New Delhi Illiteracy is costing Indian economy more than $ 53 billion a year, a report has estimated. According to the report titled 'Economic and Social Cost of Illiteracy'by World Literacy Foundation, illiteracy costs India an estimated $ 53.56 billion. The losses to China are pegged higher at $ 135.60 billion. Russia at $ 28.48 billion and Brazil at $ 27.41 are placed at the third and fourth places, respectively.

Expressing concern over growing illegal mining in the country, the Supreme Court has ruled that the states and Union Territories can now grant leases for mining minor minerals in less than 5 hectares or renew them only after prior approval from the Union Environment Ministry. A special forest bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and C K Prasad directed the states and UTs to give effect to the various recommendations and guidelines framed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in its March 2010 report and submit compliance reports before the court within 6 months.

The Madhya Pradesh Government is committed to providing best quality of education to its students. One of such efforts include bringing improvement in higher education through partnership between Madhya Pradesh government and World Bank. Work is being undertaken on a Rs. 1000 crore project for this purpose. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan released World Banks report entitled " Higher education in Madhya Pradesh - the way forward" in this connection here today. Higher Education and Public Relations Minister Laxmikant Sharma was also present on the occasion.

New Delhi The government is devising a scheme where old ACs and refrigerators can be replaced with energy efficient equipment, at a lesser cost. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency ( BEE), under the aegis of the Power Ministry, has proposed that power distribution companies offer electrical equipment that consume less energy.

Raja Ramanna Centre of Advanced Technology ( RRCAT) has developed electronic beams for preservation of vegetables and fruits for longer period.
Soon, an electronic radiation centre would be set up in Choithram Mandi as part of the pilot project.

This information was given by RRCAT Director Dr P D Gupta on the sidelines of institutes Foundation Day celebration, on Sunday.
'Through electronic beams, vendors can increase shelf life of vegetables and fruits,'he said.

While the plan to set up a nuclear power plant at Chutka in Mandla district is yet to take shape, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd ( NPCIL) has identified another site in the state to establish one more plant. 'Madhya Pradesh has the capacity to house more than one nuclear plant… so, apart from Chutka, we have identified one more site in the state for setting up Plant, 'Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Srikumar Banarjee told reporters on the sidelines of the Foundation Day celebration of Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, on Sunday.

Indore: Even after getting a whopping Rs 18 lakh for the medicinal plantation under the compensatory afforestation project, the proceedings for the work has been stuck due to the budget yet to be released by the state government. Compensatory afforestation, in a laymans language is a process to assuage the wear and tear caused to the forest land due to a commercial project. In 2009, a project named 220 KV Maheswar- Pithampur- Rajgarh DCDS transmission line kicked off in December 2009.

Madhya Pradesh stands fourth in the country in the implementation of MNREGA. So far, Rs. 17,730 cr have been spent on basic development works and village uplift in the state under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. More than 9.78 lakh works have been undertaken and employment worth 132 crore mandays provided to rural labourers.

Narmada Bachao Andolan ( NBA) has demanded CBI inquiry into the purchase of power from Maheshwar Hydro- electric project, which is now Rs 10 per unit and it has become unviable. If Madhya Pradesh does not withdraw, NBA will knock the doors of a court. NBAs Alok Agrawal said, " As per Tariff Order of the MPERC for the year 2011- 2012, the cost of power in MP is Rs. 2.44 per unit. Cost of power from the two upcoming private power projects in Madhya Pradesh - Essar Power and Torrent- is Rs. 2.45 per unit and Rs. 3.31 per unit respectively.

Crusade for revival of environment and wildlife ( CREW) will organise the Central Indian Highlands Wildlife Film Festival on the theme " Tiger Habitat" at the end of February. The idea is to showcase Satpura- Maikal ranges to build a national- level campaign among students and youth and create greater awareness about nature and wildlife, which is so crucial for survival of humankind.