BIHAR

Air Pollution inBiharremained the worst in the country for the second consecutive day. The only three cities in country where air quality index (AQI) level was in severe category above 400-mark were in Bihar. The AQI was found to be in very poor category at 11 other places in the state on Saturday.
Motihari,Siwanand Darbhanga were the most polluted places in the country on Saturday with severe AQI of 419, 417 and 404, respectively, according to the daily AQI bulletin issued by theCentral Pollution Control Board(CPCB).
The AQI was in poor or above categories in all monitoring stations in Bihar. An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered poor, 301 and 400 very poor, and 401 and 500 severe. According to CPCB, severe AQI level can affect healthy people and seriously impact those with existing diseases, while the very poor air can cause respiratory illnesses on prolonged exposure.

Bihar continued its poor performance in terms of urban sanitation inSwachh Survekshan 2021, the results of which were announced by the ministry of housing and urban affairs on Saturday. While Bihar was at the bottom of the list of 13 states with more than 100 (ULBs), the neighbouring Jharkhand was awarded for being at the top of 14 states having less than 100 ULBs.

The performance ofPatnaalso continued to remain poor as it was ranked 44 out of 48 cities with Population of above 10 lakh. The overall rank of Patna out of 4,320 cities in the country was 945.

The only saving grace for the state is that Munger and Patna are among the top five cities under the Ganga town category. Munger stood second out of total 97 cities in the country and Patna third in the Ganga town category. Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh topped in this category.

However, Patna has made some improvements in the survey as its rank has gone up from bottom of the 47 cities in Swachh Survekshan, 2020 to 44 out of 48 cities this time. Even in Ganga town category, the state capitals ranking has improved from 32 last year to third this time.

Patna scored 2739.92 of 6,000 marks in the survey, which is 1187 points higher than the previous years score of 1,552.

Though the total marks under Swachh Survekshan has remained the same, the number of evaluation categories been reduced from four last year to three this time. The cities were evaluated under four categories direct observation, citizen feedback, service level progress and certification last year. Each category had carried 1,500 marks. This year it was changed to three categories citizens voice (1,800 marks), certification (1,800 marks) and service level progress (2,400 marks).

India has handed over 34.9 km long cross-border rail link to Nepal government, that connects Jayanagar in Bihar to Kurtha in Nepal.

Key Points

The ceremony took place on October 22, 2021 in the presence of Indian ambassador to Nepal Vinay M. Kwatra and Nepal minister for physical & transport Renu Kumari Yadav.

About Jaynagar-Kurtha Section of rail link

The Jaynagar Kurtha section of rail link is the part of 68.7 km Jaynagar Bijalpura- Bardidas rail link. It was built under the grant assistance programme of Indian government. Under the grant assistance of India, gauge conversion of 34.9 km narrow gauge has been completed. The project has completed at a cost of Rs 619 crore. It has five stations in the section namely, Jayanagar, Khajuri, Inarwa, Baidehi and Kurtha near Janakpur in Nepal. The highest fare will likely be Rs 70 for general class and Rs 300 for AC for the entire journey. The train will run at 115 km per hour and the distance will be covered in 23 minutes.

Significance of the rail link

This operationalised cross-border rail link is likely to enhance Trade and Commerce activities. It will also enhance people to people linkage between both the countries.

Jainagar or Jaynagar

It is a town and a notified area in the Madhubani district of Bihar. As per 2011 census, Jainagar had a Population of 1,77,556. Males account for 53% of the population while females account for 47%. The town has an Average Literacy rate of 58%.

The exhibition was organized by the Union commerce ministry under the guidance of its additional secretary Amrit Lal Meena on the Adhiveshan Bhavan premises. Among the participants were entrepreneurs, representatives of business and industrial organisations, exporters and importers, manufacturers and traders.

Hussain said Bihar will also contribute to the Centres for the world export project that has put the export target of US$400 billion. Some products from the state were being already exported, but the present aim of the State Government is to increase the volume of export by accessing the market potential in 75 countries.

Highlighting the emerging industrial scenario in the state, Hussain said the industries department has cleared proposals worth Rs35,019 crore, while the companies interested in ethanol production have proposed to produce 187 crore litres of it for supply.

The state Resources“>Water Resources department (WRD) heaved a sigh of relief as contrary to forecasts, no moderate or heavy rainfall occurred in the catchment areas of the north Bihar rivers in Nepal and Bihar.

Meanwhile, theGangawas flowing below the danger level at Digha and Gandhi Ghat in Patna and also at Munger on Sunday. However, it was flowing 63cm above the danger mark at Hathidah, 30cm at Bhagalpur, 1.20 metres at Kahalgaon, and 1.54 metres at Farakka.

He was making a presentation before CM Nitish Kumar on the works being done in the area of https://exam.pscnotes.com/agricultural-Marketing“>Agricultural Marketing. Sarvana gave detailed information about the future schemes, Bihar agri export policy, development of Infrastructure in marketing yards, rules for allotment of properties in the agri-marketing yards, agri-market information system, implementation of eNAM, rules for Contract Farming and strengthening of Bihar agricultural produces value addition system.

As many as 118 ultrasound centres have been sealed and further action initiated against 172 others for violations under the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques ( of Sex Selection) [PC&PNDT] Act, 1994, in six districts in Bihar.

Bihars declining sex ratio at birth, down from 934 per 1,000 males in National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-4 (data period 2015-16) to 908 in NFHS-5 (2019-20), pointing to an unholy practice of female foeticide even as the national Average improved from 919 to 929 during the same period has led the State Government to act tough against diagnostic centres indulging in pre-birth sex determination.

Some districts like Muzaffarpur showed an alarming decline in the sex ratio at birth from 930 females per 1,000 males in NFHS-4 to 685 in NFHS-5, a whopping difference of 245.

Sarans was second worst with 779 female children in NFHS-5 as compared to 976 in NFHS-4, a difference of -197. Darbhanga had 812 female children (NFHS-5) as compared to 982 (NFHS-4), Samastipur 890 as compared to 1,049, and Madhubani 954 as compared to 805 during the same period, as per government data.

Interestingly, Haryana, infamous for female foeticide, had shown an improvement in sex ratio from 836 to 893 during NFHS-4 and NFHS-5, respectively.

State capital Patna was better even as it registered a drop in female childbirth from 1,017 in NFHS-4 to 1,002 in NFHS-5, as per data.

A unique variety of guava developed by the scientists atBihar Agricultural University(BAU) is not only drawing attention of denizens but also the researchers due its anti-ageing factors and rich nutritional value to combat besides extraordinary external appearance.

The exclusive variety of black guava with red pulp inside is claimed to be rich in antioxidants, Minerals and VITAMINS. It has been developed with more than three years of scientific research at BAU and is likely to be launched for commercial farming soon following some improvement in its size, fragrance and longer shelf life.

The newly developed black guava has drawn the attention of medical and needs further exploration in view of its antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and can be helpful in combating human diseases.

The newly built Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower-cum-technical building, fire station and cargo complex at the Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport are likely to be commissioned by July this year.
According to an airport official, the 25-metre-high ATC tower, which is equipped with advanced technology and equipment, will give a further push to air traffic automation with up-to-date air traffic management, communications and aviation-surveillance systems, and ease the traffic flow. It is almost 8m taller than the existing ATC tower. The new tower will enable air traffic controllers to have a 360-degree view of the airport and its vicinity from the new structure.

The new facilities are part of thePatna airport redevelopmentproject under which new terminal building and other auxiliary structures are being constructed.

Chief minister (CM) Nitish Kumar on Thursday increased the wheat procurement target for the 2020-21 rabi Marketing season to 7 lakh metric tonnes (MT) and also directed the food and Consumer protection department (FCPD) and cooperative department to maximise procurement over the next one-month period ending on May 31.

While the earlier date for the start of wheat procurement was April 15, it was further revised to April 20 and the target was fixed at 1 lakh MT, sources said.

The harvesting of wheat had become brisk from the first week of April. Incidentally, the Centre has fixed the MSP for wheat procurement at Rs 1,975 per quintal. In the open market, the purchase price for wheat is in the range from Rs 1,600-1,700 per quintal, reports said.