Launched the Mobile application “TARANG” (Transmission App for Real time Monitoring and Growth), e-bidding and e-RA Platform for TBCB Transmission Projects

70th Independence Day Celebration at My Delhi Residence

Visited at blood donation camp by Ministry of Coal in collaboration with Indian Red Cross Society

Speaking National Conference on ‘Energy security for India – Creating a Biofuel Economy’ on World Biofuel Day in New Delhi

Review, Planning & Monitoring Meeting with States & States Power Utilities in New Delhi

Meeting with Energy Minister of Odisha, Shri Pranab Prakash Das

“We do not need any change in land laws to acquire land for public projects”, said minister with independent charge for power, coal, mines and renewable energy Piyush Goyal at a book release event in New Delhi on Monday.

According to Goyal, he has been flooded with requests from land holders from different parts of the country, who want the government to buy their land. “The requests are from all areas; they are willing to sell under the current laws”.

The minister’s comments are significant since large segments of industry have claimed it has become impossible for them to buy land for putting up projects under the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, which governs land sales in rural areas of the country. The Act, passed by the previous United Progressive Alliance government, has been pilloried for its insistence on carrying out social impact assessment prior to any large-scale acquisition of land by a government or private body in for non-agricultural purposes. The current dispensation tried a limited amendment to the Act to exempt certain projects like roads, infrastructure and those for setting up industrial zones from the stiff requirements, but it could not get the majority to pass Parliament.

Source Link: http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/goyal-don-t-need-change-in-law-to-acquire-land-for-public-projects-116080900048_1.html

Government on Monday said that coal allocation via the electronic auction (e-auction) route rose by 29% in 2015-16, fetching 33% more than the notified prices.

“The increase in coal quantity allocated in 2015-16 through e-auction was about 29%, that garnered about 33% higher prices over the notified prices,” Piyush Goyal, Coal and Power Minister, said in a reply to Rajya Sabha on Monday.

The increase in booking value through e-auction in 2015-16 was Rs 1,121.06 crore, he said.

“Sale through e-auction was augmented in 2015-16 through separate windows for power plants and non-power sector including captive power plants,” the Minister added.

In a separate reply, the he said that as on August 3, 2016, the coal stock in the power plants is 30.3 million tonnes (Mt), which is sufficient for 22 days of operation of power plants, as against the normative stock of 21 days.

“At present, there is no power station with critical coal stock,” he added.

Source Link: http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/coal-e-auction-rose-29-in-2015-16-piyush-goyal-116080800774_1.html