MAHARASHTRA

Storage in big Maharashtra dams now lower than 2022 levels

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Live storage in several major Dams ofMaharashtra, mainly in Pune region as well as Konkan, has plunged lower than last year’s stock.

In Konkan, which includes dam projects in Palghar, Thane, Sindhudurg and Raigad, live storage is now 33% in comparison to 42% of last year’s same period. In Pune region, which includes major projects in Pune,Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara and Kolhapur, live storage has dropped to 17% from last year’s 23 %.

The live storage in all major dams in the Amravati revenue region is 42%, slightly lower than 43% on the same day last year. In the Aurangabad revenue region too, the level is currently 39.56 % , as against 40.63 % recorded on May 29, 2022. The collective water stock in the four Pune dams (Khadakwasla, Varasgaon, Panshet and Temghar) was 7.07 TMC (24.24%) on Monday. Same period last year, it was 6.28 TMC (21.56%).

PMC wants Maharashtra govt to give stamp duty dues of Rs 176 crore

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ThePune (PMC) has approached the State Government for the release of its share of stamp duty charges amounting to Rs 237 crore.

The civic body is suffering a revenue loss due to the pandemic. The civic administration should get its share from the state government. It will help carry out Covid-19 mitigation work.

According to civic officials, they had decided to reduce their budget expenditure due to poor revenue generation in 2020-21 and introduced a 40 % cut. Only essential Services, mandatory and emergency works were allocated funds.

52% children & adolescents assessed show poor dietary diversity scores: Study

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A study on 1,800 children and adolescents across different regions in the country has found that nearly 52% of them have poor dietary diversity scores.

The dietary diversity score is defined as the number of food groups consumed over a 24-hour period. A score of less than five food groups is generally considered poor dietary intake.

The study, conducted by Pune-based Hirabai Cowasji Jehangir Medical Research Institute at Jehangir Hospital, found that children and adolescents from the southern and western (Maharashtra) part of the country had a higher mean dietary diversity score (6.5) because of the higher number of food groups consumed by them, compared to those from other regions, while the lowest scores were observed among children and adolescents in Gujarat. The Savitribai Phule Pune University also contributed to the study.

Maharashtra govt likely to give special relief package to affected districts

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The is likely to consider a specialcompensation packageunder the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for the districts affected byCyclone Tauktae.

Last year, in the wake of Cyclone Nisarga, the state government had hiked the per hectare compensation under NDRF for horticultural land to Rs 50,000 from Rs 25,000, for damaged houses to Rs 1.5 lakh from Rs 95,000, and for partially damaged houses to Rs 15,000 from Rs 6,000.

MSME-Technology Centres In Maharashtra

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Narayan Rane, the Union MSME Minister, has announced the formation of the MSME Technology Centre at Sindhudurg, Maharashtra. This can be established at a price worth Rs 200 crore.

Highlights

The Konbac Sfurti Cluster in Kudal was also launched. This can support 500 honey bee boxes 300 artisans.

One hundred electric wheels and 100 agarbatti production machines were also distributed to supply opportunities for self-EMPLOYMENT.

Rupay Card was also launched, which offers perks like digital payments at any time, a rate of interest that’s like that applicable to loans, and an interest-free period.

Importance

The MSME-Technology Center provides the most effective technology, incubation, and advisory support to the Industry, especially MSMEs.

This will be finished to enhance their competitiveness and provide skilling Services for both the area’s unemployed and employed youth to increase their employability chances.

Since 2016, Around 2000+ new manufacturing units have been found in Konkan to increase employment in Maharashtra.

MSME Industry

The MSME sector has contributed significantly to the country’s socio-Economic Development.

The sector has grown in importance in India due to its contribution to its exports and GDP.

This sector has also contributed to Entrepreneurship Growth, particularly in India’s semi-urban and rural areas.

As per data, India has around 6.3 crores of MSME industries.

Maharashtra assembly passes bill to amend Public Universities Act amid uproar

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The state legislative assembly on Tuesday cleared theMaharashtra Public Universities(Third Amendment) Act, 2021, which proposes to appoint the minister of higher and technical Education as pro-chancellor and introduces changes in the process for vice-chancellor appointment.

As per the amendment, the selection committee will recommend five names for the post of vice-chancellor of which the will shortlist two and send them to the governor, who is also the chancellor of universities. The governor has to select one of the two names within 30 days. If the state does not approve any of the persons recommended, it may call for a fresh list either from the same committee or after constitution of a new one. Similarly, three names will be shortlisted by the state for the post of pro-chancellor and will be sent to the governor for his selection.

The bill gives wide-ranging powers to the pro chancellor, from chairing the varsityssenateto presiding over the convocation ceremony in the chancellors absence. It also empowers the state to nominate members on thesenate management council. The bill makes way for constitution of the board of preservation and promotion of Marathi language and literature and the board of equal opportunity. A post of the director for the board of preservation and promotion of Marathi language and literature will also be created.

Merely 9.5% in 18-19 age group are registered voters in Maharashtra

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Less than 10% of the youth in the 18 to 19 age bracket are registered as voters in the state, revealed a recent report presented to the government by the chief electoral officer ofMaharashtra.

The Percentage of voters in this age group from Mumbai city and its suburbs figure at the bottom of all the 36 districts; urban areas also generally record lower voter turnout in polls. Regions such as Parbhani, Hingoli and Nanded fare better than the rest.

Data from the Maharashtra chief electoral office shows that only around 5-16% of youth from each of the 36 districts in the 18-19 age group are on electoral rolls. This age group comprises around 0.34% of the total registered voters in the state. When compared with other age groups, including 20-29, 30-39 and 40-49, for instance, where the percentage of registered voters is 68.8%, 92.7%, 111.4%, respectively, the young group only makes up for about 9.5% of its projected Population of 46 lakh.

Maharashtra must set up separate department for flood management: Nandkumar Vadnere

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Nandkumar Vadnere, former principal secretary of state Irrigation department and head of panel to study floods inKrishna riverbasin, on Sunday said the must set up a separate department forflood managementas floods will be a recurring phenomenon inMaharashtra.

Vadnere, while speaking during a webinar organised by the Centre for Climate-change”>Climate Change and Sustainable Studies of the Shivaji University Kolhapur, said the year-long management of floods is necessary to ensure that the cities, towns and villages do not get flooded in case of normal rains.

Vadnere also said there is no need to worry about accumulation of silt in Dams. Currently, the dams have silt not more than 10%, but in the long run, silt may become a cause of worry. Hence, All activities that cause silt accumulation in the dams should be banned by the government, he said.

In a ‘1st’, Maharashtra passes law for public medical purchases

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Maharashtrahas likely become the first state in India to pass a law for procuring medical supplies for public hospitals and medical colleges. The Maharashtra Medical Goods Procurement Authority Act, 2023-passed on Friday after the governor’s assent-seeks to streamline the procurement process by creating a dedicated branch that will solely handle the purchase of medical devices and medicines.

There has been a longstanding demand for a dedicated procurement authority in Maharashtra, especially after the decision to centralise purchases underHaffkine Biopharmaceuticalin 2017 turned out to be a complete catastrophe. The new law will facilitate its creation with financial Resources and manpower to make the government’s medical purchases more swift, efficient, cost-effective and transparent. The medical Education and public Health department jointly make purchases to the tune of Rs 1,800-2,000 crore annually.

PM Shri Yojana in 846 Maharashtra schools for high quality education

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The state Education department has decided to implement PMShri Yojana, which provides for comprehensive development of 846 schools in the state.
State project director ofMaharashtra PrathamikShikshan Parishad (Maharashtra Primary Education Council), KailashPagaresaid, “In the second phase of this scheme, schools will be selected from among 408 groups, 28 municipalities, 383 local self-governments, and municipal councils.”

The scheme is implemented through the committee headed by the school education minister at the state level, by the chief executive officer at the district level, and by the municipal commissioner at the municipal level.
The state project director will be the chairman of thestate implementation committee.

Curriculum, pedagogy and assessment, access and , human Resources and school Leadership, inclusive practices and gender issues, management, monitoring and administration, and beneficiary satisfaction will be the six key pillars of development under this scheme.