07.07.23

Manipur stares at food shortage as ethnic violence affects farming

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Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture has been affected in Manipur as many farmers are unable to tend to their fields due to the ongoing ethnic violence, and if the situation does not improve, food production in the northeastern state will be affected, a senior official said on Wednesday. Department of Agriculture Director N Gojendro told that farmers were unable to cultivate at least 5,127 hectares of agricultural land, leading to a loss of 15,437.23 metric tonnes till June 28.

Adding to our woes is the rainfall deficiency this year. Last year, heavy rain had flooded paddy fields in May-end, whereas this year, there has been less rain. The scorching sun dries the ground, making cultivation difficult,” he said. ‘Meitei Rice’ needs a lot of water for cultivation. It has high starch and Carbohydrates. Chief Minister N Biren Singh had earlier said that 2,000 state forces have been deployed in sensitive areas to patrol and provide security to farmers during cultivation.


Assam govt hospitals better equipped but failing to deliver, says health survey

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Better equipped with medical apparatus but struggling to provide best Services with quality and accountability, revealed the outcomes of the Swasthya Sewa Utsav assessment forAssams government hospitals, declared at a conclave.

The assessment has brought to Light best results in the criterion of availability of medical equipment, where 74% of the healthcare facilities (913 out of 1241) have scored A Grade. But less than 10% of healthcare facilities could achieve AGradein assessment of human resource (1%), diagnostics (2.2%) and services (8%).

Lack of adequate diagnostic facilities remains the biggest concern as the highest 87.7% of the facilities scored the lowest C Grade in the Diagnostics category. C Grade facilities have been higher in quality (68%) and human resource (74%) assessments.

According to the final assessment, out of the total 1,245 Health facilities, only 153 (12%) scored Grade A, 607 (49%) scored Grade B and 485 (39%) scored Grade C. Facilities scored more than 70% are considered as Grade A while facilities scored between 50% to 69% are graded as Grade B and facilities scored less than 50% are graded as Grade C.

Out of the total 21 district hospitals (DHs), 14 (67%) scored Grade A, while 6 (29%) scored Grade B and 1 (5%) scored Grade C on all parameters based on external assessment. But the Percentage of A Grade facilities has gone down as the assessment went to the lower-lever healthcare facilities.

Among sub-divisional hospitals (SDHs), only one (6%) has scored Grade A, 13 (81%) scored Grade B and 2 (13%) managed to get Grade C out of the total 16 sub-divisional hospitals.

Out of the total 208 community health centres (CHCs), 46 (22%) have got Grade A, while 118 (57% ) scored Grade B and 44 (21%) scored Grade C. Among primary health centres (PHCs), 92 (9%) scored Grade A, 470 (47%) scored Grade B and 438 (44%) got Grade C out of total 1,000 PHCs, the report said.

Of the 1,245 facilities assessed, only 11% got A Grade, while 43% got B Grade and 46% got C Grade in Indian Public Health Standards category. In district-wise grading of health facilities on all parameters, Cachar had the highest 52% A Grade healthcare facilities, followed byNalbari(39%) andMorigaon(27% ).

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated an Ama Pokhari programme in the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). Under the scheme, the ponds lying unused or defunct for long years would be renovated apart from their peripheral development.

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About 2,000 large ponds and water bodies in 115 ULBs would be renovated and transformed into a hub for spending leisure time and amusement. The Women of the Mission Shakti and youths who have passed out from colleges would be roped into the work. The projects would be undertaken with minimal expenditure and by adopting a natural process.

The ponds have a crucial role in the social and cultural life and are also related to our Health and economy, said Patnaik. He hoped that after renovation of the ponds they would bring a qualitative change in the life of the residents of the towns and cities.

He also lauded the pilot project of Ama Pokhari in Municipal Corporations of Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Brahmapur and advised the authorities to expedite and complete the work within stipulated time.

Indian Oil commits to investing Rs 54,000 crore in projects including a refinery in Tamil Nadu

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TheIndian Oil CorporationLimited (Iocl), Chennai, has committed to invest Rs 54,000 crore in various projects in Nadu in the next few years, including a 9 MMTPA (million metric tonnes per annum) grass-root refinery at an estimated cost of Rs 35,580 crore, its executive director and state head (TN & Puducherry) V C Asokan said.

This new refinery, which will come up on about 1,300 acres of land in Nagapattinam, will produce petrol and diesel for BS-VI specifications and also polypropylene. The world’s second-largest integrated lubes complex at Ammullaivoyal village for Rs 1,398 crore apart, the IOCL has planned to lay product pipelines (Rs 2,600 crore), gas pipelines including LPG (Rs 2,225 crore), CGD projects (Rs 7,570 crore), open new retail outlets and launch a modernisation programme (Rs 2,500 crore), build a captive POL/LPG jetty at Kamrajar port (Rs 921 crore), establish a terminal at Vallur (for Rs 724 crore) and set up a new terminal at Asanur (for Rs 466 crore), he said.

India’s largest fuel refiner and retailer has commenced blending bio-diesel with diesel at Sankari terminal and will be starting from Asanur soon, followed by Coimbatore.

Kerala to get Rs 100 cr to set up 28 automated vehicle testing centresKerala would receive Rs 100 crore from the Central Government in order to set up automated vehicle testing centres in Kerala. This support from the Centre is part of making automated fitness testing mandatory for vehicles in India from October 1, 2024.

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The Motor Vehicle Department is to set up 28 testing stations in the State. If the State issues a Government Order to start 14 of the 28 fitness testing stations by September 30, it would receive the first installment of Rs 25 crore.

If at least seven of the fitness centres are operational by September 30, the second installment of Rs 25 crore would also be released.

Govt to release Rs 1 crore to each district to supply drinking water

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While the monsoon has intensified over the past week and Dams, especially in southKarnataka, have been filling up, scanty rain in June has left large swathes of the state dry and has exacerbated the shortage of drinking water, revenue ministerKrishna Byregowdarevealed in the legislative assembly

the lowerHousethat the government has sanctioned Rs 1 crore to each district to supply drinking water, and that he has directed deputy commissioners (DCs) of districts to take steps to supply water through tankers. Last week,Byregowdahad pegged the deficit of rain in June at an overall 50%, although he had said that in some parts of the state the deficit was as much as 90%.

Replying to former chief ministerBasavaraj Bommai, who during , raised the issue of acute shortage ofdrinking water due to the delayed monsoon, Byregowda said 193 villages across the state are suffering from a scarcity of drinking water. The minister said arrangements are being made to supply water to residents from borewells and tankers.

Data shows that 11 districts recorded a deficit of rain in June, while four saw large deficits. A deficit of 19% is considered normal and anything above 60% is considered a large deficit. However, while the coastal and some parts of theMalnadregion have received large amounts of rain over the past few days some regions in north Karnataka continue to remain dry.

India’s second railway manufacturing unit to come up in Telangana

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Telanganawill soon be Home to India’s second RAILWAY manufacturing unit atKazipet. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the unit on Saturday. South Central Railway (SCR) general manager Arun Kumar Jain said on Thursday the unit would manufacture 1,200 wagons in the first year. From the second year, this will be scaled up to 2,400 wagons.

While Braithwaite & Co, a Kolkata-based public-sector undertaking, is India’s first railway manufacturing unit, the one at Kazipet will be the first to be set up by the railways.

The unit is expected to be a green structure equipped with a solar power plant, sewage treatment plant, rainwater harvesting structure and natural daylighting. It will be equipped with the latest technology, including robotic painting of wagons, computerised machinery for precision cutting and modern material storage and handling units. The project is expected to generate 1,200 jobs in the initial years. The construction of the unit will be undertaken by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited and is expected to be completed by February 22, 2025

Centre to Discuss Polavaram’s D-wall with AP in New Delhi

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The central government would discuss with AP ways to deal with the damage to Polavaram Irrigation projects diaphragm wall and the spillways guide bund, at a meeting in New Delhi on Sunday, July 9.

In a recent meeting chaired by Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Shekhawat, it was decided that members from central water commission, the Polavaram project authority as also officials from the Jal Shakti ministry and AP Resources“>Water Resources department would meet again to deliberate on the steps to be taken to address the issue of damage to components of the project. Shekhawat wanted safety to be the top priority irrespective of considerations like cost escalation.

AP water resources authorities say that the Union minister stressed that there should be no future complications once the repair or replacement works are done for the two damaged components. The responsibility for this must be taken by those who oversee the works.

As for the diaphragm wall, there is a proposal to construct parallel walls at four portions to replace the damaged portions and connect the new walls to the existing undamaged wall. However, safety issues have been raised. Nowhere in the world had such an experiment been carried out so far, it was stated.

According to an estimate, it would require nearly `400 crore to carry out the repair works and construct a parallel diaphragm wall in four portions. If the whole length of the diaphragm wall spread over 1,300 metres is to be erected anew, it would cost nearly `800 crore.

Govt adds harmony to policy on feeding strays

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Smarting from incidents of dog bites that have tarnished the reputation ofBrand Goa, the government on Thursday revised the policy for street dog feeding with an aim to forge harmony between stray canines and community residents and to keep the dog Population in check. It stated that although feeding of strays may inconvenience some residents especially those who do not like dogs such a practice is necessary to ensure that the animals do not become aggressive due to hunger, and to also make it easy for the agencies concerned to catch them for sterilisation.

The revised policy lays down important guidelines for street dog feeding arrangements while encouraging human communities, including cooperative housing societies, to care for canines in their localities.

Tribals fear losing distinct identity if UCC implemented

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With the Central government pushing for implementation of the (UCC), members of All India Tribal Development Council, an organization championing the cause of tribals rights, has submitted a memorandum to PresidentDroupadi Murmustating that UCC should not be imposed on the tribals.

The memorandum mentioned that according to the Article 244 (1) of the Indian Constitution, tribals have special rights. Their customs are distinct from the personal laws for Hindus and Muslims. On these grounds, the UCC should be imposed only on persons following the respective personal laws, and not the tribals, the council demanded.

Since the 22nd Law Commission has sought suggestions and objections for the UCC, the tribals from Maharashtra have apprehension that even the tribal customs will be merged into a single civil code like the personal laws of other religions like Hinduism and Islam, says the memorandum.