• 24 Dec 2022

Traffic Expansion in National Waterway-1

Why in News?

• On December 23, 2022, Sudhanshu Pant, Officer on Special Duty, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of Uttar Pradesh, told a Trade meet on Traffic Expansion in National Waterway-1 at Circuit House, Varanasi that Cargo Ships will start operating from Varanasi to Dibrugarh (Bogibeel), the longest Waterway in the country, from January 2023.

Key Points

• Inland Waterways Authority of India will prepare Varanasi-Ghazipur-Majhauan-Barh Waterway on the lines of Patna-Farakka Waterway. Night Navigation System will also be developed for 24-hour smooth movement of Ships on this Waterway.
• He informed that with the operation of Cargo Ships from Varanasi, initiatives will be taken to promote export of GI products of Purvanchal by connecting it with Waterways. The Waterways Authority will prepare its Action Plan by taking suggestions from Central and State Government Departments for maximum use of National Waterway-1.
• In the meeting, Kaushal Raj Sharma, Divisional Commissioner of the State Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said that various types of grains are exported from Varanasi, for which the Waterway will be used soon. At the same time, if the Ministry of Commerce and Industry provides details of the products exported to South-East Asian countries and their routes, then the export through Varanasi Waterway will be even more enriched.
• A representative of the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperation suggested 24-hour operation of Ships in the Ganga to ensure timely export of fertilizers and Urea through Waterways. Officials in the Ministry of Waterways agreed to the proposal.
• Waterways Authority Vice Chairman Jayant Singh said that The Varanasi-Kolkata Waterway is available for operation 300 days a year. This Ganga Vilas will prove to be a milestone in promoting tourism of Varanasi. In this, from January 10 to January 13, the passengers of Ganga Vilas will be given Kashi Darshan.
• He said that from April, preparations have been started to operate Solar Water Taxis connecting the ghats of Kashi. The tender will be issued next month and will be operated on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. A detailed action plan is being prepared for the development of Varanasi-Kolkata and Dibrugarh Waterways.

STP and Drainage Systems to be built in 16 Cities of Bihar at a cost of Rs. 1136 crore

Why in News?

• According to information received from the media on December 23, 2022, a Plan has been prepared for the construction of Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) and drainage at a cost of Rs. 1136 crore for Drainage and Drainage of Waterlogging and Dirty Water in 16 cities of Bihar. A Detailed Plan (DPR) of these Schemes has been prepared and sent to the State and Central Government for approval.

Key Points

• Keeping in view the need of cities, Plan for Drainage Network and STP have been prepared. According to the DPR, three Sewerage Treatment Plants of different capacities will be set up in Kishanganj, Raxaul and Motihari towns, while two each STPs will be set up in Jamui, Saharsa and Darbhanga.
• As soon as the approval of the State Project Management Group (SPMG) and the National Mission for Clean Ganga is received, the tender process and agency will be duly selected and the work will start.
• Apart from this, the process of construction of DPR for Sewerage Network and STP in five cities of the State is going on.
• According to official information, work will be done on Fecal Salz Treatment Plants (Human Waste Management) in three of the 16 cities of the State, Dighawara, Manihari and Teghra. Through this plant, organic manure will be made from the Silt of Toilet tank.
• The dirt coming from the Treatment Plant will be disposed of, composted and the water will be cleaned and brought to other uses.
• It is known that at present, the Silt of Septic tanks in the State is filled in tanks and dropped on the roadside in the open, thereby polluting the environment.

Women and Child Development Minister inaugurates Rashtriya Amrita Haat

Why in News?

• On December 23, 2022, Rajasthan Women and Child Development Minister Mamta Bhupesh inaugurated the Rashtriya Amrita Haat at Shilpagram on Jawahar Kala Kendra campus in Jaipur.

Key Points

• Women and Child Development Minister Mamta Bhupesh said that this fair will be held from December 23 to January 1, 2023, in which Jaipur will be able to buy their favorite products.
• Speaking on the occasion, he said that the products made by Women from Rural Areas are an example of excellent Workmanship and skills and Jaipur Rights can also contribute to the State Government's Campaign for Women Empowerment by purchasing their products.
• The State Government is providing opportunities to women to grow as Entrepreneurs by providing loans granted by banks to them through Schemes like IM Shakti Udyog Protsahan Yojana.
• Mamta Bhupesh said that the Directorate of Women Empowerment of the Women and Child Development Department provides a market to the women of Self-Help Groups through the National Amrita Haat, while the people of Jaipur get an opportunity to exhibit and buy handmade products from all over the State at one place.
• It is known that The National Amrita Haat is organized every year.
• In Rashtriya Amrita Haat, products of Women Self-Help Groups of all districts of Rajasthan State are being exhibited and sold. In this, Women have got the opportunity to sell the best workman's products at more than 140 stalls, including Handicrafts, Embroidery, Lakh Bangles, Papermaking Items, Salwar-Suits, Terracotta, Artificial Jewellery, Chicken and Zari work, Glass and Patch Work, Favorite Pickles, Marmalade, Spices and other handmade attractive products are available.

Raj Sakhi Cafe inaugurated in Sriganganagar district

Why in News?

• On December 23, 2022, Govind Ram Meghwal, Sri Ganganagar district in-charge and Disaster Management Minister of Rajasthan, launched Raj Sakhi Cafe to provide food products made by Women of Rajivika Self Help Group under one roof.

Key Points

• Speaking on the occasion, District Collector Saurabh Swami said that the Women have joined the group and are taking training from PNB RSETI and starting Self-Employment in their village and making handmade products. Raj Sakhi Cafe has been started by Rajivika to promote the livelihood of these group members.
• He said that food items prepared by Self-Help Group Women in Government Offices will be encouraged to order during training and meetings, so that the livelihood of women can be increased.
• Rajivika District Project Manager Dr. Deepali Sharma describing this initiative as auspicious for the area, said that the general public should also come to Rajivika Raj Sakhi Cafe and encourage them by eating food products made by these Women. In this, food products made by Women of Self-Help Groups like Tea, Kachori, Samosa, Cookies, Bhelpuri, Sandwich, Veg Burger, Pakoda etc. will be available for sale.

Madhya Pradesh Transco's Load Dispatch Centre receives National Excellence Award

Why in News?

• On December 23, 2022, Madhya Pradesh Transco (Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company) State Load Dispatch Centre at Jabalpur was leading in its World-Class Infrastructure, Innovation, Developing the First Cyber Security Model in the country, among other parameters, received the Excellence Award.

Key Points

• Madhya Pradesh Transco Chief Engineer State Load Dispatch Centre Jabalpur S.K. Singh was the Chief Engineer of Madhya Pradesh Transco at the National Power System Conference organized by Forum of Load Dispatcher and IIT Delhi related to Grid India, the National Institution of India's Power Sector. S. Patel and Superintending Engineer R. K. Gupta received the award.
• Significantly, 43 Load Dispatch Centers of the country participated in the selection process of Excellent Load Dispatch Center. Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company has received this highly prestigious award of the Country's Power Sector after following grid parameters and going through three phases of rigorous process of award selection.
• In the first phase of the selection process, Maharashtra and Telangana, including Madhya Pradesh, were selected on the basis of facts at more than 40 criterion points. In the second phase, on the basis of presentation and oral interview taken by the four-member jury, the performance of the selected three State Load Dispatch Centers in the first phase was tested.
• The State Load Dispatch Centre of Madhya Pradesh was selected for the award after a third phase of the process by a jury comprising professors from IIT, World-Class retired experts from POSOCO (Grid India) and renowned experts from Tata Energy Research Institute.
• Applications for the award were first invited from all State Load Dispatch Centers in the country. Infrastructure of State Load Dispatch Centers, details of work done in innovation, ways to deal with the challenges of the Power Sector, procedures followed for Cyber Security, work done for training and welfare of Grid Management Personnel, availability of State-of-the-Art IT Systems, Collection of Real-Time Data, Integration with Renewable Energy Grids, Information was given on points like Ice-loading Scheme etc.

Stage-3 and 4 Cancer Patients in the State will now get a Monthly Pension of Rs. 2500

Why in News?

• On December 23, 2022, the Haryana Government has decided to start a monthly pension of Rs. 2500 for stage-3 and 4 Cancer Patients of the State. This will put an additional financial burden of over Rs. 68.42 crore on the State Exchequer.

Key Points

• It may be recalled that Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, after meeting the families of Cancer victims in May 2022, had assured that all possible help would be provided to Cancer Patients and those whose family income is up to Rs. 3 lakh.
• The State Social and Empowerment Department said that for the benefit of this Scheme, the facts of annual income shown in the family identity card will be matched. This Pension will continue till the patient is alive.
• To take advantage of this Scheme, the patient will have to upload the documents verified by the Committee of the Civil Surgeon's Office through the Saral Center. The applicant will have to bring Ration Card, Voter Card, PAN Card, Passport, Bank Passbook, Telephone, Water, Electricity or other utility bills, in which the address of the house is written or land record documents / family identity card will have to be brought to the Saral Center.
• ASHA Worker The ANM will verify the Patient's Survival Certificate, which will be countersigned by the Health Department Officials.
• According to the Civil Resource Information Department, there are 57 lakh families in Haryana, whose population is 2 crore 85 lakh. Of these, more than 37.45 lakh families have an annual income of less than Rs. 3 lakh in the family identity card.
• It is noteworthy that the financial assistance given to Cancer victims from the Relief Fund in the State was earlier approved by the Chief Minister's Office. The matter was referred to the Chief Minister's Office by the concerned District Deputy Commissioner and it was a lengthy process. As soon as the matter came to the notice of the Chief Minister, he asked the District Deputy Commissioner to release this financial assistance amount at his level. This amount of up to Rs. 1 lakh is given to the patient at the District level as financial assistance.
• The State Government has decided that if the patient is taking advantage of any other type of Social Security Pension or Old Age Honor Allowance Scheme, then he will also get a monthly pension of Rs. 2500 additionally.
• Before Haryana, Tripura is the only State in the country which is giving monthly financial assistance of Rs. 1000 to stage-3 Cancer patients.

Expansion of 'Chief Minister Urban Body Ownership Scheme'

Why in News?

• On December 22, 2022, Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal told in a meeting with officials of various Departments in Chandigarh that the 'Mukhyamantri Urban Body Ownership Scheme', designed to give ownership of Commercial Land of Municipalities running on rent or lease for more than 20 years in the State, will be adopted by other Departments as well. For this, a new plan is being prepared.

Key Points

• Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal directed the officials to prepare the Draft Scheme within 15 days. The Draft will then be sent to the Chief Minister and the Finance Department for approval and will be brought to the meeting of the Council of Ministers for final approval.
• The Chief Secretary informed that the Chief Minister Urban Body Ownership Scheme was prepared by the Urban Local Bodies Department in June 2021. Under this, ownership rights were provided to all citizens of Urban bodies who have occupied Commercial Land for 20 years or more than 20 years.
• Under this Scheme, individuals who have been occupying the land for 20 years through rent or lease are being given Ownership Rights on payment of up to 80 percent of the Collector Rate.
• Similarly, according to the limit of years occupied by the land, the Collector Rate will have to be paid at different rates, such as 75 percent of the Collector Rate for 25 years, 70 percent for 30 years, 65 percent for 35 years, 60 percent for 40 years, 55 percent for 45 years. There is a provision to give Ownership Rights on payment of 50 percent for 50 years.
• He said that now it has been decided by the State Government that a new plan will be made by bringing uniformity across the State to give Ownership Rights to Citizens on lands of other Departments besides Bodies.
• He directed the Officials of the Urban Local Bodies Department to prepare the Draft Scheme for other Departments and this Draft will be shared with the Administrative Secretaries of the Concerned Departments and comments will be sought from them.
• It was informed in the meeting that during the first phase of the Chief Minister Urban Body Ownership Scheme, about 7 thousand applications were received. Letters of Intent (LoIs) have been issued to 1730 applicants.

Karma Ethnic Resort Manipat and Johar Motel inaugurated

Why in News?

• On December 23, 2022, 'Karma Ethnic Resort' and 'Johar Motel' Sontarai were inaugurated at a function organized at Kamleshwarpur in Mainpat under the chairmanship of Amarjeet Bhagat and Chief Hospitality and Food Minister of Chhattisgarh Government Tamradhwaj Sahu.

Key Points

• It may be mentioned here that the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India had launched the 'Swadesh Darshan Scheme' of Tourism Development based on various themes in the year 2015-16, under which the 'Tribal Tourism Circuit' was launched in the year 2016 with the aim of acquainting tourists with the tribal and rural culture of Chhattisgarh. The Project was sanctioned. A total of 13 destinations of Tribal Dominated Areas of the State have been developed in this Project.
• Under the Tribal Tourism Circuit of this Project, 'Karma Ethnic Resort' has been developed as an 'Eco Ethnic Tourist Destination' at Kamleshwarpur (Mainpat). This resort has been built at a cost of Rs. 21.37 crore on the theme of Rural Environment of Surguja region. The State Government had provided 46 acres of land in Kamleshwarpur for this project.
• The Karma Ethnic Resort built under the Swadesh Darshan scheme will provide tourists a chance to get to know the Tribal tradition, Local and Tibetan culture here with the facility of stay.
• 'Karma Ethnic Resort' Tourist Reception and Facilitation Centre at Kamleshwarpur (Mainpat), 20 Rooms (Craft and Herbal Haat-Artisan Centre), Cafeteria, Open Amphitheatre, Souvenir Shop, Tribal Interpretation Centre, Tribal Workshop Centre, 2 High-end facilities including electric vehicle (8 seater), electric charging station, cycle track (including lighting) have been installed, which will become the center of tourist attraction.
• Facilities like 5 rooms, Dermatore Hall, Lawn, Cafeteria (Dinning Hall), Store Room, Parking have been constructed in 'Sontarai Motel, Sitapur'.
• The operation of this Scheme will increase the number of tourists in Mainpat, provide additional option of staying in Rural Environment along with other accommodation facilities for tourists to stay, additional sources of employment and income to the local people. Here, Handicraft Training can be given to tourists along with local people and Handicraft Artists.
• Apart from this, tourists will also be familiar with the local Tibetan culture, which will increase the sale of products made by them. Space will be available in Souvenir shops for selling Local Handicrafts, Forest Products/ Herbal Products, Conference Facility will be available commercially. Homestay will be promoted in Manpat in the future and other tourism activities will also increase.
• Addressing the function, Tourism Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu said that with the opening of Karma Ethnic Resort, tourists will stay here, which will promote home stay in Mainpat. Local people will get employment. Handicrafts here will get a market.
• Atal Srivastava, president of Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, said that Mainpat is called Shimla of Chhattisgarh. Mainpat is different from other hill stations of the State. The 'Jaljali' and 'Ultapani' here are unique in the country and the World. A Tourism Circuit will be built in the State, Satrenga, Mainpat and Jashpur will be connected to the north from Raipur.

One Thousand Villages to be built as a Solar Villages in the State

Why in News?

• On December 22, 2022, Uttarakhand Energy Secretary R. Meenakshi Sundaram said that a New Solar Energy Policy is being formulated in the State, which will be implemented on the occasion of Makar Sankranti on January 14. Under this, one thousand villages will be declared as Solar Villages.

Key Points

• Energy Secretary R. Meenakshi Sundaram said that the State Government will generate electricity in the villages most prone to sunlight in the State. Teams of Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (UREDA) are identifying villages in every district where sunlight lasts the maximum time. Marking of 1000 such villages has been started.
• The Government will give special concessions to those who set up Solar Projects in whichever villages will be declared as Solar Villages. A Special Action Plan will also be made to take the power generation in those villages to the grid.
• This will pave the way for generating more than 2000 MW of electricity.

600 Experts from around the World Associated with Tunnel Construction to gather in Dehradun

Why in News?

• On December 22, 2022, Uttarakhand Public Works Department Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu said that an International Seminar will be held in Dehradun from April 17 to 21 next year to explore the possibilities of Tunnel Construction in the Himalayan region, in which more than 600 experts from 148 countries related to Tunnel Construction and its design and technology will participate.

Key Points

• Public Works Department Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu said that in the proposed International Seminar in Dehradun, Experts will discuss the Advanced Design, construction and operation of the tunnel.
• The Seminar will be attended by the Indian Road Congress along with the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Permanent International Association of Road Congress (PIRC), International Tunneling and Underground Space Association (ITA).
• Engineers, Experts and Experts from 148 countries will be invited to the Seminar.
• The Seminar will meet on April 17 and 18. The Seminar will be held from April 19 to 20. On April 21, representatives of various countries will make technical visits.
• He said that this event will give Uttarakhand recognition at the global level. At the same time, the participants will be taken to major tourist places along with the tunnels being built under the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Line and All Weather Road Project.
• During the Seminar, an exhibition of machines being used in tunnel construction in other countries of the World will also be held.
• Significantly, most of the land of Uttarakhand State is mountainous. With the construction of tunnels in the State, efforts are being made to make the movement comfortable and accessible in the mountainous region and reduce the travel time. The State will get information about the latest technology of tunnel construction.
• At present, the Railway Development Corporation is 125 km between Rishikesh and Karnaprayag. A Long Railway Line is being built. It is 105 km long. Tunnels are being built in length. It is very beneficial in terms of Tourism and Economic Development.
• Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari will lay the foundation stone of Mussoorie tunnel in March.