750MW MP solar plant starts operations, to serve Delhi Metro
Bhopal, July 6: The 750 MW Rewa Solar Power Project in Madhya Pradesh, which is to supply power to the Delhi Metro, started operations from Friday, according to an announcement by the state-run Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (MPUVNL) -- and one of the biggest beneficiaries will be the Delhi Metro.
A statement issued here said the plant, spread over 1,590 acres and being operated by Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Ltd, "is among the largest single-site solar power plants in the world".
"This is the first project in the country supplying power to an inter-state open access customer -- Delhi Metro. This opens up an entirely new chapter in utilisation of renewable energy in the country, where large institutional open access consumers can start procuring it inexpensively," it said.
"State discoms will get 76 per cent of the power produced from the Rewa solar plant, while the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will benefit from the remaining 24 per cent. The project is estimated to meet up to 90 per cent of the day electricity demand from DMRC.
"The commissioning of this project will potentially result in a saving of Rs 4,600 crore to state discoms and Rs 1,400 crore to Delhi Metro over its project life," it added.
Commenting on the development, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said: "The bidding for the project was conducted online for as long as the bidders were interested -- 33 hours without stop. The project made possible an investment of over Rs 4,000 crore in the state."
According to MPUVNL, the project would lead to avoiding 15.4 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide generation every year.
"The Rewa solar plant is India's first and till now the only solar project to get funding from the Clean Technology Fund available at a rate of 0.25 per cent for a 40-year period. It is also the first and the only solar park in India to get a concessional loan from the World Bank," it said.
The project is being developed by Mahindra Renewables, ACME Solar Holdings and Solengeri Power, who emerged as bid winners for the three project units.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
