ISRO to assist development projects in NE through Space Technology

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh has said that Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO, will assist development projects in the Northeast through Space Technology. He said, ISRO will contribute by offering optimum utilization of Satellite Imaging and other Space Technology applications for better accomplishment of infrastructural projects in all the eight states of the North Eastern Region.Chairing a high-level meeting with senior officers of the Ministry of Develop ment of North Eastern Region and ISRO scientists on Wednesday, the minister said that six out of the eight states of Northeast have already sent their specific proposals for execution by ISRO. The remaining two states, Sikkim and Assam, will send their proposals soon.Dr Jitendra Singh informed that ISRO is already monitoring and Geo-tagging 67 projects at 221 sites in all the eight states funded by the Ministry or North Eastern Council. He said, this is first of its kind in the whole country, where there is an institutionalised involvement of ISRO in mapping and sharing of data for developmental projects and can become a model for other states too.

-Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday announced to set up 10 new Commando Battalions in the state. Talking to news persons at Kaziranga after the meeting with the Superintendents of Police,  Sarma said that a recruitment drive will be carried out by police. The Chief Minister said that additional manpower will be recruited within the current year for the ease of work in the Police Department. Mr. Sarma asserted that his government would not allow illegal cow syndicate in the state. Mr. Sarma also announced to set up seven new Forensic Laboratories in Assam within the next six months.

-In Jharkhand, the State Government has decided to extend the period of Health Safety Week for another one week till 16th of June with certain restrictions to be followed in Unlock-2. The decision was taken in the meeting of the Disaster Management Authority held under Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The existing Lockdown has been extended for the sixth time for another one week till June 16 in Jharkhand, while complete lockdown has been announced during the weekend from 5 pm on 12 June to 6 am on June 14 during the Health Safety Week. The existing restrictions to not open cloth, jewellery, cosmetic and footwear shops in the nine districts with high COVID-19 infection rate in Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Deoghar, Gumla, Garhwa, Hazaribagh and Ramgarh districts have been continued while all other shops including salons in other 15 districts have been extended to open till 4 pm. The mandatory requirement of e-pass has also been retained in the upcoming Health Safety Week. No relaxation has been given in the most infected district of Jamshedpur. 

-In Madhya Pradesh, after the reduction in the fresh cases of Coronavirus infection, life is now coming back on track. All shops and markets will open in the capital Bhopal from Thursday. After nearly two months all the shops in Bhopal will be allowed to open.The District Administration organized 39 camps today to ensure 100 per cent vaccination of shopkeepers and their staff before opening of markets. In another development, the purchase of Moong and Urad at support price is starting from June 15 in the state following the COVID protocol. 

-Union Government has said that about 46 lakh farmers have been benefitted from the ongoing wheat procurement during current Rabi Marketing Season. The Consumer Affairs Ministry said, a quantity of over 418 lakh tonnes of Wheat has been procured against the last year corresponding purchase of 373 lakh tonnes. It said, 12.22 per cent more wheat has been procured in comparison to corresponding period last year. The Ministry said, procurement of wheat is continuing smoothly in the procuring States of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. The Ministry said, paddy procurement in the ongoing season Kharif 2020-21 is continuing smoothly in the procuring states with purchase of over 816 lakh tonnes of paddy against the last year corresponding purchase of 736 lakh tonnes. About one crore 20 lakh farmers have already been benefitted from the ongoing procurement Operations with MSP value of over Rs 1,54,000 crore.