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23rd, January, 2023

 

Topic: According to Customer Satisfaction Index 2022, Bhuntar airport ranked fifth.

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

Importance for Prelims: Himachal Current Events

Importance for Mains Exam:

  • PAPER-VI: GENERAL STUDIES-III: Unit I: Topic: Appraisal of education, Health, Physical and Financial Infrastructure Development.

 

What is the news?

  • In the Customer Satisfaction Index 2022, the Kullu-Manali airport at Bhuntar in the district has made a quantum leap.

How many airports did it receive this ranking among?

  • The airport was ranked fifth in terms of passenger facilities among 56 mid-level airports in the country with fewer than two million passengers.

 

What was its status in 2021?

  • In 2021, it was ranked 10th out of 57 airports in the country.

 

Which Index Survey was carried out with how many parameters?

  • A survey was conducted under the Customer Satisfaction Index on 33 parameters, including cleanliness and better facilities in the airport.
  • It covered 56 airports across the country with a passenger load of less than two million.
  • The Bhuntar airport got a rating of 4.94 of five in the survey conducted in two rounds from July to Dec.

 

Challenges shared:

  • Bhupender Thakur, chief patron, Kullu Travel Agents Association (KTAA), says that it is necessary that other players also start operations to the Kullu airport because the only operational flight of Alliance Air is charging exorbitant fares because of monopoly. He adds that Alliance Air is charging around Rs 26,450 for a one-way 80 minutes direct flight from Kullu to Delhi.
  • “There is a lot of potential in this world famous tourist destination and flight seats are generally not available, especially during the peak season, even at such high fares. With other players coming here, the fares will become competitive, which will benefit the masses. Destinations like Leh, Jaipur and Dharamsala can also be connected with the Kullu airport,” he says.

 

About Kullu-Manali Airport:

  • It is also known as Bhuntar Airport, is a regional airport in Himachal Pradesh.
  • The airport serves the nearby valleys of Kullu and Manali, which are popular tourist destinations. It is a small airport with a single runway that is operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
  • Regular flights connect the airport to major cities such as Delhi and Chandigarh. The airport is about 10 kilometres from Manali and about 50 kilometres from Kullu. It is regarded as a vital airport for the region and the state’s tourism industry.

About The Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI):

  • The Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) is a measure of how satisfied customers are with a company’s products or services.
  • It is typically calculated by surveying a representative sample of customers and asking them to rate their level of satisfaction on a scale, such as 1 to 10.
  • The resulting scores are then used to generate an overall satisfaction score for the company.
  • This score can be used by companies to identify areas where they need to improve, as well as to track changes in customer satisfaction over time. Additionally, the customer satisfaction index is used by different industries and businesses to measure the performance of their products and services.

 

About Airports Authority of India (AAI):

  • The management and expansion of airports in India are the responsibility of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), a government-owned agency.
  • The Ministry of Civil Aviation oversees the AAI, which was founded in April 1995. Airports Authority of India (AAI) was constituted by an Act of Parliament and came into being on 1st April 1995 by merging erstwhile National Airports Authority and International Airports Authority of India.
  • Its primary duties include providing air traffic control and navigation services, as well as building, updating, and maintaining airport infrastructure.
  • In addition, the AAI oversees a variety of non-aeronautical operations at airports, including duty-free stores and food and beverage establishments.
  • AAI manages a total of 137 airports which include 24 International airports (3 Civil Enclaves), 10 Custom Airports (4 Civil Enclaves) and 103 Domestic airports (23 Civil Enclaves).
  • It also provides Air navigation services over entire Indian airspace and adjacent oceanic areas with ground installations at all airports and 25 other locations to ensure the safety of aircraft operations.
(News Source: The Tribune)

 

 

Topic: Shimla’s road accident rate has declined by 32% in five years.

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

Importance for Prelims: Himachal Current Events (Economic and social development )

Importance for Mains Exam:

  • PAPER-VI: GENERAL STUDIES-III: Unit II: Topic: Remote Sensing and Communication satellites. Applications of Remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) for natural resources monitoring and applications benefiting common man.

 

What is the news?

  • Over the previous five years, there have been a dramatic decrease in the district’s traffic fatalities and accidents. This can be linked to the police’s recent savvy and severe enforcement of traffic laws.
  • Road accidents and fatalities in the area have decreased by 32% over the last five years, according to a study of data obtained from the traffic division of the police.

Previous Data Analysis:

  • As per the records, as many as 526 road accidents took place in 2018 while the number has come down to 354 in 2022, thus registering a decline of around 32 per cent. Similarly, 245 people died in road accidents in 2018 as compared to 167 in 2022.
  • The data also revealed that 2022 reported the lowest number of road accidents in the past decade. Meanwhile, 2018 reported the highest 526 accidents in a year.

 

Initiatives taken:

  • Following a careful research, Police determined the most frequent reasons for accidents and took action to lessen them.
  • The severe execution of the Motor Vehicles Act and other traffic laws has received a lot of attention. For instance, the largest number of challans issued in 2022 was 3,448 for driving while intoxicated, 5,159 for using a phone while driving, and 586 for speeding.
  • “Strict enforcement ensured that defaulters will be discouraged from committing the traffic rule infringement in the future once they have been challaned.
  • Police have been able to reduce the amount of traffic accidents and the associated deaths they cause by using ITMS (Intelligent Traffic Management System) and by having police officers present round-the-clock both physically and virtually (through CCTV surveillance).
  • Additionally, Police kept up a Road Accident Data Management System (software) and frequently examined the information (common reasons for accidents on the road) for effective enforcement.
(News Source: The Tribune)

 

 

Topic: Himachal Pradesh hardens stand on BBMB reservoir water after NOC delays.

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

Importance for Prelims: Himachal Current Events (Economic and social development )

Importance for Mains Exam:

  • PAPER-VI: GENERAL STUDIES-III: Unit I: Topic: Physical Infrastructure Development(Irrigation).

 

What is the news?

  • Himachal Pradesh would now draw its share of water from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) reservoirs in the state for irrigation and water schemes without waiting for the board’s approval for the purpose, said Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Jal Shakti Department Mukesh Agnihotri here today.

How does the Supreme Court’s decision support this?

SC ruling gave 7.1% share

  • The apex court earmarked 7.1 per cent share in the BBMB projects to Himachal Pradesh. It also gave the state a right on water from the reservoirs.

 

Current Challenges shared by Deputy Chief Minister having the Irrigation Department Charge:

  • Till now, the BBMB had been dilly-dallying on giving no objection certificates (NOC) for irrigation and water schemes from its reservoirs.
  • Now, the Himachal Jal Shakti Department had been directed to plan water-lifting schemes from the BBMB reservoirs for irrigation and water supply schemes and go ahead with the projects with or without the BBMB permission.
  • The BBMB has two major water reservoirs in Himachal, Gobind Sagar lake in Bilaspur district and Pong Dam lake in Kangra district. The BBMB ownership lies jointly with the partner states, including Himachal, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.
  • Though Himachal has got its share in the power generated by the BBMB, it has not got its share in water from the BBMB reservoirs.
  • In case the Himachal Government wants to take any water from the BBMB reservoirs for water and irrigation schemes, it has to seek permission from the board that has members from partner states.
  • Mukesh Agnihotri said it was an irony that the people of many villages who lost most of their land for the construction of BBMB reservoirs couldn’t get water for irrigation and drinking. Many Pong Dam oustees had still not got land allotted to them in Rajasthan.
  • The irrigation and drinking water schemes drawing water from Gobind Sagar and Pong Dam reservoirs can provide reprieve to the residents of Bilaspur, Una and Kangra districts who live along the banks of the Sutlej and Beas on which the reservoirs have been built. While the Gobind Sagar reservoir has been built on the Sutlej, the Pong Dam reservoir has been built on the Beas.

 

About The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB):

The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) is a government agency in India that is responsible for the management and development of hydroelectric power projects in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. The BBMB was established in 1976 and is headquartered in Chandigarh, India. It operates under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

The Bhakra Beas Management Board was constituted with the merging of Beas Projects to Bhakra Management Board on 15th May 1976. Since 1976, this day is being celebrated as BBMB Raising Day every year on 15th May.

The main functions of BBMB include the construction, operation, and maintenance of hydroelectric power projects, such as the Bhakra Dam, the Pong Dam, and the Beas Dam. These dams are located on the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers respectively. The BBMB also provides irrigation and drinking water supply services to the surrounding regions, as well as flood control and power generation.

The BBMB plays an important role in the overall development of the region and it is responsible for supplying power to different states and Union Territories. It also generates revenue for the government and contributes to the country’s economy.

(News Source: The Tribune)