Syllabus- Minerals and Energy resources – Coal, Iron and Limestone distribution. Thermal and Hydro Power Projects – Problems and Prospects.
Number of questions- Mains: 02, Prelims – 10
Mains Questions of the day-
1.Eventhough Telangana has less fertile land, it has far richer mineral resources. Explain the utilisation of mineral resources in the state.
Introduction: –
Write briefly about the % of cultivable land and the distribution of minerals.
Body: –
Mention the utilisation of minerals in Telangana state.
Conclusion: –
There is a need for:
- A well-planned programme of survey and exploration
- Transparent system in awarding projects
- Prospecting and mining permits
- Management of resources which have already been discovered and those which are in the process of discovery and
- Their optimal, economical and timely use are the matters of vital importance.
- It requires comprehensive planning, adequate funding, coordination between various organs, execution and setting up mineral based industries like fertilizers, glass, abrasives etc.
- Such sort of innovative process will definitely help boosting socio-economic growth by the mineral and mining sector.
Content: –
- Telangana region has rich natural resources.
- Though it has less fertile land, it has far richer mineral resources.
- This has also enabled the growth of mineral based industry in the state.
- Telangana is the Only State in entire Southern India with vast deposits of Coal. The Black Gold is being mined by Singareni Collieries Company Ltd.
- The Singareni Collieries Company Limited excavates coal from mines for industrial needs and thermal power stations.
- Telangana region has found 20% of the country’s coal deposits.
- State is endowed with medium grade Iron Ore deposits in Bayyaram Reserve Forest which is estimated to several lakhs of crores.
- Float Iron Ore deposits in Khammam District
- Low grade scattered Iron Ore deposits in Karimnagar District.
- Iron Ore deposits in State is under exploration to assess mineral reserves for establishment of Steel Plant.
- Uranium deposit found in Nalgonda District.
- Telangana is also rich in limestone deposits that cater to cement factories.
- It has other mineral resources like bauxite and mica.
- 53 mining leases existing with 21 Cement Plants established.
- Manganese Ore occurs in Adilabad District. Previously exploited Manganese Ore India Ltd. (MOIL). Now being mined by private sector.
- Tan Brown porphyritic granite deposit in Karimnagar, Peddapally, Jagityal, Rajanna-Sircilla district is unique and is being exploited on large scale.
- With variation in colour of feldspar, brown/brownish component, the granite is marketed. These varieties being exported to China & South East Asian Countries.
- Gneissic Granite occurring in Bheemgal and other areas in Nizamabad district is marketed under commerical name Indian Aurora and it is mostly used for flooring purpose and manufacture of monuments in international market.
- Limestone Slabs occur in Vikarabad and Nalgonda Districts. It suitable for flooring & elevation purposes being marketed in entire Country.
- With huge granite deposits in Ranga Reddy district and kimberlite pipe (diamond) deposits in Mahbubnagar district.
- Not just granite and kimberlite pipe deposits but it has iron ore, feldspar, quartz, among other deposits.
- Telangana has a unique geological set up that can host a variety of mineral deposits of economic value.
- Large extent of mineral deposits yet to be tapped.
- Though public organisations have discovered various mineral deposits, still there exists a huge scope for further detailed exploration in search of new mineral deposits in the state and involvement of private companies has been started just in the last decade.
- There is significant mineral potential that still lay untapped in Telangana for the growth of mining industry.
- A systematic regulatory and administrative procedures, infrastructure facilities leading to sustainable exploration and mining activity needs to be formulated.
- The challenges like lack of sufficient water storage systems, infrastructure etc. have limited the overall investment in mining and exploration activities.
2.Telangana, being the power surplus state has to focus on clean energy to enhance its power supply and efficiency. Discuss.
Introduction: –
Write briefly about the energy basket of Telangana State.
Body: –
Mention the Telangana’s journey from a power deficit state to being a power-surplus state.
Why it needs to shift to renewable energy?
Mention the challenges associated to the clean energy regime.
Conclusion: –
- The 100% shift to clean energy cannot be a reality due to limitations of clean energy operations, as many of them are dependent on the local climate.
- When there is immense potential in geothermal energy in Telangana which is a much cleaner energy.
- That could be tapped to reduce carbon emissions.
- While many developed countries used geothermal energy in boosting their clean energy basket, there is a lack of interest in Indian states towards this.
Content: –
- Since its formation, when it was a power deficit state. Telangana has now become a power surplus state.
- The state now has about 4.4 gigawatts of installed capacity of renewable power, which accounts for about 25% of the state’s total installed capacity.
- The state is exploring different models including a hybrid solar-wind model to ensure that climatic conditions are not able to disturb the energy supply.
- Telangana’s total installed capacity from wind power is 128 megawatts (MW) including:
- 100 MW from Pargi windmills and
- 28 MW from windmills on the Hyderabad-Mumbai highway.
- Other than the windmills, Pargi also uses solar energy.
- Telangana is steadily changing its energy mix while trying to fulfil its energy needs.
- According to the data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Telangana is ranked eighth in India in terms of total installed capacity of renewable energy with 4,430 MW which is nearly 25% of its total installed capacity of 17,270 MW.
Telangana’s journey to being a power-surplus state: –
- When Telangana was a power-deficit state. However, over the last 7years, the state has taken a series of measures to change the situation and boost energy production.
- The state government had announced its Solar Policy in 2015 and ensured a single-window clearance system for such projects.
- It was followed by the wind energy policy in 2016.
- The change is not entirely due to renewable power and is a result of a boost from the thermal power plants as well.
- Telangana have around 4.4 gigawatts (GW) installed capacity of renewable energy.
- It aims to have a total installed capacity of 6 GW of renewable energy by the end of 2022-23. This has only been possible due to the policy of the state government.
- It is now doing well on the rooftop solar front as it accounts for 200 MW capacity
- It has about 3.9 GW of solar power which accounts for the majority of its 4.4 GW installed capacity.
- They often tried to use the existing infrastructure rather than creating new ones to reduce the expenses.
- In terms of investments, several private and government players have invested in solar energy and are also exploring new possibilities to boost clean energy.
- For instance, the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is trying to develop a floating solar power plant of 100 MW at Ramagundam.
- The state also tried to change the poor adoption of rooftop solar power.
Challenges associated to the clean energy: –
- Though Telangana is pushing for faster adoption of clean energy, the officials are aware of the limitations and thus they are carefully pursuing the energy transition path.
- The estimated potential from wind energy is close to 4.2 GW but the installed capacity is only 128 MW so far. Moreover, the acquisition of land for such projects is also a challenge.
- They also noted that erratic wind flow is another area of concern before they invest heavily in wind power.
- Thus the state is contemplating a hybrid model of solar and wind power.
- NITI Aayog, had recommended in order to increase the firmness of renewable energy, Discoms can deploy large-scale energy storage or use hybrid projects such as solar/wind.
- It is a flawed assumption that solar energy is clean and reduces carbon emissions.
- But the fact is that in the process of manufacturing solar photovoltaic panels, releases a good amount of carbon emissions.
- A single solar PV cell emits 3312×106 Kg of carbon dioxide during its lifecycle.
Prelims Question of the day:
1.Which of the following is the longest irrigated canal in Telangana?
- Saraswathi canal
- Laxmi canal
- Kakitya canal
- Alimineti canal
Answer: C
Explanation:
- Kakatiya Canal is a major canal in the Telangana State.
- Its originates from the Sriram Sagar dam
2.Which of the following district has the largest net irrigated area in the Telangana state?
- Jagital
- Medchal Malkajgiri
- Nirmal
- Asifabad
Answer: B
Explanation:
Medchal- Malkajgiri district is having largest net irrigated area in the Telangana state
3.Which of the following is/are irrigation projects constructed across the river Godavari?
- Sripada Yellampalli
- Dummugudem
- Sriram Sagar
- All the above
Answer: D
Explanation:
- Godavari River is the second longest river in India after the Ganga, originates in Triambakeshwar of Maharashtra.
- The river is also known as Dakshina Ganga and has one of the largest river basins in the Indian subcontinent.
- In Telangana, the following are the projects constructed across the river Godavari are:
- Dummugudem Barrage:It is located near Dummugudem is a lift irrigation projects, planned to supply irrigation water to Khammam district in Telangana.
- Sriram Sagar Project: It is a unique flood flow water project across river Godavari in Telangana. The project is part of the Godavari River basin irrigation projects. Godavari basin is the highest among all the river basins in India.
- Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project: It is in the village at the juncture of the rivers Godavari and its tributary Pranahita is one of the major irrigation project of Telangana.
- Sripada Yellampalli Project: It is fourth largest project on the Godavari River in Telangana region, located at Yellampalli Village. The project is designed to utilize water for electrical energy, irrigation and to supplying drinking water.
4.In which of the following district Singur project is located?
- Khammam
- Medak
- Nizamabad
- Karminagar
Answer: B
Explanation:
- Singur Reservoir is a reservoir formed by back waters of Singur Dam located on Manjira River in Medak District of Telangana.
- It is a sustained drinking water source of Hyderabad city.
5.Which of the following river Priyadaeshini Jurala project was constructed?
- Godavari
- Tungabhadra
- Krishna
- Dindi
Answer: C
Explanation:
- Indira Priyadarshini Jurala Project is a multipurpose project across River Krishna, near Revulapally village.
- The project was taken up for construction during 1981 at an estimated cost of Rs. 76.40 crores for providing irrigation facilities to drought affected areas of Mahabubnagar district.
6.How many number of districts benefited by the Kaleshwaram project in the Telangana state?
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
Answer: D
Explanation:
- Spread across approximately 1,822 km the Kaleshwaram project is divided into seven major links.
- It will benefit 13 districts include Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
7.Which of the following district has the headquarter of the TSNPDCL?
- Warangal
- Hyderabad
- Siddipet
- Nizamabad
Answer: A
Explanation:
- TSNPDCL – Northern Power Distribution Company of Telangana: – It’s an Electricity Distribution company, owned by the Telangana Government.
- The headquarter situated at Warangal.
8. Which of the following district has the potential to establish Geothermal Power Plant in Telangana?
- Peddapalli
- Khammam
- Nalgonda
- Nizamabad
Answer: B
Explanation:
- The Khammam district has the potential to establish geothermal power plants.
- A major step in promotion of non-conventional energy considering that the plant is based on geothermal steam – heat (hot gases) from the earth.
- Considered a new technology when compared to the solar and wind power plants, geothermal power plants are based on steam which is produced from the earth’s crust.
- Under normal circumstances, the steam goes waste and dissolves into the atmosphere. But the same steam can be used to generate electricity without polluting the atmosphere, water or creating radioactive waste apart from having environmental and economic advantages over fossil and nuclear energy sources.
9.Which of the following district is the headquarters of the TSSPDCL?
- Rangareddy
- Medchal malkajgiri
- Mahabubnagar
- Hyderabad
Answer: D
Explanation:
- The Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana or TSSPDCL is a state Electricity Distribution company owned by the government of Telangana for the five southern districts of Telangana.
- The Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Ltd (TSSPDCL) was incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 as a public limited company with headquarters at Hyderabad to carryout electricity distribution.
10. In which of the following district, Telangana Government has proposed Gattu Solar Power Plant?
- Nagarkurnool
- Mahabubnagar
- Narayanapet
- Jogulamba gadwal
Answer: B
Explanation:
- The government proposed to acquire 5,800 acres in Gattu mandal of Mahbubnagar district to allow solar power companies to set up power plants on the plug-and-play model.
- Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Ltd (TSIIC), which was the nodal agency for the project.