• 27 Jul 2022

New Karmajiri Sanctuary

Why In News?

• On July 26, 2022, a notification has been issued by the State Government for setting up of a new Karmajhiri Sanctuary covering the border forest area of Pench Tiger Reserve.

Key Points

• Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Jasbir Singh Chauhan informed that 1410.420-hectare forest area of Seoni district has been included in the newly formed Karmajiri Sanctuary.
• Its formation will strengthen the management of the Tiger Reserve and will provide additional habitat for vegetarian and non-vegetarian wildlife. Along with this, the area of protected area will increase by including wildlife-dominated area in the state.
• At present there are 24 sanctuaries in the state. The Karera Sanctuary in Shivpuri has been denotified. Thus, after the formation of the Karmajhiri Sanctuary, the total number will remain 24.
• After the approval received from the Government of India, the state government issued another important notification in Karera of Shivpuri district, 202.21 sq.km. The wildlife sanctuary built in the area has been abolished. This has fulfilled the long standing demand of the people of this area.
• It is noteworthy that Karera Wildlife Sanctuary was formed in 1981 for the protection of Son Chidiya. It included only revenue and private land. The sale and purchase of land included in the notification was banned after the notification of the sanctuary.

Shivpuri's Sankhya Sagar Lake

Why In News?

• Sankhya Sagar Lake located in Madhav National Park in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh has also been included in the newly announced five Ramsar sites in the country on July 26, 2022.

Key Points

• Madhya Pradesh gets second Ramsar site after two decades. Earlier, Bhopal's Bada Talab (Bhojtal) has got the status of Ramsar site.
• It is worth mentioning that a proposal was sent to the Government of India to declare three wetlands of the state, Sirpur wetland of Indore and Yashwant Sagar and Sankhya Sagar as Ramsar sites.
• The Union Ministry of Forests, Environment and Climate has designated five new wetland sites of international importance under the Ramsar Treaty, including three wetland sites in Tamil Nadu (Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest and Pichavaram Mangrove), one in Mizoram (pala wetland). and a wetland site (Sankhya Sagar) in Madhya Pradesh. Thus, the total number of Ramsar sites in the country has increased from 49 to 54.
• It is noteworthy that the list of wetland sites of international importance is maintained on the basis of an international treaty signed in the year 1971 in Ramsar city of Iran regarding lake conservation.

Mukhyamantri Sarathi Yojana

Why In News?

• On July 26, 2022, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, in a congratulatory function organized for the candidates of Jharkhand who have succeeded in the Civil Services Examination-2021, said that 'Mukhyamantri Sarathi-Yojana' will be launched in the state soon.

Key Points

• It is worth mentioning that in the budget of the financial year 2022-23, the Jharkhand government had announced to start Jharkhand Mukhyamantri Sarathi Yojana.
• Under this scheme, the state government will get the candidates of all categories/communities, who are unable to bear the cost of coaching for the preparation of UPSC, JPSC and other competitive examinations, to prepare for the competitive examination at their own expense.
• Significantly, 26 candidates from Jharkhand have been successful in the Civil Services Examination-2021 conducted by the Union Public Service Commission.
• The Chief Minister said Jharkhand is the first state in the country where children studying abroad are being given scholarships for higher education. In the coming time, the state government will increase this scope of children going abroad.

Coal block in Hasdeo Aranya

Why In News?

• On July 26, 2022, the Chhattisgarh Assembly unanimously passed the non-official resolution to cancel the coal block allotted in Hasdeo Aranya area submitted by Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) MLA Dharamjit Singh.

Key Points

• In the Assembly, MLA Dharamjit Singh said that There is a coal reserve of 57 thousand million tonnes in Chhattisgarh. Even in 50 years, only 25% can be mined.
• It is worth mentioning that about 2,22,921 trees are to be cut for Parsa East and Kete Basen coal mines and about 99,107 trees for Parsa coal mines which are currently approved for coal mining in Hasdeo Aranya area.
• Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that the Chhattisgarh government has given 1995 sq.km. Lemru Elephant Reserve has been declared in the area. A demand has been made to the Center to ban the coal block attached to it.
• It is worth mentioning that the coal block extension is being done in Hasdeo Aranya. Coal block has been allotted to a power company of Rajasthan. The NOC of the coal block was stuck for a long time. The NOC was issued by the Chhattisgarh Forest Department after the arrival of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in Chhattisgarh.
• At the same time, the MD of the power company of Rajasthan had come to Chhattisgarh recently. He had met the Chief Secretary and collectors and urged them to start mining at a lower pace. Hasdeo Aranya's case has also reached the High Court and the Supreme Court. At the same time, 'Save Hasdeo Campaign' is also being run to save the forests of Hasdeo.

Pay Revision Bill

Why In News?

• On July 26, 2022, the Chhattisgarh Assembly passed a resolution on the Wages and Allowances of The Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of the Opposition and MLAs Amendment Bill, 2022 and the Chhattisgarh Ministers (Salaries and Allowances) Act, 1972.

Key Points

• After the passage of the Pay-Allowances Amendment Act in the Assembly, now the MLAs and Ministers will get the enhanced salary. The hike in salaries and allowances is likely to burden the state exchequer with around Rs 6.81 crore annually.
• According to the bill, the chief minister's salary will be Rs. 2.05 lakh per month from the current Rs. 1.35 lakh after the hike, while the ministers will get Rs. 1.90 lakh from the current Rs. 1.30 lakh. The basic salary of the Chief Minister has been increased from Rs. 35,000 per month to Rs.50,000 per month.
• The Chhattisgarh cabinet has 13 ministers, including Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. The salary of the Speaker will be increased from Rs 1.32 lakh per month to Rs. 1.95 lakh, while that of the Deputy Speaker will increase from Rs. 1.28 lakh to Rs 1.80 lakh.
• The leader of the opposition will get Rs. 1.90 lakh per month instead of Rs. 1.30 lakh. The 15 parliamentary secretaries will get Rs. 1.75 lakh per month instead of Rs. 1.21 lakh. The salary of the MLA will now be increased from Rs. 1.10 lakh to Rs. 1.60 lakh per month.

Clean School Award

Why In News?

• On July 25, 2022, Uttarakhand Director General of Education Banshidhar Tiwari informed that 26 schools have been selected at the state level in the 'Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar'. Eight of the selected schools are being sent for National Awards.

Key Points

• Out of 26 schools selected at the state level, 20 schools have come in the overall category, while six schools have been selected in the sub-category. All the 26 best performing schools at the state level will be awarded within this month itself.
• Banshidhar Tiwari said that in the state level overall category, 11 schools have been selected from Garhwal division and 9 schools from Kumaon division.
• PS Basot, Bhikiyasain (Almora), Kendriya Vidyalaya Haldwani (Nainital), Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Jaiharikhal (Pauri), Kendriya Vidyalaya ONGC Raipur and Kendriya Vidyalaya Upper Camp, Sahaspur (Dehradun) and Skyward Senior Secondary School, Krishna Nagar, Roorkee (Haridwar) has been elected.
• It is noteworthy that to encourage cleanliness, the Central Government had started 'Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar' from the year 2016-17.
• At the state level, 100 schools were selected in the overall category and 73 in the sub-category for the Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2021-22. The last 26 schools have been selected based on the ranking of the schools.