JAIPUR: Temperatures continue to plummet across Rajasthan and on Sunday two places recorded a minimum temperature of below 0 degree Celsius, while at least six places in the state recorded below 1 degree Celsius even as two people died in Bundi due to the severe cold.

Churu in the plains and Mount Abu in the hills remained the coldest areas in the state, recording a minimum temperature of -2.2 and 0 degrees Celsius respectively, the Met said on Sunday. In Churu, where the minimum temperature was 2.2 degrees below freezing point, normal life was badly affected.

JAIPUR: Workers and villagers went on the rampage on Friday at Hindustan Zinc Limited's Dariba plant in Rajsamand after two of their colleagues died of severe burns and suffocation following leak of carbon monoxide from a boiler.

At least nine other workers were injured in the incident. They are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Udaipur. Angry labourers and villagers set ablaze parts of the administrative block on the plant's premises, a police van and two private vehicles besides hurling stones at the police force and the company's staffers. Some policemen also sustained minor injuries.

An ambitious food fortification programme launched in Rajasthan this past September benefiting school children through the mid-day meals scheme will be expanded this year to cover about 10 lakh children. The centralised kitchens are supplying fortified soya dal analogue containing additional micronutrients under the project.

The State Government is implementing the project in collaboration with Jaipur-based Institute of Health Management & Research (IIHMR) and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). Mid-day meals were added to the programme after its successful execution through the public distribution system for common citizens, women and children having low levels of nutrition.

The 'water ATM' can process 1,000 litres in an hour

As dawn breaks, two queues start forming at the only petrol pump in Lakshmangarh, a small town in Rajasthan’s Alwar district. One, obviously, is of people waiting to get their vehicles’ fuel tanks refilled. The other is in front of a simple metal box mounted on the petrol pump’s boundary wall. People like to call it an ATM machine. But, instead of dispensing cash, it gives them clean drinking water.

Cold wave conditions intensified across the state on Saturday, especially in the border districts. Many stations registered a dip of 4-6 degrees in both day and night temperatures.

JAIPUR: The Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation (JMRC) has decided to take up the construction work for Metro project phase I (B), while operation and maintenance of the Jaipur Metro phase - I has been g

A recent incident of alleged poaching of a Great Indian Bustard -- the State bird of Rajasthan listed in the “critically endangered” category -- near the famous Sam sand dunes in Jaisalmer district has shocked environmentalists who have blamed poor wildlife management and lack of protective measures for the crime.

Some hunters travelling in two vehicles allegedly shot dead a Great Indian Bustard in broad daylight in Sudasari area forming part of the Desert National Park on December 20 and took away the dead bird. A shepherd saw the act and complained to the forest authorities.

JAIPUR: Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday said that the new land acquisition law would ensure that state governments have little say in land acquisition process. The bill is to be tabled in the parliament which will ensure that the rights of farmers could be protected.

Ramesh, who was on a day's visit to the state to unveil the statues of martyrs, Ashok Verma and Kailash Meena at Bassi tehsil, addressed public gatherings and said the new bill will ensure the government do not force their way for land acquisition.

Jaipur: Buoyed by the success of solar water pumps in the first phase, the state government is set to roll out a number of such pumps in the next phase.

With farmers able to save electricity and fuel in as many as 14 districts, the state horticulture department will be distributing 3,000 solar water pumps across the state. “We are planning distribute the pumps by the end of the February. The department has already invited expressions of interest from solar pump set manufacturers. Around 12 manufacturers have been shortlisted to supply solar pump

killing by some villager or whether it died a natural death. The carcass had rotted away beyond recognition while it is also suspected that wild animals may have eaten away its flesh. Pug marks of hyenas and that of another tiger were found near the carcass.

“The trap cameras have failed to throw up any concrete picture of the movement of another tiger in the area. We will be changing their position for a better picture,” sources said. The mystery over the death deepened with possibilities that suggest death could be due to any of the reasons. “While there are canine marks on its neck but the marks are not definitive. Scientists of the Wildlife Institute of India suggested that the marks were such as the teeth were sunk in twice in the same area,” sources said.