25.02.22

Northeast oil output to rise by 67% in 4 years: Hardeep Puri

by

Union petroleum minister Hardeep SinghPurisaid the petroleum sector will play a crucial role in the regions industrial Growth. He said oil production from the northeast is expected to increase by 67% from 4.11 MMT in 2020-21 to 6.85 MMT in the next four years.

Puri was speaking at the North-East Zonal Conference forPM GatiShakti(PMGS), organised by the ministry of petroleum and natural gas here on Monday. Puri added that the area under exploration in the region is going to double in the near future, with crude production expected to go up by 45% in four years and gas production by about 90% in the same period. He urged all the leaders to lend their support to this transformative mission by way of necessary project clearances and the cooperation of state agencies.

Puri said that PMGatiShaktiis a remarkable initiative, as it aims to drive down Logistics costs in India by streamlining and integrating Infrastructure projects of various central and state governments. PM Gati Shakti will ensure multimodal connectivity. For instance, fresh fruits grown in the northeast will swiftly cater to consumer markets and the Gulf, said Puri.

Before the start of the conference, the dignitaries attended a webinar on the vision of GatiShakti and its convergence with the Union Budget 2022, which was addressed by the Prime Minister. He emphasised on the need of PM GatiShakti by emphasising the scale at which the government is undertaking Infrastructure Development.

AFSPA extended in Assam till August

by

Assamgovernment notified the entire state as a disturbed area and extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) for six more months from February 28.

The earlier six-month term of the Disturbed Area status and enforcement of AFSPA in the state since August 28 last year expired on February 28.

The act empowers security forces to conduct operations anywhere and arrest anyone without any prior warrant. It also gives a certain level of immunity to the security forces in case of an operation going wrong.

The act was first imposed in Assam in 1990, byministry of Home affairswhen the state had witnessed large scale violence byULFA. In 2017 centre transferred its power to the to decide on further extension of the imposition of the act in the state.

MoEF panel gives green nod to JSWs steel plant project

by

An expert appraisal committee of the Union ministry of Environment and https://exam.pscnotes.com/Climate-change”>Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has recommended grant of environment clearance (EC) for JSW Utkal Steel Ltds proposed steel plant near Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district. The committee that had deferred granting environment clearance to the company seeking more information, has set a series of conditions while giving its nod.

TheSajjan Jindal-ledgroup has planned a 13.2 MTPA crude steel plant along with 900 MW captive power and 10 MTPA cement grinding unit. It also plans to set up a captive jetty near the plant. While the State Government is in the process of handing over of land for the project, the project has been facing stiff resistance from some locals. At least three petitions relating to the project have also been pending in theOrissaHigh Court.

The expert appraisal committee, while recommending clearance for the project, has said that its proponent (JSW) should abide by all orders and judicial pronouncements, made from time to time by the Orissa high court.

The committee has also set a condition that the project proponent shall not construct any steel plant facility on north-eastern portion of high tide line and sand dunes in the vicinity of the project site. The company has also laid the condition that no filling and raising of land beyond 2950.10 acres (constituting 973.533 acres of green belt) shall be permitted to the project proponent.

As an area of 209.34 acres (84.72 hectares) of the forest land is located in between the proposed integrated steel plant and jetty, the MoEF&CC said the forest area will remain untouched and separated from the plant and jetty. It has asked the company to conserve the area in consultation with the divisional forest officer (DFO) of the state forest department.

First Dugong Reserve in Palk Bay

by

The Nadu government has begun to line up India’s primary Dugong Conservation Reserve within the Palk Bay region.

Highlights

Dugongs are species protected under the Wildlife Protection Act’s, 1972 Schedule 1.

The Chief Wildlife Warden and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Shekhar Kumar Niraj, submitted an idea note for the Dugong Conservation Reserve. Tamil Nadu’s Environment accepted Forests and Climate-change”>Climate Change Department.

He was told to file a draught notification to the Union Ministry of Environment for approval.

The reserve size will cover around 500 sq km and can be established in Palk Bay’s north from Adiramapattinam to Amapattinam.

For the next 5 years, Rs 5 crore would be the initial cost for the reserve’s establishment.

There are plans to create enhanced seagrass beds and a world conservation center under the global climate change Mission.

Dugong

The dugong is a sirenian species found along the Indian coast.

Dugongs are associated with manatees and have an identical plump appearance, but they need a tail that appears sort of a dolphin’s fluke.

Unlike manatees, which sleep in freshwater, dugongs are purely marine mammals.

Dugongs also are referred to as Sea Cows.

They graze, on seagrass, in shallow coastal waters of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.

Kerala government mulls liquor licencing system exclusively for IT companies

by

The government is considering multiple , including introducing a new licensing system to permit serving liquor exclusively forIT companiesbased in IT parks, since it has been one of the shortcomings listed out by companies for a long time.

The upcoming excise policy of the government is likely to offer a solution to this long-pending demand. The licence for pub beer is available with the government and is legal in the state (FL-13).

But due to the difficulty in transporting draught beer (beer before pasteurization must be maintained between 0-4Celsius to be consumed within 48 hours of manufacture which should be served in the pubs) from the existing three breweries (Cherthala, Palakkad and Chalakudy) there are no takers for this licence.

Moreover, at present, the brewery in Palakkad (United Breweries) is the only company that brews beer in the state while the other two units are dysfunctional.

According to excise department sources, the only way the matter can be resolved is by the government issuing microbrewery licences. The excise department had raised the idea of micro-breweries in 2005, which was then declined. In August 2017, the department once again recommended the government to launch a microbrewery at Mascot Hotel on an experimental basis.

Cybersecurity Hub In Bengaluru By IBM

by

International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) has launched a cybersecurity hub in Bengaluru to deal with the concerns of its clients across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.

Highlights

International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) has launched a cybersecurity hub in Bengaluru to deal with the concerns of its clients across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.

The multi-million dollar IBM Security Command Center will be located at the IBM office in Bengaluru in Karnataka. It’s the primary of its kind facility within the region.

The IBM global analysis report for 2022 states that Asia emerged because the top-most targeted region for cyberattacks, representing 26% of attacks analyzed in 2021.

The Cybersecurity Hub:

This cybersecurity hub will deliver training in cybersecurity response techniques, to organizations of all kinds, through highly realistic, simulated cyberattacks to organize everyone, from C-Suite to technical staff.

The new cyber security hub is among IBM’s sole two such centers globally. The opposite one is found within the US.

Telangana budget session from March 7, no governors address this time

by

The assembly budget sessions will begin on March 7 without the customary governor’s speech.
The government has also decided to present the state budget on the same day in both, the legislative assembly and the council.

Generally, the budget session begins with the customary governor’s address highlighting the government’s programmes, schemes and achievements.
The CM moves a motion the next day thanking the governor for the speech. During this motion, floor leaders of all the speak.

During the bifurcation process ofunited Andhra Pradesh(in 2013 and 2014), there was no governor’s speech. For that matter, assembly sessions were held without governor’s address in AP in 2020.

Andhra Pradesh GST revenue rises by 19%, state joins Rs 3,000 crore club

by

Andhra Pradeshhas shown an upward move in theGSTcollections in February 2022. The state has given 3,157 crore GST during the month, showing a Growth rate of 19% when compared to the corresponding month in the previous year.

In 2021 February, the states GST collection was 2,653 crore against 3,157 crore collected this February. With this increase, the state moved close towhere the GST collection this year was 4,113 crore against 3,636 crore in February 2021.

By crossing the 3,000 crore mark, Andhra Pradesh joined the club of states like Delhi, Rajasthan, Odisha, Telangana and West Bengal where the GST collection is close to 5,000 crore mark.

Maharastrais the top state in the country giving 19,423 crore, which is the highest collection in the country. It is followed by Karnataka with 9,176 crore, Gujarat with 8,873 crore andTamil Naduwith 7,393 crore.

However, among the top states, the growth rate was low when compared to the growth registered by Andhra Pradesh. Though the GST collections is more in Telangana, the growth rate from February 2021 to February 2022 is just 13%.

Panel moots study on local bodies revenue

by

An introductory meeting between the state , finance department, the directorate panchayats and urban development department was held recently. The government has reconstituted the thirdState Finance Commissionunder the chairmanship of former finance secretary Daulat Hawaldar, former director of accounts, Gurudas Potekar and director of planning, statistics and evaluation, Y Durga Prasad, who has been appointed as member secretary of the reconstituted body.

The commission will study the scope for Own Source Revenue generation for local bodies, and the distribution of funds amongst the local bodies. Thecommission will also have consultations with local bodies before submitting their report to government.

River Clean-up Project In Pune

by

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has given a green signal for tendering a Rs 1000 crore project to wash up Punes rivers, Mula, Mutha, and Mula-Mutha.

Highlights:

The sewage of the town is thrown into the Mula and Mutha rivers, thus making them extremely polluted.

This project aims to enhance the water quality within the Pune (PMC) area by increasing sewage treatment facilities and sewage collection Infrastructure.

The Rs 1000-crore assistance which will tend by JICA are going to be wont to reduce pollution within the Mutha, Mula, and Mula-Mutha rivers, also on improving living conditions and sanitation within the downstream area and therefore the city.

The Money is going to be wont to build pumping stations, sewer lines, and treatment Plants for sewage treatment before it’s discharged into the Mula, Mutha, and Mula-Mutha rivers.

Under this project, 55 km of trunk lines and 11 new sewage treatment units (STP) are going to be installed. The combined capacity of those 11 newly installed STPs would be 396 million liters per day (MLD).

Aside from the 11 STPs, JICA will help found out a 113-kilometer sewer Network, 24 community toilets, and 4 sewage pumping stations.

The expanded network will cater to the citys sewage generation up to the year 2027.

JICA

Japan International Cooperation Agency is an agency of Japan.

This organization helps in social and economic processes in developing countries and also looks to market international cooperation.

Professor Shinichi Kitaoka is the president of JICA and its headquarters is in Tokyo.