Across the country, activists with ties to the Tea Party are railing against all sorts of local and state efforts to control sprawl and conserve energy. They brand government action for things like expanding public transportation routes and preserving open space as part of a United Nations-led conspiracy to deny property rights and herd citizens toward cities.

Many are suspicious of environmental initiatives. Ed Elswick, a county supervisor, voiced criticism at last month's meeting.

Pakistan and Qatar are likely to sign two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) according to which the two countries will jointly explore development of hydropower, identification of sources of financing, exploration of investment opportunities in energy sector, rehabilitation of existing hydropower plants and construction of National Highway and Motorway infrastructure, official sources told Business Recorder.

These MoUs, sources said, will be inked during the visit of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, scheduled for February 6-8.

With efforts to break the logjam over the Kudankulam Nuclear power plant hitting a dead-end, the Tamil Nadu Government has decided to constitute an expert panel to look into the “fears and concerns” of locals over the project.

Making this announcement in the Assembly today, the Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalithaa, said the expert panel would soon submit its report to the State Government.

Based on the report, the Government will take further action, she said.

NPCIL steps to allay concern about safety

The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project can be readied for commissioning in three months if the local agitation against it comes to an end, the project's Site Director M. Kasinath Balaji has said. Now what was left to be done before the project could be commissioned was to remove the dummy fuel, prepare the machine for the real run, and submit the requisite reports to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board for clearance.

KOCHI: The attempt of the Kochi Corporation to set up a bio-gas plants for decentralised treatment of biodegradable waste has failed to yield results despite spending Rs 61.61 lakh. This was owing to the lack of proper monitoring and timely remedial action.

NEW DELHI, 3 FEB: As Air India promised to pay Rs 28 crore dues by this evening, state-owned oil companies have resumed jet fuel supplies to the national carrier today. All the three oil companies ~ Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum ~ had jointly stopped aviation turbine fuel (ATF) supplies to Air India in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Trivandrum and Kochi from 4 p m on Thursday.

CHENNAI, 3 FEB: The DMK today charged the Centre and the AIADMK government with being “lethargic” in solving the Koodankulam nuclear plant row and raised the pitch on the Mullaiperiyar Dam issue demanding that Kerala restore the area, where the reservoir is located, to Tamil Nadu. The DMK general council ~ its top decision-making body ~ met here against the backdrop of the Supreme Court verdict on 2G spectrum scam where the apex court had pointedly blamed former telecom minister Mr A Raja, its senior leader.

AGARTALA: Tripura State Electricity Corporation Ltd (TSECL) has finally proposed to hike in the existing power tariff to tide over the financial constraint.

The TSECL has been facing tough time following hike in the gas price, implementation of new pay structures for its employees and increase in operation and maintenance cost.

Every possible effort is being undertaken to make the State self-reliant in power generation. Giving top priority to feeder separation and completion of new thermal power projects, important targets have been fixed to complete works within time-limit. A target has been fixed to start power generation in two extension units of 250 MW of Satpura thermal power plant at Sarni in August and November this year. Besides, a proposal is also under consideration to replace five old 62.5 MW units of Sarni plant with a new unit of 660 MW.

CHENNAI: Manithaneya Makkal Katchi on Friday said the argument that the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant would augment the power availability in Tamil Nadu was based on “wrong information”.

Participating in the discussion on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address, MMK leader MH Jawahirullah said the Unit I of the KKNPP was estimated to generate 1000 MW. However, actual power generation would be only around 700 MW, he claimed. Of this, 35 MW would go to the power requirements of the plant, residences of those working there and the neighbouring areas, he said.