Madhya Pradesh State PCS

• 31 Jan 2022

India's First Jio Park to be Built in Madhya Pradesh

Why in News

• On January 29, 2022, Lok Sabha MP from Jabalpur Rakesh Singh informed that the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has approved the establishment of the country's first Geo Park at Lamheta village on the banks of river Narmada in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh.

Key Points

• The park will be set up by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department at a cost of about Rs 35 crore. GSI has approved an amount of Rs 1.30 crore for preparing its detailed report.
• Significantly, this site is already present in the tentative list of UNESCO's geo-heritage for the protection of natural heritage.
• Fossils of many dinosaurs were found in the Narmada valley, especially in the Bhedaghat-Lamheta Ghat region of Jabalpur. The first dinosaur fossil was collected from the Lamheta Bed by Indian Civil Service officer William Sleeman in 1828 AD.
• A science center will also be built at Bhedaghat, which is known for its white marble rock structure, at a cost of Rs 15.20 crore, the cost of which will be shared by the central and state governments.

Republic Day Celebrations Conclude with 'Beating the Retreat'

Why in News

• On January 29, 2022, 'Beating the Retreat' program was organized at Motilal Nehru Stadium in Bhopal, capital of Madhya Pradesh. With this, this year's Republic Day celebrations came to an end.

Key Points

• The 'Beating the Retreat' program began with paying respects to Governor Mangubhai Patel. After this, Brass Band, Mass Band, Pipe Band and Army Band of Madhya Pradesh Police gave a beautiful performance of collective playing.
• Delightful melodies of Patriotic, Film, Indian Classical Music, Indian Raga and Western Classical Music were brought out by the Police Brass Band. In this episode, melodious musical performances of songs from Hindi films were given. This was followed by band wise group performances followed by march past by all the bands.
• It is noteworthy that Madhya Pradesh is the only state in the country to organize a 'Beating the Retreat' program, where every year on 29 January, the police organizes a program in the capital Bhopal. At the national level, at Vijay Chowk in Raisina Hills in New Delhi, an attractive group performance of recitals and marchpasts is performed by band teams of the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy before the President.
• It is to be noted that 'Beating the Retreat' is a long-standing tradition of paramilitary forces, when troops returned to their camps after the war, a program of entertaining band playing was organized to reduce the tension of the war. With this program in India, the formal end of the Republic Day programs takes place.

February will be Observed as 'Swachhta Sankalp Mah'

Why in News

• On January 29, 2022, Madhya Pradesh's Urban Development and Housing Minister Bhupendra Singh said that February-2022 would be celebrated as 'Swachhta Sankalp Mah' as per the instructions of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. 'Swachhta Sankalp Mah' will be organized from February 1 to 28.

Key Points

• The objective of 'Swachhta Sankalp Mah' is to bring the state to the highest position in the country by completing the preparation of Swachh Survekshan-2022.
• Minister Bhupendra Singh said that the Chief Minister has instructed every body to get ODF certification in Swachh Survekshan-2022, 5-star for municipal corporations in star rating of garbage-free city and minimum 3-star for other urban bodies. Along with this, instructions have also been given to all the bodies to get at least gold/silver in the motivational race category of Swachh Survekshan.
• District collectors are also to be rewarded in Swachh Survekshan-2022. To make the Swachh Survekshan Abhiyan more effective, 'Swachh Pratishthan' survey has also been started in all the urban bodies from 26 January.
• In the calendar released for 'Swachhta Sankalp Month-2022', theme star rating from February 1 to 5, ODF from February 6 to 10, Citizen Feedback and Engagement from February 11 to 15, all infrastructure construction activities organized from February 16 to 20 Will be done During this, the construction work of material recovery centers, composting units and community and public toilets of FSTP will be completed from February 16 to 20.
• Dialogue, review and inauguration of infrastructure will be done by the Chief Minister from February 21 to 25, Swachh Survekshan from February 25 to 27 and closing activity on February 28. On the concluding day, the team of urban bodies will tour the city with garbage collection vehicles. This day will be observed as Segregated Waste Collection Day. Along with this, the drivers and associates of garbage collection vehicles in the wards will be honored with shawls, shriphal.