GUJARAT

AMRUT: Gujarat got only Rs 231 crore against Rs 2,605 crore plans

Chief minister Vijay Rupani response to starred questions by Congress MLA Amit Chavda and other MLAs told the assembly that against submitted action plans for projects worth Rs 2,605 crore under the Government of India’s Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) in 2015-16 and 2016-17, Gujarat received just Rs 231 crore.

Some 31cities from Gujarat were selected as beneficiaries cities under the AMRUT scheme. The government of Gujarat first proposed a Rs 15,375 crore comprehensive action plan for basic infrastructure in 31 cities under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) covering the next five years. Of this, 42% was to be spent on water connections for all urban households in the 31 cities, 30% on sewerage connections to all household and 12% on drainage services covering 50% of the population. The remainder was to be spent on urban transport, green spaces and parks.

In the AMRUT action plan sent to the ministry of urban development, the state government projected that by the year 2030, Gujarat would be the second most urbanized state in the country with the urban population going from 43% now to 66% of the total population. Tamil Nadu is projected to have 67% of its population living in cities by 2030.

INTERNATIONAL

World’s best airport’ title goes to Changi, Mumbai ranked 63^rd

Singapore’s Changi Airport has topped in the list of ‘world’s best airport’ for the sixth consecutive year.

The announcement was made at the Skytrax World Airport Awards held in Stockholm.

South Korea’s Incheon Airport, Tokyo Haneda in Japan, Hong Kong and Doha Hamad turned out to be the top five in the list respectiveley.

Mumbai airport has been given 63rd position whereas the airports in Bangalore and Delhi are at 64th and 66th place respectively.

· Canadian Mathematician Robert Langlands Wins Abel Prize

Canadian mathematician Robert Langlandswon the prestigious Abel Prize for developing a programme connecting representation theory to number theory.
The programme has enlisted hundreds of the world’s best mathematicians over the last 50 years.
Now aged 81, Langlands will be awarded the 6.0-million-kroner Abel Prize by Norway’s King Harald in Oslo on May 22.

NATIONAL

Jackfruit declared as Kerala’s official fruit

The Kerala government has declared jackfruit as its official fruit.

The official announcement in this regard was made by agriculture minister V.S. Sunil Kumar in the state assembly.

The aim is to promote ‘Kerala jackfruit’ as a brand in markets across the country and abroad, showcasing its organic and nutritious qualities

MNRE to set up 65,180 biogas plants in current year

The National Biogas and Manure Management Programme (NBMMP) aims at setting up of family type biogas plants for providing biogas as clean cooking fuel and a source of lighting.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has fixed an annual physical target of setting up 65,180 biogas plants for the current year 2017-18 under the NBMMP.

India to be Self-Reliant in Silk Production by 2020

India will be self-reliant in the production of silk by 2020, said the Minister of Textiles Smriti Zubin Irani in a media interaction.

The Union Cabinet’s decision approving the Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry will help increase the production of Bivoltine silk (high quality) by 62 percent by 2020.

The Minister further said the aim of the government is to increase the number of people engaged in the silk sector from 85 lakhs to one crore in the next three years.

12 sites identified for development under Iconic Tourist Sites Project

The Ministry of Tourism has identified following 12 sites for development under Iconic Tourist Sites Project:

Taj Mahal & Fatehpur Sikri (Uttar Pradesh)

Ajanta and Ellora (Maharashtra)

Humayun Tomb, Qutub Minar and Red Fort (Delhi)

Colva Beach (Goa)

Amer Fort (Rajasthan)

Somnath and Dholavira (Gujarat)

Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh)

Hampi (Karnataka)

Mahablipuram (Tamil Nadu)

Kaziranga (Assam)

Kumarakom (Kerala)

Mahabodhi Temple (Bihar)

NMCG Awarded Certificate of Appreciation

Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal has stressed upon the efficient use of finite water resources in the country. Emphasizing upon the importance of water in every walk of life, the Minister said it is central to all questions of life.

The Minister was addressing the gathering while giving away the Certificate of Appreciation for ‘Encouragement and Appreciation of the Efforts in Ganga Rejuvenation” to the National Mission for Clean Ganga during the Water Digest Water Awards 2017-18.

National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) was also awarded with IJ Global Awards 2017 Asia-Pacific Water Deal of the Year: Clean Ganga Varanasi Wastewater Project.

· Union Government decides to declare 2018 as National Year of Millets

The union government decided to declare 2018 as ‘National Year of Milletsto boost the cultivation of millets like ragi and jowar on a mission mode to achieve nutritional security.
This was stated by Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh while addressing MPs in a consultative committee meeting in New Delhi .
The Minister said millet cultivation has declined due to change in dietary habits and unavailability of millets. As a result of this, level of nutrients like proteins, Vitamin-A, iron, and iodine fell in women and children.
This led to a special focus on millets, which are being promoted under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM).
The push will promote cultivation of jowar, bajra, ragi. Under NFSM, maize and jau are also promoted separately.

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