• 30 Apr 2022

Uttar Pradesh to have its own 'Silk Exchange' in Varanasi

Why In News?

A spokesperson of the Uttar Pradesh government recently said that the state's 'Silk Exchange' is going to be set up in Varanasi soon, which is expected to ensure availability of silk at a reasonable price to traders and saree makers.

Key Point

• The 'Silk Exchange' will stop smuggling of silk in the region as well as reduce the cost of production for silk traders and manufacturing units. According to the spokesperson, in the next six months, the state government will connect the weavers of the region with the 'Silk Exchange'.
• After quality testing of all silk lots brought for sale at 'Silk Exchange' by the reelers of Uttar Pradesh, the minimum price of each silk lot will be decided based on the average price of silk in the state and the quality of the particular lot. After this, spot payment to the reelers will be ensured by the exchange by auctioning silk lots.
• The spokesperson also said that the state government will also work on digitization of 'Silk Exchange' under the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme, through which weavers, yarn making units and 'Silk Exchange' will be brought on a single platform to ensure availability of a single platform for sale and display of finished silk products of weavers.

National selection of new paddy variety 'Heera'

Why In News?

At the 57^th Annual Paddy Research Meeting of the Integrated Rice Improvement Project held in Hyderabad on April 27, 2022, a new variety of paddy 'Heera' was selected for national production.

key point

• The new variety has been developed by Dr. Prakash Singh, a scientist from Veer Kunwar Singh Agricultural College, Dumraon and his team under the jurisdiction of Bihar Agricultural University, Bhagalpur.
• This variety of paddy will not deteriorate even after being submerged in flood water for 15 days.
• Its production capacity is also one and a half times that of normal paddy i.e.

Contract signed between Department of Energy and KFW Development Bank Germany for loans and grants

Why In News?

On April 29, 2022, the Department of Energy signed a contract with KFW Development Bank Germany for loans and grants to upgrade the energy sector of Madhya Pradesh by equipping it with modern technology.

Key Point

• Separate loan contracts, separate grant contracts and project contracts were signed for financing Rs.1400 crore for various development works proposed in the three power distribution companies of the State namely East Zone Power Distribution Company, Central Region Power Distribution Company and West Zone Power Distribution Company.
• Power Minister Pradyuman Singh Tomar said that in this mega scheme, a loan of Rs.1120 crore will be given by KFW Development Bank and the government will provide the remaining amount of Rs.280 crore to the Department of Energy.
• These efforts to improve power will enable the work of smart metering, feeder separation to be done in the domain of the three power distribution companies of Madhya Pradesh.
• It may be mentioned that the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, had signed a loan agreement and grant agreement with KFW Development Bank, Germany on December 23, 2021. The Government of Madhya Pradesh is making efforts to strengthen the power sector of the State on the basis of this contract.

Structural Safety Guidelines for The Safety of Residents of Multi-Storey Residential Buildings

Why In News?

On April 29, 2022, the Urban and Village Planning Department (DTCP) of Haryana issued structural safety guidelines to ensure the safety of residents of multi-storey residential buildings.

Key Point

• According to the new guidelines, the construction agency will conduct an audit of safety standards three to four times during the construction of any building.
• Chief Minister Manohar Lal gave this information at the valedictory session of the Sevocun Conference held in Gurugram. He also released the Structural Safety Guidelines Booklet prepared by the Department of Town and Village Planning.
• As per the guideline, the residential complexes constructed by the builders will be handed over to the RWAs only after meeting all the pre-requisite criteria.
• If builders sell houses at their own prices, it will be their responsibility to ensure that security and infrastructure are in place or that they are heavily penalized.
• Dtcp has issued this guideline to ensure that the materials and designs used in high-rise buildings meet the standards and building code specified by the government.

Virtual training camp organized for successful implementation of Birsa Harit Gram Yojana

Why In News?

On April 29, 2022, MGNREGA Commissioner Rajeshwari B. in a virtual training camp for successful implementation of Birsa Harit Gram Yojana in the financial year 2022-23 directed the trainees and officers to complete 100 per cent of the work of CPT (Anti-Animal Trench) while working in line with the target of the scheme.

Key Point

• Speaking on the occasion, Rajeshwari B directed the officials present to motivate the farmers to plant mango, lime, guava and building plants under mixed horticulture in the financial year 2022-23 to make the people self-reliant through mixed horticulture.
• It may be recalled that on May 4, 2020, the Jharkhand government had launched three labour intensive programmes - 'Birsa Harit Gram Yojana', 'Nilambar-Pitambar Jal Samriddhi Yojana' and 'Veer Shaheed Poto Ho Khel Vikas Yojana' with an aim to generate employment for workers in rural areas.
• The Birsa Green Village Scheme aims at utilizing more than two lakh acres of unused Government fallow land for afforestation.
• Under this, about five lakh families will be given 100 fruit bearing plants and the responsibility of their plantation, maintenance, land work and afforestation will be with the rural households while the ownership of the land will remain with the government.
• Under this scheme, more than five crore fruit bearing plants are expected to be planted in the next few months.
• The scheme is estimated to have fetched an annual income of about Rs.50,000/- from these plants after three years to each household.

National Quality Assurance Certificate to 5 Hospitals in Chhattisgarh

Why In News?

On April 29, 2022, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare awarded the National Quality Assurance Standard (NQAS) certificate to five government hospitals in Chhattisgarh providing excellent healthcare and better treatment to patients .

Key Point

• The five government hospitals that have received national quality assurance standard certificate include three primary health centres and two urban primary health centres.
• The National Quality Assurance Standard Certificates have been awarded to Amadand in Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district, Adawal in Bastar and Kottara Primary Health Centre in Kanker and Bhathagaon Urban Primary Health Centre in Raipur and Tanki Maroda Urban Primary Health Centre in Durg district.
• It may be recalled that the union health ministry team had inspected these five hospitals in march last year and tested the quality of services available for the patients there. He had also taken feedback from the patients in this regard.
• Under the National Health Mission, Chhattisgarh, internal and state level assessment, service delivery audit and patient satisfaction survey of the institution are processed after regular training of health workers to provide excellent healthcare in the state hospitals and to provide better treatment to the patients.
• It is worth mentioning that the hospital's services and satisfaction levels are tested on several parameters by a team of experts prior to providing the National Quality Assurance Standard Certificate. Only hospitals that meet these stringent standards are issued quality certificates by the Union Health Ministry.

sun-stream lake

Why In News?

On April 29, 2022, Uttarakhand Irrigation and Minor Irrigation Minister Satpal Maharaj said in a departmental review meeting that it is very unfortunate that the depth of Suryadhar Lake has been increased from 7 metres to 10 metres without permission.

Key Point

• The construction of suryadhar lake project was announced on June 29, 2017 by the then chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat.
• Suryadhar Lake is located in Uttarakhand. The Suryadhar Lake, built on the Jakham river at Bhogpur in Doiwala, was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Trivendra Singh Rawat on November 29, 2020.
• It is a multi-purpose lake with a holding capacity of 77 thousand cubic meters. The lake is 550 metres long, 28 metres wide and 10 metres deep. About 18 villages will get irrigation and 19 villages will get drinking water from this lake.
• This will promote tourism as well as develop the region.

Complaints made to the Chief Minister in Uttarakhand to be disposed of expeditiously

Why In News?

On April 29, 2022, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the online portal of Chief Minister's References and Letters at the Secretariat.

Key Point

• Through this portal, the complaints will reach the concerned departments with one click, which will enable speedy disposal of these complaints.
• It is worth mentioning that so far, the letters addressed to the Chief Minister's Office have been registered through the Chief Minister's Letter Monitoring Package and physically sent to the concerned departments.
• Apart from this, the complaints and letters to be sent to the Chief Minister have now been integrated with the CM helpline number 1905.