• 04 Mar 2024

Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages to Invest in Madhya Pradesh

Why in News?

Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB), the bottling arm of Coca-Cola in India, has announced a Rs 350 crore investment in Madhya Pradesh for setting up two manufacturing lines at its Rajgarh plant.

Key Points

• The announcement was made during the Regional Industry Conclave in Ujjain.
• The fresh infusion of capital will see the introduction of 2 new, state-of-the-art manufacturing lines at HCCB's factory in Rajgarh, that will produce Affordable Small Sparkling Packs (ASSP) and Juice Tetra Packs.
• HCCB has already invested over Rs 311 crore in Madhya Pradesh since 2000 in its Rajgarh plant.
  • The company operates 13 factories spread across India, where it manufactures and sells 37 different products across 8 categories.

Adani Group to Invest Rs 75,000 crore in Madhya Pradesh

Why in News?

During the Regional Industry Conclave in Ujjain, the Adani Group has announced a substantial investment of Rs 75,000 crore in Madhya Pradesh, signaling a significant expansion of its financial commitment to the state.

Key Points

• The Adani Group is earmarking an additional Rs 5,000 crore for the establishment of a 4-million-tons-per-annum clinker unit in Chorgadi.
• The group plans to set up two cement grinding units in Dewas and Bhopal, boasting a combined capacity of 8 million tons per annum, with an investment of Rs 5,000 crore.
• Group is also planning for substantial investments in fuel distribution, surpassing Rs 2,100 crore.
  • This investment will predominantly focus on fortifying the city gas distribution network in five geographical areas, namely Bhind, Burhanpur, Anuppur, Tikamgarh, and Alirajpur, covering City Gas Distribution (CGD), Liquefied natural gas (LNG), Electronic Vehicle (EV).
• The power generation capacity will also be amplifies with Rs 30,000 crore at its Mahan Energen plant in Singrauli, escalating it from the existing 1,200 megawatts to an impressive 4,400 megawatts.

The Regional Industry Conclave

• It was a two-day Investor Summit, commenced in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, encompassing 20 districts such as Bhopal, Ujjain, and Indore.
• A total of 56 projects are anticipated to draw investments surpassing Rs 74,000 crore, with the potential to generate employment for over 17,000 individuals.
• 35 participating companies have collectively proposed investment projects totaling Rs 74,711 crore during the Industry Conclave.

Amitabh Dhillon to Head Haryana Anti-Corruption Bureau

Why in News?

Recently, Haryana government appointed 1997 -batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Amitabh Singh Dhillon as Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Haryana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).

Key Points

• Another 1997-batch officer Sanjay Kumar was posted as ADGP, law and order, replacing Mamta Singh.
• The Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to governor, Arsh Verma was posted as Mahendergarh superintendent of police while additional Superintendent of Police (SP), Yamunanagar, Himadree Kaushik was posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Panchkula.
• A 1991-batch officer, Alok Roy was posted as Director General of Police (DGP), Human Resources (HR) and Litigation, while his batchmate, Sanjeev Jain was posted as DGP, Haryana Human Rights Commission.
• DCP, Ballabhgarh, Rajesh Duggal was posted as joint commissioner of police, Gurugram.

Aide-de-Camp

• The 'Aide-de-Camp' title is given to an officer in the armed forces, who assists a higher-ranking officer.
• ADCs are officers who serve as the personal assistant of top officers including the Army Chief, Army Commanders, governors, and President of India.
• The President of India has five aides-de-camp, three from the Army, and one each from the Navy and the Air Force.
  • State governor has two aides-de-camp, one comes from either the Army/Navy/Air Force, and the other one from the state’s police force.
• An ADC should have five to seven years of experience in the armed forces. He is selected on the basis of his professional performance and an interview.

Rajasthan to Get its Share of Yamuna Water

Why in News?

Recently, Rajasthan Chief Minister asserted that the state will get its share of Yamuna water as per the allocations specified in the 1994 agreement with Haryana.

Key Points

• Haryana and Rajasthan recently signed an agreement to jointly prepare a detailed project report for the transfer of Rajasthan's share of Yamuna water from Hathnikund in Haryana through underground pipelines and its subsequent utilisation in areas such as Jhunjhunu and Churu.
• The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed after a meeting between Haryana and Rajasthan CM on 17 February 2024.
  • The issue of water sharing has been a point of contention for over two decades since the signing of the MOU on May 12, 1994, allocating water shares among co-basin states.

Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal

• The Issue stems from a controversial 1981 water-sharing agreement drawn up when Haryana was carved out of Punjab in 1966.
• Punjab:
  • Punjab vehemently opposes sharing any additional water with neighboring states. They stress that Punjab lacks surplus water and highlights the reduction in their water allocation over the years.
  • Many areas in Punjab may go dry after 2029 and the state has already over-exploited its groundwater for irrigation purposes as it fills granaries of the Centre by growing wheat and paddy worth Rs 70,000 crore every year.
  • Water in about 79% of the state’s area is over-exploited and in such a situation, the government says sharing water with any other state is impossible.
• Haryana:
  • Haryana strongly advocates for the canal's completion, citing a looming water crisis and asserting that Punjab has been utilizing Haryana's share of water.
  • It says that providing irrigation is tough for the state and there was a problem of drinking water in southern parts of Haryana, where groundwater has depleted up to 1,700 feet.
  • Haryana has been citing its contribution to the central food pool and arguing that it is being denied its rightful share in the water as assessed by a tribunal.

Yamuna River

• The Yamuna River is one of the major tributaries of the Ganges in Northern India.
  • It forms an integral part of the Yamuna-Ganga Plain, one of the world's most extensive alluvial plains.
• Source: It has its source in the Yamunotri Glacier at an elevation of 6,387 meters on the southwestern sides of Banderpooch crests in the lower Himalayan ranges.
• Basin: It meets the Ganges at the Sangam (where Kumbh mela is held) in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh after flowing through Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.
• Important Dam: Lakhwar-Vyasi Dam (Uttarakhand), Tajewala Barrage Dam (Haryana) etc.
• Important Tributaries: Chambal, Sindh, Betwa and Ken.
• Government Initiatives Related to Yamuna River:
  • Yamuna Action Plan
  • Delhi Government’s Six-Point Action Plan to Clean Yamuna by February 2025.
    
    

PM Unveils Development Projects in Bihar

Why in News?

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled development projects worth ₹ 21,400 crore in Bihar's Aurangabad district.

Key Points

• National highway projects worth over ₹ 18,000 crore were inaugurated.
• The PM laid the foundation stone for a six-lane bridge over the Ganga, which will be constructed parallel to the existing JP (Jayaprakash Narayan) Ganga Setu. Also, the foundation stone of Unity Mall in Patna, which will be constructed at a cost of over ₹ 200 crore, and provide a boost to the 'One District, One Product' project.
• He dedicated to the nation three railway projects, which include the doubling of the Pataliputra-Pahleja line and a 26-km-long new line between Bandhua and Paimar.
• The PM also inaugurated 12 projects worth over 2,190 crore under the Namami Gange scheme.
  • These include sewerage treatment plants in Patna, Sonepur, Naugachia, and Chapra.

One District One Product Initiative

• ODOP is an initiative to boost economic growth at the district level by promoting and branding one product from each district of the country.
• The idea is to leverage the local potential, resources, skills, and culture of each district and create a unique identity for them in the domestic and international markets.
• The concept of ODOP was first launched by the Uttar Pradesh government in January 2018.
  • The scheme was successful in reviving the traditional industries and crafts of the state, such as chikankari embroidery, brassware, pottery, carpets, leather goods, etc.
  • Inspired by it, the central government adopted the concept and launched it as a national initiative.

Namami Gange Scheme

• Namami Gange Programme is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as a ‘Flagship Programme’ by the Union Government in June 2014 to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution and conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.
• It is being operated under the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• The program is being implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and its state counterpart organisations i.e State Program Management Groups (SPMGs).
• NMCG is the implementation wing of National Ganga Council (was set up in 2016; which replaced the National Ganga River Basin Authority - NGRBA).

MYUVA Scheme

Why in News?

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister is going to launch the "Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan (MYUVA)" scheme.

• It is aimed at nurturing entrepreneurship among the state's youth.

Key Points

• Under this scheme, the state government aims to prepare one lakh young entrepreneurs every year by providing interest-free loans for projects of up to Rs 5 lakh.
  • The government has allocated Rs 1,000 crore in the budget for the financial year 2024-25 to support this initiative.
• It is designed to empower educated and skilled youth across the state, facilitating self-employment opportunities and fostering the establishment of new MSMEs (Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises).
• Beneficiaries who have undergone training in various government-run schemes, such as the Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana, One District One Product Training and Toolkit Scheme, Scheduled Caste, Tribe, Other Backward Class Training Scheme, and Skill Upgradation (Kaushal Unnayan) run by the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission, will be eligible for assistance.
  • Additionally, youth with certificates, diplomas, and degrees from educational institutions will also be entitled to benefits under this scheme.
• Upon successful repayment of the first loan, units will be eligible for second-stage financing, where a composite loan of double the initial amount or up to Rs 7.50 lakh can be provided.

Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana

• The scheme is designed to uplift traditional artisans and craftspeople engaged in various occupations like blacksmithing, goldsmithing, pottery, carpentry, and sculpting, with a focus on preserving cultural heritage and integrating them into the formal economy and global value chains.
• It will be implemented as a Central Sector Scheme, fully funded by the Government of India.
• The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) is the Nodal Ministry for the Scheme.
• Objectives:
  • To ensure that artisans are seamlessly integrated into both domestic and global value chains, thus enhancing their market access and opportunities.
  • Preservation and promotion of India's rich cultural heritage of traditional crafts.
  • Assisting artisans in transitioning to the formal economy and integrating them into global value chains.

Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission

• The UP Skill Development Mission was established as a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, under the Department of Vocational Education and Skill Development, Government of UP on 13^th September, 2013.