• 02 Mar 2024

Inauguration of New Heli Service in Uttarakhand

Why in News?

Recently, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated heli service in Uttrakhand to boost connectivity within the state.

Key Points

• The newly launched helicopter service will link Haldwani with Munsiyari, Pithoragarh, and Champawat.
• This initiative is a part of the Regional Connectivity Scheme which aims to reduce the distance between these remote regions.
  • Due to Uttarakhand’s challenging terrains, aerial connectivity will help with both everyday travel and critical emergency response capabilities.
• This launch follows the recent inauguration of a new terminal building at Jolly Grant Airport.
• Upcoming air routes were also announced, including Dehradun to Amritsar, Dehradun to Pantnagar, and Dehradun to Ayodhya.

Regional Connectivity Scheme: UDAN

• About:
  • UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagarik) was launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation for regional airport development and regional connectivity enhancement.
  • It is a part of the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016.
  • The scheme is applicable for a period of 10 years.
• Phases:
  • Phase 1 was launched in 2017, with the objective of connecting underserved and unserved airports in the country.
  • Phase 2 was launched in 2018, with the aim of expanding air connectivity to more remote and inaccessible parts of the country.
  • Phase 3 was launched in November 2018, with the focus on enhancing air connectivity to hilly and remote regions of the country.
  • Phase 4 of the UDAN scheme was launched in December 2019, with a focus on connecting islands and other remote areas of the country.
  • Phase 5 was launched in April 2023, with a focus on Category-2 (20-80 seats) and Category-3 (>80 seats) aircrafts with no restriction on the distance between the origin and the destination of the flight.

Haryana Antarrashtriya Gita Jayanti Mela Authority Bill, 2024

Why in News?

Recently, the Haryana Assembly passed ‘Haryana Antarrashtriya Gita Jayanti Mela Authority Bill, 2024’ to set up an independent authority for organising the annual Gita Jayanti Mahotsav and for popularising and disseminating teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.

Key Points

• A large number of devotees and people at large, both from the country and abroad, enthusiastically involve themselves with the local people during the period of Mahotsav. Currently, there is no independent authority/body in the state to organise the Gita Jayanti Mahotsav.
• According to the bill, the main functions of the authority will be to popularise and disseminate the teachings of Srimad Bhagavad Gita as well as organise cultural and educational seminars, workshops, fairs, exhibitions and conferences.
• The authority shall consist of members, including the chief minister as its chairperson and the urban local bodies minister as the senior vice-chairperson. There will be one vice chairperson, who will be an eminent and distinguished person, to be nominated by the state government.
• Gita Jayanti festival has been celebrated over the years and the Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB) has been organising the event.
  • KDB will function as before. But a new authority will specifically take care of how to expand this festival further on a global scale and take the message of Bhagavad Gita to the entire world.

Gita Jayanti Mahotsav

• The Celebration of Gita Mahotsav brings a moral and cultural resurgence among the people.
• The prime objective of celebrating the festival of Gita Jayanti is to enlighten the people by the immortal and intangible heritage of Bhagavad Gita- the song celestial.
• The Government of Haryana is Celebrating Gita Mahotsav festival in collaboration with the KDB in the city of Kurukshetra since 1989.

Haryana Passes Bill Aimed to Curb Illegal Immigration

Why in News?

Recently, the Haryana Assembly passed a bill aimed to curb illegal immigration along with Haryana Registration and Regulation of Private Coaching Institutes Bill, Haryana State Sports Associations (Registration and Regulation) Bill, and the Hisar Metropolitan Development Authority Bill.

Key Points

• According to the provisions of the Haryana Registration and Regulation of Travel Agents Bill, whoever attempts or is found involved in human smuggling or found involved in the preparation of forged documents, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to 10 years and shall also be liable to pays fines between Rs 2-5 lakh.
• The state assembly also passed the Haryana Registration and Regulation of Private Coaching Institutes Bill, 2024.
  • Under the provisions of the bill, a private coaching violating the proposed law, 'shall be liable for each such violation with a fine of Rs 25,000 for the first violation and Rs 1 lakh for the subsequent violation. And in case the violation still continues then the registration of private coaching institutes shall be canceled'.
  • The 'private coaching institute' means an institute in a single premises which includes a tuition centre established, run or administered by any person or body of persons, a company, society or trust providing study programmes for competitive examinations, but does not include individual home tuition up to 50 students per day.
• The House also passed the Haryana State Sports Associations (Registration and Regulation) Bill, 2024, to oversee the registration and regulation of working of sports associations by establishing regulatory bodies at both the state and regional levels.
• The Hisar Metropolitan Development Authority Bill, 2024 was also passed according to which, rapid growth of Hisar metropolitan area and its emergence as a nucleus for economic development has thrown up challenges in urban governance, infrastructure deficit, decentralized decision making, and independently created townships which if ignored can affect the quality of life and well-being of the citizens of Hisar.

Central Government Approves National Highways Projects in Madhya Pradesh

Why in News?

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari has approved Rs. 3549.48 crore for construction and strengthening of various National Highways projects in Madhya Pradesh.

Key Points

• An allocation of Rs. 776.19 crore has been approved for 4-laning of 41 km length section of National Highway-146 B (Shahganj Bypass end to Badi Package-IV) in Sehore and Raisen districts of Madhya Pradesh under Hybrid Annuity Mode.
• The project will reduce travel time to reach Jabalpur, Bhopal, Betul and Indore cities and will connect to various National Highway (NH) and State Highway (SH).
• An allocation of Rs. 1238.59 crore has been approved for making a 6-lane service road on both sides of Ayodhya bypass from Asharam Tiraha on National Highway-46 to Ratnagiri Tiraha on National Highway-146 in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
• An approval has been given for the construction of 34 km long Chasale 6 lane Indore Western Bypass under Hybrid Annuity Mode under Package-1 at a cost of Rs 1534.70 crore.

Fishery Department Secretary Visits Getalsud Dam for Cage Farming Review

Why in News?

Recently, the Secretary of the Fishery Department, visited the Getalsud Dam in Ranchi to review the progress of cage farming. The review was conducted in collaboration with the Jharkhand Fisheries Department.

Key Points

• Getalsud Reservoir serves as a hub for the conservation of pangasius and tilapia fish species through cage farming.
• The work on cage fish conservation began in 2012-13, witnessing significant success with the establishment of 365 cages under various schemes.
  • These cages have contributed to the increase in fish population, with an annual storage of over 25 lakh fingerlings (a small fish).
  • Market access is already established, with locally produced fish being sold in nearby markets at an average price of INR 120 per kilogram, contributing to the economic prosperity of the region.
• Under the Central Sector Scheme (CSS) related to Blue Revolution, the Fishery Department initiated the Integrated Development and Management Plan for Fisheries from 2015-16 to 2019-20.
  • A total of 14,022 cages were approved under this scheme, with a project cost of INR 420 crores.
  • Under the Prime Minister’s Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), approval has been granted for 44,908 cages, with a total project cost of INR 1292.53 crores.

Cage Aquaculture

• It involves the growing of fishes in existing water resources while being enclosed in a net cage which allows free flow of water.
• It is an aquaculture production system made of a floating frame, net materials and mooring system (with rope, buoy, anchor etc.) with a round or square shaped floating net to hold and culture large numbers of fishes and can be installed in reservoir, river, lake or sea.
• Cage farms are positioned in such a way to utilize natural currents, which provide the fish with oxygen and other appropriate natural conditions

Blue Revolution in India

• It was launched in India during the 7th Five Year Plan (FYP) that went from 1985 to 1990, during which the government sponsored the Fish Farmers Development Agency (FFDA).
• During the 8th FYP, from 1992-97, the Intensive Marine Fisheries Program was launched in which collaboration with MNCs was encouraged.
• Over a period of time, fishing harbours in Tuticorin, Porbandar, Visakhapatnam, Kochi and Port Blair were established.

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)

• PMMSY was introduced by the Government of India, as part of the ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ package with the investment of Rs. 20,050 crores, the highest ever investment in the Fishery sector.
• Fishermen are provided with insurance cover, financial assistance and a facility of Kisan Credit Card as well.