07.02.23

Achievementsof NESIDS and Special Development Package (SDP)

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The erstwhile Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources-State (NLCPR-State) Scheme was restructured as North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESISD) w.e.f. 15.12.2017.NESIDS is a central sector scheme, aimed to support filling up gaps of infrastructurein the Region in identified sectors like water supply, power, connectivity, tourism and social infrastructure in the areas of primary and secondary sectors of education and health.

During January to November 2022, total 54 projects of cost Rs. 952.94 crore have been sanctioned under NESIDS including 11 projects costing Rs. 89.93 crore inEducation; 20 projects of cost Rs. 221.27crore inHealth; 2 projects of cost Rs. 41.03 crore inPower; 16 projects of cost Rs. 508.44 crore inRoads & Bridges; and 5 projects of cost Rs. 92.28 crore inDrinking Water Supplysectors. Of these, 3 projects of 85.36 crores are completed. Further, Under Bodo Territorial Council (BTC) SDP 3 projects costing Rs 250 crore have been sanctioned during January to November 2022.

Assam govt to review status of tap water supply to homes

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TheAssamgovernment will launch Jalotsav to assess the quality and functionality status of piped water supply to every household even as statistics revealed that barely 42% households in the most populous northeastern state have got tap water connection under the Centres scheme for drinking water, Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).

While seven states andUnion Territoriesin the country have achieved 100% target in ensuring piped water to rural households three years after its launch, in Assam more than households, a bigger percentage of government schools andanganwadicentres have benefited from JJM.

Of the 3.3 crore Assam population, only 1.11 lakh rural population had tap water connection in the state before the launch ofJMMin 2019. After three years 28.27 lakh people of the state, accounting for 42.1% of Assams population, have tap water.

In a first, Orissa high court opens virtual branches in 10 districts

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Amidst demands from lawyers across the country for setting up high court benches in different parts of all the states, theOrissaHC has taken the pioneering step of opening virtual HCs in 10 districts and plans to provide this facility in the remaining 20 districts by the middle of this year.

The demands for high court benches at places other than its principal seat from bar associations in different states and resultant strikes had often paralysed judicial work. Recently, ugly incidents were seen at Sambalpur in western Odisha, leading to the Supreme Court directing strict action against erring advocates.

Of the present pending caseload of around 1.7 lakh cases in the HC, around 72,760 have been filed from these 10 districts.

New policies for women, rural entrepreneurs on anvil in Tamil Nadu: Official

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The country’s startup ecosystem is very urban-centric and male-centric and with a view to bring in equity, the TN government is working on a specific policy to help promote women-led and rural communities-oriented startups, TN MSME secretary Arun Roy said.

The policies will help provide more entrepreneurship opportunities among women and also focus on deep tech ventures that have impact and use in rural areas. Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation mission (Tansim) has set up regional hubs to address this issue.

Over Rs 2,033 crore allocated for Kerala’s rail devpt: Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

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Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that Rs 2,033 crore has been allocated forKeralafor railway development in the Union budget. During 2009 to 2014, this was Rs 372 crore.

The rail development is being implemented based on two main concepts Vande Metro and Hydrogen Train, he said. He added that India would have its first hydrogen train by December this year. He was addressing a press conference via video conferencing regarding the projects and allocations for the state in the Union Budget.

The study of T’puram-Mangaluru rail line will be completed by September. He also said that the new Pamban Bridge will be operational by June 2023.

31,000 Karnataka farmers yet to get loan waiver of Rs 167.5 crore

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More than 31,000 farmers are still awaiting the benefits of the state government’s farm loan waiver scheme.

The highest number of such farmers are in Belagavi (3,676), followed by Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Tumakuru and Mandya.

These five districts together account for around 45% of all such farmers.On the other hand, the government said more than 17 lakh farmers have benefited from the scheme that has so far cost the exchequer nearly Rs 8,000 crore.Data from the state co-operation department shows that overall, the government had identified more than 17.4 lakh farmers across districts who were together scheduled to get loan waivers to the tune of Rs 8,155 crore.

Of these, more than 17 lakh farmers’ loans worth Rs 7,987.5 crore have already been waived.

Bring Telangana act on crime in Delhi: LG Vinai Kumar Saxena

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To effectively control organised crimes such as snatching, land grabbing, online and gaming offences and white-collar financial frauds, lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has proposed to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to extend Telangana Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act, 1986 to the national capital.

Delhi Police, which reports to the ministry via the LG, sought the extension this June, citing a need for stringent legislation for prevention and effective control of criminal activities such as bootlegging, land grabbing, snatching, robbery, arms running, sale of drugs, gambling and sexual offences, particularly by repeat offenders.

Andhra Pradesh: Kakinada aims to be industrial hub of east coast

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The port city of Kakinadais all set to become the major growth centre on the east coast and is likely to boost the economy ofAndhra Pradesh.

The KG basin with rich oil and natural gas reserves, and large-scale exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons have accelerated development in the area. Many gas-based industries have already come up and some are in the pipeline.

The 7,440-acre Kakinada SEZ, with 1,589-acre Kakinada Gateway Port land on one side, and the petroleum, chemical and petrochemicals investment region (PCPIR) on the other, has raised hopes among theindustrialhouses of taking advantage of the situation and setting up industries there.The in-principle approval for Bulk Drug Park in Kakinada by Union ministry of chemicals & fertilisers is seen as a boon for the region. Kakinada will become anindustrial hubon the entire east coast and is destined to guide the future of AP.

All green clearances for industries will soon be in one place: Union minister Bhupender Yadav

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Industries will soon be able to secure all green clearances in one place with the Parivesh portal being refined, said Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav on Saturday. He was speaking at the 1st International Environment and Sustainability Summit Goa, 2023.

He said 11 lakh crore tonnes of e-waste is being generated in India and the figure will rise by 20% next year.

Goa is actively working to set up a waste-to-energy plant and it has also started the process of creating a green climate fund.

The states environment minister Nilesh Cabral said that only 5% of waste in Goa is going into landfills and the aim is to bring this percentage down. He requested the Union minister to finalise at the earliest a policy to make manufacturers take responsibility for the waste generated from their products such as PET bottles, tetra packs and packaging.

Police housing schemes in Maharashtra set for a fillip

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TheMaharashtrapolice’s plans to build housing schemes for its personnel have received a major fillip with finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget announcement seeking states to commit a part of their interest-free loan outlay for development of police housing or police stations, among other purposes.

The MSPHC, since its inception in March 1974, has constructed and handed over 34,470 residential quarters to policemen in the state. In addition to this, as many as 4,297 quarters were purchased from the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority and the urban land ceiling department.