Daily News Compilation (HINDU) for 6th April

Solar capacity in India crosses 2,500 MW

The total grid-connected solar capacity, commissioned under the National Solar Mission, crossed the 2,500-MW mark and stood at 2,632 MW as on March 31, 2014. Of the total, a little over a third of capacity was commissioned in Gujarat.

A total capacity of 947 MW was commissioned during fiscal 2013-14 and Madhya Pradesh added highest capacity of 310 MW during the year, according to a document of Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

Of the commissioned, higher contribution came from state-policy driven projects at 1,322 MW, followed by 

• MNRE projects at 688 MW, 
• REC Scheme at 491 MW and 
• the rest came from RPO (renewable purchase obligation), private sector rooftop and central government organisations.

Gyaan

Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO)

RPO target define how much electricity in the country is estimated to be produced from renewable energy sources (=green electricity)

Year %Green electricity (in total electricity production)

2009 5

2012 7

2020 15

Under RPO mechanism, the DISCOMs, Captive Power Plants, and Open Access Consumers have to purchase certain the minimum level of renewable energy (out of total consumption).

State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) look after this matter.

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)

• They are provided under the RPO mechanism
• They enable the obligated entities (DISCOMs, Captive Power Plants, and Open Access Consumers) to meet their Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO).
• Those obliged entitles can trade surplus or deficit RECs among themselves and the owner of the REC certificate can claim that he has purchased renewable energy.

Long-billed vultures sighted in the Nilgiris

Wildlife officials and volunteers of Arulagam, a Coimbatore-based NGO involved in vulture conservation, sighted five long-billed vultures in the north-eastern slopes of the Nilgiris a few days ago.

Long-billed vultures are found only in the north-eastern slopes of the Nilgiris. 

1. White-backed, 
2. King and 
3. Egyptian vultures

are the other three species found in the Nilgiris and the Moyar valley, its adjoining area, Mr. Bharathidasan said.

Huge cattle population is found in the Nilgiris and its surrounding areas. This could be one of the reasons the vultures thrive here. Diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory drug used for both animals and humans, poses a major threat to the survival of vultures.

Gyaan

‘Delhi slums are fast turning into high-risk zone for children’

Over a hundred representatives from 50 bastis across all the nine districts of Delhi met in the city recently to spell out the agenda to ensure safety and protection, access to health care and education for urban slum children.

The agenda, which has been handed over to all major political parties, noted that the absence of day-care arrangement led to many accidents, while poor quality of schools, anganwadis and dispensaries adversely impacted the children. The worst hit are differently-abled children and those whose lives have been disrupted by relocation and slum clearances.