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New Delhi, The number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations that are operating in the country has gone up to 12,146 as of February 2 this year, Minister of State for Heavy Industries, <keyword id="20219727" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="krishan-pal-gurjar" source="keywords">Krishan Pal Gurjar</keyword>, said in a written reply in the <keyword id="19895394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="keywords">Lok Sabha</keyword> on Tuesday. The data provided by the minister shows that Maharashtra leads with 3,079 EV charging stations followed by Delhi with 1,886, while Karnataka is at the third spot with 1,041 charging stations. The top three states are followed by: <keyword id="19896018" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kerala" source="keywords">Kerala</keyword> (852), <keyword id="19896558" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu" source="keywords">Tamil Nadu</keyword> (643), Uttar Pradesh (582), <keyword id="19898913" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rajasthan" source="keywords">Rajasthan</keyword> (500), Telangana (481), Gujarat (476) and Madhya Pradesh (341), making up the top 10 list. The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has been making consistent efforts for facilitating the promotion of EVs in India. The FAME-II scheme inter-alia included financial support in the form of subsidy for setting up of public charging infrastructure to instill confidence among the EV users, the minister said. Further, the Ministry of Power has taken several initiatives to accelerate the deployment of public EV charging infrastructure in the country. The government has issued guidelines and standards for charging infrastructure, which enable the owners of EVs to charge their vehicles at their residence/office using their existing electricity connections. A revenue sharing model for provision of land at promotional rates for public charging stations has also been introduced and provision has been made for providing electricity connection to Public Charging Station (PCS) within stipulated timelines. The government has also prescribed the single part EV tariff for public charging stations, This amount cannot exceed Average Cost of Supply (ACoS) till 31.03.2025. The guidelines specify a ceiling of Rs 2.50 per unit and Rs 3.50 per unit of electricity used for slow AC charging of EVs at PCS during the solar and non-solar hours, respectively. Additionally, a ceiling limit of Rs 10 per unit and Rs 12 per unit of electricity used for DC fast charging of EVs at PCS during the solar and non-solar hours, respectively, has also been specified. Average cost of supply (ACoS) by DISCOMs to PCSs during solar hours shall have a rebate of 20 per cent and a surcharge of 20 per cent during all other times. The Green Energy Open Access Rules, 2022, has been notified with the objective of further accelerating renewable energy adoption, ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and green energy for all, the minister added.

India has 12,146 EV charging stations, Maharashtra leads, Delhi second

All nine persons trapped after a huge fire at an underground hydroelectric power station in Telangana were killed, officials said on Friday. Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao ordered a probe by the CID into the fire. Following the chief minister's direction, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar issued an order appointing CID Additional Director General of Police Govind Singh as the inquiry officer. Singh was asked to conduct a comprehensive inquiry and submit the report to the chief minister. The Chief Minister expressed his deep shock over the fire incident and termed it as "very unfortunate". According to a statement from Chief Minister's Office, he voiced his sorrow over the efforts to rescue the trapped people failing to yield results. All the efforts by rescue workers to save the trapped employees at Telangana State Generation Corporation (<keyword id="2546063" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="TS-GENCO">TS Genco</keyword>) plant at <keyword id="240543" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Srisailam">Srisailam</keyword> canal's left bank in Nagarkurnool district were futile. The rescue workers recovered the bodies of five victims. They were identified as Assistant Engineers Mohan Kumar, Uzma Fatima, and Sunder, Divisional Engineer Srinivas Goud and Mahesh, an employee of a battery company. Efforts were on to trace the bodies of the remaining persons. The rescue personnel including those from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were battling thick smoke to retrieve the bodies. Some rescue workers have also reportedly become ill during the rescue operation. Earlier, personnel from the NDRF and experts from the Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) joined the rescue operations. The fire, which broke late on Thursday, was brought under control by the firefighters. A short-circuit is believed to have caused the fire at unit one of the underground power house. Of the 30 persons reported to be present at the spot, 15 escaped to safety through a tunnel while six were rescued by rescue personnel. They were admitted to a local hospital. One of the survivors said the sparks were first noticed on a panel. "This was followed by series of explosions. There were utter chaos and we all ran out for safety," he said. Telangana Energy Minister Jagadish Reddy and TS Genco and Transco Chairman and Managing Director Prabhakar Rao rushed to the spot and were overseeing rescue efforts. Reddy said that the accident occurred in the first unit of the power station and four panels were damaged. He said that rescue personnel were unable to enter the tunnel due to thick smoke. "As soon as the fire started, they tried to trip the units but that couldn't happen. So we isolated the 400 KV input and all units were tripped," said Prabhakar Rao. Operations at the power station have been suspended following the incident. The Srisailam dam is located across the Krishna river which serves as the border between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

All nine trapped in Telangana power station fire killed — Chief Minister orders probe

<keyword id="43945" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="chhattisgarh" source="Orion">Chhattisgarh</keyword>, <keyword id="6355554" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="madhya-pradesh" source="Orion">Madhya Pradesh</keyword>, <keyword id="6355588" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rajasthan" source="Orion">Rajasthan</keyword>, <keyword id="68884" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="telangana" source="Orion">Telangana</keyword> and <keyword id="65591" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mizoram" source="Orion">Mizoram</keyword> will go to polls on different days from November 7-30 and votes will be counted for the five states on December 3, the Election Commission said on Monday, setting the stage for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Nearly 16 crore voters would be eligible to cast their votes in these elections, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said at a press conference while asserting that strong measures are being put in place to make these polls inducement-free. Voting for all 40 assembly seats in Mizoram will take place on November 7 along with the first phase of polling for 20 seats in Chhattisgarh. The remaining 70 seats in Chhattisgarh will go to polls on November 17 alongside all 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh. Voting for all 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan will take place on November 23, while the 119-member Telangana Assembly will be the last to go to polls on November 30. Counting of votes for all five states will take place on December 3, CEC Kumar said. This will be the last set of assembly elections ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year. While Congress is in power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh is ruled by BJP, Telangana by Bharat Rashtra Samithi and Mizoram by Mizo National Front (MNF). Kumar said these five states will have 1.77 lakh polling stations, of which 1.01 lakh will have webcasting facility. More than 8,000 polling stations will be managed by women, he said. "We have gathered here after a gap of six months. These elections are significant for the country and after this, we will meet for the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections," Kumar said. "We have met all stakeholders, including political parties and enforcement agencies, while preparing for the assembly elections in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana," he said. The CEC said the Election Commission (EC) has given a special emphasis on making electoral rolls inclusive and the focus will also be on "roll-to-poll", or ensuring that all voters come to vote. Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Mizoram will have 8.2 crore male and 7.8 crore female voters, while there will be 60.2 lakh first-time voters, he said. For the first time, Kumar said, a new Election Seizure Management System is being introduced for the <keyword id="6372725" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="assembly-polls" source="Orion">assembly polls</keyword> to enhance oversight to ensure inducement-free elections. A total of 940 checkposts have been put in place for a strict vigil along interstate borders and to dry up inflow of illicit liquor, cash, freebies and drugs, he said. There will be zero tolerance for the use of money power and there will be a strict vigil over suspicious online cash transfers through wallets as well, the CEC said.

Assembly elections: Voting in five states from Nov 7-30, counting of votes on Dec 3

Several coal-fired power plants, including those in the national capital region, are likely to have missed the revised deadline to retrofit equipment to curb air pollution, industry estimates showed.
 A total of 47.95 gigawatts thermal power capacity missed the December 31, deadline to install Flue Gas Desulphurization (FDG) units to minimise SO2 emissions, the estimates prepared by private power producers showed.
 These include coal-fired units in the national capital region.
 Coal-fired power plants, which produce three-quarters of India's electricity, account for some 80 per cent of industrial emissions of sulfur and nitrous-oxides, which cause lung diseases and smog.
 Power plants were asked to install FGD units, which cut emissions of sulfur dioxides, in phases. In all 440 coal-fired plans that produce 166.5 GW have to comply with the regulation by December 2022. More than one-third of these had to retrofit equipment by December 2019.
 The power plants that missed the deadline to cut emission levels across the country included 33 units with a total capacity of 18.12 GW in Haryana, Punjab and <keyword id="6357713" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uttar-Pradesh">Uttar Pradesh</keyword>. Another 20 units with a total capacity of 11.3 GW are located in southern states of <keyword id="37102" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Andhra-Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</keyword>, <keyword id="68884" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Telangana">Telangana</keyword>, and <keyword id="20154" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword>, the estimates showed. In addition, 7 units of capacity 8.04 GW operated by private firms located in Haryana and Punjab are expected to miss the deadline, the estimates showed.
 The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had previously set December 2017 as the deadline for meeting the emission standards but extended it by two years as the country adopted a phased approach for thermal power plants to comply with emission norms, which involve installing FGD units that cut emissions of sulfur dioxides.
 If the plants are not compliant within the December 31, 2019 deadline, CPCB has the authority to take the necessary action as per the law and court guidance, industry sources said.
 The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had on December 7, 2015, brought out new norms for coal-based power stations to cut down emissions of particulate matter (PM10), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) to improve the air quality around power plants.
 To meet the new emission norms, the installation of the FGD system was essential in new as well as existing thermal power plants.
 Sources said a handful of plants had complied with the norm but most have missed the deadline. As many as 267 units, which produce 103.4 GW of power, have to be compliant between December 2019 and February 2022.
 In the national capital region, only two of the 33 coal-fired units, which produce some 12.79 GW of power, have installed FGD units so far. ANZ 
DRR

Several power plants in India miss deadline for emission norms compliance

New Delhi, Mar 17 () As many as 14 power plants with total power generation capacity of 13,830 mega watt (MW) have been issued show cause notices by the central pollution control board (CPCB) for not complying with environment norms, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.The CPCB has also issued directions to another four power plants with total generation capacity of 1,495 MW for not obliging to environmental provisions, Minister of Power R K Singh said while replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha.While 14 power plants having total generation capacity of 13,830 MW were issued show cause notices by the CPCB on January 31, 2020, another 11 units of four power plants with total generation capacity of 1,495 MW were issued directions on February 26, 2020, he said.Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&amp;CC) notified new environmental norms for particulate matter, sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), water consumption and mercury for thermal power plants (TPPs) on December 7 December 2015, the minister said. In order to ensure uninterrupted power supply position in the country, he said, a phased implementation plan to be rolled out by 2022 for installation of Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) in plants for a capacity of 1,61,402 MW and upgradation of electrostatic precipitator in plants for a capacity of 64,525 MW was prepared by Central Electricity Authority (CEA) in consultation with the stakeholders and this plan was submitted to MoEF&amp;CC on October 13, 2017.Accordingly, on the directions of MoEF&amp;CC, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) issued directions under section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to TPPs. CPCB has informed that those TPPs which fail to comply with new emission norms by the specified timelines are considered to be non-complying and are liable for penal action including closure of the plant and imposition of environmental compensation, Singh said.The CEA has also sent letters to thermal power stations for strict compliance of existing Environment norms within the stipulated time given by MoEF&amp;CC/CPCB.Singh said, "So far, CPCB has issued show cause notice on 31.01.2020 under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to 31 units of 14 TPPs as to why non-complying units of the plant should not be closed and environmental compensation be imposed for continuing non-compliance of CPCB directions. CPCB has also issued directions/show cause notice for closure under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 on 26.02.2020 to 11 units of 4 TPPs."The list of those served with show cause notices included Vizag Hinduja TPP, HNPCL, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, Sri Damodaram Sanjeevaiah TPP, APPDCL, SPSR Nellore, Rajiv Gandhi TPP, HPGCL, Hisar, Haryana, National Capital Thermal Power Station, NTPC Dadri, Gautam Budh Nagar, U.P, Harduaganj Thermal Power Station, UPRVUNL, Aligarh in U P, among others. The four plants issued directions are Guru Gobind Singh TPS, PSPCL, Ropar, Punjab, Chandrapura TPS, DVC, Chandrapura, Jharkhand, Kothagudem TPS (Stage I-IV), TSGENCO, Kothagudem, Telangana and Harduaganj Thermal Power Station,UPRVUNL, Aligarh, U.P. ABI MRMR

14 power plants get notices for not complying with environment norms

(Eds: Adds details) New Delhi, Jun 22 () Uttar Pradesh has become the first state to use the Railways' coronavirus isolation wards with coaches deployed at Mau station receiving 59 suspected COVID-19 cases in two days, officials said on Monday.They said eight of them have already been discharged and 51 are housed in these non-air conditioned coaches, modified to work as Covid care cantres. The admitted cases include women and children, the officials said. On June 20, 42 patients were admitted to the isolation coaches at Mau railway station, while 17 the next day, they added. As per official figures, Uttar Pradesh has reported over 18,000 coronavirus cases, while the number of deceased due to the disease stands at 569. The coaches are laced with basic amenities that a patient would require -- handheld showers, mosquito nets, bio-toilets, power sockets, oxygen cylinders and more. However, one of the major challenges for the Railways is to keep the temperature inside these "metal boxes" down so that patient can feel comfortable during the summer heat, when mercury may go several notches beyond normal levels. At Mau railway station, officials have kept industrial size pedestal fans and stacks of hay ready to be deployed for cross-ventilation and cover the roofs of the isolation coaches if the temperatures soar. The Railways is now experimenting with a variety of options to bring down the temperature inside the coaches. These include bamboo blinds on windows and bubble-wrap on the roof as well as heat-resistant coating and portable coolers. It has also used cover-sheets over the coaches to keep the heat out and the interiors cool. These measures will, however, bring the inside temperature down by up up to one degree Celsius only, an official said. The Northern Railways has also coated the roof of isolation coaches with heat-reflective paint as a trial and found that the temperature inside can be reduced up to 2.2 degrees Celsius using this method. Trials are being planned for another coating developed in association with IIT-Bombay. A trial has been carried out by placing portable coolers inside the coaches as well, the Railways said, adding that temperature reduction of up to three degrees Celsius was achieved using them. While efforts are underway to cool things down, officials said they are praying for rain. As of now, the national transporter has deployed a total of 960 "COVID Care" coaches in five states -- Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In Uttar Pradesh, as many as 372 such coaches have been stationed at 23 locations -- Lucknow, Varanasi, Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction, Agra, Bhadohi, Kanpur, Saharanpur, Faizabad, Mirzapur, Jhansi, Jhansi Workshop, Nakha Jungle, Subedarganj, Gonda, Bhatni, Nautanwa, Bahraich, Manduadih, Farrukhabad, Varanasi City, Mau, Bareilly City and Kasganj. In an effort to augment the government's efforts to build infrastructure to deal with the spread of COVID-19, the Railways has converted 5,321 non-AC sleeper class ICF (older design) coaches and developed them into COVID Care Level 1 centres for patients with mild symptoms or those suspected to have the infection. ASG TIR TIR

UP first to use COVID-19 isolation coaches; pedestal fans, hay ready at Mau station to battle heat

New Delhi: In the world's largest democracy, every five years, a spectacular theatrical performance unfolds, captivating crores of people with its vibrancy, diversity, and sheer scale. Yes, we're talking about the <keyword id="19923279" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lok-sabha-elections" source="keywords">Lok Sabha Elections</keyword> in India. And we have the dates now for the grand finale: June 4! The Election Commission of India on Saturday announced the dates for the general elections to be held from April 19 to June 1 in seven phases. Chief Election Commissioner <keyword id="20110344" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rajiv-kumar" source="keywords">Rajiv Kumar</keyword> announced today that the results will be announced on June 4. Phase 1 voting will be held on April 19, Phase 2 on April 26, Phase 3 on May 7, Phase 4 on May 13, Phase 5 on May 20, Phase 6 on May 25, and Phase 7 on June 1. “We will take democracy to every corner of the country. It is our promise to deliver a national election in a manner that we... remain a beacon for democracy around the world,” said the Chief Election Commissioner. <div type="image" title="Polling schedule" agency="ANI" msid="108550459" hostid="261" sizebytes="17144" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Polling schedule (ANI)&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The tenure of the present <keyword id="19895394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="keywords">Lok Sabha</keyword> ends on June 16 and a new House will have to be constituted before that. As the tenure of Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Odisha assemblies will also end in June, these states will get an early taste of the ‘one nation, one election’ process, wherein voters will be casting votes for both Lok Sabha and assembly elections. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="subhead" text="Model code of conduct kicks in">Model code of conduct kicks in</cmsannotation> With the announcement of election dates, the model code of conduct comes into immediate effect. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar asked all political parties and their leaders to strictly adhere to the poll code. The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) mandates that no party or candidate shall indulge in any activity which may aggravate existing differences, create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic, according to the set of guidelines issued by the EC. It lists out the dos and don'ts regarding general conduct, meetings, processions, conduct of parties and their candidates on polling day, polling booth, observers, party in power and guidelines on election manifestos. According to the guidelines, all parties and candidates shall avoid scrupulously all activities which are "corrupt practices" and offences under the election law, such as bribing of voters, intimidation of voters, impersonation of voters, canvassing within 100 meters of polling stations, holding public meetings during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the close of the poll, and the transport and conveyance of voters to and from the polling station. Political parties and candidates shall ensure that their supporters do not create obstructions in or break up meetings and processions organized by other parties. As soon as the poll code comes into effect, the party in power be it at the Centre or in the State or states concerned, shall ensure that no cause is given for any complaint that it has used its official position for the purposes of its election campaign. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="subhead" text="Major players and issues">Major players and issues</cmsannotation> Undoubtedly, the scale and magnitude of a nationwide election in a country like India involve numerous complex considerations. However, the major political parties are hoping to narrow down the voter’s priorities to a few major foundational aspirations on which powerful campaigns can be built. Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword>, and his party <keyword id="19931558" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bharatiya-janata-party" source="keywords">Bharatiya Janata Party</keyword> (BJP), are confident of reelection for a third consecutive term. They have pitched 'Modi Ki Guarantee' as the main theme of his campaign. PM's website describes it as a guarantee for the development of youth, empowerment of women, welfare of farmers, and all those marginalised and vulnerable who have been ignored for decades. In a letter to the citizens of India on March 15, the Prime Minister noted, “The trust and support of 140 crore Indians inspires and motivates me. The transformation that has taken place in the lives of the people is the biggest achievement of our government over the last 10 years. These transformative outcomes are the result of the sincere efforts made by a determined government to improve the quality of life for the poor, farmers, youth and women.” BJP is building its campaign by highlighting the welfare schemes of the government, infrastructural development across the country, and the rejuvenation of the country’s cultural heritage. The major opposition party <keyword id="19895371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="congress" source="keywords">Congress</keyword>, on the other hand, is banking on its <keyword id="20366194" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nyay" source="keywords">Nyay</keyword> guarantees to woo voters. The grand old party saw some success in the state elections of Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana when it pitched such 'Nyay' guarantees to the people. For the Lok Sabha polls, the party has put forward its 5 guarantees aimed at ensuring justice for youth, farmers, women, labourers, and participatory justice. The INDIA bloc, including the Congress, has been raising the issue of unemployment and rising prices of essential commodities. They have stated repeatedly that the lack of jobs is the single biggest issue and sought to corner the government over the issue. The BJP has hit back citing job growth and a fast-growing economy. Other major poll issues include electoral bonds, abrogation of Article 370, <keyword id="19963301" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="caa" source="keywords">CAA</keyword>, Uniform Civil Code, Ayodhya Ram Mandir, farmer protests for legal guarantee of MSP, and the Viksit Bharat vision of the government. Overall, India is poised to see an enthralling clash of ideologies, ideas, and personalities throughout the election season as the EC has opened the race for ruling the most populous country on Earth. (With inputs from ANI and PTI)

Elections 2024: Lok Sabha general elections in 7 phases from April 19, results on June 4; Here’s all you need to know

<ul><li>The nascent <keyword id="4738498" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ev-industry" source="Orion">EV industry</keyword> in India has seen a lot of buzz over the last year, largely due to the launch of new electric scooters and bikes.</li><li>While the government has been trying to push EV adoption via FAME subsidies, the industry believes more needs to be done.</li><li>Here’s everything that the EV industry wants from <keyword id="10547300" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget-2022" source="Orion">Budget 2022</keyword>.</li><li>Check out our <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/bi-newsletter">weekly explainers</a> on the hottest topics and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/newsletters_signup.cms">sign up</a> if you like them.</li></ul> Electric vehicles (EVs) could very well be the future of transportation, but their adoption in India remains a challenge for both the companies making electric cars and scooters, and consumers who want to shift away from the regular petrol/diesel-based options. With the Budget 2022 just a few days away, Business Insider spoke to industry leaders to understand the state of adoption of EVs and what the industry needs going forward. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What the industry expects from Budget 2022 for the EV sector" comment="subhead" text="What the industry expects from Budget 2022 for the EV sector">What the industry expects from Budget 2022 for the EV sector</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Tax structure rationalisation and a stable policy regime" comment="subhead" text="Tax structure rationalisation and a stable policy regime">Tax structure rationalisation and a stable policy regime</cmsannotation> “Burdened under high duties, GST [goods and services tax], cess and registration costs, we urge the government to rationalise the entire tax structure, which eventually will lead to higher volumes for the industry,” said Balbir Singh Dhillon, head of Audi India, urging the government to also come up with a stable policy regime which is essential for industries like auto which have long lead times. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="89119184" title="Here’s how much buying and owning an electric scooter costs in India versus a petrol scooter" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Another issue that ails the EV sector is that while the final products – that is, the electric cars, bikes and scooters – are taxed at 5%, components like battery packs are taxed at a significantly higher rate of 18%. While this not only increases the cost for the average consumer, it also leads to an invested tax structure wherein companies end up with their funds stuck in the tax system, reducing their liquidity in the process. “Due to the inverted tax structure that currently exists (where EVs are taxed at 5% and battery packs alone at 18%). Several constraints are placed on new OEMs [original equipment manufacturer] as well as the development of new models like Battery-as-a-Service,” Arun Vinayak, co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Exponent Energy, told Business Insider. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Bringing down GST to make electric vehicles more lucrative" comment="subhead" text="Bringing down GST to make electric vehicles more lucrative">Bringing down GST to make electric vehicles more lucrative</cmsannotation> Making it more affordable to buy and sell used electric vehicles might be another way to boost awareness and thereby adoption of EVs, according to industry sources. CredR’s co-founder Sasidhar Nigam said “We also expect the government to reduce the GST, which is presently 18% so that there is an increased consumption in used bikes.” CredR is a portal for buying and selling used bikes. Apart from this, Nigam says that a reduction in road taxes and registration costs will also help reduce the burden on consumers. While some states like Telangana currently waive off registration charges on electric vehicles, the policy is not uniform across the country and the waiver is for a limited period or number of vehicles. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Expanding the EV charging network" comment="subhead" text="Expanding the EV charging network">Expanding the EV charging network</cmsannotation> Range anxiety remains one of the biggest challenges in adoption of EVs and industry leaders believe the government needs to step in to help alleviate this problem. One of the ways, the leaders say, is by setting up and expanding the EV charging network across the country. “Since the consumers are concerned about a general lack of charging infrastructure, the government needs to propel the sector by allocating funds to address this area of concern,” said Suhas Rajkumar, co-founder and CEO of Simple Energy. Another option worth exploring is using the existing auto industry infrastructure to double up as EV charging points. “The government should incentivise all existing auto OEMs to use their sales and distribution points, authorised service centres and manufacturing hubs as charging stations for EV vehicles,” CredR’s Nigam added. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Encouraging customer adoption via lucrative finance schemes and subsidies" comment="subhead" text="Encouraging customer adoption via lucrative finance schemes and subsidies">Encouraging customer adoption via lucrative finance schemes and subsidies</cmsannotation> Although electric vehicles can turn out to be cheaper in the long run, they are still expensive purchases even after accounting for FAME subsidies. This acts as another deterrent in their adoption. “Lucrative finance schemes and plans can add to the increased purchase power of consumers,” Nigam said. This can be done in addition to reducing the GST on components, reducing import duties, road taxes and registration charges, and offering low interest finance options. “In the interim, reducing the import duties on Li-ion cells would greatly benefit EV startups to make EVs affordable and spur consumer demand,” Exponent Energy’s Arun Vinayak said. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Subsidies for commercial sector and mandating use of EVs at tourist destinations" comment="subhead" text="Subsidies for commercial sector and mandating use of EVs at tourist destinations">Subsidies for commercial sector and mandating use of EVs at tourist destinations</cmsannotation> Lastly, the government can also push for the use of EVs in the commercial and tourism sectors, thereby reducing the carbon footprint as well as boosting EV adoption. “A strong regulatory push for electric commercial vehicles would also be a welcome move. The Union Budget may provide subsidies for using EVs for commercial and logistics purposes,” said Pushkar Singh, cofounder and CEO of LetsTransport, a last-mile logistics solutions provider. “The government can further leverage the popularity of tourist destinations by converting them into “EV Zones” and provisioning the presence of EVs for tourists travelling and exploring these popular locations,” said Sandeep Mukherjee, co-founder and CEO of B:Live, an e-bike tourism firm. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/cost-of-owning-and-running-an-electric-scooter-vs-a-petrol-scooter/articleshow/89119184.cms">Here’s how much buying and owning an electric scooter costs in India versus a petrol scooter</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/this-flying-car-will-soon-make-trips-from-london-to-paris/articleshow/89110038.cms">This flying car will soon make trips from London to Paris</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/tesla-india-prospects-get-a-boost-as-states-compete-with-each-other-to-invite-elon-musk-to-their-backyard/articleshow/88890951.cms">Tesla India prospects get a boost as states compete with each other to invite Elon Musk to their backyard</a>

From tax structure rationalisation to expanding EV charging infrastructure, here’s what the industry wants from Budget 2022

Jeddah, Apr 19 () Eight Indians, including two engineers, have died due to the novel coronavirus in Saudi Arabia, according to a media report on Sunday.Mohammed Aslam Khan, an electrical engineer in Mecca, and Azmatullah Khan, an engineer at the Mecca Haram power station, have died due to the COVID-19, Saudi Gazette reported.Aslam Khan, aged 51, who hailed from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, was admitted to King Faisal Hospital, Mecca on April 3, following worsening of his condition after being infected with fever and throat pain.He had been on ventilator for more than two weeks and breathed his last on Saturday night, the paper said.Khan is survived by wife and a daughter and a son. His wife and children are under self-imposed home quarantine.Azmatullah Khan, from Telangana, died of coronavirus on Friday.Mujeeb Pukkottoor, a prominent Indian social worker and general secretary of Mecca chapter of Kerala Muslim Cultural Center, told the paper that the body of Khan was buried in Mecca on Sunday.Khan, aged 65, had been working with Saudi Binladin Group for the last 32 years.Fakre Alam, an employee at the Haram Project of Saudi Binladin Group in Mecca, died on Sunday due to infection, the paper said.Barkt Ali Abdullatif Fakir, an electrical technician working in Medina, also died of coronavirus, it said. According to the Saudi Ministry of Health's daily report published on April 14, the number of coronavirus infected cases among workers of Saudi Binladin Group in various parts of the Kingdom stood at 117, and these included 70 cases in Mecca. The first two Indian fatalities were reported from Medina and Riyadh earlier this month with the death of Shebnaz Pala Kandiyil (29) and Safvan Nadamal (41), both from Kerala. Mohammed Sadiq, from Hyderabad, working in Jeddah and Suleman Sayyid Junaid (Maharashtra) are other Indians who died due to COVID-19 in the Gulf kingdom, the paper said.Shebnaz from Panoor in Kannoor district died on April 3 and his body was buried in Medina on April 7. He came back to the Kingdom March 3 after his marriage in January.Safvan, a taxi driver from Chemmad in Malappuram district, died on April 2 and was buried in Riyadh on April 8. ZHZH

COVID-19: 2 engineers among eight Indian fatalities in Saudi

New Delhi, Dec 2 () The ongoing mega Polavaram irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh will be completed by December 2021 as per the revised tender floated by the state government, Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said in Rajya Sabha.
 Responding to queries during Question Hour, the minister, however, said the completion of this project will depend on how fast the state government settle the issue of rehabilitation and resettlement (R&amp;R).
 The proposed Polavaram Irrigation project aims to irrigate 2.91 lakh hectares, generate 960 MW of power, and fulfil water needs of industries and 540 villages in Andhra Pradesh.
 "...this project is being constructed by the state government. The revised tender floated a couple of weeks ago by the state government. As per the new revised tender agreement, they have given the date of completion of the project as December, 2021. So, I hope, by December, 2021, this project will be completed," Shekhawat said in the Upper House.
 Treating it as a national project, the minister said the Centre had agreed to bear the cost of the project based on the 2014 expense estimate. However, a Revised Cost Committee (RCC) was set up to look into the cost escalation issue of the project.
 So far, two meetings have been held. In its second meeting held in October 2019, the RCC has sought details from the Andhra Pradesh government, he said.
 The information sought has been with regard to types of land identified for acquisition along with their quantities or cost as per the first and second RCC and also details of land acquisition and corresponding project displaced families as on March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2018, he added.
 "The state has submitted partial information in this regard. Findings or recommendations of the RCC is dependent upon satisfactory compliances by the state government on its observation," the minister noted.
 Responding to a supplementary on who will bear the escalated cost of the proposed project, including land acquisition, the minister said, "The difference is because of cost of the land acquisition and the issue related to R&amp;R. We have sought information. We will take a call after receiving the full information from the state."
 On displacement of tribals in Odisha due to large-scale submergence of Polavaram project, the minister said the concerns of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Telangana governments are all pending in the Supreme Court.
 Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said "Polavaram is the lifeline for Andhra Pradesh and everything needs to be done."
 The cost of the Polavaram project is pegged at Rs 55,548.87 crore as per the second revised cost estimate done at 2017-18 price level, which has been accepted by the Jal Shakti Ministry.
 YS Jaganmohan Reddy-ruled Andhra Pradesh government had cancelled the contracts and gone to reverse tendering for Polavaram headworks and hydropower station. Infrastructure major Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) bagged the order. MJH LUX LUX SHW
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