15.03.22

DMF goals defeated as funds diverted to non-priority areas

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The Union Ministry of Mines reported that till January 2022, the cumulative accrual of DMF fund in the country was Rs 59,129.86 crore out of which Odisha has built up the highest of Rs 16,952.64 crore. The amount is collected from mining companies engaged in mining operation in Odisha since 2015. About 90 percent of the fund comes from coal and other major mineral mines. The State also has got mineral royalty of Rs 7, 843.81 lakh in 2019-20(revised) excluding coal and minor minerals.

But it seems the Government of Odisha is not much concerned about this dedicated fund of the affected people in the mining districts. It has been observed that the State hasnot been properly spending this very exclusive revenue collected at the district level ignoring the rules of MMDR Act (amendment) 2015 and 2021.

The amount spent as per guideline ofPradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY)is very less than the amount collected from companies as per legal provision.

The amendment of MMDR Act 1957 in 2015 with inclusion of clause 9B has empowered the Government to collect revenue from mining companies that is available with the locals/district and to spend the money considering the local need and priorities of the affected people and the areas. But the fact is virtually the State has superseded the rules of spending by arbitrarily allocating funds out of the district pools.

Odisha is a rich mineral bearing State having major mining operation for last few decades and it will continue but the State has not set any example in handling many of the emerging issues out of long time mining. The State has experienced the worst example of illegal mining that is proved by the Shah Commission. Besides, there is illegally conversation of forest land. There are many instances of forcibly evicting people without proper public consultation, environmental assessment and socioeconomic rehabilitation package.

Tamil Nadu govt to establish mega book park

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Tamil Naduchief ministerM K Stalin announced that amega book parkwould be established in the state. The government will identify land for the same and extend necessary support to create the park.

Presenting the state government awards to Tamil scholars at a programme in Kalaivanar Arangam, the CM recalled late chief ministerM Karunanidhis wish to establish such a park to provide a platform for the publishers, printers and buyers and to ensure availability of all the books.

The CM expressed his happiness to honour Tamil scholars. He presented awards to 21 people, including JusticeK Chandru.

Kerala drug controller seeks report on two traditional drugs

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Amid increasing conflict between practitioners of modern medicine and traditional medicine, now the Drug Controller and Licensing Authority,Kerala, has asked his office to inquire into a complaint against two traditional drugs promoted for diabetes, obesity and hypertension manufactured by a well-known firm for violation under Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.

DrBabu K V, a registered medical practitioner from Kerala, in his complaint to thedrugs controllersaid that an Indian multinational company that deals mainly in ayurvedic medicine and natural healthcare products has been continuously violating Section 3 and 7 of DMR (OA) 1954. The sections deal with prohibition of advertisement of certain drugs for treatment of certain diseases and disorders and punishment for the same.

It is alleged that they have released advertisements claiming efficacy in treatment of a product against diabetes and obesity that are listed in the schedule number 9 and 38 of DMR (OA) 1954 respectively. Later, they released another advertisement claiming about a product that protects one from heart problems and blood pressure that is listed in the schedule as number 26 and 27 respectively.

CAG points on excess expenditure by Telangana government

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According to theControllerand Auditor General (CAG) report for the fiscal year ending 2020, the state government has been incurring excess expenditure over authorization for the last few years, which is cause for concern.

While thelegislaturehas yet to approve an excess expenditure of Rs 84,650 crore incurred over the last five years, Approximately Rs 2,084.03 crore was spent without budgetary provision in 2019-20, undermining the authority of the state Legislature,CATsaid. During the period 2016-19, utilization of budgetary provisions under four socioeconomic grants was less than 50% of the allocation, affecting socioeconomic development in the state.

The CAG also pointed out that due diligence was not performed for the withdrawal of advances from the contingency fund. These advances were also not fully utilized for the intended purpose, nor were they fully repaid within the fiscal year.

During the fiscal year 2019-20, revenue receipts increased marginally by Rs 1,124 crore (1.11%), while revenue expenditure increased by Rs 11,715 crore (12.07%) over the previous year. Over the previous year, committed expenditure on interest payments increased by Rs 1,800 crore (14.30%). During 2019-20, the State continued to spend less on education and health.

Karnataka high court hijab verdict

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TheKarnataka high court dismissed all the petitions filed by Muslim girls seeking permission to wearhijabin educational institutions.

While delivering the final verdict, the Karnataka HC said that wearing hijab by Muslim women doesn’t form an essential religious practice under the Islamic faith.

He said the government had the power to prescribe uniform guidelines, dismissing various petitions challenging the order.

The controversy began in December when a government-run school in Karnataka’s Udupi district barred students wearing hijabs from entering classrooms, triggering protests by Muslims.

Survey gauges highest ever jump in Andhra Pradesh’s GSDP

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The Socio Economic Survey has estimated that the state’s GSDP is most likely to witness a massive jump during 2021-22.

The advance estimates readied by the planning department put the GSDP ofAndhra Pradesh(at current prices) at 12,01,736 crore against 10,14,374 crore in 2020-21. This is nearly a net addition of 1,87,362 crore to the state economy. This is the highest quantum jump in GSDP ever.

The report said that Andhra Pradesh posted a record growth of 11.43% at constant prices (2011-12) against country’s growth of 8.9% during 2021-22.

Chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy released the Socio Economic Survey Report 2021-22 in the secretariat on Friday. Chief secretary Dr Sameer Sharma, secretary (planning) GSRKR Vijay Kumar and other senior officials of the planning department were present.Financeminister Buggana Rajendranth presented the Socio Economic Survey report to the assembly.

Interestingly, theGross Value Added(GVA) registered a record growth rate during 2021-22 with 18.47 per cent. This is the highest growth rate reported by Andhra Pradesh after the bifurcation.

While agriculture and allied sector reported a 14.50% growth rate, the agriculture sector alone witnessed a 6.30% growth rate. The growth rate in agriculture is above the national average. The horticulture sector witnessed a 13.24% increase while the livestock sector reported 11.46% growth rate. Interestingly, fisheries, which is considered to be the lifeline of the state’s growth rate, has put up a tremendous show with 25.92% growth. Notwithstanding the Covid-19 hurdles, the industry sector reported an impressive growth rate of 25.58%. However, the mining sector contributed to the massive growth rate in the industry sector as it reported 38.41% growth during 202-22. In fact, the manufacturing sector is not way behind as it reported a 24.84% growth rate.

Andhra Pradesh is considered to be among a few states that reported the highest growth rate in industrial segment. “Electricity and gas sectors witnessed 16.28% growth rate while the progress in the construction sector surprised all as it reported nearly 26.75% growth rate,” said the report.

The services sector, which has been contributing to the major portion of economic activity in the state, witnessed 18.91% growth rate. The hotels sector which reported a poor turnout due to Covid-19, has recovered fast and reported nearly 22.70% growth rate. The real estate sector still looks to be in slumber as it reported a 14.98% growth rate.

In a first, Goa biodiversity board moots control on tisreo farming

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In a significant move to conserve the declining tisreo (clams) and other resources,Goa State Biodiversity Board(GSBB) has recommended only traditional hand-picking methods for their extraction, to be undertaken only by locals in a duly specified season.

The board termed as general guidelines to draft rules by biodiversity managers to ensure sustainable and equitable utilisation of resources and their management, these follow a recent large-scale loot and plunder of shellfish resources in Chicalim bay and some other habitats.
Villagers and others in Sancoale and Chicalim part of the bay that is a hotspot of bivalves and other species – are still rueing the loss of tisreo, kalvam (oysters) as also the more endangered menddio (window pane oyster) resources in the recent past.

SCERT nod must for all education trainings

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The state government has prohibited conduct of education-related trainings, campaigns and surveys by local authorities unless pre-approved the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT).

The state wants to end the unregulated involvement of NGOs, edtech companies etc in organizing training or distribution of e-learning material at local level, as it may not be aligned withMaharashtras overall education plan.

SCERT is the apex body in state for planning and implementing training of teachers, among many other related activities.

2.27 lakh lost old age pension in past 3 yrs

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TheHaryanagovernment has stopped the old age pension of around 2.77 lakh beneficiaries over the past three years from January 1, 2019, to February 28, 2022. While the old age pension of 94,857 beneficiaries was stopped in 2019, 68,746 lost their pension in 2020 and 99,452 in 2021.

In the first two months of this year (till February 28), the state had stopped the pension of 24,621 beneficiaries, raising the total tally of those whose pension has been discontinued during this period to 27,7676.

As far as district wise data is concerned, 19,211 people lost their pension in the past three years and two months inHisar, followed by 18,251 in Karnal, and 16,797 in Jind. In Panchkula, 4,204 people lost their old age pension.

Hydrogen plant in Chamba soon

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The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has decided to provide a 33-seater bus based on hydrogen fuel and set up a hydrogen fuel generation plant through a 250 kW photovoltaic solar plant in Chamba district as a pilot project. The Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) will operate the bus at important tourist places of the district.

NHPC Chamera project-II general manager SK Sandhu disclosed this at a meeting held here under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner DC Rana. Sandhu

provided the information on the technical aspects with regard to setting up of a hydrogen mobility-based project in the district.

He said the bus on full fuel tank would run around 200 km. After the hydrogen was produced from the solar plant, the remaining electricity supply would be sent to the local grid.