15.07.23

Punjab: Redux of 1988, 1993 flooding

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No lessons seem to have been learnt from the floods of 1988 and 1993 as the well-oiled nexus of corrupt politicians, Irrigation officials and contractors keeps on failing people of the state.

It seems Punjab is once again witnessing the situation similar to September 1988 and July 1993, when 9,221.2 sq km (18.3% area) and 9,757.4 sq km (19.4% area), respectively, was inundated in the state. The studies done post 1993 floods had pointed out non-maintenance of drains as the main cause of the floods.

In 1988, flashfloods affected a maximum area of 2,054 sq km in Ferozepur district followed by Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala districts

In 1993, floods affected an area of 1,000 sq km area in Fatehgarh Sahib District. This was followed by Patiala and Gurdaspur districts

The studies done post 1993 floods had pointed out non-maintenance of drains as the main cause of the floods

According to the Statistical Abstract of Punjab, the state has over 400 drains with a total length of over 11,000 km which cover an area of around 50,000 km.

117 schools with zero enrolment denotified

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The has denotified 117 primary and middle across the state with zero enrolment. The denotified schools include 78 primary schools and 39 middle schools. These schools had zero enrolment as on May 3, 2023.

The maximum number of schools has been denotified in Shimla district. As for the primary schools, 20 have been denotified in Shimla district, 15 in Mandi district and 11 in Kangra district. Among middle schools also, Shimla tops the list with 20 schools.

‘U’khand has Centre’s support for devp of health services’

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Union Health ministerMansukh Mandviya, inaugurated the state’s first public catheterisation lab in Dehradun along with a mammography machine, digital radiography and a 30-bed ICU at theGovernment Doon Medical College and Hospital.

He said development inUttarakhandis ‘quite visible.’ “Uttarakhand has a critical contribution to the country’s Growth. Economically weaker segments have access to healthcare as all others. Health is a priority for this government. The Centre has approved 157 new Nursing colleges and states which develop these will be given an assistance of Rs 10 crore each. Our over 1.5 lakh health and wellness centres are doing well,” he said. He said Aiims Rishikesh has successfully sent Vaccines to remote hill areas through drones. “Soon, samples from remote areas will be collected in this manner and reports will be shared electronically. Teleconsultation is already happening,” he said.

Cabinet approves tourism devpt plans

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After getting declared Chitrakoots Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve last year, the UP cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal for development of tourist facilities around it.

A proposal in this regard was tabled by the state tourism department. The department has identified about 49 hectares of land around the Markundi inspection bungalow for development of tourist facilities in the region. The land was barren and belonged to the gram samaj. Principal secretary, tourism,MukeshMeshram said that Ranipur is UPs fourth and Bundelkhands first tiger reserve. It falls on the way to Madhya Pradeshs Panna reserve. The reserve spans across 529.89 square km which includes a buffer zone of 299.58 square km and a core of 230 square km.
Ranipur tiger reserve is covered by northern tropical dry deciduous forests and is Home to mammals like megafauna tiger, leopard, bear, spotted deer, sambhar and chinkara. As per the , the establishment of this tiger reserve will lead to opening up of eco-tourism in the area and the creation of immense EMPLOYMENT opportunities. As of now, the Ranipur wildlife sanctuary in Chitrakoot district has no tigers of its own.

National Human Rights Commission seeks silicosis aid report from Jharkhand chief secretary

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The https://exam.pscnotes.com/national-human-rights-commission”>National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed Jharkhand chief secretary to submit an action taken report over allegations of failure of the State Government to pay compensation to silicosis victims, dead and alive.

The NHRC directive issued on Wednesday is based on a complaint by general secretary of a NGO Occupational Safety and Health Association of Jharkhand (OSHAJ) Samit Kumar Carr for payment of compensation as per the state governments norms to the silicosis victims.

Silicosis is an irreversible and progressive occupational respiratory disease caused by continuous or intermittent inhalation of respirable crystalline silica dust while working in silica dust exposure of different percentages of silicon dioxide as content of dust.

Incidentally, Kunti Pator, a 55-year-old woman suffering from silicosis died on Wednesday evening while her husband Sujan Pator is also suffering from silicosis.

Rs 43,774 crore supplementary budget tabled in assembly

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States finance and commercial taxes minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary on Monday tabled Rs43,774 crore supplementary budget in the state assembly to meet expenditures under different central and state governments schemes. It is the first supplementary budget for FY 2023-24.

Of the total amount, Rs25,699 crore would be spent on the annual schemes while Rs 18,071 crore is for the establishment and committed expenditures.

As per the budget estimates, the has made a provision of Rs 6223.01 crore as state share in the Centre-sponsored Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and Rs 436 crore for state share in the Centre-sponsored National Health Mission. A sum of Rs 380 crore has been earmarked as the state share under theMahatma GandhiNational Rural EMPLOYMENT Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

As per the provisions made for the state governments schemes, Rs4,000 crore has been allotted for solid and liquid Waste Management under the Saat Nischay-2 programme, while Rs 2,000 crore has been earmarked for building rural roads under the Mukhya Mantri Gram Sampark Yojana. A sum of Rs 2,000 crore has also been earmarked for construction of roads, bridges and acquisition of land for the road projects.

Similarly, Rs 230 crore has been provisioned for the Patna Metro Project, Rs160 crore for acquisition of land in Mumbai for the construction ofBiharBhawan in Mumbai and Rs 105 crore for building residential quarters for judges.

Under the establishment and committed expenditures, a sum of Rs 4036 crore has been allocated for the consumers subsidy in the electricity bills, while Rs 331 crore has been earmarked for purchasing arms and ammunition by the Home (Police) department.

IIIT-NR & NTPC sign MoU to set up COE

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To explore and work for innovation in predictive maintenance, IIIT-NR and NTPC signed anMoU. The objective is to set up a centre named IIITNR-COE on predictive maintenance, which will provide academic Environment, promote R&D based solutions on predictive maintenance systems, tools and products. IIIT-NR will provide expertise and training on the state-of-the-art technologies like 4.0, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, 5G Communication. NTPC will provide field data, validation for research project and research fellowship/internship/consultancy for development.

The MoU was signed by registrar of IIIT-NR Lt ColRajesh KumarMishra andManish KumarSrivastava, executive director (engineering) in presence of Ujjwal Kanti Bhattacharya, director (projects) of NTPC and regional executive director (WR-II & USSC) Chilakapati Sivakumar.

Khelo MP in 52 dists this Sept

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After the success ofKheloIndia Youth Games, the Sports department will organise Khelo MP Youth Games 2023 in September. Reviewing the preparations, sports ministerYashodhara Raje Scindiasaid that as per the wish of CMShivraj Singh Chouhan, the event will be organised in all 52 districts of the state.

In all, 24 games including athletics, basketball, badminton, boxing, football, hockey, judo, kabaddi, kho-kho, malkhamb, shooting, swimming, weightlifting, wrestling, table-tennis, , taekwondo, will be held at district, divisional and state level in three phases.

Gujarat govt implements comprehensive measures to enhance efficiency, quality in roads and buildings department

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TheGujarat governmenthas implemented a series of measures to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of the roads and buildings department’s operations.

In order to deliver high-quality roads and to the people and industries and improve the overall living standards in the state, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has introduced substantial changes in the responsibilities of high-level officials within the department. These changes aim to optimize their work distribution and supervision, ensuring effectiveness, timeliness, and quality.

Under the Rationalization of Region initiative, Chief Engineers will now oversee the construction and maintenance of both State and Panchayat roads within their respective areas. They will be held accountable for the quality of work carried out in their designated regions. Additionally, the Chief Engineers are required to visit their areas at least twice a week to ensure adherence to quality standards.

Govt likely to pass 5 to 8 bills in assembly session

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The has set the target to pass five to eight bills in the last assembly session starting from July 14. Sources confirmed that bills, includingMahatma GandhiMinimum Guaranteed Income Bill, Gig Workers (Registration & Welfare) Bill, Marwar Medical University Bill, and Jobner Veterinary University, are set tosailthrough the assembly.
An amendment is also likely in theRajasthanPublic Examination (Measures for Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Bill, 2022, to make punishment harsher.

The Rajasthan Transparency and Social Accountability Bill (RTSAB), being pressed for by the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan for the last 10 years, is likely to miss the last session of the assembly. Sources confirmed that objections to the bill raised by the bureaucrats have not been resolved.

The fate of the bills uploaded on the assembly web portal, like the Rajasthan Advocates Protection Bill, Rajasthan Universities Teachers (absorption of temporary teachers) Bill, Rajasthan Control of Organised Crime Bill, Rajasthan Municipalities Amendment Bill, and Rajasthan Prisons Bill, is not known as yet.