LUCKNOW: The UP government on Monday cleared projects worth Rs 602 crore to check the dreaded Japanese encephalitis which has claimed more than 5,000 lives in the past seven years. An inter-departmental committee headed by chief secretary Jawed Usmani finalized the projects for 20 affected districts of the state.

LUCKNOW: The energy task force (ETF) headed by chief secretary Jawed Usmani gave nod to various power upgradation projects on Monday. The ETF cleared the proposal to construct 23 33KV substations and laying of 300 km transmission lines in the state. The Rs 100 crore-plus project will help in better power transmission and distribution in the state. The substations will be constructed in districts like Gautam Budh Nagar and Bulandshahr. Likewise, a similar substation will be constructed in Govardhan area of Mathura.

Farmers in Haryana have stepped up their campaign against the setting up of the Gorakhpur Nuclear Power Plant in the Fatehabad district of the state.

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) has earmarked over 628 hectares of land to set up a 2,800-MW power plant which will use pressurised heavy water reactors at a cost of `13,000 crores. The villages earmarked for site selection include Gorakhpur, Kumaharia and Kajalhedi.

State is not getting its due share, says Governor

Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia on Thursday expressed concern over the issue of the State's legitimate share of water. Describing Haryana as a water-deficit State, he said the situation had been further compounded as it was not getting its due share of river water.

Secy to seek funds in addition to . 67700cr already received this fiscal year. The fertiliser ministry may seek more funds from the finance ministry to meet its subsidy obligations as it needs more than the allocated amount to take care of the rising subsidy bill, a top official said. “We have already received . 17,700 crore in addition to the budgetary allocation of around . 50,000 crore. But we still need more funds, and the amount will be finalised in consultation with the finance ministry,” said fertiliser secretary Ajay Bhattacharya.

After 4,000 deaths and 19,000 victims over seven years, encephalitis has made it to the election manifestoes of most parties in Uttar Pradesh in 2012. On ground zero in eastern Uttar Pradesh, however, it is still to figure in the candidates’ campaign. Voters are angry and frustrated but say they are not surprised. Some are determined not to vote at all on February 8 and 11, when the seats in these areas go to polls.

Absence of preventive measures and affordable and accessible health care leads to nearly 500 encephalitis deaths in Uttar Pradesh.
IT is a strange paradox. In a country that aspires to be a superpower and boasts of rapid economic growth, 488 children died in a State, Uttar Pradesh, from encephalitis alone this year. It is nothing less than a national shame and tragedy. In six districts of Bihar, close to 200 children died this year. These are deaths that occurred in hospitals and hence were reported; the actual toll could be far higher.

Closure of the Western Gandak Canal by the Bihar Government for structural repairs and maintenance work has given jitters to the Mayawati government in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. Apparently, poll-bound UP does not want to earn the wrath of farmers in its eastern districts - Gorakhpur, Deoria, Maharajganj and Kusinagar - that are dependent on this canal system for irrigation.

In another sop for election-bound Uttar Pradesh, the Ministry of Water Resources yesterday included two irrigation projects of the state in the scheme of national projects. The projects are “Sarayu Nahar Pariyojana” and “Restoring capacity of Sharda Sahayak Project”. These projects would thus be eligible for 90 per cent funding from the Centre. The Sarayu Nahar Pariyojana has been under execution by the UP government since 1977, but could not be completed owing to lack of funds.

Union Environment Ministry has asked the state government to take strict action against those industrial units that are polluting river Aami in Gorakhpur making groundwater in adjoining areas unfit for drinking purposes.