11.03.23

Tripura mulls fitting GPS collars on wild elephants

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TheTripuraforest department is exploring the option of fitting wild elephants withGPScollars, which will help monitor their movement in theAtharamurahill range and pass on alerts to villagers who can then take guard against a possible attack.

The wildlife officials said here on Monday that the department may take the help of a Bengaluru-based company who have expertise in dealing with wild elephants. As part of the initiative, a team of officials along with experts from the company visited the Jumbari area in Atharamura and is waiting for the proposal to fit GPS with the wild elephants to take shape.
The wild elephant menace has become a major problem in the villages in the foothills of Atharamura andBaramura. The tuskers damage many houses and kill several people every year.


Assam’s per capita debt burden estimated at Rs 26,000

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Assam’sper capita debt burdenat the close of the last financial year 2021-22 is estimated at Rs 26,771 while the per capita income has been pegged at Rs 1,02,965 (by quick estimate), state finance minister Ajanta Neog informed the assembly.

Quoting reports from the statedirectorate of economics and statistics, Neog stated that the state’s per capita income according to quick estimates was Rs 1,02,965 andGDPRs 4,12,162 crore registering a Growth rate of over 16% in 2021-22.
The minister said in last three financial years, the availed a total loan of Rs 17,148 crore during the last financial year from several sources for various purposes.

During 2021-22, the state government has taken Rs 12,753 crore from market borrowings for development work, another loan of Rs 1,385.94 crore has been taken for developing rural Infrastructure from financial institutions, central loans of Rs 157.34 crore for implementing development schemes and Rs 600 crore for implementing capital schemes and Rs 2252.10 crore from state provident fund for development and welfare projects.

By 2030, plan to raise power generation by 5,050 MW: Min

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The is planning to increase power generation both from conventional Plants and RENEWABLE ENERGY sources by about 5,050 MW by 2030, energy ministerPratap Keshari Debhas informed the assembly.

According to an analysis conducted by Grid Corporation of Odisha (Gridco), the demand of energy will grow to 6,682 MW in the next 10 years. Gridco has already entered into agreement with different entities to increase the power production in the state, the minister stated.
As per data given by the minister, the state government through different projects is aiming to increase power production to 2,865 MW through conventional sources, while 2,185 MW will be generated from different renewable energy sources.

Tamil Nadu to extend numeracy and literacy programme up to Class V

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TheTamil Nadugovernment’snumeracy and Literacy programme”Ennum Ezhuthum” will be extended up to Class V, finance ministerPalanivel Thiaga Rajanannounced it in his budget speech for 2023-24 in the assembly.

The programme was launched last year aiming at achieving universal foundational literacy and numeracy for allstudentsstudying in classes I to III by 2025.
The minister said owing to the positive response, the programme is extended up to Class V. He also allocated Rs 110 crore in the budget.

The finance minister also announced that the would construct classrooms, labs, toilets at a cost of Rs 1,500 crore during 2023-24. The state government allotted Rs 40,299 crore for this.

18.4cr committed to startups

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The startup ecosystem in the state received a major boost when budding companies received assurances of investments worth Rs 18.4 crore, at the Seeding Kerala conclave organized by theKeralaStartup Mission (KSUM) in Kochi.

Kozhikode-basedSparks Angel Networkannounced of Rs 8 crore in the states startups, whileKerala Angel Networkpegged its figure at Rs 5 crore.
Phoenix Angelssaid it would invest Rs 3.5 crore, and another Rs 1.45 crore was set to come from a pool led by startup founders.

In five years, Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Ltd executed less than 30% works: CAG

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Karnataka Rural Development Ltd (KRIDL) has completed just 28% of the 85,000 works assigned to it between 2016 and 2021 resulting in an accumulation of funds to the tune of Rs 17,320 crore.

This was found in several instances between 2016-21, all adding up to Rs 303.8 crore. The report also highlighted how KRIDL misused the exemption clause of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements Act by splitting works worth more than Rs 2 crore into small pieces, there – by avoiding the tender process.

‘19,000 cases pending in family courts in Telangana, 1 1 lakh in India’

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JusticeV Ramasubramanianof The Supreme Court said 11.4 lakhcaseswerependingwith in Inida, including 19,000 cases inTelanganafamily courts.

After inaugurating the country’s first integrated complex for family courts at Purani Haveli in the Old City along with two other judges – Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Sanjay Kumar – of the apex court, Justice Ramasubramanian said several districts in the country do not have family courts even now. “If we set up family courts in all districts, the number of cases will also go up as more people will approach courts for resolving disputes,” he said.

This first-of-its kind facility has been built keeping in view the needs of warring couples, their kids and relatives. The family courts complex in Hyderabad is equipped with modern court halls, meditation halls, separate waiting rooms for men and Women, play areas and creches for children and separate feeding area for new mothers.Officialssaid the complex will provide a whole new experience to the litigants and their families. There are e-filing desks as well and dedicated staff to assist them.

Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy releases socio-economic survey of 2022-23

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In a remarkable turnaround,Andhra Pradeshhas posted a stunning 16.22% Growth rate during 2022-23. The state planning department estimated that GSDP for the year 2022-23 (advanced estimates) is estimated at Rs 13,17,728 crore as against Rs 11,33,837 crore for the 2021-22 final revised estimates (FRE). This accounts to net addition of Rs 1,83,891 crore to the state economy.

Chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy released the socio-economic survey (SES) readied by the planning department of the state for 2022-23 on Wednesday. The SES stated that AP posted a growth of 16.22% over the previous year based on the advanced estimates.
According to the SES, Gross Value Addition (GVA) in Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture and allied sectors reported a decent 13.18% growth while agriculture sector alone reported 20.72 percent growth while sector achieved 12.58% growth rate. Similarly, the Livestock sector reported 7.32% growth rate while Fisheries reported 19.41% of GVA.
The SES said that the Industry sector witnessed a GVA of 16.36% while Mining and quarrying reported 15.81% GVA. It said that the manufacturing sector reported 11.81%. The analysis of the planning department put the GVA of electricity, gas and other sectors at 30.96% and construction sector at 16.94%. It said that the Services-sector”>services sector achieved a stunning 18.91% GVA while trade and hotels sector reported 28.42%. It said that railways achieved 17.82%. SES said that transport by other means reported a GVA of 21.64% while the real estate sector achieved 13.14%.

According to the State Economic Survey, the state posted a record growth of 7.02% at constant prices against the country’s growth of 7.0% during 2020-21. Report said that the agriculture and allied sectors reported 4.54% growth rate while agriculture sector alone witnessed the double-digit growth at 10.72% while the horticulture sector reported 3.03% growth rate. The performance was relatively low at constant prices during 2020-21 due to the outbreak of covid-19. It said that the GVA of livestock is around 2.89% while the fisheries sector reported 4.87%. It said that the industry sector too achieved a tremendous GVA of 5.66% during the covid-19 while mining and quarrying reported sizable GVA of 10.81%. Manufacturing sector achieved 4.82% growth while the electricity, gas sectors reported 6.53%. It said that the construction returned with 4.71% growth while the services sector witnessed a massive 10.05% GVA. It said that trade hotels reported a 16.64% growth rate.

In Goa, homes can soon pay EMIs to install rooftop solar plants

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Given domestic households reluctance to install rooftop solar power systems, Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) plans to introduce a new scheme under which the government will foot the bill to install the rooftop Plants. Instead of a lump sum amount, a monthly fee will be collected from residents till the installation cost is recovered.
Currently, the Union ministry for new and (MNRE) and the State Government offer subsidies for the installation ofrooftop solar plantswith a capacity of up to 10kW. However, the steep initial cost and the delay in disbursement of the subsidies have deterred many from signing up.

At present, the MNRE gives 40% subsidy for domestic consumers who install 1kW to 3kW rooftop solar power plants with the state government providing an additional 10% subsidy.
Rooftopsolar plantswith a capacity between 4kW and 10 kW attract 20% subsidy from MNRE with Goa providing an additional 30% subsidy. The Union ministry is now shifting to a fixed subsidy which GEDA will also adopt.

Bill on increasing corporators nos passed in Maharashtra Legislative Council

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The MaharashtraLegislative Council passed theMumbai and Maharashtra Municipal Corporations(Amendment)Bill, 2023, making way for increasing the total number of nominated corporators in the BMC from five to ten.

In other corporations and councils, it will be ten or 10% of the elected representatives, whichever is less.

The State Government on Monday tabled a bill to amend the BMC Act, 1888, along with theMaharashtra Municipal Act, 1949 to increase the number of nominated councillors in all municipal corporations and councils in the legislative council.

Experts on urban policy are generally nominated to these posts with the objective of utilsing their Services to assist the administration.