Chhattisgarh

• 08 Oct 2021

Ram Van Gaman Tourist Circuit

Why in News

• On October 7, 2021, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel inaugurated the first phase of the Ram Van Gaman tourism circuit project in Chhattisgarh to develop the places related to the exile period of Lord Shri Ram as a world-class tourist destination.

Key Points

• On this occasion, the Chief Minister also inaugurated the renovation and beautification work of Mata Kaushalya temple complex at Chandkhuri and unveiled a 51 feet high statue of Lord Shri Ram through light.
• It is worth mentioning that the work of renovation and beautification of Kaushalya Mata Temple is being done at a cost of Rs 15 crore 45 lakh.
• It is noteworthy that Ram Van Gaman tourism circuit of about 2260 km is being developed from Harchowka in Sitamarhi of Korea district to Ramaram in Sukma.
• Chhattisgarh has its own identity in the whole world as the maternal grandmother home of Lord Shri Ram. In this tourism circuit, Lord Shri Ram will be seen step by step from Korea district to Sukma and the stories of importance related to him will be seen and heard.
• Ram Van Gaman Tourism Circuit Project includes Sitamarhi Harchowka (Koriya), Ramgarh (Surguja), Shivrinarayan (Janjgir-Champa), Turturiya (Balodabazar), Chandkhuri (Raipur), Rajim (Gariaband), Sihawa Saptarishi Ashram (Dhamtari), Jagdalpur (Bastar). ) and Ramaram (Sukma) are being developed at a cost of Rs.133 crore 55 lakh from the point of view of tourism.
• Through this tourism circuit, not only rural tourism will get a boost in the state, but new global tourism opportunities will increase.

Fourth Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh

Why in News

• Recently the 'National Tiger Conservation Authority' (NTCA) approved the proposal of Chhattisgarh government to declare the combined areas of Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary as Tiger Reserve.

Key Points

• Situated in the northern part of Chhattisgarh bordering Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand, this new tiger reserve will be the fourth tiger reserve of Chhattisgarh after Udanti-Sitanadi, Achanakmar and Indravati Tiger Reserves.
• The proposal was considered by the 11^th Technical Committee of NTCA on September 1 and approved a month later under Section 38K(1) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• The Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary was identified in 2011 as part of the Surguja Jashpur Elephant Reserve. Guru Ghasidas National Park was part of the Sanjay National Park in undivided Madhya Pradesh. Both have been in line to be notified as Tiger Reserves since 2011.
• The constituent units of the new Tiger Reserve are Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary spread over 1,44,000 hectares (1,440 sq km) and 60,850 hectares (608.5 sq km) respectively.
• Guru Ghasidas National Park is in Koriya district, while Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary is in Surajpur district in the north-west corner of Chhattisgarh.
• Guru Ghasidas National Park was the last known habitat of Asiatic cheetahs in the country. Originally part of the Sanjay Dubri National Park, Guru Ghasidas National Park was created as a separate entity in the Surguja region of Chhattisgarh after the formation of the state in 2001.
• Wildlife experts and activists in the state believe it is important to convert Guru Ghasidas National Park into a tiger reserve, as it connects Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh and provides a corridor for movement of tigers between Bandhavgarh and Palamu Tiger Reserves.

PM inaugurates PSA Oxygen Plant at Ambedkar Hospital

Why in News

• On October 7, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated a Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plant at Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Medical College, set up under the PM Cares Fund, in Raipur.

Key Points

• Prime Minister Modi inaugurated 35 PSA Oxygen Plants installed in 35 states and union territories through virtual medium at an event organized at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh, Uttarakhand.
• This plant can produce 960 liters of oxygen in a minute.
• The medical college has an oxygen plant with a production capacity of 1,450 liters per minute jointly set up by the state government and the National Health Mission.
• With both the plants functional, the hospital will have an operational facility of 500 oxygen cylinders to meet the daily requirement of oxygen.