Development Watch – Week #2 Feb’25
Development News
Missed deadline for Jal Jeevan Mission 2024
A parliamentary panel has shown concerns that Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) may miss its December 2024 deadline to provide tap water to all rural households in India. According to Government data, 79.5% of the total 19.36 Crore rural households have been covered. Only 11 states and UTs have achieved ‘Har Ghar Jal’ status since the mission’s launch in 2019. Aim of the mission is to provide 55 litres of drinking water per person per day to all rural households. Several states are performing below the national average under JJM. A Standing Committee on Water Resources noted that progress in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, and Rajasthan is below national average. The Government has also announced an extension of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) until 2028 in the Union Budget. Around 46% of households in West Bengal, Rajasthan, Kerala and Jharkhand await connections.
Solar module manufacturing plant in Tirunelveli, TN
A 4.3 GW solar cell and module manufacturing plant of TP Solar, established at an estimated cost Rs. 3,800 crore at Gangaikondan SIPCOT industrial estate was inaugurated on 30th January. The CM also laid the foundation stone for Vikram Solar’s 3 GW solar cell and 6 GW module manufacturing plant to be set up at a cost of Rs. 2,574 Crore at another event in the district. TP solar is a subsidiary of the Tata Group. It would ensure employment to 4,000 persons. Vikram Solar would provide jobs to 2,500 people, majority being women. Tata Power Ltd. had signed the MoU for the project in July 2022. TN is second largest economy in India and a leading state in manufacturing and exports in various sectors.
India-UK taskforce for Offshore Wind
India and UK announced the establishment of a UK-India Offshore Wind Taskforce, which will focus on advancing offshore wind ecosystem development, supply chains, and financing models in both countries. The announcement was made at the Fourth India-UK Energy Dialogue focused on energy security. This would expand cooperation in power distribution, sector reforms, industrial energy efficiency, de-carbonization and electric mobility. The meeting also emphasized exploring new opportunities in energy storage, green data centers, and offshore wind. The countries agreed to continue the power sector reforms programme under the UK Partnering for Accelerating Climate Change (UKPACT). There is also ongoing cooperation between the UK’s Energy Systems Catapult and India’s Power Trading Corporation.
Highway projects for Vision 2047
India will approve future highway projects under the Vision 2047 roadmap. Despite no hike in road ministry’s budget for 2025-26, MoRTH has assured adequate funds. In the near future, Nagpur might become India’s logistics capital, and Vidarbha, a global steel hub with investment commitments around Rs. 7 Lakh Crores. Projects worth Rs 65,000 crores are ongoing in Delhi. So far, road transport projects worth Rs. 35,000 Crores have been completed in Delhi. There is strong market faith in NHAI’s capex funding capabilities. Bharatmala was the centre’s flagship scheme for highway creation till 2023-24. In a few months, Delhi to Dehradun would take only 2 hours. On the other hand, Nagpur is centrally located from key consumption centers like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. The recently developed multi-modal international cargo hub and airport at Nagpur (MIHAN) now has IT companies, defence, and aerospace manufacturers.
Hydrogen & Nuclear energy for Train operations
The Indian Railways is seeking nuclear energy from the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd and the Ministry of Power to meet its growing power needs. This clean and reliable energy source could reduce dependence on fossil fuels and lower carbon emissions. The power requirement of the Indian Railways is increasingly, consistently year on year. Indian Railways is also developing the country’s first hydrogen train, one of the longest and most powerful in the world. It involves retrofitting a hydrogen fuel cell on a diesel electric multiple unit (DEMU) rake and creating on-ground infrastructure for hydrogen refilling. This would support a cleaner, greener future in transportation. The specifications for this fully indigenously developed train have been prepared by the Research Design and Standards Organization (RDSO). Along with the train, concomitant on-ground infrastructure to refill hydrogen is envisioned with an integrated hydrogen production-storage-dispensation facility. Necessary safety approvals for the facility layout from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) are in place.
Aero India platform for Indian defence self-reliance
The 15th edition of ‘Aero India’ will be taking place in Bengaluru, showcasing advanced defence technologies and global aviation excellence. The biennial air show, organized by the Defence Exhibition Organization and the Ministry of Defence, aims to highlight India’s commitment to innovation and international cooperation in the aerospace sector. Organized in a total area of over 42,000 sq m and with the confirmed participation of over 900 exhibitors, including 150 foreign companies, the event is set to be the biggest-ever ‘Aero India’ till date. defence production, having crossed the record figure of Rs 1.27 lakh crore, will exceed Rs 1.60 lakh crore by the end of 2025-26. Defence exports, which touched the record figure of Rs 21,000 crore, will surpass Rs 30,000 crore
323 UDAN routes operational in India
UDAN, the regional air connectivity scheme, has 323 operational routes out of 619 initiated since 2016. Disruptions like COVID-19, global engine issues, and airline shutdowns caused 114 routes to discontinue. issues such as slot unavailability, low passenger demand, limited aircraft availability and various internal challenges prevented the airlines from scheduling the awarded weekly frequencies. Poor weather conditions and various operational constraints also contributed to the cancellation of flights. The government is re-bidding and awarding these routes in successive rounds. Aircrafts such as Tecnam P2010, Twin Otter DHC 400, Q400, Embraer 175 & 145, ATR-42, ATR-72, A320 and Cessna grand are being operated by airlines.
Local Feedback
LocalFeedback.org aims to track and document actionable parameters that help improve urban and rural infrastructure. The founder, Susmita, has juggled diverse roles in real estate, project budgeting, valuation and execution on construction sites. Having traveled to more than 20 countries, she has worked across 4 regions in India. Her areas of interest include sustainable buildings, electric mobility and urban development. She visited top-ranking cities on livability indices and has presented published papers at international conferences.