Uttarakhand

• 14 Mar 2023

Air Force's Three-Day Exercise Begins in Chinyalisour

Why In News?

• According to information received from the media on March 13, 2023, a three-day exercise of the Air Force started at Chinyalisour airport in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand along the India-China border.

Key points

• Sources associated with the Air Force said that the landing and take-off of the Air Force's multi-purpose aircraft AN-32 will be practiced here in a three-day long exercise. Although the Air Force has successfully landed and taken-off AN-32 aircraft here earlier also. This is the first exercise of this year.
• Significantly, the Chinyalisour airport in Uttarkashi district along the India-China border is very important from a strategic point of view. This is the reason that the Indian Air Force wants to make this airport its Advance Landing Ground (ALG) and exercises its aircraft here from time to time.
• It is noteworthy that the full name of the AN-32 aircraft of the Air Force is Antonov-32. These were bought by the Air Force from the Soviet Union. It is a twin-engine military transport aircraft capable of operating in temperatures of 55 °C and altitudes of up to 14,500 feet, carrying five crew members including pilot, co-pilot, gunner, navigator and engineer and 50 people. This aircraft equipped with GPS also has radar and modern navigation system.

Uttarakhand Solar Energy Policy- 2023

Why In News?

• According to information received from the media on March 13, 2023, the cabinet meeting held in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand approved the new solar energy policy (Uttarakhand Solar Energy Policy - 2023).

Key points

• In the Uttarakhand State Solar Energy Policy-2023, the government has expressed the expectation that by December 2027, 2500, MW of electricity will be generated in the state from this project. These will create new employment opportunities in the field of solar energy and will also increase the livelihood opportunities of the villagers.
• Under the new solar energy policy, solar power projects can also be installed on government or private land for private use or third-party sale.
• Solar power projects can also be set up outside the state from the level of UPCL. This provision has been made because IT is mandatory for UPCL to buy a certain percentage of its purchased electricity from solar power projects.
• The new policy also guarantees employment for local youth. It has been told that whoever takes government land on lease and installs his solar project, he will have to provide employment to 70 percent of the local youth. UREDA will issue this condition in its tender.
• The policy also provides that UPCL will prepare a green tariff proposal for solar energy, which will be sent to the Regulatory Commission. The regulatory commission can give consumers the option to choose green tariffs.
• Apart from this, feed in tariff can encourage those who give solar energy to the grid in peak hours. Virtual Net Metering (VNM) and Group Net Metering (GNM) can be used for easy access and monitoring.
• The responsibilities of UREDA have also been increased in the new policy. Under this, UREDA will have to set up a solar policy cell, under which solar projects will be passed through a single window. UREDA will have to be made a landbank and make a list of all government lands and buildings where solar power projects can be set up. Similarly, such private land will also have to be identified on which a private person can set up his project on lease.
• Benefits of the New Policy:
  • Solar energy projects will be installed through a single window portal.
  • Land use conversion fee, court fee, registration, land use approval, external development fee, investigation fee and infrastructure development fee will be exempted.
  • Whatever project will be taken up, UPCL will have to compulsorily buy power from it. This will reduce the risk of investors.
  • Consumers generating additional power through feed in tariffs will get compensation. At the same time, Deendayal Upadhyay Home Stay Development and Self Employment Scheme will also benefit from this.
  • There will be free access for our own use and for collective use and exemption from SGST and electricity charges.