08.01.22

Next government will bear burden of over Rs 12K-cr power subsidy in Punjab

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Continuous non-payment of dues in lieu of subsidies clubbed with the recent pre-poll freebies have added to the financial burden of the already cash-strapped Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (Pspcl).

As a result, the next government will have to face total dues of Rs 12,600 crore, including around Rs 9,000 crore pending power subsidy.

According to data collected by The Tribune, at present the owes more than Rs 8,900 crore of pending subsidy to PSPCL in next quarter as it has paid only Rs 9,600 crore in the first three quarters of the financial year, including Rs 900 crore this week.

In the Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) for next financial year, now PSPCL has submitted a revised subsidy payment estimate for the year 2021-22 amounting to Rs 12,245 crore.

Rs5,784 cr plan to revamp power sector in Himachal

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The government has approved the action plan and DPR of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) for Rs 5,784 crore. The scheme comprises a total outlay of Rs 2,224 crore towards the replacement of existing feeders, distribution transformers and consumer meters with smart meters.

Besides, Rs 3,559 crore will be directed towards strengthening, renovation and augmentation of existing distribution in the entire state.

Under this scheme, about 28 lakh meters will be replaced with smart meters. Further, for strengthening distribution infrastructure, there is a provision of 5,653 kms of HT line, 4,483 km of LT lines, 6,369 distribution transformers (DTs), 6,905 km reconductoring and augmentation of LT Lines, augmentation of 5,373 DTs and 704 kms conversion of bare Conductors into cable, etc.

The present annual technical and commercial (AT&C) losses of the HPSEBL have been reduced below 10 per cent and ACS-ARR gap to zero by FY 25. The implementation of this scheme will enable HPSEBL to reduce losses to make it financially sustainable and operationally efficient.

6.28 lakh beneficiaries in 15-18 yrs age group to be vaccinated in a week- Dhami

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All the 6.28 lakh youngsters in the 15-18 years age group in Uttarakhand will be vaccinated in a week. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said this after launching the anti-Covid vaccination of beneficiaries in the said age group here on Monday. Dhami thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of the public for this. He referred to the mega vaccination campaign undertaken in India under Modis Leadership while recalling the limited Resources available at the time when Covid first hit the nation. Appreciating the measures taken to tackle the pandemic, he said that the nation now has adequate resources to deal with it. Vaccine and other necessary implements are available in Uttarakhand too, he added.

The States Health minister Dhan Singh Rawat said that the beneficiaries in the 15-18 years age groupbeing vaccinated in Uttarakhand from Monday will also include those from other states who are studying here. He said that 85 per cent target has been met in administration of the second dose which will be completed soon. The state will begin the drive to provide booster dose to frontline workers and those aged above 60 years from January 10. Rawat said that various decisions had been taken in the under Dhamis leadership. The process of recruiting applicants to 800 ANM posts will be completed soon. Apart from this, 3,000 Nursing staff and 1,000 ward boys will also be recruited soon, added the Health minister.

UP govt disburses Rs 4,314 cr loan to 5,06,995 MSMEs

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The Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday disbursed a total loan of Rs 4314 crore to 5,06,995 Micro, Small and Medium enterprises as part of the Online Swarozgar Sangam’ programme.

On the occasion, 75,000 traditional artisans trained under Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana got free toolkits along with 10,000 trained handicrafts men under the One District, One Product scheme.

In an interaction with the beneficiaries of the scheme through virtual medium, the chief minister asked them about their projects for which loans had been taken and also expressed happiness over the progress of youth through schemes like ODOP, Mudra Yojana, Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana.

Khunti farmers increasing income by herbal cultivation

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Earlier, the farmers whose fields were lying vacant, who could not do farming, today their income has increased through herbal farming. About 2500 farmers are associated with cultivation in Khunti district. Salary in the income of these farmers has increased by Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000.

The Khunti district of Jharkhand was once famous across the Country for extremism, but now its identity is slowly changing with time. Due to the efforts of various Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) of Government schemes, there has been an unexpected improvement in the situation.

L&T arm bags Patna Metro project; to be completed in 42 months

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The construction arm of Larsen & Toubro has received a contract for the design and construction of the first phase of the Patna Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS) Metro project.

The project, being funded by Patna Metro Rail Corporation (PMRC), is scheduled to be completed within 42 months, it said.

“L&T is proud to be associated with this first underground Metro rail project for Phase-1 in Patna. Over the years, L&T has significantly enhanced its capability to build faster, and reliable mass transit systems and this project is in line with its strategic goals

Chhattisgarh 4th state with lowest unemployment rate in India

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With just 2.1% of the Unemployment rate,Chhattisgarhranks fourth in the country among the state having lowest unemployed people, says a report released by the Centre for Monitoring Indian economy (CMIE).

CMIE has released this data after studying the situation in December 2021.
According to the data released, Chhattisgarh ranks fourth among the states with the lowest unemployment rate in the country with 2.1% of unemployment rate while Karnataka has the lowest unemployment rate in the country of 1.4%, whereas Haryana has the highest unemployment rate in the country of 34.1%. Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel said that state has adopted a new model to achieve the goal of inclusive development inspired fromMahatma Gandhis vision of Gram Swaraj.

Under this model, economic connectivity between the villages and cities was emphasized and various innovative schemes and programmes includingSuraaji Gaon Yojana, Narva-Garva-Ghurva-Bari programme, GodhanNyay Yojana,Rajiv GandhiKisaan Nyay Yojana, Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Bhoomiheen Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojana, establishment of Rural Industrial Parks were introduced in villages. Officials said that Chhattisgarh remained untouched with the nationwide economic during the first and the second wave of Covid-19. Even then the unemployment rate in state remained under control.

According to the report, the unemployment rate in the country was 6.52%, as on January 2021 last year, under which urban unemployment rate was 8.9% and rural unemployment rate was 5.81%.

Ensure benefits of schemes to SC-ST on priority: Chief Minister

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Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that sensitive implementation of all the schemes being run for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes should be ensured. If there is a need to make necessary changes in the system for this, then that should also be implemented immediately.

The priority of the is for the economic, educational and social development of the SC-ST class. That is why it is necessary that the benefits of various schemes and welfare programmes being implemented by the state government for these sections should reach them at any cost.

Chouhan said that there is a need to improve the arrangements for hostels run by the government for scheduled classes. The authorities have to take immediate steps in this regard. He said that the hostels should be fixed and Money should be given for repairs.

The Chief Minister asked the concerned officers how many times they visited the hostels. He directed that the Principal Secretary and Commissioner of the department should also visit and make all the arrangements in the hostels perfect. All arrangements including drinking water should be adequate and the superintendents should be dedicated towards their work.

Student Start-ups And Innovation Policy 2.0 In Gujarat

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Gujarat’s Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Education Minister Jitu Vaghani announced the launch of the “Student Start-up and Innovation Policy (SSIP) 2.0” on 5 January.

Highlights:

At the International Conference of Academic Institutions, SSIP 2.0 was introduced to help school students pursue innovation (ICAI-2022) financially.

ICAI 2022 is a pre-vibrant summit on 5 January 2022 in Science City.

Any person under the age of 35 who is a school student, a vocational, certificate, undergraduate, postgraduate, or doctorate student, an alumna, alumnus, or any dropout from an institute, university, or school can benefit from the SSIP 2.0 guidelines.

The intends to construct operational innovation and incubating centers at all of its institutions as part of it.

SSIP 2.0 is being developed to achieve Aatmanirbhar Gujarat through Sustainable Development and equitable Growth.

Because school kids do so many inventions, SSIP 2.0 is significant. They do not, however, have a platform to display their talents.

The new program would provide financial support for such ideas and assist in getting them from “mind to market.”

Cabinet clears Rs 12,031 crore plan for 2nd green energy corridor

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The Cabinet on Thursday approved a Rs 12,031 crore plan to string more than 10,000 km intra-state transmission lines and substations for feeding of produced by seven states into the national grid.

The Centre will provide Rs 3,970 crore, or 33% of project costs, for the scheme that aims to prepare the countrys electricity Network for handling 450 GW of green energy capacity planned by the government by 2030.

The Central assistance will help keep tariffs down for consumers by offsetting the intra-state transmission charges.

The transmission network, including sub-stations, is estimated to evacuate 20 GW (gigawatts) of renewable energy from Gujarat,Himachal Pradesh,Karnataka, Kerala,Rajasthan,Tamil Naduand Uttar Pradesh.

The transmission systems will be built over five years, starting 2021-22 financial year and is expected to be completed in 2025-26.

The latest scheme is the second phase of the green energy corridor. The first phase is under implementation in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka,Madhya Pradesh,Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu for grid integration and evacuation of about 24 GW of green power. It is expected to be completed this year.

Under the first phase, 9,700 km of transmission lines and substations are being built at an estimated cost of Rs 10,141 crore. The Centre is extending Rs 4,056 crore as assistance.