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TN fast emerging a solar power destination

Thursday, 23 May 2013 08:49 administrator
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Business Line               23.05.2013

TN fast emerging a solar power destination

With 7,162 MW of installed wind capacity, Tamil Nadu is the leader in wind power in the country. But in ‘solar’ the State ceded the leadership position to Gujarat, which has over a 1,000 MW. However, the growing solar project pipeline in Tamil Nadu suggests that the State is fast emerging as a solar destination too.

With a project pipeline of over 700 MW, most of which could come within one year, the State is gearing up to becoming a close second to Gujarat.

Things have been happening ever since the State Government brought in its solar policy last October. The bidding process that was set in motion under the policy provisions has resulted in the award of solar power projects worth 226 MW. Letters of intent have been issued to the winning bidders. Apart from this 226 MW of projects, a number of other companies have announced their plans to put up projects in the State.

The Indarya group proposes to develop a 300 MW solar project near Manamadurai. Another company, Raasi Green, has said it would put up a 100 MW plant.

In addition to these, there are many companies who wish to put up solar plant. For instance, a group of seven auto components manufacturing companies are is putting up a 50 MW plant near Tiruchi. Similarly, another group of chemicals and pharma companies, led by Shasun Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals, is working on its own 50 MW plant. Swelect Energy, formerly Numeric Power Systems, is planning to put up a 25 MW project, near Coimbatore.

While these are the large, ground-mounted projects, several industries, and practically every educational institute in the State, are working on putting up rooftop solar projects.

A number of factors seem to go in favour of Tamil Nadu. First, industries in the Sstate are major users of the ‘accelerated depreciation’ facility. The tax sop used to be available for wind power, but was withdrawn with effect from April 1, 2012. Profit-making companies therefore have only ‘solar’ to avail themselves of the AD benefits.

Secondly, Tamil Nadu is the only State where projects can come up not just through a competitive process, observes Vineeth Vijayaraghavan, an industry expert and Founder-Editor of Panchabuta, an online industry newsletter.

Third, the Sstate Ggovernment has brought in a ‘solar purchase obligation’, which major specified consumers will have to meet. This has created a demand for solar.

 

Security guards at Amma canteens to prevent theft of utensils

Saturday, 18 May 2013 11:01 administrator
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Deccan Chronicle              18.05.2013

Security guards at Amma canteens to prevent theft of utensils

CM J. Jayalalithaa in the canteen - File photo
CM J. Jayalalithaa in the canteen - File photo
 
Chennai: Surveillance cameras and alert guards are being added to the Amma canteens to prevent theft of plates and tumblers by customers. The employees have complained to the Chennai corporation that the utensils were going missing.
 
“More than 25 plates and 26 tumblers have gone missing in the last one month alone. It is hard to keep an eye on every customer in the crowd,” admits a worker attached to the self- help group manning the Jafferkhan­pet Amma canteen.
 
Initially, customers were given spoons to eat their food with, but on seeing children take them away, many Amma eateries stopped providing them. The problem gets worse in canteens in congested areas like Saidapet, Triplicane and Royap­uram, say the staff.
 
Besides thefts, these budget canteens are seeing another nuisance with men arriving to eat under the influence of alcohol. “Each outlet has 12 women employees and so it gets difficult to handle such  customers,” said a worker from Triplicane, explaining that the employees had demanded more security in response to such harassment. 
 
When contacted, corporation commissioner, Vikra­m Kapur said he had not received  any complaints of this nature, but promised to look into the matter. “There are plans to provide security guards and install surveillance cameras in all the canteens and this will give no room for such complaints in future, “ he assured.
 

Affordable food coming your way

Saturday, 18 May 2013 06:04 administrator
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The Hindu              18.05.2013

Affordable food coming your way

A la carte:Amma unavagam getting ready in Tiruchi.— Photo: A. Muralitharan
A la carte:Amma unavagam getting ready in Tiruchi.— Photo: A. Muralitharan

Jayalalithaa may open ‘Amma Unavagam’ during her Srirangam visit.

Amma Unavagam, which has proved a hit with Chennai residents, will soon start functioning in the city with the Tiruchirapalli City Corporation determined to create the necessary infrastructure for the budget canteens.

The canteens sell idlis for one rupee a piece and sambar and curd rice at Rs.3 a plate. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa recently announced that the restaurants would be opened in nine other municipal corporations across the State, including Tiruchi.

According to the corporation sources, work on the buildings is in full swing. With the Chief Minister scheduled to visit Srirangam to inaugurate and lay the foundation for various projects in her constituency on May 24, the corporation is pulling out all stops to get the facility ready in at least six locations where the works are in advanced stages. However, it is not clear whether the Chief Minister will inaugurate the restaurants though there are expectations that she might open the one coming up in Srirangam.

The restaurant in Srirangam will be located at the overhead drinking water tank complex near the Rajagopuram. Amma canteens are coming up near Uzhavar Sandhai in Anna Nagar, Puthur overhead drinking water tank complex, near Gandhi Market, near Ibrahim Park on West Boulevard Road, and near the Vazhividu Velmurugan Temple in front of the Railway Junction.

The corporation will provide the required infrastructure including buildings, kitchens, cooking and serving utensils and other paraphernalia. Already about 60 self-help group members, who will be cooking and running the restaurants, have been trained at the State Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology at Thuvakudi on the outskirts of the city. The Corporation will bear the salary expenditure of the staff to be deployed at the restaurants. The State government was likely to subsidise any gap between the revenue and expenditure, sources said.

The budget canteens now function in 200 wards in Chennai. Breakfast is served between 7 a.m. and noon, and lunch till 3 p.m. The menu of the restaurants has been expanded recently by the government to offer variety fare including pongal, tamarind rice, or curry leaf rice and chapathi.

 
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