Jaipur: Like charity begins at home, CM Gehlot, obviously remembered his home turf Jodhpur. The sun city will be developed as a solar city and the chief minister made a budgetary allocation of Rs 100 crore for its development. As part of the plan, the government announced a roof top power generation scheme.

The Union ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) has identified 54 places in the country to develop solar cities with three of them being in Rajasthan — Jaipur, Jodhpur and Ajmer. While proposals for preparing master plans for Jaipur and Ajmer are yet to be approved by the MNRE, the same has been cleared for Jodhpur.

JAIPUR: In what will be the biggest ever investment in the state, the board members of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) approved the Rajasthan government's proposal to set up the 19th oil refinery of the country in Barmer.

"The memorandum of understanding (MoU) to set up the refinery at Barmer will be signed in Jaipur on March 14 in the presence of Union minister of petroleum and natural gas Veerappa Moily," said a delighted state chief minister Ashok Gehlot. Talking to TOI, Gehlot said that the proposed refinery is a landmark achievement for the entire state and it will translate into revolutionary growth. "I immediately called Mr Moily and welcomed the decision," he added.

JAIPUR: On the eve of the state budget presentation, wildlife activists have pinned their hopes on chief minister Ashok Gehlot to announce some steps towards wildlife conservation.

Some are hoping that the long neglected state bird, the Great Indian Bustard (GIB), will finally get its share in the budget. Rajasthan was once home to 50% of the bird population which has now come down to just about 100.

JAIPUR: With increase in allocation of funds for projects running under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) in the Union budget, the Jaipur City Transport Services Limited (JCTSL) has geared up to submit proposals for 500 new low-floor buses.

Already 100 new buses have been added to the JCTSL making the total strength of low-floor buses to 400. The additional 500 new buses will boost the public transportation in Jaipur.

JAIPUR: The proposed National Livestock Mission, supported by a budget allocation of Rs 307 crore, is likely to strengthen the animal husbandry industry in the state. Rajasthan is among the leading states in livestock production and it contributes nearly 11% to the state GDP.

The livestock mission will help to attract investment and enhance productivity along with increasing the availability of feeder and fodder. The experts and farmers related to animal husbandry welcomed the step.

JAIPUR: The state government on Tuesday announced that all state-run commercial activities in the core areas of reserve forests would be discontinued.

The announcement came during the question hour in the assembly when the opposition strongly protested the running of RTDC's Tiger Den and other lodges in the core area of the reserve forest. With an aggressive opposition cornering the state government over the RTDC run commercial hotels in the core area, incharge minister Parsadilal Meena assured the house: ''RTDC run hotels, if any in the core area, will be shut down.''

Jaipur: Rajasthan has performed fairly well in providing two square meals in both rural and urban areas of the state.

Jaipur: Though late, the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) is finally planning to widen the footpaths to provide safe and hassle-free movement for pedestrians.

Three More Die Of Disease, 9 Others Test Positive

Jaipur: The eastern part of Rajasthan has not been much affected by swine flu while the western part has witnessed the highest number of cases reported in the recent past. As many as 13 districts are almost untouched by swine flu while others are marginally or badly affected districts. Meanwhile, three more persons died of swine flu — one in Jaipur and two in Jodhpur on Wednesday. As many as nine others tested positive for swine flu.

JAIPUR: A four-member team of health officials from Centre, who arrived in Jaipur on Tuesday, found the swine flu situation in the state 'alarming' but expressed satisfaction on the state's prepare