GUJARAT

The second edition of the All India Chess for Blind (AICFB) Championship concluded in Ahmedabad on Sunday, with Gujarat successfully defending its title. The event, hosted by the Blind People’s Association (BPA), saw 28 teams from across India compete, each consisting of five players. Maharashtra and West Bengal secured the first and second runner-up positions, respectively. The championship provided a platform for visually impaired chess players to showcase their skills and compete at a national level, fostering inclusivity and promoting the sport among the visually challenged community.

Gujarat’s Finance and Energy Minister, Kanubhai Desai, will lead the state’s delegation to the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. The conference, taking place from November 11th to 22nd, will focus on operationalizing the loss and damage fund for vulnerable communities, finalizing elements of the Paris Agreement, and addressing enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and post-2025 climate finance goals. The event, organized under the UNFCCC and presided over by Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Mukhtar Babayev, will bring together nearly 200 countries and a diverse range of stakeholders to advance global climate commitments. Daily themes at COP29 will cover crucial aspects of climate action, including finance, energy transition, human capital, biodiversity, food security, and digitalization.

India reigns supreme as the world’s largest banana producer, contributing nearly 20% of global production. While Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra lead in overall production within India, Gujarat stands out for its exceptional productivity per hectare, exceeding both national and global averages. This high yield is attributed to the widespread adoption of tissue culture saplings and modern farming techniques, coupled with favorable soil and climate conditions. Bharuch district in Gujarat boasts the highest productivity, followed by Narmada, Chhota Udepur, Vadodara, and Anand, collectively accounting for over 80% of the state’s banana production. Despite ranking 18th globally in banana exports, India has witnessed a remarkable growth rate in recent years, with significant contributions from Gujarat’s Bharuch, Narmada, and Surat districts. The article highlights the potential for further growth in both traditional and new markets, particularly in developed countries like the USA and UK. With government support and initiatives like the APEDA clusters, Gujarat is poised to become a major player in the global banana export market.

The Federation of Gujarat State Chemists and Druggists Association (FGSCDA), representing 35,000 chemists in Gujarat, has expressed serious concerns about the rapid expansion of quick commerce platforms and online pharmacies into pharmaceutical distribution. Supported by the All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), the FGSCDA has written to India’s Drug Controller General (DCGI) highlighting potential health risks and regulatory violations associated with this trend. The association argues that fast-paced online drug deliveries could compromise quality and safety standards due to improper storage and handling, potentially leading to increased anti-microbial resistance (AMR). They also point to legal uncertainties surrounding online pharmacy operations as a significant risk factor. The FGSCDA has called for a government investigation, emphasizing that traditional pharmacies adhere to strict compliance measures to safeguard public health.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has announced that the state is poised to play a pivotal role in realizing Prime Minister Modi’s vision of “Viksit Bharat” by 2047. The state has already formulated a roadmap to achieve a $3.5 trillion economy by 2047, fueled by significant investments in new-age industries like semiconductors, green hydrogen, and renewable energy. Patel attributes Gujarat’s success to its policy-driven approach, which has attracted substantial foreign direct investment and made it a top investment destination. He highlights the state’s transformation into a growth engine, leveraging its ability to turn challenges into opportunities, and benefiting from Prime Minister Modi’s leadership for the past 23 years. Gujarat’s commitment to development aligns with India’s ambitious goal of becoming the world’s third-largest economy, driven by initiatives like Make in India, Digital India, and Skill India.

The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has revived its long-stalled jungle safari project at Ajwa, aiming to launch the first phase by early 2024. After a failed public-private partnership, the VMC is now taking on the project independently, allocating Rs 10 crore for its development. The safari, spread across 150 acres, will initially feature herbivorous animals like spotted deer, blackbucks, and chinkaras, with visitors transported in open jeeps. The VMC is also exploring the possibility of introducing exotic animals, including wolves, hyenas, and swamp deer, to the safari and Sayajibaug Zoo.

Yamal Vyas, a prominent leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat, has been appointed as the chairman of the state’s fourth State Finance Commission (SFC). Vyas, a chartered accountant and company secretary, previously served as a member of the third SFC and as an independent director for several state-owned companies. His appointment comes with the responsibility of recommending the distribution of state taxes between the state government and local bodies, including gram panchayats, taluka panchayats, district panchayats, municipalities, and municipal corporations. The SFC will also analyze the income generation models of these local bodies and propose measures to enhance their financial standing. Following his appointment to this constitutional post, Vyas has stepped down from his position as chief spokesperson for the Gujarat BJP.

Gujarat is facing a significant air pollution challenge in its major cities, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot. To address this, the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and the state government have proposed a comprehensive “Clean Air Action Plan” with over Rs 3,000 crore in funding. The plan identifies industrial activities and vehicle use as key contributors to pollution and aims to mitigate these through various measures. These include research and implementation of a net zero transport plan, pilot projects in mid-sized cities, and a focus on sustainable urban mobility. The state government has already received significant funding from the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and has utilized additional funds from state and central schemes to implement air quality improvement initiatives. This multi-pronged approach aims to reduce air pollution, improve public health, and promote sustainable development in Gujarat’s major urban centers.

The upcoming Poornima Avaloka, Gujarat’s official Asiatic lion census, scheduled for the second week of May 2025, will utilize a combination of traditional and modern methods. While the forest department will rely on the tried-and-tested beat count method for the final population estimate, they plan to incorporate technology for data collection and analysis. This census will cover an expanded area of 35,000 square kilometers, encompassing 13 administrative forest divisions across Saurashtra. The department will deploy 1,500-2,000 field personnel to collect detailed data, including individual identification marks, GPS locations, and digital imagery, which will be integrated into the e-gujforest system. The census methodology has evolved over time, with the current beat count method being praised for its cost-effectiveness and adaptability to new technologies. The 2025 census aims to build upon the success of the 2020 count, which revealed a significant increase in the lion population.

The Gujarat government is developing a new policy focused on wastewater recycling and reuse to address the growing pressure on drinking water resources. This policy will mandate industries and commercial entities to utilize treated wastewater for non-drinking purposes, offering incentives for such practices. The policy aims to create a legal framework for mandatory wastewater recycling, particularly for water-intensive industries like chemical, chip-making, and textile sectors. This initiative is driven by concerns about water scarcity, which the World Bank predicts could reduce India’s GDP by 6% by 2050. The policy aligns with the NITI Aayog’s Comprehensive Water Management Index, which emphasizes the importance of wastewater reuse and recycling. By promoting sustainable water management, the government aims to improve public health, support agriculture, and bolster economic stability.