17^th  September 2019

 

Topic:- Air Pollution(Environment)

(Important for Mains)

 

News:-HPMC plant adds to Parwanoo pollution.

 

Context:-

• The Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) unit at Parwanoo has defeated the efforts of the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) to check air pollution in the town.

 

Cause:-

• Plant mitigation system not working properly.

 

What is Plant mitigation system?

• Mitigation measures are means to prevent, reduce or control adverse environmental effects of a project, and include restitution for any damage to the environment caused by those effects through replacement, restoration, compensation or any other means.

 

Solution:-

• Officials have been directed to install a scrubber to ensure that the smoke does not pollute its vicinity.

 

About Parwanoo:-

• Parwanoo, like other industrial towns of Baddi, Nalagarh, Kala Amb, Paonta Sahib and Damtal, figures on the list of ‘non-attainment cities’ of the country for having toxic air quality.

(Source:- The Tribune)

 

 

Topic:- Tourism

 

News:-Cabinet nod to tourism policy draft.

 

Context:-The Cabinet today approved the draft of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Policy, 2019.

 

Aim:-

• It aimed at holistic development of the tourism sector.

 

Focus:-

• Eco-tourism, agro-organic tourism, snow tourism, lake tourism, adventure tourism, pilgrimage tourism, cultural and heritage tourism, health and wellness tourism, film tourism and MICE tourism (Meeting Travel, Incentive Travel, Conference Travel and Exhibition Travel).

 

Objective:-

• The main objective is to promote tourism with sustainable intervention and ensure that the benefits reach every part of the state. Thrust would also be laid on creating an environment for investment for sustainable tourism and capacity building.

(Source:- The Tribune)

 

 

Topic:- Health.

 

News:-ITBP-Army team takes the message of hygiene to remote villages in Lahaul and Spiti.

 

Context:-

• These problems came to light when a joint mountaineering expedition of the Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) visited the remote tribal Jispa and Sissu villages in Lahaul to create awareness on hygiene and spread the message of Swachh Bharat and Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. They also organised health camps and held interactive sessions with villagers, especially teenage girls.

 

Challenges:-

• Gynaecological problems and malnutrition among children in remote tribal areas are two major challenges in the state as the availability of doctors is limited and women shy away from going to male doctors.

 

Members clean Baralacha:-

• The 18-member team, comprising Army and ITBP personnel, started its joint mountaineering expedition on September 2 from Poo in Kinnaur and trekked to Chandratal and Baralacha
• From there, they cycled their way to Rohtang, Manali and Kullu
• The team cleaned the Baralacha area, where plastic waste had been dumped.

(Source:- The Tribune)

 

 

Another Impotant initiative by Government:-

1) Under the Srinivasa Ramanujan Student Digital Yojana for 2017-18 and 2018-19:-It also decided to procure and distribute 9,700 laptops to the meritorious students of Class 10th and 12th

2)The Cabinet gave its consent to include 428-gram panchayats of 10 districts under the Integrated Development Projects for Source Sustainability and Climate Resilient Rain-fed Agriculture- IDP, a project sanctioned by the Department of Economic Affairs for strengthening and sustainable development of natural resources available in forest touching agriculture land of the panchayats.

3)It also approved the draft policy for buyback of non-recyclables plastic waste, including bags, having provision of the Minimum Support Price of Rs 75 per kg to be paid to rag pickers and individuals for collection from homes and deposit it with local bodies.

4)It also decided to nominate the seniormost lecturers as vice-principal in Government Senior Secondary Schools.

5) It also gave its nod to enhance the financial assistance being provided to the Second World War veterans from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000 per month and for their widows from Rs 3000 to Rs 5,000 from September 1.

6)It gave its nod to declare Yamuna Sharad Mahotsav, Paonta Sahib as the state fair.

7)It also decided to upgrade Government High Schools at Sohal in Ghumarwin of Bilaspur and Kharak in Sri Renukaji of Sirmaur.

8) The Cabinet gave its nod to start science classes in eight schools.

(Source:- The Tribune)

 

www.examlife.info

 

QUIZ:-

 

Question 1:- Under which Yojana for 2017-18 and 2018-19, it also decided to procure and distribute 9,700 laptops to the meritorious students of Class 10th and 12th?

1. Jai Bheem Mukhyamantri Yojana
2. Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana
3. Srinivasa Ramanujan Student Digital
4. Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana

 

Question 2:- How much Minimum Support Price will be payable to rag pickers under the draft policy for buyback of non-recyclables plastic waste?

1. 60 per kg
2. 75 per kg
3. 80 per kg
4. 100 per kg

 

Question 3:- ITBP-Army team takes the message of hygiene to remote villages in which district?

1. Lahaul-Spiti.
2. Chamba
3. Shimla
4. Sirmaur

 

 

 

Answers:-

• Q1:- 3
• Q2:- 2
• Q3:- 1