30.06.23

Hry govt forms enforcement bureau to deal with illegal mining, construction

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In a significant development, theHaryanagovernment has established an Enforcement Bureau (Haryana State Enforcement Bureau) to monitor and initiate criminal actions into cases of illegal mining, encroachments on government sites, illegal construction,Motor Vehicles Actchallans and illicit liquor trade. According to information, to start with the move, the would be converting all eight Police stations set up for the water and electricity theft cases into the enforcement bureau (EB police station).

This would deal with all the existing cases registered in various police stations across the state. Notably, Bhiwani, Mahendergarh, Nuh,Panchkula, Yamunanagar districts are the areas infested with incidence of illegal mining. Moreover, land disputes related to encroachment of government land and violation of building bylaws have been reported from across the state. The Town and Country Planning Department too had been registering cases for violation of sale purchase of land or construction on land falling under controlled areas, without taking the NOC from department.

CIMAP’s aromatic plants to bloom in Uttarakhand

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Soon, new varieties ofRosemaryandDamaskrose – high-value aromatic crop – developed by city-based CSIR-Central Institute of Plants“>Medicinal And Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) will spread their fragrance in Uttarakhand and bring smiles to the faces of farmers struggling with financial, climatic and crop loss due to wild animals.

Under its ‘Aroma Mission’, the CIMAP aims at increasing the income of farmers through cultivation of aromatic plants.

It was started in India in 2016 but will be launched in Uttarakhand for the first time.

Uttar Pradesh launches week-long ‘One Tap-One Tree scheme

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Uttar PradeshJal Shakti ministerSwatantra Dev Singhstarted the One tap-One Tree scheme by planting a sapling at his official residence in Lucknow.

The scheme will continue till July 7. The Namani Gange and Rural Water Supply department will provide a free sapling to those getting a new tap connection.

The minister gave saplings as gifts to Women members of the Jal Samitis and others who got a new tap connection to mark the start of one-tap-one-tree campaign.

Between July 1 and July 7, over 5 lakh saplings will be distributed under the campaign. The inaugural event was planned for Udaypur village in Mohanlalganj but due to heavy rains the same was conducted at the residence of the minister.

Jkhand to plant 2.5cr saplings this monsoon

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Jharkhand will plant 2.5 crore saplings thismonsoonseason besides other measures to enhance forest quality and also to restore Ecosystems and bring about a qualitative change in , a top forest official said on Sunday.
Jharkhand boasts 23,721 square kilometre of forest cover which is 29.76 per cent of its total geographical area, higher than the 21.71 per cent of forest cover pan India.

The PCCF said it is heartening to see that there is a gradual increase in the forest cover in the state, and as per recent data, there has been an increase of 110 square km of forest area in the state.

Cabinet approves subsidy for dairy units

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A memorandum of understanding will be signed with the central government for the implementation of the scheme for modernisation and reforms through technology (SMART) in PDS in the state with a Software to be developed and installed.

The cabinet also cleared the release of Rs757.63 crore in three instalments to Bihar State Power Holding Company for the payment of unfunded terminal benefits to former employees and officers of Bihar State Electricity Board up to October 31, 2012.

As to the animal and Resources department, the cabinet approved the payment of subsidy to the tune of Rs 37.05 crore for the promotion of Dairy units using indigenous/local variety of cows and calf in the current financial year.

Beneficiaries would be farmers, cattle rearers and unemployed youths (male and female). The subsidy payable to the Scheduled Caste, scheduled tribe and extremely backward caste beneficiaries using two and four cows and calf will be 75%, while it will be 50% for the general category.

Similarly, subsidy payable to persons of all categories for establishing dairy units using 15-20 cows is 40%. A Matsya Vikas Bhavan would be constructed at a cost of Rs54.35 crore on the campus of fishery research centre at Mithapur (Patna).

Cracking down on commercial transport vehicles that flout traffic norms on highways, the Chhattisgarh government is soon launching a hi-tech e-challan system that utilizes ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras. These cameras will help identify vehicles that are unfit, running without paid taxes, and lacking insurance coverage.

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This foolproof and transparent system will serve as an alternative to deploying a large number of personnel on highways for vehicle inspections.

ANPR, or automatic number plate recognition, is an e-detection system that has been installed at nine locations on state highways. This system enables the traffic and transport department to automatically issue e-challans to unfit vehicles and those with outstanding taxes when they pass under the ANPR cameras installed on the roads.

The system will become operational after being formally inaugurated by chief ministerBhupesh Baghel, who expressed concern over the increasing number of accidents caused by various factors. The ANPR system will now play a crucial role in addressing these issues.

According to the Motor Vehicle Act, it is mandatory for every vehicle to have valid documents such as tax pass, registration certificate, fitness certificate, permit (for transport vehicles), Insurance, andpollutionunder control certificate (PUCC). Furthermore, a valid driving license is mandatory for all vehicle drivers. However, personal vehicles do not require fitness certificates or permits.

PPP shot in the arm for better govt healthcare facilities in tier 2 & 3 cities

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After distributing 3.56 crore Ayushman Bharat Insurance cards via a text message, MP Health department top official said healthcare facilities in Tier II and Tier III cities will be scaled up and invited the private healthcare sector to pitch in.

PPP-mode is on offer for private healthcare providers to provide their expertise in government hospitals, said MP health commissioner, Dr Sudam Khade. He was speaking at the Association of Healthcare Providers-MP and MP Nursing homes association joint conclave on meeting challenges of health care in the 21st century. It had Indias leading experts on quality, sustainability, patient safety, AI and ML in medicine and consumer laws, said AHPI-MP advisor, DrAnoopHajela.
According to government estimates, around 80% of residents in MP continue to rely on medical care through government run hospitals. Diagnostics and pathology Services along with telemedicine have already been outsourced by the health department. Now there is a more direct avenue being explored. A more direct PARTNERSHIP with private healthcare providers.

Ayushman Bharat scheme has opened up increased dependency on private sector hospitals. Also, now there is a shift of focus for the health department. Tier II and III cities will be given priority over the likes of Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior andJabalpurwhere health is assumed to be better off. Government opened up its interface, promising data analysis and AI in the future to determine and improve disease surveillance. For the private sector, red tape and delay in Ayushman payments are pitfalls to navigate.

14,000 Gujarat citizens fell prey to card frauds in a year

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Even as credit or debit card credentials leak over the dark web, many citizens dont realize that online frauds can be stopped with a little cyber hygiene.

Since January 2020, all banks, in keeping with the RBI guidelines, have allowed card holders to enable and disable cards for online use on international and domestic websites and Point of Sale (PoS) machines and even modify their transaction limits by simply moving a toggle tab on their bank app or website. Since 2022, fraudulent credit and debit card transactions have surged inGujarat.

The Gujarat CID Crime data for the last one year revealed that 14,725 citizens have lost their or credit to these frauds. At the Hacked cyber safety awareness session at Cloud 9 Society in Nehrunagar, jointly organized by TOI and Gujarat CID Crime, the sleuths explained all about preventing debit and credit card fraud.