Azad Pattan hydel project deal signed by Pakistan, China and other five important article

Azad Pattan hydel project deal signed by Pakistan, China:

              Recently, Pakistan and China have signed an agreement for the 700 MW Azad Pattan hydel power project on the Jhelu river in Sudnoti district of Pakistan occupied Kashmir(PoK).

             The 1.5 billion USD project is under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC).

             The Azad pattan project is one of Five hydro power schemes on the Jhelum, the other four are Mahl, Kohala, Chokothi Hattian and Karot Projects.

              Azad pattan, Kohala and Karot are being developed under the CPEC framework.

              It is a run-of-the-river scheme with a 90 meter high dam, and a 3.8 sq km reservoir.

              It will be developed on the 'Build, Own, Operate Transfer(BOOT)' model. It is expected to be commissioned by 2024. The project will be transferred to the government of Pakistan after 30 years.

   China-Pakistan Economic Corridor:  

    The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) is a part of the One Belt One Road (OBOR) , intended to improve infrastructure within Pakistan for better trade with China and to further integrate the untries of the region.   OBOR has two main components. One Belt- the land-based belt, and One Road refers to the ocean going 'Maritime Silk Road' which aims to connect the East Asian economic region with the European economic circle and runs across the continents of Asia, Europe and Africa.

   India has boycotted the Belt and Road Forum organized by China. China's insistence on establishing the CPEC project through PoK is seen by India as a deliberate disregard of its territorial claims.

 

NABARD extends grant assistance of Rs 221.89 cr to support 298 watershed projects in Karnataka:      

                            In Karnataka, NABARD has extended grant assistance of 221.89 crores rupees to support 298 watershed projects in over three lakh hectares benefitting 66,500 families.

The state has about 75 percent of rain fed area.

The projects have resulted in improving the crop productivity, diversification, soil and water conservation and socio-economic condition of the beneficiaries.

The mitigate the COVID 19 impact on rural population, NABARD has released 2200 crore rupees in the state to the Co-operative and Regional Rural Banks under a special line of credit over and above the normal limits.

  Watershed:    An area of land that drains into a common body of water.

NABARD:  National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is an apex development Financial Institution in India. The  Bank has been entrusted with “matters concerning Policy Planning and Operations in the field of credit for Agriculture and other Economic activities in Rural areas in India”. NABARD is active in developing Financial Inclusion Policy. It Formed on July 12, 1982. It's  headquarter in Mumbai and chairman is Harshkumar Banbala.

Poba Reserve Forest in will be upgraded to Wildlife Sanctuary:     

                        Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has announced, Poba Reserve Forest in Dhemaji District would be upgraded to a wildlife sanctuary.

      Poba Reserve Forest declared in 1924 with an area of 10,522  hectares is home to a large number of flora and fauna. It is one of the richest rain forests of North East India.

About Assam: State: 26 January 1950

                        Capital: Dispur

                        Number of District: 33

                        Governor: Jagdish Mukhi

                        Chief Minister: Sarbananda Sonowal

                        Members of the Legislative Assembly: 126

                         Lok Sabha seats: 14

                         Rajya Sabha seats: 7

         Festivals of Assam: Bihu, Me-Dum-Me-Phi,Baishagu, Ambubachi Festival, Majuli Festival, Dehing Patkai Festival etc.

Dance of Assam:  Bihu dance, Bagurumba, Sattriya, Banjar Kekan, Mishing Bihu etc.

Important National Park and Wildlife Sanctuaries in Assam:  Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Parks,Orang National Parks, Dibru choikhwa National Park, Nameri National Park, Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary,Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary, Pobitara Wildlife Sanctuary, Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary etc.

Mandaviya asks officials to raw strategy to turn Vallarpadam terminal into transshipment hub:

        Recently, the Ministry of Shipping reviewed the development of the country's first trans-shipment hub-Kochi international Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT).

        ICTT is locally known as the Vallarpadam Terminal.

         Trans-shipment Hub is a terminal at a port which handles containers, stores them temporarily and transfers them to other ships for the onward destination.

        It basically acts as a switching point for cargo carried by deep-sea vessels operating  on transcontinental trade routes.

        It will cut India's dependence on neighboring hub ports such as colombo in Sri Lanka, Jebel Ali in Dubai and Port Klang in Malaysia to send and receive container cargo, thus saving time and cost for exporters and importers.

  Vallarpadam Terminal:   It is a part of the Cochin  port in Kochi, Kerala. It is located on Vallarpadam Island. It was built with an investment of about Rs. 3,200 crore, shared by the government and the Dubai-government-owned entity (Dubai ports World).

   It was opened in February2011 and can handle cargo up to one million TEUs (Twenty-foot equivalent units) per annum.

    It is proposed to be a  leading transshipment hub of South Asia. This is because of its:  1) Proximity to International sea routes.

2) Location with respect to all Indian feeder(secondary/smaller) ports.

3) Proximity to key hinterland markets of India.

4) Large infrastructure to manage large ships and capacity to scale it up as per requirement.

About Kerala: Capital: Thiruvananthapuram

                        CM: Pinarayi Vijayan

                        Governor: Arif Mohd Khan

Alcohal based hand sanitizer to attract 18% GST:     

                    Goa Bench of GST Authority of Advance Ruling (AAR) pronounced that alcohol based sanitizers will attract 18% GST.

    The Springfields Distilleries had moved to Goa AAR over the GST rates and the classification of hand sanitizers as essential commodity. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs and recently classified hand sanitizers as essential commodity.

   Essential commodity Act was enacted in 1955 to ensure delivery of certain products and commodities. These products are those whose supply when obstructed would affect normal life of the people.

   The list of commodities under the law include fertilizers, drugs, edible oils. Petroleum and petroleum products. Under the law, the center can include new commodities as when needed. Currently there are 9 commodities included. They are.....

1) Fertilizers-Organic, Inorganic and Mixed

2) Food items (including edible oils)

3) Seeds of food crops and seeds of fruits and vegetables

4) Face Masks

5) Hand Sanitizers

6) Drugs

7) Petroleum and Petroleum products

8) Raw jute and jute textiles.