The chief minister’s flagship programme of Balam Sukham Mission that was launched with much fanfare before the assembly polls last year, stands caught in the inter-departmental crossfire.

To woo more power projects to Gujarat, the state government is planning to come out with a bouquet of new power policies that will focus on the renewable energy.

Gandhinagar:Having spent lakhs of rupees, the state government has shelved its move to come out with an industrial water policy.

GANDHINAGAR: Stage is set for chief minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate another annual Krishi Mahotsav drive on Tuesday amid cries of water scarcity.

Despite claims of Gujarat being number one in agricultural growth, a report entitled "State of Indian Agriculture 2012-13" brought out by Union agriculture ministry recently has ranked Gujarat as eighth.

The Autonomous Authority Will Regulate All Activities Affecting Vital Water Bodies

Gandhinagar: Waking up to the need for conserving the state’s wetlands and lakes, the Gujarat government has decided to constitute a first-of-its-kind Wetlands and Lakes Regulatory and Development Authority. An official associated with the formation of the new authority said, “Wetlands and lakes, both have great ecological and socio-economic importance but as of now they are encroached, damaged or heavily polluted. Hence there is a great need to protect these crucial water bodies.”

GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat may be losing some Asiatic lions - its main tourist attraction - to the neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, but it will soon have leopards to attract more visitors to Sasan Gir.

The state government has decided to establish Gujarat's first leopard park in the Gir lion sanctuary for better conservation of wildcat species.
A senior official associated with the new project said, "Gir is known for lions but the leopard is also one of the major wild species in the area that is less visible. For better conservation of the leopard population of Gir, we have decided to establish an exclusive leopard park in the sanctuary where the tourists can easily see the leopards in their natural habitat."

GANDHINAGAR: Having successfully established a solar power generation park in north Gujarat and a series of wind power plants with private companies, Gujarat government is now focusing on tapping offshore wind power generation potential along its coastline.

Following a positive study report prepared by UK based Atlantis Resources Corporation, the government is now drafting an offshore wind power generation policy that will be announced soon. A senior official with the state energy and petrochemical department said, "The state government expects around Rs 1,000 crore in investments in the sector over the next few years. It has allocated Rs 20 crore in the recent budget to give equity in a first of its kind pilot project."

New State-Level Housing Regulatory Authority Soon

Gandhinagar: TheGujarat government is expected to announce an affordable housing policy during the forthcoming budget session of the assembly. Officials of the state’s urban development department, revenue department and finance department are burning the midnight oil to give final shape to the ambitious plan, which was a poll promise made by chief minister Narendra Modi in the run up to the December assembly polls.

Ahmedabad: Gujarat government has cleared a pilot project worth Rs 252.67 crore to make Ahmedabad slum-free. The clearance came at a meeting of the high-level state steering committee of the urban development mission, chaired by urban development minister Anandiben Patel.

The project is to be executed under the centrally-sponsored Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) that was publicized by the Congress before the last state election under the name ‘Ghar nu ghar’. The state government has also approved a pilot project for Rajkot worth Rs 20 crore under the same scheme.

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