Uttarakhand Affairs
Conserve energy, focus on alternative sources of power: CM
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said that in the idea of the creation of the Uttarakhand State, the tourism and energy sectors formed the basis of the economy and the is keeping them in special focus. Dhami said that he has requested Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi for the clearance of the Hydro Power projects of the State. He was addressing a programme organised on the occasion of National energy conservation day at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (Ongc) office.
The programme was organised jointly by the Uttarakhand RENEWABLE ENERGY Development Authority (UREDA) and ONGC. The CM said that continous development of any country is possible only by uninterrupted power and added that we should focus on the alternate sources of the power also.
He said that everyone should put in effort for conserving energy and it should become part of our daily life. Dhami said that the State government is making constant effort to strike a balance between the ECOLOGY and economy.
He said that under the Leadership of PM Modi India is leading the world community in the field of Solar Energy and our country is forwarding its commitment of the development of clean energy in the whole world. The CM said that energy and the tourism sectors hold vast potential in the State.
The CM visited an exhibition of the energy efficient equipment and released table calendar 2023 based on energy conservation on the occasion.
National and International Affairs
Road accidents linked to fog claimed 13,372 lives in 2021
Road accidents caused due to foggy and misty weather conditions claimed 13,372 lives in 2021 and another 25,360 were left injured more than half were grievously injured. Among states and UTs,Uttar Pradeshrecorded a maximum of 3,782 fatalities, followed by Bihar (1,800) andMadhya Pradesh(1,233) on this account. Goa, and Lakshadweep did not report any road death due to this reason.
As per the latest report titled Road Accidents in India published by the road transport ministry, among the million-plus cities, all the top six cities reporting high number of such fatalities were from UP. While Kanpur reported a maximum of 173 fatalities, Agra recorded 108 deaths and the other cities that saw a high number of deaths werePrayagraj(97), Ghaziabad (91) Lucknow (67) and Varanasi (56).Patnaalso recorded 56 such deaths.
India, ADB sign $125 million loan to improve Urban Services in Tamil Nadu
The Government of India and Asian (ADB) today signed a $125 million loan to develop Climate-resilient sewage collection and treatment, and drainage and water supply systems in three cities in the state of Tamil Nadu.
The signatories to the tranche 3 loan for Tamil Nadu Urban Flagship Investment Program were Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance who signed for the Government of India, and Hoe Yun Jeong, Officer-in-Charge of ADBs India Resident Mission who signed for ADB.
The financing is the third and the last tranche of the $500 million multi-tranche financing facility (MFF) for the Program approved by ADB in 2018 to build priority water supply, sewerage, and drainage Infrastructure in strategic industrial corridors across 10 cities in the state. The tranche 3 loan covers Coimbatore, Madurai, and Thoothukudi.
Ministry of Rural Development launches Prajjwala Challenge inviting ideas, solutions and actions to transform rural economy
With an aim to invite ideas, solutions and actions that can transform rural economy, the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) has launched the Prajjwala Challenge. It is one of the platforms where ideas are invited from individuals, Social Enterprises, Start up, Private Sector, Civil Society, Community Based Organization, Academic Institution, Start-ups, Incubation centres, Investors etc having potential to transform the rural economy.
DAY-NRLM is one of the flagship <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/POVERTY-alleviation”>Poverty Alleviation programs of the Ministry of Rural Development, which aims at creating efficient and effective institutional platforms of the rural poor, enabling them to increase household income through sustainable livelihoods enhancements and improved access to financial Services.
UNESCO heritage sites tentative list: Sun Temple & Vadnagar town Rock cut sculpture added
Three new cultural sites in India, including the iconic Sun Temple at Modhera, historic Vadnagar town in Gujarat, and rock-cut relief sculptures of Unakoti in Tripura, have been added to the tentative list of UNESCO . The UNESCO website describes a tentative list as an inventory of those properties which each State Party intends to consider for nomination.
The Sun Temple in Modhera, Gujarat, is dedicated to Surya Dev and is situated on the left bank of the Pushpavati River, a tributary of the River Rupan. It is the earliest of such temples, setting trends in architectural and decorative features and perfectly illustrating the Solanki style. Itscomponentsthe main temple shrine (garbhagriha), a hall (gadhamandapa), an outer hall or assembly hall (Sabhamandapa or rangamandapa), and a sacred pool (Kunda), now known as Ramakundaare all built in the Marugurjara architectural style. This eastfacingtemple is built of bright yellow sandstone.