Assam among 5 states vulnerable to extreme climate events’

Assam, which has witnessed rainfall deficit of over 20% for the sixth time since 2010, is among the five states that are highly vulnerable to extreme Climate events such as floods, droughts and , according to a new study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).

The study, “Mapping India’s Climate Vulnerability – A District-Level Assessment” done by Delhi-based think-tank CEEW, has faulted unsustainable landscape, lack of Infrastructure planning and human-induced microclimate change as the key drivers of this high vulnerability.

The northeastern zone, including Assam, Manipur, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh, is only highly exposed to extreme flood events.Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Karbi Anglong, Hailakandi, Tinsukia and Dhemaji districts are also the flood hotspots in India.

A surge in extreme events has been observed across India after 2005. Our sensitivity analysis shows that this is primarily triggered by landscape disruptions. Various studies have confirmed the impact of landscape changes on the incidence of extreme events (UNEP 2009),” the study said.

Centre asks Odisha to expedite land acquisition for highway projects

The Centre has requested the to expedite the land acquisition process as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans to award tenders for some of the crucial highway projects in the state within the next one year.

Some of the key highway projects which are likely to be awarded in the next one year include theCapital Region Ring Road, Tangi-Ratanpur stretch of the coastal highway, six-lane of Chandikhole-Paradip stretch, Keonjhar-Duburi project,Cuttack-Paradipand Sambalpur ring road project.

Besides, two port connectivity projects like Chhatpur to Gopalpur and Jamujhadi to Dhamra port are also likely to be awarded for implementation by next year.
All these highway projects are proposed under the Centre’sBharatmala Pariyojanaand are significant in terms of faster movement of goods and socio-Economic Development of the respective regions.

Tamil Nadu CM Stalin urges PM Modi to release wage liability of Rs 1,178 crore under MGNREGS

Chief ministerM K Stalin urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to releasewage liabilityof Rs 1,178.12 crore under theMGNREGStoTamil Nadu.

MGNREGS, one of the largest social security programmes, provides a maximum of 100 days of guaranteed EMPLOYMENT in a fiscal to every rural household. Hence, funds towards wage payment may be released immediately, particularly considering the festival season, the CM said, urging Modi to act on his request favourably.

Kerala University to set up international study centre

Higher Education minister R Bindhu has announced the governments decision to set up an international research centre in memory of physicist Thanu Padmanabhan.

The centre would come up underKerala University(KU), the minister said while inaugurating the student life cycle management system and a host of digital Services readied by KU. Bindhu said the decision to set up an international study centre in memory of the renowned physicist who died recently was taken based on a suggestion of CM Pinarayi Vijayan. A plan for the project was in the final phase, she said.

Will rename Mumbai-Karnataka as Kittur Karnataka: CM Basavaraj Bommai

TheMumbai-Karnatakaregion will be renamed as ‘Kittur Karnatakaregion’ as there is no point in retaining the old name when border disputes often emerge, chief ministerBasavaraj Bommaisaid.

The CM was apparently referring to the repeated claims made by Maharashtra politicians demanding the merger of Belagavi district and a few border regions of Karnataka with Maharashtra owing to the presence of a substantial Marathi speaking Population.

He argued that the changes in the region should have happened in 1956 when the State Reorganisation Act came into effect.

The CM said the government has given utmost importance to Kannada making the language compulsory in higher Education under the new National Education Policy.

Telangana willing to develop a dedicated industrial corridor for French firms: KTR

TelanganaIT and industries minister KT Rama Rao said the was willing to develop a dedicated industrial cluster for French companies, particularly Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

He said the state has a large land bank of about 2,00,000 acres with the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC).

All these lands are very strategically located and have the best of high-quality infrastructure like power, water, waste disposal, connectivity, he said.

On the Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge (TASK), he said the government would train people at its own cost, transforming them into quality human Resources which also provides major EMPLOYMENT opportunities to the locals.
The companies that intended to invest in India can mention what other states were offering, Telangana would meet their offer, if not, beat their offer, the minister added.

Vijayawada 2nd in drunken driving deaths

Vijayawada stands second among cities in the country in terms of deaths that occur due to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

A total of 7,039 people were killed and 19,675 persons suffered injuries in 17,924road accidentsinAndhra Pradeshin 2020 as per the latest data ofNCRBin its Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India-2020 report.

Of the 94 deaths reported in AP due to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in 2020, Vijayawada accounted for 67.

As per the cause-wise distribution of road accidents among cities in 2020, among the 53 cities, Vijayawada occupies the second position with 67 deaths, after Chennai (236 deaths). Though Kolkata reported 345 cases of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it reported only two deaths and 338 injuries.

Solar energy boost for powerless homes

With an aim to achieve 100% electrification for households in Goa, the state cabinet on Friday granted approval for the appointment of an agency to install up to 150 additional solar PV systems for households that have no power.

Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL) has been appointed to design, manufacture, supply, install and commission the systems with a comprehensive maintenance contract for five years under the remote village electrification programme.

The cabinet had, earlier in March, resolved to select CESL and award it the contract to supply, install and commission solar power packs of 500WP capacity each, solar Home lighting system and solar street lighting system.

CESL has already completed installations for 151 households and six solar streetlights.

Maharashtra govt to give Rs 50 lakh towards conservation of Jinji fort in Tamil Nadu

Chief ministerUddhav Thackerayhas announced that the government ofMaharashtrawill give Rs 50 lakh towards the conservation of theJinjifort inTamil Nadu.

This decision was taken on the demand raised byChhatrapati Sambhaji Rajein the meeting of the steering committee on fort conservation in the state.

The Jinji fort in Nadu is known as the fourth capital of theSwarajya. Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj, son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, ruled from here for eight years.

The funds will be deposited with the central archaeological department for the conservation of the palace.

Free Education Scheme Announced In Haryana

Manohar Lal Khattar, Haryana CM, declared a free Education scheme to boost the level of education in the state.

Highlights:

scheme has been proclaimed to those whose verified family income is lower than Rs. 1.80 lakh per annum.

An announcement was made under Haryanas Super 100 Programme.

Through this scheme, the tries to assure that talented students from low-income families will not lose a chance to go on with their dreams.

As per New Education Policy-2020, the state is setting up institutions wherein education will be provided from KG to postgraduate levels.

In the initial phase, this system will be made in four universities.

The Kurukshetra University has then started preparations to take admission under the KG to PG scheme for the academic session 2021-22.

Digital Reformations

The government has also brought digital improvements to replace human interface across every wing of the government.

Online teachers transfer policy has also been initiated under NEP 2020 in Haryana.

The government has also made several other improvements to make the system paperless, faceless, and transparent.

National Education Policy (NEP) 2020

NEP 2020 was announced by the Ministry of Education to transform the Indian education system for meeting the needs of the 21st Century.

It seeks to rectify poor Literacy & numeracy outcomes related to primary schools, adopt a multi-disciplinary approach, and reduce dropout levels in middle & secondary schools.

It also focuses on reform assessments & exams, and early childhood care.