8JULY 2024TOP STORIESDVC TO FUNNEL RS 20,000 CR IN SOLAR ENERGY PROJECTS BY 2030UTTAR PRADESH & MAKEMYTRIP TO JOINTLY PROMOTE STATE TOURISMDamodar Valley Corporation (DVC) stated on Friday that it intends to invest Rs 20,000 crore by 2030 to develop approximately 4,000 MW of solar capacity, according to a senior official. The company, established for flood management and development in the Damodar Valley, plans to invest between Rs 50,000 and 60,000 crore by 2030 to improve thermal, pump storage power plants, and solar energy, he said.It plans to build roughly 10,000 MW in thermal and green energy, bringing its total installed capacity to approximately 16,700 MW. DVC's current installed capacity of 6,700 MW includes 6,540 MW of thermal power."Power demand is growing strong in the north, south, and western parts of the country. We are expanding sustainably with the right mix of thermal and renewable energy, which will keep power costs affordable. We will add 3,720 MW in thermal capacity and nearly 4,000 MW in solar by 2030," DVC Chairman S. Suresh Kumar said during an interaction on the occasion of the 77th Foundation Day of the corporation.The organization, located in Kolkata, today has only 14 MW of installed solar capacity and is working on a 348 MW project with NTPC. A battery storage capacity of 250MW/hour is also being considered, he said.Kumar stated that DVC has been exempted from coal imports due to its power stations' closeness to the pithead.The Union Power Ministry has extended a coal import advice to domestic thermal plants for 4 percent blending until October 15, ensuring adequate fuel supply throughout the monsoon season. The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MakeMyTrip on Friday to promote tourism in the state. The collaboration aims to facilitate tourists and enhance tourism in Uttar Pradesh. As part of the MoU, MakeMyTrip will serve as a strategic partner, providing valuable insights into consumer trends, tourist preferences, and supply-side information. This data will help the department in future policy-making, according to the company's press release.Mukesh Kumar Meshram, Principal Secretary of the Department of Tourism and Culture in Uttar Pradesh, emphasized the state's vast tourism potential and the role of MakeMyTrip in realizing it. He noted that travelers often search for various information online before and during their trips, such as eco-tourism, adventure tourism, and spiritual tourism. MakeMyTrip's insights will be beneficial in understanding these interests. Additionally, tourists frequently explore nearby areas and support local products, and MakeMyTrip will assist by creating packages based on such information. Meshram also highlighted the growing interest in wellness tourism and the importance of formulating tourist-friendly policies.Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh remarked that Uttar Pradesh offers a wealth of diverse experiences and that the partnership with preferences, thereby welcoming more visitors to the state.Rajesh Magow, Co-founder and Group CEO of MakeMyTrip expressed delight at the strategic partnership with UP Tourism. Magow believes this unique public-private sector collaboration will help achieve shared objectives and significantly boost tourism in Uttar Pradesh.
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