15.09.21

Panel for agri zoning, metering groundwater in Punjab

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With Punjab headed towards by 2037, the only way to conserve water is by agricultural zoning of the state and by metering groundwater.

These are the major recommendations of the special Vidhan Sabha committee, which submitted a report to Speaker Rana KP Singh here today, suggesting that a policy on groundwater extraction and recharge be brought out.

With Irrigation for Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture being the major source of groundwater depletion, the committee has now recommended that the state be divided into agricultural zones, with certain arid or dry areas being brought under Horticulture crops (in Kandi area) and under Cotton (in South Malwa), with at least 7.50 lakh hectares under the white gold.

Various studies have shown that 17 per cent of tubewells are now dug as deep as 600-650 metre as water is not available in the first 300 metre of the aquifer. Thus, there is urgent need to reassess the use of groundwater and take immediate steps to prevent the desertification of Punjab, which is expected in next 25 years if the groundwater extraction continues at the current rate

Open-Air Fernery in Uttarakhand

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Indias biggest open-air fernery has been inaugurated in Ranikhet of Uttarakhand. The new centre will serve the dual goal of conservation of fern species as nicely as create awareness about their ecological function and promote similar research.

About the centre:

The fernery is domestic to a massive number of fern species, some of which are endemic to the state, some maintain medicinal price whilst some are threatened species that demand care and conservation.

The fernery has the greatest collection of fern species, 2d to solely Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical and Research Institute (TBGRI), Thiruvananthapuram. However, it is the countrys first open-air fernery in herbal surroundings which is no longer below any poly-house/ colour house.

The Ranikhet fernery has around one hundred twenty different kinds of fern, and spreads over 4 acres of land at an altitude of 1,800 metres.

The facility has been developed underneath Central Governments Compensatory Afforestation Management Funds Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) scheme, with the aid of the Research Wing of Uttarakhand Forest Department over a length of three years.

Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education adopts new evaluation system

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The Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBSE) has decided to change the evaluation system of board classes. The evaluation of Class III, V, VIII and IX to XII will now not be entirely on the basis of written examinations held by the board.

It was decided at the meeting that for Class III, V and VIII, 50 per cent marks would be given on the basis of the exams conducted by the education board and 50 per cent on the basis of internal assessment by their schools.

Of the 50 per cent, the schools would give 25 per cent marks on the basis of the comprehensive academic evaluation of students and 25 per cent on the basis of extra-curricular activities.

India moving towards becoming significant defence exporter, UP will be major centre: PM Modi

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Prime MinisterNarendra Modisaid while projecting theUttar PradeshDefence Industrial Corridor as an important step in the economic progress of the district and the state.

The prime minister said the country is moving from being a major importer ofdefenceproducts to becoming an important exporter and Uttar Pradesh is going to be a key centre in India’s changing identity.

New industrial units of small arms, armament, drone, aerospace, Metal components, anti-drone system and DEFENCE packaging products are coming up, Modi said and added that this will give a new identity to Aligarh and nearby areas.

Manufacturing of Brahmos missile is proposed in the Lucknow node of the UP Defence Industrial Corridor. In the Jhansi node, there is a proposal to set up a missile manufacturing unit.

After CAG censure, experts to study bridge quality in Jharkhand

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TheJharkhandgovernment has decided to rope in retiredbridge expertsfor supervision of the construction work of bridges in rural areas after such structures crumbled prematurely.

The move also came in the backdrop of theCAGreport for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019, which said lack of planning, monitoring and poor execution of the bridges built for rural connectivity under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY and the Mukhyamantri Gram Setu Yojana (MGSY). The report, which was tabled during the monsoon session of the assembly earlier this week, also slammed the government over wasteful expenditure in such bridge projects, causing heavy loss to the state exchequer.

Cricket stadium in Bihar likely to be ready before March 22

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Over 75% of the work on construction of the international cricket stadium-cum-Sports academy in Rajgir has been completed. If all goes well, it will be ready before the March 22, 2022 deadline set by art, culture and youth minister, Alok Ranjan.

Spread over 90 acres of land, the state-of-the-art stadium at Pilkhi panchayat in Rajgir will accommodate 45,000 people at a time. It will also have indoor and outdoor sports complexes and facilities like a playground, research centre, latest equipment, fitness centre, library, and motivation centre.

The CM had laid the foundation for the international cricket stadium-cum-sports academy in 2018 and its implementing agency, Shapoorji Pallonji Group, was supposed to complete its construction in 2020. However, the work was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chhattisgarh launches Millet Mission

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Chhattisgarh government launched the Millet Mission on September 14, 2021 with the objective of making the state a millet hub of India.

On the occasion of launch of the mission, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel noted that state will soon become the millet hub of India.

He also highlighted that, Like minor forest produce, the state wants to make small grain crops its strength.

To implement this mission, an MoU was signed between Indian Institute of Millet Research, Hyderabad and collectors of 14 Chhattisgarh districts under Millet Mission.

Millet Mission initiative was launched with the aim of giving the farmers right price for small cereal crops and to provide them input assistance, procurement arrangements and processing. This mission also seeks to ensure that the farmers get benefit from the expertise of experts.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari will perform bhoomi-pujan and dedicate National Highway projects worth about Rs 11,000 crore at the Brilliant Convention Center in Indore on September 16, 2021. Chouhan will chair the programme. Public Works Minister Gopal Bhargava and Minister of State for Public Works Suresh Dhakad will also be present.

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The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is the most ambitious project under the Bharat Mala Project connecting the countrys capital Delhi to the countrys commercial capital Mumbai. An amount of Rs 90,000 crore is being spent by the Government of India on the construction of this route with a length of about 1350 km. Target has been set to complete this project by January 2023. This National Highway will pass through 5 states of the country viz. Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Covid shrank CNG sales in Gujarat by 13% in financial year 2021

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The compressed natural gas (CNG) sales inGujaratcontracted by 13% in 2020-21 as its consumption reduced due to the restricted vehicular movement following the imposition of curbs to tackleCovid.

The provisional sales of CNG in the state declined to 6.49 lakh metric tonnes in April-March 2021 as compared to 7.45 lakh metric tonnes in April-March 2020. This is revealed in the data compiled by the petroleum planning and analysis cell (PPAC) of theUnion ministry of petroleum and natural gas.

City gas distribution (CGD) players attributed the reduction in CNG sales to the Covid-induced restrictions, especially the nation-wide lockdown imposed in the first quarter of the fiscal 2021.

According toCrisil Ratings, sales volume of city gas is set to soar 25-27% in 2021-22. This includes CNG used by vehicles and piped natural gas (PNG) used by homes and industries.

Govt allocates Rs 1,000 crore for Jaipur road repairs across Rajasthan

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The has allocated a special fund of Rs 1,000 crore to carry out repair ofroadsin city limits across the state. After the chief ministers announcement in the budget for financial year 2021- 2022, the work will be initiated soon in 213 Urban Local Bodies. Instead of civic bodies, the work will be carried out by the Public Works Department (PWD).

Jodhpurreceives lions share of the budget as total allocation of Rs 50 crore has been made for road repairs. While Rs 27.40 crore will be spent in Jodhpur north, approximately Rs 22.06 crore will be spent in Jodhpur south Municipal Corporation.
In Kota also, the allocation of funds was higher than the state capital. In Kota North and South, Rs 18.81 crore and Rs 26. 98 crore have been allocated respectively.