Jharkhand to become plastic free, ban on polybags less than 50 micron thick

It is a welcome move taken by Jharkhand because it plans to ban polybags from the markets. It wants people of Ranchi to start carrying their own bags to the market and not depend on the shopkeepers and vegetable vendors to provide them with bags.
Ranchi Municipal Corporation has is gearing up to enforce the ban on polybags of thickness less than 50 micron which are used to pack groceries and in the poultry, fish shops as well as vegetable markets.
This is reported in telegraphindia.com dated 13 July 2017.

Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has issued a notification through a few vernacular dailies and indicated the seriousness to make the state plastic-free. According to the notice, the residents of the city must adhere to Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, which stipulate the minimum thickness of plastic carry bags as 50 microns for ease of collection and recycling.
The polybags lead to long-time soil pollution, short-time clogging of drains that in turn leads to waterlogged roads during the monsoons.


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Pollution in Subarnarekha river a matter of concern

A recent survey conducted by the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) has revealed the increase in pollution levels in Subarnarekha which is believed to be the lifeline river of Singhbhum. Samples of water taken in the month of April from five locations were checked for various parameters and the results are a matter of concern.
This is reported in telegraphindia.com dated 13 June 2017.

One of the parameters is the pH value of water - it exceeded its normal limit in three f the locations and instead of the natural range of between 4 and 9, it was in the range of 7.9 to 9.2. Moreover, the survey detected excess lead in the water.
The Subarnarekha river passed through areas where there is a concentration of industries and mining activities. This results in the discharge of industrial effluent and domestic waste that are choking the river.


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Families in Jharkhand village sleep on treetops for fear of rampaging elephants

Some families of Jharkhand have been forced to live on trees in view of the because of the terror unleashed by rampaging elephants near Ranchi, the capital city in Jharkhand. It seems a herd of elephants has created fear among the people living in the villages near Ranchi apart from those who are traveling along the Ranchi- Jamshedpur National Highway.
Incidentally, the highway remains deserted for hours due to the fear of the wandering elephants.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 30 November 2016.

These families are living in Loharatola village in Bundu which is located nearly 45-Km from Ranchi, and they have had to go in for makeshift perches on trees. They sleep on the treetops to protect themselves from elephants because a herd of elephants had damaged their houses last year. There are more than 15 families in the village and all of them depend on farming for their livelihood.
The families were forced to leave their village and live in the fields as they have agricultural land. They tend to farming activities during the day and climb the trees at night.


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Jharkhand to boost tourism at Dimna Lake with angling and water sports

The Jharkhand government is working on plans to host a maiden 10-day fest for tourists at the picturesque destination of Dimna Lake situated around 13km from the city, from December 25. The idea is to promote tourism at various locations of East Singhbhum.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 20 November 2016.

The state tourism department is planning this along with the district administration and, if it becomes successful this year, it may be held in coming seasons too. The tourism secretary is also discussing possibilities of putting up tents for night halt at Dimna Lake. There could be angling activities also and talks are on with the experts of Jamshedpur Angling Club. Moreover, water sports could be on the cards after getting the nod from Tata Steel Adventure Foundation.
The tourism plans include development of infrastructure at Burudih Lake and Galudih Lake, both in Ghatshila, around 45km from Jamshedpur. This could be taken up under the Centre's Swadesh Darshan scheme.


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Sunidhi Chauhan expected to perform in Foundation Day celebrations of Jharkhand

Jharkhand is gearing up for its Foundation Day celebrations that will showcase indigenous art, culture and cuisine. The events will kick off on November 13 and, singing sensation Sunidhi Chauhan is expected to enthrall the audience during the main event on November 15 evening.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 12 November 2016.

The tentative plan for the foundation day is that the cultural activities will start at Birsa Munda Football Stadium from 11am. The main function will be inaugurated by governor Droupadi Murmu around noon and will go on till 2.30pm. Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari has agreed to grace the event as chief guest while two Union ministers from Jharkhand Sudarshan Bhagat and Jayant Sinha are also likely to attend the program.
The main attraction would be reserved for November 15 evening, when renowned Bollywood singer Sunidhi Chauhan and other artistes would perform at Birsa Munda stadium. This will start from 6pm and, while passes will be issued to VVIPs and VIPs, entry will be free for the commoners.


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Bihar goes dry - Jharkhand reaps the benefits with liquor tourism

Bihar has tightened prohibition in the state and has gone dry and its neighbor Jharkhand is reaping benefits in the form of liquor tourism. The hospitality industry of Jharkhand has grown by almost 20% in the last few months as revealed from recent trends of corporate meetings cum parties and private parties being held in Jharkhand.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 21 September 2016.

AS a hotelier has revealed - the months of August and September are very lean for the hotel industry because marriages are not solemnized during the inauspicious 'khar maas'. However, rooms and banquet halls of almost all hotels in the state capital were currently full - they have been booked by corporate houses for meetings and parties with dealers.
The trend is that Corporate houses and even private parties, like friends or families from Bihar are coming over to Jharkhand for meetings or picnics over the weekend - they want to enjoy liquor along with business or family. Moreover, in many weddings of Bihar, liquor is an important component of the celebrations. These are also shifting over to Jharkhand. And - for Corporate houses, liquor is necessary for entertaining clients or dealers. Therefore, many of them come to Jharkhand or even go to West Bengal, Orissa and Benaras where there is no prohibition.


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Senior Citizens of Jharkhand can travel at government expense to religious places

The Jharkhand government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to begin the chief minister's Mukhyamantri Tirth Darshan Yojana. This scheme will allow senior citizens of the BPL category to visit religious sites by train at state's expenses.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 7 September 2016.

Beneficiaries can avail of two religious trips in their lifetime - one within Jharkhand and one outside and, it is understood that the scheme might be launched on November 15, that is Statehood Day.
For a start, 1,000 devotees will be taken to Puri via train and the government will sponsor their food, accommodation, sight-seeing and medical requirements. Initially, two trains might run for the pilgrimage tour, but the entire travel package like sites to be visited, places where the trains would halt and other facilities would be decided by the government. AS explained by IRCTC, they are the facility provider and will provide whatever the state government wants.
As far as insurance and health facilities - in case of any death due to accident, the next to kin will get Rs 10 lakh. There will not be any special medical facility in the train, but necessary support will be provided at the stations. And, at the sites, guides and paramedics will be in attendance.


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Jamshedpur to get a new three-star 30-bed hotel to boost tourism

It was a three-storied tourist complex in the heart of Jamshedpur that had been lying unused since 2008 for want of an operator. It is being converted into a three-star 30-room hotel and will provide visitors to enjoy live music with buffet dinner every weekend, monthly food festivals from various regions apart from tour packages to the nearest scenic locales.
It has been christened "The Kannelite Hotel Sakchi Vihar" and is a property of Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation. It has been constructed at a cost of Rs 5-crore and is spread over 1.5 acres. The complex uses natural and LED lights, will also offer free wi-fi to its patrons. The tourist lodge has got a new lease of life after hospitality and housekeeping provider Kannelite Facility Management Services signed an MoU with JTDC for taking over operations in January.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 21 June 2016.

AS informed by the authorities, the intention of the hotel is to reach out to people of different regions living in the cosmopolitan steel city and host food festivals of traditional regional cuisines every month. Plans are ready for the first six months. The fare will take off with Chinese cuisine, while in the coming five months, it will host Rajasthani, Awadhi, Marwari, Hyderabadi and South Indian food festivals.
Live music and buffet dinner will be on offer every weekends (Saturday, Sunday) and local bands will be performing for the visitors. Moreover, the hotel will also provide attractive tour packages in consultation with JTDC to nearby tourist hotspots of Dimna, Dalma, Chandil Dam, Palna Dam, Galudih Dam and Narwa Pahar.


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Maithon Dam to be venue for kayaking and canoeing national championships

Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Federation has taken a decision to conduct the state and national level championships at Maithon this year. The dam area had been developed for hosting boating events during the 2011 national games held in Jharkhand and would finally be put to good use again.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 18 June 2016.

AS per indications, the national championship will be held in November and it is expected to be attended by over 500 players and officials from across the country. The state meet would be held before that.
The national championship will be held as per international norms using electronic score boards operating on state-of-the-art satellite technology for accuracy. Moreover, there will be experts from Germany who will visit Maithon ahead of the meet.
The federation would be buying 20 boats for the championships. Some boats that were purchased during the 2011 national games are available. In all, there will be 10 kayaking and canoeing events during the championship and participants would have to reach the venue in Maithon a day before their respective events and leave the day after.


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