MAHARASHTRA

The enhanced lockdown-like restrictions in Maharashtra could impact the states economy by up to 1.5% if these curbs continued for about a month, observers said.

The observers, however, said the overall impact would be softer than last years economic impacts following a total lockdown.

Estimates from the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture (MCCIA) revealed that the Pune region, the states main manufacturing base and information technology hub, was losing around Rs5,600 crore in the gross value addition (GVA) value of goods and Services, minus input costs per week in the enhanced restrictions and lockdown-like period. For the state, a two-week period of restrictions entails about a 0.5% impact on the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). More restrictions, such as a lockdown, or a lengthening of the period of restrictions to the middle of May, can increase that impact by up to 1.5%.

Despite the pandemic-related curbs, fatal road crashes in Maharashtra surged by 5% and deaths by 4% in 2021 compared to pre-Covid times in 2019.

Over 12,300 fatal crashes were reported across the state last year in which more than 13,300 people died, according to latest data with the state traffic department. Nashik and Pune were the two districts that fared the worst in terms of fatalities. But a silver lining for Mumbai was that deaths dropped by 36% to 288 in 2021 from 447 in 2019.

The non-profit has also suggested redesigning Intersections to make them more conspicuous and installation of speed-calming measures so that vehicles can slow down before approaching the intersection.

For India to achieve its target of a 50% reduction in road crash deaths by 2030, its essential to take reviews every quarter and set action plans, experts said.

A safe systems approach involves taking into account human errors, sharing the responsibility for road safety between the public and decision-makers and proactively preventing fatal and serious crashes before they occur.

The National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA) in Pune has identified eight stars that belong to a rare type of stars known as Main-sequence Radio Pulse emitters, or MRPs.

Highlights:

The ‘Giant Metre-wave Radio Telescope (GMRT)’ in Pune was used to find MRPs.
A group of researchers identified a new type of radio star that is hotter than the Sun. They have extraordinarily powerful magnetic fields and even more powerful stellar winds. As a result, like a lighthouse, these stars generate powerful radio pulses.
Previously, the Giant Metre-wave Radio Telescope had detected three additional identical stars (GMRT). So far, 15 MRPs have been identified.
With GMRT, 11 MRPs were found. In the year 2021, eight MRPs were found.
In the year 2000, the first MRP was identified. Because of GMRT’s exceptional sensitivity, it was identified.

The 701 km-longMumbai-Nagpur prosperity corridor, a greenfield project which is expected to almost halve the travel time between the two cities from existing 15-16 hours to 8hours will criss-cross 10 districts and 392 villages with a Network of 50 flyovers, five major tunnels, 300 vehicular underpasses and 400 pedestrian underpasses.

The cost of safeguarding wildlife is projected to be over Rs 326 crore. There are 96 wildlife structures, which include 7 overpass bridges, 89 underpasses, box culverts, and a few major and minor bridges to facilitate passage of wildlife.

Since the six-lane highway will have only 24 interchanges, it can be either entered or exited only at these points and at no other places, thus making it an accesscontrolled expressway.

The highway will have an intelligent traffic management system which will help the traffic control room issue commands to motorists, monitor vehicle speed and lane cutting, and provide roadside emergency help.

The busy Hazrat Abbas Street in Dongri that houses Khoja Shia Isnashari Jamaat and its Jama Masjid has just added another jewel to its crown. It has got Baab-e-Shohda-e-Karbala, Indias first Gate commemorating the martyrs of Karbala.

Even the Sunnis are enthused. Every Muslim, Shia or Sunni, is emotionally attached with Imam Hussain and his family members who suffered so much at the hands of Yazid and his army. This gate will serve as a tribute to the martyrs and keep reminding us of the truthful path Imam Hussain showed.

A year after Marathi was made compulsory inschools in Maharashtra, all non-state board schools have to submit their progress report on the local language.

Marathi has been a compulsory subject for state board schools. From the academic year 2020-21, it was made compulsory for Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Council of Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE), Cambridge Board International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), International Baccalaureate (IB) and National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).

The Maharashtra Compulsory TEACHING and Learning of Marathi Language in Schools Act was introduced in June 2020, when non-state boards had to introduce Marathi as a subject for Class I and VI. The act made it mandatory to introduce Marathi in schools in a phased manner. In this academic year, Marathi has to be taught to students of Class I, II, VI and VII.

The states legislators elected in 2019 seem to be busy coping up with the political upheavals that are shaking their parties and aspirations rather than focusing on citizens.

Maharashtrastands 10th among states in India in terms of Average duration of legislative business it has carried out during assembly sessions held between 2020 and 2022, stated a Praja Foundation report. The southern states of Kerala, Karnataka andTamil Nadutop the list in terms of duration of assembly sessions.

The analysis suggests that average duration per assembly session has decreased by 60% from 15 days in 12th assembly (winter session 2011-12) to only six days in the current 14th assembly (winter session 2021-22). The report has also found a 34% decline in duration of assembly sessions from 58 days in the 12th assembly to 38 days in the 14th assembly.

The constituencies with MLAs who rank in the top 10 are Borivli, Dahisar, Versova, Andheri (W), Dindoshi, Vile Parle, Bandra (W), Ghatkopar (E), Mankhurd (Shivaji Nagar), and Malabar Hill. The constituencies which ranked lower in terms of performance are Magathane, Goregaon, Vikhroli,Bhandup(W), Chandivli, Bandra (E), and Mahim.