Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna(PMUY)

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna has been launched in Delhi which aims to
provide LPG (Liquefied petroleum Gas) connections to poor households.
While approving the target number to eight crore from the earlier five
crore, the cabinet wishes to accomplish this feat by the year 2020.

The main source of cooking fuel in rural India is biomass, dung cakes and
coal. This exposes the participants- about 75 crore, of which women and
girls consist of bigger pie, to severe household air pollution (HAP). The
persistent smoke and its inhalation results in many ailments, such as-
cataract, pulmonary disease, respiratory infection, lung cancer etc. . A
report from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare places HAP as the
second leading risk factor contributing to India’s disease burden. It is to
disrupt this recalcitrant state of affair government of India launched this
altruistic initiative.

The scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Petroleum and

Natural Gas. Eligible households will be identified in consultation with
state governments and Union territories. The Socio-Economic Caste
Census(SECC) data will help to identify an adult woman member of a below
poverty line family who in turn would be provided a deposit free LPG
connection along with financial assistance of Rs1600, by the centre.

Though a bold and much needed initiative, the real challenge of PMUY lies
in making aware the beneficiaries its sustained use apart from other clean
fuels such as electricity and biogas. This may require engaging various
ministries such as health, rural development and women and child welfare
apart from ministry of petroleum and natural gas. Smokeless kitchen would
be a much needed relief in rural areas. It can play a significant role in
attenuating increased pollution and temperature at a very fundamental
level.
 Indian Railway persists; It Reaches Ind0-China Border And Sikkim Finds
Its Place On Railway Map, Finally!

Sikkim, a multiethnic and multilingual state of northeast India is notable

for its biodiversity including alpine and subtropical climates and it hosts
Kanchenjunga, the highest peak in India. Despite so much of breathtaking
natural beauty and potential for tourism; it’s disappointing that it was
absent from the map of Indian railway since it joined the Indian nation in
1975 through a referendum.

Things have started shaping up in positive direction almost after four

decades. Forty three after it became part our republic, work will finally
begin on putting The Himalayan State on the Indian railway map.

Materializing probably the biggest engineering challenge in the history of

Indian railway, a 54 km long broad gauge track will be built connecting the
hill state via Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of Gorkhaland passing
through the Mahananda wildlife sanctuary. Passing over the turbulent
Teesta river the track will cover 37 bridges and 13 tunnels. The estimated
cost of the project has been calculated to be around Rs.6000 crore. The
challenge that need to be addressed lies in protecting the rich bio diversity
and fragile geology of the hilly region.

The project was stuck for a want of NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the
Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) which has now given the go
ahead signal. This happened so as the major route of the railway line-
around 51 km, will pass through Gorkhaland while the remaining section
would be in Sikkim. The Gorkha Administration gave its consent to the
Northeast Frontier Railway after its demands for stations in Kalimpong and
Darjeeling were agreed to. The project head and many others in highest
echelon have committed to take best possible care of several public issues
including no eviction demand of many forest villages along the alignment.

At present National Highway (NH-10) is the only land route to Sikkim.

After the completion of the project, the line will help increase tourism and
trade in Sikkim and the adjoining areas. The line will also enable quicker
 military movement to the Ind0-China border, in case the dragon decides to
disturb the Doklam region intermittently

Tags:

 Indian Railways,

 Indo-China Border,

 Sikkim,

 Gorkhaland,

 Doklam,
 Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA),

 New Railway Line,

http://zeenews.india.com/india/isro-launches-navic-all-you-need-to-
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http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2018/apr/13/navic-
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1800886.html

https://www.firstpost.com/tech/news-analysis/isro-to-launch-the-irnss-1i-
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