05.10.21

Groundwater conservation: Three-pronged strategy for crop diversification

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Punjab needs a comprehensive crop diversification plan at the micro level, involving a block or a cluster of blocks with similar conditions. The plan should be based on water availability, Niche crops and Marketing facilities in that geographical unit. The plan must be spread over5-10 years for its implementation, prioritising the areas to be brought under it each year on the basis of severity of water scarcity. This is expected to be a win-win situationfor conserving our https://exam.pscnotes.com/natural-Resources“>Natural Resources as well as sustainingfarmers income.

A three-pronged strategy needs to be formulated for preparing a comprehensive crop diversification plan for the state at the micro level, involving a block or a cluster of blocks with similar conditions. The plan needs to be based on (i) water availability, (ii) niche crops and (iii) related marketing facilities in that particular geographical unit.

Water availability

The Water Resources in a particular geographical unit may include groundwater or canal water or both, apart from rain/runoff water and treated wastewater. The water balance of each unit needs to be worked out so as to ascertain the water availability for Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture and other sectors against the available supplies. Based on the water availability and its quality, some blocks may need to diversify from paddy/wheat, whereas others may not. Those units with highest level of negative water balance could be chosen for the crop diversification plan on priority basis. For example, estimates indicate that five blocks in Sangrur, two each in Barnala and Jalandhar and one each in Patiala, Hoshiarpur and Moga are expected to have the water table below 165 feet by 2030. These blocks need to be taken up first for crop diversification based on this strategy. Further, these assessments will also determine the extent of area in each block to be diversified from paddy/wheat and/or spring maize for sustained use of groundwater.

Niche crops

The blind recommendation of replacing paddy with maize may not be a good option for crop diversification across the state. Several geographical units have been growing alternative crops in smaller pockets over the years peas in Hoshiarpur and Tarn Taran, moong bean in Jagraon (Ludhiana), celery (Amritsar), kinnow (Fazilka and Hoshiarpur) etc. with well-established markets. The area under Cotton, another important crop in southwest Punjab, has been declining due to cultural and marketing issues. The area under these niche crops can be expanded further by providing improved cultural practices including high- yielding cultivars, value addition techniques and further strengthening of the prevailing marketing facilities. Also, some traditional crops of certain regions bajra, jowar, guar could be revisited keeping in mind their growing demand in the market. Arhar, an important pulse crop with huge demand in the country and being imported every year, could find a place in the state with improved harvesting varieties being developed by PAU.

Value addition

The area under these niche/alternate crops has to be increased at the cost of paddy. To compete with paddy, these crops have to be equally remunerative or even better. This can be possible not only by developing high-yielding cultivars but also developing the cultivars suitable for post-harvesting value addition. The government has taken initiatives to take the farmers out of the crop-based income system and encourage them for value addition. Thus, creating Infrastructure facilities for value addition is the need of the hour. For example, kinnow juice extraction facility could be created in such units to process the fruit instead of selling it at throwaway prices. The same could be true for potato and other crops.

A comprehensive crop diversification plan must be spread over 5-10 years for its implementation, prioritising the areas to be brought under the plan each year on the basis of severity of water scarcity. This is expected to be a win-win situation for conserving our natural resources as well as sustaining agricultural productivity and farmers income.

Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) Ltd recorded the highest-ever gross profit before tax of Rs 2,168.67 crore during 2020-21. The companys net profit increased from Rs 1,557.43 crore in 2019-20 to Rs 1,633.04 crore in 2020-21, said Nand Lal Sharma, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the Nigam.

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Addressing the 33rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the SJVN here, he said the earning per share had increased from Rs 3.96 in 2019-20 to Rs 4.16 in 2020-21 and a dividend of Rs 2.20 per share had been declared for 2020-21, including the interim dividend of Rs 1.80 per share that was paid in February 2021.

In spite of Covid-19, the performance of the SJVN on the operational front was historic and 9,224 million units of electricity was generated from five power stations against the designated energy of 8,700 million units, he said.

In view of the recent disturbances and violence in some parts of the State, the Uttarakhand Government on Monday extended the National Security Act (NSA) in the State for the next three months on Monday.

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As per the order issued by Additional Chief Secretary of State Anand Vardhan, many anti-social Elements are trying to disrupt the security of the State by involving in various adverse activities which has made it mandatory for the to extend NSA.

Under this act, the district magistrates (DMs) will have the power to take action against those who might cause violence and disturb the peace in their respective districts till December 31.

The State Government implemented this act on June 4 this year. It is believed that the recent farmer agitation, increased aggression of parties in view of the upcoming Elections in the State and the law and order issues prompted the State Government to extend NSA.

Lucknow Urban Conclave: Highlights

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PM Modi launched theAzadi@75 New Urban India Conclave on 5 October in Lucknow.

Highlights:

The Conclave was coordinated by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) from 5 October to 7 October as a part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
The theme of Lucknow Urban Conclave is “transforming the urban landscape”.
All States & UTs will participate in the event to help share experience, direction and commitment for further action.
PM Narendra Modi digitally interacted with beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban (PMAY-U) houses and handed over the keys to 75,000 beneficiaries across 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh.
He also released a Coffee Table Book comprising 75 projects implemented under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
He also announced the Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Chair’s setting up in the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU).
75 Urban Development Projects in Uttar Pradesh under AMRUT Mission and Smart Cities Mission and 75 smart electric buses were flagged off under FAME-II for seven cities were also launched by the Prime Minister. Those seven cities were Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Ghaziabad and Jhansi.

Buoyed by the overwhelming response to its fibre to the home (FTTH) internet service, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has decided to provide 1 lakh new connections to consumers in Jamshedpur in the next three years. At present the state telecom giant has 35,000 FTTH subscribers in the State out of which Jamshedpur circle has 17,000 subscribers.

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During the pandemic Covid-19 our base has increased. BSNLs Fiber net service is a true enabler in synergising the work from Home culture along with seamlessly providing e-Education or ability to connect with each other, said KK Singh, KK Singh, CGMT Jharkhand Circle, addressing the media on the occasion of 22nd foundation day of BSNL.

He said that they have set a target to provide one lakh new connections in the next three years.

He went on to add that BSNL has entered into a collaborative model with various cluster partners to boost FTTH sales. This has resulted into a significant Growth in FTTH business, resulting in not only mitigating the decline in revenue but also contributing to its positive growth.

Sanjeev Verma, general manager of BSNLs Jamshedpur area, said that Jamshedpur has been designated as the largest business area in Jharkhand circle by BSNL headquarters. Around 45 per cent of the total growth of FTTH in Jharkhand circle comes from Jamshedpur.

BSNL is also focussing on boosting FTTH Services across three districts of East Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharsawan and West Singhbhum (which falls under the Jamshedpur business area) .

To provide the state-of-the-art solution for citizens who are part of Work from Home, BSNLs Bharat Fibre has received significant response from customers across the country including Jamshedpur. Through Bharat Fibre , BSNL is providing speed upto 300 Mbps and data upto 4000 GB per month which comes to around 130 GB per day.

Is it proper to compare richest state with poorest: Nitish on NITI Aayogs hospital report

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Raising questions on the NITIAayogs assessment system, chief ministerNitish Kumaron Monday asserted thatBiharcould not be compared with the countrys richest state Maharashtra.

Is it proper to compare the countrys richest state with the poorest, he asked, adding his government would soon send a point-wise reply to the Aayog on their recent assessment report on district hospitals in India, in which Bihar has been shown among the worst performing states in some categories,.

Reacting over the NITI Aayogs performance assessment report on district hospitals in India, Nitish said he was not aware as to how and through whom the carries out its assessment works.

Bihar has done a lot of improvement in the Health-sector”>Health sector ever since people gave us a mandate to work in the state. We brought phenomenal improvement in the way of providing medical facilities in the state. But the NITI Aayog makes similar assessments about many states across the country.

After Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel called for implementation of the Godhan Nyay Yojana on a mission mode, Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey has been appointed the Mission President.

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Pradeep Sharma, the advisor to the Chief Minister, has been named Vice President.

Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain, Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture Production Commissioner Dr Kamalpreet Singh and Secretary Finance Alarmelmangai. D will be the members.

Experts from Indira Gandhi Agricultural University and two other experienced representatives will be nominated as members of the Mission by the President, an official Communication said.

Baghel in July last year launched the first Godhan Nyay Yojana to promote animal husbandry and . The scheme envisages procuring cow dung at Rs 2 per kg from cattle owners and farmers.

The dung is converted into organic manure (vermi-compost) by Women self-help groups. Till date, 50 lakh quintals of cow dung have been procured.

Now, electricity generation has also commenced in Raipur, Durg and Bemetara districts.

The government has approved 10,000 gauthans and more than 6,000 are operational. The gauthans are managed locally by a committee.

MPIDC to develop training modules on basics of exports to assist traders

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TheMadhya PradeshIndustrial Development Corporation (MPIDC) will develop training modules on basics of exports, certifications and sector specific details to promote budding entrepreneurs and existing players.

The modules will be developed by a team of experts and consultants working with the department, while for developing sector specific modules, the department may rope in technical institutes.

MPIDC has created a trade portal on which training modules will be available. Kingsly said, The training Videos will have basics of exports, country specific requirements, potential products and country-wise checks. Under the one-district, one-product scheme, we have identified over 65 products and are exploring export opportunities in every district.

VNSGU to spend Rs 21 lakh to assess lavatories cleanliness

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As part of preparation for an inspection of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) scheduled next year, authorities ofVeer Narmad South Gujarat University(VNSGU) have planned to spruce up its hygiene. So, they will spend Rs 21 lakh now to get feedback about quality ofcleanlinessin its lavatories, while nobody mentions anything about their quality of Education.

As part ofSwachhata Abhiyanwe are trying to monitor the quality of cleanliness in the lavatories of the university campus. However, it is not accepted by the syndicate yet.

Varsity has planned to install feedback devices in 320 lavatories on university departments, convention hall and administrative offices. For the device, it was to incur Rs 11 lakh cost and another Rs 10 lakh estimated for its Internet connectivity.

Jaipur: NGT bans business activities at Nahargarh fort

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TheNational Green Tribunal(NGT), Bhopal, has banned all commercial activities, including restaurant, hotel and bar, inNahargarhFort located in the Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary (NWS) of the city on Monday The tribunal has called business activities illegal and ordered them to stop operations as they are non-Forestry activity.

In the PIL, listed on January 18 this year, the petitioner had alleged that commercial activities were going on in the forest area, including serving liquor and construction of parking lot, at the fort. The fort belongs to the archaeology department and commercial activities are being run by the RTDC. The NGT took cognizance of increase in movement of people and night tourism activities in the area. In 1961, the Nahargarh forest was declared as a reserve area, on the basis of which the forest department was given the right of control it,