02.03.22

At Rs 377 crore, Himachal Pradesh records 25% increase in GST collection

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TheGoods and Service Tax(GST) collection inHimachal Pradeshregistered an increase of 25% in February, amounting to a collection of Rs 377 crore.
The GST collection in the current financial year so far is Rs 4,933 crore, which is 21% more than the previous year.

The department has trained around 450 tax officers recently and verified 12 lakh e-way bills during road checking in the current fiscal.

The department is also committed to improve voluntary compliance with time-bound redressal of the issues of the stakeholders, he said.

Ukhand to reconstitute State Pharmacy Council

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The Uttarakhand government has started the process of reviving the State Pharmacy Council (SPC). The council has been in a suspended state for the last eight years. The orders to reconstitute the SPC have been given by the Health minister Dhan Singh Rawat to the officers of the department. This information was given by the minister to the office bearers of the diploma pharmacists association.

A delegation of the association met the minister at his Vidhan Sabha office on the day. The minister said that the orders to reconstitute the SPC have been given to the officers of the department. He said that the Pharmacy Practice Regulation 2015 would be strictly implemented in the State after the constitution of the council. Rawat also gave on the spot orders to release the Uttarakhand pharmacist regulations which are pending at the level of administration.

UP govt plans to increase power generation

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In view of increasing power demand in the state, it has a plan to increase power generation in the state.

Replying to posers in the question-hour session, Power Minister AK Sharma said that between 2017 and 2022, at least five thermal projects are under construction in the state for power supply. Of these projects (total capacity 5643 MW), the Harduaganj thermal project with a capacity of 660 MW has been made operational while Jawaharpur Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (capacity 2×660=1320 MW), Panki Thermal Project (capacity 1×660=660 MW), Ghatampur Thermal Project (capacity 3×660=1980 MW) and Obra C Thermal Project (capacity 2×660=1320 MW) are under construction.

He said that out of 42 renewable projects (total capacity 3970 MW) signed for power generation in the middle of the question period, 31 projects (total capacity 2412 MW) are operational and 11 projects (total capacity 1558 MW) are under construction.

Apart from this, MoUs have been signed with NTPC for setting up thermal projects in Obra (capacity 2×800 MW) and Anpara (capacity 2×800 MW) in the Global Investors Summit-2023 and of Rs 29,1914.8 crore has been proposed in the field of RENEWABLE ENERGY. A total of 116 MoUs have been signed, Sharma said.

Build Jharkhand: Experts discuss the way forward for a sustainable growth

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CII Jharkhand organised a session on Build Jharkhand: Growth. Sustainability. Technology. where eminent speakers deliberated on their vision of Emerging Jharkhand that thrives towards creating more opportunities for sector-based industrial development and the opportunities and the current challenges in Jharkhand. Overall discussions on the PARTNERSHIP between government, , and Society coming together, thinking together and working together to drive the development process to achieve a developed Jharkhand took place during the session.

Highco Engineers Pvt Ltd said Jharkhand needs to play a crucial role in India being ready to become a $5 trillion economy by 2025-26 and Industry will remain the primary growth engine for this endeavor. Jharkhand has the capability and capacity to not only contribute but also drive Indias growth. With proactive government policies and favourable Investment Climate, Jharkhand is coming up fast in the investment space. This is evident from the fact that in recent times Jharkhand has been constantly ranked high in the DIPP ranking of Ease of Doing Business. A strategy also needs to be created for sustainability in the RENEWABLE ENERGY footprint, mitigation and conservation strategies and resource efficiency.

Groundwater in 30,000 wards polluted in Bihar: PHED report

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A latest report of the public Health and engineering department (PHED) has found groundwater polluted in 30,207 village wards across the state. However, the government has installed water purification equipment in those areas and is now supplying purified water to the villagers to save them from health complications.

According to the report, there are 21,709 wards across the state where the iron content in groundwater is more than the permissible limits. Similarly, arsenic and fluoride contents in groundwater are more than the permissible limits in 4,709 and 3,789 wards, respectively. Health experts say the overload of iron, fluorosis and arsenic in water may cause severe health problems such as cancer, cirrhosis of liver, heart problems, weakening of bones, deformities, and skin lesions.

Similarly, pure piped water is being supplied in 98.68 percent areas (4,647 wards) having arsenic contents and 99.76 percent of the region (3,780 wards) affected with heavy fluoride contents in the groundwater.

The report says there are several arsenic-hit wards in Buxar, Bhojpur, Vaishali, Begusarai, Patna and Bhagalpur districts where piped water is reaching, while clean potable water is being supplied to several fluoride-affected wards across Munger, Nawada, West Champaran, Begusarai and Lakhisarai districts.

Start census soon, Baghel writes to PM

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Chhattisgarh chief ministerBhupeshBaghelhas written a letter to Prime MinisterNarendra Modiurging him to direct the authorities concerned to release the schedule for new census.

The census operations, which was scheduled to be held in 2021, was stopped due to the pandemic. For the last 150 years, census was carried out every ten years and the data collected gives information about socio-economic and cultural changes in the country , Baghel said.

Pointing out that the figures of socio-economic situation collected during 2011 census is no longer relevant, the chief minister said along with the census, a new survey should also be started at the earliest to identify the deprived and eligible beneficiaries.

MP government to conduct survey of its temples in other States

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In other states including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nadu, 84 temples belonging to various dynasties and princely states of Madhya Pradesh have been unearthed. The government will get the survey done again regarding the encroachment of these temples and the lands belonging to them and will also make efforts to free them.

The spiritual department is preparing for this. It will also be checked whether there are any temples in some other states which are owned by Madhya Pradesh.

The dynasties and princely states also donated agricultural land for the regular operation of these temples so that the produce can feed the family of the priest of the temple. These temples have been captured by the relatives of the priests appointed at that time or by the powerful people of the area. They are also in possession of the land belonging to the temples. The campaign to free the possession was also started.

Cost of new projects to go up by 20% in Gujarat

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State governments order to immediatelydouble jantri rateswill impact upcoming projects the most, say realty experts.

Amount of paid FSI and NA premium will be doubled which will raise a question on the viability of a project. On the other hand, redevelopment deals of various societies will also be put on hold due to non-viability following increase in FSI rates. Experts believe the new projects will be costlier by 20% while the commercial segment will be hit the most.

Increase injantri rateswill affect redevelopment projects as well. Double jantri will make redevelopment agreement cost double for builders which is 5% of jantri rates.

Cabinet okays Bill for stringent law to curb menace of organised crime

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The state cabinet on Wednesday approved theRajasthan Control of Organized Crime Bill, 2023, with stringent provisions.

The cabinet noted that the nature of crime has changed in recent years and criminals have now formed gangs to carry out crimes while there is no special law to deal with such crimes in the state.

The Bill has made a provision for death or life imprisonment in case of death caused by a criminal gang, and a minimum fine of Rs 1 lakh. Those who indulge in criminal conspiracy and give shelter to gang members will invite a minimum of five-year jail term and a maximum of life term and a minimum Rs 5 lakh penalty. Those who acquired wealth through organized crime may invite a minimum of three-year jail term and a maximum of a life sentence and a minimum fine of Rs 2 lakh.

The Bill also makes a provision for special courts for the trial of such cases. The trials will be held in closed courts, and witnesses identities will be kept secret. There is a provision for seizure or demolition of property acquired through organized crime.

Free medical camp marks National Safety Day celebrations

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A free Health camp was conducted for the workers and supervisory staff involved in the works related to the water conveyor system under the Kaleshwaram lift Irrigation project at Namapur village in Pegadapalli mandal of Jagtial district.

According to a press release, the free health camp was conducted by the executing agency concerned on the occasion of the National Safety Day.

More than 300 persons availed the free Services offered by a team of doctors at the medical camp.