• 14 Oct 2022

Uttar Pradesh got the Category of Achievers in Logistics Ease

Why In News?

On October 13, 2022, Uttar Pradesh has got the category of achievers in the survey report of Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEEDS) released by the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.

Key Points

• Apart from Uttar Pradesh, 15 states like Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have also been categorized as achievers in terms of logistic ease.
• Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have got the category of states moving towards achievers.
• The states of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh have been included in the category of aspirational states.
• Leeds survey is conducted to create an environment of competition among states in the country regarding logistics facilities. The survey is conducted by collecting logistical accessibility, cost and other related data.
• It is known that recently the National Logistics Policy has also been released, so that the logistics cost in India can be brought down to 8-9%.

Uttar Pradesh Electric Vehicle Manufacturing and Mobility Policy-2022

Why In News?

In the cabinet meeting chaired by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on October 13, 2022, the Uttar Pradesh Electric Vehicle Manufacturing and Mobility Policy-2022 was approved to increase the trend of people towards electric vehicles (EVs) for environmental protection in the state and to attract manufacturers.

Key Points

• The Uttar Pradesh Electric Vehicle Manufacturing and Mobility Policy-2022 takes care of the interests of consumers, manufacturers and charging and battery swapping service providers. This policy will be effective for the next 5 years.
• Investors will be encouraged to set up at least 20 charging stations and five swapping stations in every district during the effective period of the policy. Apart from this, 'Invest UP' will be made the nodal agency for coordinating and facilitating investment for the construction of charging infra structure .
• All approvals for the construction of charging infrastructure will be given on the recommendation of Invest UP, an authorized committee headed by the Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner.
• It is to be noted that in order to increase investment in the state, a budget of Rs 500 crore has been arranged in the new policy for EV manufacturing companies and battery and related equipment manufacturers as well as consumers.
• State Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said that the policy aims to attract investment of Rs 50,000 crore as well as provide indirect employment to 1 lakh people.
• Consumers will not have to pay road tax and registration fee for five years from the date of implementation of the new policy on the purchase of all categories of EVs made in the state, while all EVs purchased and registered in the state will get 100 percent rebate in road tax and registration fee for three years from the date of implementation of the policy.
• In this policy, it has also been decided to give a subsidy of 15 percent on factory price to EVs purchased in UP.
• The policy will provide capital subsidy at the rate of 30 per cent on the maximum project investment of Rs 1000 crore for the first two ultra-mega battery projects investing Rs 1500 crore or more to set up a minimum capacity battery manufacturing plant of one GW in the state.
• Apart from this, the policy will provide capital subsidy at the rate of maximum 30 percent to the first two integrated EV projects investing Rs 3000 crore or more to set up integrated manufacturing facilities of EV, EV batteries and related equipment, including research and development and testing facilities.

Rajasthan Got the Opportunity to Host the National Scouts and Guide Jamboree After 67 years

Why In News?

On October 13, 2022, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, while addressing a review meeting of the preparations for the 18th National Scouts and Guides Jamboree to be organized by the Rajasthan State Bharat Scouts and Guides at the Chief Minister's Office, said that the state has got the opportunity to host an international level National Scout and Guide Jamboree after 67 years.

Key Points

• The Chief Minister said that the National Scouts and Guides Jamboree will be organized from January 4 to 10, 2023 at Rohat in Pali district of the state. This international level jamboree will be the biggest ever event of scouts and guides in the state.
• He said that such events develop qualities like health, character, art and skills, service spirit and discipline and also inculcate the spirit of social harmony, harmony, harmony and mutual brotherhood, which will provide a golden opportunity to understand the cultures of different countries and states.
• Before Jamboree and during Jamboree, regular wide publicity through various mediums and exhibitions will also be organized at jamboree venue. Also, Rajasthani cultural programmes will also be organized daily at the Jamboree venue.
• The process of registration of divisions by the Education Department is also going on. Also, arrangements for temporary police post, traffic system, regular patrolling and CCTV monitoring will also be ensured at the Jamboree site.
• It is noteworthy that more than 35 thousand scouts and guides from all over the country including 1500 foreigners will participate in the 18thNational Jamboree to be hosted by Rajasthan State Bharat Scouts and Guides.
• This 7-day jamboree includes State Gate, Pioneering Project, Adventure Valley, Global Village Development, Integration Games, March Past, Color Party, Folk Dance, Physical Performance, State Day Exhibition, Band Performance, Rock Climbing, Many competitions like parasailing and water activities will be organized.
• Education Minister BD Kalla said that the extension of all necessary facilities at jamboree site will be completed in a time-bound manner and a souvenir will also be published for the event.
• Rajasthan State Bharat Scouts and Guides President and former Minister of State for Education Govind Singh Dotasra said that this world-class event is being organized according to the vision of the Chief Minister. This will increase the reputation of Rajasthan not only in the country but also abroad.

250 New Laboratories will be Set up in Rajasthan to Check the Quality of Drinking Water

Why In News?

On October 13, 2022, Additional Chief Secretary, Public Health Engineering and Ground Water Department of Rajasthan, Dr. Subodh Agrawal informed that 250 new laboratories would be set up in different districts of the state at Panchayat Samiti level for quality testing of drinking water.

Key Points

• He directed to create awareness among the general public regarding the quality of drinking water and water conservation and to expedite the identification of building for the lab to be set up at the block level.
• Dr. Subodh Agarwal said that with the establishment of new laboratories, it will be easier to provide pure drinking water to the common man while further improving the quality of water.
• It is to be noted that at present district level laboratories are functioning in 32 districts of the state and state level laboratories in Jaipur.
• The officials concerned said that under the Jal Jeevan Mission, outsourced mobile labs in 20 districts are conducting water quality checks. Of these, 6-6 mobile labs are working in Jodhpur and Udaipur regions and 4-4 in Kota and Ajmer regions.
• It is known that 10 thousand 689 field test kits, 7 lakh 52 thousand 207 bacteriological test kits have been distributed so far this year under Jal Jeevan Mission and district chemists to train the members of village water sanitation committees in water quality testing. And 1421 camps have been organized by field engineers. Since April, 91 percent chemical testing and 48 percent bacterial testing have been done. 86 percent sample testing has been done through 20 mobile labs.

Rs 209 Crores Approved for Ujjain Ropeway

Why In News?

On October 13, 2022, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said in his tweet that approval of Rs 209 crore has been given for Ujjain Ropeway in Madhya Pradesh.

Key Points

• This ropeway will be set up in a length of 2 km from Ujjain railway station to Mahakal temple. With the construction of this ropeway tender, the distance from the railway station to the Mahakal temple will be covered in 5 minutes.
• According to Nitin Gadkari's tweet, the construction work of the ropeway will start from July-2023.
• This ropeway station will also provide food zones, waiting rooms, toilets as well as bus and car parking facilities for the people.

Madhya Pradesh Hosts TROPMET-2022

Why In News?

On October 13, 2022, the head of the Meteorological Department of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal, Dr. R. Bala Subramanian informed that TROPMAT-2022 will be organized by Madhya Pradesh Meteorological Department, IISER and IMSB in Madhya Pradesh this time.

Key Points

• Farmers Welfare and Agriculture Minister Kamal Patel said that in TROPMET-2022, there will be a special discussion on the forecast of agricultural and environmental weather of Madhya Pradesh and the upcoming seasonal events and challenges, which will benefit the farmers and the public.
• The results of the discussion and research in TROPMET-2022 will be expected to bring more and more benefits in the field of agriculture.
• He said that more than 400 meteorologists, agro-meteorologists, environmentalists and researchers of the country will participate in it.
• It is noteworthy that TROPMET-2022 will be organized in Bhopal from November 29 to December 2.

Solid Waste Management Plants to be Set up in Haryana for Waste Disposal

Why In News?

On October 13, 2022, Haryana chief secretary Sanjeev Kaushal chaired the summit of secretaries approved setting up of integrated solid waste management plants in the state on public private partnership basis.

Key Points

• The Chief Secretary said that to give further impetus to the cleanliness campaign, solid waste management plants will be set up soon for the disposal of waste in the state.
• Under the Integrated Solid Waste Management Projects, it was approved to select three implementing agencies for three clusters in the state. In the initial phase, these plants will be set up in Bhiwani, Sirsa and Karnal clusters.
• Bhiwani cluster consists of 5 urban local bodies. Similarly, 16 urban local bodies have been included in Karnal cluster and 3 in Sirsa.
• Sanjeev Kaushal said that all the districts of the state have been divided into 13 clusters. Integrated solid waste management projects will be implemented in these clusters.
• These projects will be based on open technology. In open technology, the agency will be able to set up bio-methanation plants, compost plants and waste-to-energy plants for the disposal of waste.
• The Chief Secretary directed that door-to-door collection of waste by the agency, transportation of waste to the second level and plant should be strictly ensured so that the residents do not face any kind of problem.
• It was informed in the meeting that these projects are long term. Under this, the collection, transportation, processing and disposal of waste will be done.

Municipal Corporation will Spend Rs 187 Crore to Purify the Air of Dhanbad city

Why In News?

On October 13, 2022, under the National Clean Air Program of the Central Government, the Municipal Corporation Dhanbad has prepared an action plan of Rs 187 crore on the instructions of the Central Government to purify the air of the city.

Key Points

• It is worth noting that the central government has also included the city of Dhanbad in the National Clean Air Program. The National Clean Air Program is a five-year plan, on which the Pollution Department and ISM IITs are working in the supporting role.
• A budget of Rs 77 crore has been passed for the first year. In its second phase, an action plan of Rs 110 crore has been prepared, on which work will start after getting the green signal from the Urban Development Department.
• The amount of dust particles in the air of Dhanbad city is high, which is injurious to health. For this, water sprinkler, mechanic sweeper machine, deslagging machine worth Rs 9.50 crore have been purchased and paver block worth Rs 12 crore has been laid. An electric crematorium is being built at Mohalbani and Matkuria crematoriums worth Rs 2 crore.
• Air quality monitoring system worth Rs 8.25 crore is being installed at 10 places in Dhanbad city.
• Asar Social Impact Advice Agency will play an advisory role in purifying the air. For this, an agreement has been signed between Dhanbad Municipal Corporation and ASER.

Government's Approval for New Ropeway to be Built in Uttarakhand

Why In News?

On October 13, 2022, R.K Sudhanshu, Principal Secretary, Forest and Public Distribution, Uttarakhand informed that the National Board of Wild Animals has approved the construction of ropeway in Kedarnath Sanctuary area.

Key Points

• R.K Sudhanshu said that this project with an expenditure of one thousand crore rupees for Kedarnath has been approved by the National Board of Wild Animals. Once the ropeway is built, the number of tourists in the state is expected to increase.
• He said that along with the approval for the construction of ropeway in Kedarnath Sanctuary area, Kedarnath's foot track and Hemkund Sahib ropeway project have also got green signal by the board.
• These projects will be constructed under the Parvatmala project of the central government, for which a total of 26 hectares of land will be acquired.
• After the ropeway for Kedarnath is built, the journey from Sonprayag to Kedarnath will be completed in just 30 minutes. The ropeway will have a capacity to carry five thousand passengers per hour.
• Apart from this, the National Board of Wild Animals has also approved the construction of five and a half kilometer foot track from Rambara to Garudchati. This road was completely damaged in the 2013 disaster.