Welspun Energy mulls setting up Rs 200 cr solar plant in Assam
Guwahati: Welspun Energy today said it is considering setting up a 25-MW solar power project at an investment of around Rs 200 crore in Assam. “We are looking to enter the North East, particularly Assam. To start with, we are considering a solar project to generate 20-25 MW of power at an investment of around Rs 200 crore,” Welspun Energy President TR Kishor Nair told PTI on the sidelines of an Assocham energy summit here. He, however, said the company’s plans will depend on the state government’s policies to promote generation of renewable energy such as solar, wind or biomass. Elaborating the company’s plans for the state, Nair said: “We need around 100-150 acres of land for such a project. The land should be very barren so that solar radiation is high.” Once announced, the project will be completed within 6-8 months, he added. “Land acquisition is a big issue in every state. So, we hope the state government will help us in getting land as soon as possible,” Nair said. According to its official website, Welspun Energy has set a target to install 750 MW of solar power plants in the next three years across the country. Out of that, over 250 MW of power projects are being developed on ground currently. At present, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are the focus states of the company. (PTI)
PCI Sub-Committee discusses safety of Assam journalists
Guwahati: Members of the Press Council of India sub-committee, formed to examine the issue of safety of journalists, held a meeting with officials of Home as well as Information and Public Relations departments here on Thursday. The Sub Committee took stock of the measures taken by the state Home Department to provide compensation to families of journalists assaulted or killed while on duty, and the status of the cases registered against killings and attacks on journalists in different parts of the State. A six-member of delegation of the PCI headed by Kosuri Amarnath, Convenor of the sub-committee, was on a two-day visit to the state to examine the issue of safety of journalists. Other members of the sub-committee include Arun Kumar, Rajeev Ranjan Nag, Uppala Lakhsman, Kalyan Barooah and Arvind S Tengse. The PCI Sub-Committee had also met Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi yesterday and requested him to fast track investigations into the killings and attacks on journalists in Assam. The Sub Committee had further interacted with representatives of various journalists associations of Assam yesterday. (PTI)
One-man enquiry commission into minor boy’s death
Guwahati: The Assam government has constituted a one-man commission of enquiry to probe into the incident that took place in Hemlai Tea Estate of Jorhat district on August 18 resulting in the death of a minor boy. The commission will be headed by Justice (retd) P K Mushahary, official sources said. The enquiry commission will ascertain the circumstances leading to the incident. It will identify the individuals or organisations responsible for it. The enquiry commission will submit its report within 6 months, the sources said. On August 18, a 14-year-old school student was killed and 14 others, including two other students and nine policemen, were injured in a clash which led to police firing in the tea estate. (PTI)