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Mumbai News: State signs MoUs to generate 13,050MW through green tech

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Mumbai: The Maharashtra government on Tuesday signed memoranda of understanding (MoU) with the National Hydro Power Corporation and Torrent Power to generate 13,050MW through Hydro Pumped Storage Projects (HPSP).

While National Hydro Power Corporation will generate 7,350MW power, Torrent Power will produce 5,700MW. The project is expected to attract an investment of around Rs44,000 crore and Rs27,000 crore, respectively, and collectively generate 30,000 jobs.

HPSP technology

“The state government is laying more thrust on Hydro Pumped Storage Projects technology in order to ensure energy security, looking at its potential of power storage,” Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said after the MoUs were signed.

Under the HPSP technology, two water reservoirs at different heights are connected through a tunnel or underground pipe. Whenever there is more electricity production and less demand, these projects pump water from the downward reservoir to the upward reservoir. Whenever higher energy is required, water is released from the higher reservoir to the lower one via a turbine to produce the requiredpower instantly. The water can be moved to upward reservoir using renewable energy. This makes it a green project. The technology isalso referred to as natural batteries, since it gives capability to instantly generate power the moment it is needed the most.

HPSPs prove to be helpful as they can stabilise power grids: Fadnavis

HPSPs have earned acceptability world over. It works well for grid stability and maintaining peak power. The Sahyadri ranges give a natural advantage to the state due to the difference of levels between the reservoirs.

Fadnavis, who also holds the power portfolio, said, “HPSPs prove to be helpful as they can stabilise power grids within a minute.”

The Centre had earlier this year issued the draft guidelines for HPSPs. The Union Ministry of Power had indicated that 103 Giga Watt can be produced through HPSPs. At present, the ministry has eight projects of a total capacity of 4.7GW under it.

Savitri (2,250MW), Kalu (1,150 MW), Kengadi (1,550MW) and Jalond (2,400 MW) are the four sites allotted to NHPC for on-stream HPSP projects, while Karjat (3,000MW), Mawal (1,200 MW) and Junnar (1,500 MW) are the sites allocated to Torrent Power for development of off-stream HPSP projects.

Pointers:

-Rs44,000 crore: Investment that the National Hydro Power Corporation project will attract

-Rs27,000 crore: Investment that Torrent Power will attract

-30,000: Number of jobs that the two projects will generate

Maharashtra

Rohit Arya, who held 20 children hostage, died during treatment after being shot.

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Rohit Arya, the accused who held 20 children hostage inside a studio in Mumbai’s Powai area, has died. The accused, Rohit Arya, had taken the children hostage and also fired at the police. Police retaliated, injuring him, and he died during treatment.

Rohit Arya was mentally ill. He had taken 20 children hostage at RA Studios in Powai. Upon receiving information, police immediately arrived at the scene and attempted to apprehend him. During this, Rohit Arya opened fire on the police, who retaliated, injuring him. He was immediately taken for treatment, but died during treatment.

Earlier, the accused, Rohit Arya, had released a video admitting to holding the children hostage. Police had stated that Rohit Arya was mentally ill. Police had safely rescued all the children from his custody.

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Maharashtra

Making Vande Mataram compulsory is illegal: MLA Raees Shaikh writes to the Chief Minister and Education Minister, demanding withdrawal of the order

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Mumbai: Samajwadi Party’s Bhiwandi East MLA Raees Sheikh has demanded that the Chief Minister and the Education Minister should revoke the ban imposed on all schools in the state on making the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ written by ‘Bankam Chandra Chatterjee’ mandatory on October 31.

In this regard, MLA Raees Sheikh said that ‘Jan Gana Man’ written by Rabindranath Tagore is the national anthem of India. However, the government’s order to sing the song in all schools in the state on October 31 and organize a song exhibition between October 31 and November 7 in the context of the 150th anniversary of the national anthem ‘Vande Mataram’ is illegal. Any organization should write a letter to the Minister of State for School Education Pankaj Bhuyar and the Education Department should immediately declare ‘Vande Mataram’ a mandatory song for all schools in the state, this is not good governance in a progressive state like Maharashtra.

The condition of schools and education in the state is deteriorating. It is the duty of the government to provide quality education. However, the government is discriminating by including religious issues like ‘Vande Mataram’ in the education sector. Making ‘Vande Mataram’ a mandatory song is a violation of the rights granted by the Constitution. There have been many discussions on the issue of ‘Vande Mataram’ till date. MLA Rais Sheikh said in the letter that ‘Jan Guna Man..’ is the national anthem of India and the national anthem should be given a place of honor, sanctity and respect everywhere, it has been agreed upon.

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Maharashtra

Uddhav swallowed Mumbai like python: Mahayuti slams ‘anaconda’ remark on Amit Shah

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Mumbai, Oct 28: The political temperature in Maharashtra has soared after Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray launched a scathing attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, calling him an “anaconda” and accusing the BJP of trying to “swallow Mumbai” through political manipulation and illegal land acquisition.

Thackeray’s remarks came after a report in Saamna, the Shiv Sena UBT’s mouthpiece, alleged that a new BJP office was built “by grabbing land at lightning speed”.

Drawing a sharp comparison between the BJP and a newly introduced anaconda at Mumbai’s Jijamata Udyan, Thackeray said that the ruling party’s greed to control Mumbai knows no bounds.

Reacting strongly to Thackeray’s statement, leaders from the ruling Mahayuti alliance hit back, accusing him of “swallowing Mumbai’s wealth” during his tenure.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde countered the remark, saying, “If we talk about the ‘anaconda’ remark, the one calling others an anaconda is actually the real anaconda himself. He had tightly wrapped himself around Mumbai’s treasury. The special thing about anacondas is that their hunger never ends. He swallowed Mumbai’s wealth, swallowed Mumbai itself, and even grabbed several plots of land.”

Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule also lashed out at the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief, comparing him to a “python”.

“Uddhav Thackeray has swallowed Mumbai. He is like a python, not an ordinary snake. This snake sits at home, sleeps all day, eats all day, and has ruined Mumbai. On the other hand, Home Minister Amit Shah has worked for the country from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, strengthening India and tackling terrorism,” he told reporters.

“For over 11 years, under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, he has helped eliminate terrorists. Such a person, you would call an anaconda? Pythons like these have destroyed Mumbai for over 40 years. Uddhav Thackeray couldn’t even manage his own party properly and has left it weak, while also harming Hindus,” Bawankule said.

“He is a person who has lost his mental balance, especially after the elections. He is trying to prove his leadership by making derogatory remarks against Amit Shah and Devendra Fadnavis; however, he should know that leadership is proven through winning elections and not by abusing,” he added.

Joining the attack, BJP MLA Ram Kadam also took a jibe at the former Maharashtra Chief Minister, saying that Thackeray’s comments reflected his “frustration and deteriorating mental state”.

Speaking to media, Kadam said, “Uddhav Thackeray has been abandoned by everyone, and his recent statement reflects that his mental condition is not right and he is frustrated. With no blood relatives and ministers distancing themselves, he resorts to baseless comments.”

“He knows nothing beyond taunting. How can he criticise our Home Minister? Amit Shah earns respect through hard work, while Uddhav, a lazy person who inherited politics, has failed to sustain it,” he added.

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