News Analysis India

Tag: Chhattisgarh

  • NGT raps Chhattisgarh for not constructing road for transporting coal from mines

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal has rapped the Chhattisgarh government for not constructing a road for transporting coal from mines to thermal power plants to minimise air pollution.

    A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed the chief secretary, Chhattisgarh to ensure necessary action on the part of departments concerned on the subject of construction of road and providing health care facilities and drinking water to those affected by air pollution in the area.

    “The State Board should prepare a list of areas where unscientific disposal of fly ash has taken place and generate data about the quantity of the coal mined, used in industries and available for thermal power plants,” the bench said.

    “Steps need to be taken expeditiously for development of health facilities, constructing necessary road from Raigarh to Dharamjaygarh and from Punjipatra to Milupara, disposal of fly ash in abandoned coal mines and constitution of State Level Committee to look into scientific utilisation of the fly ash.

    Taking such steps is undoubtedly necessary for protection of the environment,” the bench said.

    The NGT asked the Oversight Committee formed by it to make assessment of compensation for the violations on the basis of which the statutory State Board may take further action, following due process of law.

    “We regret to note failure of departments concerned of the State of Chhattisgarh to respond to the Committee and to perform their Constitutional obligation to protect environment and public health.

    “Any negligence by State authorities may result in rendering the concerned senior officers personally accountable by way of prosecution under the provisions of the NGT Act, imprisonment under section 25 NGT Act read with section 51 CPC and exemplary costs out of their salaries,” the bench said.

    The NGT said that having regard to the seriousness of the issues involved and their impact on the environment and public health, the Oversight Committee will now be headed by Justice V K Shrivastava, former Judge of Chhattisgarh High Court, available at Bilaspur.

    “He will be entitled to honorarium at the rate of Rs.

    2 lakhs per month, apart from logistic support for the purpose of work of the Committee.

    His tenure will be for six months from the date he joins the first meeting of the Committee, which may be done within one month.

    “The amount will be payable by the State PCB – Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board.

    The report about the compliance status as on November 30, 2021 may be furnished to this Tribunal on or before December 15, 2021 by e-mail,” the bench said.

    The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Shivpal Bhagat and others seeking steps against pollution caused by thermal power plants, coal washeries in Tamnar and Gharghoda blocks of Raigarh in Chhattisgarh, including Jindal Power Limited, Jindal Power and Steel Ltd, TRN Energy Pvt Ltd, Mahavir Energy & Coal Benefaction Ltd, Hindalco Industries Ltd and Monet Energy Ltd, SECL.

    The plea said the operation of these units is resulting in contamination of air, water and land and having adverse impact on the environment and the habitants.

  • Maoist with Rs 5 lakh bounty killed in a gunfight with security forces in Chhattisgarh

    By Express News Service
    RAIPUR: A senior cadre of the banned CPI (Maoist) was killed in a gunfight with the security forces at the forested terrain of Pordem in the strife-torn Dantewada, south Chhattisgarh, on Sunday.

    “There was an exchange of fire between the Dantewada district reserve guards (DRG) and the Maoists. The forces recovered a body of rebel identified as Santosh Markam, a Malangir Area Committee member who carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh for his capture”, said Abhishek Pallava, Dantewada district superintendent of police.

    Markam had around 25 crimes registered against him at Aranpur police station of the district, the SP added. There is however no report of any injuries sustained by the forces.

    A pistol, bags and items of daily use were also recovered from the encounter site.Dantewada is among the seven Maoists-affected districts in the conflict zone of Bastar.

  • So far in Chhattisgarh 219.2 mm. average rainfall recorded

    According to the information compiled by the State Level Control Room set up by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department of the State Government, since June 1, 2021, an average rainfall of 219.2 mm has been recorded in the state. According to the rainfall recorded in various districts of the state from June 01 to June 26, the maximum average rainfall of 360.5 mm has been recorded in Korba district and the lowest 122.3 mm in Dantewada district.
    According to the information received from the state level flood control room, since June 1, 186.8 mm in Surguja, 245.3 mm in Surajpur, 234.2 mm in Balrampur, 255.7 mm in Jashpur, 220.9 mm in Korea, 240.8 mm in Raipur, 285.8 mm in Balodabazar, 238.6 mm in Gariaband, 187.2 mm in Mahasamund, 254.2 mm in Dhamtari, 210.8 mm in Bilaspur, 148.7 mm in Mungeli, 215.8 mm in Raigarh, 216.9 mm in Janjgir Champa, 256.6 mm in Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi, 272.3 mm in Durg, Average rainfall is 171.3 mm in Kabirdham, 141.7 mm in Rajnandgaon, 221.2 mm in Balod, 291.7 mm in Bemetara, 131.9 mm in Bastar, 169.1 mm in Kondagaon, 202.4 mm in Kanker, 193.8 mm in Narayanpur, 241.0 mm in Sukma and 220.1 mm in Bijapur. Recorded.

  • Increased speed of corona vaccination in Chhattisgarh, vaccine reached about 25 percent of the state’s population

    In Chhattisgarh, the work of vaccination of all age groups is in full swing to control and prevent corona infection. For the last two days, more than two lakh people are being vaccinated in the state. At the same time, seven lakh 70 thousand 804 citizens have been vaccinated in the last five days. On June 21, 91 thousand 172, one lakh nine thousand 353, on June 22, one lakh 58 thousand 472, on June 24, two lakh ten thousand 034 and on June 25, two lakh one thousand 773 people have been vaccinated. .

    Including the first and second doses, 84 lakh 78 thousand vaccines have been administered so far in the state (till June 25). About 25 percent of the population of the state has been given the first vaccine to protect against corona. Chhattisgarh is ahead of many big states of the country in this matter. Chhattisgarh has higher vaccination coverage than Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The national average of vaccination in the country is 19 per cent.

    In the state, three lakh eight thousand health workers, three lakh 15 thousand frontline workers, 46 lakh 53 thousand citizens above 45 years and 18 lakh 44 thousand 248 youth in the age group of 18 to 44 years have been vaccinated against corona. is. At the same time, two lakh 37 thousand health workers, two lakh eight thousand frontline workers, eight lakh 55 thousand above 45 years and 56 thousand 631 people in the age group of 18 to 44 have been given both the vaccines. At present 13 lakh 51 thousand 676 vaccines are available in the state. Of these, nine lakh vaccines are from Covishield and more than four and a half lakh vaccines are of Covaccine.

    Due to the effective measures taken by the Chhattisgarh government to control and prevent corona infection, the situation of infection in the state is continuously improving. As of June 25, the rate of infection has further fallen to just 1.1 percent. The state’s positivity rate was 8.5 percent in the last week of March, 30 percent in April and 4 percent in the last week of May. The average positivity rate so far in the current June has been 1.2 percent. The state’s recovery rate is 98 percent and the death rate is 1.4 percent.

  • Raipur diary: All that is happening at the ‘Rice bowl of India’

    Express News Service
    Chhattisgarh industries face shortage of iron ore

    Being the second-largest sponge iron producer in the country and the only state to make high-grade rails for the Railways, Chhattisgarh is facing an acute shortage of iron ore for its industries. The state produces 11.6 MTPA steel and 11.28 MTPA (25 per cent of India) sponge iron.

    “We are deeply concerned as over 89 per cent, which is 24 million tonnes, of iron ore produced by the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), the only commercial miner, is being exported outside the state, creating a huge scarcity,” said Pradeep Tandon, chairman, state council of FICCI. 

    16 senior Maoist leaders died of COVID-19 in 2 months

    Confirmation by the banned CPI (Maoist) of the death of two senior leaders due to the coronavirus infection, has corroborated the assertion of Bastar Police that the pandemic claimed the lives of over 16 senior rebels in the last two months.

    Bastar Range IG Sunderraj P has appealed to the Maoist cadres to shun violence, surrender, avail medical facilities and seek treatment for COVID-19 ailment. The pandemic situation in Maoist camps remains alarming.

    The Red ultras should accept the reality, the IG added. Most of the Maoist leaders and cadres have reportedly died in the proximity of the Minaguram-Jabagatta forest in the south Bijapur-Sukma region. Maoist leaders like Hidma, Vinod, Sonu, Jaiman, Nandu among others are reported to be down with the infection. 

    Support for 1.5 lakh amid second wave

    Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO) has extended medical, awareness and livelihood support to over 1.5 lakh community members through various initiatives in the industrial town of Korba. The organisation has designed and implemented campaigns across villages on various do’s and don’ts and supported the administration with medicines, sanitisation drive and PPE kits.

    During the challenging time, it has set up a 100-bed hospital at Naya Raipur and generated livelihood opportunities through Vedanta skill school and project ‘Unnati’. 

    500 schools closed due to pandemic impact

    Private schools in Chhattisgarh are the worst hit by the pandemic impact. As many as 500 schools have already been shut down in the state and many others are on the brink of closure as they are unable to sustain the expenses.

    The biggest concern is the fate of one lakh students who were admitted in these schools from Class 1 to 8 under the Right to Education (RTE). According to Rajiv Gupta, president of the Private School Association, there are around 500 private schools that were shut down owing to financial constraints and lack of enough admissions.

  • Plant from today in Chhattisgarh, Forest Minister Akbar will show green signal to a vehicle full of plants

    According to the intention of Bhupesh Baghel, under the guidance of Forest and Climate Change Minister Mohammad Akbar, the Forest Department is going to start plant distribution under the Plant Tuhar Dwar program from June 25 in the current year.

    In this sequence, Forest Minister Akbar will flag off the vehicle of plants from his residence complex in Shankarnagar in the capital at 2 pm on June 25.
    It is worth mentioning that the Forest Department has set a target of distributing 2 crore 27 lakh saplings under various schemes during the current year.

  • Chhattisgarh: CM Bhupesh Baghel’s rejig of district in-charge ministers ruffles some feathers

    Express News Service
    RAIPUR: After murmurs in Congress-ruled Rajasthan and Punjab, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel’s decision to reorganise of roles of his cabinet colleagues has apparently ruffled some feathers.

    The status of health, panchayat, rural development, and commercial tax minister TS Singhdeo has been seemingly cut to size with the decision of the chief minister.

    “Initially I was in charge of twelve Assembly constituencies but now only five remain with me. I will work as a player on a cricket team. I have been given the charge of only two districts of Bemetara and Kawardha,” Singhdeo said.

    Earlier he was also in charge of the Janjgir-Champa, Baloda-Bazar, and Mungeli districts.

    Singhdeo was dubbed as a potential chief ministerial candidate amid rumours of “2.5-year formula” and change of CM in the state.

    However, Congress and Singhdeo though in their statements had denied any such formula been ever chalked out.

    Baghel reached his halfway through tenure on June 17.

    The opposition BJP took a jibe on the reshuffle. Former chief minister Raman Singh in a sliding remark on Singhdeo’s comments asked him to clarify his position in the cricket team that he cited.

    “Singhdeo should clarify whether he’s a batsman or a fielder,” Singh, who is also BJP national vice-president said.

    The leadership authority of the lone tribal minister from Bastar, Kawasi Lakhma, has been elevated by giving the responsibility of seven districts of Bastar, that covers 12 Assembly constituencies. Geographically, Bastar is larger than Kerala.

    “It is the prerogative of the chief minister to change the district in-charge ministers. They will perform to their best,” said Ravindra Choubey, minister and the government spokesperson.

  • State government in action to develop health facilities of international standard in Chhattisgarh

    The state government, which is trying to strengthen the health infrastructure of Chhattisgarh from villages to the capital Raipur, also wants to make maximum use of the capacity of the private sector, in this sequence, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has directed to reserve 25 acres of land in Nava Raipur. It will be used to set up a reputed private hospital with international facilities, where treatment will be done under state schemes. With this, there will be no need to go out of state for the treatment of any serious disease. Mr. Baghel has already sought an action plan from all the collectors to make the government hospitals from the development block to the district level well-equipped.

    After the second wave of Corona, Chief Minister Mr. Baghel has kept the work of strengthening health infrastructure in his top priority. Recently, during the inauguration of development works and Bhoomi Pujan programs in the districts, he also inaugurated new facilities in many government hospitals. According to Mr. Baghel, at the time of the second wave, the government had resolved to further strengthen the health infrastructure.
    With the establishment of a private hospital of international standard in Nava Raipur, the state as well as the neighboring states will get its benefit. In emergency situations, the situation of going to the metros for treatment can be avoided by doing air ambulance. Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel has asked the Chief Secretary of the State to prepare and submit its action plan within 15 days from the Health Department.
    Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel has said that super-specialty facilities are available for the treatment of all kinds of diseases in many government and private sector hospitals in the state, but even after this, on many occasions such situations arise due to which air for the treatment of serious patients. Have to be taken to metros through ambulance or by other means.
    Mr. Baghel said that this process is not only very expensive and painful, but at the same time there are chances of death of serious patients. Therefore, it is necessary that such a hospital of national repute in the private sector should be established in the state so that the treatment of all types of serious diseases can be made available in the state itself.

  • Chhattisgarh: Five steel plant staffers suffer burns after hot ash falls on them

    By PTI
    RAIGARH: Five employees of a steel plant in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district suffered burn injuries on Sunday after hot ash fell on them during work, a senior police official said.

    The incident occurred around 1.30 pm at JSW Ispat Special Products Limited, located at Naharpali village under Bhupdeopur police station limits, when victims were engaged in clearing a dust settling chamber there that had got blocked, Raigarh Superintendent of Police Santosh Singh said.

    The workers were putting water with pressure to clear the chamber, during which it suddenly got opened and hot ash spilled on them causing burns, he said.

    The injured, identified as Jivnandan Deshmukh, Madhukar Rawte, Manish Gupta, Shiv Sahu and Shankar Katakwar, were immediately shifted to a private hospital here, Singh said.

    Katakwar has been referred to Raipur as his condition is critical, he added.

    Police have reached the incident site and investigation is underway, the SP said.

  • 800 kg cow dung stolen from village in Chhattisgarh, police register theft case

    By PTI
    KORBA: An unusual incident of the cow dung theft from a village in Chhattisgarh’s Korba district has come to light, police said on Sunday.

    An officer said 800 kg of cow dung worth Rs 1,600 was stolen from Dhurena village under Dipka police station limits on the intervening night of June 8 and June 9.

    “A formal complaint was lodged on June 15 by Kamhan Singh Kanwar, the head of village gauthan samiti,” Dipka SHO Harish Tandekar told reporters.

    The state government has been procuring cow dung at Rs 2 per kg under its ambitious ‘Godhan Nyay Yojna’ scheme for the production of vermicompost at gauthans- the dedicated area in villages where cattle are housed in the day time.

    A case was registered against unidentified persons for theft and further investigation is underway, the SHO added.