GUJARAT

In a major breakthrough,Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre(GBRC) scientists developed a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for faster detection of theOmicronvariant of coronavirus.

The technique involves cDNA (complementary DNA a copy of messenger RNA through reverse transcript) prepared from RNA isolated from the viral sample. It is followed by the conventional PCR which provides fast results in comparison to Sequencing of whole virus using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and also provides cost-effective technique to scrutinize samples in remote labs.

The state cabinet gave nod for land allotment in Rajkot for setting upGujaratCooperative Milk Marketing Federations (GCMMFs) second largest milk processing plant in the state afterGandhinagar.

GCMMF, an umbrella body of milk unions in Gujarat, markets milk and its products under brand Amul.

The dairies of Kutch andSaurashtraprocure 45 lakh litre milk per day out of which they utilise 15 lakh litre for making milk, curd, buttermilk and ghee.
The remaining 30 lakh litre is sent to Gandhinagars processing plant at the cost of Rs 40 lakh per day. The new plant will save the transportation cost of the dairies. The plant will also manufacture skimmed milk powder which is currently being produced at the Gandhinagar plant.

In a boost to wildlife of Gujarat, the government has begun implementation of a scheme where industries that have acquired forest land are to compensate by providing private land in the Asiatic lion landscape spread in various districts of the state and the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) habitat in Kutch.

The decision has been taken to ensure that lions get more space and help in their movement along the lion corridors identified in the state, he further stated.

So far the government has acquired about 2,000 hectares of land from such government and private bodies in the last one year.

There are five districts including Bhavnagar, Amreli, Rajkot, Morbi and Kutch that are identified for this purpose. The officer said that the department has identified talukas and areas where the lions have made permanent Home or are frequently visiting these areas.

Five districts including Bhavnagar, Amreli, Rajkot, Morbi & Kutch have been identified for the purpose.

The compressed natural gas (CNG) sales inGujaratcontracted by 13% in 2020-21 as its consumption reduced due to the restricted vehicular movement following the imposition of curbs to tackleCovid.

The provisional sales of CNG in the state declined to 6.49 lakh metric tonnes in April-March 2021 as compared to 7.45 lakh metric tonnes in April-March 2020. This is revealed in the data compiled by the petroleum planning and analysis cell (PPAC) of theUnion ministry of petroleum and natural gas.

City gas distribution (CGD) players attributed the reduction in CNG sales to the Covid-induced restrictions, especially the nation-wide lockdown imposed in the first quarter of the fiscal 2021.

According toCrisil Ratings, sales volume of city gas is set to soar 25-27% in 2021-22. This includes CNG used by vehicles and piped natural gas (PNG) used by homes and industries.

TheGujarat governmenthas implemented a series of measures to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of the roads and buildings department’s operations.

In order to deliver high-quality roads and to the people and industries and improve the overall living standards in the state, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has introduced substantial changes in the responsibilities of high-level officials within the department. These changes aim to optimize their work distribution and supervision, ensuring effectiveness, timeliness, and quality.

Under the Rationalization of Region initiative, Chief Engineers will now oversee the construction and maintenance of both State and Panchayat roads within their respective areas. They will be held accountable for the quality of work carried out in their designated regions. Additionally, the Chief Engineers are required to visit their areas at least twice a week to ensure adherence to quality standards.

In an ambitious move, theGujarat ECOLOGY Commission(GEC) will be preparing one of the largest ecological and environmental data banks at the taluka level and even down to the village level.
Initially, 10talukashave been chosen for the exercise which will be extended to other ecologically vulnerable areas of the state. Ecological profiling is an exercise that documents rare and endemic species in a region.

At present, the GEC has invited expression of interest from interested agencies. The project was first mooted in 2008, mainly to prepare a comprehensive ecological profile of 49 talukas adjoining Gulf of Khambhat, Gulf of Kutch, SouthGujaratcoast and coastal areas of Saurashtra.

TheGujarateducation department will merge academic and Health reports of government school students by incorporating health records into final mark sheets.

In a statement, the Gujarat government highlighted the purpose behind this data integration between the health and Education departments. The aim is to ensure the comprehensive Growth and development of every student, the statement read.

To get more accurate information on students health throughout the year, check-ups will be conducted every three months from this academic year. The final health report will then be included in the mark sheets or report cards, solidifying the integration of health, the statement said.

The launched a month-long check-up campaign under the School Health Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (SHRBSK) programme. Over the next 30 days, over 1 crore students are expected to undergo comprehensive health check-ups.

Through this programme, the state government aims to provide free check-ups and diagnose ailments such as anaemia, Malnutrition, skin diseases, Learning disabilities, developmental delays, and other illnesses. A total of 992 mobile health teams will conduct check-ups for students at state schools, and those diagnosed will receive free treatment at government health institutions. The statement said Gujarat will pioneer the issuance of digital health cards to all students participating in the check-ups, making it the first state to implement such a system.

A research team ofGujarat Technological Universityhas undertaken an ambitious project of developing 5G antennae more effective than ones made by China. The project is aimed at indigenous development of technologies to supplement 5G connectivity.

The team led by Gautam Makwana of the universitys Graduate School of Engineering and Technology, has undertaken this pilot project, which once developed would accelerate development in wireless transmission in a big way.

TheGujarat Technological Universityhas sought Rs 1-crore exam fee from government-run engineering colleges that run degree and diploma courses. The payments are mandatorily to be made to university ahead of any exam schedule.

TheGTUhas demanded 12% interest from each of the government engineering college on pending fees. The government engineering colleges have not paid the requisite sum for 2019 summer and winter terms.

Goods and Services tax (GST) collection inGujaratstood at Rs 9,574 crore in February, growing by 8% against Rs 8,873 crore last February.
Compared to the preceding months, the rate of Growth in GST collection has slowed. GST collection grew by 26% in December 2022 (Rs 9,238 crore) and 11% in January 2023 (Rs 10,008 crore) against the corresponding months of the previous year.
The rate of growth in GST collection slowing is a function of slowing economic activity and a decline in demand, according to players. “The fourth quarter is usually expected to clock better growth. However, as demand has declined in domestic and international markets, industrial production has also gone down. Reduced consumption and lower consumer activity have both led to the slowing of growth in tax collection in Gujarat,” said Pathik Patwari, president, Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).

The state tax mop-up declined by 3.3% to Rs 3,215.75 crore in February against Rs 3,328 crore in January.