• 31 Oct 2022

Uttar Pradesh set to become Top Ethanol Producer in India

Why In News?

• On October 30, 2022, Uttar Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary (Sugar Industry) Sanjay Bhoosreddy told the media that Uttar Pradesh is all set to become the top ethanol producer in the country. The size of the industry in the state has crossed Rs 12,000 crore.

Key Points

• Additional Chief Secretary (Sugar Industry) Sanjay Bhoosreddy informed that the ethanol capacity of Uttar Pradesh has been estimated at 2 billion litres per year, which is almost eight times more than 240 million litres per year five years ago. The state's ethanol capacity is expected to reach 2.25 billion litres per annum in the next few years.
• He informed that private sector distilleries have invested about Rs 7,500 crore in the last five years to upgrade the overall ethanol capacity of the state.
• The state government is trying to integrate sugarcane crop with an attractive ethanol value chain to provide remunerative prices to farmers and protect the sector from the cyclical nature of the sugar market.
• Sanjay Bhoosreddy said that in the current 2022-23 sugarcane crushing season, five private mills will manufacture ethanol directly from sugarcane juice without producing sugar. In addition, 71 other mills will produce ethanol from B-heavy molasses.
• Meanwhile, the state's sugarcane area is estimated to increase by 3 percent or 84,000 hectares to over 2.85 million hectares, while sugarcane production in the current season is estimated at 23.50 million metric tonnes. A total of 120 sugar mills- 93 private units, 24 cooperative units and three Uttar Pradesh State Sugar Corporation units will operate during the current sugarcane crushing season.
• It is known that more than 4.5 million rural households are associated with the Uttar Pradesh sugarcane sector, which includes sugar, ethanol, jaggery, power cogeneration, jaggery, khandsari (refined sugar) etc. in its by-product portfolio. The consolidated annual sugarcane economy in the state is about Rs 50,000 crore.

The State Government is Rejuvenating the Ganga and its Tributaries

Why In News?

• On October 28, 2022, Uttar Pradesh Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh said that the state government is engaged in building proper sewerage infrastructure on tributaries of Ganga by increasing public-private partnership in the second phase of Namami Gange programme (for the period 2021-2026) and is emphasizing on circular water economy model, sludge and septage management etc.

Key Points

• Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh said that in pursuance of the instructions issued by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the ambitious Namami Gange project is being taken forward in the state through various initiatives to restore the importance of Ganga and to conserve and protect it.
• He informed that a total of eight projects will be completed in the state in just four months from September 2022 to December 2022. These projects include three STPs (Sewage Treatment Plants) of 72 MLD capacity for Naini, Phaphamau and Jhunsi areas of Prayagraj at a cost of Rs 767.59 crore.
• Similarly, construction of 160 MLD capacity STP at a cost of Rs 967.23 crore in Kanpur Nagar, 15 MLD capacity interception and diversion structure at Unnao at a cost of Rs 102.2 crore and interception and diversion structure of 5 MLD capacity at Shuklaganj in Unnao at a cost of Rs 65.18 crore are being constructed.
• Besides, interception and diversion structures of 17 MLD capacity are being constructed at Sultanpur at a cost of Rs 70.18 crore, 10 MLD capacity at Budhana at a cost of Rs 48.76 crore and 30 MLD capacity in Jaunpur at a cost of Rs 206 crore. The construction of a 14 MLD capacity interception and diversion structure in Baghpat at a cost of Rs 77.36 crore will be completed by December 2022.
• The estimated sewage generation in the state is around 5,500 MLD, a large part of which is treated by 114 STPs installed in the state, with a total capacity of 3,539.72 MLD.
• To bridge this gap, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has proposed several sewerage projects to the central government. As a result, the Central Government has sanctioned a total of 55 sewerage infrastructure projects for construction of STPs of 1,574.24 MLD capacity in the state at an estimated cost of Rs 11,433.06 crore.
• It is known that due to continuous monitoring through continuous review meetings organized by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) has been observed in the Ganga flowing in Uttar Pradesh (Kannauj to Varanasi).
• During 2014 and 2022, the water quality criteria for bathing was met at all comparable locations (all 20 locations), where DO (dissolved oxygen) improved in 16 out of 20 places, while 14 out of 20 places BOD and FC have improved in 18 out of 20 places.
• The central government had earlier said that no sewerage infrastructure project sanctioned for Prayagraj was completed before 2014. Three STPs of 42+16+14 MLD capacity were also sanctioned by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) to treat excess wastewater.
• The NMCG has also approved a project to upgrade the existing STPs at Naini, Salori and Rajapur. Keeping in view the situation in Prayagraj, NMCG has approved both these projects on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM).

Laxmibai Social Security Scheme

Why In News?

• According to information received from the media on October 30, 2022, the Social Justice and Social Welfare Department in Bihar is implementing 'Laxmibai Social Security Scheme' in an attempt to overcome the economic crisis of widows.

Key Points

• The main objective of 'Lakshmibai Social Security Scheme' is to overcome the financial problem faced in running the family after the death of the husband. Under this, widows provide financial assistance of Rs 300 per month to women.
• Financially weak widows can take advantage of this scheme of Bihar government. To take advantage of this scheme, the annual income should be less than 60 thousand and the applicant should have a BPL card and he is not getting any kind of pension. For this, the permanent residence certificate of the applicant should be from Bihar and it is mandatory for the applicant to have an account in the nearest post office.
• For this scheme, the applicant will have to apply offline at the Public Service Rights Counter of the Block Office and get the form from there and submit it by attaching the documents to the office. After verification of the form, the woman will be informed about the further process and pension.

Western Regional Conference

Why In News?

• The first two-day regional conference of west zone on 'Contemporary Judicial Development and Strengthening Justice for Law and Technology' was organized by the National Judicial Academy in Jodhpur on October 29-30, 2022 at Rajasthan State Judicial Academy Auditorium.

Key Points

• The conference was inaugurated by Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra on October 29.
• Chief Justice of Rajasthan Pankaj Mitthal, Director of National Judicial Academy A.P. Judges and judicial officers of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat High Courts along with Sahi participated.
• Governor Kalraj Mishra, while addressing the judges, said that they are not only the main watchdog of the judicial system but also the laws related to the Constitution. From this point of view, the work being done by the National Judicial Academy with the aim of strengthening the administration of justice in the country through judicial education, research and related policy developments is important.
• Expressing special expectations, he called for better efforts to strengthen justice and legal system in the country as well as to make justice faster and more accessible and effective for the common people.
• He stressed on the need to use modern technological tools and artificial intelligence to find a solution to the increasing burden of pending cases, strengthen the justice system in a big way, develop a well-organized system for listing cases in the apex court, and effective work to deal with the growing challenges before the judicial system in view of the expansion of population in the country.
• "Lakhs of cases are pending in the courts of the country. Stressing on the need to put in place a better system to overcome this problem of delay in justice, he said that there should be a system so that the common people benefit from the system of quick diagnosis of small decisions, the Academy also needs to work on it.

Electricity Fee Exemption to the Beneficiaries of Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme-2022

Why In News?

• On October 29, 2022, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot approved the proposal to exempt electricity charges to the beneficiaries of Rajasthan Nivesh Protsahan Yojana-2022 (RIPS-2022).

Key Points

• The state government is constantly trying to increase the scope of investment of industries in the basic development of the state. In this sequence, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has approved this proposal.
• With this approval of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the units included in RIPS-2022 will get exemption from electricity charges on the electricity used by them. The units will be able to get the benefit of the said exemption as per the rules of the RIPS-2022 scheme.
• It is noteworthy that the RIPS-2022 scheme has been launched recently by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to provide a better environment for proper development and investment of industries in the state.

Agriculture Fair will be Organized in Morena

Why In News?

• Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who reached Morena on October 30, 2022, said during a media interaction that a three-day agriculture fair will be organized in Morena district in November.

Key Points

• Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the three-day Agriculture Fair will be held on November 11, 12 and 13. He instructed the officials about the preparations for the Agricultural Fair.
• This agricultural fair will be organized jointly by the Government of India and the State Government.
• He informed that different types of startups from the state and the country will come in this agricultural fair. Along with this, a glimpse of new technology in farming will be shown in this fair. Through this fair, the farmers of the region will be told about new technology and advanced farming.
• It will be a historic fair for the farmers of Gwalior-Chambal region and it will greatly benefit the farmers of the region.

International Dance Carnival Begins in Gwalior District

Why In News?

• On October 29, 2022, a five-day Udbhav International Dance Festival began in Gwalior district of Madhya Pradesh. More than 700 artists from five countries, including India, will perform in it.

Key Points

• 30 teams from Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Sri Lanka, including India, have participated in this international dance carnival.
• The carnival started from the Phulbagh ground in Gwalior, in which artists from five countries including India took out a march. During this, artists from Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Sri Lanka gave cultural performances from their countries at the city squares.
• Taiwan Ambassador Baushuan Geer, who attended the program as the chief guest, said that India and Taiwan are doing many cultural and education programs, artists from both countries are learning a lot by visiting each other's countries and now after Covid for the first time, Taiwanese team is happy to come to India.
• Taiwanese artists said that the culture of India is rich, while it is very different from the culture of Taiwan, which is why they will get to learn a lot after coming to India.
• Kashmiri artists said that they have come to Gwalior for the first time to give performances of Kashmiri folk culture.

Bhopal's Longest Six-Lane Road will Be Built in 222 crores

Why In News?

• On October 29, 2022, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan performed Bhoomi Pujan of Bhopal's longest six-lane CC road to be constructed at a cost of Rs 222 crore from Kolar Tirahe to Gol Jod at Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Nagar, Kolar, Bhopal. .

Key Points

• Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the construction of this road will be completed in a year. This will relieve the people of Kolar from the problem of traffic.
• The length of this road is 15 km. The width will be 35.0 meters (105 feet), footpaths will also be built with dividers in the route and parking construction work will be done on the surrounding additional land along with beautification of the intersections falling between the routes.
• This road will be useful for the 3.5 lakh population of Kolar and will be useful for the people of about 5-6 districts coming from Obaidullah Ganj, Mandi deep, Salkanpur, Harda, Timarni and other places.
• CCTV cameras will be installed on the entire road and these cameras will be connected to the police control room. Many bridges and culverts will also be constructed during the construction of the road. The road, to be constructed at an amount of Rs 222 crore, will improve kolar's traffic problem as well as increase connectivity of the area.

Haryana will become the First State in the Country to Provide Helipad Facility in Every District in case of Emergency

Why In News?

• On October 29, 2022, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala informed in a meeting with officials of the Civil Aviation Department that Haryana will become the first state in the country to build helipads in every district to provide helicopter landing facility in future war and emergency situations.

Key Points

• Dushyant Chautala said that with the development of such infrastructure in the state, helicopters can be landed in war and emergency situations and due to the construction of helipads in police lines in view of security, full arrangements will also be made for the security of these helipads.
• Complete arrangements will also be made to ensure that there is no problem in landing at night at these helipads. He directed to expedite the possibility of setting up a helipad in the district police lines for landing facility.
• It is known that in the recent Civil Aviation Ministers' Conference, the need to build a helipad in every district of the country to deal with emergencies was emphasized. In this direction, the Haryana government had expressed its desire to take the initiative first.
• Dushyant Chautala said that the Haryana government has always been at the forefront of implementing the schemes and concepts started by the Central Government in the state. Instructions have been given to the Home Department and the Director General of Police to develop infrastructure for setting up helipads in every district.
• The Deputy Chief Minister said that an institute will be set up in Haryana to impart airport security training. He directed the officials to identify places in Hisar, Sirsa and Pinjore for this, so that the youth of the state as well as the youth of other states would also be able to get training from this institute. With the formation of this institute, Haryana will be further strengthened in the aviation sector.
• Dushyant Chautala said that under the regional connectivity scheme UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik), an action plan is being prepared to tie up with 7 other states for identification of new route from Hisar from April 2023 to strengthen air connectivity. With the success of this action plan, the citizens of the state will get extensive facility to travel by air.

The Third Meeting of the Committee Constituted by the NGT on Waste Management was held in Bandhwari Gurugram

Why In News?

• On October 29, 2022, the third meeting of the committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) was held at Bandhwari in Gurugram district of Haryana for waste management and proper processing of waste.

Key Points

• In the meeting of the committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), it was decided that the assessment of the waste deposited at the Bandhwari landfill site would be done afresh in a scientific manner and the responsibility has been given to the Regional Officer of Haryana State Pollution Control Board, which is a Will get this work completed in a week, according to which Municipal Corporation of Gurugram will prepare a revised action plan for the disposal of this waste, in which the time limit will be fixed for each activity.
• A 9-member committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Haryana State Pollution Control Board Chairman P. Raghavendra Rao, whose members include Sudhir Rajpal, Chief Executive Officer of GMDA, Vineet Garg, ACS of Environment and Climate Change Department, Arun Gupta, ACS of Urban Local Bodies. , Gurugram Municipal Corporation Commissioner Mukesh Ahuja, Faridabad Municipal Corporation Commissioner Jitendra Dahiya, Gurugram Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav, Faridabad Deputy Commissioner Vikram Singh and CPCB Regional Director are involved.
• In the meeting of the committee, from proper disposal of waste in Bandhwadi to starting leachate treatment plant there and decentralized waste processing, disposal of RDF from waste, legacy waste, legacy leachate, installation of waste to energy plant, arrangements for firefighting. The topics to be done were discussed in detail.
• It was decided in this meeting that efforts would be made to complete the processing of the entire legacy waste deposited in Bandhwari by the end of March 2023.
• It was informed in the meeting that action is underway to adopt decentralized waste processing system in Gurugram and Faridabad districts, for which small waste processing plants will be set up in both the cities without carrying garbage at one place. Seven different processing sites have been identified for waste processing. Solid waste and leachate treatment has been planned for each site.
• It is to be noted that about 2000 metric tonnes of garbage comes daily from both Gurugram and Faridabad.
• It was informed in the meeting that for leachate treatment, two DTRO plants of 200-200 KLD capacity are being operated in Bandhwari and in addition to this, about 150 KLD capacity leachate treatment plant will also be functional by November 30. The total leachate treatment capacity will be 550 KLD. After this, the daily leachate can be treated simultaneously.
• It was decided in the meeting that the regional officers of the Pollution Control Board will give a report on leachate treatment every week and as far as legacy leachate is concerned, it will be filled in tankers and sent to the Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP), where the DTRO plant will be installed by GMDA for its treatment.
• The cooperation of environmentalists will be taken to ensure that these leachate tankers reach the STP from Bandhwari Plant and only after testing the samples of this leachate when the toxic substances in it are in the prescribed approved quantity, then it will be dumped in the sewerage, otherwise No.
• The meeting also discussed about setting up a waste to energy plant, in which it was told by the Eco-green company that the EPC contract would be signed before November 10 and after that the work of setting up the plant would be started on the ground before December 31, 2022. will be given.

226 Blocks of 22 Districts of Jharkhand Declared Drought-Hit

Why In News?

• On October 29, 2022, a meeting of the Disaster Management Authority chaired by Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren declared 226 blocks of 22 districts of the state as drought-hit on the basis of the ground truthing report (land assessment) of the state agriculture department.

Key Points

• In the meeting of the Disaster Management Authority, it has been decided to declare 226 blocks of 22 districts of the state as drought-hit and give Rs 3500 as advance to each drought-affected farmer.
• In this meeting, the Chief Minister informed that this decision of the government will benefit about 30 lakh farmer families of the state and this amount will be made available to all the affected farmer families of the blocks declared drought-hit soon.
• The Chief Minister said that the state government would spend about Rs 1200 crore in providing immediate drought relief amount to the farmer families affected by drought.
• In the meeting, after the instructions of the Chief Minister, it was decided that a separate proposal will be prepared for cooperation from the Government of India and a consensus will be reached on this matter in the cabinet meeting.
• It is worth mentioning that the Agriculture Department had made an assessment of the drought situation in Kharif in all the districts of the state after the order of the Chief Minister, in which the situation was found to be bad in 226 blocks in 22 districts. These districts have been found to conform to all the standards of drought.
• Based on the report of the team of senior officials of the Agriculture Department, these districts were found to be dry and the condition of 154 blocks has been described as more dangerous. Partial drought conditions have been found in 72 blocks, where the crop is expected to suffer more than 50 percent damage, it has been categorized as severe damage.

CM Inaugurates Sickle Cell Management Centers in 28 Districts

Why In News?

• On October 30, 2022, the Chief Minister inaugurated sickle cell management centres in 28 districts of the state in a virtual programme held at his residence office.

Key Points

• Inaugurating new sickle cell management centers set up in medical colleges and district hospitals of the state, the Chief Minister announced the establishment of a national level sickle cell research center in Chhattisgarh soon.
• Along with this, free testing, treatment and consultation facility of sickle cell has been made available in 24 district hospitals, nine medical colleges of the state and Sickle Cell Institute Chhattisgarh located in the capital Raipur.
• The Chief Minister said that a new sickle cell management centre is being set up by the Health and Family Welfare Department to effectively combat the problem of sickle cell. These centers will be operated in all medical college hospitals and all district hospitals of the state.
• These centers will provide sickle cell test and treatment, screening by salubrity test and confirmation by electrophoresis and new method Point of Care (POC) test through hospital laboratory.
• The Chief Minister said that the new method of sickle cell test is the Point of Care (POC) test. Mitanins can also check with this method. Through this method, sickle cell patients can be identified by conducting campaigns.
• In this program, the Chief Minister launched digital card distribution to people suffering from sickle cell by providing digital cards to seven-year-old boy Pratik Das Manikpuri of Rajendra Nagar Raipur and 17-year-old girl Oshika Ramteke of Gudhiyari.
• Health Department Secretary Prasanna R. told in the program that in the survey conducted so far, sickle cell carriers and one percent patients have been found in ten percent of the population of the state. The electronic entry of each sickle cell patient receiving specific treatment at Sickle Cell Management Centers will be maintained in the Sickle cell Institute's portal and they will be contacted for regular follow-up and medication.

Android App 'Token Tuhar Hath'

Why In News?

• According to the information given by the Chhattisgarh Public Relations Department on 29 October 2022, on the instructions of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, for the purpose of simplification and systematic management of the process of issuing tokens for sale of paddy to the registered farmers, NIC. Android App 'Token Tuhar Haath' has been developed by

Key Points

• With the help of 'Token Tuhar Hath' app, each registered farmer will be able to get a token for the sale of paddy in the respective procurement center on the date fixed by him. Using this app, the registered farmers can get the token in the respective committee procurement or procurement centers for the next 7 days.
• Through this app, the farmer will get all the latest information about the farmer's information, registered acreage, bank account, token and paddy purchase etc.
• Through the app, online tokens can be obtained to the extent of 30 percent of each day's purchasing capacity in the concerned committee or procurement center. Even in the said limit, marginal, small and long farmers will have equal opportunity for tokens in proportion to their registered number.
• The remaining 70% of the procurement capacity at the concerned Samiti Procurement Centre will be available for offline tokens, so that farmers who feel inconvenienced in getting tokens through the app can get tokens from the Samiti module as in previous years.
• The arrangement for issuing tokens through the app is being made additionally in addition to the process of arranging the issuance of tokens from the committee module in previous years. In this way, farmers will be able to get tokens through both online and offline mediums.
• The following benefits are possible from the use of the said app:
  • The rush of farmers to get tokens in the committee/procurement centres will be reduced.
  • Farmers will be able to get tokens to sell paddy sitting at home, they will not need to go to the committee, procurement centers.
  • Farmers will also be able to get information related to their registration, such as personal, underground / account / paddy purchase and payment easily.

Nanda Devi Gallantry Award

Why In News?

• On October 30, 2022, the selection committee constituted under the chairmanship of Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan announced the 'Nanda Devi Gallantry Award' to 10 women from the state for displaying bravery and courage.

Key Points

• It is noteworthy that every year women who have done excellent work in different fields are honored by Shri Nanda Devi Rajajat Purva Peethika Samiti.
• This year, women working in the inaccessible areas of the mountainous region, who have made an incomparable contribution in the field of valor and courage, will be honored. They will be honored at a function to be held at Prakash Pant Bhawan auditorium of the state assembly on November 1.
• These women include Flying Officer Nidhi Bisht from Pauri in the state, Anita Tamta from Bageshwar, Kalavati Badal from Dharchula in Pithoragarh, Tara Joshi from Champawat, Tara Takuli from Kapkot, Tara Pangti, Geeta Devi Pangti from Pithoragarh, Asha Devi from Bageshwar, from Chamba. Nivedita Panwar, Sita Devi Burfal from Pithoragarh has been selected for the honor.

Names of all Symbols of Slavery will be Changed in Uttarakhand

Why In News?

• On October 29, 2022, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that the names of all symbols of colonialism, that is, slavery, would be changed in the state.

Key Points

• Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed that all symbols of colonialism in the state will be renamed and renamed.
• He said that the roads and cities in Uttarakhand whose names are of British era will be changed.
• It is known that after prime minister Narendra Modi came to power, all the symbols of colonialism are being changed in the country and on the lines of these, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also changed the names of many places in his state.
• It is worth noting that a few days ago, Prime Minister Modi had inaugurated the ' Kartavya Path' along with unveiling the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in the national capital Delhi. The Kartavya Path' was earlier called 'Rajpath'.