09.02.22

PM-DevINE scheme boost to infra, fight against cancer in the northeast

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The brand new PM-DevINE scheme proposed in theUnion Budgetfor 2022-23 with an initial allotment of Rs 1,500 crore is aimed at funding infrastructure and need-based social development, which include one-of-a-kind Bamboo Link Roads inMizoramto help transport bamboo from forests and management of paediatric and adult hemotolymphoid (head and neck) cancers in the region.

Mizoram will gain the maximum with two projects pilot project for construction of bamboo link road at different locations in various districts in the state at a tentative cost of Rs 100 crore and construction of Aizawl By-pass on the western side for Rs 500 crore.
Till the time of the Budget presentation, a tentative amount of Rs 963 crore has been earmarked for seven projects and projects worth Rs 537 crore are yet to be identified.

Banks in State in a spot as NPA grows to Rs 13K cr

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The spectre of bad loans, which haunted the banking sector after the two distinct waves of Covid-19 since March 2020, continues to rise and threaten the banking sector in Odisha.

With the cases of non-payment of loans on the rise, the non-performing accounts (NPA) amount has risen to over Rs13, 000 crore for which bank authorities are expressing serious concern.

Over the years, the NPA of the State is experiencing a high rise and banks are facing problems to recycle the funds. Non-repayment of loans has resulted in mounting overdue and rising NPA.

While the NPA was Rs 11,339 crore as on March 31, 2021, it has risen to Rs 12,852 crore as on September 30, 2021. By December 31, it crossed Rs13, 000 crore, officials sources said.

The alarming rise of NPA has put the banking sector in a spot and the issue was raised in the recent State Level Bankers Committee Meet.

The sector has requested the State Government to come to their rescue and urged for a joint strategy to improve recovery performance for better recycling of funds.

IIT-Madras sets up centre to work on water issues

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IIT Madras is establishing a new inter-disciplinary water management and policy centre called AquaMAP to work and solve water problems in India. The centre will provide smart solutions for water problems by designing scalable models by leveraging innovative technologies.

IIT Madras alumniParasuramBalasubramanian, CEO, Theme Work Analytics, andKrishnan Narayanan, president, itihaasa Research and Digital have supported this initiative in the form of a seed grant commitment of 3 crore for two years and help in crafting the five-year plan.
The centre would carry out pilot studies in at least six water innovative villages or towns which can be showcased as replicable models.Ligy Philip, department of civil engineering, IIT Madras, will be the principal investigator of AquaMAP.

Kochi: Now, QR code enabled waste collection in Kalamassery

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Waste collection in Kalamasserymunicipality limit is going to be on online mode soon. The local body has decided to install QR codes in households, hotels and other institutions from where Haritha Karma Sena (HKS) workers collect waste.

The local body has already developed anappnamed My Kalamassery and payment forwaste collectionhas been collected via the app for the past six months.

After collectingwastefrom registered users, Haritha Karma Sena workers will scan the QR code, using the phone, placed in front of the households/hotels alerting the users about the status of waste collection.

The local body will have to print around 15,000 QR codes and it needs to buy some android phones as many HKS workers use old phones.

Shiradi Ghat closure: Ktaka may lose 50% cargo to other states

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The proposed six-month closure of Shiradi Ghat a major link between the coast and Bengaluru would cause huge revenue losses to the state in terms of cargo flowing to the New Mangalore Port Trust, the gateway ofKarnataka.

New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) says export-import traders, Karnataka state andNMPTitself could lose up to 50% of the cargo flowing in through National Highway-75 to other states. It says exporters and importers will face huge losses due to increased transportation cost, which will make their goods dearer in international markets denting future orders.

The presentation, given to the Kanara Chamber of Commerce, says a closure negatively impacts movement of essential commodities.

Can generate 550 MT oxygen in Telangana: T Harish Rao

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Health ministerT Harish Raostated thatTelanganawill be capable enough to generate 550 metric tonnes (MT) of oxygen on a daily basis and added that the government has signed an agreement with some organisations at Pashamylaram Industrial Area.

Addressing the gathering after inaugurating an oxygen plant at an area hospital in Zaheerabad on Sunday, the minister stated that the state only had capacity to generate 200 MT of oxygen whenCovidhit Telangana in March 2020. The state had to import oxygen from Tamil Nadu, Goa, andKarnatakaas the demand increased to 500 MT, the minister added.

Following these developments, the health minister stated that chief ministerK Chandrasekhar Raodirected them to increase the capacity of oxygen supply to 550 metric tonnes. He said that they had connected all 27,000 beds in hospitals to an oxygen supply company for establishing an oxygen plan. He stated that this was the 86th plant in the state.

Covaxin wastage up in Maharashtra; Pune & Satara top the chart

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Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said on Saturday that Pune district is currently seeing a shortage of Covaxin doses for the 15-17 age group, but state data is showing that wastage of the vaccine has risen acrossMaharashtra, particularly in Pune and Satara.
NetCovaxin wastagein the state (till February 2) is at 1.54%, up from the 0.98% in November last year. The districts of Satara, Pune, Nashik and Gadchiroli are contributing the most to this wastage, health department data showed.

Satara recorded a maximum net wastage of 5.72%, followed by Pune’s 3.59%.
Central guidelines permit a 10% wastage for Covid vaccines. But it’s recommended that states or regions don’t come close to that level.

Sex ratio at birth dropped in Kurukshetra district last year

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After witnessing an upward trend for a couple of years, the sex ratio at birth dropped 17 points to 921 girls per 1,000 boys in the Kurukshetra district last year.

As per the data, the figure stood at 743 in 2012 and improved to 887 girls per 1,000 boys in 2013. It witnessed a continuous decline for the next three years 869 in 2014, 860 in 2015 and 859 in 2016. The situation improved in 2017 and the sex ratio increased to 924 and remained static at 924 in 2018 too.

The sex ratio improved to 928 and then further to 938 in 2019 and 2020 respectively, but it dropped to 921 last yAs per the data procured from the Health Department, 16,130 children 8,398 boys and 7,732 girls were born in Kurukshetra district last year.ear. The state average was 914.

Himachal: Budget suggestions invited

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The government has invited suggestions from public, industries, trade and farmer bodies for the state Budget, an official spokesperson said here today.

A web portal on the Finance Department website has been launched for suggestions. The suggestions could be sent by email to budgetidea.hp@gmail.com or by letter to the Additional Chief Secretary, Finance, Room No. 524, Armsdale Building, HP Secretariat, Shimla by February 15