Not only fishes, one will soon find solar floating power plants on beels in Assam.

The Assam Cabinet has decided that the user rights of beels under Assam Fisheries Deelopment Corporation Ltd (AFDCL) will be transferred to Assam Power Distribution Ltd after an agreement with AFDCL and APDCL.

Ownership of beels shall remain with AFDCL. AFDCL which has 186 beels covering around 12, 266 hectares will simultaneous lease out beels.

WHAT IS SOLAR FLOATING PLANT: A floating solar plant refers to an installation of solar power production that is mounted on a structure floating on a body of water. This power generation system uses large water bodies to set up a floating solar unit to capture sufficient solar energy without the need for land.

Solar panels on the floating solar power plant are firmly fixed on buoyant structures to keep them afloat on water bodies to receive sufficient sunlight throughout the year.

The state government has given a lot of focus on renewable energy with top priority been given to solar energy and it will be adding 3000 MW of solar power.

State governments have to follow the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) of the Centre which mandates that all electricity distribution licensees should purchase or produce a minimum specified quantity of their requirements from Renewable Energy Sources. This is as per the Indian Electricity Act, 2003. The State Electricity Regulatory Commissions fix the minimum RPO for the State. Assam has paid penalty a few times as it could not honour the RPO.

National Thermal Power Corporation has already commissioned floating solar power plants in the country.

CITY GAS DISTRIBUTION: The government has also started streamliniung the proces of gas distribution pipeline by empowering the deputy commissioners to give digging permission for right of way.

Officials say the decision has been made to create an atmosphere for industrial investment by making land readily available.

Assam Gas Company has been given the right for City Gas Distribution in Assam by Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board.

A strong emphasis has been laid out on expansion of city gas distributioon neytworks across the country by covering 407 districts with a potential to make gas accessible to cover 70 percent of the poulatoon. The distribution networks would enable the supply of cleaner fuel( like PNG) to households, industrial and commercial units as well as transportation fuel ( like CNG) to vehicles.

The decision was taken at the Assam cabinet meeeting on September 23.

Jurisdictional circle officers will reclassify/ reclasify-cum-transfer agricultural land up to 10 bighas for industrial purpoose only for layinbg CGDP. Assam Agricultural Land Act 2005 does noty apply on leasing out of land already allotted to AIDC/ AIIDC/ ASIDC for industrial purpose only( laying of City Gas Distribution Pipelime System).

" This has been done to empower circle officers to ensure fas disposal of petitions relating to reclassification of agricultural land as proposed" officials said.

TEA BONUS: The government will release Rs 18.02 crore as loan to Assam Tea Corporation for payment of bonus to its employees/ workers for the ensuing Durga Puja.

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