1. SBI to finance the Adani Enterprise Ganga Expressway Project
Tags: Economy/Finance State News
The State Bank India has agreed to provide a loan of Rs 10,238 Crore to the Adani Enterprises Limited for its Ganga Expressway project .The 594 Km long Ganga expressway will connect Meerut with Prayagraj.
However the Adani Company will construct only 464 km out of the 594 long Ganga expressway. It will construct part of the expressway which connects Budaun to Prayagraj.
Adani Enterprises has set up three subsidiaries, Budaun Hardoi Road Private Ltd (BHRPL), Hardoi Unnao Road Private Ltd (HURPL) and Unnao Prayagraj Road Private Ltd (UPRPL) to implement the project.
SBI will provide a loan of Rs 10,238 Crore to these three companies combined.
Ganga Expressway
- The Ganga Expressway is a Uttar Pradesh government project which will start from Meerut, National Highway (NH) 334 and end at NH 2 bypass in Prayagraj District.
- It will be a six lane access controlled Highway.
- It is the largest Greenfield expressway which is being built on the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (“DBFOT”) model.
- It means the designing and construction of the road will be done by the Adani Company and it will have the right to collect tolls for the next 30 years. After 30 years it will transfer the expressway to the government.
- Greenfield means that it will be a totally new road project and there are no roads where it is being built.
Operational Expressway in Uttar Pradesh
- Yamuna Expressway -- 165 km from NOIDA to Agra
- Noida-Greater Noida Expressway -- 25 km. It connects Noida to Greater Noida.
- Agra-Lucknow Expressway -- 302 km
- Delhi-Meerut Expressway -- 96 km
- Purvanchal Expressway -- 341 km. It starts from Chand Saray village, Lucknow district and ends at Haydaria village, NH-31, Ghazipur district. It is the largest expressway in India..
- Bundelkhand Expressway -- 296 km. It connects Gonda village on NH-35 in Chitrakoot district with Kudrail village on Agra–Lucknow Expressway in Etawah district
Total operational expressways – 1,225 km
2. World’s largest Wind Solar Hybrid Power Plant commissioned by Adani Green
Tags: place in news Economy/Finance State News
Gautam Adani owned Adani Green Energy has commissioned the world's largest 750 MW Wind-Solar hybrid power plant at Jaisalmer Rajasthan. Both the wind and the solar power plant are located at the same location.
The Solar power plant has an installed capacity of 600 MW and the Wind power plants has an installed capacity of 150 MW.
The company has entered into Power Purchase Agreements with the Government of India’s owned Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). Under the agreement the power generated at the plant will be bought by SECI at Rs 2.69 Kwh for the next 25 years.
3. PM inaugurates world's first CNG terminal in Gujarat's Bhavnagar
Tags: State News National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the “world’s first CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) terminal at Bhavnagar in Gujarat on 29 September.
Important facts
It will be “world’s first CNG terminal along with the world's fourth largest lock gate system.
It is being constructed by a consortium of the Mumbai-based Padmanabhan Mafatlal Group and the UK's Foresight Group.
The CNG project is a part of an ambitious mega project of brownfield expansion of Bhavnagar port.
There are plans for a proposed development of a brownfield port terminal in the northern part of the existing Bhavnagar port in Gujarat.
The primary objective of the CNG terminal is to develop CNG receiving infrastructure for India through the Gujarat coast.
The port will also have a container terminal, multi-purpose terminal and liquid terminal, which will be connected to the northern regions of the country by the existing road and railway network.
What is CNG?
CNG, also known as compressed natural gas, is an eco-friendly alternative to gasoline.
It is a fuel gas mainly composed of methane (CH4).
CNG fuel is safer than gasoline and diesel because it is non-toxic and does not contaminate groundwater.
The use of CNG fuel is becoming more popular in both commercial and non-commercial vehicles.
4. PM Modi flags off Gandhinagar-Mumbai Vande Bharta Express Train in Gujarat
Tags: State News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 30 September flagged off the newly upgraded Vande Bharat Express, a semi high-speed train that will connect Gandhinagar and Mumbai.
Important facts
This is the third train of its kind.
It is equipped with 'Kavach' technology (Train Collision Avoidance System), an automatic safety system that prevents two trains from colliding.
Passengers travelling from Mumbai to Ahmedabad in executive chair car will be charged Rs 2,505 as fare, while the chair car fare will be Rs 1,385.
It will operate six days a week except Sundays.
- PM also inaugurated the first phase of the ambitious Ahmedabad metro project.
About Vande Bharat Express Train
It is a 16 coach self propelled train.
The train reaches 160 kmph speed in just 140 seconds.
The train is equipped with touch-free facilities with bio-vacuum toilets and special toilets for differently-abled passengers on-board facilities.
The first Vande Bharat was manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, as part of the ‘Make in India’ programme, at a cost of about Rs 100 crore.
The first such train runs on the New Delhi-Varanasi route, while the second one runs on the New Delhi-Vaishno Devi Katra route.
In the Union Budget for 2022-2023, the Finance Minister has proposed the development and construction of 400 new Vande Bharat trains over the next three years.
5. Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur inaugurated Atal Super Specialty Medical Institute
Tags: State News
Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on 28 September inaugurated Atal Super Specialty Medical Institute at Chamiyana near Shimla constructed at a cost of Rs 262 crore under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana-III.
Important facts
He also laid the foundation stone of Critical Care Block to be constructed at a cost of Rs 25 crore and Advance Diagnostic Center to be constructed at a cost of Rs 42 crore to further strengthen the health facilities in the state.
This hospital will provide world class specialized health care facilities to the people of the state.
The CM said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate AIIMS in Bilaspur to the general public on October 5.
He said that the satellite centre of PGI is also being set up at Una at a cost of Rs 450 crore.
He said that now Himachal Pradesh has a total of six medical colleges in the government sector and one medical college in the private sector.
About Himachal Pradesh
It was made the eighteenth state of India on 25 January 1971 under the Himachal Pradesh State Act, 1971.
Himachal Pradesh is also called the Land of Gods.
Himachal Pradesh is part of the Shivalik range of the Himalaya Mountains.
Major rivers and dams- Sutlej (Bhakra Dam, Gobind Sagar Reservoir, Koldam Dam), Vyas (Pandoh Dam, Maharana Pratap Sagar Reservoir), Ravi (Chamera Dam), Parvati
Major Lakes- Renuka, Revalsar, Khajjiar, Dal, Beas Kund, Dasaur, Brighu, Parashar, Mani Mahesh, Chander Tal, Suraj Tal, Kareri, Sarolsar, Govind Sagar, Nako Lake
National Parks- Great Himalayan National Park, Pin Valley National Park, Khirganga, Inderkilla and Simbalbara National Parks
Capital- Shimla
Governor- Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar
Chief Minister- Jai Ram Thakur
Legislative Assembly seats- 68
Rajya Sabha seats- 3
Lok Sabha seats - 4
6. The UP Government has approved the proposal regarding the establishment of 'Ranipur Tiger Reserve'
Tags: State News
The proposal regarding the establishment of 'Ranipur Tiger Reserve' was approved in the cabinet meeting held on September 27 under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Important facts
Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary at Chitrakoot will be the first tiger reserve of Bundelkhand and the fourth tiger reserve of the state.
The tiger reserve will span across 53,000 hectares of land, including 30,000 hectares of buffer area and 23,000 hectares of core area which was already notified as Ranipur wildlife sanctuary in Chitrakoot district of the state.
Once the Ranipur Tiger Reserve is notified, it will become a part of Project Tiger of the Government of India.
After coming to the submerged area due to the formation of this Tiger Reserve, tigers will come here from Panna Tiger Reserve. They can be rehabilitated safely.
The cabinet has also decided to set up the Ranipur Tiger Conservation Foundation.
About Ranipur Tiger Reserve
Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the UP-MP border in Chitrakoot and about 150 km from Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
Covered with northern tropical dry deciduous forests, this area is home to tigers, leopards, bears, spotted deer, sambar, chinkara and other mammals.
Established in 1977, it is one of the main attractions of Chitrakoot district of Uttar Pradesh.
Other tiger reserves in Uttar Pradesh
At present there are three tiger reserves in the state. These include Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Amangarh Tiger Reserve and Pilibhit Tiger Reserve.
7. Supreme Court orders to stop all commercial activities within 500-metre of iconic Taj Mahal
Tags: National State News
The Supreme Court has directed the Agra Development Authority,Uttar Pradesh to immediately stop all commercial activities within a 500-metre radius from the peripheral wall of the Taj Mahal.
A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and AS Oka told the Agra Development Authority to ensure the compliance with its order delivered on 27 September 2022.
The Apex Court was hearing an application seeking direction to the authorities to prohibit commercial activities within the 500-metre radius of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The 500m-radius of the 17th-century white marble mausoleum is a no-construction zone. Besides, there are also strict regulations on vehicular movement around the monument. There is also a ban on burning of wood near the monument, and municipal solid waste and agriculture waste in the entire area.
The top court is hearing the matter since it was filed in 1984 related to the protection and preservation of the Taj Mahal and its surroundings.
The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal in 1631.
8. President Murmu unveils foundation stone for ICMR-National Institute of Virology, South Zone at Bengaluru
Tags: place in news National Science and Technology State News
President Droupadi Murmu unveiled the foundation stone for ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune, South Zone at Bengaluru in virtual mode, in presence of Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharti Pravin Pawar on 27 September 2022.
The setting up of the zonal campus of the National Institute of Virology, Pune is part of the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM)) of the central government.
Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM))
- The Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission
- was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on 25 October 2021.
- The total outlay on the scheme is Rs 64,180 Crore and the duration of the scheme is from 2021-22 to 25-26.
- The Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission is one of the largest pan-India schemes for strengthening healthcare infrastructure across the country.
- Its objective is to fill gaps in public health infrastructure, especially in critical care facilities and primary care in both urban and rural areas.
- It will provide support for 17,788 rural health and wellness centers in 10 high-focus states.
- Further, 11,024 urban health and wellness centers will be established in all the States.
- Under the scheme, a national institution for one health(set up in Nagpur), four new regional centers of the national institutes for virology, a regional research platform for WHO South East Asia Region, nine biosafety level-III laboratories, and five new regional national centre for disease control will be set up.
- For the first time in Asia, two container-based hospitals with comprehensive medical facilities will be kept ready at all times, which can be rapidly deployed via rail or air to deal with any disaster or calamity in the country.
National Institute of Virology (NIV)
The National Institute of Virology is one of the major Institutes of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
It was established at Pune, Maharashtra State in 1952 as Virus Research Centre (VRC) under the auspices of the ICMR and the Rockefeller Foundation (RF), USA. Now it is fully funded by ICMR.
NIV is also the National Centre for Hepatitis and Influenza.
NIV has been designated as one of the collaborating laboratories of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Chairman: Dr Priya Abraham
9. Uttar Pradesh gets Ayushman Utkrishta award 2022 for adding maximum various Health facilities
Tags: Awards State News
Uttar Pradesh has been awarded Ayushman Utkrishta award 2022 for adding various health facilities to the health facility register.
The State was conferred this award by the Chief Executive officer (CEO) of the National Health Authority R.S Sharma at the closing ceremony of the Aarogya Manthan organised by the National Health Authority in New Delhi on 26 September 2022.
Achievements of the state
Uttar Pradesh is the best performing state in the country with 28728 Health facilities added to the National health facility register of the National Health Authority.
Also the state is the second best State in creating Ayushman Bharat health account (ABHA) with almost 2 crores Accounts.
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)
- The Prime Minister launched the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) via video conferencing on 27th September 2021.
- It aims to provide a health ID (now called as ABHA) to every citizen that will also work as their health account, to which personal health records can be linked and viewed with the help of a mobile application.
10. Odisha Village ‘Govindpur’ declared as Birds Village
Tags: place in news State News
Located near the Hirakud Lake in Bargarh district of Odisha, Govindpur village has declared itself as a “Birds Village”. The residents of the village have resolved to keep the area pollution free and protect the migratory birds during its nesting period.
The Govindpur village lies within the Lakhanpur wildlife range and the locals have taken the initiative under the guidance of Hirakud wildlife division.
More than 2 lakh birds migrate to Hirakud Reservoir every year for breeding and stay for six months. The migratory birds of about 100 species come to the reservoir, spread over 746 sq km, in October every year.
With the declaration of the Hirakud Lake as Ramsar site in 2022, the area is expected to attract tourists, photographers in large numbers.
Hirakud Dam
The Hirakud Dam is the world's longest earthen dam built on river Mahanadi in Sambalpur district of Odisha. The dam is 25.79 km long and has an artificial lake called Hirakud reservoir.
It is a multipurpose river project which was conceived by M. Visvesvaraya in 1937, after recurrence of devastating floods in Mahanadi River.
The construction of the dam began in 1947 and it was inaugurated in 1957.
The largest earthen dam in the world is the Tarbela Dam on River Indus in Pakistan.
The largest earthen dam in India is the Banasura Sagar Dam, on the river Karamanathodu which is the tributary of the Kabini River. It is in Kerala.
It is also the 2nd largest earthen dam in Asia after Tarbela dam.
