The Bhojanchal Youth Association at a memorandum to Mr.Jayant Mallayya, Environment Minister of Madhya Pradesh, has urged that the guidelines given the Madhya Pradesh High Court about the prohibition on the use of polly bags were not implemented due to lack of control on it.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Citing increasing incidence of diseases like oral cancer, the Congress-led UDF Government in Kerala today announced a ban on the manufacture and sale of gutka and pan masala containing tobacco in the state with immediate effect.

Announcing the decision at a press conference here, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the ban on gutka and pan masala containing tobacco and nicotine was enforced under the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Regulation Act, 2011.

Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Shri Babulal Gaur called on Union Urban Development Minister Shri Kamalnath here today and handed over to him an action plan chalked out for Narmada River’s conservation by the State Urban Administration & Development Department. He demanded funds to the tune of Rs. 1298.87 crore for solid waste management, sewerage, construction of rain-fed drains and nullahs, cleanliness and plantation.

State Cabinet here on Wednesday took several important decisions. It decided to constitute Madhya Pradesh Water Corporation (MPWC) for implementation of group piped water schemes in rural area. The corporation will avail loans under prescribed procedure to run these schemes and other fiscal management. The Corporation will implement piped drinking water as well as sewage schemes in the urban areas as per requirement and supplying drinking water to families through water connections.

Bauxite-rich East Coast region hasn’t seen a single mine open in 30 years. The East Coast region, home to 74% of the total bauxite reserves, continues to be one of the most-neglected regions in the country, as not a single bauxite mine has been opened in the past three decades.

Minister of State for Food & Civil Supplies (independent charge) Shri Paras Jain rewiewed the progress of procurement of wheat on support price and availability of gunny bags at mantralaya here today. Additional Chief Secretary Food Shri Antony Desa, State Cooperative Marketing Federation Managing Director Shri Ajay Tirkey and Civil Supplies Corporation Managing Director Shri Chandrahas Dube were also present on the occasion.

Power sector losses are accumulating as states continue to follow a cautious and staggered approach on tariff hikes despite the hefty increase in electricity purchase costs in recent years.

Rajasthan needs to hike its electricity tariff by 80%, Madhya Pradesh 65%, Tamil Nadu 55%, Punjab 24% and Haryana 15% to bridge revenue gaps of their discoms, according to credit ratings agency Icra.

The representatives of five organisations of Bhopal gas survivors have urged the Group of Ministers on Bhopal to take a long term view while dealing with the issue of hazardous waste and toxic contamination. The GOM will meet on May 21 to discuss issue of disposal of 350MT of toxic waste of Union Carbide as directed by the Supreme Court. The SC has listed the matter for May 28 as it is awaiting decision of GOM on disposal of this waste.

National Rural Livelihood Mission aiming at ensuring economic development of poor rural families is being implemented in 15 districts of Madhya Pradesh in the first phase. Now, livelihood activities of the mission will begin in ten more districts and cover 25 districts under District Poverty Initiative Project. These include 12 thousand 800 villages in 116 development blocks.