Latest news with #SujataSaunik
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Green energy transition can unlock Rs5.4L cr investment for Vidarbha: Report
Mumbai: India's first regional energy transition plan for Vidarbha has suggested that around 25 million tonnes of carbon emissions could be saved if the region's coal-based mining and energy economy is replaced with the greener one comprising renewable and forests. Such a saving will be equivalent to removing 12.5 million or 1.25 crore polluting cars from the roads, which is equal to one-third of total vehicles (3.77 crores) in Maharashtra, an environmental think-tank has said. A green transition in Chandrapur-Nagpur-Yavatmal (CNY), Maharashtra's coal energy hub, can potentially unlock Rs5.4 lakh crore investment, 3.4 lakh jobs and 4% regional GDP growth by 2035, finds a report by iFOREST, an international forum for environment, sustainability and technology. The CNY region, responsible for 100% of Maharashtra's coal production and half its coal-based thermal power capacity, is the state's energy backbone. With resource exhaustion triggering coal decline by 50% in the next decade, the repurposing of closed and retiring coal mines can propel CNY into Maharashtra's green industry and energy hub, the report said. According to Dr Chandra Bhushan, CEO of iFOREST, saving 25 million tonnes of carbon emissions would have a long-lasting effect as it would mean removing 1.25 crore cars from roads permanently. In a move to secure India's clean energy future, iFOREST, in collaboration with Maharashtra govt's Department of Environment and Climate Change, released the first-ever Regional Just Transition Investment Plan recently, focused on the CNY region. The 10-year blueprint identifies three Economic Development Nodes — Bhadrawati–Wani, Rajura–Chandrapur, and Umred—which can together repurpose 6,000 hectares of coal mine land into green energy and industrial hubs. Highest solar potential found in the CNY region is expected to generate 37 GW of solar energy opportunities. According to a report, Rs33,400 crore from public investments, coal companies and power utilities can fund land reclamation and repurposing. Maharashtra chief secretary Sujata Saunik, said, "Our focus should be to attract investment for development of renewable energy projects and green industrial clusters. We also need to expand electrification from personal vehicles to commercial transportation. This transition will be driven by policy frameworks that unlock green finance and support innovation. Maharashtra has consistently led from the front in adopting progressive policies for climate resilience and sustainability. " Praveen Pardeshi, the chief economic advisor to the chief minister, and CEO, MITRA said, "Forty percent of Maharashtra's energy is used by farmers to pump water for irrigation. Moving them to solar pumps is our biggest ongoing success story. We need innovative nudge policies and behaviour change incentives to support a transition of this scale from traditional energy sources."
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Balancing fiscal discipline after Ladki Bahin roll-out will be a challenge'
MUMBAI: She was the state's first woman chief secretary, who retired from the post on Monday and handed over the charge to Rajesh Kumar, from the 1998 batch of IAS officers. Through her one-year tenure, Sujata Saunik, of the 1987 batch, has walked the fine line between executing her administrative duties and the Mahayuti government, whose stakeholders have been often known to express opposing views. Mumbai, India - June 30, 2025: Ex chief secretary of Maharashtra Sujata Saunik at Mantralaya, in Mumbai, India, on Monday, June 30, 2025. (Photo by Anshuman Poyrekar/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times) Saunik spoke to Yogesh Naik about temporary setbacks when she was superseded twice in the past, her contributions to the government, what it meant to be an administrator for 38 years and legacy. Excerpts from an interview: You were the first woman chief secretary of Maharashtra. How do you look back on your term; what were your key achievements? It has been an honour of a lifetime to serve Maharashtra as the first woman chief secretary. Our state has both complex governance needs and immense potential. My tenure was marked by collaboration, crisis response and systemic reform. I focused strongly on digital governance, inter-departmental coordination and ensuring that welfare schemes, such as the Ladki Bahin Yojana, were implemented with efficiency and scale. I also made efforts to streamline administration, build resilience in public systems and promote a data-driven, transparent approach to policy. Above all, I hope seeing women in leadership positions like mine inspires girls and young women to join the civil service and serve their country. The emphasis on digital governance was important as the scale and scope of schemes have dramatically increased. What were some of the major challenges you faced? Balancing administrative continuity with political transition, coordinating with external agencies for shared goals, managing complex schemes across departments, and ensuring timely execution — they were both challenges and opportunities. Also, responding to natural disasters and heatwaves, while ensuring service delivery across sectors, kept the administration on its toes. When the volume of schemes increases and delivery timelines shrink, we need to transform the way we work. The push for digital transformation became vital here – tools such as GIS mapping, Gati Shakti and project monitoring systems helped us track implementation in real-time and improved coordination between departments and agencies. How has the Ladki Bahin scheme impacted the state's finances? Do you see its long-term economic effects on the state? Every welfare scheme carries a financial implication. The Ladki Bahin scheme was a bold and compassionate step aimed at financial empowerment of women. In such matters, the challenge lies in balancing fiscal discipline with social investment. Over time, empowering women economically tends to have a multiplier effect — from health and education to overall family income. What happens when the three parties in government have opposing views? How does the administration respond? The role of the civil servant is to act as a bridge between the drafting of a policy to its execution. Our mission is to focus on implementation. Ultimately, the bureaucracy and the elected leadership work together for the benefit of the people and state. Do you think the bureaucracy suffers due to political disagreements, especially within the Mahayuti alliance? In a democracy, the institutions work according to the Constitution, which asks us to respect the public mandate. Our system is mature. The administration is trained to work with consensus and keep governance moving. We adapt, mediate and maintain professionalism. There was an attempt last year to move you from the chief secretary's post. The CM and deputy CM stood by you; in fact even the PM took note of women officers' achievements. Your thoughts? Let us focus on the positive message that younger civil servants can embrace. Officers should pursue their responsibilities with utmost dedication and integrity. My experience has reaffirmed that merit and seniority are valued; and I am very grateful for the support of the honourable Prime Minister, honourable chief minister, and both esteemed deputy chief ministers. You were superseded twice, including once by your own husband. What were the difficulties you faced? It wasn't easy personally or professionally at the time, but I chose not to let temporary setbacks define me. If anything, it was a time to remain even more steadfast in my goals and focus on delivering greater results. In the civil service, patience and perseverance are key. The greatest lesson one can learn is that time is the greatest equalizer. If you continue to relentlessly persevere in the face of grave adversity, your time will come. Do you think political leadership in the state has historically hesitated in appointing women to key positions? It is difficult to compare the present with the past, given that socio-cultural norms change with time and the number of women in civil service has increased dramatically since I joined. In my 38 years of service, I did not experience any hesitation from the leadership that appointed me to various roles. We see a growing acceptance that leadership can be gender-neutral and must be guided by capability and merit. For the first time in Maharashtra's history, women officers held the top three positions – chief secretary, director general of police and principal chief conservator of forests. What changes did you collectively bring and how did it impact women in civil services? It is a historic milestone for our state. More than mere symbolism, it signified trust in competence over convention. The appointment of women to these leadership roles sent a powerful message to the entire bureaucracy. We consciously worked towards creating a culture of inclusion, mentorship and integrity. We also encouraged young women officers to pursue leadership with confidence and merit, regardless of traditional barriers. Your maternal grandfather was secretary to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Your father was Punjab's election commissioner. What did you do to empower the underprivileged through your service? Both looked upon their work as worship. They never turned anyone away unheard; and worked without fear or favour to anyone. I have therefore always believed in inclusive governance, based on mutual respect for each other's views and experiences. Legacy should not just be remembered — it should act as a spur to fuel better welfare for all. You strengthened entry protocols in Mantralaya. Has it helped reduce corruption or middlemen? What about officers' behaviour towards citizens? Our leadership proposed the initiative for crowd management and security, which were rolled out during my tenure. We launched the DigiPravesh App to allow convenient entry of citizens to Mantralaya for grievance redressal. This tech-driven solution will allow people to enter Mantralaya in an orderly fashion without disrupting vital government business. As far as officers' behaviour goes, I have always encouraged all my colleagues to treat people with dignity. Technology enables transparency, but empathy must come from within along with a keen desire to solve people's problems.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Sujata, first woman to lead state bureaucracy, was bypassed twice
Sujata Saunik, a 1987 batch IAS, became the state's first woman chief secretary (CS) in June last year. She retires on Monday after serving as CS for a year. She was superseded twice. As the seniormost IAS officer in April 2023, she could have become CS at the time, but then CM Eknath Shinde chose to appoint her husband, Manoj Saunik, instead. The second time, she was superseded by Nitin Kareer, who was made CS in Jan 2024. Sujata introduced paperless cabinet meetings, providing every cabinet minister with an iPad. The first e-cabinet meeting was held on June 24 this year. —Clara Lewis
Time of India
6 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
PWD to audit over 1,000 bridges across state
Pune: The public works department, in the wake of the recent collapse of the Kund Mala bridge over the Indrayani river in Pune, has decided to carry out a structural audit of more than 1,000 bridges across Maharashtra. PWD officials, at a recent meeting, proposed fast-tracking disbursal of funds for this purpose. "We have identified over 1,000 bridges for an audit and repairs, which will be conducted on priority. Funds will not be an issue," a senior official on Wednesday said and added that a detailed status report will be submitted to state govt. Of the 16,519 bridges under PWD's jurisdiction — many of which date to the British era — only 451 have been audited so far and 1,693 have undergone repairs in the last decade, officials said. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Earlier this year, PWD issued a circular prioritising maintenance work amid tight finances. The department limited new project approvals, focusing instead on crucial state highways and major district roads that handle heavy traffic. "Only projects with verified detailed project reports, availability of funds, land, and forest department clearances will be sanctioned," the circular stated. However, in the aftermath of the June 15 tragedy, the department said funds would not be a constraint in doing a structural audit of the bridges identified. "All districts have been asked to give reports and adequate funds will be allocated," said the PWD official who is coordinating with the district administrations. PWD officials said extensive monsoon preparedness measures, including daily maintenance and urgent repairs on state highways and important routes, will be taken. "Signboards are being installed at vulnerable bridges likely to be submerged during heavy rain, and traffic diversions are maintained wherever construction or repairs are under way," the official added. To strengthen emergency response, the department has established a standard operating procedure, with fully operational control rooms at district and taluka levels. Chief engineers and other senior officials conduct regular inspections, and warning signs and barricades are placed on bridges deemed unsafe or closed to traffic. These steps aim to ensure the safety of commuters and minimise disruptions during the monsoon, officials said. Following the bridge collapse in Pune's Maval taluka, chief secretary Sujata Saunik directed PWD to prioritise the safety of older bridges, especially those built during the British period. In Pune district, officials said 136 bridges need urgent repairs while 266 bridges were identified for a structural audit of which 39 have been completed. Pune collector had asked PWD to do this audit. Of the district's 777 bridges, comprising 132 major and 645 minor ones, five have been deemed unsafe for vehicular movement.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Energy hub in Chandrapur-Nagpur-Yavatmal can generate 3.4 lakh jobs: report
A green transition in Chandrapur-Nagpur-Yavatmal (CNY), Maharashtra's energy hub, can unlock ₹5.4 lakh crore investment, 3.4 lakh jobs and 4% regional GDP growth, a report by the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology (iFOREST), an environmental think tank, claimed on Wednesday (June 25, 2025) in Mumbai. iFOREST released the Just Transition Investment Plan for the CNY region, which accounts for 100% of the state's coal production and half its coal-based power. The report stated that the CNY region will witness a decline in coal production by 50% in the next decade due to resource exhaustion. As a solution, the closed and retiring coal mines can be converted into Maharashtra's green industry and energy hub. This blueprint will help turn the traditional energy cluster into a green investment destination by developing strategic economic nodes and unlocking the region's renewable energy and industrial potential. We have to look towards the alternative, which talks about economy and environment,' said Dr. Chandra Bhushan, CEO of iFOREST, while speaking at the conference held in Mumbai for releasing the Just Transition Investment Plan report. 'The 10-year blueprint identifies three Economic Development Nodes—Bhadrawati–Wani, Rajura–Chandrapur, and Umrer- spanning over 6,000 hectares of coal mine land that can be used for developing green energy and industrial hubs, as it has the highest solar energy opportunities—37 GW. For land reclamation and repurposing, it will require ₹33,400 crore funds from public investments, coal companies and power utilities,' mentions the report. Chief Secretary, Govt. of Maharashtra, Sujata Saunik highlighted that the focus should be to attract investment for renewable energy projects and green industrial clusters, while green transition should be 'far-reaching and fair'. Meanwhile, Chief Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister and CEO of MITRA, Praveen Pardeshi, emphasised making farmers independent as they are heavily dependent on electricity for water. '40 %of Maharashtra's energy is used by farmers to pump water for irrigation. Moving them to solar pumps will be significant. We need innovative nudge policies and behaviour change incentives to support a transition of this scale from traditional energy sources,' said Mr. Pardeshi.
