UTTARAKHAND

Uttarakhand: ‘Poor water drainage main cause of Karnaprayag cracks’

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A multi-institutional team formed byUttarakhandState Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) that is conducting geological and geotechnical investigation of areas witnessing subsidence inKarnaprayaghas found that “poor disposal of surface runoff water aggravated the subsidence problem in some parts of the town, making the ground unstable”.

A part of Karnaprayag is facing subsidence issues. And the primary cause, prima facie, appears to be poor Drainage System of surface runoff water. Similar problems exist in other hill towns of Uttarakhand as well.

Uttarakhand: Now, cattle smugglers to be booked under Gangster Act

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To curb “illegal transportation and smuggling of cattle, particularly cows”,Uttarakhand policewill now bookcattle smugglersunder theGangster Act, state Police headquarters informed.

Under the UPCP Act cases, if the accused are found to be committing the aforementioned crimes in a gang as part of an organised crime or are repeat offenders, then they would also be booked under the Gangster Act so that it acts as a deterrent. Directions have been given to SSPs and SPs in 13 districts,” said Murugesan, adding, “Once accused are booked under the Gangster Act, police will start attaching their properties accumulated illegally with the crime .” A total of 214 cases were registered under the UPCP Act and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act in 2021.

The Uttarakhand forest department has decided to develop a city forest in Haridwar at an estimated cost of Rs 2.5 crore within two years. The department has already identified eight hectares of land along the Ganga in the Kankhal area of the holy town for the purpose.According to the plan, the forest will have a seven-kilometre-long track for joggers, a park for kids, and a herbal medicine garden, among others.

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For the past few months, the forest department has been conducting a massive plantation drive in the area.

State govt to encourage alternative fertilisers under PM PRANAM Yojana: Pundir

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The will encourage the use of alternative fertilisers and balanced use of chemical fertilisers under the PM PRANAM Yojana. The central government has done a commendable job by introducing the PM PRANAM (PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment, and Amelioration of Mother Earth) Yojana and increasing the minimum support price of sugarcanes for farmers. This was stated by the state president of Kisan Morcha, Jogendra Singh Pundir, in a Press conference here on Friday. He said the Bharatiya Janata Party is thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for these decisions that will immensely help the farmers. He said that the government has also made a budget provision of Rs 1,451 crore in the Market Development Assistance Scheme for which cow dung, straw and organic manure will be used to enrich the Soil and keep the Environment safe and clean. The existing urea subsidy scheme has also been extended till March 2025.

He said that considering the interests of the sugarcane farmers in the sugar season 2023-24, the government has fixed the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane at Rs 315 per quintal for a basic recovery rate of 10.25 per cent. It has also approved providing a premium of Rs 3.07 per quintal for every 0.1 per cent increase in recovery above 10.25 per cent. Apart from this, the government has also decided that there will be no deduction in cases of sugar mills where the recovery is less than 9.5 per cent in order to protect the interests of sugarcane farmers. He said that farmers will get Rs 291.975 per quintal for sugarcane in the coming sugar season- October 2023 to September 2024 instead of Rs 282.125 per quintal in the current season. Pundir also thanked the union president of Kisan Morcha, Rajkumar Chahar for increasing the minimum support price of Moong, Arhar, Paddy, Maize, and Urad Dal to improve the economy of the farmers.

UEPPCB contributes `25 crore to CM relief fund

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The Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB) contributed Rs 25 crore to the CM relief fund to boost the fight against Covid-19. Forest and Environment minister Harak Singh Rawat presented the cheque for the amount to chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat.

Rawat said that the board charges environment fee every year and the income generated from this is used by the board to fulfil its social obligations. About Rs 20 crore is incurred on the salaries of the staff and other expenses of the board after which the remaining amount is also used for public welfare.

Uttarakhand CM lays foundation stones for 13 projects

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CM PushkarSingh Dhami laid the foundation stone of 13 projects at Jhabrera mandi parishad. The CM, while addressing a gathering, said under the Leadership of PM Narendra Modi, has continuously been working for the welfare of farmers by introducing several schemes. Modi has taken revolutionary steps in doubling the income of the farm community, he said.

Dhami went on to add that schemes such as Kisan Credit Card and Kisan Samman Nidhi helped farmers trapped in a spiral of debt.