Tag: STATE NEWS

Karnataka: DEMU rail services to Bengaluru Airport commenced:

South Western Railways has commenced DEMU rail service to the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru from Monday. This will help the airport workers and passengers to commute by paying just 10 to 15 rupees. The Railways will operate five pairs of trains daily from various parts of the Bengaluru city and halt at the airport station. The airport authorities have provided shuttle service from the Airport Station to the Airport Terminal, enabling a seamless connectivity. The distance from Bengaluru to the airport is around 35 kilometres. The cost effective link to the international airport will help 20 to 25 thousand airport workforce and reduce the use of personal vehicles. Earlier, commutation to the airport was possible through buses which charged around 300 rupees and taxis which charged over 500 rupees. The reduction in the use of personal vehicles will also help load on the parking space in and around the airport. The train will operate from Yelahanka, Yeshwanthpura, Sangollirayanna Station and Whitefield. The Bengaluru Central Member of Parliament P. C. Mohan who travelled in the inaugural train today said that he hoped that the frequency in service to the airport would increase with the demand. The airport halt station has a 230-metre long platform, a booking counter, concourse area, rest rooms, seating arrangements and other amenities for the passengers. In the coming days, the Airport Railway Station will display a large mural on Indian dance forms with the title Many Beats, One Dance. The mural will be made from mango crates and waste material.

Jammu and Kashmir: Asadharan Aasuchana Kushalata Padak-2020 announced for seven officers of Jammu and Kashmir Police:

Ministry of Home Affairs has announced Asadharan Aasuchana Kushalata Padak-2020 for seven officers of Jammu and Kashmir Police for displaying exceptional courage and skills. The officers who have been honoured are Senior Superintendent of Police, Rajouri Chandan Kohli, Superintendent of Police (Operations), Srinagar Tahir Ashraf, Assistant  Superintendent of Police, Budgam Amit Verma, Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Akhnoor Ajay Sharma, Inspector Dilraj Singh, Inspector Syed Parveez Sajad and Assistant Sub-Inspector Farooq Ahmad Mantoo.  

Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh: Justice Pankaj Mithal takes oath as new chief justice of J&K and Ladakh high court:

In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office to Justice Pankaj Mithal as the new Chief Justice of the Common High Court for the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh at a swearing-in ceremony in Jammu.

Bihar:  All educational institutions re-opened in Bihar from 4th January:

In Bihar, all educational institutions re-opened from Monday, 04th January with strict compliance of covid protocols. Schools from Class 9th onwards, colleges and coaching institutes are permitted to allow only 50 percent of students. These institutions were closed from March last year due to the corona pandemic. They have been asked to call students in batches on alternative days. Principal Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar said students will be allowed to attend the physical classes only after getting written consent from their parents or guardians. The educational institutions have been instructed  to make arrangements for online classes for those who do not wish to attend the physical classes. The government has also released preventive measures to contain spread of Covid-19 in all government and private schools and higher educational institutions. Temperature of staff and students is being checked before they enter the premises. The school administration has been instructed to arrange hand sanitizers, liquid soaps and digital thermometer for staffs, teachers and students. Two masks have been given to each student.

Himachal Pradesh: India and ADB sign USD 10 million PRF to help expand horticulture production and farm household income in the state:

India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a USD 10 million project readiness financing (PRF) to help finance piloting activities and design and capacity building for an ensuing project that aims to expand horticulture production and farm household income in Himachal Pradesh. After signing the loan agreement, Dr Mohapatra stated that the PRF project will support advance actions to achieve a high level of project readiness through detailed design activities. The ensuing project, to be designed by the PRF, will support development of subtropical horticulture, including cultivation of fruits and vegetables, in the state’s southern region which is currently lagging due to limited access to perennial water sources.

Assam: India and ADB sign USD 231 million loan to augment electricity generation capacity in state:

India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a USD 231 million loan to augment electricity generation capacity in the State of Assam through construction of a 120 MegaWatts hydroelectric power plant that will enhance availability of electricity for households. This is the third tranche loan for the ongoing Assam Power Sector Investment Programme that was approved by the ADB Board in July 2014. According to an official release, the programme, including its two previous tranches, focuses on enhancing capacity and efficiency of the energy generation and distribution systems in Assam to improve electricity service to end users. The proposed hydroelectric project is run-of-the-river project over Kopili river which will help increase electricity supplied from clean energy by 469 GigaWatt Hour by 2025 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3,60,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

Jammu & kashmir: Union Territory Administration signs historic MoU with NAFED:

In Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Territory Administration today signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED), an apex organization of marketing cooperatives for agricultural produce. After signing of the MoU, NAFED to cover 5,500 Hectares at a cost of Rs 1,700 crore in the next five years with major focus on Apple, Walnut, Cherry, Pear and other significant horticulture products. NAFED will also set up 20 Farmer-Producer Organizations, one in each district, in the next three months. The NAFED will set up three cold storage clusters, one each in North Kashmir, South Kashmir and Kathua at a cost of Rs 500 crore, besides ensuring Geographical Indications tags (GI Tags) for all premium/niche horticulture produce, branding and marketing of fruit crops like Apple, Walnut, Cherry, Olive, Litchi etc. 

Manipur: Wildfire wreaks havoc in hill range of famous tourist destination  Dzuko Valley:

A wildfire has been wreaking havoc in the hill range of a famous tourist destination – Dzuko Valley of Senapati district of Manipur for the past three days. The Dzuko Valley is situated at the border area of Nagaland and Manipur and it is a tourist destination with its distinct flora and fauna. It is suspected that the fire probably started from 29 of December from  Nagaland site and crossed Manipur site endangering the wildlife of Mt. Iso of Manipur. Considering the alarming situation, the Manipur Chief Minister along with high level officials made an aerial survey yesterday. Later, the Chief Minister informed the media that Fire tenders and the Forest Department have been deployed to extinguish the fire. They are assisted by local volunteers. He also said that the State Government had also requested the National Disaster Response Force to provide assistance and had also requested Army and the Assam Rifles for assistance.

Gujarat: New Solar Power Policy-2021announced:

Gujarat Government has announced its new Solar Power Policy – 2021 on tuesday. As per the policy, any person, developer or industry can set up a solar project in its premises or land without any limit.  A limit of only 50 per cent of sanctioned load/contract demand for industry to set up the solar project has been removed in the new policy.  Addressing the press conference at Gandhinagar, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani  said that this policy will bring down power cost to industry from Rs. 8 per unit to around Rs. 4.50. It will reduce the production cost, which will help the state manufacturers to be globally competitive. According to the policy, the power consumers will be able to set up solar projects on their rooftop or vacant place. They can also offer their space to third party for power generation and utilization. Security deposit given to power companies has been cut from Rs. 25 lakh per MW to Rs. 5 lakh per MW. New solar power policy will remain effective for the next five years. 

Leh: Country’s highest Meteorological Centre inaugurated at Leh:

Union Minister of Earth Sciences, Dr Harsh Vardhan, virtually inaugurated India’s highest Meteorological Centre in Leh. After Itanagar Centre in Arunachal Pradesh, Leh Meteorological centre at 3500 meters highest from mean sea level is the highest in the Himalayan region. With four Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) a Meteorological Department centre for Ladakh region started working from tuesday. Despite Covid pandemic, within Nine months of time the new centre is established to cater the arid cold desert and geo politically all important Ladakh weather requirements.

Madhya Pradesh: State cabinet approves Dharma Swatantrata (Religious Freedom) Ordinance 2020:

The Madhya Pradesh cabinet approved the Dharma Swatantrata (Religious Freedom) Ordinance 2020. State Home Minister Narottam Mishra said that the Ordinance has been sent to the Governor for assent. The Madhya Pradesh Religious Bill 2020 was approved by the State Cabinet on Saturday and would have been tabled in the upcoming session of Assembly which has now been cancelled. Under the provisions of the Ordinance forced conversion of a woman will be punishable for a term up to 10 years and minimum fine of Rs 50,000. Specific provisions are also made in the cases of religious conversion of minors, groups, or of those belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Blood relatives, including parents of victims of such religious conversion, can file complaints and any marriage solemnized only for the purpose of converting a person will be considered null and void. A provision is also being made that those willing to convert need to apply before the district administration two months in advance. The new ordinance will replace the Freedom of Religion Act 1968.

The colleges and educational institutions in Andaman and Nicobar Islands are going to re-open from 1st January 2021. However, attendance shall not be enforced. Only first year students may attend colleges for regular academic activities while for senior batches teaching would be done online but they can also come to colleges for doubt clearing or taking guidance from teachers. A written permission from parents is required to attend college. Online or digital platforms would continue to be the preferred mode of education. The Higher Education Department has issued an order in this regard. Head of the Institute may stagger the college or class timing to ensure COVID-19 related protocols. Teachers will be required to maintain all the records of academic information shared with the students.   

Today Top State News

Ladakh: Tso Kar wetland complex added to Ramsar Site:

In a significant development to conservation of biodiversity, India has added Tso Kar wetland complex to the Ramsar Site. Tso Kar, the 42nd Wetland of International Importance, is at more than 4,500 metres above sea level in the Changthang region of Ladakh. The complex includes two connected lakes, the freshwater Startsapuk Tso and the larger hypersaline Tso Kar, with presentation of a notable example of two such lakes existing in close proximity. The name Tso Kar refers to the white salt efflorescence on the margins of the lake caused by the evaporation of the saline waters. The local climate is arid, and glacial meltwater is the primary water source for the lakes. The lakes and in particular the presence of fresh water attract biodiversity in a biologically sparse region. Ramsar convention is an inter-governmental environmental treaty established by UNESCO and came into force in 1975. A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

Odisha: Chief Minister announces construction of new world class hockey stadium in Rourkela:

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced the construction of a new world class hockey stadium in Rourkela. The proposed stadium, being built as the largest one in the country, will host the Men’s World Cup Hockey World Cup in 2023 with a seating capacity of 20,000 spectators. 

Maharashtra:  In Nashik Schools for Class IX to XII to begin from January 4

Nashik Guardian Minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Saturday informed that schools for Class IX to XII in the district will begin from January 4. Speaking to reporters after holding a review meeting, Mr Bhujbal said that the district administration has reviewed the overall situation and the schools for Class IX to XII will start from January 4.

In Madhya Pradesh, the state education department has released SOPs for schools reopening, which have to be followed by all the schools. As per the SOPs, attendance of students and teachers will be conducted through the app.  All collective activities including prayers in schools have been banned till further orders. The principals of schools will make a decision regarding conduct of regular classes for ninth and eleventh standard students on the basis of available space and number of teachers in their school.