• 26 Dec 2022

Kashi Inter Model Station

Why In News?

On December 25, 2022, Suresh Kumar Sapra, Divisional Railway Manager of Northern Railway Division, told that the tender has been issued for the Major Upgradation Project at Kashi Railway Station in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. With this project of about Rs 336 crore, Kashi Inter Model Station will be built.

Key Points

• Suresh Kumar Sapra said that along with construction of Kashi Inter Model Station, many works including yard remodelling, complex and hotel construction will be done here. Here the work of techno feasibility survey has already been completed. DPR work will also be done by December next year.
• The project also aims to build a concourse (City Center) connecting the first and second entrances. About 10 pairs of trains stop at Kashi station daily. With this rejuvenation, the image of the station will change completely, and it will take two and a half years to rejuvenate this railway station.
• He said that apart from this, the issue of tender for charging center at Cantt station will provide facility of charging electric vehicles at Varanasi Cantt station. Electric vehicle charging facility point will start being built here from January. By March, the facility of charging all small and big vehicles including electric two-wheelers and e-rickshaws will be available here.
• At present, there is no facility in Varanasi at government or non-government level for charging e-vehicles. The charging station in Mirza Murad is only for e-buses. In such a situation, the e-vehicle charging facility point to be built at the Cantt station will prove beneficial for such vehicles.

Bihar's Kosi-Mechi Interlinking Project

Why In News?

According to information received from the media on December 25, 2022, the way has been cleared for the construction of Bihar's very ambitious Kosi-Mechi link project. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with the Water Resources Department and the National Water Development Agency of the Department of Water Resources under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti to prepare the DPR of this project.

Key Points

• On completion of the Kosi-Mechi link project, about 2.1 lakh hectare area in four districts of Seemanchal in the state will get irrigation facilities and relief from floods. These include Purnea, Katihar, Kishanganj and Araria districts.
• The project will irrigate about 69,000 hectares in Araria district, about 69,000 hectares in Purnea district, 39,000 hectares in Kishanganj district and 35,000 hectares in Katihar district.
• The Kosi-Mechi link project will benefit Forbesganj, Kursakata, Sikti, Palasi, Jokihat and Araria blocks under Araria district. At the same time, Terhagachh, Dighalbank, Bahadur Ganj and Kocha Dhaman blocks under Kishanganj district will be benefited.
• Apart from this, Baisa, Amour and Baisi blocks under Purnea district and Kadwa, Dandkhora, Pranpur, Manihari and Ahmedabad blocks under Katihar district will be benefited.
• It is known that approval has already been received from the state cabinet to start the work of Kosi-Mechi link project. In May 2022 itself, the state government had approved administrative and expenditure of about Rs 2.78 crore for DPR formation, survey and exploration work.
• The state government has approved budgetary provisions in the form of 60 percent central share and 40 percent state share, including this project in the national project by the central government.
• However, the state government continues to demand 90 percent central share and 10 percent state budgetary provision for the Kosi-Mechi link project on the lines of Madhya Pradesh's Ken-Betwa link project.
• A total of about 1397 hectares of land is required under this project, out of which 632 hectares is already acquired, while 765 hectares of private land is to be acquired.

Gail India will do Exploration of Mineral Oil and Natural Gas in 486.39 Square Kilometer Area of Barmer-Jaisalmer

Why In News?

On December 25, 2022, Dr. Subodh Agarwal, Additional Chief Secretary, Mines and Petroleum Department, Rajasthan, informed that exploration of oil and natural gas in 486.39 square km area of Barmer-Jaisalmer in the state will be done by Gail India, a Government of India undertaking.

Key Points

• Dr. Subodh Agarwal said that Gail India has been allotted a block for 3 years plus 9 months for exploration of oil and natural gas in Barmer-Jaisalmer area. Gail India has been allotted this block in the seventh cycle under the Open Acre Licensing Policy.
• He said that this petroleum exploration license has been issued on the recommendation of the Ministry of Petroleum and Gas of the Central Government. GAIL India will explore mineral oil and natural gas in the region.
• It is known that Rajasthan ranks first in mineral oil production in the on land sector in the country. At present , petroleum and gas are being produced by ONGC and Oil India in Barmer and Jaisalmer fields in the state. For this, ONGC has been given 9 licenses and Oil India has been given 2 licenses.
• Apart from this, exploration work is being done by issuing 16 petroleum exploration licenses in the state, out of which Vedanta is issuing 9 licenses, Oil India 5, ONGC and GAIL India 1 each. Exploration work is also being done in Barmer-Jaisalmer as well as Bikaner and Sriganga Nagar areas.
• Dr. Subodh Agarwal said that GAIL Gas has been allocated RJ-ONHP-2021/1 block in Barmer and Jaisalmer. In this area, GAIL India will explore and produce mineral crude oil, natural gas, coal bed methane CBM and shale gas.
• He said that information about operation, boring and production will be given by GAIL every six months. Similarly, if other minerals are found during exploration, it will also be informed immediately. Exploration, survey and digging activities will not be allowed in the area associated with the Army during exploration by GAIL.
• Increasing the productivity of mineral oil and gas will also increase investment, employment and revenue in the state. At present, about one lakh barrels of crude oil per day and about 41 to 44 lakh cubic meters of gas are being produced in the state.

CM Inaugurated Irrigation Schemes in Sehore District

Why In News?

On December 25, 2022, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated an irrigation project constructed at a cost of about Rs 15 crore in Semri village of Sehore district of the state and laid the foundation stone of development works worth Rs 3 crore 61 lakh.

Key Points

• Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the Ratanpur Lift Irrigation Scheme inaugurated in Semri village of Sehore district will bring happiness and prosperity in the entire region. With the launch of this scheme, 1084 hectare land of 600 farmers of villages Bori, Ratanpur, Semri, Dongri and Khanpura will be irrigated.
• The Chief Minister also announced to sanction Rs 20 crore for the irrigation facility of the remaining 7 villages from the project.
• He told that under this lift irrigation scheme in the state, water has been brought up from a 40 feet low canal. Apart from this, 9 km long pipeline has been laid in the fields to supply water to the fields of 600 farmers. Fields will be irrigated by installing MOX boxes on every 6 hectares.

Chief Minister approves setting up of World Trade Centre in the state

Why In News?

On December 24, 2022, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren approved the plan to set up a World Trade Center in Ranchi, the state. Earlier, the project of the World Trade Center being built here by the Government of India was canceled.

Key Points

• Chief Minister Hemant Soren had laid the foundation stone of the World Trade Centre in Ranchi's Core Capital Area on July 29 this year, but within a month of the foundation stone, the Indian government had cancelled it citing delay in starting the project.
• Chief Minister Hemant Soren said that the proposed World Trade Center on 3.45 acres in Dhurwa area of Ranchi is to cost about Rs 44.60 crore and 'G+5 Building' is to be constructed here.
• He said that in the year 2019, the Government of India had allocated Rs 9.80 crore as the first instalment of grant to Jharkhand, but after that there was a situation of lockdown for two years due to the fear of Covid infection. Apart from this, the process of building the World Trade Center could not be started despite having funds for other reasons as well. However, ignoring this, the Center has sought back the grant given earlier.
• The purpose of building the World Trade Center is to promote exports while strengthening the country's rural economy and to provide all kinds of facilities under one roof. Through this, a roadmap has been prepared to provide foreign market to local products.

Outstanding District Magistrate Award

Why In News?

In a program organized on Good Governance Day in Dehradun, Uttarakhand on December 25, 2022, Governor Lt. Gen. Gurmeet Singh (Retd.) honored five District Magistrates of the state with the Outstanding District Magistrate Award 2022 for various notable works including the successful management of the Chardham Yatra.

Key Points

• In this programme, Haridwar District Magistrate Vinay Shankar Pandey was felicitated for the smooth management of the Kanwar Yatra that started after the Covid lockdown, Nainital District Magistrate Shri Dhiraj Singh Garbiyal for employment schemes in the tourism sector, Pauri District Magistrate Dr. Ashish Chauhan for Bedu products, Rudraprayag District Magistrate Mayur Dixit was awarded for promotion of tourism and Chamoli District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana for successful management of Chardham Yatra.
• Governor Lt Gen Gurmeet Singh said that the district administration is the most important step for better implementation of the schemes of the government. The District Magistrates who were awarded have played an important role in solving the problems of the public with awareness and honesty.
• The Governor said that the objective of good governance is to ensure inclusive and all-round development. To ensure top to bottom and bottom to top governance flow, there is a need for a direct, emotional connect between the administration and the public.
• Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Ranjit Kumar Sinha said that earlier there was no arrangement to reward the District Magistrates separately. The Governor has decided to reward the District Magistrates for their excellent efforts.
• Administration Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman said that applications were invited from the districts for the Outstanding District Magistrate Award-2022. The District Magistrates made presentations before the High-Level Committee headed by the Chief Secretary. District Magistrates were selected for the award after the approval of the Governor and the Chief Minister.
• Due to these achievements, district magistrates were awarded-
  • Haridwar District Magistrate Vinay Shankar Pandey made smooth management of the Kanwar Yatra, which started after the Kovid lockdown. Haridwar was also awarded the best place in Ganga Town by the President due to the campaign to clean the ghats.
  • Nainital District Magistrate Dhiraj Garbiyal achieved achievements in many fields by doing new experiments with collective public participation. He is also credited with his efforts towards apple production and implementing employment-oriented schemes in the field of tourism in the district.
  • When Pauri District Magistrate Dr Ashish Chauhan was earlier posted in Pithoragarh district, the Prime Minister appreciated his efforts with the Women Self Help Group for bedu products in his 'Mann Ki Baat' program.
  • Rudraprayag District Magistrate Mayur Dixit is being praised for promoting tourism, expanding health services in far-flung areas and running the reconstruction of the present grand Kedarpuri at the right pace.
  • Chamoli District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana successfully managed the yatra to Badrinath Dham and Hemkund Sahib. He also played an important role in the timely and smooth completion of the construction works of Badrinath Dham Master Plan.