08.12.21

Black rice production in Assam now

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Black rice is well suited for Assam soils and weather conditions, carrying a huge opportunity for its commercial production. The -funded Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation project (APART), has begun production of new black rice varieties from different states of India. The crop is expected to be harvested within the next week from the project wherein the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has embarked on this ambitious collaboration with the Government of Assam under the APART, IRRI said in a release.

The seeds of these varieties were sown on a total area of 17.6 bighas of land, comprising Manipuri black rice in 10 bigha, Kalavati in 3.6 bigha and Kalamalifula in 4.0 bigha as demonstration plots. These demonstrations are aimed to link the farmers with the buyers for higher returns and to make available good quality seed for future use. “With the current demand for black rice due to its high nutritional value and Health benefits, IRRI under APART aims at increasing areas with black rice production in the coming days,” the release said.

Odisha govt seeks crop damage report post Jawad showers

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The has asked the district collectors to make a proper assessment of the large-scale damage to crops caused by the incessant heavy rainfall since Friday, under the influence ofCyclone Jawad, which made landfall near Puri around noon.

Though there was a let-up in rain in most districts on Monday, the sky remained overcast in the coastal parts of the state as the depression over the Bay of Bengal moved towards the Bangladesh coast as a low-pressure pocket, as the IMD had predicted. However, heavy rainfall continued to lash the northern and coastal districts of the state even under the diminishing impact of Cyclone Jawad, inundating swathes of paddy and vegetable fields.

Simple Energy to set up electric two-wheeler plant in Tamil Nadus Dharmapuri

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Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler companySimple Energyhas signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with theTamil Nadugovernment for an up to Rs 2,500 crore for constructing the largestelectric two-wheeler plantinDharmapuri.

As part of Phase 1, the first plant of two lakh square feet is being constructed near Shoolagiri (Hosur) and has the capacity of up to one million production units per year and is slated to be operational by early 2022. This would put the flagship scooter Simple One into production and begin deliveries.

As per the MoU signed, the company shall make an initial investment of Rs 1,000 crore to build its second plant (as part of Phase 2) in 600 acre of land and intends to open the second factory by 2023. Simple Energys flagship e-scooter Simple One launched in August 2021.

Tamil Nadu, Kerala want toll exemption for govt buses

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NaduandKeralaplan to jointly request the Union Government to exempt their government buses from paying user fee at toll plazas. Every month, the two southern states pay at least Rs 16 crore. Transport ministers of both states met in Chennai to discuss various such issues they face and how to resolve them.

TN transport sources said problems relating to procurement of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and electric government buses are likely to be taken up during the SITCO meet as their cost was thrice that of a conventional diesel bus. So, the states might seek more financial assistance from the Centre.

Covid fatalities: Karnataka moves to third behind Kerala

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Karnataka moved down to third spot among states in the total number of Covid-19 deaths, thanks largely to Kerala recognising appeals raised by family members of deceased patients. After the new rule was introduced, fatalities in Kerala zoomed to 41,600.

However, unlike Kerala, Karnataka does not demarcate the number of cases added to the tally through appeals from families, although it has kickstarted a reconciliation process. Karnataka had ordered district administrations to form special committees to receive applications from the public detailing deaths in the family. But there is no clarity on the number of deaths that have been added to the tally since the process began.

To claim the governments ex gratia of Rs 50,000 per death, bereaved family members have to prove that the cause was due to Covid-19. Authorities admit some cases, which were earlier not categorized as Covid deaths or not included in the state Covid bulletin, did come to Light.

Crop shift in Telangana likely in only 20-25L acres

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At a time when theTelanganagovernment is urging farmers to grow in lieu of paddy, Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture scientists and officials say the conversion is likely to happen in only 20-25 lakh acres against the 45-lakh target in the coming Rabi season.

This season, the principal crops indicated for cultivation are groundnut (10 lakh acres) and maize (12 lakh acres).

With concern over paddy procurement in the state for the coming Rabi season increasing, officials hope that at least 20 lakh acres can be changed to other crops such as pulses and groundnuts, as opposed to the target of 45 lakh acres.

AP: Exotic, indigenous varieties draw plant lovers, researchers to Kadiyam nurseries

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At the nearly century-oldKadiyam nurseriesin East Godavari district, around 10,000 families are busy managing 3,000 nurseries that are spread over 5,000 acres.

Agronomists and horticulturists in these nurseries are encouraging people with specialised knowledge on various plant species to come and carry out research. Workers receive all facilities in an acknowledgement of their role in developing and nurturing new varieties.

Besides indigenous Plants, nursery farmers import exotic plants from countries like Spain, China, Thailand and elsewhere in southeast Asia. Ficus plants from China, olive trees from Spain and multi-colour bougainvillea from Thailand are some of the attractions.

Goa: Now, section of Zuari bridge may open only in February next year

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The had announced early this year that one four-lane section of the newZuaribridge will be ready for use by commuters by mid-December, in time to mark the 60th year celebrations of Goas Liberation. However, officials said that they are struggling to get a visa for the Chinese consultants to travel to India, even after interventions by Union minister for road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari.

The Chinese consultants are required to oversee the assembly of the cable-stay section of the superstructure of the bridge. Officials said that the contractors for the new Zuari bridge work,DilipBuildcon, are now expected to ready the first section for use only by end of February 2022.

The new eight-lane Zuari bridge has been designed by French bridge specialist Erwan Vicat of Ingerop, Paris, in association with Infinite Civil solutions, India. Dewei Chan of Tongji University, Shanghai, China, is acting as design consultant.

The pandemic brought with it yet more hurdles in 2020, as it hit availability of construction material as well as labour. The government then set an April 2021 deadline for one-lane section of the bridge to be ready, but, having failed to meet that deadline too, had said that the section will be opened for Goas 60th Liberation year celebrations in December 2021.

Maharashtra: Parli thermal plant to use green coal with crop residue as base material

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TheMaharashtrastatepowergeneration company (MahaGenco) has decided to make use of green-coal at theParli thermalpower station in Beed district.

The state power utility has invited expression of interest from prospective bidders for the supply of briquettes bio coal for the boiler of one of the three units of the plant having individual power generation capacity of 250 MW.

While the coal for the Parli plant is arranged from mines near Hyderabad and the Vidarbha region, the proposed use ofgreen coalis expected to save huge transportation cost besides offering environmental benefits and providing supplementary income to the rural Population.

Haryana will study pollution sources in 14 NCR districts

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The Haryana StatePollutionControl Board (HSPCB) is planning to carry out a yearlongstudyto identify the sources of pollution and the amount of their contribution in the air in 14 NCR districts of the state.

Officials said the study the first such in the state was the need of the hour, pointing out that despite enforcing emergency measures under GRAP, the air quality in the region had hovered around the very poor category for the past one week.

Studies to identify the sources of pollution were planned earlier too, but they were never executed. Last year, HSPCB had planned to carry out such a study in four NCR districts of the state, but called it off because of the pandemic. This study is crucial because once the pollution sources are identified, it would pave the way for the authorities to chalk out a long-term plan for the region.

The 14 districts where the study may be carried out are Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Jhajjar, Jind, Karnal, Mahendergarh, Nuh, Palwal, Panipat, Rewari, Rohtak and Sonipat.