Pune to Solarise 3,300 Anganwadis Under Green Scheme

10 Jul 2025 CW Team

Pune district is set to solarise approximately 3,300 anganwadis under the Rs 100 million ‘Harit Anganwadi’ scheme, designed to provide uninterrupted electricity and reduce power expenses across early education centres. The project, funded through the District Planning Committee and corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions, reinforces the region’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure.

Currently, around 1,100 anganwadis are already equipped with operational solar units. The new phase aims to cover the remaining 2,200 centres, with 985 to be funded by the district’s planning body and the rest supported through CSR initiatives.

Each solar installation, costing roughly Rs 100,000, will offer reliable daytime lighting—particularly vital for rural anganwadis that suffer frequent outages due to inadequate grid connectivity and dependence on local panchayat power sources.

Pune Zilla Parishad CEO Gajanan Patil noted that this transition to solar energy will ensure smooth operations in anganwadis, which play a key role in delivering early education, nutrition, and health services. These services are often interrupted by inconsistent electricity supply, particularly in remote locations.

The scheme falls under the District Planning Committee’s mandate, which allocates 3 per cent of its annual budget to women and child welfare. By integrating public and private resources, the ‘Harit Anganwadi’ project seeks to make every centre energy-resilient.

This initiative not only promotes clean energy but also supports inclusive development by strengthening grassroots infrastructure for children. It reflects Pune’s broader commitment to fusing sustainability with community-focused welfare programmes.

Infrastructure Urban

27 Oct 2025

Coal Ministry Achieves Milestones under Special Campaign 5.0

The Ministry of Coal and its Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have achieved notable milestones under the Special Campaign 5.0, focusing on cleanliness, operational efficiency, and sustainability across the coal sector. During the implementation phase from 2–31 October 2025, over 1,205 sites were cleaned, covering 68,04,087 sq ft, nearing the target of 82,51,511 sq ft. Scrap disposal of 5,813 MT against a target of 8,678 MT generated Rs 228.7 million in revenue. In addition, 1,11,248 physical and 30,331 electronic files were reviewed, with 74,123 weeded out or closed. Key initiatives showc..

Vesting Orders Issued for Three Coal Blocks under Commercial Auctions

The Ministry of Coal’s Nominated Authority has issued vesting orders for three coal blocks under commercial coal block auctions on 23 October 2025. The Coal Mine Development and Production Agreements (CMDPAs) for these mines were earlier signed on 21 August 2025. The three blocks include Rajgamar Dipside (Deavnara), Tangardihi North, and Mahuagarhi. Of these, two are partially explored while one is fully explored, with a combined peak rated capacity of around 1 MTPA and geological reserves of approximately 1,484.41 million tonnes. These mines are expected to generate annual revenue of abou..

TEC, IIT-Hyderabad Partner to Boost 6G and Telecom Standards

The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad) for joint research and technical collaboration in advanced telecom technologies and standardisation. The partnership focuses on developing India-specific standards and test frameworks for next-generation networks, including 6G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs). It also aims to enhance India’s participation in international standardisation f..