UTTAR PRADESH

The Uttar Pradesh government, riding on the global shift to green energy, is looking to attract private investments of up to Rs 50,000 crore in the solar and bio energy sectors.

The state has set a target to generate 22,000 megawatt (MW) of solar power over the next five years. It would comprise 14,000 MW from solar parks and 6,000 MW through rooftop solar power Plants.

The government is also drafting a green hydrogen policy in line with the Centre. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to be the fastest growing in the global landscape in this decade.

Unveiled in February, Indias green hydrogen policy offers cheaper renewable power and financial waivers for interstate power transmission for 25 years for projects commissioned before June 2025. Incentives include land at cheaper rates in energy parks and dedicated zones for local industries.

Green hydrogen is produced by breaking down water in an electrolyser using . Later, hydrogen can be combined with nitrogen to make green ammonia, thus avoiding planet-warming hydrocarbons. Green ammonia is used to store energy and make fertilisers.

According to reports, the global green hydrogen market was valued at $1.83 billion in 2021, and is estimated at almost $90 billion by 2030, expanding at a compound annual Growth rate (CAGR) of 54 per cent from 2021 to 2030.

With a possible third wave of Covid-19 looming amid omicron threat, theUttar Pradeshgovernment has said that the state is working to become ‘self-reliant’ in generation of medical Oxygen. Over 550 oxygen Plants have been operationalized in the state while another 10 are expected to become functional very soon.

The government had made oxygen plants mandatory in all hospitals having more than 50 beds and district administrations are carrying out real-time monitoring of the work. Oxygen plants are also being set up at community Health centres and primary health centres.

The Uttar Pradesh government, with the objective of attaining the goal of a US$ 1-trillion economy by 2027, is focusing on the manufacturing sector. At present, the states gross state domestic product (GSDP) is estimated at $230 billion while the contribution of the manufacturing sector is pegged at about 14 per cent, which the government is looking to boost threefold to 45 per cent. To achieve the target, the government is laying greater emphasis on setting up and expanding new industries.

The seven thrust manufacturing verticals identified by the include leather, textile, toys & games, DEFENCE, electronics, machinery, and electric vehicles. Recently, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath presided over a high-level meeting with top echelons of the Industrial Development department to sketch a broader action plan in this regard.

Besides, the government has estimated that the quantum of fresh Investment in the economy needs to be ramped up from the current level of 42 per cent to 47 per cent of the GSDP as well. UP is among Indias top producers and exporters of toys, leather goods, and textiles in the country.

According to the states projections, UPs exports can surge to over $200 billion by 2027 if the state is able to capture just 5 per cent of the global export market of leather, textile, toys & games, defence, and electronic products.

Moreover, the state can achieve an economy of $14 billion by catering to just 10 per cent of the global electric vehicles export market.

At present, China exports up to 29 per cent of the worlds textiles/clothes compared to Indias 3 per cent; whereas UP exports up to 23 per cent of Indias textile exports.

Similarly, China accounts for 32 per cent of the global leather export compared to Indias 2 per cent; whereas UPs contribution to Indias leather export is 43 per cent.

China exports 58 per cent of the global toys and sporting products, whereas India only exports 0.4 per cent; while the contribution of UP in the national export basket is about 32 per cent. In fact, the government is eyeing to position the UP export basket in the key markets that China caters to in the Asian, African, and Latin American markets.

As India crossed the milestone of 100 crore Covid-19 doses, the share of UP, with 12.3 crore jabs, stood at more than 12%, which is highest in the country. Maharashtra, with over 9.3 crore doses and West Bengal with 6.9 crore doses are the next two states in terms of total inoculations.

In UP, 9.48 crore persons have taken the first dose while 2.83 crore are fully vaccinated. This means that 81% of the 15.04 crore eligible persons in UP have taken at least one dose while 18.4% are fully vaccinated.

Experts appreciated the enormity of the work undertaken in UP, especially in the Light of factors like limited availability of Vaccines, Union Government‘s vaccination priority to high prevalence states like Maharashtra and Kerala in early stages and the scale of implementation challenge in UP.

Archeologists from the Archaeological Survey of India discovered the “Shankhalipi” inscription on the stairs of an ancient temple in the Etah district of Uttar Pradesh.

Bilsarh, in Etah district of Uttar Pradesh, where the archeological remains have been discovered and protected site from the colonial times and is a recognised Gupta period settlement.

Archaeologists deciphered the “shankhalipi” inscription, “Sri Mahendraditya ” is the title of Kumaragupta I of The Gupta Dynasty.

Since only two other structural temples of the Gupta era have been discovered so far-Dashavatara Temple (Deogarh) & Bhitargaon Temple (Kanpur Dehat), this discovery becomes significant

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced the launch of the project on March 11, 2021. This Irrigation project will bring positive changes to farmers. This project was announced when he launched the Lahchura Dam under the Arjun Sahayak project in the Mahoba area.

The Arjuna Sahayak project is an irrigation project worth 260 billion rupees. It is being built on the Dhasan River.

The project will provide irrigation facilities for 150,000 farmers in 168 villages in Banda, Mahoba and Hamirpur in Uttar Pradesh.

After the project is completed, about 400,000 people will have access to pure drinking water. According to the project, the area of irrigation facilities will reach 15,000 hectares. Dhasan River: This river is a tributary of the right bank of the Betwa River.

It originated in Begumganj tehsil in Raisen District, Madhya Pradesh. Its southeastern border is the Lalitpur district of Uttar Pradesh. The river is 365 kilometers long. In the total length, the total flow of Madhya Pradesh is 240 kilometers, the total length between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh is 54 kilometers, and Uttar Pradesh is 71 kilometers long. This river was also called Dhasan River in ancient times. The Lahchura Dam was built on this river. This river is regarded as a holy river by the residents of villages nearby.

The Yogi Adityanath government is working on an innovative initiative to ease traffic on streets, facilitate transportation and develop an integrated and green road Network with less carbon emissions in the state of Uttar Pradesh. As part of the initiative, all municipal roads in urban areas will be widened in the state, reducing traffic and ensuring smooth movement of commuters.

The Urban Development department is gearing up to propose for replacement of the Urban Road Improvement Scheme, which has been in operation since 2013-14, by an incentive-based plan called the Chief Minister Green Road Development Scheme ( CM-GRIDS Urban), for the effective development of such roads. This will also help municipal bodies achieve financial autonomy.

Currently, there is no dedicated plan for the development of roads in Uttar Pradesh with widths ranging from 10 metre to 45 metre, despite these wide roads being considered the main routes for urban transport and economic activities. The proposed road network aims to develop integrated green roads that are cost-effective and have low carbon emissions. In addition, the plan seeks to enhance transportation efficiency, develop safe roads and intersections, maintain and manage created assets as well as achieve financial autonomy for municipal bodies.

Notably, the proposed plan is based on principles such as easy access to transportation systems, seamless mobility, innovative utilisation of road spaces, stakeholder participation and citizen engagement and aims to benefit everyone.

According to the proposal, urban areas will also have to fulfill eligibility and funding allocation criteria to benefit from the CM-GRIDS. As per the proposal, urban bodies that achieve a minimum 10 per cent increase in their revenue collection compared to the previous year will be eligible to receive grants under the scheme.

Under the scheme, at least 20 per cent of the total estimated transportation by the urban body will be carried out through its own Resources. However, the urban body can utilise funds obtained from other schemes or programmes (such as AMRUT SEM LAD or others) through convergence.

As per the guidelines of the Indian Road Congress (IRC), only the development of sub-arterial, collector and local streets with road widths (right of way) greater than 10 metre and less than 45 metre will be included. The funds received under the scheme will be utilised solely for the development of roads.

To transfer funds to urban bodies, a bank account will be opened in the name of CM-GRIDS (Urban) at the headquarters level by the agency, and the transfer of funds will be carried out through authorised signatories.

Under the proposed scheme, grants will be given to all the municipal corporations in the first phase. In the second phase, the remaining nagar palika parishads and nagar panchayats will be included.

The government has embarked on a campaign for preserving water and is promotingrainwater harvestingacross the state.

As per directions of chief ministerYogi Adityanath,rooftop rainwater harvestinghas to be set up in government and semi-government buildings in six major cities, includingMeerut, Bareilly, Lucknow, Prayagraj,GorakhpurandJhansi.

A government spokesperson said that the Jal Jeevan Mission section of the minor Irrigation department has been entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating this project.

In rural areas, water harvesting facilities are being installed at both private and public places underMNREGA. This includes setting up of rooftop rainwater harvesting systems at government schools, digging ponds and recharging pits in a beneficiary farmers field.

Kids enrolled inUttar Pradeshwill now go from village to village to witness the development works ofJal Jeevan Mission. For, the has decided to conduct exposure visits for students through theJal Gyan Yatraprogramme.

Issuing directives to basic Education officers (BSAs), the education department has asked them to provide a list of authorized schools and children to the state water and sanitation mission office on priority basis.

To be organized by Namami Gange and the department of rural water supply in collaboration with the basic education department, the yatra will enable students to witness the entire process of ensuring supply of clean drinking water even in remote areas by the Jal Jeevan Mission. This is a unique effort by any state in the country, in which school students will be apprised of every little step that goes in the supply of clean drinking water.

Commencing this month, the JGY programme will be a Learning experience for kids. Students will be taken to STPs and water treatment Plants. In the first phase, a trip to Lucknow, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Mahoba and Jhansi will be made. During this visit, quiz contests will also be organized.

Amid reports that Maharashtra is set to receive liquid medicaloxygen(LMO) through newly-launched Oxygen Express, a roll-on roll-off service with road tankers placed on flat military wagons, the Uttar Pradesh government has also sought help from therailwaysto bring oxygen fromJharkhandand Odisha.

According to RAILWAY officials, three stations Lucknow, Faizabad and Varanasi have been chosen where LMO tankers will be alighted. Railway authorities confirmed that 400 empty oxygen cylinders would be moved from Kandla (Gujarat) to Varanasi in new modified goods (NMG) wagons.