02-06-21 Daily-Odisha-OPSC Current Affairs

He said that creation of mangrove forest was the only viable solution to prevent devastation which was witnessed during the recent cyclonic storm Yaas, mainly in three districts including Baleswar, Bhadrak and Kendrapada. Jena observed that the need of hour is to create a wall of mangrove forests for a 480 km coastline with one km width. Per hectare while nearly Rs 50,000 is needed for 48,000 hectares of land the amount about Rs 250 crore would be required. Jena also opined that another option to construct a seawall wont work as it would cause water draining issues. When the trees along with the coast are being cut mindlessly and indiscriminately, it has created an ecological imbalance.

Except in the Bhitarakanika sanctuary, the mangrove forest of the State is almost nonexistent these days. Hence, the should undertake the mangrove forest plantation in a time-bound manner, Jena emphasised. Jena also observed that a programme entitled Coastal Shelter Belt was undertaken following a severe cyclone in 1971, which caused loss of human lives of over 10,000 besides huge damages to Livestock and other assets, by former CM Biju Patnaik as a long term solution to the tidal surge but the programme was stalled subsequently.

He further said the shrimp farming should be regulated through a regulatory authority and the mangrove forest should be revived and created along the sea coast in both the forest lands as well as Government lands.

The government announced the setting up of an eight-member ministerial panel, headed by Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma, to examine the issue of concessions or exemptions to Covid-19 materials like Vaccines, Oxygen concentrators, hand sanitisers, testing and PPE kits, masks, ventilators and temperaturechecking equipment.

The fitment committee comprising officers had recommended a reduction in rates for a number of items. While nine states wanted Covid materials to be zero-rated (which means the entire value chain to be exempted while providing tax credits to manufacturers), three states pushed for 5%. TheCentrehas said it was not clear if the benefit of lower rates on vaccines or other goods will flow to the end consumer.

A Housing Pricing Index (HPI) on residential property prices in eight cities across the country has been unveiled by real estate portal Housing.com in association with Indian School of Business (ISB).

It seeks to help homebuyers assess the appropriate time to purchase as well as assist sellers know the opportune moment to sell assets. Policymakers and financial analysts can make use of the Index as a reliable estimate to keep track of the trends in the real estate sector, said a release from Housing.com by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra.

India Inc has stepped up its efforts to contribute to thecountrys healthcare in the wake of the second wave of Covid.

HDFC Bank, under its Parivartan programme, will set up and enhance medical infrastructure across the country to assist the fight against the coronavirus. The bank said it has committed Rs 100 crore as an initial amount for Covid relief in FY22. This is in addition to the Rs 120 crore the bank spent in FY21.

The Money will be used to set up 20oxygenplants attached to hospitals, three 100-bed Covid-care facilities, isolation centres and provide medical equipment & supplies to over 200 hospitals across the country.

The initiative targets providing 20 lakh patients Home care support for asymptomatic, mild-symptom cases to reduce pressure on the overburdened Health system.