rail_station_02.jpg?w=500
http://blogmandu.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/filling_water_indian_railway_platform.jpg?w=500

^^^hmm well i ve been their recently and the city seemed quite decent to me..maybe i was expecting it to be a S-hole !

infra wise east up is better than west but its people are poorer!!!almost every major power plant of up is in east up plus the roads their are also very good and the region has higher literacy rate too but lots of crime and poverty!!!

I think western UP has always been more developed than the eastern. And the main reasons for it are its proximity to the national capital and fertile land for agriculture. Power plant are supposed to be built on barren land rather than fertile..thats why eastern UP serves the purpose better. I am not sure about roads ...may be they are better in eastern UP.
Whole UP survives on the earnings from western UP...this is a well known fact. If the state gets divided then I doubt eastern UP will be able to get better ever.
I think industrialisation and agriculture improvement can be the keys to the development of the eastern UP. And only then, the burden of whole UP on western UP will decrease and there will be uniform development in the state.

Uttar Pradesh shows the PPP way with swanky bus terminals plan

Uttar Pradesh, a state that’s considered a laggard in developmental initiatives, will be the first in the country to develop its bus terminals under the public-private partnership model (PPP).

The Uttar Pradesh State Transport Corporation (UPSRTC), which is among India’s top three government-owned transport companies in terms of business volume handled, had invited expressions of interest (EoI) from interested private players to redevelop its 226 bus terminals across the state last October.

Some infrastructure majors have shown interest in developing these terminals and their bids are currently being evaluated by a committee.

Maharashtra, which has been more proactive in bringing in private players into state projects, has also initiated such a process, is still evaluating the benefits through a PPP model and will be finalising a consultant in the next few weeks.

“We have tried the PPP model in Nagpur and Nashik and our experience has been good. Now we plan to take it forward,” said Deepak Kapoor, Transport Commissioner, Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC).

But UP is moving fast and is likely to emerge as one of the pioneers in implementing the concept. A industry source in UPSRTC said: “So far there have been some big companies that have shown interest in the project including companies such as Wellspun Infra and Subhash Projects.”

Even unlisted big players like Ramky Infrastructure and some international players are also in the fray.

“The state has actually decided to replicate a successful and efficient transportation model which was done on an individual basis in Dehradun,” the source said.

Currently, the Dehradun bus terminal is being managed by Hyderabad-based Ramky.

The source said since this turned out to be very profitable, state officials have decided to develop all bus terminals under the same model — under the build-own-trasfer (BOT) route.

Nagpur-based consultancy firm Axykno Capital Services is the transaction advisor to the project.

“The request for qualification bids had been floated and received in October-end and currently the designated committee is preparing a bid management report. After that, the request for proposal (RFP) will be floated in January,” the source said.

The RFP is expected to bring down the number of bidders to a bunch of serious players who have the ability to invest Rs3,000 crore, the estimated size of the project.

The chosen bidder will finally be given the mandate to develop the bus terminals in the state on the lines of airport terminals. The concession period will be 36 years, he said.
“While the first two floors in these terminals will have parking lots for buses, the subsequent floors above will have a shopping mall, and somewhere a multiplex too,” he said and added that it will also have other common but high-end basic amenities such as passenger waiting rooms, cloak rooms and food courts.

These terminals have been allotted a floor space index (FSI) of 2.5 to have enough leg room for development.

Uttar Pradesh currently has some 8,500 inter-city buses plying and roughly 15,000 buses plying intra-city. Lucknow, the capital of the state, has three intra-city bus terminals and one major inter-city bus terminal.

Kapoor said a PPP model is good as the private players build huge bus terminals, office space for the corporation and also pay a lumpsum premium and in lieu of this, the concerned corporation allow them to develop them big commercial spaces and unlock the value in the property. “This would benefit us in a way that funds would stay which we can use to increase our fleet size,” said Kapoor from MSRTC.

source (http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report_uttar-pradesh-shows-the-ppp-way-with-swanky-bus-terminals-plan_1489444)

Third expressway to be launched soon..

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/upper-ganga-canal-highway-project-may-begin-soon/420704/

After much delay, the proposed eight-lane Upper Ganga Canal Expressway (UGCE) in western Uttar Pradesh may finally move towards getting the award of concessionaire.

The 212-km expressway flanking the Upper Ganga Canal is proposed from Sanauta Bridge in Greater Noida to Purkazi on the Uttar Pradesh-Uttarakhand border. Last year, the financial bidding process was put off several times due to variety of reasons, including investors’ lack of interest and environmental issues.

However, things seem to be positive this time round with the state government hoping to get the Request for Proposal (RFP) documents from bidders by January 31.

The government is making minor changes in the RFP document, since a new land acquisition and rehabilitation policy had come into force since September 2010

While, the main UGCE would measure 150 km, the link roads are likely to measure another 45 km. Besides, a link road of about 25 km is also proposed to be built in future.
The cost of the proposed expressway is estimated in the region for Rs 8,000 crore and it will take about three to four years to be completed. Besides, hydropower projects would be undertaken alongside to generate 32 megawatt (Mw) at a cost of Rs 400 crore.

Upeida is the lead agency for this Design Built Finance Operate Transfer (DBFOT) project, while IL&FS Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (IIDC) is the consultant.

The state irrigation department owns all the necessary land for the expressway, which would help in faster completion of the project. The expressway would be on 35-year lease to the concessionaire, while the commercial land at strategic locations along the route would be on lease for 90 years. The expressway will boost the industrial and economic development in the region and the farmers will find it easier to make their produce reach the national capital faster.

Mayawati govt was betting big on the developing buddhist circuit to give boost to the easter UP. In first step they worked on developing International Airport at Kushinagar. All the ground work has been done with necassary clearences and land acquisition for the airport.

Initially 6-7 firms showed interest to develop the airport under PPP model but it seems some have backed out because of viablity of the project. Once UP govt resolves the viability issue of the project the work can start in next few months.

Latest on Kushinagar Airport.
http://udyogbandhu.up.nic.in/tourism.htm

2. Kushinagar International Airport & Buddhist Circuit

Site survey has been done by DGCA, Govt. of India on 02.09.2009 for granting NOC from Civil Aviation Ministry
Matter has been referred to GoUP

from UP govt Tourisim website
http://www.up-tourism.com/tender/tender.htm

Once airport is developed we can see significant changes in eastern UP

During peak of protest against north indians(UP/Bihar) in Mumbai Manoj Tewari (star of Bhojpuri films) requested UP govt to set up Bhojpuri Film city in Lucknow/Noida.

Finally the film city will be set up in Gorakhpur....

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Gorakhpur-may-get-Bhojpuri-film-city/Article1-641109.aspx

The tourism department has sent a proposal to the chief executive of the Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority (GIDA) to allocate 110 acres of land for setting up a film city for Bhojpuri movies near Sahjanwa town in the district.
Deputy director (tourism), PK Singh, said the department had demanded 50 acres of land for the film city and another 60 acres for establishing a film training institute and a visual communication centre. He further said the department stepped up its efforts in this regard after director general (tourism), AK Awasthi, evinced interest in the project.

Earlier to it, joint magistrate Naveen Kumar GS had sent a proposal to the tourism and cultural department of Uttar Pradesh for establishing a Bhojpuri film city in Gorakhpur. He had also expressed hope that the setting up of the Bhojpuri film city here would check migration of rural youths in the district. The joint magistrate had also opined that the establishment of the film city would provide many opportunities to the rural youth.

Accepting the proposal, director general (tourism) AK Awasthi directed his subordinate officials to ensure land for the proposed film city.

It is stated in the proposal that nearly 15 crore people in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar speak Bhojpuri.

It also says that the region is best suited for the shooting of Bhojpuri movies.

Successful track record of Bhojpuri movies from the year 1961 to 2004 has also been mentioned in the proposal. It also says that the British government is also providing substantial support to shooting of Bhojpuri movies in London.

Deputy director (tourism) PK Singh also said that in view of the increasing popularity of Bhojpuri language and movies in the region, it was the time when a Bhojpuri film city should come up in Gorakhpur.

Singh was hopeful that setting up of the film city would promote tourism in the region and investment in various industries.

no guesses.. expressway will go to jaypee :lol:

^^ I was just thinking that!!! :D

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/on-birthday-mayawati-goes-to-town/738031/


For a city that produces more than 750 metric tonnes of solid waste every day, Agra has been dumping its woes at the Kuberpur landfill site for too long. It has become an embarrassment: “Let’s not talk about it; the new project should solve the problem,” says a government official. On March 31, Agra will operationalise its solid waste treatment plant—near Kuberpur—that is being completed in two phases.
*
On her birthday on January 15, she dedicated Lucknow’s new sewage treatment plant, the largest in Asia, to the people of UP. The plant has the capacity to treat the 345 million litres of sewage that the city produces every day
*
In all, big sewage treatment plants are being built in nine of the state’s cities, including Kanpur, Allahabad and Varanasi, which have regularly been dumping their waste into the Ganga. Construction of solid waste management plants is on in 26 towns.
*
“In the last two fiscals, 2008-9 and 2009-10, we were able to start infrastructure projects in over 50 cities of UP,” says Navneet Sehgal, Secretary of Urban Development and also to the Chief Minister. The estimated cost of the projects is Rs 6,900 crore

UP is only 2nd state after MP to implement Public Interest Guarentee Law. Under the law in time bound manner govt services will be provided to the people of state.

More details

http://udyogbandhu.up.nic.in/Public_interest_gurantee.htm

UP initiative to be replicate across the country

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/armed-with-a-cellphone-up-keeps-tab-on-schools-midday-meal/740421/



A unique UP system to monitor scheme through cloud telephony to be replicated across the country

For the past six months, around noon every day, a cellphone rings in 1.5 lakh government schools across Uttar Pradesh. On the other end of the line is a computer-generated voice asking if the mid-day meal in the school has been cooked or not, and how many children were served.

Supercaller, Uttar Pradesh’s innovative scheme to monitor the mid-day meal scheme, has caught the attention of the Union Human Resource Development Ministry, which has asked the National Informatics Centre to develop a software so that the system can be replicated in all the states



In the meantime, Uttar Pradesh is taking the process a step ahead, following complaints that there was no way to verify the quality of the meal and to rule out the possibility of correct data not reaching the headquarters because of complicity between the pradhan and the teacher who provides the feedback. The matter is being discussed with Knowlarity.


Anil Sant, Secretary to the UP Chief Minister, who is handling additional charge of Basic Education Department, said they had also asked the company to reduce the cost.

“We experimented with the technology for six months and have got appreciation from various quarters, including the Government of India. We will be taking it further, but we have asked the company to reduce cost; now each call costs Rs 1.50,” said Sant.

When ever I watch News channel the perception I get is that UP has one of maximum crime in India. (NDTV/CNN-IBN and many other spend hrs and hrs covering crime in UP) When I looks around in UP and talk to people the information I get is whats all the fuss about and we all are living peacefull lives.

Yesterday National Crime Records Burea released 2009 crime data and the data reflects the ground reality. For most of peoples surprise UP is second best performing state in India.

For most authentic data visit the NCRB website and check the information presented.

http://ncrb.nic.in/CII%202009/cii-2009/Chapter%201.pdf

Check page number 4 for rate of crime in different states.

Here is compliled list (more of less true as I skipped some UT and none of them is in top 3)

1. Nagaland 47.6
2. Uttar Pradesh 88.4
3. uttranchal 90.9
4. Meghalaya 95
5. Manipur 106.8
6. Sikkim 110.8
7. Jharkhand 122.6
8. West Bengal 126.7
9. Bihar 128.4
10.Punjab 131.6
11. Orissa 137.9
12. Tripura 153.8
13. Goa 177
14. Assam 181.2
15. Maharashtra 183.6
16. Arunachal 193.6
17. Gujarat 200.5
18.Himanchal Pradesh 200.9
19.Mizoram 205.5
20 Chattisgarh 212.6
21 Andhra Pradeh 216.6
22 Karnataka 230.3
23 harayana 231.9
24 Rajasthan 252.2
25 Tamilnadu 260.3
26 delhi 282.6
27 Madhya Pradesh 293
28 Kerala 341.5

Crime rate is crime per 1lakh of population

UP mein tuchche criminals hain!!like pick pockets,manhole cover thieves,public property thieves etc.

Most of the crime cases probably do not even get reported not only in UP but other parts as well. But the chances of that happening are more likely in these few states.

Target of UP govt is to add 10,000MW by 2012. The target looks difficult but yes we can see addition of 4-6000MW by 2012 a very good news for power starved state. As far as I know we have not added significant power in last few decades. Finally we can see the efforts resulting in some changes.

Last year we had addition of 600MW from Rosa power plant of Reliance

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/2011-summer-may-not-be-power-starved/articleshow/7364010.cms

Good news is in for power starved Uttar Pradesh. By April, the state would be richer by over 1400 MW, raising hope of respite from power cuts in summers.

To begin with, the first unit of the 600 MW at Anpara C is likely to get operational from February 15. Lanco, the private company, which was entrusted with the task of setting up the 1200 MW thermal power plant informed this to the top brass of UP Power Corporation Limited at a review meeting held at Shakti Bhawan on Tuesday.

The company also claimed of getting the second 600 MW unit operational by April 30 this year.

Lanco was the second power project after Shahjahanpur-based Rosa thermal project that was given to a private sector in 2007 amidst hue and cry from the state power employees, who demanded the project to be set up in the state sector.

Good news is also coming from the state owned units as well. The Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam too has claimed of getting the first 250 MW unit of the Harduaganj plant operational by April and the second unit of similar capacity by July.

Likewise, the first unit of 250 MW at Paricha would get steaming by November, while the second unit would start pumping another 250 MW into the state grid by December.

Chairman, UPPCL, Navneet Sehgal said that a set deadline has been put forth for the project to become operational. "Engineers and the concerned officials of UPPCL and the private companies have been asked to expedite construction of power projects," he said. Sehgal said that the state government was ready to provide requisite help to get the project started.

In a way, the addition of around 1450 MW by April end would put the state in a comfortable situation vis-a-vis over drawl from the central grid. Even on a normal summer afternoon, there is a gap of around 3000 MW between the demand and supply side. The addition of power to the state grid is expected to put the state in a suitably comfortable situation, if not making it self sufficient.

UPPCL sources said that the additional power generation would enable the corporation to provide power to the rural areas, which otherwise face major power crisis, specially during summers when power outages get prolonged for over 10 hours.

can any one share news on the power project in Allahabad, will it be made or not , after the land controversy in karchchna, Allahabad . As there are three power plants which are coming up at Allahabad (Bara , Karchchna and Meja). Any news about these project.

^^
UP Power Projects

Parek Aluminex ------------------------------------- 250 MW (MoU Signed - 14 Dec 2010 (http://news.chennaionline.com/newsitem.aspx?NEWSID=b4418913-1ebc-4d70-82bc-591a39d7033d&CATEGORYNAME=BIZ))
Creative Thermolite Chitrakoot --------------------- 600 MW (MoU Signed - 4 Nov 2010)[/I]
NTPC Meja ------------------------------------------ 1320 MW (U/C) (Tenders Invited for Supply of 2x660 MW Turbines (http://tenders.indiamart.com/details/552328547/))
LANCO:
Bhognipur ------------------------------------------- 1320 MW (MoU Signed - 5 Nov 2010)
Anpara ---------------------------------------------- 1860 MW (U/C)(1200 MW to be commissioned in March 2011 (http://www.lancogroup.com/power/underimpli/anpara.html))
Bajaj Hindusthan:
Lalitpur ---------------------------------------------- 1980 MW (Land Acquisition in Progress (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/bajaj-hindusthan-inks-mouup-for-rs-10-k-crore-power-plant/418296/))
Chitrakoot ------------------------------------------- 1980 MW (MoU Signed - Dec 15th (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/bajaj-hindusthan-inks-mouup-for-rs-10-k-crore-power-plant/418296/))
Jaiprakash Power:
Bara Thermal Power Project (Phase- I) ---------------- 1980 MW (U/C)(Placed Order for three units of 660 MW each from BHEL (http://www.rttnews.com/Content/TopStories.aspx?Id=1138512))
Karchana Thermal Power Project ---------------------- 1980 MW (Groundwork Started (http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/Company/Fundamentals/Directors-Report/Jaiprakash-Power-Ventures-Ltd/532627))
Neyveli Lignite Power Project ----------------------- 1980 MW (MoU Signed)(Mou Signed Dec 1st - To be setup at Ghatampur, Kanpur) (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/neyveli-to-set2000-mw-plant-in-kanpur/416905/)
Reliance:
Rosa Power Project ----------------------------------- 2400 MW (U/C)(Fastracked and Capacity Doubled (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/r-power-to-double-rosa-project-capacity/417009/))
Dadri Power Project ----------------------------------- 7480 MW (U/C) (All requisite Land Acquired - Gas Supply under negotiations (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/power/Reliance-Power-applies-to-Power-Ministry-for-gas-allocation/articleshow/6909521.cms))

Total ------------------------------------------------ 25130 MW

Land acquisition for Bara is complete and for Karchana is in progress. After protest govt has asked for 4 months time to look into the demands of people.
If on normal time UP goes for election than elelction will happen in April/May. If Mayawati decides for early election than expect the election to happen during Nov/Dec. Expect few more months of work on big infrasturucture projects. Land acquisition will come to almost standstill as it give opposition big chance to create noise. None of expressways will start in 2011 but govt will complete the ground work in getting clearences and if Mayawati comes back in 2012 we can see work starting on big projects at lightning speed.

---------------------------------------
http://www.jppowerventures.com/thermal-power.htm

1980 MW Karchana & 3300 MW Bara Thermal Power Project

The company has also acquired Sangam Power Generation Company Ltd. for setting up super critical technology boiler based 3 x 660 MW Karchana Thermal Power Project (Phase – I : 2x660 MW) and Prayagraj Power Generation Company Ltd. for 5 x 660 MW Bara Thermal Power project (Phase – I : 3x660 MW) from UP Power Corporation Ltd. on BOO basis. Both the projects are expected to be commissioned by 2014.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/mayawati-pledges-makeoveruttar-pradesh-sports-infra/423341/

We are giving special emphasis to strengthen the basic sports infrastructure and develop the sports culture in the state and providing all modern sports facilities,” she said during a ceremony to felicitate UP sportspersons, who had secured podium finish in the 2010 Asian Games, China and 2010 Commonwealth Games, New Delhi.

She directed the sports department for regular holding of sports meet in rural areas. The officials have been asked to prepare a ‘sports calendar’ in coordination with education and youth welfare department and implement it from 2011-12 academic session.

On her birthday on January 15, Mayawati had laid the foundation of two sports colleges in Saharanpur and Fatehpur districts entailing investment of Rs 87 crore and Rs 81 crore respectively. Besides, other sports projects worth Rs 6 crore were also unveiled. Besides, stadiums are being constructed in all the new districts of UP and swimming pools developed in 10 districts. Already the government approved development of two international sports complexes and Astroturf hockey ground in two districts.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/agra-is-worlds-greatest-cultural-trip/741563/

India is home to three of the world's 50 Greatest Cultural Destinations, including the top one - Agra, where the famous Taj Mahal is located.

According to a special supplement on Greatest Cultural Destinations brought out by The Sunday Telegraph and travel experts Page & Moy, the other two cultural destinations in India are Jaipur in Rajasthan and Lucknow in UP.

Besides Taj Mahal, the other places recommended for visit are the Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Itimad-ud-Daulah, Vrindavan and Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.

Jaipur comes 27th and Lucknow 32nd in the list.

Original source
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/travel/50-greatest-cultural-destinatio/asia-and-australasia/

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Probe-reveals-labourers-exploitation-led-to-Bara-crisis/articleshow/7447889.cms

The issue has turned into a major embarrassment for the state government, which seeks to portray itself in a pro-poor shade. Energy secretary, Navneet Sehgal confirmed that it was essentially an agitation caused by some labourers at the site after the contractor did not pay requisite wages. Administrative sources in Bara told TOI that some of the labourers were paid barely Rs 100 a day. And some did not get even that, even though the company did pay the contractor a sanctioned amount.

Sources, however, said that the project has got embroiled in a host of problems arising out of land acquisition. To begin with, it was the issue of landless farmers who were left completely jobless. The massive 3300 MW Bara thermal power plant requiring 728 hectare (around 1800 acre) of land nearly the size of a full-fledged township was given to Jaypee group in 2009. The project with five units of 660 MW each is expected to get operational by 2014.

Officials however said that unlike Bara, the 1980 MW Karchana power plant faces the problem of land acquisition, essentially in Kachari village in Karchana tehsil. The compensation allocated to farmers in Karchana ranged in the figure of Rs 3 lakh per bigha. This was almost 150 percent more than the DM circle rate prevailing at the time of agreement authorities entered with farmers to execute the project. As against this the farmers were demanding a compensation of Rs 8 lakh per bigha. Work at the site continues to be held up.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Centre-clears-4-projects-for-Ganga-clean-up-in-UP/articleshow/7447896.cms

LUCKNOW: UP on Monday got a major boost for its ongoing Ganga clean-up programme with the Centre clearing its four important projects, pending for a long time. These projects are estimated to cost around Rs 500 crore and will be funded on the basis of 70:30 ratio by the Centre and the state respectively.

A decision to this effect was taken by the steering committee of the Ganga Basin Authority (GBA) held in New Delhi. UP was represented by a high-level delegation headed by principal secretary, urban development, Alok Ranjan at the meeting presided over by Union environment secretary T Chatterjee.

The four projects cleared by the Centre are of Rs 279.91 crore for Moradabad, Rs 42.66 crore for Kannuaj, Rs 142 crore for Allahabad and Rs 46.51 crore for Garhmukteswar. Conceived and formulated with a prospective plan for the next 20 years by the state government, these projects were pending for the last one year.

The issue of the delay was also taken up by UP urban development minister Nakul Dubey with Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee last month. Dubey had strongly pleaded with him for the early clearance of these projects. With this, things moved faster and finally UP has been awarded these projects.

Talking to TOI, principal secretary, urban development, Alok Ranjan said these projects were of critical importance for achieving the mission of Clean Ganga in UP. The projects sanctioned, he said, envisaged strengthening of sewer networks (SN), sewage pumping stations (SPS) and sewage treatment plants (STP).

UP's presentation, Ranjan, said was lauded by the steering committee of the Ganga Basin Authority that quickly cleared it without even amending or modifying it.

By bagging these projects, Ranjan said, UP had become the foremost among four other prime stakeholding states -- Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal-- in the Ganga Basin Authority projects.

He further said that three more projects had also been submitted under the Ganga clean-up programme in the state to the Ganga Basin Authority. In its initial scrutiny, all these projects had been approved for consideration and a decision to this effect would be taken at a next meeting, slated to be held in this connection in New Delhi on February 28.

These three projects are related to the beautification of river front (Rs 55 crore) for Varanasi ghats, checking pollution by tanneries in Kanpur (Rs 190 crore) and enhancing the existing capacities of STPs with estimated cost of Rs 100 crore each in Allahabad and Varanasi, where Ganga is dangerously polluted.

As for the projects already sanctioned, Ranjan said, a roadmap for them was already ready and now they would be executed with the help of the Construction and Design Section of the UP Jal Nigam and other agencies selected for this purpose on the basis of the merit and experience in the field.

All these projects, Ranjan said, would bridge the critical gap in the need for enhanced capacity for STPs and give a boost to the initiatives taken by the state. For instance, he said, Varanasi had STP with capacity of 89 MLD as against the discharge of 228 MLD and Allahabad had a sewage treating capacity of 102 MLD as against its discharge of 292 MLD.

Likewise, Kanpur, which is a hive of leather and a variety of chemical and jute-based industries can treat only 162 MLD sewage as against total production of 409 MLD. The remaining goes directly into the river. Apart from these, there are 23 other big and small cities responsible for contaminating the Ganga.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/state-puts-expressway-on-hold-as-centre-raises-doubts/745400/



* Project too close to Hastinapur sanctuary: Union Environment Ministry



The Uttar Pradesh government has halted the bidding process for the 148-km Upper Ganga Canal Expressway for an “indefinite” period following questions raised by the Union environment ministry regarding clearance for the project in its present form.

The state government has decided to first get all the required clearances for the project, especially the “wildlife clearance”, and then go ahead with the bidding process for the project worth Rs 8,000 crore.

The state had fixed January 31 as the deadline for submitting financial bids for the project by the qualified bidders. Then the selected bidder was expected to pursue the environment, forest and wildlife clearances with help from the state government.

However, after a recent meeting with the Union environment ministry, the government has halted the process.


“There are no written objections from the Union ministry. It is just that we have decided to first take all the required environment, forest and wildlife clearances before taking the project further,” said a senior government official.

The eight-lane, access-controlled expressway is to provide a fast route from the national capital region to Uttarakhand. It has been planned on the right bank of the Upper Ganga Canal, from Sanauta Bridge in Greater Noida to Purkazi in Muzaffarnagar district near the Uttarakhand border.

The Uttar Pradesh government is eager to take up the project because about 80 per cent of the land required is available with the irrigation department, which would save it from the lengthy process of land acquisition.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Centre-clears-4-projects-for-Ganga-clean-up-in-UP/articleshow/7447896.cms

LUCKNOW: UP on Monday got a major boost for its ongoing Ganga clean-up programme with the Centre clearing its four important projects, pending for a long time. These projects are estimated to cost around Rs 500 crore and will be funded on the basis of 70:30 ratio by the Centre and the state respectively.

A decision to this effect was taken by the steering committee of the Ganga Basin Authority (GBA) held in New Delhi. UP was represented by a high-level delegation headed by principal secretary, urban development, Alok Ranjan at the meeting presided over by Union environment secretary T Chatterjee.

The four projects cleared by the Centre are of Rs 279.91 crore for Moradabad, Rs 42.66 crore for Kannuaj, Rs 142 crore for Allahabad and Rs 46.51 crore for Garhmukteswar. Conceived and formulated with a prospective plan for the next 20 years by the state government, these projects were pending for the last one year.

The issue of the delay was also taken up by UP urban development minister Nakul Dubey with Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee last month. Dubey had strongly pleaded with him for the early clearance of these projects. With this, things moved faster and finally UP has been awarded these projects.

Talking to TOI, principal secretary, urban development, Alok Ranjan said these projects were of critical importance for achieving the mission of Clean Ganga in UP. The projects sanctioned, he said, envisaged strengthening of sewer networks (SN), sewage pumping stations (SPS) and sewage treatment plants (STP).

UP's presentation, Ranjan, said was lauded by the steering committee of the Ganga Basin Authority that quickly cleared it without even amending or modifying it.

By bagging these projects, Ranjan said, UP had become the foremost among four other prime stakeholding states -- Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal-- in the Ganga Basin Authority projects.

He further said that three more projects had also been submitted under the Ganga clean-up programme in the state to the Ganga Basin Authority. In its initial scrutiny, all these projects had been approved for consideration and a decision to this effect would be taken at a next meeting, slated to be held in this connection in New Delhi on February 28.

These three projects are related to the beautification of river front (Rs 55 crore) for Varanasi ghats, checking pollution by tanneries in Kanpur (Rs 190 crore) and enhancing the existing capacities of STPs with estimated cost of Rs 100 crore each in Allahabad and Varanasi, where Ganga is dangerously polluted.

As for the projects already sanctioned, Ranjan said, a roadmap for them was already ready and now they would be executed with the help of the Construction and Design Section of the UP Jal Nigam and other agencies selected for this purpose on the basis of the merit and experience in the field.

All these projects, Ranjan said, would bridge the critical gap in the need for enhanced capacity for STPs and give a boost to the initiatives taken by the state. For instance, he said, Varanasi had STP with capacity of 89 MLD as against the discharge of 228 MLD and Allahabad had a sewage treating capacity of 102 MLD as against its discharge of 292 MLD.

Likewise, Kanpur, which is a hive of leather and a variety of chemical and jute-based industries can treat only 162 MLD sewage as against total production of 409 MLD. The remaining goes directly into the river. Apart from these, there are 23 other big and small cities responsible for contaminating the Ganga.


I've lost count of how many times Ganga Cleanup campaign has been launched. Perhaps the CAG should look into exactly where did the funds from the earlier projects have disappeared to! Since Ganga is just as dirty today as it was 20 years ago..

We have to look this into broader prespective. Since BSP came to power the model of development is equitable, distributed, rapid urbanization of UP. Focus is to rejuvinate urban areas and develop townships across the states and connect them with expressways. Expressways criss crossing all of UP, power plants are in all parts of UP, Airports are covering east, west and center of UP etc.
Govt is approaching all possible heads to fund basic infrastructure (water, sewage etc) and working on PPP for mega projects (expressways, power plants etc.)
Earlier cleaning of Ganga was the main focus now cleaning of rivers is by product of larger goal of BSP ruled UP govt.

The kind of initiatives UP govt has taken has not been initiated in past in any of state / country. I would say initiative is bold and visionary and patience is required to see the outcome and has potential to launch UP way ahead of all states in future as all efforts are on infrastructure development.




I've lost count of how many times Ganga Cleanup campaign has been launched. Perhaps the CAG should look into exactly where did the funds from the earlier projects have disappeared to! Since Ganga is just as dirty today as it was 20 years ago..

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/UP-Budget-targets-higher-development-trajectory/articleshow/7456526.cms


LUCKNOW: The state budget 2011-12 needs be analysed in the backdrop of 12th Finance Commission's targets on six indicators, which all states are required to achieve. These indicators include Fiscal Deficit to be brought down to 3% of GSDP; Revenue deficit to be eliminated; Own tax revenues higher than 6% of GSDP; Non tax Revenues higher than 1.4% of GSDP; and Debt burden lower than 30% of GSDP.

Interestingly, on five of the six indicators, UP has outperformed the targets in 2008-09 itself. Debt was the only indicator where UP has consistently lagged behind the targets.

The impact of the implementation of Sixth Pay Commission recommendations along with the global meltdown compromised UPs Fiscal Deficit which slipped to over 6% of GSDP, revenue surplus also came down significantly.

However, in 2010-11 fiscal deficit has been brought down to 3.9% and was expected to go down to around 2.9% in 2011-12. Even revenue surplus rises to over 5,000 crore in 2011-12. This certainly is an indicator of increased fiscal consolidation and a step towards improved fiscal responsibility.

Equally significant is the rise in capital expenditure. In 1998, the year of fiscal crisis in UP, Capital expenditure shrank to less then 6%. In other words state was left with no capacity to initiate development.

By 2009-10 it rose to 18% and now it rises to 25.7% of the total expenditure. This is a critical indicator of states capacity to initiate development, and suggests towards the potential of the state to move into faster growth path. The rise in social expenditure is equally significant.

Education alone records a rise of 19.6%. This development space is substantially the outcome of revenue buoyancy in state taxes. It needs to be highlighted that in 2009, revenues of government of India fell by around Rs 60,000 crore but UP's revenues rose by 17% in the same year.

The story seems to continue in this budget too. The state's own revenue rises to around Rs 50,000 crore which is higher then the projections made in 2008-09 by some of the international agencies.

In the last several years, Debt has been a challenge spot in successive state budgets. Till three years back state debt was measured at over 50% of GSDP against the 12th finance commission Target of 30%.

Last year, it was brought down to around 40% of GSDP. On five of the Finance Commission identified indicators UP today is one of the better performing states in the country. Debt burden, however, is the genie which is yet to be belted. This year's budget projects debt to fall to 32% of GSDP. These are projected values but if they are achieved it will be a huge step towards fiscal consolidation.

Fiscal space is the pedestal on which the state weaves its effort towards development and social change. It need be noted that during the 1990s UP's rate of growth was only 4%. In the past three years the state has grown at over 7%. Rising fiscal space and increased capital expenditure have hugely contributed to this changing story. T
he budget indicates towards stabilising state finances, rising capital expenditures and falling deficits.

This year is also significant because Government of India's revenues, which have taken a beating, have begun to rise implying that states share in Central taxes will also rise; The arrears burden of the sixth pay commission has also been taken care of and will not burden future budgets. This will only improve the fiscal space further. In other words, the state is development ready, and an appropriate marshalling of resources can take the state into the higher trajectory of development and social change.

We have to look this into broader prespective. Since BSP came to power the model of development is equitable, distributed, rapid urbanization of UP. Focus is to rejuvinate urban areas and develop townships across the states and connect them with expressways. Expressways criss crossing all of UP, power plants are in all parts of UP, Airports are covering east, west and center of UP etc.
Govt is approaching all possible heads to fund basic infrastructure (water, sewage etc) and working on PPP for mega projects (expressways, power plants etc.)
Earlier cleaning of Ganga was the main focus now cleaning of rivers is by product of larger goal of BSP ruled UP govt.

The kind of initiatives UP govt has taken has not been initiated in past in any of state / country. I would say initiative is bold and visionary and patience is required to see the outcome and has potential to launch UP way ahead of all states in future as all efforts are on infrastructure development.

I agree with MAyawati in the fact that she's done more for UP than any other CM I can think of (donno before my birth year.). I'm also interested in knowing where the hundreds of crores that went into the "Clean Ganga" campaigns have disappeared - the previous ones!! Under all the CMS since the 80s..

I agree with MAyawati in the fact that she's done more for UP than any other CM I can think of (donno before my birth year.). I'm also interested in knowing where the hundreds of crores that went into the "Clean Ganga" campaigns have disappeared - the previous ones!! Under all the CMS since the 80s..

Page 23 onwards you can find some of the information on what happened with the project
http://www.ecofriends.org/main/eganga/images/Critical%20analysis%20of%20GAP.pdf

------------------
As far as I know some of really stupid reason were behind failure of the project. States installed diesel operated system because of poor electricity situation but did not sanction cost for the fuel!

At the end it boild down to political will and strong reasons for parties to act on the development plan. Congress is kind of status qo party will only act in crissis. BJP had the motivation to clean ganga because of Hindu nationalist orientation but no political will (in UP). We can't expect any thing from SP as we really dont knowfor what they stand for.
BSP has very strong reason to fix such issues as this has direct connection to caste system. BSP has an advantage that you cant put them in bracket of left, right, center or Gandhian. They will adpot any model which they see has ability to mitigate caste system. Urbanization, expressway, sewage treament plants, solid waste systems, townships etc all point towards ways to mitigate caste system. BSP strongly beleives that village systems reinforce caste based exploitation and panchayat raj system is extension to reinforce and legalize caste system.

Detailed UP budget speech (in Hindi)

http://budget.up.nic.in/Speech/Speech11_12/budget_speech1112.pdf

Areva T&D commissions indigenously developed 765kV transformer
New Delhi, Feb 10 (PTI) Areva T&D India today said it has commissioned the country''s first indigenously developed 765 kV transformer at Lanco Infratech''s upcoming Anpara-C thermal power project in Uttar Pradesh.
"The commissioning of India''s first 765 kV ultra high voltage power transformer, designed, manufactured and tested locally in Vadodara, is a major land-mark in Indian power industry," Areva T&D Managing Director Rathin Basu said in a company release.
One of the top three transmission and distribution firms in India, Areva T&D India has eight manufacturing units, including one in Vadodara.
"We now look forward to contributing in a significant way to build India''s 12th Plan transmission infrastructure involving 765 kV and 1200 kV technology," he added.
Lanco Infratech had earlier awarded the order worth Rs 200 crore to Areva T&D India, the transmission activities of which is now part of the Alstom Group.
Lanco Infratech is building 1,200 MW (2X600MW) Anpara-C thermal power plant in Uttar Pradesh

Source : Link (http://news.in.msn.com/business/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4907299)

Resettlement & rehabilitation policy of UP govt for land acquisition. The policy will greatly help in reducing corruption and exploitation by govt officials in distributing compensation.


http://www.financialexpress.com/news/allbank-lic-lead-race-for-up-annuity-outsourcing-project/748997/


In the race to bag the contract for the R&R annuity outsourcing project in Uttar Pradesh, public sector insurance firm Life Insurance Corporation of India and Allahabad Bank may be one up against other insurance companies that have evinced interest in the project.

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (Irda) has so far refused to give its approval for the performance guarantees that the insurance companies have to give before submitting their request for proposal.

At a pre-bid discussion meeting, insurance companies ICICI Prudential Life, Bajaj Allianz and SBI Life Insurance requested the state government not to make it mandatory for the companies to submit performance guarantees as Irda was not giving its approval for the same. However, the state government said it was mandatory to get an approval from RBI and Irda.

It may be mentioned that this is the first time in the country that attempts are being made to link the irksome land acquisition process with the livelihood issues of farmers and devise a hassle-free compensation technique. The innovation calls for culling an absolutely new financial product and the process has thrown open a host of issues before all the stakeholders: the state government, the financial institutions and also for the respective regulators, as disbursement of annuity for as long as 33 years has not been the core business of either the banks nor the insurance companies.

Speaking to FE an official said, “The government has made mandatory for the financial institutions to obtain the regulators’ approval before being considered with any seriousness,” he stated.

Apart from this, some of the interested bidders have also expressed the desire that the state government not fix the bid rates for 3 years but review it on a 6-monthly basis through a pre-determined formula linked to some market indicators. “In order to cover their own risk in a highly volatile market scenario, some of the companies have asked us to consider linking the bids automatically with the fluctuations of the market rates,” said the official, adding that the government was open to doing so.
As per this policy, dispossessed landowners and farmers will get Rs 20,000 per acre per year for 33 years, along with the additional amount of Rs 600 increased annuity per year.

The next discussion meeting on these clarifications would be held on February 22 and the bids are expected to be submitted by the first week of March

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/bids-invited-for-solar-energy-generation-says-up/425126/


Uttar Pradesh government will soon float bid document to attract private investment in the solar energy space.

The government would invite bids from parties willing to supply energy below the tariff of Rs 4.70 per unit quoted by National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) for bundled power.
The bids would be invited from companies ready to provide us power below the tariff quoted by NTPC,” Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) CMD and Energy Secretary Navneet Sehgal told Business Standard.
Bundled power tariff is the final tariff charged by the company by calculating a mean of thermal and solar power generation.

He said stand-alone solar power tariff was as high as Rs 13 per unit and the state would prefer a company, which could provide bundled power at levels cheaper than Rs 4.70 per unit.

The state is likely to provide land on lease for such project and is looking at solar power generation in the arid Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, where ample swathes are available

Sehgal said the bid document was almost ready and would soon be floated publicly.

Recently, the union new and renewable energy ministry had complimented the progress made by the state in off-grid solar energy space, but said grid solar energy was still to take off unlike Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Ministry Director A Raza had said the state electricity regulatory commission should first declare solar power tariffs before the entrepreneurs could prospect the opportunity.

Off-grid energy is for captive use, while grid power can be transmitted to other locations for distribution.

“Grid solar energy capacity depends upon the choice of private entrepreneurs to evince interest in the project and the proactive stance of the respective state governments to attract them,” Raza said.

A stand-alone solar energy plant would typically require five acre barren land and Rs 15 crore investment for every megawatt vis-à-vis Rs 5 crore for thermal energy.

Private sector Welspun Energy is looking at the possibility of 100 Mw plant in the state in the next financial year. “UP has a huge potential in solar energy space, which will also help the state overcome prevailing power deficit,” Welspun Energy Managing Director Vineet Mittal had earlier told Business Standard.

He said the ‘terai’ region could be ideal to set up solar energy plants, since they received good solar radiation

M Ramachandran mentioned in the news report couple of months back has been appointed as Minister by Mayawati to advise and work on big infrastructure projects. M Ramachandran was the Chief secy of Uttranchal and played key role in creating Urban Development policies such as JNNURM etc while working at Urban development ministry.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/UP-govt-plans-road-link-between-Gr-Noida--Delhi/750712/

The Uttar Pradesh government is drawing up a plan for a direct road link between Greater Noida and Delhi, in the backdrop of the second international airport proposed for NCR. While the Group of Ministers, headed by Home Minister P Chidambaram, is yet to give its go-ahead for the airport plan, the UP government is considering a 45-km road connecting Jewar and Delhi.

“The green signal for the new international airport is still awaited (but) we are planning ahead. The cities will be linked by the Yamuna Expressway, which has been on the anvil for some time, but a need was felt to develop a quick access for Delhiites on the lines of the quick links created for the Delhi airport,” said M Ramachandran, former Secretary Urban Development Ministry and the infrastructure advisor to the Uttar Pradesh government.

According to Ramachandran, 10,000 hectares of land has already been blocked by in Jewar.

“We are expecting the airport to take three to five years to develop. The Delhi airport has a Metro link, but this may not be entirely feasible. There is a proposal, however, to extend the Metro — which currently runs from Delhi to Sector-15 in Noida — to Greater Noida. We will link this line to the new airport,” he added

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/M-Ramchandran-is-new-adviser-to-UP-govt/articleshow/7102041.cms

LUCKNOW: The government on Tuesday appointed IAS (retd) M Ramchandran as its new adviser with the rank of a cabinet minister for expediting mega projects currently under consideration for the development of the state.

An ex-IAS officer of Uttarakhand cadre, Ramchandran retired recently as Union urban development secretary. Notably, he was also in the race for the coveted post of Union cabinet secretary but could not make it as his prospects were marred by a two-year extension granted to the present incumbent Chandrashekhar.

Ramchandran was allotted the Uttarakhand cadre after the bifurcation of UP on November 9, 2000. He also headed the newly created hill state as its fourth chief secretary from October 4, 2005 to October 30, 2006 before moving to the Centre as Union urban development secretary. He also has house and landed property in Dehradun.

His name was also in circulation in the BJP headed Uttarakhand for appointment as chairman of the power regulatory authority.

However, the choice made for his appointment by chief minister Mayawati is being viewed with significance. This is because Ramchandran has suddenly come into the picture after being away from UP for over a decade. When asked to comment, a senior official said Ramchandran was considered for the post of adviser of UP government due to his wide experience in handling various mega projects like the Delhi Metro Rail project.

Though Ramchandran has been appointed for a one year term, it can be extended, said a press release issued by the industrial development (ID) department. He will have his office at NOIDA, which will be maintained by the NOIDA Development Authority.

The work profile of Ramchandran will be to coordinate and monitor ongoing projects related to metro rail, airport, expressways and those under consideration of the NOIDA and the Greater NOIDA. He will suggest ways and means for their effective implementation and along with the steps to raise resources for them.

Apart from this, Ramchandran is also supposed to coordinate with PWD, housing and urban development departments for developing new models for public-private partnership in the sphere of development and improvement of infrastructure facilities in urban areas and road networks in the state.

this news gives an insight on why people like M Ramachandran (Infrastructure man of India) are willing to join UP cabinet and work with Mayawati. What this tells is complete contrast to what urban people/media associate her with (corruption)
------------------------

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/bureaucrat-firepower-pumps-up-up-reforms/699835/0

Long before the UPA government at the Centre drafted the food security bill, the idea occurred to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati. In 2008, she launched what is referred to as the Mukhyamantri Mahamaya Aarthik Madad Yojana (MMAMY) scheme, to the benefit of millions of the state’s below-poverty line (BPL) population. Under the programme, the Centre’s Rs 300 per person subsidy on food for BPL families is being directly credited to NREGA bank accounts of these BPL families, as defined in the central and state government lists.
Apart from central list of BPL families, 30 lakh more such families in UP now enjoy this subsidy from the state’s coffers, which according to secretary-information Vijay Shankar Pandey, will cost the state government Rs 4,000 crore.

This is not the only change in India’s most politically significant state, where a whirlwind of public-private partnerships (PPP) is changing the way things are done.

Contracts for over 25,000 mw of power generation projects have been given out this year and the country’s largest expressway is being planned. At the helm of affairs, are not ministers of the BSP government, but a core group of hand-picked bureaucrats who seem to have perfected the chief minister’s plan to separate governance from party politics.

At the top of the league is Shashank Shekhar Singh. The only cabinet secretary in any state government in India, Singh was an Army pilot with a long and successful career in civil bureaucracy. He was commissioned in the Army in 1972 and can count current army chief VK Singh as a batchmate from the National Defence Academy.


In 1979, Singh arrived in Uttar Pradesh on deputation to fly VIPs in the state-owned chopper. Soon, he became director (civil aviation), a rather grandiose title to what is essentially maintaining a few small airplanes and a couple of helicopters. His lucky break came during Romesh Bhandari’s stint as state governor during President’s rule in the early 1990s, when he was appointed secretary to the governor.

Singh is known to be a taskmaster and has always assessed the situation correctly. Under the Mulayam Singh Yadav regime, Singh consistently refused to turn approver in the Taj corridor case. When Mayawati came to power in 2007, his stand paid off.

Singh occupies a plush set of offices at the state secretariat, variously known as Shastri Bhawan and Annexe. The Army style is part of governance, as evidenced in the decisive response in the Tappal land acquisition row. He also routinely pulls up officers who do not conform to his way of doing things. His clout can be gauged from the fact that despite a running battle with BSP MP and Mayawati’s key political aid Satish Mishra, Singh calls the shots in the secretariat.

One of the first things he did was to centralise all transfers and postings. No MLA, minister or party worker in the state can swing this for you; only Singh’s writ runs.

“In a state like Uttar Pradesh, that is a huge amount of patronage at your disposal,” said a disgruntled bureaucrat who was recently denied a central posting. His team of bureaucrats with impeccable service records imposes this rule rather strictly. One of Singh’s chief confidants and right hand man is additional cabinet secretary Net Ram. An officer belonging to the scheduled castes (SC) category, Ram grew close to Singh in the last three years, when Ram was principal secretary and witness to the feud between Singh and Mishra. He threw in his lot with Singh and was made additional Cabinet secretary when Pandey was removed. He implements most of the decisions taken at the top levels of government.

The state’s most visible officer is Navneet Sehgal, a 1989 batch IAS officer who is secretary to chief minister and heads the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation and Jal Nigam. A chartered accountant by training, Sehgal was DM Lucknow during Mayawati’s last stint as chief minister and was one of her first appointees in 2007.

Sehgal handles the state’s massive power reforms and is credited with many of the out-of-the-box ideas like the franchisee distribution system in the sector. “Well, we advertise but don’t like to blow our own trumpet,” he says.

When it comes to law and order, Mayawati banks on old faithful Kunwar Fateh Bahadur, principal secretary (home & appointments) from the 1981 batch. Again an SC officer, he has the distinction of heading 53 departments in the state government. So pervasive is his influence that before the 2009 general elections, former chief election commissioner N Gopalaswami ordered him transferred out in the “interest of free and fair elections.” Mayawati complied, but Bahadur was back the day the elections were over.

The one officer, however, who stands out from the pack is secretary (information) Vijay Shankar Pandey. He shot to fame in the 1990s for waging a crusade against corrupt officers in the state, leading to the indictment of Akhand Pratap Singh, who was reportedly close to former chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. This was enough to endear Pandey to Mayawati. He was rehabilitated as additional cabinet secretary in 2007. In the feud between Shashank Shekhar Singh and Satish Mishra, Pandey reportedly tilted towards Mishra, and found himself shunted off as secretary )information). However, he has been made in charge of the MMAMY, and is important to Mayawati’s ideal of running an administration free of petty corruption.

Bureaucrats close to the chief minister are nothing new in India, but the power they wield in Uttar Pradesh is quite something else. Over the next three stories, we will see how Mayawati’s game-changing reforms are being run by this group of people, their influence quite out of proportion with their stakes in popular politics.

press release from MoEF
http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/FAC-meeting11022011.pdf

Diversion of 782.478 ha of forest land for construction of Upper Ganga Canal 8 lane Express-Way Project in districts Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar and Bulandshahar, Uttar Pradesh. (F. No. 8—88/ 2010-FC)

The FAC considered the diversion proposal of 782.478 ha of Protected Forest land for construction of Upper Ganga Canal 8 lane Express-Way in Uttar Pradesh. The said road runs through 5 Social Forest Divisions, namely, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar and Bulandshahar. The difference in forest area involved in Meerut Social Forest Division was also brought to the notice of the Committee. The break-up of the required forest land shown in the proposal in district Meerut is 239.441 ha, whereas, CEO UPEIDA in his certificate for payment of NPV has indicated requirement of the forest area as 231.441 ha. It was also noted that there is a need to fell about 42,100 trees; of which 58% are below 60 cm of girth. CA land required for taking up compensatory afforestation in lieu of the Protected Forest proposed for diversion is required to be identified by the User Agency. The Committee noted that the proposal involves 149.925 ha of Protected Forest land for the purpose of land parcel at 7 locations. These are meant for the development of residential areas / colonies / shopping complexes / amusement parts and other eco tourism work, etc. It was also noted that a portion of the proposed road in Meerut district (from km. 113 near village Dhakeri to Km. 144 near village Faluda) is located within 10 kilometer distance of Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary. At some places boundary of Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary is as close as about 500-600 metre away only from the project site. The state Government has already approached Standing Committee on National Board for Wildlife for getting required clearance. There are two other roads – NH-58 and the Kanwar road already existing which are also being currently widened further. Environmental clearance and public hearing, etc. are also required for the project. After having detailed discussions on the proposed diversion of 782.478 ha of Protected Forest land for Upper Ganga Canal Express-Way, the FAC recommended the proposal for approval subject to standard conditions and the additional
conditions specified below –

1. Land parcel at 7 locations involving 149.925 ha of Protected Forest land
proposed for diversion and meant for developing residential areas / colonies
/ shopping complexes / amusement parts and other eco tourism work, etc.
cannot be agreed to.
2. Provision of CA land should adequately be addressed before the final
approval.
3. The avenue plantation on both side of the road will be undertaken by the
project proponent as per the guidelines IRC SP21-1979 of the Indian Road
Congress and Policy Guidelines of NHAI on road-side plantations.
4. As per the certificate of CEO, UPEIDA for paying NPV for 774.478 ha
including 231.441 ha of Protected Forest in Meerut instead of 239.441 ha as
proposed in the calculation shall be treated as 231.441 ha only.
5. The requisite clearance from Standing Committee of National Board for
Wildlife shall be obtained by the State Government.

detailed information available on Udyog bandhu website
http://udyogbandhu.up.nic.in/tender.htm

In story form
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http://www.indianexpress.com/news/state-hires-pvt-firm-to-run-its-nivesh-mitra-in-top-gear/753692/



In order to ensure smooth and speedy online delivery of services to entrepreneurs who want to invest in Uttar Pradesh, the state government has decided to hire a private company to revamp, restructure, upgrade and run its web-based single-window system Nivesh Mitra. The selected company will also handle publicity and branding of Nivesh Mitra.


The revamped Nivesh Mitra will help entrepreneurs get all approvals, clearances and no-objection certificates in a time-bound manner. Also, it will offer the facility of online filing of forms, online file-tracking system through unique IDs, an online payment system and automatically generated text messages and emails informing entrepreneurs about the status of pending clearances.

Nivesh Mitra was conceptualised in 2006, but even after four years there are gaps in the system. For queries and for making payments, entrepreneurs often have to personally visit as many as 12 offices, like those of the pollution control board, fire department, district magistrate, forests, electricity, environment and industries.

In order to streamline this cumbersome process, the selected technology service provider will create an integrated and secure online system to make payments to various departments and selected banks through Net banking, or a credit- or debit card-based system. The service provider will create a software whereby an entrepreneur can monitor the status of his case through a unique ID number in each department.

The revamped Nivesh Mitra will also be integrated with social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. An official said several IT service providers had shown interest in the project, including Pune-based Nihilent which provides technology services in several countries like Egypt, China, and South Africa, apart from India.



Many states have launched web-based services where forms can be downloaded and filed online and pending complaints can be viewed. But Uttar Pradesh plans to become “the first state in the country to provide a facility where, through one single website, an entrepreneur will come to know the procedures to be followed in various departments, can fill up their online forms, can make them online payments and track the files there”, said a senior officer.

Asked how they would ensure the efficiency of the new system, which will depend on individual departments doing their work in a time-bound manner, the officer said a group of senior officials of all 12 departments concerned had been formed to ensure timely delivery. These officers will be given separate ID numbers through which they can monitor the progress of files and take necessary action to speed things up.

The government also plans to constitute intra-departmental teams whose job will be to manage and monitor the movement of applications coming through Nivesh Mitra, he said.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/govt-to-map-roads-with-gis/754653/



The UP government is set to undertake the GIS mapping of the road network in the state. The Public Works Department has already completed a pilot project covering 21 of the 72 districts.

The GIS-based Road Information System will cover all roads, including the national highways, state highways, major districts roads and other roads. The system, which will provide the information related to physical position and attributes of the roads, would be available online for use, an official said.

The GIS-based vectors maps of 21 districts in Lucknow, Faizabad and Jhansi zones, which the PWD has developed on pilot basis, are not available on the net, although the department is using them. The pilot was executed by Delhi-based firm Geoinfosys.

The state has a 3.36 lakh km road network, which includes 6,684 kms of national highways, 7,857 km of state highways, 7,101 km of major district roads and 3,15,211km of rural and other roads.

A presentation of the work under the pilot project and the planning for the other 51 districts would be made before a team of the World Bank officials who are visiting Lucknow on February 26, an official said. UPPWD will seek funds from the World Bank for GIS mapping of these 51 districts.

“UPPWD will commission an experienced team of consultants for preparation of GIS-based vector maps for the remaining 51 districts,” said AK Verma, Chief Engineer (World Bank, Roads), UPPWD.

“The GIS images of all 72 districts would be posted online and by clicking on the image of any road, one could get the coordinates of any particular site on the road. By submitting these coordinates in a box provided on the same web page, all the information of that road would appear on the screen,” said another UPPWD official.

The information would be updated annually. UPPWD conducts a survey of every road in state every year and collects information on 59 points, including location, length, width, depth, thickness of upper layer, smoothness, connectivity, traffic and roadside features.

The GIS-based road information system will enable people to find the shortest and best suitable route for any destination. It will also help the government in planning development works in the area.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bids-open-for-mega-township-along-yamuna-expressway/755430/

The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority has opened the bidding process for the mega residential township it plans to develop along the Yamuna Expressway. Spread over 4,500 acres in various sectors, the township will have various schools, colleges, shops and commercial establishments. The Authority has invited bids from private builders for the project.

According to officials at the Yamuna Expressway Authority (YEA), approximately 40 villages of Bulandshahr will be included in the project. “The mega city project will be floated in March this year; bidders were called in for the project. The project will be a lifeline for the Yamuna Expressway, which touches Agra at the other end. The township would be built on a grand scale, making it a world-class region of the district,” said a senior official.

The mega city will be one of the many cities that have been planned along the Yamuna Expressway. The board has also decided to compensate farmers of Bulandshahr at par with those of Gautam Budh Nagar, Noida, whose land was acquired by the government. “Compensation has been decided at Rs. 880 per sq m by the board. The authority has finalised the masterplan for the Yamuna Expressway till Jevar in Gautam Budh Nagar. A layout plan for the Expressway township, and facilities to be developed along it till Agra, will soon be drafted by the authority.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/to-make-18-cities-free-of-slums-up-begins-work-on-central-housing-pla.../755129/


Slum-dwellers across 18 cities in the state will get pucca houses under the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation’s Rajeev Awas Yojna (RAY), which aims to make 60 cities across the country slum-free at a cost of Rs. 6,000 crore.

In UP, the project will be implemented by the State Urban Development Agency (SUDA), which has already started the work of identifying the beneficiaries.

Launched in June 2009, the Rajeev Awas Yojna is a flagship programme of the UPA government. In UP, the scheme will be implemented in Bareilly, Moradabad, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Aligarh, Shahjehanpur, Firozabad, Mathura, Saharanpur, Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Kanpur, Allahabad, Agra, Varanasi, Muzaffarnagar, Jhansi and Rae Bareli. Under the project, the SUDA will construct housing units in slums in these cities. Each three-floor unit, estimated to cost about Rs. 3 lakh, will consist of two rooms, kitchen, bathroom and a lavatory.

Talking about the scheme, Additional Director (SUDA) Chintamani said, “This is a scheme which promises to remove slums from the cities and provide a sustainable housing option for the slum-dwellers at a nominal cost. We have been asked by the Union government to conduct a survey in the districts and determine the number of beneficiaries. We have asked our District Urban Development Agencies (DUDA) to do this exercise and it will be completed by March 15.”

Chintamani said the survey is complete in about 10 cities. “We will be sending the survey report to the Centre and the scheme is expected to formally take off in UP after April this year.


The government of India, meanwhile, is also getting GIS mapping done to ensure the area identified is actually a slum. The SUDA will also identify the construction agency for building these units.

The Centre will bear 50 per cent of the cost of construction, the state government 30 per cent and the urban local body and the beneficiary 10 per cent each. The state government will also arrange the land. A SUDA official said they were talking to the banks to provide loans to the beneficiaries at low interest.

Reliance Power project achieves 105% generation capacity

LUCKNOW: Reliance Power's Rosa plant which is one of its first greenfield project to become operational has now started generating more than 100 percent of its installed capacity. Though the two units commissioned under the phase-I of the project have an installed capacity of 600 MW they are producing 630 MW of power.

A Reliance Power official confirmed that the units are functioning at 105 percent of their installed capacity, despite problems in coal supply and evacuation of power on account of transmission constraints.

The company is setting up the 1,200 MW Rosa Power project in Uttar Pradesh. The first unit of 300 MW was commissioned in December 2009 followed by another unit of 300 MW. Both the units under phase of the project were commissioned ahead of their scheduled plan and were functioning at full capacity.

source (http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-02-24/news/28627921_1_rosa-plant-first-unit-generation-capacity)

R-Power to sign PPA with UP for Chitrangi project

The Anil Dhirubhai Ambani (ADA) group-promoted Reliance Power will soon enter into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Uttar Pradesh government for 2456 Mw. This will help the company fast track its 3,960-megawatt (Mw) Chitrangi power project near Sasan in Madhya Pradesh.

Reliance Power, which is setting up over 35,000 Mw of capacity, had emerged as one of the lowest bidders in a competitive bid for purchase of power by the UP government. Reliance Power will supply 2,456 Mw to Uttar Pradesh from Chitrangi. The company had earlier signed a PPA with the Madhya Pradesh government for close to 1,200 Mw, said sources having knowledge of the developments.

For purchase of 3,000 Mw power on a long-term basis, competitive bids were invited by Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL), the nodal agency of power in the state. Bids were submitted by six companies, of which four — JP Associate, PTC, Lanco and Reliance Power — qualified. Reliance Power offered a tariff rate of Rs 3.702 per unit, one of the lowest.
While Lanco committed 680 Mw at Rs 4.283 per unit, JP Associates and PTC committed 200 Mw each at Rs 3.9 per unit and Rs 4.8 per unit respectively. PTC has also committed to supply another 300 Mw from KVK Neelanchal project at Rs 3.324 per unit and another 160 Mw from Ind Bharat Power project. UPPCL is likely to issue a letter of intent (LoI) to Reliance Power considering the fact that other bidders have offered only nominal capacity in their bids, they said.

A Reliance Power spokesperson declined to comment. Sources said with the PPA in place, Reliance Power can now fast track the Chitrangi project.

According to the agreement, power supplies have to begin within 48 months or by 2014.

Chitrangi Power Private Ltd (previously Madhya Pradesh Power Generation Private Limited) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Power. It is a coal-based 3,960 Mw project at Chitrangi tehsil in Singrauli district in Madhya Pradesh with an investment close to Rs 20,000 crore. The financial closure process for the project has already begun. The project is planned to be financed at a debt-equity ratio of 75:25. The company is also planning to further augment the capacity of this project, said sources.

The coal for the project would be sourced from captive coal mines allocated to Sasan UMPP as well as from linkages which the government may allocate for the project. The approval for using coal from the Sasan coal mines, adjacent to the project has already been given by the government. The land required for the construction activities has been acquired and initial construction activities have commenced, they said.

source (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/r-power-to-sign-ppaup-for-chitrangi-project/426669/)

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/insurance-companies-cold-to-ups-annuity-for-land-plan/757081/2

The state government’s proposal to outsource distribution of annuity under its rehabilitation and resettlement policy for families whose land is acquired for a development project has failed to enthuse banks and insurance companies. An unusual 33-year-long commitment and a mandatory Rs. 100 crore performance guarantee have turned out to be the dampeners.

The R and R policy, which was announced in September 2010, provides for the payment of an annuity of Rs. 20,000 per acre, along with an increment of Rs. 600, for a period of 33 years. Alternatively, the landowners can opt for a one-time lumpsum payment of Rs. 2.4 lakh per acre. The UP government claims that it is the best R and R policy in the country.

The government wanted to devise a transparent and effective way of distributing the annuity. However, it soon realised that the process of maintaining data and distributing annuity every year across the state required a certain degree of technical expertise and infrastructure which it did not possess. Therefore, it decided to outsource the work to banks and insurance companies, having experience in similar financial products.

It decided to invite bids, asking companies to quote a one-time consolidated amount per acre for which they could undertake to pay the annuity for 33 years. Besides Life Insurance Corporation, Allahabad Bank, Bajaj Allianz, SBI Life and some other companies showed interest in the project.

However, soon the companies doubted the prospects of undertaking such a long-term commitment.“We do not have any financial product where regular payments for 33 years are required. The closest that we have is pension plans extending up to 20 or 25 years. We have applied with IRDA for a 33-year financial product, but we are still not sure about the future of such a project,” said a senior official of an insurance company.

Another major problem, said the official, was the state’s demand for a Rs. 100-crore performance guarantee.

“The money with us is the money of the policy-holders. The guidelines of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority don’t allow payment of a performance guarantee from the policy-holders’ money. Initially, the government had asked for Rs. 300 crore, later they reduced it to Rs. 100 crore. But even this may not be possible,” the official said.

A government official, however, said they cannot waive off the performance guarantee. “They will get public money which will be invested further by the private companies in the market. So giving a guarantee should not be a problem,” he said.

As for a 33-year-old commitment, the official said that, too, should not be a problem. “In case of Mahamaya Garib Balika Ashirwad Yojana, we have been given an 18-year commitment by Allahabad Bank.”

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/state-to-go-for-viability-gap-funding-of-projects/756886/


For the first time, the UP government is going to undertake development projects through viability gap funding in order to make them profitable for promoters.

Initially, three state highways, connecting Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh, are going to be upgraded through viability gap funding to the extent of 20 per cent following approval from the Centre.

The projects, which would be executed under public-private partnership model, involve an investment of Rs. 3,000 crore. After a pre-bid meeting with interested developers on February 28, the UP government has decided to call for the final bidding on March 28.

So far, PPP road projects were built on “land for development” pattern where the developer was given additional land for commercial development to make projects profitable. The Yamuna and Ganga Expressways were based on this pattern.

The three projects include four-laning of 206-km-long state highway-57 between Delhi and Saharanpur, which connects with the road leading to Yamunotri in Uttarakhand, at a cost of Rs. 1,735 crore; upgradation of the 56-km-long Bareli- Almora road till Uttarakhand border at a cost of Rs. 354 crore, and upgradation of the state highway 5A from Varanasi to Shaktinagar in Sonebhadra district right up to the Chhattisgarh border at cost of 914 crore.

The government is now pushing these projects after the Upper Ganga Expressway, which was meant to provide a fast, access-controlled road from the National Capital Region to Uttarakhand, has got bogged down in environment-related issues. Also, the developers have shown interest in the two state highways connecting with Uttarakhand with just 10 per cent viability gap funding, although the state has the Central approval for a maximum of 20 per cent

The upgradation of the Varanasi-Shaktinagar highway, which provides links to Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, may also require much less viability gap funding than 20 per cent, an official said.

The concept of viability gap funding was introduced by the Government of India about five years back to attract promoters for projects which may not immediately be otherwise viable. However, the UP government struck to its own model of offering land for commercial development as a sweetener. The decision to go in for viability funding has been taken to minimise the problems associated with land acquisition.

Part of urban rejuvination initative. Anyone who has been to Lucknow after 2 years can definitely look for dramatic changes and should also agree that Lucknow one of best cities in India from quality of life point of view

Still lot of work has to be done in rehabilating slums and demolishing illiegal colonies
-----------------------------------
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Eco-friendly-Mayawati-gifts-Rs-834-cr-park/articleshow/7623582.cms

LUCKNOW: Bronze seems to be chief minister Mayawati's latest choice. Right from the entrance gate to the artificial animals, everything is made up of bronze at the 112-acre Manyawar Shri Kanshiram Ji Green (Eco) Garden constructed on the VIP Road worth Rs 834 crore.

Constructed on the north side of Manyawar Kanshiram Ji Smarak Sthal, the park was open to public after Mayawati inaugurated it on Thursday. The park has two main entrances. One on the VIP Road and the other, right opposite facing towards Gitapalli colony. It has been designed taking in view the `vaastu' concepts.

The total area of the park is 112 acres, which has been well parted out to place the bronze fountain with water bodies and greenery surrounding it. This has been designed keeping in mind the environmental aspect. Around 13,000 metres pathway has also been built up. There are more than 10 such fountains. Different varieties of saplings would be planted and this area will be surrounded by a rock garden.

To amuse the kids, there are elephants, lions, tigers, monkeys, dinosaurs and others. It is reported that more than 25 varieties of animals carved out of bronze metal are present. The park has nearly 500 such statues, which gives a majestic look to the garden.

According to officials, an oval-shaped mound constructed right in the middle is the centre of attraction. This mound reflects the architectural features of the garden.

A striking feature of the garden is the solar energy system worth Rs 180 lakh that will soon be installed, so that energy could be conserved, and power cuts be avoided. Inside the garden, an area of 10.5 acres has been given to develop facilities for public utility. This will house administrative building, eating joint, washrooms, and also small parking place.

Near the entrance gate (from Gitapalli side), a huge area exclusively for parking is constructed. "The parking space of around 20 acres will be developed," said assistant engineer, UP Rajkiya Nirman Nigam, SP Singh.

Earlier, CM Mayawati, while addressing the people highlighted that the park is one of the biggest ecological park in the world. "The park will attract people from all over the world," Mayawati said.

Talking about the challenges that she had to face, she indirectly hinted on the people who posed hurdles at the construction of the park. The eco park has been built after demolishing the old jail on Jail Road.

The state government is yet to fix an amount that would be charged by the public. There would be an entry ticket for which the rate is yet to be decided. "The total amount spend on its construction will be recovered from the people who visit the garden. I hope more and more people from across the country come to visit it," said the CM.

Though the garden has been inaugurated, it requires finishing touches. Officials believe that it will take another month to complete it, and plant saplings.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/up-ready-to-map-water-resources/757698/

The State Water and Sanitation Mission (SWSM) will soon be documenting water resources across six zones of the state. The documentation — to be done through Geographical Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) mapping — will take note of ponds (manmade and natural), wells and handpumps. According to officials, the exercise will help them create a proper database of these resources, which will be used for their management.

The mapping will be done by private organisations and the mission office has already invited proposals from expert agencies. The exercise is a part of the Centre’s National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) and will cover villages under six zones of UP under three commissionaires. These zones are Allahabad, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Varanasi and Moradabad.

The chairman of the SWSM, Manoj Kumar Singh said: “So far, we do not have any proper database of water resources, especially in areas where drinking water is a major problem.”

While handpumps may feature in the records of UP Jal Nigam, ponds are marked by the revenue department in village records. But there is not much information on wells, which are an important source of drinking water, he said. “Through the mapping, we will get details of all the resources together, complete with their longitude and latitude dimensions.”

The department plans to start off the exercise by April 1 and should end by March 31, 2012.

“The focus will initially be on villages where the drinking water condition is really bad in summer and we would like to have their details within three months,” said Singh. “The details will help us finalise plans for providing emergency relief to these villages.”

After the mapping, the details will be given to the selected civil society organisations in these villages, who will then do a regular monitoring of the water quality.

They will be assigned the task of collecting water samples for testing in Jal Nigam labs across the state and give their report to the mission office and the gram sabha.

“Participation of the community and civil organisations is a key component of the rural drinking water programme and we will involve them in quality monitoring exercise,” said Singh.

UP can emerge global sugar sector player: Assocham

Recommends raising plant capacities, new technologies

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) has said Uttar Pradesh had the potential to emerge as a big player in the global sugar market if the state government and state sugar industry made concerted efforts.

It has recommended steps like increasing the plant capacity of the sugar mills and harnessing modern technology to boost cane and sugar production.
The sugar industry is the largest organised sector in the state and plays a significant role in the state economy.

In its report, Assocham said Uttar Pradesh sugar industry was capable to meeting the exponentially growing demand for sugar across the globe.

The overall sugar production in the state registered a whopping 90 per cent growth in 2006-07 with sugar production of almost 8.5 million tonnes (MT) compared to 4.4 MT in 2000-01.

Assocham said the state government should provide a price mechanism to farmers for cane and make price policy for mills to avoid any confrontation between the stakeholders.

Uttar Pradesh registered 125 MT of cane production in 2007-08, which fell alarmingly to 110 MT in 2008-09. Sugarcane production across India was 348 MT in 2007-08, which drastically fell to 285 MT.

“With a view to increasing sugar production to meet domestic requirements and tap the global market, we recommend the state government to set up a Research and Development unit to develop qualitatively better cane plants for higher yield and disease-resistant crops,” Assocham National Secretary General D S Rawat said.

He suggested the government also promoted marketing and international quality control aspects for export.

The state registered 2.18 million hectares area under cane cultivation of 5.06 million hectares pan-India in 2007-08. The acreage fell to 2.08 million hectares in 2008-09 against 4.42 million hectares nationally.

Uttar Pradesh sugar sector is likely to grow by compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.09 per cent from 2006-07 to 2019-20. Assocham said the CAGR calculation showed that the Uttar Pradesh sugar production would probably grow from 8.5 MT in 2006-07 to 14.9 MT by 2019-20.

source (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/up-can-emerge-global-sugar-sector-player-assocham/427503/)

Govt and Cooperative loss making sugar mills were bleeding UP govt of almost 1000cr per year. In past many attempts were made to sell some of them.
Under Mayawati UP govt showed will and is successfull in selling most of loss making sugar mills.

More info

http://udyogbandhu.up.nic.in/sugar.htm

Significant step to consolidate finances of the state

^^
UP under Ms Mayawathi, seems to have taken off very well in the path of Development. Education.Healthcare,Power,Infrastructure and giving hope to lots of people to engage in work in construction and allied field....good going.

Another term for Maya and imaginative initiatives for family planning... I am sure UP will become a great asset to India.. The old guards who never did anything which touches the life of all citizens for 50 years ,need to be rested for ever.

I am impressed.

^^
UP under Ms Mayawathi, seems to have taken off very well in the path of Development. Education.Healthcare,Power,Infrastructure and giving hope to lots of people to engage in work in construction and allied field....good going.

Another term for Maya and imaginative initiatives for family planning... I am sure UP will become a great asset to India.. The old guards who never did anything which touches the life of all citizens for 50 years ,need to be rested for ever.

I am impressed.

first she should make the the roads she has destroyed in the name of pipeline project.its mud everywhere and cars are sinking!!!

first she should make the the roads she has destroyed in the name of pipeline project.its mud everywhere and cars are sinking!!!
Kuch pane ke liye kuch khona padta hai , yes indeed Laying of Sewer lines has caused lot of problem , not only in lucknow , but situation is also bad in Allahabad , Kanpur , as i visit these cities frequently . after the work is finished Roads will be repaired , budget has been kept for this.:):):)

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/up-among-top-2-domestic-investment-destinations/419089/
is this news true , as media portrays Uttar pradesh ?

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/japanese-funds-to-improve-buddhist-circuit/759250/



The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has agreed to give loans for the development of infrastructure to connect the Buddhist circuit in Uttar Pradesh.

The project has been approved under the Uttar Pradesh Buddhist Circuit Development project.

The loan assistance will be provided by JICA through the Union Ministry of Tourism. In the first phase, Rs. 400 crore will be provided for the construction of about 74 kms of roads connecting Sarnath in Varanasi, Kapilavastu on the UP-Nepal border, Shravasti and Sankisa in Farukkhabad.

Besides roads, there will be construction of storm water drainage system in Kushinagar and Shravasti, site development and enhancement and promoting community participation in tourism promotion.

The Additional Director (UP Tourism), PK Singh, said: “This is one of the biggest projects to be initiated in UP for the development of the Buddhist circuit. Since connectivity is a major problem in these districts, it was decided to first initiate the project to construct roads. The JICA has already released the funds and we are waiting for the Centre to give us those funds. We are ready with our Detailed Project Report (DPR).”

Singh said: “After the 74 km stretch, we will be aiming at the construction of the storm water drainage system. The two projects will certainly give a major boost to tourism, as these sites see a good international footfall.”

population is very serious issues and biggest drag in the development of UP / Northen states and at same time India becuase of huge size of UP/Bihar/MP/Raj

Mayawati wanted to take pretty radical step in reforming Health Sector. Health department under PPP selected 4 districts for PPP in health sector (on trial basis) where in 4 disctricts were to be given to big corporate groups to implement all health services of govt and meet the targets set by governemnt. They were allowed to provide additional services at some charge and govt services free of cost.
From District Hospital to CHC to PHC where to be transfered to the selected corporate. Bidding was in the final stage and most of big names in Indian health sector participated. At the last movement UP govt backed out and bids were cancelled.
Move was radical as earlier no one attemped PPP in health in India. I got chance to talk to very senior person in udyog Bandhu and he mentioned that political opposition was very strong from all political parties. (center/state)
he also mentioned that same will be again taken up in future after adressing the concerns of poplitical parties and others.

I am waiting for the same as PPP might be the way to provide better health services in rural India and check population growth.

Indian Express and Financial Express covered it quite well. Will post the link if I find it


^^
UP under Ms Mayawathi, seems to have taken off very well in the path of Development. Education.Healthcare,Power,Infrastructure and giving hope to lots of people to engage in work in construction and allied field....good going.

Another term for Maya and imaginative initiatives for family planning... I am sure UP will become a great asset to India.. The old guards who never did anything which touches the life of all citizens for 50 years ,need to be rested for ever.

I am impressed.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/State-Govt-creates-6-new-special-courts/articleshow/7658693.cms

LUCKNOW: In an important decision to expedite the trial of corruption related cases, the state government with the consent of Allahabad High Court has created six more special courts of anti corruption-CBI in Uttar Pradesh.

In an official intimation, joint registrar (services) of the high court, Dinesh Kumar Singh on March 1, 2010 wrote to the principal secretary, judicial and legal remembrance (LR) of the state, KK Sharma about appointment of judges in the newly created special courts. The courts will resume judicial work on the date the presiding officer takes over the charge as special judge.

Out of the six courts, four will function at Lucknow, whereas the remaining two are created in Ghaziabad. As of now, there are two anti corruption-CBI courts. One in Lucknow and another one at Ghaziabad.

The governor has appointed the judges recommended by the high court. These courts will try cases probed and chargesheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Area of jurisdiction of special court has also been defined in the notification issued by UP Shashan Grih (police) section 9.

The newly appointed special judges at Lucknow are Rekha Dixit, Jai Prakash Singh I, Surendra Singh, Brijesh Kumar Mishra, RBS Gautam and Ram Babu Sharma, who are presently posted in Lucknow judgeship.

Shyam Lal II, Dr Ashok Kumar Singh IV, and MS Wadhwa are new judges at Ghaziabad. Special judge Rekha Dixit holding special court anti-corruption CBI (West) will try the cases related to Lucknow, Shravasti, Pilibhit, Maharajganj, Auraiya, Ambedkar Nagar and Chandauli. Similarly, the other judges also have been allocated different districts.

The special court shall try the offences specified in sub section (1) of section (3) of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 in which chargesheets are filed in the court by special police establishment of the government of India and the cases arising within the prescribed area, chargesheets already filed before any other special judge and also such other cases arising within the said area relating to said special police establishment, which are pending before such special judge, stated the government notification creating the special courts of CBI.

Bids open for mega township along Yamuna Expressway
The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority has opened the bidding process for the mega residential township it plans to develop along the Yamuna Expressway. Spread over 4,500 acres in various sectors, the township will have various schools, colleges, shops and commercial establishments. The Authority has invited bids from private builders for the project.

According to officials at the Yamuna Expressway Authority (YEA), approximately 40 villages of Bulandshahr will be included in the project. “The mega city project will be floated in March this year; bidders were called in for the project. The project will be a lifeline for the Yamuna Expressway, which touches Agra at the other end. The township would be built on a grand scale, making it a world-class region of the district,” said a senior official.

The mega city will be one of the many cities that have been planned along the Yamuna Expressway. The board has also decided to compensate farmers of Bulandshahr at par with those of Gautam Budh Nagar, Noida, whose land was acquired by the government. “Compensation has been decided at Rs. 880 per sq m by the board. The authority has finalised the masterplan for the Yamuna Expressway till Jevar in Gautam Budh Nagar. A layout plan for the Expressway township, and facilities to be developed along it till Agra, will soon be drafted by the authority.


Source : Link (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Bids-open-for-mega-township-along-Yamuna-Expressway/755430/)

^^ no doubt jaypee will get it :(

Sanjaya Baru: Private wealth public squalor

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/sanjaya-baru-private-wealth-public-squalor/428349/


You don’t have to travel very far from the epicentre of power in India to grasp the challenge of urban governance. Take a walk to Delhi’s hip and happening Khan Market. Watch the BMWs squeeze their way in, and the glitzy crowd walk quickly from chauffeur-driven car into fancy restaurant or fancier boutique, noses covered with handkerchief!

There is no experience more sobering for the perfumed than a walk down the inner lane of Khan Market — it stinks. Khan Market has become the latest metaphor for private wealth and public squalor in urban India.

If New Delhi’s central government is unable to address the challenge of urban governance next door, and is not willing to empower the chief minister of Delhi, forget about the titular mayor of Delhi, how can one expect a new 74th Constitution amendment bill type of intervention to make a difference to urban governance, when the old one has made hardly any difference to rural governance?!
However, a report of a ‘high-powered expert committee on urban infrastructure and services’ (HPECUIS), chaired by Isher Ahluwalia and including some very knowledgeable persons, sees such a legislation as key to addressing the problem of urban governance, which the committee calls “the weakest and most crucial link, which needs to be repaired to bring about the urban transformation so urgently needed in India.”

Accepting a widely held view that the original Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) has failed to meet its mission objectives — namely urban reform — the HPECUIS has recommended a New Improved JNNURM (NIJNNURM!)

But the JNNURM failed because a weak coalition government in Delhi was unable to impose reform on unwilling state governments that were quite happy to take the money and not pay much attention to reform. How an even weaker central government will now be able to get an assortment of political parties around the country that are still dragging their feet on tax reform to agree to not just “reform”, but in fact a transfer of power from the state government to local governments, with empowered mayor and municipalities is not clear

India has a three-tiered governance structure captured best by the statement that power in India revolves around three offices — DM, CM & PM (district magistrate, chief minister and prime minister). Possessed by a fanciful view that New Delhi can administer top-down reform in India via legislation, the Rajiv Gandhi–Mani Shankar Aiyar duo amended the Constitution to transfer funds and powers from Delhi to the districts, bypassing the state capital. Andhra Pradesh’s irreverent and irrepressible chief minister of the day, N T Rama Rao, got back with the oneliner — the Centre is a conceptual myth — and showed that any attempt to bypass the state capital will be disastrous for the success of any centrally-sponsored initiative at the local level.

The initiative for empowerment of local government will have to come from state governments and through public pressure from below. This is the single biggest lesson to have been learnt from the actual experience of the 74th amendment to the Constitution. A highly regarded and knowledgeable member of the HPECUIS, Ramesh Ramanathan of Janaaagraha, Bangalore, has long lamented the delinking of reform from funding in JNNURM. This delinking has happened not because the Centre has no clout with urban local bodies, but because the Union ministry is under pressure to disburse funds even when not much reform is happening on the ground.

Funds once created are normally not allowed to lapse in government. Not using funds is as much of a crime as misusing them! I am surprised that even Mr Ramanathan thinks NIJNNURM will succeed where JNNURM failed. India’s cities do not necessarily lack funds, they lack a political focus that only state governments can provide. To end the ugliness of private wealth and public squalor, India’s cities require local mobilisation, not national incentivisation.

The key to urban reform and development is to get state governments to push for them. In Uttar Pradesh, it is chief minister Mayawati, who is finally driving urban reform. If UP’s cities develop, it will be because of chief ministerial leadership, neither the incentive of funds from Delhi nor the incentivisation of local government leadership.

Hyderabad offers a good example of a city that improved rapidly under chief minister Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership and has since deteriorated due to the neglect of a successor government that shifted its focus away from the city to the countryside. In fact, in this case the Union urban development minister was from the same state and a resident of the city, and was implementing JNNURM. Yet, Hyderabad saw little governance reform, and instead experienced deterioration of urban services.

Almost all the ideas in the HPECUIS are very good. Indian cities need better governance, better services, more investment, etc. etc. A lot of the suggestions made in the report are useful and will help. But if urbanisation in India has to move forward there can be only two ways forward — either the central government takes over an entire city (as has been the case with New Delhi and Chandigarh, and such an option has been suggested before for Mumbai and, more recently, for Hyderabad); or, state governments get involved in urban development, as happened in Andhra Pradesh with Mr Naidu, and more recently is happening in UP with Ms Mayawati.

The HPECUIS view that central funds and Constitutionally-empowered local leadership, trained by Indian Institutes of Urban Management and such like institutional interventions from Delhi, will transform Indian cities appears fancifu

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ambulance-scheme-gets-lifeline/762571/


The Emergency Medical Transport Service, a long awaited ambulance facility for all districts, will finally see the light of the day. The project was first proposed in 2009-10 and some ambulances were acquired later, but there was no private player to run them.

Now, at the end of the financial year, the government is preparing to float tenders to hire private firms who will make the scheme operational.

The first part of the project, under which 988 ambulances were to be procured, had got a Central approval under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in the 2010-11 Project Implementation Plan (PIP) submitted by the state. The Centre had released Rs 158.88 crore for this and half the vehicles were procured by the state's Department of Family Welfare. In 2011-12, the state has proposed to procure another 1,012 ambulances. This will bring up the number of ambulances to 2,000, so on an average, each of the 820 blocks can have two ambulances and the rest can be used in the district headquarters.

“The ideal ratio is one ambulance for every 1 lakh population and since Uttar Pradesh has a population of about 20 crore, we need at least 2,000 ambulances,” said a senior medical official.

“The state's department of Family Welfare is to float the tenders within the next few days to select private firms that will run the 988 ambulances,” said Santosh Kumar, General Manager (Administration), NRHM, Uttar Pradesh.

As per the scheme, the infrastructure will be provided by the government, and a private firm will set up a centralised emergency response center, from where all the ambulances will be controlled. Anyone needing the ambulance service can call up the toll free number 108, which will be connected to the response center. The communication manager at the center will — through GIS system — trace the nearest ambulance and direct it to rush.

The service will be available round the clock and will be free of cost. Each ambulance will have the basic life support system along with an attendant and a driver, to be provided by the private firm.

According to NHRM officers, the scheme, functional in other states, has resulted in a significant decline of maternal mortality rate, as the largest beneficiaries are pregnant women. The ASHAs and ANMs of all districts will be given the toll-free number, so they can call the ambulances for a safe and timely delivery.

^^ no doubt jaypee will get it :(

First - it will be farmers burning the cities - then the rail rokos and rasta rokos - then the socialists and communists crying hoarse why India is not using bail-gaadis!! THEN after years of courts and political interference, we'll probably get a boundary wall built by Jaypee!! Jai Ho!! :)

"lulz"

"Incredible India"

http://udyogbandhu.up.nic.in/bids_ppp.htm


Jawaharpur Vidyut Utpadan Limited
Jawaharpur Vidyut Utpadan Limited has been incorporated by Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd. as SPV (Shell Company) for development of a 2x660 Thermal Power Project in District Etah.
RFQ received from 19 bidders out of which 17 bidders have been shortlisted.
RFP is to be issued to 17 shortlisted bidders with regard to Jawaharpur Thermal Power Project.

Yamuna Expressway Thermal Power Project
Yamuna Power Generation Company (SPV) (A joint venture of Noida Authority, UPPCL, Greater Noida Authority and Yamuna Expressway Authority) has invited tenders for appointment of consultants for preparation of Feasibility report and DPR for establishing 2000 MW thermal power project in Gautam Budha Nagar/NCR region.
RFP bids for selection of consultant, are invited upto 14 hrs on 12.04.2011.

OMG!!! maya has gone :nuts:

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/mega-recruitment-drive-in-up-police/763668/

After recruiting 35,000 constables — the biggest ever recruitment drive in the state that earned praise from the Union Home Ministry for transparency — the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board is all set to start recruitment of a record 10,000 Sub-Inspectors next month.

This is the first time UP Police will induct such a large number of S-Is. In the past, the highest number of S-Is inducted in one go was 1,800 in the year 1981, 1982 and 1983.

The recruitment is part of the government’s plan to strengthen the UP Police by inducting 2.25 lakh policemen, including 25,000 Head Constables, 40,000 S-Is and the remaining constables. At present, there are 15,000 S-Is. “We have to recruit 40,000

S-Is in phases,” said DGP Karamvir Singh in Lucknow on Wednesday. The chairman of the recruitment board, V C Goyal, said the board had conducted written exams last week for 5,300 posts of S-Is for which head constables and constables were eligible. As many as 55,000 policemen appeared in the exam, he said.

Goel also said they would invite application for direct recruitment next month. In the past, the recruitment of S-Is was conducted by Police Headquarters at Allahabad. It conducted the last direct recruitment of 1,000 S-Is in 2005. Three years later, the police recruitment board was set up.

Earlier, college graduates - between 21 to 28 years - first had to undergo a medical examination, followed by a physical test that included 100 metres sprint, long and high jumps, chin-ups and throwing a cricket ball to a distance of 80 metres at least. The selected candidates were then allowed to take the written exams, which was followed by the interview round.

Now, they first have to go through a physical standard test (PST) followed by a preliminary written exam, a physical endurance test (PET), the final written exam, medical examination and group discussion (GD).

In PST, the candidates who fulfill height and weight criteria get selected and their certificates are verified. The preliminary written examination of 200 marks tests their general knowledge and numerical reasoning.

The candidates who pass the preliminary exams are then called for PET, which includes running 10 kilometres in 60 minutes for boys and 5 kilometres in 35 minutes for girls.

The next round involves the main written exam of 400 marks that includes one essay writing and objective-type questions. Successful candidates finally appear for the medical test. Those who clear the medical tests are allowed to appear for the group discussion test of 20 marks.

^^ Interesting - so earlier - only brawn was the criteria (explains why UP cops are such dumbkopfs :D) .


Earlier, college graduates - between 21 to 28 years - first had to undergo a medical examination, followed by a physical test that included 100 metres sprint, long and high jumps, chin-ups and throwing a cricket ball to a distance of 80 metres at least. The selected candidates were then allowed to take the written exams, which was followed by the interview round.

Now, they first have to go through a physical standard test (PST) followed by a preliminary written exam, a physical endurance test (PET), the final written exam, medical examination and group discussion (GD).

UP reiterates thrust on expressways, power sector
The Uttar Pradesh government has assured industry it would continue to work towards ‘substantial improvement’ in infrastructure all over the state.

The thrust areas have been identified as power, expressways, communications, international airports and social sectors. While, the work on Yamuna Expressway (erstwhile Taj Expressway) is on, the state government has proposed two other mega highway projects viz. Ganga Expressway and Upper Ganga Canal Expressway.

In power sector, the state government is aiming to add another 25,000 Mw capacity by the end of 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17).

Holding out this promise at the annual session of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here last night, UP chief secretary Atul Kumar Gupta solicited more investment across sectors, while emphasising necessary support to industry.

The session titled ‘Enhancing UP’s Competitiveness’ witnessed top state bureaucrats and industry representatives mulling over strategies to attract more investment in Uttar Pradesh, promote ‘Brand UP’, overcome infrastructure bottlenecks and prepare trained manpower. On the occasion, CII also released its 10 point agenda for the development of the state culled after brainstorming amongst large number of stakeholders.

Outgoing CII UP state council chairman Jayant Krishna suggested UP to increase in its Human Development Index (HDI), healthcare and education sectors by bringing transformation in service delivery systems.

“UP should launch mass skill development programmes for training of 100 million people by 2022, mostly at the grassroots to ensure that UP reaps rich demographic dividend,” he added.

CII suggested amendment to the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act to reinforce UP’s leadership in agriculture and agro-processing sectors and taking steps to double farmers income in the next three to five years.

Another suggestion was to enact Industries Facilitation Act giving ‘teeth’ to single window system and reviving monthly apex-level Udyog Bandhu meetings for the resolution of grievances pertaining to industry.

“UP needs to carry out labour reforms and show hunger to solicit investment, especially for large flagship industrial units,” Krishna said while demanding more Special Economic Zones in National Capital Region and Lucknow-Kanpur region and improvement in energy situation. Industry further suggested that Uttar Pradesh should rationalise Value Added Tax rates, phase out ‘zero-sum’ levies like entry tax and brace for Goods and Service Tax regime.

Uttar Pradesh has been advised to aggressively promote ‘Brand UP’ and encourage a robust government-business-citizen relationship to project a pro-industry image.


Source : Link (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/up-reiterates-thrustexpressways-power-sector/429064/)

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/600-MW-Anapara-C-grid-synchronised/articleshow/7740293.cms


LUCKNOW: Terming it as a gift on the occasion of Holi, the UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) announced synchronisation of the 600 MW unit of Anpara C with the state grid on Friday. Chairman, UPPCL, Navneet Sehgal said that the second unit of Anpara C of 600 MW would start functioning by July.

But, while the unit got synchronised with the state grid, the actual availability of power would come through in at least three to four months time. However, it could still be a significant development given the ever yawning gap between the demand and supply of power in UP. The demand has already started rising even as summers approach.

Owned and managed by Hyderabad-based based Lanco Kondapalli, which had earlier announced the unit getting synchronised by February 15. However, availability of oil came as a constraint, delaying the project by at least a month. This is the second thermal power project after Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group promoted Rosa thermal power plant to get operational.

Meanwhile, the much awaited unit of Obra is unlikely to resume it's functioning soon after Holi, as projected by the northern region load dispatch centre (NRLDC).

While, NRLDC has projected the 200 MW unit to start functioning from March 21, well placed sources in UP Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam told TOI that the unit may not come up before April 15. Sources have not ruled out the possibility of the unit functioning getting prolonged even further.

This is not all. Two more state owned utilities would continue to remain in a shutdown stage with one of them, the 200 MW Obra unit 9 that went off the steam last year in October showing no sign of revival. The other power unit, 110 MW Paricha, too, may not come up before May. The unit was shut down for it's annual maintenance in January this year following a fault in it's generator.

According to officials in the UP Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL), the 13th unit of Obra was plugged off on January 6 for routine maintenance operations, and was expected to come back into an operational mode soon after Holi. But now, official sources confirm that the unit may take some more time.

Likewise, the unit number 9 is facing a gross problem of turbine operation. The key machine had developed a major snag that could not be corrected on time.

When contacted, chairman, UPRVUNL, Alok Tandon said that they are in touch with the Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL), which has to get the job done. "We expect the plant to get functioning as soon as possible," he said.

This unit had tripped earlier in 2008 only to revive only by July 2010, before going off steam once again in October 2010, much to the embarrassment of the power authorities.

Together, the three units have account for a loss of more than 500 MW, at a time when the demand for power is witnessing a spiralling trend.

Availability of power from the private sector too is only restricted to Rosa thermal power plant which, thankfully, is having both of it's units in a functional mode.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/target-for-building-homes-of-urban-poor-is-set-higher/764641/

The state government has set a tentative target of constructing 50,000 houses for urban poor in the next one year under Kanshiram Shahri Garib Awas Yojna. Across all the 72 districts, sources said, the major cities have been given the target of constructing 2000 to 1000 houses, while small cities have been told to set up 1000 to 500 houses.

When the scheme was announced in 2008, the government had set a target of constructing around 1.01 lakh houses ever year. In this first phase about one lakh houses were constructed and allotted. But owing to lack of beneficiaries and land for setting up such houses, the government had slashed the target in 2009-2010 to only 42,000 houses.

Now in the third phase, the state government has once again kept the tentative target of setting up around 50,000 houses.

The district authorities have been informed about the new targets and told to reply within one week whether there are sufficient land and beneficiaries available to meet the given target.

“We are surveying the availability of beneficiaries and land for the construction of 1,500 houses in our district,” said Krishna Kumar, Additional District Magistrate, Moradabad.

Confirming the receipt of the new target, the ADM of Agra, Jagdish, said the district has been given a tentative target of 1,000 houses.

“While beneficiaries would be available but the required land in urban area for setting up 1,000 houses may not be available. We have asked different departments to find out if land for construction houses in two clusters could be made available,” Jagdish added.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/state-firms-up-new-urban-housing-policy/765631/


Will help the government develop State Capital Region on the pattern of NCR

The state government is all set to come out with the new Urban Housing policy which aims to revolutionize the urban development in the state with emphasis on all-inclusive growth.

The state government’s new Urban Housing policy - Urban Housing and Habitat Policy 2011 - prepared by the state Housing and Urban Development department includes new concepts to create land banks and to materialise “affordable housing” and “green housing” in the state.

Sources said the new policy will help the government develop “State Capital Region” on the pattern of the National Capital Region.

To discuss the provisions of the new policy, a high-level meeting headed by Chief Secretary Atul Kumar Gupta with senior officials of Law, Urban Housing, Finance, Public Works department, Tourism, Infrastructure and Industrial Development department took place on Monday evening and now the draft is likely to be placed before the cabinet soon.

According to sources in the government, the new policy is being formulated in such a way that it reflects the “sarvajan hitaye” policy of the BSP government by ensuring affordable housing to the lower-income group and free housing for slum-dwellers on the same land along with the high-end group housing through “land sharing” concept.

So far, the state followed the Urban Housing Policy 1995. “Concepts like land sharing would go a long way in changing the shape of the urban planning. After the Government of India brought its new Urban housing and habitat policy in 2007, states like Punjab, Kerala and Rajasthan also came up with their new policies. Though, UP came out with a new New Township policy last year, we have still been adopting Urban Housing policy of 1995 only. Thus the need was felt to change it in accordance with the present scenario,” said a senior government official.

He added that the emphasis of the new policy would be on “vertical development” and developing “satellite towns”.

In view of the problems related to land acquisition, the concepts of “Land pooling scheme”, “Land sharing”, “Accommodation reservation”, “Transferable development rights” have policy.

“The policy is still under discussion and we hope once implemented, it would change the scenario of even underdeveloped Bundelkhand and eastern regions of the state through satellite towns and knowledge cities,” said a senior government officer.

The Uttar Pradesh government has assured industry it would continue to work towards 'substantial improvement' in infrastructure all over the state. The thrust areas have been identified as power, expressways, communications, international airports and social sectors. While, the work on Yamuna Expressway (erstwhile Taj Expressway) is on, the state government has proposed two other mega highway projects viz. Ganga Expressway and Upper Ganga Canal Expressway.
In power sector, the state government is aiming to add another 25,000 MW capacity by the end of 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17). Holding out this promise at the annual session of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here last night, UP chief secretary Atul Kumar Gupta solicited more investment across sectors, while emphasising necessary support to industry.
The session titled 'Enhancing UP's Competitiveness' witnessed top state bureaucrats and industry representatives mulling over strategies to attract more investment in Uttar Pradesh, promote 'Brand UP', overcome infrastructure bottlenecks and prepare trained manpower. On the occasion, CII also released its 10 point agenda for the development of the state culled after brainstorming amongst large number of stakeholders.
Outgoing CII UP state council chairman Jayant Krishna suggested UP to increase in its Human Development Index (HDI), healthcare and education sectors by bringing transformation in service delivery systems.
Another suggestion was to enact Industries Facilitation Act giving 'teeth' to single window system and reviving monthly apex-level Udyog Bandhu meetings for the resolution of grievances pertaining to industry.
Krishna also said that UP needed to carry out labour reforms and show hunger to solicit investment, especially for large flagship industrial units. He stressed on more Special Economic Zones in National Capital Region and Lucknow-Kanpur region and improvement in energy situation. Industry further suggested that Uttar Pradesh should rationalise Value Added Tax rates, phase out 'zero-sum' levies like entry tax and brace for Goods and Service Tax regime.
Uttar Pradesh has been advised to aggressively promote 'Brand UP' and encourage a robust government-business-citizen relationship to project a pro-industry image.

http://constructionupdate.com/CMS/Newsletter/NewsFiles/36445.html
LINK OF PREVIOUS ARTICLE

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/in-a-first-hitech-buses-set-to-roll-out-in-lucknow/767625/

With 230 city buses finally equipped with Global Positioning System and General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) connectivity, Lucknow is set to become country’s first city to get facilities like audio announcement of destinations inside buses and use of bluetooth connected Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETMs).

GPS and GPRS will enable the officials in tracking the movement of buses and keeping a watch inside through web-cameras.

Delhi-based Vayam Technologies will install these hi-tech systems in state-of-art buses by March 31 and trial of these services is likely to begin in the first week of April.

“Bluetooth-connected ETM and audio announcement systems in buses is being introduced first in Lucknow. No other city in India has these facilities for passengers,” said Sandeep Sharma, vice-president, Vayam Technologies.

Charbagh, Dubagga and Gomti Nagar bus stations have been identified as hotspots where servers are being set up and buildings being equipped with Wi-fi connectivity.

Eventually, these technologies are to be installed in all 1,310 state-of-art CNG buses that UPSRTC has acquired for a total of Rs 320 crore under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for seven mission cities in the state including Lucknow (300 buses), Kanpur (300 buses), Agra (200), Meerut (150 buses), Varanasi (150 buses), Allahabad (150 buses) and Mathura (60 buses). For the operation and management of these buses, Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) are being set up in these cities under the chairmanship of divisional commissioners concerned. Once such SPV, named Lucknow City Transport Service Limited (LCTCL), has already been set for the state capital.

“An integrated controller with GPS and GPRS, LED screen, voice announcement system and web cameras has been so far installed in 230 buses in Lucknow. Rest of the buses will be equipped with these devices by end of this month and trial will start in first week of April,” said Rahiv Chauhan, Managing Director of LCTCL.

Vayam Technologies has also to install GPS-connected LED display boards at 130 bus stoppages on 37 routes in Lucknow and similarly in other six cities. Once such display board has been placed at Charbagh bus station. “A training programme was started on March 18 at Gomti Nagar workshop to train about 528 bus conductors to operate bluetooth-connected ETMs,” said Ajit Singh, Assistant Regional Manager of Lucknow Mahanagar Parivahan Sewa.

A website of LCTCL, www.ctslko.org, has been created with features of “public login” and “official login”. The “public login” will enable people to track location of the nearest bus on a route, its expected arrival time and fare. People can also register their complaints here online and via Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS). “If any passengers calls on the IVRS number with a complaint, his complaint with voice would be recorded and control room will immediately ask the bus conductor and driver about it,” Chauhan said.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/in-a-first-hitech-buses-set-to-roll-out-in-lucknow/767625/

With 230 city buses finally equipped with Global Positioning System and General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) connectivity, Lucknow is set to become country’s first city to get facilities like audio announcement of destinations inside buses and use of bluetooth connected Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETMs).


Thanks for the info. Any idea about which company they are buying these buses from? Tata, AL, or Volvo? :banana:

Thanks for the info. Any idea about which company they are buying these buses from? Tata, AL, or Volvo? :banana:

Buses have already been bought by UP govt under JNNURM and as far I know all are from TATA. In Lucknow some of them are already running and they are from TATA (low floor buses). Purchase of buses under JNNURM was the stimulus given by central govt to Indian Automobile Industry .

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/up-to-invite-bids-for-highways%5C-upgrade/430094/

Upgrade of 21 highways for Rs 12,600 crore under PPP model to begin soon

Uttar Pradesh government today decided to follow the public-private partnership (PPP) model in the upgrade and maintenance of state highways (SH).

The state government will soon start the bidding process for the proposed project entailing an estimated cost of Rs 12,625 crore. It will cover 21 SHs and a span of 2,314 km across various districts.

A state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mayawati approved the proposal.

“Separate bidding would soon be invited by the government from companies for the project that aims at upgradation and maintenance of the selected state highways,” cabinet secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh said briefing the media about the various cabinet decisions here this evening.

The bidding process will start in the first week of April and is expected to get over by the middle of May.

The selected companies would be expected to complete the project in the next one year. They would be allowed to collect toll charges.

“The government would maintain these highways on a ‘continuous basis’ out of its own funds, however, if there is any shortfall in the Budget, the Centre would be urged to provide 20 per cent of the viability gap funding,” he informed.

The project would also comprise construction of bypass, foot over-bridge, service lanes and elevated corridor according to local requirements.

According to another decision, the accounts of the zila and kshetra panchayat would now be audited under the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) guidelines.

Meanwhile, the government has decided to clear all liabilities of state universities by providing a one time grant of Rs 60 crore. Besides, the annual grant has also been increased by Rs 83 crore

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/new-airport-at-jhansi-to-boost-tourism/770258/



The Uttar Pradesh government plans to build a new airport in Jhansi district, aiming to promote the Jhansi, Khajuraho and Gwalior tourist circuit.

Initially, the plan was to expand the existing small airport.

However, at a recent meeting between district officials and those of the UP civil aviation department, it was decided to go with a new one.

Officials said the airport would not only increase tourist inflow, but also take some load off Khajuraho airport, which is 185 km away in Madhya Pradesh.

The Jhansi district administration has been asked to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) and identify land for the purpose.

Jhansi district magistrate Manish Chauhan said, “Jhansi is the central point for all tourists coming to Bundelkhand, whether they are coming to Madhya Pradesh or Uttar Pradesh. A lot of research tourists come to the historical city. Many tourists who come to Khajuraho and Orchha also include Jhansi in their itinerary.


“Also, some flights from Khajuraho can be diverted here and the Jhansi, Khajuraho and Gwalior circuit will get better air connectivity.”

The Jhansi airport is now used primarily as an army aviation base. According to sources, about six months ago it was decided that the existing airport would be expanded to handle bigger airplanes for domestic flights. However, it was found that the expansion would become rather expensive.

Chauhan said, “In the last two years, circle rates have increased. The land required for expansion is very close to the highway. It was estimated that the compensation amount would come to about Rs 30 - 35 crore, apart from construction costs. Also, there are buildings of historical importance that would have come in the way of expansion.”

The matter was presented before Chief Minister Mayawati and cabinet secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh on February 12.

This was followed by a meeting between principal secretary (civil aviation) DS Mishra, commissioner Jhansi SN Shukla, district magistrate Manish Chauhan and other state government officials. It was decided that a new airport would be constructed.
An official in the civil aviation department said, “There are plans of diverting some flights from Khajuraho as it is feared that high traffic there may damage heritage sites. We want those flights to come to Jhansi. As soon as we identify the land, we will send our proposal to the Centre.”

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Chief-secy-Mishra-assumes-office/articleshow/7838929.cms

LUCKNOW: New chief secretary Anoop Mishra on Wednesday assumed the charge of his office. He replaced Atul Kumar Gupta, who retired from the post.

A 1978 batch IAS official, Anoop Mishra is the 45th chief secretary of the state since 1952. He was holding the post of principal secretary, finance and infrastructure and industrial development commissioner, prior to his elevation as CS.

A man of clean image, Mishra is considered to be an upright officer, who has a wide experience of working both in the Centre and the state on various important posts, including finance, industries. He had also worked as minister (economic affairs), Embassy of India in the USA.

In an informal talk, he said that he would try to strive hard to implement the government's priority programme and ensure better coordination between different departments to achieve optimum output.

When his attention was drawn towards population explosion, as shown in the latest Census report, he said, "It was definitely an issue of paramount concern. One of the best ways to tackle the problem is to create awareness among the masses. The good sign of the Census report is that of increase in literacy rate among the women and thus they could be roped as agents of change."

As finance secretary, he steered the state out of the odds faced by it under the impact of the global economic slowdown and the heavy financial burden of around Rs 20,000 crore on account of the Sixth Pay Commission's award to state employees. His main contribution was also to enforce strict fiscal discipline and this was evident on March 31, which was also the closing day of the financial year of 2010-11.

While exact assessment of the revenue expenditure was yet to be done, preliminary estimate showed that around Rs 4,500 crore were surrendered by different departments. This was the fund which these departments could not utilise against the sanction issued. However, this money, according to finance department sources, was not deposited with the public ledger account (PLA) and this would be carry forward for the next financial year beginning from April 1. Likewise, the Comptroller and Auditor of General had also been informed about this. The exact revenue deficit would be worked out, based on the total receipts and expenditure after some time, the finance department official added.

http://udyogbandhu.blogspot.com/

Uttar Pradesh plans to develop Jhansi airport


Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh has prepared a blue print to expand and develop Jhansi airport to open up the backward Bundelkhand— a region straddling both Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh— for tourism.

"Development of Jhansi as a regular airport would not only facilitate easy access to Khajuraho (150 km away in Madhya Pradesh), but also give boost to tourism in and around Jhansi, which is the nerve centre of Bundelkhand," a senior official of the state Civil Aviation Department said.

According to Tourism Secretary Avanish Awasthi, "Jhansi is quite ideally located for tourists, both from Uttar Pradesh as well as Madhya Pradesh and commuting to places of tourist interest in the region would be certainly more convenient."

He said, "The existing airstrip (In Jhansi), that been there from the British days, was largely used for military purposes today".

Even though the clearance for development of Jhansi airstrip into a full-fledged airport was given by highest level in the state, the work is yet to commence, reports IANS.

"The task will begin with land acquisition, which itself is a long process. Therefore, it is rather difficult to say when the new airport would be ready," he said

http://www.igovernment.in/site/uttar-pradesh-plans-develop-jhansi-airport-39569

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/govt-ready-to-relax-norms-to-woo-private-players/771726/

Two years after it decided to develop an international airport at Kushinagar in 2009, the Uttar Pradesh government is still struggling to sell the idea to private players. Now, the government is ready to relax the norms.

Following a high-level meeting between officials of Industry and Tourism Department on Monday, the government is now planning to open the project for all infrastructure development companies, irrespective of their experience in developing an airport.

The idea is to give opportunity to those companies, who may not have developed airports in the past but have the potential to develop it in the future. Earlier, the main criteria for technical qualification was that bidders should have prior experience in either constructing or operating an airport in India or abroad.

With an investment of about Rs 560 crore, the Kushinagar airport is proposed to be constructed as part of the development of an integrated Buddhist circuit which consists of holy places of Buddhist significance in UP, Bihar and Nepal.

However, despite various attempts in the past to convince the private players about the viability of the project, the government has failed to take it forward — inspite of offering viability gap funding to the extent of 20 per cent of the project cost to make it profitable for the developer. Not a single developer came forward to submit bids on February 15, 2011. Not ready to give up, the government is now planning to make it open for infrastructure development companies who have enough capital to invest in the project.

Earlier, the developers had to fulfil one of the three basic technical qualification criterion: One, they should have at least one airport in India or abroad for a continuous period of at least two years. Two, they should have commissioned at least one airport in India or abroad with a cost of at least Rs 200 crore. Three, they should have constructed at least one airport in India or abroad with a cost of at least Rs 100 crore.

Big names like GMR, Larsen and Toubro, and Gammon India Ltd had expressed their interest to develop the airport. But, after the initial pre-bid meetings, the government failed to convince them about the viability of the project despite offering about 200 acre land for development on a 90-year lease.

Sources said that the government is also planning to reduce the minimum requirement of financial capacity of the developer, which was earlier required to be net worth of Rs 300 crore in the previous financial year. Project consultant IL&FS are, however, now demanding higher rates for preparing new bid documents.

Updates to the LalitPur Power project!! 1.2 Billion$ USD order for turbines from BHEL!!
Bad news at Dadri : The company has put the Samalkot project on fast track because its earlier attempt to set up a gas-based project of capacity 7,480 MW at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh has been delayed due to legal dispute over land acquisition for the project.
Energyman - got any more updates?

UP Power Projects

Parek Aluminex ------------------------------------- 250 MW (MoU Signed - 14 Dec 2010 (http://news.chennaionline.com/newsitem.aspx?NEWSID=b4418913-1ebc-4d70-82bc-591a39d7033d&CATEGORYNAME=BIZ))
Creative Thermolite Chitrakoot --------------------- 600 MW (MoU Signed - 4 Nov 2010)[/I]
NTPC Meja ------------------------------------------ 1320 MW (U/C) (Tenders Invited for Supply of 2x660 MW Turbines (http://tenders.indiamart.com/details/552328547/))
LANCO:
Bhognipur ------------------------------------------- 1320 MW (MoU Signed - 5 Nov 2010)
Anpara ---------------------------------------------- 1860 MW (U/C)(1200 MW Synchronized with Grid (http://www.lancogroup.com/power/underimpli/anpara.html))
Bajaj Hindusthan:
Lalitpur ---------------------------------------------- 1980 MW (India's BHEL gets $1.2 billion power plant order at Lalitpur (http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFWNAS164620110330))
Chitrakoot ------------------------------------------- 1980 MW (MoU Signed - Dec 15th (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/bajaj-hindusthan-inks-mouup-for-rs-10-k-crore-power-plant/418296/))
Jaiprakash Power:
Bara Thermal Power Project (Phase- I) ---------------- 1980 MW (U/C)(Placed Order for three units of 660 MW each from BHEL (http://www.rttnews.com/Content/TopStories.aspx?Id=1138512))
Karchana Thermal Power Project ---------------------- 1980 MW (Groundwork Started (http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/Company/Fundamentals/Directors-Report/Jaiprakash-Power-Ventures-Ltd/532627))
Neyveli Lignite Power Project ----------------------- 1980 MW (MoU Signed)(Mou Signed Dec 1st - To be setup at Ghatampur, Kanpur) (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/neyveli-to-set2000-mw-plant-in-kanpur/416905/)
Reliance:
Rosa Power Project ----------------------------------- 2400 MW (U/C)(Fastracked and Capacity Doubled (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/r-power-to-double-rosa-project-capacity/417009/))
Dadri Power Project ----------------------------------- 7480 MW (U/C) (Land Acquisition Problems - delayed (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/power/Reliance-Power-applies-to-Power-Ministry-for-gas-allocation/articleshow/6909521.cms))

Total ------------------------------------------------ 25130 MW

Updates to the LalitPur Power project!! 1.2 Billion$ USD order for turbines from BHEL!!
Bad news at Dadri : The company has put the Samalkot project on fast track because its earlier attempt to set up a gas-based project of capacity 7,480 MW at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh has been delayed due to legal dispute over land acquisition for the project.
Energyman - got any more updates?

UP Power Projects

Parek Aluminex ------------------------------------- 250 MW (MoU Signed - 14 Dec 2010 (http://news.chennaionline.com/newsitem.aspx?NEWSID=b4418913-1ebc-4d70-82bc-591a39d7033d&CATEGORYNAME=BIZ))
Creative Thermolite Chitrakoot --------------------- 600 MW (MoU Signed - 4 Nov 2010)[/I]
NTPC Meja ------------------------------------------ 1320 MW (U/C) (Tenders Invited for Supply of 2x660 MW Turbines (http://tenders.indiamart.com/details/552328547/))
LANCO:
Bhognipur ------------------------------------------- 1320 MW (MoU Signed - 5 Nov 2010)
Anpara ---------------------------------------------- 1860 MW (U/C)(1200 MW to be commissioned in March 2011 (http://www.lancogroup.com/power/underimpli/anpara.html))
Bajaj Hindusthan:
Lalitpur ---------------------------------------------- 1980 MW (India's BHEL gets $1.2 billion power plant order at Lalitpur (http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFWNAS164620110330))
Chitrakoot ------------------------------------------- 1980 MW (MoU Signed - Dec 15th (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/bajaj-hindusthan-inks-mouup-for-rs-10-k-crore-power-plant/418296/))
Jaiprakash Power:
Bara Thermal Power Project (Phase- I) ---------------- 1980 MW (U/C)(Placed Order for three units of 660 MW each from BHEL (http://www.rttnews.com/Content/TopStories.aspx?Id=1138512))
Karchana Thermal Power Project ---------------------- 1980 MW (Groundwork Started (http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/Company/Fundamentals/Directors-Report/Jaiprakash-Power-Ventures-Ltd/532627))
Neyveli Lignite Power Project ----------------------- 1980 MW (MoU Signed)(Mou Signed Dec 1st - To be setup at Ghatampur, Kanpur) (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/neyveli-to-set2000-mw-plant-in-kanpur/416905/)
Reliance:
Rosa Power Project ----------------------------------- 2400 MW (U/C)(Fastracked and Capacity Doubled (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/r-power-to-double-rosa-project-capacity/417009/))
Dadri Power Project ----------------------------------- 7480 MW (U/C) (Land Acquisition Problems - delayed (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/power/Reliance-Power-applies-to-Power-Ministry-for-gas-allocation/articleshow/6909521.cms))

Total ------------------------------------------------ 25130 MW

i said you sigma that there are problems in the dadri power plant.... rest the works are progressing very well specially with lanco anpara synchronised(you can edit that one) and the problems at the jaypee power plant also seems to be going away!! :cheers:

^^ done - yea the Anpara was the good news!!
I forgot - which was the Jaypee one?

I forgot - which was the Jaypee one?

this was the problem (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-23/lucknow/28372798_1_power-project-land-acquisition-jaypee-group)

but now sorted out :cheers:

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/land-halts-lucknow-sports-complex-bid/773892/

The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has postponed the submission of Request for Proposals (RFPs) by developers for the international-level cricket stadium-cum-sports complex project proposed to be developed in Lucknow on public-private-partnership model.

According to sources, RFP submission date has been postponed because the LDA has first to execute exchange of a 13-acre private land that falls inside 117-acre land reserved for the stadium complex on Sultanpur Road. The stadium land is surrounded from three sides by Amar Shaheed Path, Sultanpur Road and the river Gomti.

LDA has also to exchange a 20-acre land, acquired along Amar Shaheed Path for Gomti Nagar Extension scheme, to connect the stadium complex better with the Amar Shaheed Path.

“The 13-acre private land inside the sports complex area falls in such a way that it could affect the utilisation of more than 40 acres of land of the sports complex. So the private land would be taken up for stadium project and its landowner would be given separate land or compensation near Sultanpur Road in exchange,” said an LDA official

“The 20-acre land acquired along Amar Shaheed Path is of institutional use. This land will be merged into the sports complex land and a same area of land would be cut out from the sports complex land for institutional development near Sultanpur Road. It will give a better connectivity to the sports complex with Amar Shaheed Path,” he said.

This land exchange exercise has been under process for past one year. “Earlier, it was decided to execute the land exchange after awarding the sports complex project to any developer. But now it has been decided to resolve the land issues before awarding the project,” he said

In the first phase of bidding, a high-level committee under Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner (IIDC) had shortlisted four companies after evaluation of their Request for Qualification (RFQ) in December 2010. These four companies including—Madhucon, DSC Limited, Gammon India and JP Sports— were given RFQ draft on January 15 and were asked to submit it on March 16. The bid submission date was first postponed to April 7 and now the deadline has been postponed once again to May 3.

Sources said that in a pre-bid meeting held on April 4, it was decided to schedule the last date for submission of RFP on May 3, opening of proposal enclosures on May 4, opening of financial proposals on May 13 and issue of Letter of Intent (LoI) to selected develop on June 9.

The estimated cost of the projects is Rs 400 crore. About 60-acre land of total project area would be used for development of cricket stadium and grounds for hockey and football. Facilities for basketball, gymnastics, lawn tennis and aquatics will also be developed in this area. The remaining 57-acre land would be used for commercial and residential activities.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/china-others-circle-over-buddhist-spots/774175/


The Buddhist circuit in UP is all set to get a major boost as airline companies from Sri Lanka, Nepal, China and Thailand are keen to start their services from Varanasi.

Officials said while plans for air services to Kathmandu and Colombo have been finalised, a Chinese airline has also expressed its eagerness to operate flights on Varanasi-Beijing circuit from October. A Chinese delegation met state officials at LBS Babatpur airport on Friday.

The key destination in the Buddhist circuit, Varanasi witnesses one of the highest footfalls in UP as tourists from countries like Japan, China, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand and Indonesia flock to this town situated in the banks of the Ganga. From here, the tourists move to other places in the circuit like Sarnath, Kushinagar, Shravasti, Kaushambi and Farukkhabad. The need for having air connectivity between these countries was being discussed from a long time as the nearest airport for tourists from these countries is New Delhi.

After flights to Sharjah and Abu Dhabi in Middle East, which primarily cater to the Haj pilgrims, talks were on for opening air routes to other destinations as well. While the Buddha airlines of Nepal will start operating its commercial flights between Kathmandu and Varanasi from June, the Mihinlankan airlines of Sri Lanka will also start its flights between Varanasi and Colombo, thrice a week, from August.

“So far, tourists came to Delhi and then, travelled by train or road to Varanasi. But with these direct flights, we are hopeful that the Buddhist tourists will not just save time, there would be an increase in the footfall,” said Airport Manager D C Mishra.

The state government is also extending the runway at the airport, while work for renovating the terminal has been completed.

“We have one of the best terminals in the non-capital category in the country, which matches the standards of any small international airport. We are also extending out runway to allow more and more flights,” added Mishra.

Speaking about the meeting with Chinese delegation, Mishra said: “The Chinese have shown their eagerness to operate flights on Varanasi-Beijing route on alternative days and the frequency will be increased to daily two flights in peak season. We have already finalised the details of the project and the route is expected to become operational by October.” Mishra added that they have also got proposals for allowing operations between Varanasi and Tokyo in Japan. “But we have been informed that due to Tsunami’s impact, the project might be delayed. However, we are ready for these new international routes.”

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/up-moves-closer-to-polio-eradication/777555/


Uttar Pradesh, a polio endemic state, has been able to stop transmission of the wild polio virus for almost a year while Bihar, another endemic state, has not reported any polio case for seven months now.

It is after a gap of five years that Uttar Pradesh - which has been blamed for re-infecting other states and countries like Angola and Tajikistan in the past — has not reported any type of polio virus for about a year.

Till last year, the success was limited to controlling the spread of just Type 1 polio virus, while efforts continued to control the spread of Type 3 virus.

The last case of Type 1 polio virus was reported in UP in November 2009, the last Type 3 polio virus case was reported in the state on April 21, 2010.
This year, only one case of polio (from Bengal) has been reported in the country, following which a special immunisation drive was planned on April 24 in high-risk areas of UP, Bihar and West Bengal.

^^^^^^^ This thread is for infrastructure projects and not for posting random news.

And on above new: If UP don't get polio case for last 7 months how its news worthy of posting, if you read that news it states UP blamed to spread polio after claiming it is eradicated 5 years back. So if after 5 year there can be sudden boost in numbers of polio and it spreads to other states too then this can surely happen again. So wait while keeping fingers crossed.

^^^^^^^ This thread is for infrastructure projects and not for posting random news.

And on above new: If UP don't get polio case for last 7 months how its news worthy of posting, if you read that news it states UP blamed to spread polio after claiming it is eradicated 5 years back. So if after 5 year there can be sudden boost in numbers of polio and it spreads to other states too then this can surely happen again. So wait while keeping fingers crossed.

+1 - this thread is beginning to look like "In the news" thread of chaibar.
@m_1973 - we appreciate your efforts - but try to focus more on development projects!

Sorry again it's a news , but it concerns Uttar Pradesh and the Fruit what the Project offers ,

Allahabad has emerged as the most sought-after job destination in tier III cities across the country. This has been revealed in a survey on current job trends in India, conducted by the research bureau of Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).

The city, which registered a growth rate of 69.6% in 2010, was closely followed by Agra, which also registered a growth rate of 60.9%.

In case of tier III cities, the ASSOCHAM analysis shows that 33 cities grabbed a share of 23% in total employment generation. Over 1.5 lakh job opportunities were created in tier III cities with a growth of 23% in job placements as compared to the figures of the previous year.

Other cities in tier III category to have shared top slots along with Allahabad and Agra are Udaipur, Ajmer and Kota with a growth of 62.5%, 49.3% and 45.6% respectively.

Two other UP districts - Meerut and Kanpur - registered a growth of 38.5% and 26.8% respectively.

In an assessment of 32 sectors and 56 major cities, the survey also shows that Lucknow is the 11th most popular destination (among top 15) for people looking for jobs in tier II cities. In terms of numbers, the state capital has registered a growth of 10.8%.

Interestingly, according to reported data, a perceptible shift has also been noticed in preferences of destinations for jobs. Tier II and III cities in India have emerged as top job destinations, registering a significant upward movement in job creation in the period between April 2010 and March 2011.

In tier II cities, the survey suggested that 2.53 lakh jobs were created, registering a rise of 38.8% during 2010-11. Nearly 1.89 lakh of these employment avenues were generated by cities like Bhubaneshwar, Pune, Chandigarh, Lucknow and Surat, in the tier II category.

Among non-UP cities, Bhubaneshwar has registered the highest growth in job creation, recording a surge of 42.2%, while Pune follows closely at a 19.7% growth in total employment generation amongst 17 major tier II cities of India.

In the same category, Chandigarh has seen a growth of 12.2% and ranks third, whereas Lucknow stands 11th with a 10.8% increase in employment generation between April 2010 and March 2011.

In tier I cities, 2.49 lakh new jobs were created, showing a 38.2% year-on-year increase.

Among these, while Delhi-NCR and Mumbai bagged top spots with a total share of 39% and 13.8% in total job creation in the last fiscal, Delhi-NCR grew at 15.3%, while Mumbai saw a growth of 11.1% during the same period.

National secretary (general), ASSOCHAM, D S Rawat said that with tier I cities getting congested and costlier, tier II and smaller cities are vying for the job seekers' attention.

This has signalled a change in trends. Tier II and III cities have grabbed a lion's share of 61.8% in aggregate job creations during the last fiscal. These small and medium-sized cities will fuel India's growth in the coming years.

The study has also projected a growth of 40% in the job market across the country, especially in tier I and II cities.

Among employment generating sectors that have seen a robust growth, the IT and IT-enabled services sector has maintained top spot with a share of 30% in total employment generation during the last fiscal. This figure has seen an increase of 27.6% in comparison to 2010.

The education sector has emerged second with 8.94% share, followed by realty at 7.95%, automobile and aviation industries which have grown at 4.13% and 3.73% respectively.

Manufacturing and pharma sectors have remained the lowest, but have registered growth of 21% and 16% respectively over their last year performances.

Link:-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Allahabad-tops-tier-III-cities-in-job-creation/articleshow/8051206.cms

and the Report can be Downloaded from:-http://www.assocham.org/arb/app/Jobs_In_TierII_and_TierIII_cities_Apr2011.pdf

^^ Man - I understand the compulsion to post articles- but NEWS is NEWS!! There is an entire thread on chaibar for this!!! Please stop posting news here - UP has enough projects going on to pollute this thread!! This is getting REALLY annoying!!!

^^ Man - I understand the compulsion to post articles- but NEWS is NEWS!! There is an entire thread on chaibar for this!!! Please stop posting news here - UP has enough projects going on to pollute this thread!! This is getting REALLY annoying!!!
This was my First post in this thread , I'll keep this in mind...:ohno:

^^ Man - I understand the compulsion to post articles- but NEWS is NEWS!! There is an entire thread on chaibar for this!!! Please stop posting news here - UP has enough projects going on to pollute this thread!! This is getting REALLY annoying!!!


lol you need to relax otherwise you'll scare away the rare newbies covering uttar pradesh developments.

@vyom226 and m_1973 from now on post the news in this thread: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1365367

lol you need to relax otherwise you'll scare away the rare newbies covering uttar pradesh developments.

@vyom226 and m_1973 from now on post the news in this thread: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1365367

I've been corrected when I was new - making mistakes and polluting threads just to encourage more folks to join in and pollute it more is a cyclic never ending, and frankly silly process. I learnt - so can the newbies. I was getting irritated because we had JUST asked not to post news articles here - and it happened again, withing a mere single post of that suggestion!

anyways - thanks for creating the general thread - the distinction will hopefully give more clarity to the posting neophytes

:hi:
I think now we shall be in a position to see a better Dehradun.. than the one we've been coming across earlier. Can someone post updated pictures of all-new Sahastradhara Crossing.. Night Light Photos of Rajpur Road, Mussoorie looking as glittered on the mountains at night.. new fly-over u/c at Lachiwala etc.

If possible, can anyone climb the Rajpur Road further (without turning right after the model post office towards Rajpur Park) and take photograph of glittering Dehradun at Night? Photographs of ancient British Buildings, not only that of FRI & the like, but also even that of Ordnance Factory Estate etc. will be great to exhibit here.

Updates on new (5star hotel)(?) of Bindras, the (Rs.75L)(?) completed apartments on the Sahastradhara-Rajpur Road (on the mountains), developments at Guchupaani etc are also pleasure to see.

News/photos of old/upcoming 'Char-Dham Yatra' are also awaited on the 'other' news thread! Can someone work on theeeeese.....?
:soon: :colbert:

Article on changes in power sector in UP in last 4years (Summary)

http://udyogbandhu.up.nic.in/pdf/Article_4.pdf

Highlights

During 11th Five year plan, many initiatives have been taken, which includes :
• Power plants of 600 MW in Rosa and 600 MW in Anpara (Unit-I) have already been commissioned
• Several other Power plants of the aggregate of 3030 MW are scheduled to be commissioned by March 2012 which include
- 2 x 250 MW Harduaganj Extension
- 2 x 250 MW Parichha Extension
- First 500 MW unit of Anpara ‘D” under state sector
- 1 x 600 MW Anapara ‘C’ Thermal Extension (Unit-II)
- 4 x 82.5 MW Shri Nagar Hydro
By the end of 11th Five Year Plan, it is hoped that the state would get 2000 MW from the state-run projects, 2130 MW from the private sector, 450 MW from MOU route projects and 1571 MW from various projects being implemented by the central agencies.

-----------------------------------------------------
Under 12th Five year plan (April 2012 - March 2017), the Government of U.P. has planned for 25000 MW capacity additions. This envisage capacity addition of 5000 MW under State/Joint sector, 15000 MW under Private sector and 5000 MW to be procured through competitive bidding, by which power can be supplied from any power project located in any State of the country.

-----------------------------------------------------
TRANSMISSIONAt present UP has a transmission network to cater about 8000-10000 MW of power. To cater the enhanced generation by the end of 11th plan, UP transmission system is being augmented to evacuate 15000 MW of power.

------------------------------
Govt. of UP has had undertaken an
input-based franchisee distribution model in cities like Agra and Kanpur for
economizing on power. While the distribution system in Agra has already been handed over to a private partner M/s Torrent Power Ltd. with effect from 01.04.2010, things are moving in a similar direction for Kanpur. The process would soon be rolled out in nine other towns. With an aim to attract more and more companies to

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/up-clears-phase-ii-of-yamuna-eway/783215/

Pushing ahead with its largest urbanisation project, the UP government has given the go-ahead for development planning of Phase II of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority. Final touches are being given to the conceptual draft plan of Phase I.

Bangalore-based Groupe SCE India Pvt Ltd, which made the plan for Phase I, has been hired as consultant for Phase II as well.

The second phase will cover an area of 2,106 sq km in some 900 villages of four districts along the Yamuna Expressway from Aligarh to Agra. Phase I was smaller in comparison, covering 580 sq km in Gautam Budh Nagar and Bulandshahr districts.

This is the first time urban development planning is being taken up on this scale. Phase II will be planned as a continuation of Phase I and both will be treated as parts of one plan.

Government sources said Groupe SCE had signed an agreement to complete the task in six months. Maintenance consultancy will be for one year with a total expenditure of around Rs 5 crore. The payment will be made in eight steps as they move ahead with the planning.

To ensure better coordination with the authority and the state government and to speed up work, the consultant has been offered temporary office space in Gautam Budh Nagar.

“This is going to be a very big exercise which will change the face of western UP. In Phase I, we wanted to try with a smaller region, extending until Jewar. Since the draft plan for that region has been prepared, we decided to simultaneously start preparations for the second phase until Agra,” a senior government officer said.

Third Expressway UP govt is working on (after yamuna and ganga)

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/up...a-eway/783780/



The Uttar Pradesh government has planned “compensatory afforestation” in four districts of Bundelkhand for the loss of green belt in the area under the proposed Upper Ganga Canal Expressway.

As many as 40,000 trees will have to be cut for the project, which is awaiting clearance from the Union environment ministry under Forest Conservation Act, 1980.

This plantation in Bundelkhand will be in addition to a planned plantation along the expressway which, according to UP government officials, would be enough to compensate for the loss. The decision to undertake additional afforestation has been taken to make a stronger case for clearance from the ministry.

The state government has identified about 1,100 hectares of gramsabha land in four districts of Bundelkhand, namely Banda, Chitrakoot, Hamirpur and Mahoba, for afforestation.

The 147.8 km long Upper Ganga Canal Expressway, from Sanuata bridge in Greater Noida to Purkaji in Muzaffarnagar district near the Uttarakhand border, is one of the state’s most ambitious projects to provide faster connectivity from Delhi to Uttarakhand. It will be connected to Yamuna Expressway and Ganga Expressway through the Eastern Peripheral Expressway.

The project, which was proposed in 2008, was put on hold following objections from MoEF for two reasons, i.e. about 40,000 trees along the canal would be cut to make way for the expressway and secondly, the proposed alignment of the expressway falls within 10km radius of Hastinapur wildlife sanctuary at different locations from Moradnagar to Purkaji.

The issue of wildlife clearance for the project was taken up by the steering committee of National Board for Wildlife recently on April 25, chaired by Union Minister Jairam Ramesh. Sources said that during the hearing, UP officials were asked to first take up the forest clearance.

However, the Forest Department of the Government of India has suggested various options to reduce the loss to the green belt, including reducing the width of the expressway from eight lanes to six lanes.

It had also asked the state government about details of the compensatory afforestation. It is in this background that the state government has decided to undertake additional afforestation in Bundelkhand.

“Proximity to Hastinapur wildlife sanctuary is not the major problem. We have also informed the Union ministry that there is already an existing road which is much closer to the sanctuary. Not only this, the boundaries of the sanctuary were defined over two decades back and do not hold significance now because in the past two decades, some revenue villages have come inside this boundary,” said a senior government official.

Therefore, making a strong case for forest clearance is important. The land that the government has identified in Bundelkhand is gram sabha land already in possession of the state government.

As for the suggestion to reduce the width of the proposed expressway, the official said this would defy the purpose of building the expressway, which is to reduce the burden on the existing NH-58.

The bidding process for the expressway has already cleared its first stage i.e. technical qualification. Jai Prakash Associates, IRB Infrastructure Limited, Reliance Infrastructure Ltd-Reliance Infraventures Ltd, DSC-Apollo joint venture, Era and Sibmost Joint Venture and Isolux Corson Concessiones are the qualified bidders for the project.

They will be issued a Request for Proposal document for the final financial bid as soon as the project gets both forest and environment clearance from MoEF.

Third Expressway UP govt is working on (after yamuna and ganga)

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/up...a-eway/783780/



The Uttar Pradesh government has planned “compensatory afforestation” in four districts of Bundelkhand for the loss of green belt in the area under the proposed Upper Ganga Canal Expressway.

As many as 40,000 trees will have to be cut for the project, which is awaiting clearance from the Union environment ministry under Forest Conservation Act, 1980.

This plantation in Bundelkhand will be in addition to a planned plantation along the expressway which, according to UP government officials, would be enough to compensate for the loss. The decision to undertake additional afforestation has been taken to make a stronger case for clearance from the ministry.

The state government has identified about 1,100 hectares of gramsabha land in four districts of Bundelkhand, namely Banda, Chitrakoot, Hamirpur and Mahoba, for afforestation.

The 147.8 km long Upper Ganga Canal Expressway, from Sanuata bridge in Greater Noida to Purkaji in Muzaffarnagar district near the Uttarakhand border, is one of the state’s most ambitious projects to provide faster connectivity from Delhi to Uttarakhand. It will be connected to Yamuna Expressway and Ganga Expressway through the Eastern Peripheral Expressway.

The project, which was proposed in 2008, was put on hold following objections from MoEF for two reasons, i.e. about 40,000 trees along the canal would be cut to make way for the expressway and secondly, the proposed alignment of the expressway falls within 10km radius of Hastinapur wildlife sanctuary at different locations from Moradnagar to Purkaji.

The issue of wildlife clearance for the project was taken up by the steering committee of National Board for Wildlife recently on April 25, chaired by Union Minister Jairam Ramesh. Sources said that during the hearing, UP officials were asked to first take up the forest clearance.

However, the Forest Department of the Government of India has suggested various options to reduce the loss to the green belt, including reducing the width of the expressway from eight lanes to six lanes. :bash::bash::bash::bash:

It had also asked the state government about details of the compensatory afforestation. It is in this background that the state government has decided to undertake additional afforestation in Bundelkhand.

“Proximity to Hastinapur wildlife sanctuary is not the major problem. We have also informed the Union ministry that there is already an existing road which is much closer to the sanctuary. Not only this, the boundaries of the sanctuary were defined over two decades back and do not hold significance now because in the past two decades, some revenue villages have come inside this boundary,” said a senior government official.

Therefore, making a strong case for forest clearance is important. The land that the government has identified in Bundelkhand is gram sabha land already in possession of the state government.

As for the suggestion to reduce the width of the proposed expressway, the official said this would defy the purpose of building the expressway, which is to reduce the burden on the existing NH-58.

The bidding process for the expressway has already cleared its first stage i.e. technical qualification. Jai Prakash Associates, IRB Infrastructure Limited, Reliance Infrastructure Ltd-Reliance Infraventures Ltd, DSC-Apollo joint venture, Era and Sibmost Joint Venture and Isolux Corson Concessiones are the qualified bidders for the project.

They will be issued a Request for Proposal document for the final financial bid as soon as the project gets both forest and environment clearance from MoEF.

Environment ministry is responsible for lack of development and raising project cost at the moment.

^^ Forests are just as important to the nations development - we cannot compromise on the environment just to blunder through development
In fact - I think the offer to afforest only 40000 is too little - they should do the chinese model - they've literally planted hundreds of millions of trees - regrown entire forests!!
Can't imagine a country without our forests!!

In last four years UP govt has done plantation of 20crore samplings! Out of this 10crore is alone in Bundelkhand area. Samplings will take 5to 10 years to grow in full grown trees

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Lucknow/279-crore-saplings-planted-in-Bundelkhand-Vindhyachal/articleshow/8121679.cms

The forest department has planted 2.79 crore saplings in 2010-11 in Bundelkhand and Vindhyachal, crossing its set target of 2.75 crore.

The department has set plantation target for this year as well and preparations for the same have started in the state. This year, the department will carry out plantation on 41,000 hectare. The forest department released the round-up of its major activities during 2010-11 on Friday.

Apart from Bundelkhand and Vindhyachal, the department also carried out plantation in other parts of the state. Saplings have been planted over 67,386 hectare against the targeted 40,300 hectare. In the random saplings done, department has also come up with plantation results.

"The results have been good for the sites, which were chosen for the sampling work," said DNS Suman, principal chief conservator of forest, UP.

The survival of 95% of the planted samplings in the first year of plantation is considered successful. There are at least 37 forest divisions out of 74 where success rate of saplings has failed to match the standard. Divisions like Moradabad have 60% survival. Results are also not promising for Farrukhabad, Kaushambi, Lalitpur and Mahamayanagar besides others.

"We have issued show-cause notices to divisional officers," said Suman. The total green over in the state is 9.01% which is very less compared to the national average of 33%. The state's forest cover is 5.95% and tree cover is 3.06%. According to the 2009 report of the Forest Survey of India ( FSI), while forest cover has increased compared to previous years, state's tree cover has reduced.




^^ Forests are just as important to the nations development - we cannot compromise on the environment just to blunder through development
In fact - I think the offer to afforest only 40000 is too little - they should do the chinese model - they've literally planted hundreds of millions of trees - regrown entire forests!!
Can't imagine a country without our forests!!

In last four years UP govt has done plantation of 20crore samplings! Out of this 10crore is alone in Bundelkhand area. Samplings will take 5to 10 years to grow in full grown trees

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Lucknow/279-crore-saplings-planted-in-Bundelkhand-Vindhyachal/articleshow/8121679.cms

The forest department has planted 2.79 crore saplings in 2010-11 in Bundelkhand and Vindhyachal, crossing its set target of 2.75 crore.

The department has set plantation target for this year as well and preparations for the same have started in the state. This year, the department will carry out plantation on 41,000 hectare. The forest department released the round-up of its major activities during 2010-11 on Friday.

Apart from Bundelkhand and Vindhyachal, the department also carried out plantation in other parts of the state. Saplings have been planted over 67,386 hectare against the targeted 40,300 hectare. In the random saplings done, department has also come up with plantation results.

"The results have been good for the sites, which were chosen for the sampling work," said DNS Suman, principal chief conservator of forest, UP.

The survival of 95% of the planted samplings in the first year of plantation is considered successful. There are at least 37 forest divisions out of 74 where success rate of saplings has failed to match the standard. Divisions like Moradabad have 60% survival. Results are also not promising for Farrukhabad, Kaushambi, Lalitpur and Mahamayanagar besides others.

"We have issued show-cause notices to divisional officers," said Suman. The total green over in the state is 9.01% which is very less compared to the national average of 33%. The state's forest cover is 5.95% and tree cover is 3.06%. According to the 2009 report of the Forest Survey of India ( FSI), while forest cover has increased compared to previous years, state's tree cover has reduced.

Interesting - some districts have only 60% survival rate of planted saplings - as opposed to 95% standard!! I didn't know UP had only 5% forest cover. 33% seems very ambitious - but I do hope they pull it off!! I've seen the enormous deforestation in Uttarakhand - those naive people don't realize the time bomb thats ticking!!

afforestation in UP means bronze statue of animals and cycas trees!

as far as I know 33% is GoI target. UP cant achieve such target because most of land is fertile.

from Forest Survey of India 2009 report

Total area of UP = 24093,000ha

New area sown = 16633,000ha = 68.73%
Not available for cultivation = 3215,000ha = 13.28%

= 82.01%

if rest of land is used for forest then its just 20%

Forest =6.83%

culturable wasteland = 1.81%
current fallow land + other fallow land = 5.25% + 2.27%

------------------------------------------
Realistic target for UP is at max 11-12% of total land as forest land

source
http://www.fsi.nic.in/india_sfr_2009/india_sfr_2009.pdf


Interesting - some districts have only 60% survival rate of planted saplings - as opposed to 95% standard!! I didn't know UP had only 5% forest cover. 33% seems very ambitious - but I do hope they pull it off!! I've seen the enormous deforestation in Uttarakhand - those naive people don't realize the time bomb thats ticking!!

another step towards transparency

after put all scholarship and teachers salary on website info on university students also on website

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Database-of-45-lakh-students-to-be-prepared-by-June/784993

The database of about 45 lakh students from 11 universities in Uttar Pradesh would be prepared by June in order to ensure online admission facility from the new academic year, an official said on Tuesday.

Agencies for preparing the database have been decided and funds for the purpose have also been provided, Higher Education Secretary Avnish Awasthi said.

Directives have been issued to complete the work within the time frame with full transparency, he said, adding once the database is prepared, the entire process from admission up till examination would be done in a more transparent manner without faults.

Students would have their own web pages containing all relevant information after the database is prepared, Awasthi added.

after raids, police action, penalties, FIR looks to be innovative scheme to reduce the transmission and distribution losses


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Power-boost-for-vendors-slum-dwellers/articleshow/8173021.cms

LUCKNOW: In an extraordinary move that may rather give credence to the encroachers and squatters, the UPPCL has proposed to do away with the criterion of ownership of the property while issuing a power connection. In a way vendors dotting the roads and slum-dwellers occupying public land would now be able to enjoy 'metered power supply'. UPPCL is all set to put forth a proposal to this effect before the state government before heading to the UP Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) for its approval.

According to an estimate prepared by the UPPCL, there are around 50 lakh such consumers all over the state. This is almost 50 per cent of the total tapped consumer base of around 1.20 crore. In Lucknow alone, such consumers are estimated to be over 1 lakh (The city has a consumer base of around 6 lakh but only 3 lakh turn up for paying their bills).

Once cleared, the corporation would be issuing each unit a 0.5 kW connection which is half of the ones given to the people in the below poverty line ( BPL) category. According to a draft plan -- TOI has a copy of it -- the consumer will be required to submit an identity proof that would include: Ration card, voter ID, copy of bank account, PAN card or driving licence. These consumers would also be required to submit an affidavit that they do not have any right on the land/property they are occupying.

The consumers will not be charged the cost of meter even though a monthly rental is in the offing. The draft categorically points out the involvement of local engineers in allowing such consumers to use 'katia' (illegal) connections. Interestingly, it would be this batch of consumers which would become a testing point for the much-awaited power sector reform: Measurement of power consumption and revenue realization through 'split meters', a meter installed at an electricity pole with a display unit installed at the shop/premises."This chunk is huge and therefore, requires to be tapped,'' said a senior UPPCL official. The official said that even if 20 lakh such consumers are brought under the ambit, it would fetch substantial revenue to the utility. The official said that a business plan would be drafted, once clearance from the UPERC is received. The corporation will also constitute an altogether different tariff structure for the category. This will be put forth before the UPERC for its approval.Interestingly, each split meter comes at a price of nearly Rs 4,000, which is almost four times the cost of otherwise used digital meters. UPPCL officials said that the cost would come down in case these meters are procured in bulk.

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/rpower-to-supply-2-500-mw-to-up-on-longterm-basis/790645/0

Lucknow: Going headlong on its target of improving power scenario in Uttar Pradesh in the coming years, the Mayawati government has issued a letter of intent (LoI) to Anil Dhirubhai Ambani’s company Reliance Power for supplying approximately 2,500 mw Case-I power on long-term basis. The Energy Task Force (ETF) has already given it a go ahead and the matter will soon be brought before the state Cabinet. Reliance Power will thus supply 2,456 mw power at an average price of R3.70 per unit for 25 years starting from 2014.
It may be recalled that the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation (UPPCL) had set a roadmap for procuring 2,000 mw additional power in the next Five Year Plan through Case-I tariff-based competitive bidding process for its four electricity distribution licensees, Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam, Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam, Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam and Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam both on long-term and short-term basis.

Speaking to FE, an official of the energy department said that the state government has decided to purchase a total of 5,000 mw of power through Case-I bidding. “The 5,000 mw has been broken into two slots of 2,000 mw and 3,000 mw each. We intend to get the first slot of 2,000 mw by March 2012 and the remaining 3,000 mw by 2014,” he said, adding that as per the center’s guidelines for procurement of long-term power through Case 1 bidding process, the UP government had invited competitive tariff-based bids under the Case -1 route, which allows it to procure power from one or more private companies irrespective of the location or technology of the power plant. Under this system, the power supplier is responsible for arranging land, water, fuel, and necessary clearances.

The Mayawati government’s efforts to power for shop are part of its multi-pronged strategy to achieve a complete turnaround for the power-starved state. A much-criticised MoU signing blitzkrieg, with both the private and state sectors is one way of augmenting the state’s power needs while the other is procurement of power through competitive bidding process. The use of this combination is part of the government’s road map to achieve 25,000 mw power by the end of the 12th plan period. “From the present shortfall of roughly 2,500-3,000 mw daily, in which most of the districts go without power for anything between 6-12 hours at present, Uttar Pradesh is preparing to become a power surplus state with 24 hours electricity by the end of the 12th plan period. And if we plan to see the state grow as anticipated, power is the most basic requirement,” said an official, requesting anonymity.

Apart from the long-term procurement, the state utility is also seeking competitive bids for short-term procurement of 2,000 mw power, but since all the bids received were very high, the bid evaluation committee has rejected the bids and has called for fresh bidding.

Reliance Power is set to supply the required quantity of power from its Chitrangi power project in Gujarat.

:lol:

chitrangi power project is in madhya pradesh :bash:

Very Good News for UP govt

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/lic-comes-to-up-govts-help-in-implementing-r&r-policy/795808/0


Lucknow: At a time when land acquisition and rehabilitation & resettlement is kicking up a storm in the entire country and Uttar Pradesh seems to be in the eye of that storm, the biggest player in the insurance sector, LIC of India has reposed faith in the state government and evinced interest in implementing the state’s new resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) policy benefits.

LIC was the only one of the five bidders—Allahabad Bank, SBI Life Insurance, ICICI Prudential and Bajaj Allianz—that had submitted the technical bids.

It may be mentioned that the state in December last had invited a request for qualification cum request for proposal (RFQ cum RFP), seeking the engagement of private financial institutions for the implementation of the annuity scheme of the new R&R policy to land owners and farmers.

According to this policy, disbursement to the tune of R20,000 per acre, per year for 33 years needs to be made to dispossessed landowners and farmers along with the additional amount of Rs 600 increased annuity per year.

Speaking to FE, a senior official of the state government said on condition of anonymity that the confidence reposed by LIC shows that state’s R&R policy is one on which it can bet its money. “If FIs are keen on a new product for this scheme of ours and are ready to handle this project for the next 33 years, despite the unfavourable vibes that we seem to be getting so far, it shows that we are on the right track. We will now examine the quote given by the LIC and if we find it reasonable, we will go forward with it,” he said.

“While efforts are on in Haryana to disburse land compensation through this same method, it is on a much smaller scale. UP, on the other hand, aims to acquire an estimated 5,000 hectares of land every year for development. This compensation method will be the first of its kind in the country and will be the first real test for R&R disbursement,” he added.

It may be mentioned that the compensation amount is likely to run into thousands of crores over a period of 33 years and it for this reason only the Mayawati government thought it prudent to hand over the work to a private service provider who can work on an exclusive financial product to cater to a demand of this size rather than engage the state machinery into it. “We think that governments cannot handle accounts of such huge amounts for such a prolonged time. It is better to ask for professional people who are well equipped to do the job and secondly, governments are basically not meant to do this kind of work. It is our job to govern not to distribute compensation,” said the official.

Another official close to the development told FE that the reason why only the LIC has come forward may be that the state government has been quite unwavering in some of the parameters. “We were resolute in our demand that the financial companies necessarily obtain the performance guarantee approval of their regulators as that this is the first time that this scheme is being launched anywhere in the country and there is no benchmark for them to follow. Also, the scheme directly affects poor landowners, whose land has been acquired for development schemes such as building roads, towns and industry. To ensure that they do not suffer if case of the company's financial heath failure, we made sure that they give a performance guarantee approval from either Irda, in the case of the insurance companies and the RBI in the case of banks,” he said.

It may be mentioned that at pre-bid discussion meetings the companies had asked for the state government to waive the mandatory requirement of providing performance guarantee approvals from the Irda and the RBI.

Nov 2010 news, but interesting neverthless.

Master Plan To Change Face Of Modinagar
In case the work on Meerut-Delhi rapid rail is started within the next two years, it would change the face of Modinagar town.

Under the Modinagar Master Plan 2010 of Ghaziabad Development Authority, a bypass project has also been included.

Both these projects would reduce distance between Modinagar-Delhi as well as Modinagar-Meerut. The high-speed and electric trains along with laying a separate track for the movement of goods trains will definitely usher in a new era for Modinagar.

According to sources, under the Rapid Rail Project between Delhi and Meerut, Modinagar has been accorded a key position by the National Capital Region (NCR) Planning Board.

The government has already accorded sanction to the project on high-speed trains.

Under this project also, the Modinagar area will stand to gain substantially from standpoint of development.


http://www.qbtpl.net/images/modinagr.jpg

Source : Link (http://www.qubrex.com/main/12)

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/farmer-protests-halt-katesar-land-acquisition/797074/



Following protests by farmers in Katesar village of Chandauli district against land acquisition by Varanasi Development Authority to develop a cultural city along the Ganga, the government has decided to postpone the acquisition for the time being. The decision was taken on Sunday evening after a group of farmers blocked Mirzapur-Sonebhadra highway.

“We are not going to take any land without the consent of the landowner. There will be no forcible acquisition of land and we have assured the farmers of this,” said Vijay Kumar Tripathi, District Magistrate of Chandauli.

The farmers, who have been sitting on dharna in Katesar village for about a week, wanted the district magistrate to visit them and make a promise. “The district magistrate had called a representative of farmers to a guest house in Mugalsarai but we refused as we did not want a repeat of Bhatta-Parsaul, where the government had created a divide among the farmers. We asked the DM to come to this place, where we are staging our dharna, and talk to all the representatives here,” said Shesh Nath, one of the farmer leaders who is the district president of Bharatiya Kisan Union.


Asked about their demands, Nath said, “The government wants to acquire about 121 hectares in Katesar for the Varanasi Development Authority, but we just do not wish to part with our fertile land. They can do the development on the barren land if they want.”


The project to develop a cultural city along the Ganga at the Varanasi-Chandauli border was conceptualised in 2008. The proposed cultural city will have museums, private universities and complex promoting the art and culture of the region. The notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, earmarking about 121 hectares in Katesar area for the first phase of the project, was done in June 2010. While the farmers had been voicing their concern since the very beginning, they started a dharna at the site on April 25.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/up-plans-authority-on-land-compensation/798403/

In an attempt to send a soothing message to farmers protesting over arbitrary compensation for their land, the Uttar Pradesh government is likely to announce the setting up of an authority to hear disputes regarding compensation at a ‘kisan panchayat’ called here on Thursday.

Chief Minister Mayawati will attend the panchayat, for which a big delegation of farmers led by Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait has arrived in the state capital.

Such an authority, both at the Centre and in the states, is proposed in the amendment to the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, drafted by the Centre, which is stuck because of differences among UPA allies.

This is also one of the demands conveyed to the state government by the BKU.

Other measures being considered by the government to project a pro-farmer image include providing developed land to farmers at the rate of compensation, and a system of land-pooling in which farmers get a share in the developed land by way of compensation, as is the practice in Gujarat, sources said.


The government is also considering improvements in its rehabilitation and resettlement policy, which was announced in September last year after the protest at Tappal in Aligarh. Sources said the government wants to make its rehabilitation and resettlement policy the best in the country in order to counter Congress claims that Haryana offers the best deal to farmers.

Sources said the state government liked the idea of the creation of an authority to hear disputes and would like to implement it without delay, provided there are no legal hurdles. Senior officials are examining the matter, and also other BKU demands.

The government believes the proposed authority will go a long way in removing the irritants because complaints regarding compensation and absence of hearing are the two major issues fuelling the farmers’ anger across the state.

Also, it will save the government from embarrassment in courts. In the last one and a half months, the Supreme Court and the Allahabad High Court have scrapped land acquisition notifications in five cases because the farmers were not given a hearing.

Besides, the government can score a point over the Congress-led UPA government, which has not been able to push its own amendment to the Land Acquisition Act.

The BKU has presented eight points for the consideration of the government. These include compensation at 10 per cent above the market rate and compensation for the loss of crops, the developers should directly acquire land from the farmers and in case of need the government should acquire up to 20 per cent, the government should acquire land only for “public purposes” like rail, road, education or other government projects, and the land should be returned to the farmers after three years if it is not used for the purpose for which it was acquired.

Finally - some good news!!!

Farmers' body welcomes UP's new land acquisition policy

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), a powerful farmers’ body wielding considerable influence in western Uttar Pradesh, today welcomed the new land acquisition policy announced by the state government yesterday.

BKU spokesperson Rakesh Tikait, who had been camping in the state capital since June 1 for the ‘kisan panchayat’ convened by chief minister Mayawati, said he was ‘quite satisfied’ with the new policy.


He further urged Mayawati to write to the prime minister to amend the archaic Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and formulate a fresh national policy in the interest of the country’s farmers.

Tikait said Uttar Pradesh had incorporated several of the farmers’ suggestions in its new policy, which were beneficial to farmers.

He specifically mentioned the provision, which allowed farmers to buy agricultural land equal in size to the acquisition without paying any stamp duty.

BKU further applauded the directive to district magistrates to convene a farmers’ meet on the 22nd of every month for settling their grievances under one roof and the decision to revoke cases against farmers lodged during their agitations on public issues.

BKU expressed gratitude towards the government for announcing 14 hours power supply to rural areas from July 1 and provision of short term agriculture loan at 4 per cent interest.

Source : Link (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/farmers-body-welcomes-ups-new-land-acquisition-policy/437794/)

LUCKNOW: The Rs 1,000 crore Shiv Nadar University , founded by the HCL Technologies founder Shiv Nadar, would begin its first academic session from July. The university aspires not only to be among the top most institutes in the country, but also among the elite institutions of higher learning globally.

The fully residential multi disciplinary university has been established on a 286 acre campus and is a not for profit initiative, funded entirely through the money donated by technology czar Shiv Nadar who founded HCL Technologies and HCL Infosystem and is among the pioneers of the IT sector in the country.

He has pledged 10% of his personal wealth estimated at Rs 15,000 crores to the Shiv Nadar Foundation which is setting up the University in greater Noida and schools for the underprivileged in remote corners of Uttar Pradesh.

Trustee, Shiv Nadar Foundation, TSR Subramanian who is a retired UP cadre IAS officer and has served as the chief secretary of UP as well as the Cabinet Secretary of the country, said that the university would attract the best talent both among students and teachers as well researchers to the campus to groom future thought leaders.

Subramanian said that the admission process for the School of Engineering based strictly on merit is currently underway and the 2011-12 session would start from July. The Foundation has decided to give a full fee waiver to the founding batch which is admitted this year.

The university envisages a full student capacity of 8,000 students but right now they are admitting only 300 students in the school of engineering and would subsequently introduce other schools of learning over the next few years.

"The emphasis would be on inter disciplinary research which will cut across different schools of learning, which is consistent with the best pedagogical practices across the globe. It will allow students to choose multiple electives for enhanced breadth of learning and engagement" said TSR Subramanian.

He said that Shiv Nadar was especially keen to set up the university and schools in UP as he started his IT career in partnership with state owned UP Electronics. The Shiv Nadar Foundation runs engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu but this is the first university being set up by it.

TSR Subramanian said that 50% of the students in the university would get scholarships and they would ensure that any meritorious student is not denied admission on monetary grounds.

He said that besides choosing the best students for admission the thrust is also to bring the best faculty and they are in touch with several engineers and other academics who have done very well abroad and now want to return to India.

He said that the Shiv Nadar Foundation is also running class 6+ Vidya Gyan schools in rural areas the first of which is already up and running in Bulandshahar and the next one is coming up in Sitapur to be followed by Varanasi. The Vidya Gyan schools are only meant for rural poor and the best of facilities and education is provided to them so that they are able to compete with the best once the leave school.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/education/rs-1000-cr-shiv-nadar-university-to-begin-sessions-from-july-2011/articleshow/8714045.cms

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/maya-kicks-off-farmers-annuity-payments/799536/0

Lucknow: Following up on the success of last week's kisan panchayat and the land acquisition policy which was positively received, the Uttar Pradesh government has gone a step ahead and started distributing the one-time annuity of the rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) policy to 2,600 farmers of Tappal in Aligarh who had opted for it. The same exercise is also expected to kick off in Agra in a few days. About 500 hectares were been acquired in Tappal and Agra for the Jaypee Group, which is constructing the Yamuna Expressway from Greater Noida to Agra.
With this, the Mayawati government has not only reaffirmed her bonding with farmers but also obtained the stamp of approval from farmers keen to take the one time annuity.

Tappal was in the eye of a storm last August, when farmers demanding compensation equivalent to the one given to peasants in Noida clashed with the PAC, resulting in four deaths. This led to the township plan being scrapped, but it was revived after 2 months. The government then decided to reward farmers with compensation as per the new R&R policy announced in September.

As per that policy, farmers were given a choice of taking the annuity either as a one-time payment of Rs 2.40 lakh/acre or opt for Rs 20,000/acre for 33 years. Almost 2,600 farmers of Tappal informally evinced interest in taking the one-time payment and 81 farmers have applied for the same. “Almost 510 hectares have been acquired in Tappal and approximately 2,600 farmers displaced. We have started distributing the cheques since yesterday and hope to distribute the Rs 2.47 crore to these 81 farmers in the next few days,” said Aligarh DM Anil Singh, adding that annuity cheques will be given to the rest once they apply for it.

In Agra, where 3,800 farmers were displaced from 543 hectares for a plot that would be developed by Jaypee, annuity distribution will start in a few days. “We have received the order sanctioning distribution of annuity to those who want a one-time settlement a few back. We have asked farmers for their options and once we get that, we could ask the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Authority to release the money for it,” said Ajay Chauhan, DM Agra.

The state government is planning to sign an MoU with the Life Insurance Corporation of India for distributing the annuity for 33 years. But since the process will take time, the government thought it best to distribute the one-time annuity to those who have already opted for it, rather than delay the process further.

http://udyogbandhu.up.nic.in/pdf/revenue_632_02062011.pdf

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/up-set-to-ink-mous-for-r10kcr-power-transmission-network/800627/0


Lucknow: In a move that would cleared an investment of R10,000 crore in the ailing power sector and give a push to PPP model, the Uttar Pradesh government is likely to sign an agreements with Isolux Corsan and Cobra MEIL Consortium for the setting up of a new transmission network in the state.

It may be mentioned that the Mayawati government has initiated ambitious plans of capacity addition of 10,000 mw by the 11th Plan and another 8,000 mw by 2014 in its bid to provide ‘‘power to all’’ by 2014. The generation of power has already been cleared but the power problem will continue without good transmission network despite sufficient power generation.

The state cabinet last week finalised two private players for setting up 3 sub-stations of 765 KV and 9 sub-stations of 400 KV to be completed within 30 months. The three sub-stations of 765 KV will be set up at Greater Noida, Mainpuri and Hapur. “By 2014, when our new power generating units will be commissioned, these sub stations as well as the interconnecting lines, too, will be ready to evacuate the power,” said a senior official of the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation, adding that the work of one package has been allotted to Isolux Corsan for a levellised tariff of R870 crore and the work of second package has been given to Cobra MEIL Consortium at a levellised tariff of R875 crore for a period of 35 years. “The total value of these two projects would be approximately R10,000 crore and it would be ready in 30 months’ time. The UPPCL will pay a levellised tariff for the next 35 years,” he added. Apart from these two companies, L&T and Sterlite had also qualified for the RFP stage but had fallen off at technical evaluation stage.

Of the new power plants that are in various stages of construction are the 1,980 mw Bara project in Allahabad, the 1,980 mw Meja thermal power plant, which is a joint venture project between the NTPC and UP Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam, the 500 mw Paricha and 500 mw Harduaganj extension projects and the 2x500 mw Anpara D project, Anpara C and Roja thermal power plants.

Agreeing that transmission has been in the domain of the public sector and private participation in power transmission has been minimal, the official said that given the growth targets, there was an urgent need for private sector participation in transmission projects as well.

‘‘Private participation will bring in efficiency and also facilitate large-scale funding of the transmission infrastructure. And considering the scale of investment and the volume of work required, attracting large private investment in transmission is absolutely essential. The state government has planned capacity addition to the tune of 10,000 mw by the end of the 11th Plan and once these projects are ready for generating power, we would need an adequate transmission network to evacuate the power.”

:eek:

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/real-estate/news-/ansal-api-targets-rs-2500-crore-turnover-in-fy-2011-12-lucknow-township-scales/articleshow/8761813.cms

LUCKNOW: The real estate major, Ansal API group with a land bank of more than 9,000 acres is looking at a turnover of Rs 2,500 crores in the current fiscal.

With the company's township Sushant Golf City in Lucknow being scaled up from 1,800 acres to 3,500 acres, with scope of a further increase, and possession of plots and homes being handed over to customers the company sees a big jump in revenue during this fiscal.

Other projects of the company in the NCR region and new launches on the anvil would also be big contributors to the revenue figures.

Chairman, Ansal API, Sushil Ansal said that they already have a land bank of 9,000 acres with all approvals and clearances in place, across north India and are continuously adding more.

The Sushant Golf City in Lucknow with an 18 hole world class golf course, shopping malls, schools, institutions of higher learning, bio-tech park etc would see the company pumping in Rs 20,000 crores over the next few years. The township which will provide a plush modern way of living to people can also be expanded beyond the existing size of 3,500 acres and the company would take a call on it at a later stage.

Mr Sushil Ansal said that people have already started living in the Lucknow township and it would transform the way people live in the city by providing world class infrastructure and green surroundings for a comfortable and secure living.

The Ansal Institute of Technology spread over 60,000 square feet of built up area in the Lucknow township would also start its first academic session from July, said Mr Ansal. The institute would begin with management classes and later add other streams.

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/up-set-to-ink-mous-for-r10kcr-power-transmission-network/800627/0


Lucknow: In a move that would cleared an investment of R10,000 crore in the ailing power sector and give a push to PPP model, the Uttar Pradesh government is likely to sign an agreements with Isolux Corsan and Cobra MEIL Consortium for the setting up of a new transmission network in the state.

It may be mentioned that the Mayawati government has initiated ambitious plans of capacity addition of 10,000 mw by the 11th Plan and another 8,000 mw by 2014 in its bid to provide ‘‘power to all’’ by 2014. The generation of power has already been cleared but the power problem will continue without good transmission network despite sufficient power generation.

The state cabinet last week finalised two private players for setting up 3 sub-stations of 765 KV and 9 sub-stations of 400 KV to be completed within 30 months. The three sub-stations of 765 KV will be set up at Greater Noida, Mainpuri and Hapur. “By 2014, when our new power generating units will be commissioned, these sub stations as well as the interconnecting lines, too, will be ready to evacuate the power,” said a senior official of the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation, adding that the work of one package has been allotted to Isolux Corsan for a levellised tariff of R870 crore and the work of second package has been given to Cobra MEIL Consortium at a levellised tariff of R875 crore for a period of 35 years. “The total value of these two projects would be approximately R10,000 crore and it would be ready in 30 months’ time. The UPPCL will pay a levellised tariff for the next 35 years,” he added. Apart from these two companies, L&T and Sterlite had also qualified for the RFP stage but had fallen off at technical evaluation stage.

Of the new power plants that are in various stages of construction are the 1,980 mw Bara project in Allahabad, the 1,980 mw Meja thermal power plant, which is a joint venture project between the NTPC and UP Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam, the 500 mw Paricha and 500 mw Harduaganj extension projects and the 2x500 mw Anpara D project, Anpara C and Roja thermal power plants.

Agreeing that transmission has been in the domain of the public sector and private participation in power transmission has been minimal, the official said that given the growth targets, there was an urgent need for private sector participation in transmission projects as well.

‘‘Private participation will bring in efficiency and also facilitate large-scale funding of the transmission infrastructure. And considering the scale of investment and the volume of work required, attracting large private investment in transmission is absolutely essential. The state government has planned capacity addition to the tune of 10,000 mw by the end of the 11th Plan and once these projects are ready for generating power, we would need an adequate transmission network to evacuate the power.”

:applause:
Man - I'm really impressed by Mayawati 2.0!!

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/up-in-search-of-financial-model-to-make-metro-costeffective/800867/

Lucknow:
The state government on Tuesday asked the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to work out some financial models that could make the Lucknow metro rail project cost-effective for the government. DMRC has to submit these models in 15 days.

In a meeting called by Chief Secretary Anoop Mishra, DMRC General Manager SD Sharma suggested three financial models for Lucknow metro project. These were Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT), Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and the DMRC model in which the funding comes from the Centre and the state.

According to DMRC estimate, the Lucknow metro project will cost Rs 12,671crore, which includes Rs 9,519 crore on construction and Rs 3,052 crore as escalation and central taxes. DMRC has calculated the cost on the basis of rates on January 1, 2011.
“We have to work out some more financial models that could make the project cost-effective. We may hike the fare charges also,” said SD Sharma.


The Lucknow metro rail project includes three corridors: North-South, East-West and the Gomti Nagar link. The estimated construction cost would be Rs 5,413 crore for North-South corridor, Rs 3,611 crore for East-West corridor and Rs 495 crore for Gomti Nagar link.

The North-South corridor will connect Amausi airport to Munshipulia and cover a distance of 23 km, including 14.87 km elevated, 1km ramp and 7.2 km underground. This corridor will have a total 21 stations including 15 overhead and six underground.

The East-West corridor will connect Lucknow railway station at Charbagh to Vasantkunj on Hardoi Road and have a total length of 11 km, including 4.29 km elevated, 0.5 km ramp and 6.3 km underground. This corridor will have a total of 12 stations including seven underground and five overhead.

Gomti Nagar link will have three overhead stations from the Polytechnic crossing to Patrakarpuram.

The designed speed of metro would be 80 km/hr while the scheduled speed would be 34 km/ hr for North-South corridor and 32 km/hr for East-West corridor. There would be two depots one each at Amausi and Vasantkunj.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Exotic-species-will-not-be-planted-in-forest/articleshow/8837759.cms

LUCKNOW: Exotic species will be kept out from plantation scheme of forest department in Uttar Pradesh this time. The department wants to promote local species. The plantation exercise will start in July and 3.6 crore saplings will be planted all over the state. However, varieties like eucalyptus will not be planted in forest area.

The government has chosen neem, jamum, mahua, bel, mango, imli and sheesham. These varieties will be given priority over others. The species have been chosen for their utility to local people. Besides, they also form a dense canopy and can be easily grown in local climatic conditions, said a forest department officer.

The target of 3.6 crore saplings will be planted by forest, rural development, industry, irrigation, PWD, land development, water resources, energy, and co-operative departments. Forest being the nodal agency will plant maximum number of 2.6 crore saplings.

An area of more than 55,000 hectare will be covered under plantation. Most of the plantation will be done in open forest and government land.

In 2008-10 UP govt hired 80,000 teachers. This is second major recruitment drive in UP

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/govt-gets-cracking-on-rte-to-hire-80-000-teachers/806075/



After a long tussle with the Centre over sharing of expenditure, the Uttar Pradesh Government has finally started working on the implementation of the Right to Education Act.

The Basic Education Department has been asked to speed up work on finalising rules for the implementation of the Act as well as for conducting eligibility tests for appointing teachers. The government is keen to appoint 80,000 teachers before the Assembly elections are announced.

“As per the guidelines of the Act, there is a shortage of over 2.5 lakh teachers in the state but in the first phase, we plan to take up the appointment of about 80,000. These appointments would be taken up as per the guidelines, i.e. after conducting teachers’ eligibility tests. There is a provision that states can form their own rules on the basis of these guidelines and this process is going on here,” said a senior government officer.


He said the file regarding the draft rules, prepared by the Basic Education Department, has been sent to the state Finance Department for approval before it is placed before the Cabinet.



According to the calculations done by the Basic Education Department, the state requires about 6.45 lakh teachers for its basic schools going by the guideline of 1:30 teacher-pupil ratio and at least one teacher for one class.

At present, there are about 1.92 lakh regular teachers in the state government and about 1.78 lakh para teachers.

Similarly, the state will also require about 12,000 primary schools, about 1,000 junior high schools on the basis that a primary school (Class 1 to 5) is required within a radius of 1 km for a population of 300 people and one junior high school (class 6-8) within a radius of 3 km for a population of 800 people.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/UPs-annual-plan-fixed-at-Rs-47000-cr/articleshow/8930934.cms

For info on previous years

http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/stateplan/index.php?state=b_outbody.htm

2007-08 -----25,000crore
2008-09 -----35,000crore
2009-10------39,000crore
2010-11------42,000crore
2011-12------47,000crore
-------------------------------------

NEW DELHI: Planning Commission on Monday cleared Rs 47,000 crore annual plan of Uttar Pradesh for the 2011-12 financial year. This year's allocation is Rs 5,000 crore more than the outlay last year. The state also got an additional central assistance of Rs 1,100 crore.

In the absence of chief minister Mayawati, the annual plan for the state was finalised at a meeting between plan panel and state government officials led by chief secretary Anoop Mishra.

Most of the chief ministers come for the annual meeting with the deputy chairman of Planning Commission to push for greater allocation for their states and exchange views with the country's highest planning body.

At the meeting, the UP government reiterated its demand for Rs 80,000 crore special package for backward areas of Purvanchal and Bundelkhand to accelerated development work in the region.

The state accused the Centre of discrimination while giving assistance under its important schemes and sought transparency in allocation of funds by Planning Commission.

^^ Hey m_1973- Please post all your articles and news in the thread created just for that! Lets keep Projects threads for projects !!

Third cricket stadium in UP proposed (G Noida, Meerut & Lucknow)

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/9109/ldaadsports.jpg

Carlson, a family-owned, global hospitality and travel company, has announced the signing of the first international hotel in Dehradun. The USD 25 million Radisson Blu Hotel Dehradun is owned by Sir Biotech India Limited. Construction of the 125-room hotel will commence in September this year and the hotel is expected to open in the second quarter of 2014.

“Radisson Blu is one of the fastest growing first-class brands in India. We are proud to bring the vibrant, contemporary and engaging Radisson Blu brand to the historic city of Dehradun,” said K.B. Kachru, executive vice president, Carlson Hotels, South Asia.
The six-story hotel will be designed by Italian architect Giampiero Peia. Peia is well-known for his commercial and residential projects in China, France, Ghana, the Indian Andaman Islands, Italy, Malaysia and Qatar.

The hotel’s elegant guest rooms will offer signature Radisson Blu services such as complimentary high speed Internet access. Guests will have a variety of dining options including an all-day dining restaurant, a specialty Indian restaurant, a lively bar and a contemporary lobby lounge. Guests seeking leisure and recreational facilities can relax at the spa or enjoy the health club and swimming pool facilities. The hotel will also feature several meeting rooms and ballrooms.

The Radisson Blu Hotel Dehradun will be located adjacent to the Dehradun – Mussoorie highway, providing easy connectivity to Mussoorie.

U R L (http://www.eturbonews.com/24769/carlson-announces-radisson-blu-hotel-dehradun-india)

From MIPIM's 2011 catalog (http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1r9t1/MIPIMCatalogue2011/resources/1.htm):

an Atkin designed mixed use development project for a granite company turned developer?

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/9908/atkins.jpg

Never expected a project with height like that is one of the Himalayan states.

From MIPIM's 2011 catalog (http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1r9t1/MIPIMCatalogue2011/resources/1.htm):



thanks IU
that catalog gives info about many ongoing projects in India

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/soon-fly-into-taj-city-from-global-destinations/articleshow/9731369.cms


AGRA: Global tourists may finally be able to fly directly into Agra, the city of the Taj Mahal that attracts millions every year.

While the civil aviation ministry has moved to identify land for an international airport, the existing airport at Kheria is also being upgraded to cater to global visitors - with an eye on the tourism season from September, say officials.

Divisional commissioner Amrit Abhijat says the civil aviation ministry has asked him to identify land for the airport and start land acquisition proceedings.

But since this project could take a little time, given the recent protests by farmers against land acquisition, efforts are on to upgrade facilities at the existing Kheria airport, currently under the Indian Air Force.

"The existing Kheria airport will be upgraded and developed," Abhijat said, briefing senior officials and civil society leaders.

The Uttar Pradesh tourism department will shortly send a formal proposal to the union civil aviation ministry to grant international status to Kheria airport, officials said, adding efforts are on to speed up the process so that flights can bring in visitors this tourist season beginning in September.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/cii-tata-launch-ppp-initiative-in-vocational-education/448056/

Ushering in a public private partnership (PPP) model in vocation education space in Uttar Pradesh, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Tata Motors have joined hands with the state vocational education department.
The collaboration also meant the lauch of a Faculty Development Programme for the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the state.


The initiative will acquaint the faculty with latest technologies and correct the skill sets as required by the industry so that they are passed on to learners.

"It is a winning proposition," said CII UP State Council vice chairman and Tata Motors plant head Alok Saxena.

"It would help all stakeholders, including the state, industry and trainees. The programme will upgrade the skills of ITI faculty and help them pass on the knowledge to students, while industry will get trained manpower."

The first batch, which starts tomorrow, will have 25 ITI instructors/faculties from mechanic motor vehicle trade trained at the Tata Motors plant here. The programme will focus on practical knowledge, personality development and communication skills.

There is acute shortage of ITIs in UP, which can be fathomed by considering that about 3,50,000 applicants had vied for ITI 50,000 seats recently. There is also huge shortage of ITI teachers that is currently pegged at 1,500 posts of instructors vacant of total 3,500 posts.

Additionally, ITI faculties lack proper refresher training facilities to keep them abreast of the latest technologies and emerge of new industries.

The state government has 750 pending proposals for private ITIs, 200 of which have reached the stage of final approval. This will add 40,000 seats to existing capacity.

Meanwhile, the Skills Core Group under CII plans similar programmes for other trades viz. electrician, AC/refrigerator mechanics, computer operator etc. The core group has also proposed a skill gap study of 15 UP districts to analyse the skill gap and map human resources needed.

National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) CMD Dilip Chenoy, on his Lucknow visit in July, had commented that UP could be a talent supplier.