Latest news with #EnergyBill
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt stays contract for 12cr aspirational toilets, orders probe
Mumbai: The state govt on Thursday ordered a stay on the Rs 12 crore aspirational toilets construction contract. Industries Minister Uday Samant said an inquiry will be conducted and a report will be submitted in 30 days, but till then, work on the toilets will be stayed. Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar ruled that the state govt must direct municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani to conduct a probe against additional municipal commissioner (City) Ashwini Joshi, who is pushing the aspirational toilet project and take action against her if any irregularities are found in the probe. The BMC has claimed that three tenders were floated for 13 toilets worth around Rs 21 crore. Each toilet costs around Rs 1.65 crore. However, 3 aspirational toilets were on open spaces so they were dropped. One toilet was in Dharavi which was dropped since the area is now part of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project. For the toilet near Sion Fort, BMC couldn't get permission from the Archaeological Survey of India and it was dropped. The toilet at VB Worlikar Marg in Worli was cancelled after orders from municipal commissioner. At the moment, work is going on for seven toilets only that cost around Rs 12 crore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Virginia: Gov Will Cover Cost To Install Solar For Eligible Homeowners In These Zips Energy Bill Cruncher Learn More Undo You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The issue was raised in the Legislative Assembly by BJP MLA Ameet Satam through a calling attention motion. Satam said that the BMC has approved tenders for 14 'Aspirational Toilets' worth Rs 20 crore, and work has already commenced at five locations in A Ward. "Despite the BMC's own Pedestrian First policy and the fact that these areas are surrounded by heritage buildings and precincts, these structures are not just toilets but effectively amount to BMC-sponsored encroachments on public footpaths. The local elected representative had opposed the construction of these toilets on footpaths. Was this opposition taken into account by the BMC?"asked Satam. Aspirational toilets have a European-style design with smart features like automatic flushing, sensor-based lighting and ventilation, and even voice assistance.
E&E News
23-05-2025
- Business
- E&E News
Alaska drilling, mining could see a megabill comeback
House Republicans sacked two prominent Alaska drilling and mining provisions from their tax, energy and national security megabill just hours before it cleared the chamber, but a top GOP lawmakers has hopes the Senate will add them back in. The two provisions cut from H.R. 1, the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act,' would have facilitated approval of the Ambler mining access road and ramped up drilling in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve. They are long-sought priorities for Republicans, and their fate on the cutting room floor came as a surprise. House Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), however, said the provisions were removed over procedural concerns relating to the budget reconciliation process. Advertisement 'These provisions were addressed in the manager's amendment out of an abundance of caution as part of the nuanced reconciliation process,' Westerman said in an email.
Zawya
14-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Nigeria needs $10bln annually for stable electricity — Minister
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has stated that for Nigeria to achieve functional, reliable, and stable electricity, the country requires no less than 10 billion dollars annually for the next ten to twenty years. He made the disclosure during the commissioning of the 600kW and 3MW Solar PV Power Plant at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, on Tuesday. He noted that there are foundational bottlenecks that have been experienced in the past, which must be addressed for this level of investment to be meaningful. 'Number one is the legislative and policy foundation, which this administration has achieved by signing the Energy Bill into law. 'This bill has ensured the liberalisation and decentralisation of the power sector, enabling all levels of government—federal, state, and local—to legally and morally play roles in the power sector for the benefit of their citizens at sub-national levels. 'This has granted autonomy to more than eleven states, with more expected to follow. These states can now participate in the power sector, from generation to transmission, distribution, and even metering.'* 'Secondly, we must address the infrastructure deficit, which has accumulated over the last 60 years due to a lack of maintenance and insufficient investment to revitalise our transmission grid.' The Minister also emphasised the need to bridge the over 50 per cent metering gap, stating that the Presidential Initiative aims to achieve this through the installation of 18 million meters over the next five years. He said the commissioning of the 600kW and 3MW Solar PV Power Plant at the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy underscores the Federal Government's resolve to tackle the electricity deficit. 'These projects, implemented by the Federal Ministry of Power and the Rural Electrification Agency, not only underscore our commitment to improving electrification across key institutions in Nigeria, but they are also part of our broader mandate to diversify energy sources, expand access to clean and reliable electricity, and support critical sectors of national development, including education and security. 'As an institution that combines academic rigour with military excellence, the Nigerian Defence Academy represents a strategic national asset that must be strengthened through sustainable infrastructure. 'Powering the Academy with renewable energy aligns with our vision for a secure, self-reliant, and energy-efficient Nigeria. 'It also reflects our commitment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises accelerated national development through universal energy access.' The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Abubakar Aliyu, described the commissioning of the 2.5MW solar project as 'a turning point in Nigeria's journey towards energy access for learning institutions.' He noted that 'the agency is not just commissioning a project, but rather commissioning social impact, research, and sustainable development.'
