BIHAR
Action plan ready to curb air pollution in Bihar
In a bid to protect people from the hazards of air pollution, the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB), in collaboration with the World Bank, will launch a five-year state action plan next month.
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The move is aimed at curbing air pollution in all the districts of the state. The BSPCB has collaborated with the World Bank, state departments, and urban local bodies to execute the action plan.
To determine the extent of pollution coming from rural areas, the BSPCB collaborated with IIT-Kanpur in March to install low-cost sensors in all 534 blocks in the state. “Three stations have already been installed and are operational, and we expect all 534 sensors to be ready by the monsoon season,” Ghosh added.
Amid rising concerns over the deteriorating air quality in the state, the BSPCB is taking several measures to control air pollution. The board has initiated a plan to convert brick kilns to cleaner technology, which is less carbon-emitting. Out of 6,000 brick kilns in the state, 4,000 have already been converted into cleaner technology, and the board is no longer issuing licences to the brick kilns using old technology.
INTERNATIONAL
US State Pennsylvania Recognizes Diwali as an Official State Holiday
Senator Nikil Saval tweeted that the state of Pennsylvania in the United States has declared Diwali, the Hindu festival, as a national holiday. The legislation to make Diwali an official state holiday was introduced by State Senators Greg Rothman and Nikil Saval in February of this year.
The bill was passed unanimously by the Senate. According to My Twin Tiers, there are almost 200,000 South Asian residents in Pennsylvania, many of whom celebrate Diwali as a time for gathering and reflection. Senator Saval expressed gratitude to Senator Rothman for the opportunity to introduce this bill and welcomed all Pennsylvanians who celebrate Diwali.
NATIONAL
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launches ‘Millets Experience Centre’ at Dilli Haat
India’s Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar recently launched the Millets Experience Centre (MEC) at Dilli Haat in New Delhi. The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) established the MEC in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture to promote the adoption of millets among the general public.
In his inaugural address, Mr Tomar praised India’s dynamic role in celebrating the International Year of Millets 2023 led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said India is gearing towards becoming a ‘Global Hub’ for Millets, and the setting up of the MEC is a step in that direction.
PM Modi inaugurates ‘NAMO Medical Education and Research Institute’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘NAMO Medical Education and Research Institute’ in Silvassa town, located in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. The institute has been developed under the Ministry of Health and is spread over a lush green campus of 14.48 acres built at a cost of ₹203 crore. Here are five things to know about this new medical college.
The NAMO Medical Education and Research Institute has been built at a cost of ₹203 crore, and the foundation stone for the project was laid in January 2019. The institute is a significant addition to the healthcare infrastructure of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu and is expected to improve the healthcare services in the region.
National Medical Devices Policy Approved By Union Cabinet
The Indian Government has taken steps for National Medical Devices Policy to implement the PLI Scheme for medical devices and establish 4 Medical Devices Parks in Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. At present, 26 projects worth Rs 1206 crore have been approved under the scheme, with an investment of Rs 714 crore realized.
In the next 25 years, we will achieve a 10–12% market share in the expanding worldwide market while pursuing an accelerated growth path with a patient-centric mindset. We will do this by being the world leader in the manufacture and innovation of medical devices. By 2030, the medical device industry is anticipated to rise from its current $11 billion in revenue to $50 billion.
India’s First Undersea Tunnel Nears Completion: Mumbai Coastal Road Project
The Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP) is a Rs 12,721-crore initiative by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to link Marine Drive to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. The most significant feature of the project is the construction of India’s first undersea tunnel, which is set to open by November 2023. The 2.07-kilometer twin tunnels run 17-20 meters below sea level, connecting Girgaon to Priyadarshini Park via the Arabian Sea, Girgaon Chowpatty, and Malabar Hill.
The construction of the twin tunnels involved cutting through complex geological strata using a massive Chinese Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) and a team of 35 men. The TBM, named Mavala, is the largest ever used in India, weighing over 1,700 tonnes and standing about 12 meters tall. It was manufactured by the China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Company Ltd (CRCHI) and was assembled and launched a year ago.
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