04.02.23

Haryana in top 5 states in recycling, restoring discarded batteries

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Despite being a small state in terms of area, Haryana has found its place in the top five states of the country for recycling, refurbishing and collection centres for used, discarded and overload batteries of all kinds.

According to information, Haryana has been ranked fourth with 58 such centres.
The state has an annual recycling and refurbishing capacity of 2,76,164 metric tonnes of battery waste. Three states which have done better than Haryana include neighbouringRajasthan, which tops the table with 121 centres. It is followed by 94 centres in Maharashtra, 61 in West Bengal and 56 centres in Madhya Pradesh.

Punjabhas 55 such centres, while Himachal has the lowest count of just 13 such units. AfterRajasthan, Haryana tops the region.

There are 44 recycling centres for batteries and 14 refurbishing centres. All these centres are functioning in Karnal, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Kurukshetra and Palwal districts.

PSPCL gets Rs 9,641 crore loan for installation of smart meters

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After an assurance by the to clear Rs 1,800 crore per annum for next five years, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (Pspcl) has been granted a loan of Rs 9,641 crore for the installation of smart meters.

The PSPCL has been allowed to strengthen Infrastructure for the loss reduction in a time bound manner under revamped distribution sector scheme (RDSS) of by the Power Finance Corporation (PFC).

The project cost of smart metering works is Rs 5,768 crore with a grant of Rs 875 crore from Central Government. An additional incentive of Rs 85 crore will be given on completion of the project in defined time period. The project cost for strengthening the infrastructure for loss reduction is Rs 3,837 crore with a grant of Rs 3,199 crores.

This loan, however, comes with a rider that the state department must clear arrears of subsidy amounting to Rs 9,020 crore, along with pending electricity dues from government departments of Rs 2,548 crore, to the PSPCL.

Himachal Pradesh in high-risk seismic zones, yet buildings not earthquake-resistant

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Himachal Pradesh which falls in the high-risk, high-intensity seismic zones IV and V. Successive state governments strengthened disaster response but left most of the public andprivate buildingsnon-resistant to tremors. Of the 25,75,947 (25.7 lakh) structures that state counted in 2011, it found 14,64,458 (14.6 lakh) or 56.8% in the unsafe category A, of mud walls and unburnt-clay bricks. Another 10,07,568 (10 lakh) or 39.11% of the structures were in category B, ofburnt bricks.None of the categories are resistant to earthquake.

A high-intensity earthquake is more catastrophic in the Mountains, for it triggers landslides, rockslides, and avalanches. Seven Himachal Pradesh districts – Chamba, Kullu, Kangra, Una, Hamirpur, Mandi, and Bilaspur – are in the very high damage risk seismic zone V, while five districts – Shimla, Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, and Sirmaur – fall in the high damage risk seismic zone IV. More than 90% of Hamirpur, Kangra, and Mandi is prone to “destructive” Earthquakes measured by the Medvedev-Sponheuer-Karnik (MSK) scale of intensity.

Uttarakhand: Tourism sector lauds ‘Dekho Apna Desh’

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The residents ofUttarakhandhave welcomed the ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ initiative proposed in the budget. Hiranmoy Roy, professor of economics at DIT University, said that it will lay the foundation for more job creation in the state.

Hotelier Manav Kochhar said, “Centre’s initiative to develop tourist destinations across the country will surely benefit the state as Uttarakhand is known for Char Dham Yatra and adventure tourism. We already have an airport and one more is about to come to the state. Things like air safari have great tourist attractions, and I hope the government will promote such facilities by making a video on them to get maximum benefit.” Meanwhile, Shyamal Chatterjee, an industrialist associated with CII, said that 95% of the total industries in Uttarakhand are MSMEs and the announcement of the revamped credit guarantee scheme of Rs 9,000 crore is commendable.

Monument mitra to conserve heritage

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Buoyed by the response to its heritage scheme during the recentPravasi Bharatiya Diwas(PBD) celebrations in Indore, Directorate of UP State Archaeology (DUPSA) has decided to promote it vigorously during the Global Investors Summit and events scheduled in the city later this month.
The scheme Monument Mitra or adopt a heritage scheme was launched by the central government in 2020. But it has only found a few takers IN UP so far.
Only three out of 11 sites offered in phase-1 of the scheme in 2021 were adopted by different firms. In phase-2 in 2022, only two organisations expressed willingness for adoption of the 10 sites on offer. The directorate got six queries for adoption during PBD.

In phase-1, Raskhan Ki Samadhi in Mahavan (Mathura), Kusumvan Sarovar in Govardhan (Mathura) and Kardameshwar Mahadev Temple in Varanasi were adopted by some organisations.

Jharkhand gets Rs 5,271 crores for Railwaysin Budget 2023-24

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There has been a massive increase in Budget Grant for railways in West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha in 2023-24. Addressing a press meet through video conferencing from New Delhi, RAILWAY MinisterAshwini Vaishnawsaid that there has been complete transformation of Railways in the last 8 years andhighlighted budget grants pertaining to railways in different States for the current financial year.

In this current budget, the total outlay for railways modernization and expansion in Jharkhand is Rs.5,271 crores against the Average outlay of RS.457 crores during 2009 to 2014. In Jharkhand and Odisha 57 stations each will be re-developed.

Apart from these 15 railway stations including Daltonganj, Nagar Untari is going to change. Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, the Central Government has made a provision in the budget to change the appearance, beautify and increase passenger facilities of major railway stations of the country. Under this scheme, the face of Nagar Untari railway station is going to change.

Bihar allotted Rs 8,505 crore for overall development of railway projects: Ashwini Vaishnaw

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Union RAILWAY ministerAshwini Vaishnaw saidBiharhas got an allocation of Rs 8,505 crore in the Union Budget for achieving an all-round Development Of Railway Network. The budgetary allocation for the state was raised 7.5 times more as compared to earlier budgetary allocations of total Rs 1132 crore between 2009 and 2014.

Adequate budgetary allocations have been made for gauge conversion, which included Jayanagar-Darbhanga-Narkatiaganj (Rs125 crore) while Sakri-Laukaha Bazar-Nirmali-Saharsa-Forbesganj (Rs105 crore) and Mansi-Saharsa- Madhepura-Purnia (Rs8 crore).

Govt to give equal amount to donors to charitable health institutions: CM

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Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the will also provide funds equal to the contribution given by the donors for the expansion of Health facilities in charitable health institutions. Special rules will be made for this. Chief Minister Chouhan was addressing the foundation day of Arogya Dham Hospital and Research Center in Gwalior on Sunday and the inauguration ceremony of the institute’s cath lab and medical vehicle service.

Union Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Civil Aviation and Steel Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, former Governor Prof. Kaptan Singh Solanki, Managing Director of MD Interten Tele Pvt Ltd, who donated Rs 2 crore for the establishment of Cath Lab in Arogyadham Institute, Manish Singhal along with other officials of Arogyadham Trust were on the dais. In-charge of the district and Resources“>Water Resources Minister Tulsiram Silavat, former minister Shri Lal Singh Arya, Etawah MLA Sarita Bhadauria, service members and citizens associated with the trust were present.

Chief Minister Chouhan said that Arogyadham Sansthan run by Taranekar Smriti Seva Nyas is a lifeline for economically weak families in the present era. He said that this trust has done a virtuous work by starting a cath lab for the treatment of heart diseases. He said that only the government cannot do all the work. It is the shared duty of the government and the Society to contribute in setting-up projects like Arogya Dham.

Rajasthan fails to tap its agri, mineral resources, business thrives in Gujarat

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Rajasthanproduces about 40% of cumin and isabgol and over 40% raw materials for ceramic in the country but the mandis of the agri commodities and the manufacturing units that use the Minerals tiles and sanitaryware thrive in Gujarat. Farmers and entrepreneurs said despite the state having such a large resource base, it is not only losing economic benefits, but depriving common people of potential livelihood opportunities.

Choudhary said its not always they make profits. The crop is susceptible to wind speed and rain. On Average, farmers lose 20-25% of crops to natural adversities. In the best conditions, they make a profit of Rs 8000-9000 in an acre. But thats occasionally. Being farmers, our voices do not count. So, we cannot form committees. In all these years, nobody has thought of establishing mandis, said Choudhary.

In fact, Rajasthan produces about 40% of the countrys cumin with large volumes coming from districts like Barmer, Jaisalmer, Nagore and Jalore. Gujarats production is higher than Rajasthan, though.

Morbi in Gujarat has become the leading centre for manufacturing of ceramic tiles and sanitary ware industry. According to research and consulting firm IMARC, the Indian tiles, sanitary ware and bathroom fittings market is valued at $7,516 million in 2021 and is expected to grow over 8% in the coming years.

Remote Electronic Voting Machine.

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As many as eight national and 40 regional held a discussion with the Election Commission on Remote Electronic Voting Machine(RVM). The development came after the commission extended the date of submission of written views by political parties (on various issues with regard to RVM) to February 28, 2023. Though the parties appreciated ECIs initiative of calling all parties for discussion, they had a plethora of queries on the same.

The new RVM prototype willenable a voter, who is listed in constituencies, to exercise voting rights from a single machine.

Themulti-constituency remote EVM, developed by a public sector undertaking, canhandle up to 72 constituenciesfrom a single remote polling booth.

Migrant voters would not need to travelto their Home districts to exercise their franchise if the remote electronic voting machine is implemented properly.