08-01-22 Daily-Himachal Pradesh-HPPSC Current Affairs

The government has approved the action plan and DPR of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) for Rs 5,784 crore. The scheme comprises a total outlay of Rs 2,224 crore towards the replacement of existing feeders, distribution transformers and consumer meters with smart meters.

Besides, Rs 3,559 crore will be directed towards strengthening, renovation and augmentation of existing distribution in the entire state.

Under this scheme, about 28 lakh meters will be replaced with smart meters. Further, for strengthening distribution infrastructure, there is a provision of 5,653 kms of HT line, 4,483 km of LT lines, 6,369 distribution transformers (DTs), 6,905 km reconductoring and augmentation of LT Lines, augmentation of 5,373 DTs and 704 kms conversion of bare Conductors into cable, etc.

The present annual technical and commercial (AT&C) losses of the HPSEBL have been reduced below 10 per cent and ACS-ARR gap to zero by FY 25. The implementation of this scheme will enable HPSEBL to reduce losses to make it financially sustainable and operationally efficient.

Under the PMFME Scheme, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries has introduced six one-district product (ODOP) brands.

Highlights:PMFME is the acronym for Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises.

Amrit Phal: It’s amla juice for Haryana’s Gurugram. It’s natural with lemon juice added. Amrit Phal is priced at Rs 120 for 500 ml.

Cori Gold: Coriander powder was created for the Rajasthani city of Kota. Because of its flavor, the product is one-of-a-kind. Cori gold prices 34 rupees per gram.

Kashmiri Mantra: Kashmiri red chiles are used to make this product. It was created for the Jammu and Kashmir district of Kulgam. Seventy-five rupees buy 100 grams of the Kashmiri mantra.

Madhu Mantra: It’s a honey-like substance created for the Uttar Pradesh district of Saharanpur. It’s a honey with a variety of . Madhu mantra honey is gathered from bees that are allowed to fly freely. Five hundred grams of Madhu mantra will set you back 185 rupees.

The Government of India approved Green Energy Corridor Phase II. The estimated outlay of the phase is Rs 12,031 crores. Under this phase, 10,750 kilometres of transmission lines are to be constructed and 27,500 MVA sub stations are to be added. MVA is Mega Volt Ampere. These additions are of the generated in different parts of the country. The project is to be implemented in seven states. They are Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Kerala, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.

The Green Energy Corridor Phase II will be implemented between 2021-22 and 2025-26.

33% of the project cost is to be provided by the central government. That is, Rs 3,970 crores. The Central Governments assistance will reduce the intra state transmission costs. And will ultimately reduce the cost of the power supplied.

It will help India achieve its target of 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030.

It will generate direct and indirect EMPLOYMENT opportunities.

The project will boost Energy Security of the country.

It is being implemented in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. It aims to generate 24 GW of renewable power. It is to be completed by 2022. It will add 22,600 MVA of substations and 9,700 km of transmission lines. This is being implemented at a cost of Rs 10,141 crores. Here the central government has contributed Rs 4.056 crores, that is, 33% of the cost.

The Sri Lankan Government signed an agreement with the Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC). According to the agreement, Sri Lanka will lease oil tanks to IOC.

Sri Lanka has leased 14 tanks to LIOC for fifty years. Another 24 tanks have been leased to CPC. CPC is joint venture of LIOC and Trinco Petroleum Private Limited. CPC is Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. The CPC is to develop 61 oil farms in the country.

Under the agreement signed in 2003, Sri Lanka agreed to lease all of its 99 tank oil farms to India. This has now been nullified by the new agreement. The new agreement brings in new Governance structure.

Sri Lanka is under huge financial pressure. The country has to repay 4.5 billion USD in 2022 alone. Its Foreign Exchange reserves are decreasing largely.

To strengthen the effectiveness of PM POSHAN, the United Nations World Food Program, UN WFP, has struck a deal with a Bengaluru-based NGO (Non-Governmental Organization).

Highlights:

Pradhan Mantri POshan SHakti Nirman is the acronym for Pradhan Mantri POshan SHakti Nirman. Previously, the program was known as the Mid-Day Meal Program.

The Akshara Patra Foundation and the Akshara Patra Foundation inked the agreement.

PM POSHAN Shakti Nirman has received financial help from the World Food Programme. It will help schools improve their mid-day feeding programs.

The NGO will form a steering group. The committee will include officials from the World Food Programme, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations.