ODISHA

Odisha to skid off 2019 date for all habitations

Despite laying a whopping 3,708 km of rural roads per year under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) during last six years (up to December 2017), Odisha looks all set to miss the 2019 target of connecting all rural habitations with all=weather roads. Rather, Odisha finds itself listed in the league of States like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, J&K, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh that are unlikely to meet the important PMGSY date set by the Modi Government.

Because data show that when Odisha has 22,211 eligible habitations under the PMGSY, 16,496 of them have been sanctioned for connection; and a total of around 13,422 habitations were connected till the end of December 2017. Though the balance vis-a-vis the sanctioned worked out at 3,074 habitations, actually a high of 8,789 rural habitations in Odisha remain unconnected if the total of 22,211 eligible habitations are to be taken into account.

The huge left-out habitations then, incidentally, are the highest such unconnected ones in the country. Similarly, in proportion of unconnected to connected habitations, Odisha with 40 per cent unconnected habitations comes at the 6th among the bottom-10 States led by Karnataka.

A glance at the progress of the PMGSY roads in 2017-18, the penultimate year of 2018-19 target date, reveals that Odisha at the current rate could at most connect all-weather roads to around only half of the 8,789 unconnected habitations by 2019. Because, in the fiscal year 2017-18, out of a target to connect 2,800 habitations, Odisha saw achievement of 695 habitations till December-end 2017. And, of the target of 7,000 km, the State could see completion of 3,363 km till December-end 2017.

The rate per day is at around 12 km vis-a-vis the national average of 91 km. Significant here is that in 2017-18, the State had laid a maximum length of PMGSY roads in the country, yet the target looks uncertain for the State.

The reason for falling behind the target date is a high order of rural infrastructure deficit in Odisha. But an analysis shows Bihar, which too had a higher order of rural infrastructure deficit, had a whopping 24,804 eligible habitations vis-a-vis 22,211 in Odisha to be covered under the PMGSY. Data show Bihar looks all set to accomplish the target date by 2019 as it has only 15 per cent unconnected habitations left as of December-end 2017 against 40 per cent in Odisha. Slow progress during early years of the 12th Plan has to be blamed for the delay as Bihar lay around 25,800 km in the 12th Plan vis-a-vis around 22, 250 km by Odisha.

INTERNATIONAL

Hamid elected Bangladesh president for second term

Abdul Hamid has been elected president of Bangladesh for a second consecutive term.

Hamid has been elected president as no one else is running in the upcoming presidential election.

Hamid took office on April 24, 2013, and his five-year term expires on April 23.

According to article 123 of the constitution, presidential election should be held between 90 and 60 days before the five-year term expires.

· China to pick 5,000 movie theaters for propaganda screenings

China plans to select 5,000 movie theaters to screen propaganda films and will boost their box offices with group sales, discounted tickets and another financial backing.
China, the world’s second-biggest film market, saw movie ticket sales rise 13.5 percent last year to over $8.6 billion. Chinese-made movies accounted for 54 percent of ticket sales, with baldly nationalistic action thriller “Wolf Warrior 2” topping the box office.

· Tanzania withdraws from UN refugee programme

Tanzania announced its withdrawal of United Nation’s“Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework” citing security reasons and lack of funds.
Tanzania considered a safe haven for refugees, particularly from conflict-hit Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi.
Earlier, United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) granting Citizenship for some refugees and their applications.

· International Conference on Unani Medicine held in New Delhi.

The International Conference on Unani Medicinewas held in New Delhi.
It was inaugurated by Minister of State (IC) for Ministry of Development of Northern Pics.
It was organized by Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), under Ministry of AYUSH is organizing as part of the celebration of Unani Day.
The Various national level eminent personalities and stakeholders from academia, industry, regulators, and researchers in the field of Unani Medicine participant.

· World’s First Autonomous Pods Unveiled In Dubai

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)launched the first tests of the world’s first autonomous pods at the World Government Summit.
The autonomous pods are launched in cooperation with Next Future Transportation (US-Based)and are designed to travel short and medium distances in dedicated lanes.
They can be coupled together in as little 15 seconds or detached depending on the riders’ destination in five seconds.
Each pod is fitted with cameras and electromechanical technologies to carry out the coupling and detaching, which can be activated while the pod is in motion.

· World’s Tallest Hotel ‘Gevora’ Opens In Dubai

The Gevora Hotel in Dubai, developed by the Al Attar Group now become the “world’s tallest hotel”.
It stands 356 meters and 53 centimeters tall.
It is one meter taller than the previous holder of the title, the JW Marriott Marquis, in the same city.
The title has been confirmed by Guinness Book of World Records.

NATIONAL

National Productivity Day and Week

The National Productivity Council is observing National Productivity Day on February 12, and National Productivity Week till 18th February.

It is the 60th Anniversary of the National Productivity Council and is being celebrated as Diamond Jubilee Year.

“Industry 4.0 Leapfrog Opportunity for India ” has been selected as the theme for the National Productivity Week -2018.

India among Top Ten Nations in the World in Terms of Forest Area

Strongly emphasising the increasingly green credentials of the country, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan has said that India has shown an increasing trend in the forest and tree cover, in comparison to the global trend of decreasing forest cover during the last decade.

Releasing the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2017, Dr. Harsh Vardhan pointed out that India ranks among the top ten countries of the world in terms of forest area, despite the fact that none of the other 9 countries has a population density of more than 150 persons per sq km, compared to India, which has a population density of 382 persons per sq km.

“India is ranked 10th in the world, with 24.4% of land area under forest and tree cover, even though it accounts for 2.4 % of the world surface area and sustains the needs of 17 % of human and 18 % livestock population”, the Minister said.

Harsh Vardhan added that as per the latest FAO report, India is placed 8th in the list of Top Ten nations reporting the greatest annual net gain in forest area.

· Nitin Gadkari Releases Indias 1st Ever Highway Capacity Manual

The Minister of Road Transport & Highways Mr Nitin Gadkari released India’s first ever Highway Capacity Manual (HCM)in New Delhi.
The manual is also known as Indo-HCM and it has been developed by CSIR – CRRI on the basis of an extensive, country-wide study of the traffic characteristics on different categories of roads like a single lane, two-lane, multi-lane urban roads, and the associated intersections on these roads.

· Twelth International Conference On CSR Held In Bengaluru

The Institute Of Directors organized it’s 12th International Conferenceon Corporate Social Responsibility in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
In the conference, the Prestigious Golden Peacock Award 2017were presented.
The leadership award for philanthropy and social change was presented to Mr. Vineet Nayar, Founder Chairman, Sampark Foundation.

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13.02.18 Orrisa(OPSC) Current Affairs