04.05.21

A popular pet turtle from the United States is threatening to take over natural water bodies in Northeast India.

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Northeast India is Home to 21 of India’s 29 vulnerable freshwater turtle and tortoise species.

Highlights:

A team of herpetologists from the NGO Help Earth’ discovered red-eared sliders in the Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary and the Ugratara temple pond in Guwahati, Assam, between August 2018 and June 2019.

The red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) gets its name from the red stripes around the region of its body where its ears would be, as well as its ability to easily glide from any surface into the water.

This turtle is native to the United States and northern Mexico, and it is a very popular pet.

They grow very fast and there is almost nothing for native species to eat.

It has affected states such as Karnataka and Gujarat, and it has been found in 33 natural waters.

It’s critical to keep this invasive species from taking over the Brahmaputra and other river Ecosystems in the Northeast, because the region is home to more than 72 percent of the country’s turtle and tortoise species, all of which are extremely rare.

Assam to give free food, water to Covid patients in government hospitals

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The Assam government has decided to re-introduce free food and drinking water for Covid patients at government hospitals and Covid care centres.

Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said committees are also being set up with members of civil Society to enforce the mandatory 7-day Home quarantine for those who are returning home by air and train and have tested negative for Covid on arrival. We have fixed Rs 300 for each patient daily and deputy commissioners have been asked to provide each patient in government hospitals and Covid care centres with breakfast, lunch, evening tea, dinner and bottle of water. There will also be a canteen in the Covid care centre premises where patients can buy additional items on their own, Sarma said.

Odisha: Industry body urges OSPCB for virtual hearings

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TheConfederation of Indian Industries(CII) has written to theOdisha State Pollution Control Board(OSPCB) requesting it to find a suitable alternative to physical public hearings for granting Environment clearances.

In view of the prevalent Covid-19 situation, the OSPCB has cancelled the public hearings for mining and industrial projects. The CII and theFederation of Indian Mineral Industries(FIMI) have also urged the forest and environment ministry to intervene in the matter and allow virtual public hearings.

The Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitaraman inaugurated the first 3D printed HouseHouse at IIT Madras.

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The HouseHouse was once constructed using indigenous 3D printing technology. It used to be built in just five days. It was constructed via TVASTA Manufacturing based on a thought via former IIT-M students.

3D printing is a system of making three-dimensional objects via digital instructions. It is additionally called Additive manufacturing. It is the opposite of Subtractive Manufacturing. Subtractive manufacturing is slicing away from a giant material.

The Global market of 3D printing is predicted to reach 34.8 billion USD by using 2024.

In 2020, the Electronics & Information Technology Ministry launched the National Strategy for Additive Manufacturing.

CII-Kerala: Will work closely with new government on focused agenda

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TheConfederation of Indian (CII) while congratulating theLDFvictory led byPinarayi Vijayansaid it demonstrated peoples support for his far-sighted, people-centric and inclusive Governance.

The governance record and manifesto moored to welfarism and development has helped LDF to retain the power in Kerala.

The government had put in dedicated efforts to ease the process of doing business in the state. Emphasis of the Ease of Doing Business initiatives were laid on SIMPLIFICATION and rationalization of the existing rules and introduction of IT to make governance more efficient, effective, transparent and user-friendly.

CIIs efforts in the areas of promoting Kerala as preferred destination for medical tourism and ayurveda, initiatives towards promoting Keralas prominent sectors such as Food Processing, ITES, financial Services, value-added spices, hospitality,MSMEs and educationwill continue under the new government.

Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd to set up 5 O2 plants

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Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd(MRPL) will establish fiveoxygen generation plantsacrossKarnataka, includingDakshina Kannada, to support the states fight against the second wave of the Covid pandemic.

Under the guidance of MPNalin Kumar Kateeland District Administration, MRPL will be setting up a 930 litres per minute plant in theWenlock District Hospital. Shell MRPL Aviation (SMA), a joint venture between MRPL and Shell, will contribute Rs 75 lakh for this initiative. The plant is expected to be operational by mid-June.

MRPL has already placed an order worth Rs 1.12 crore with Summits Hygronics Private Limited. This system will have compressors, PSA Tank, filters, tanks, dryers and will ensure Oxygen pressure of 4 bars with a purity of 93 +/- 3 which should be sufficient to meet the medical oxygen requirement.

After 2.5 years wait, Telangana signs up for Ayushman Bharat rollout

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TheTelangana government decided to implementAyushman Bharatin the state with immediate effect, almost two-and-half-years after the Centre launched the Health scheme nationally.

health officials signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with thenational health authorityon Tuesday to implement the scheme in the state. The state health authorities have directed the chief executive officer ofTelanganaAarogyasri Health Care Trust to see that patients get treatment in the empanelled hospitals as per the newly converged health scheme.

Ayushman Bharat was launched by the Centre in September 2018. Telangana was among the states that had opposed the scheme and even claimed that its own Aarogyasri scheme was much better. Chief ministerK Chandrasekhar Raohad rejected the national scheme on the floor of the assembly.

Officials claimed that Aarogyasri provided coverage for 949 different treatment modalities. The scheme provides Insurance coverage to each family from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 13 lakh and in some specialised therapies, there is no cap on the cost of treatment. The cap is Rs 5 lakh under Ayushman Bharat.

Andhra Pradesh government spent Rs 85,000 crore on agriculture in last two years

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The has spent close to Rs 85,000 crore on theagriculturesector in the last two years as chief ministerYS Jagan Mohan Reddyis firm on providing full support to farmers. Setting up of over 10,000 Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs), a field-level one-stop support centre for farmers, is an initiative of the YSRC government.

The state government has so far disbursed Rs 17,030 crore to about 52.38 lakh farmers under YSR Rythu Bharosa PM Kisan Scheme in the last two years.

The government has already set up 10,778 YSR Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs) across the state to provide Services to farmers in their neighbourhood. RBKs will extend support to farmers from seed to crop sale.

Government-certified non-contaminated, quality seeds, quality fertilisers, quality pesticides, e-crop registration, crop Insurance, zero interest loans, crop purchasing center services, Soil testing, agricultural expert advice, agricultural prices monitoring at the village level, market details and weather forecasts are made available in the RBKs.

RBKs would also provide training on advanced technologies to fishermen and aqua farmers. The government is also taking measures for supply of quality seed, feed supplements, medicines, nets, other inputs required for Livestock, Poultry, and Fisheries.

GCCI seeks priority inoculation for store owners, distributors

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The Goa Chamber of Commerce and (GCCI) has written to chief minister Pramod Sawant asking the State Government to consider retailers and distributors as frontlineCovidwarriors and to prioritise the retail sector in the vaccination drive.

The GCCI has asked the government to prepare a vaccination plan as per priority for frontline workers and to keep dedicated stocks of the vaccine for retailers.

The GCCI has pointed out that retailers meet around 50 to 100 customers on a daily basis and have a high chance of getting infected as they cannot ensure stringent and consistent Covid protocols at all times.

The government of Maharashtra has prepared and submitted provisional nominations for 14 fortresses in the state to obtain the label of World Heritage.Highlights:

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Maharashtra lists 14 attractions, including Shivneri Fort, Raigad Fort, Torna Fort, Rajgad Fort, Lohagad, Mulher Fort, Ankai Tankai Fort, Salher Fort, Rangana Fort, Ankai Tankai Fort, Kasa Fort, Sindhudurg Fort, Alibag Fort, Suvarnadurg and Khanderi Fort. All sites are important in HISTORY.

They belong to the rule of Peshwa, or they belong to the battle between Marathas and Mughals. Some forts also served as naval or army bases for Marathi fighters. UNESCO accepted the list of nominations for temporary fortresses forwarded by the Ministry of Archaeology of India through the Ministry of Culture.

Now, the must submit a detailed final list of nominations to UNESCO to list the outstanding value of these sites. World heritage is a landmark or area protected by law under International Conventions.

These sites are managed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Such sites are designated by UNESCO because of their cultural, historical or scientific significance. To obtain the mark of world cultural heritage, the site must have a unique landmark that can be identified geographically and historically.

As of June 2020, there are 1,121 World Heritage Sites in 167 countries/regions. China and Italy are the countries with the largest number of World Heritage Sites (55 in each country).