Neeranchal National Watershed Project.

Government of India and World Bank sign a loan agreement for Neeranchal National Watershed Project.

The Government of India today signed a loan agreement with World Bank here for the Neeranchal National Watershed Project. The project to be implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development over a six-year period (2016-21) will support the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana in hydrology and water management, agricultural production systems, capacity building and monitoring and evaluation. The Neeranchal project was approved by the cabinet in October last year with a total budget outlay of Rs.2142 crore with the Government share of Rs.1071 crore and the rest 50% by the World Bank.

Union Minister for Rural Development Shri Birender Singh who presided over the loan signing agreement later told the media that the all 28 states which implement the watershed projects will benefit from Neeranchal. He, however, added that nine states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujrat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana will benefit more from the project due to implementation of large number of watershed schemes in these states.

Shri Singh informed that 12% of the area which can be called as wasteland will be targeted through this project to make about 336 lakh hectares of land arable. The Minister said that the effective implementation of the scheme will go a long way in strengthening the economic conditions of the farming community.

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System of Aerosol Monitoring And Research (SAMAR)

Dr. Harsh Vardhan Dedicates System of Aerosol Monitoring and Research and User Friendly Website of India Meteorological Department Tomorrow

Union Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan will be inaugurating the new website of IMD and dedicate to the nation the System of Aerosol Monitoring And Research (SAMAR) which is a network of 16 Aethalometers, 12 Sky radiometers and 12 Nephelometers to characterize aerosol radiative properties & climate impacts. He will the Chief Guest as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) would celebrate its 141st Foundation Day tomorrow on 15 January, 2016. Dr. P.K. Mishra, Additional Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India shall be the Guest of Honour. Dr. Madhavan Nair Rajeevan, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences shall preside over the function.

IMD is celebrating the Foundation Day with a view to promote awareness about advancements made in the field of Weather Monitoring & Forecasting during 2015 and the new initiatives taken by the Department for accelerating its capabilities & services, with focus on further improving the accuracy of prediction of extreme weather events at city, block and district level. Some of the achievements during 2015 are given below:

Accurate prediction of SW Monsoon 2015 rainfall (Actual: 86%, Forecast: 88% of Long Period Average)

Accurate prediction of NE Monsoon 2015 rainfall (Actual: 132%, Forecast: >111% of Long Period Average)

Accurate prediction of Extreme weather events like extremely heavy rains over Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu during southwest and northeast monsoon 2015, severe heat wave in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in May, 2015, Hail storm over northwest, central and adjoining north Peninsula India during March, 2015.

Significant improvement in short and medium range weather forecasts ( Probability of Detection & Critical Success Index improved by 37% and 46% and False Alarm rate & missing rate reduced by 77% and 36% respectively in 2013-2015 over 2002-2012 for southwest monsoon heavy rainfall warnings).

Accurate prediction of cyclones (forecast error reduced by 13,13,17 km for 1,2,3 days, respectively in 2015 over 2010-2014).

Provided City Weather forecast for 324 stations, tourism forecast for 106 stations and nowcast for 156 stations.

Increased forecasts and colour code warnings validity from 3 to 5 days over India and introduced sector wise 7-days special forecast & warnings for Western Himalayan Region for Indian Army. Provided Model based QPF for river basin for flood forecasting.

IMD has made rapid strides in modernizing its services by adopting DIGITAL INDIA initiative of the Prime Minister by using latest technology for information dissemination. IMD has upgraded its website to make it more user-friendly and we are now widely using GIS platform, mobile apps and SMS for dissemination of its alerts and advisories. Under MAKE IN INDIA programme, Department has already deployed 20 Drishti Transmissometers at critical Airports and 222 DTH based Digital Cyclone Warning Dissemination Systems (CWDS). Automatic weather observing system jointly developed by National Aeronautical Laboratory and IMD is under validation.

Dr. Shailesh Nayak, Former Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences will be felicitated on this occasion. Union Minister will also give certificates of appreciations to the best employees and best offices of IMD who have made outstanding contribution during 2015.

Environment Ministry Holds First National Stakeholder Consultation on the Biodiversity Finance Initiative

Environment Ministry Holds First National Stakeholder Consultation on the Biodiversity Finance Initiative

The Environment Ministry started a two-day National Stakeholder Consultation Meeting on Biodiversity Finance Initiative to conserve India’s biodiversity, here today. This National Stakeholder meeting has been organized to understand the BIOFIN project and to seek professional inputs from experts of various fields in strengthening the biodiversity conservation efforts in the country.

The objective of the meeting is to introduce the BIOFIN project to the various stakeholders, enumerate the programmes/activities being undertaken by different organizations in the context of India’s 12 National Biodiversity Targets developed in line with 20 global Aichi biodiversity targets, and then assess the expenditure being made by different organizations for activities related to biodiversity conservation. A global high level panel set up by the Convention on Biological Diversity has estimated that USD 150-440 billion need to be invested annually in biodiversity for effective implementation of Aichi global biodiversity targets.

Besides the central and the state governments, the NGOs, central public sector undertakings, and the private corporate sector play an important role in this context by taking up specific projects/works, which directly promote conservation of biodiversity/ relevant for biodiversity, and by contributing to policy making. As part of this study, an assessment of expenditure is also being carried out.

The experts who participated in the meeting provided important inputs on the efforts being made by MoEFCC and technical institutions viz. the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and National Institute of Public Finance and Planning (NIPFP) in assessment of biodiversity finance and policies in India.

This national meet would serve as a forum to share the collective expertise and ideas of different stakeholders - both government and the civil society institutionsand especially the corporate sector on the implementation of the Biodiversity Finance Initiativeat national, state and local levels - to ultimately bridge the gap between available and required funding for biodiversity conservation in India.

India updated its National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) and also developed 12 National Biodiversity Targets in 2014. As part of the exercise of updating NBAP, the Ministry had undertaken an assessment of budgetary allocations and expenditures related to biodiversity conservation in India through Ministry’s core biodiversity related programmes and non-core programmes as well as indirect peripheral funding from budgetary resources of other Government of India Ministries/Departments towards programmes that have some bearing on biodiversity conservation.

The Ministry has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in a global project on Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN). The experts have gathered to attend the consultation on January 14-15, 2016. Scheduled over two days, the meeting will see over 200 participants from various Ministries, Central Government Institutions, State Biodiversity Boards, NGOs, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), educational institutions and the corporate sector.

Addressing the National Stakeholder Meeting on BIOFIN, Shri Ashok Lavasa, Secretary, MoEFCC, explained thatthe idea behind implementing BIOFIN is to first assess the gap between the ‘available funding’ and the ‘required funding’ for biodiversity conservation and then to plan for resource mobilization.

The meeting also saw opening remarks made by Director General of Forests & Special Secretary, MoEFCC, Dr SS Negi, Special Secretary MoEFCC, Shri Hem Pande, and Deputy Country Director UNDP, India Ms Marina Walter also made opening remarks.

NHAI signs MoU with ISRO and NECTAR for use of spatial technology for monitoring and managing National Highways

NHAI signs MoU with ISRO and NECTAR for use of spatial technology for monitoring and managing National Highways.

NHAI has signed Memorandum of Understanding with National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) under Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and North East Centre for Technology Application and Research (NECTAR) for use of spatial technology for monitoring and managing National Highways.

NHAI has been entrusted with National Highways Development Project (NHDP), along with other projects for development, maintenance and management of National Highways across the country. To accomplish this mandate, it is required to use advanced and multiple technologies to expedite project preparation, monitor construction progress, operation and maintenance and optimal management of its assets.

ISRO is the nodal agency appointed by Govt. of India for Space Technology. National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), a part of ISRO, is the focal point for distribution of remote sensing satellite data products in India. The NRSC supplies satellite data products acquired by Indian Satellites (ISRO) and also by the foreign satellite product companies. North East Centre for Technology Application and Research (NECTAR), Department of Science and Technology uses Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for acquiring aerial images for infrastructure planning.

The use of satellite data and geospatial technology will be useful in providing inputs in highway and infrastructure projects for preparation of DPR, prefeasibility status in new alignment, upgrade/road widening, monitoring of road segments under construction and Road Asset Management System.

The use and benefits of unmanned aerial vehicle technology will be useful in monitoring, construction progress, Road Asset Management, feasibility report and DPR preparation, immediate assessment and remedy of problematic spots etc.

NHAI will take up some pilot projects with both the organisations to identify and finalise actual use and benefits of both satellite data & geospatial technology and UAV technology in highway and infrastructure sector. A technical cell would also be set up which will run 24x7 to provide relevant project specific data using this technology to project report Consultants, Engineers, staff and users.

Energy Cooperation with Japan will be defining feature of our relationship

Energy Cooperation with Japan will be defining feature of our relationship”- Shri Piyush Goyal

Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy, Government of India said, “energy cooperation with Japan will be defining feature of our relationship”. Shri Goyal was addressing Institute of Energy Economics Japan in Tokyo today and was received by Mr Masakazu Toyoda CEO, Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ).

Taking inspiration from Japanese energy efficiency efforts, Shri Goyal said that Japan has 70-80% of lighting from LEDs, we are targeting 100% LED penetration in India by 2019. The Minister is on a visit to Tokyo, Japan to attend the 8th India-Japan Energy Dialogue on 12-14 January 2016. He also invited Japanese companies “to Come to India, Make in India and Conserve Energy in India”.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Goyal informed that USA & Europe with just 10-12% of the world's populations have contributed ~50% of GHG emissions while India contributes only 2.5% with 17% of population. He demanded that developed countries should support the developing & emerging economies with green tech, low cost finance to keep our energy costs affordable. “Climate justice demands that the developed world reassess its lifestyle and consumption of electricity & petroleum products”, Shri Goyal added.

Earlier during the day, Shri Goyal attended three roundtable conferences on Clean Coal Technologies and Efficient Coal Based Power Generation, Super-Efficient Appliances & LEDs and Energy Efficient Petroleum Refining- Energy Audit in Refineries. He will also participate in two roundtable conferences to be held on the theme of Energy Storage Technologies and Smart Grids/Smart Meters on Thursday.

On the sidelines of the Energy Dialogue, five interactive sessions on relevant themes of Clean Coal Technologies and Efficient Coal Based Power Generation, Super-Efficient Appliances and LEDs, Energy Efficient Petroleum Refining-Energy Audit refineries, Energy Storage Technologies and Smart Grids/Smart Meters are scheduled to take place between the Indian and Japanese companies on 13th & 14th January. The themes were selected based on India’s energy needs and with a view to further deepen the cooperation in the energy sector between the two sides such that Japanese technology and capital can be dovetailed with Indian high skilled human resources and “Make in India” to create win-win situations bilaterally and beyond.

“150th Birth Anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai

Dr. Mahesh Sharma Inaugurates an Exhibition on Lala Lajpat Rai at a Function to Commemorate his 150th Birth Anniversary

Dr. Mahesh Sharma, the Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent charge) and Civil Aviation inaugurated an Exhibition on Lala Lajpat Rai entitled “Lala Lajpat Rai – A Selfless Patriot” at a function to commemorate “150th Birth Anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai” here today. Shri NK Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Culture and senior officers of the Ministry were present on the occasion. A puppet show performance based on the life and ideals of Lala Lajpat Rai was also presented on the occasion.

Addressing on the occasion, Dr. Mahesh Sharma said that Lala Lajpat Rai Ji was a great patriot and man of masses. He was a stalwart of freedom struggle who ranks among India’s most outstanding leaders. He was popularly known as ‘Punjab Kesari’. He was a prominent figure in protests against the Partition of Bengal and led the extremist wing of the Congress along with Bipin Chandra Pal and Bal Gangadhar Tilak. The three were affectionately called ‘Lal-Bal-Pal’. As a tribute to the recognition of his sacrifices the Government of India has decided to commemorate his 150th birth anniversary. Ministry of Culture observes birth centenary/125th/150th etc. anniversaries of great personalities of national importance and various activities are organized for a period of one year, he added.

Dr. Sharma said that Lala Lajpat Rai Ji was greatly influenced by the Arya Samaj and its founder Swami Dayanand Saraswati and he fought against many social evils, especially Untouchability in society. He was a prolific author and wrote many books. He also founded and edited newspapers and journals. Assaulted by the police while leading a demonstration against the Simon Commission in Lahore on 30th October 1928, he succumbed to severe injuries on 17th November 1928. The present generation should be indebted to great freedom fighters like Lala Ji.

Shri NK Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Culture in his address said that Lala Lajpat Rai Ji was a great freedom fighter who along with Bipin Chandra Pal and Bal Gangadhar Tilak formed a trio of Lal-Bal –Pal. He authored many books and edited many journals which inspired the youths and public at large to take part in freedom struggle.

Lala Lajpat Rai was born on 28th January 1865 at a small village of Dhudike in district Ferozepur, Punjab. He was a contemporary of great stalwarts including Mahatma Gandhi. He was a prominent figure in protests against the Partition of Bengal and led the extremist wing of the Congress along with Bipin Chandra Pal and Bal Gangadhar Tilak. The three were affectionately called ‘Lal-Bal-Pal’. He was a man of masses. In 1907, Lajpat Rai along with Ajit Singh (uncle of Shaheed Bhagat Singh) resisted the Punjab Colonisation Bill. Lalaji was deported without trial to Mandalay, Burma on 9 May 1907 and released after six months.

A passion for India and concern for social upliftment were the two motivating passions throughout Lalaji’s life. He established Punjab Shiksha Sangh(1911) and set up the Radha Kishan High School at Jagraon (1913). The reform of the Hindu society especially caste and gender relations was an abiding mission. He crusaded for an end to “untouchability”. He visited England in 1905, 1908-10 and delivered many public lectures. He also visited USA & Japan. He founded the Indian Home Rule League of America in October 1917. On being elected as President at historic Calcutta Congress (Special) Session in September, 1920, he said, “There is no life without freedom and there is no Freedom without ‘Swarajya’ or self –government. At the Nagpur Congress session in December 1920 he fully endorsed Gandhiji’s programme of Non-cooperation with the British.

Lalaji established at Lahore the ‘Tilak School of Politics in 1920 and the Quami Vidyapeeth in 1921. He founded the Servants of People Society to work for social reform in May 1921. He was arrested on 31st January 1922 and sentenced for two years rigorous imprisonment for participation in Non-cooperation movement. He joined Swaraj Party in 1926 and was elected its Deputy Leader in the Central Legislative Assembly. He later resigned from the Swaraj Party in August 1926. On 16 February 1928, he moved the resolution in the Central Legislative Assembly refusing co-operation with the Simon Commission as the latter had no Indian member. Assaulted by the police while leading a demonstration against the Commission in Lahore on 30th October 1928, he succumbed to severe injuries on 17th November 1928.

Lalaji was greatly influenced by the Arya Samaj and its founder Swami Dayanand Saraswati. He wrote his biography (1899) and also a book on the history of Arya Samaj (1915). In collaboration with Mahatma Hans Raj,, he founded the DAV School at Lahore, 1886. He founded Punjab National Bank along with Lala Harkishan Lal at Lahore (1894) and Lakshmi Insurance Company to give boost to export by Indian traders. He was also closely associated with the Hindu Mahasabha. He was a prolific author and wrote many books. He also founded and edited newspapers and journals. He launched three English weeklies, The Regenerator of Aryavarta (1883); The Panjabee(1904) and The people (1925); an Urdu weekly Deshopkarak(1883) and an Urdu daily Bande Mataram(1920). Lalaji dies as martyr. Paying tribute to him Gandhiji wrote in Young India under the caption ‘Long Live Lalaji’: ‘Men like Lalaji cannot die so long as the sun shines in the Indian sky.”

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Task Force recommendations on development of manufacturing capabilities in Pharmaceutical production released

Task Force recommendations on development of manufacturing capabilities in Pharmaceutical production released; Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister says Six pharma parks and two medical devices parks will be set up

The Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri Ananth Kumar today released recommendations of the task force on development of manufacturing capabilities in each medical vertical in Pharmaceutical production. Speaking on the occasion, he complemented the task force for giving the report in a time bound manner, after extensive and in-depth consultations. Shri Ananth Kumar said that Pharma Industry in the country is a sunrise industry with 30 billion dollars output and the Government is supporting the industry in taking up this output to 55 billion dollars by 2020. The Minister said, the sector is growing at the rate of 14 percent per annum and it has to show additional 1-2% growth every year to reach the 2020 target. Shri Ananth Kumar said that Government is going to set up six pharma parks and two medical devices parks very soon which will involve an investment of about Rs. 30,000 crores.

The Minister said that due to the Central Government’s encouragement and focus, there is a transformation in the pharma industry. On the issue of recommendations by Katoch Committee on bulk drugs, he assured that these will be implemented soon. The Minister said that the Government has taken up human resource capacity building in this sector in a big way. He said in the last one and a half years, there have been more NIPERS( National Institutes for Pharmaceutical Education and research), more students, more infrastructure and more industry participation in them. He said that in the current budget, three new NIPERSs in Rajasthan, Chattisgarh and Maharashtra have been announced and the Department of Pharmaceutical will propose another three NIPERs in Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka for the next financial year. The Minister assured full support to the pharma industry through faster decisions, enabling environment, benign policy initiatives and incentives.

The Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Dr. V.K. Subbaraj said that India has a large population and a variety of diseases. There is a need to build capacity for improving manufacturing capacity and distribution of medicines and ancillary products. He said facilitating citizens to gain access to affordable medicines shall be in line with the ‘Make in India’ vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister.

The major objective for constitution of the task force was to identify the gaps in production of drugs, vaccines etc in various therapeutic categories and to suggest remedial action. The task force chaired by Secretary, Pharmaceuticals has given recommendations with respect to policy support, infrastructure, skill development, duty structure, policy for pricing, regularity framework and promoting research and development for three different verticals – communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, and Bio-Pharma, Prophylactics and Over The Counter products. The task force has recommended that taking steps to enhance access to safe and affordable medicines is crucial for addressing the burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases.