30.04.21

Punjab, Himachal Pradesh lagging in WDC-PMKSY: Parl panel

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The parliamentary standing committee on rural development has expressed its disappointment on the progress of implementation of watershed development component ofPradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana(WDCPMKSY) projects in five states, includingPunjabandHimachal Pradesh.

The department of land Resources informed the parliamentary standing committee that the funds released by it to the state governments during a particular financial year are not timely transferred to the respective SLNAs for project implementation, which hampers the release of central funds in the subsequent year also.

The committee report reveals that the department of land resources has not released any funds to the Punjab government in the last three years (2018-19 to 2020-21).

This scheme is also important for Punjab as the department of land resources informed the parliamentary committee that the necessary provisions for giving due priority to the areas witnessing low water table have already been incorporated in the revised draft guidelines for watershed projects to be followed under the proposed new generation WDCPMKSY.
The groundwater table in Punjab has been declining at the rate of 25-30 centimetres per annum in the past two decades. The central ground water board has already warned that Punjab could turn into a desert state in the next 25 years.

Himachals oxygen quota doubled to 30 MT

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The Central Government has enhanced the liquid Oxygen quota of Himachal from 15 metric tonnes (MT) to 30 MT following a request by the .

Inox Air Products, Barotiwala, will provide the additional supply to the state. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had requested the Union Government for more oxygen to the state in view of rising demand for medical oxygen following the spurt in Covid cases.

The state has six pressure swing adsorption Plants at Shimla, Kangra, Mandi, Tanda, Chamba and Mandi. Eight private producers are also providing medical oxygen to the state. These manufacturers are Inox Air, Barotiwala; Himalaya Gases, Baddi; Indo Gases, Baddi; Mahalaxmi Oxy Plant, Mandi; Himalaya Oxygen, Sirmaur; JK Gases, Gagret; Mandav Air Agency, Mandi; and Mandav Air Agency, IGMC, Shimla.

For easy and fast communication during the time of natural disasters, the Uttarakhand government would set up community radio centres in all districts of the state.

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It is pertinent to mention here that there is a provision to set up community radios in different districts with the help of nongovernmental organisations (NGO) and autonomous bodies under the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA). However due to official apathy, the scheme has not made any impact far.

Apart from them the proposals to set up community radios have been sought from the universities and autonomous bodies. In the order the department has said that the USDMA would provide a sum of Rs 10 lakh for setting up community radio centres in districts. Similarly a financial help of Rs 2 lakh per year for three years would be provided for operating these centres.

UP govt to set up 600 pollution check centres, hire 1k youths

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To provide EMPLOYMENT opportunities to youth, theUttar Pradeshtransport department will open 600 automobiles pollution testing centres which will curb the problem of toxic smoke (pollution) being released from vehicles.

Under the scheme high school passed youth will get employment.

A spokesperson said that the department has already completed preparations to setupthe pollution check centres and make them businessoriented.
According to state government records, the number of vehicles has exceeded 2.5 million in the state capital alone. Against this only 75 pollution control centres are present.

Alternative platforms available: Experts

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Vaccination against Covid-19 will soon be open for people aged above 18 years. Walk-in vaccinations are not permitted for the 18-44 age groups but booking a vaccine appointment through the Government website or app is often a challenging experience with multiple logins and one-time passwords (OTPs).

Notably, most of these tools take the data from CoWIN in real time (Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network)

Covid-19 Vaccine Tracker: This open source tool works on Google Doc Seat and based on APN. It automatically monitors the vaccine availability in your area and informs you on your email when a slot is available. It also gives the freedom to choose one option in both Covaxin and Covshield Vaccines.

www.vaccinateme.in: This website is available in both desktop and mobile versions; provides the facility to choose the vaccine slot according to age, city and district.

Bihar CM launches BHY scheme for children with heart ailments

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Chief minister Nitish Kumar Friday launched the Bal Hriday Yojana (BHY), which will provide free treatment to children suffering from the medical condition of a hole in the heart or ventricular septal defect.

The CM flagged off a bus carrying 21 children with this condition, along with their guardians, to the Patna airport to be flown to Ahmedabad (Gujarat) for specialized treatment.

They would be given additional specialized medical treatment at the Ahmedabad-based hospital run by the Prashanti Medical Services and Research Foundation with which the has an agreement so that free medical treatment and care could be given to these children.

Centre must show will power to enhance vaccine production, says Bhupesh Baghel

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Chhattisgarhchief ministerBhupesh Baghel urged Prime MinisterNarendra Modito step in to make Vaccines available for states to launch a vaccination campaign for the 1845 group, pointing out thatBharat Biotechhas informed the that it would make efforts to supply vaccines only by the end of July.

Chhattisgarh government has already prepared a roadmap for launching the vaccination programme for the 18-45 age group from 1st May as announced by the Prime Minister and had also placed orders to procure 25 lakh doses each ofCovishieldand Covaxin.

Sex ratio among tribals better than general population: Ram Nath Kovind

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PresidentRam Nath Kovindon Sunday said people can learn a lot fromtribal communitieswhere there was no gender-based discrimination and as a result, the sex ratio among them was better than the general Population.
Addressing a state-level ‘Janjatiya Sammelan (tribal meet)’ inDamohinMadhya Pradesh, Kovind said intribal societies, groups are given importance over individuals and cooperation is encouraged instead of competition.

He also said that tribal communities are treasure troves of traditional knowledge.

Gujarat Technological University: Online exams for engineering students

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After holding online exams for the first semester recently, Gujarat Technological University (GTU) has now decided to conduct summer exams for final semester students pursuing degree and diploma studies with various colleges affiliated with the university.

GTU announced that more than 95 per cent of students in the first semester of degree and diploma courses in all faculties participated in the college exams that were held online.

Rajasthans genome sequencing centre to come up soon

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Alarmed over increasing Covid-19 cases and in preparation for the expected third wave of the pandemic, the has decided to have its owngenomesequencing facility to study various strains of viruses. The genome sequencing centre, to come up at SMS Medical College, will initially sequence 20 samples per day and soon increase it to 60 samples.

Human genomes are made of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid), a virus genome can be made of either DNA or RNA (Ribonucleic acid). DNA and RNA provide genetic instructions for Growth and functioning of organisms. Coronavirus is made of RNA. Genome sequencing is a technique that reads and interprets genetic information found within DNA or RNA.