RAJASTHAN

Jakson Group to develop $2.8 bn green ammonia and hydrogen project in Rajasthan

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Jakson Green, part of the Jakson Group, said it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Rajasthan government to invest about 22,400 crore, roughly $2.8 billion , in the State to set up a Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia project in phases.

Jakson Green will set up a 3,65,000 tonnes per annum Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia plant in Kota along with an integrated hybrid renewable power complex in a phase-wise manner.

The project is expected to generate over 32,000 direct and indirect EMPLOYMENT opportunities across various scale-up phases planned between 2023 and 2028. The Rajasthan government would facilitate Jakson Green in obtaining necessary registrations, approvals, clearances, and provide incentives, among others, it added.

The firm is actively developing a pipeline of , green hydrogen and ammonia projects in India and abroad. It has a vision of being a power-to-X player, cumulatively producing over 1 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of green hydrogen/ammonia by 2030.

Infant mortality rate in Rajasthan dips at a faster rate than national average

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Over the past 10 years,Rajasthanhas improved considerably in saving the lives of infants. Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in the state has reduced from 59 to 35 which means that for every 1,000 babies born, 35 are dying before turning a year old, just released data from the Sample Registration System (SRS), office of the registrar general, India shows based on the figures of 2019.

The survey shows that national Average reduction in IMR in the past 10 years was 20, but in Rajasthan it was 24from 59 to 35 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Though state has gained more in reduction in IMR in comparison to countrys reduction in 10 years, still the average IMR in the country is lesser than the states IMR. Countrys IMR has reduced from 32 to 30, while states IMR has taken a dip from 37 to 35 from 2018 to 2019. Odisha has reported highest reduction by 27 deaths per 1,000 live births, followed by J&K (25) and Rajasthan is at the third place, sharing it withAndhra PradeshandHaryanaas they witnessed reduction in IMR by 24 deaths per 1,000 live births.

While the state has witnessing significant reduction in IMR but there is still a major concern as the gap between rural and urban areas is quite wide. In urban areas, 25 infants died per 1,000 live births but in rural areas it is 38 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, which indicates that a lot of work needs to be done in rural areas to save more lives of the infants.

Rajasthan: Covid weekly positivity rate dips below 10%

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The weekly positivity rate has reduced drastically in the last seven days daily new infections have dipped significantly. From May 21 to May 27, the Health department tested 3,52,829 samples and out of those, 34,007 were found infected at a positivity rate of 9.6%, which was 18.9% from May 14-20.

With more people recovering, active cases in the state have also fallen significantly and currently syand at 71,099.

Rajasthan, Punjab at loggerheads over sharing of IGNP water

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TheRajasthangovernment is again at loggerheads with thePunjabgovernment over the closing duration of the Indira Gandhi Nahar Project (IGNP).

Rajasthan has proposed the closure of the IGNP for 60 days from March 20 to May 20, while Punjab is adamant to close it for 70 days from March 1 to May 15.

The department of water resource has shot a letter to its counterpart in Punjab arguing that the state doesnt have enough Resources“>Water Resources/banks to store water for more than 60 days. The state wanted the closure to take place after Holi which is falling on March 17-18.

Punjab is adamantly citing the reason that the central government has set the deadline of 2022 for the repair of the entire IGNP in 2019.

Adani Green now worlds largest wind-solar hybrid power developer

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The renewable arm of the Adani Group -Adani GreenEnergy Limited (AGEL) commissioned its third wind-solar hybrid power plant inJaisalmer,Rajasthan.

The new plant comprises 420 MW solar and 105 MW wind Plants. This positionsAGELto have the largest operational hybrid power generation capacity of 1,440 MW. AGEL now has a total operational generation capacity of 7.17 GW, making it the worlds largest wind-solar hybrid power farm developer.

The combined operational generation capacity of the newly commissioned hybrid power plant is 450 MW. The plant has a power purchase agreement with SECI at Rs 2.67/ kWh for a period of 25 years. Earlier this year, AGEL operationalised Indias first hybrid power plant of 390 MW; followed by a 600 MW hybrid power-plant both in Jaisalmer.

NCR area in Rajasthans two districts reduced by over 6.6k sqkm

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The geographical size of theNational Capital Region(NCR) inRajasthanhas reduced roughly from the existing 13,446 sqkm to 6,777 sqkm as per the revised NCR boundaries.

The NCR includes areas from two districts of Alwar and Bharatpur. While in Alwar, NCR land has reduced from 8,380 sqkm to 4,705.19 sqkm, in Bharatpur, the area has fallen from 5,066 sqkm to 2,071.41 sqkm. According to an official, the Draft Regional Plan 2041 has been put in public domain and suggestions or objections have been invited until January 7.

The plan will be notified by March 2022. The National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) has given its in-principle approval to the Draft Regional Plan 2041 at a meeting held on October 12 this year. In Rajasthan, the total NCR area in the two districts will be 6,777 sqkm, he said. The NCR area will be reduced to a 100km radius, according to the draft approved by the NCRPB.

The NCR delineation consensus was given on the principle of making the geographical size as a contiguous circular region of 100km radius from Rajghat.

Info panel imposed fines in just 6% cases

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Penalties have been imposed in only 6% of the total cases disposed of by Rajasthans Information Commission (IC) from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, findings of a report on the performance ofInformation Commissions(IC) in India, 2021-22, revealed.

It also stated that there is a backlog of 13,188 appeals and complaints in Rajasthans Information Commission. SatarkNagrik Sangathanhas compiled a report on the performance of information commissions across the country based on information accessed under the RTI Act.

Analysis of the figures for 24 ICs (which provided information on both the number of cases disposed and the number of cases where penalty was imposed) shows that penalty was imposed in just 3% of the cases disposed of by ICs, the report stated.

Energy Efficiency Index: Rajasthan front runner at number 2

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Rajasthanhas bagged the second position in theState Energy Efficiency Index(SEEI)-2020 securing 61 points out of 100. AfterKarnatakawhich topped the list with 70 points, Rajasthan is the other state to have been assessed as the front runner. The index categorized 36 states and UTs under front runner, achiever, contender, and aspirant based on their EE-related efforts and achievements.

In SEEI 2019, there was no state in the front runner category. Karnataka and Rajasthan have undertaken various initiatives to upscaleenergyefficiency in the state, beyond notifications of relevant regulations, the report by theministry of powersaid.

Conservation Building Code (ECBC) cell in its Public Works Department (PWD) from the state fund. This cell operates under guidance of the chief architect ofPWD, said the report.Among the other initiatives that contributed to the states high score is that it has taken steps to set up energy saving targets for EE (energy efficiency) in street lighting, water and sewerage, and non-PAT industries. It is one of the few states that reported a measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) mechanism for evaluating demand side management programmes.

The report said that Rajasthan has appointed dedicated agencies to conduct periodic energy audits of street lighting, water and sewerage , and water treatment systems. The Rajasthan SDA organises the Rajasthan Energy Conservation Awards (RECA) every year for five sectors and 50 sub-sectors.

The index developed theBureau of Energy Efficiency(BEE) in collaboration with Alliance for an Energy Efficient economy (AEEE) aims to help drive energy efficiency policies with implementation at the state and local level, highlight best practices, encourage healthy competition among states and track progress in managing energy footprint.

SEEI 2020 assessed states performance in energy efficiency through 68 indicators across six sectors such as buildings, Industry, municipalities, transport, Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture and distribution companies (discoms), and cross sector initiatives.

The indicators assess states performance in policy and regulation, financing mechanisms, institutional capacity, adoption of energy efficiency measures, and energy Savings.

Cabinet nod to new railway line in Gujarat-Rajasthan to faciliate pilgrims, boost connectivity

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The Cabinet approved construction of a new 117-km RAILWAY line connecting Taranga Hill-Ambaji-Abu Road in Gujarat and Rajasthan at an estimated cost of Rs 2,798 crore. This is a major project plan which has been prepared in barely 3-4 months using theGatiShakti platform the integrated infrastructure planning framework the government had launched exactly eight months back.

The government aims to complete the project by 2026-27. Ambaji is a famous pilgrimage destination and is one of the 51 shaktipeeths in India. It will also cater to the needs of devotees visiting the Ajitnath Jain temple one of the 24 holy Jain Tirthankaras at Taranga Hill.

5 lakh more boys than girls born in Rajasthan over last 10 years

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In the past 10 years, 5,02,968 more boys were born in the state in comparison to girls.
Though the yearly difference in number of births of boys and girls had decreased continuously from 2011-12 to 2019-20, it increased slightly in 2020-21, which is a cause for concern.

In 2020-21, 36,888 more boys were born in comparison to girls, shows the figures of states pregnancy and child tracking system (PCTS) of Health department. Since 2011-12, the difference has been reducing and it has become almost half from 73,336 to 36,888 in 2021-22, a good sign. But, only in 2021-22, it increased slightly from 36,268 in 2019-20 to 36,888 in 2021-22, which is a concern.

The 10-year figures of PCTS have also shown good results for those working for encouraging Population stabilization. The figures show that since 2016 the number of birth of boys and since 2017 the number of birth of girl child have been continuously declining. In 2011-12, the number of baby boys born was 7,33,779 and girls was 6,60,443. But, after a gap of few years in 2020-21, the number of baby boys was 6,85,847 and girls born was 6,48,959.