Category: States

Modi govt’s proposed geoheritage bill protects sites capturing Earth’s history. What it means

The Print | Jan 05, 2023

Geoheritage Sites & Geo-relics (Preservation & Maintenance) Bill lets govt declare a site to be of national importance, with 100m area around it ‘prohibited’ & 200m area ‘restricted’.

New Delhi: India’s rich geological monuments that capture the Earth’s tumultuous, evolving history in the form of rocks, sediment, and fossils, are at the grave risk of being wiped out, experts have said, highlighting the need for a law to protect these from erosion.

The warning has not gone unheeded, with the Narendra Modi government putting out a draft bill last month, for the preservation and maintenance of India’s geological heritage sites and relics. The draft Geoheritage Sites and Geo-relics (Preservation and Maintenance) Bill, 2022, published for “public consultation” by the Ministry of Mines on 15 December, aims to protect and preserve these sites for “geological studies, education, research, and for future generations as it is a non-renewable asset”.

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Odisha Govt Initiates Steps To Launch ‘Ama Hospital’ Programme Under 5T

Odisha Bytes | Jan 04, 2023

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Wednesday launched steps for implementation of ‘Ama Hospital’ programme under 5T initiative to transform and strengthen the Community Health Centres, Sub-divisional Health Centres and District Headquarter Hospitals.

In a letter to all the district Collectors, Health and Family Welfare Secretary Shalini Pandit said that the state government has decided to launch the initiative for 5T transformation of identified hospitals as ‘Ama Hospital.”

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National Commission for Scheduled Tribes’ position on new Forest Conservation Rules ‘will be same’

The Hindu | January 02, 2023
Remark by national body’s Chairperson follows government’s dismissal of their concerns that the 2022 rules will invariably violate the Forest Rights Act, 2006

In a sign of escalating conflict between the government and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes over the Forest (Conservation) Rules (FCR) 2022, NCST Chairperson Harsh Chouhan on Monday said that the ST body’s position on the new rules being violative of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 “will be the same” even as the Environment Ministry has dismissed these concerns.

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Union Education Minister flays Odisha govt over misuse of DMF fund

The New Indian Express | Dec 30, 2022

Says there is no clarity or transparency in its utilisation in Angul

ANGUL: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday attacked the state government over the ‘misuse’ of the district mineral foundation (DMF) fund in Angul. Speaking at a public meeting here, Pradhan criticised the way in which DMF collections were being spent in the Angul district without a tender process.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made provision of DMF funds for mining-affected areas which should be utilised on drinking water, healthcare services and other welfare activities. But in Angul, the fund is being misutilised. There is no clarity or transparency in its utilisation,” he alleged. Angul gets Rs 700-Rs 800 crore DMF funds per year.

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Ministry Of Mines : District Mineral Foundation Constituted In 622 Districts; Rs.71128.71 Crore Collected Till October, 2022 Benefitting Large Number Of People

Orissadiary | Dec 26, 2022

New Delhi : Series of policy initiatives paving the way for amendments in Acts & Rules to bring about further acceleration in mining activity and ease of doing business marked the mining sector of India during the year 2022. Many a special initiative undertaken by the Mines Ministry resulted in amendments of Acts & Rules, thereby removing major obstacles /bottlenecks faced by our mining sector for years.

Innovative mineral exploration activities using state-of-the-art technology by Geological Survey of India (GSI), stepped up efforts by Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) to source strategic minerals from countries like Australia, Argentina and Chile were some of the highlights of the important steps taken by the Mines Ministry during 2022. Successful auction of 90 mineral blocks, establishment of District Mineral Foundation (DMF) in 622 districts and collection of Rs. 71128.71 crore up to October, 2022 under DMF were equally note-worthy achievements of the Ministry during the year.

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