MAHARASHTRA

TheMaharashtra Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture Pump Power Connectionpolicy, 2020, has succeeded in pursuing 17.4 lakh farmers across state in the past 12 months to repay pending electricity bill arrears to the tune of Rs 2,100 crore.

The new will involve strengthening of existing electricity distribution systems, installing high capacity transformers and substations. It will also involve repair and maintenance of existing feeders to ensure uninterrupted supply, an official said.

Sources said that the state has given Rs 10,428 crore as subsidies to offset arrears to some extent while Rs 4,676 crore was waived in the form of delayed payment charges and interests on arrears. This reduced the overall arrears to Rs 30,707 crore.
The state plans to give at least eight hours of electricity during the daytime to farmers and in the next five years, there are plans to generate 17,360 MW Solar Energy which can be distributed for agriculture pumps.

Imported liquoris set to become considerably cheaper inMaharashtrawith the state slashing excise duty on this segment by a steep 50%from 300% to 150%in an attempt to crack down on smuggling and bootlegging.

Thus, the price of a 1000ml imported liquor bottle like of Scotch whiskey, which ranges from Rs 5,800 to Rs 14,000, will drop by 35 to 40%.

This will put an end to illegal entry (of such liquor) into Maharashtra. We will be able to stop non-duty-paid liquor sales in the state and prevent the grey market. We hope to double revenue in this sector from Rs 100 crore to 250 crore in one year. Sales will go up from 1 lakh cases (bottles) annually to 2.5 lakh cases.

During the three financial years from 2016-17 to 2018-19, the excise revenue from imported spirits was around Rs 200 crore, according to officials. However, they said, the revenue dipped to Rs 100 crore during 2019-20 and 2020-21. This did not occur because of Covid but due to the sudden rise in sales tax.

The central government has subsidised the loans for the vendors who can get a minimum of Rs 10,000 and a maximum of Rs 50,000 subsidised loans from the banks under the scheme.

Chronic kidney disease and sudden (acute) kidney impairment can increase the chances of deaths in patients with Covid associated mucormycosis, a collaborative study of Pune doctors has revealed.

The most commonly known factor for contracting mucormycosis in recovering Covid patients is the combination of uncontrolled diabetes and the use of Steroids. Though diabetes is the predisposing factor to contracting mucormycosis in Covid patients, the doctors have not found its association with mortality. The impact of diabetes on mortality in patients with Covid associated mucormycosis (CAM) an invasive fungal infection needs further evaluation in a more extensive study, the doctors have underlined.

The Maharashtra government on Friday said that the newly-announced Rajiv Gandhi Information Technology Award will be given to IT companies in the state in five different categories. Maharashtra Minister of State for IT Satej Patil made the announcement.

The aim of the award is to recognise the contribution of IT companies in the prospects of the state as well as to encourage the entrepreneurs and startups.

The award will be given in five categories in the information technology sector – IT Engineering Service Software, IT Enabled Service (BPO/KPO), IT (Data Centre), Most Promising Start-Up and Special Award for Contribution to Maharashtra,” he added.

The award comprises a memento and a citation. There will be no cash prize in the award as these companies already have huge revenues, but it is aimed at recognising their contribution to Society and state, he said.

DrBabasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University(Bamu) has ventured intoagricultural researchby joining hands with a seed company.

The university has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with theMahyco Private Limitedfor the benefit of the students in presence of university registrar Jayashri Suryawanshi and chief science officer of the company Bharat R Char.

Utilizing technologies such as field-based phenotyping using drones will be one of the focus areas of MoU. The collaboration intends to help the farmers in identification of pest incidence in a pre-symptomatic manner, among other benefits.

At the sixth meeting of the Control Board of the Tilari Inter-State Dam Project, an expenditure of Rs 330 crore was approved on Saturday for the revival of canals of the joint and ambitious Tilari Inter-State Irrigation Project of both states of Maharashtra and Goa. CM Ekanth Shinde, deputy CM and Resources“>Water Resources ministerDevendra Fadnavis, Goa CM DrPramod Sawantand water resources minister Subhash Shirodkar were present at the meeting.

An expenditure of Rs 330 crore was approved for this. It was also decided to compensate 22 additional project-affected families in Sindhudurg. Sawant proposed to increase the height of the project. It was directed to conduct a comprehensive study of the dam and submit a report. It was agreed to cooperate with Maharashtra for capacity-building of engineers in Goa.

Chief ministerEknath Shinde approved the plan to set up a convention centre in the city near Rajaram Lake, along the old Pune-Bengaluru highway.

The approval came after Shinde held a meeting with state chairmanRajesh Kshirsagarand other top officials of the government and the District Administration.

State Health minister Rajesh Tope said the government would be stressing on institutional isolation of Covid patients, mainly for rural areas in districts where the positivity rate is higher than the states weekly Average positivity rate of 12%.

Data from Pune shows that the number of weekly new cases has been on a steady decline for the last four weeks. The district had 68,254 new cases (April 26-May 2), 60,201 (May 3-9), 47,531 (May 10-16) and 25,483 (May 17-23). Maximum cases were reported from Baramati, Haveli, Indapur, Shirur and Daund talukas of Pune. An average dip of 20% has been registered.

The state cabinet cleared a proposal to implement 4% reservation in promotions for differently-abled employees in the state on the lines of the Centre’s policy.

Officials said that as per the order of the central government issued in May 2022, reservation in promotions will be implemented in the state for the differently-abled employees from Group D to Group A lower level.

In case of a vacancy, 4% of the posts will be reserved for persons with disabilities, according to different types of disabilities. There will be reservation in promotion for persons with disabilities in those cadres in which the proportion of recruitment through direct service is not more than 75%. All other government decisions are being ratified in this regard.