JAIPUR: Despite receiving appreciation from the Central government for its flagship programme of affordable housing scheme, in ground reality, the state government is nowhere close to meeting its target.

Last week, Union ministry of housing and urban poverty alleviation recommended Rajasthan's affordable housing policy to other states to address the problems of rising number of homeless persons and slums in the country.

The Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation will shortly obtain loan worth Rs.969 crore from the Asian Development Bank for completion of work on a portion of its corridor in the Walled City here. The first phase connecting the Mansarovar residential colony with Chandpole is likely to start by July next year.

JMRC Chairman & Managing Director Nihal Chand Goyal said during an interaction with an ADB team, currently on a visit to Jaipur, that the loan would be utilised for completion of Phase 1-B between Chandpole and Badi Chaupad. Land needed for laying of rail tracks has been acquired and the displaced people have been rehabilitated, he said.

JAIPUR: In support of the telecom industry, Union minister for communication and information technology Kapil Sibal has told Rajasthan government about the negative impacts of removing cell phone towers in the state.

In his communique to the chief minister Ashok Gehlot in the last week of November, Sibal expressed his fear that compliance of high court orders could hit the critical communication requirement in the state. Sibal said communication is vital for law and order in the state.

The state government is rearing a white elephant in the name of sewerage treatment plants (STP) and the concept of water treatment to generate potable water is merely an eyewash, says a two-member

Decks have been cleared for establishment of a full-fledged world class hydrology and water management institute in Bikaner, with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot clearing a proposal for openi

Udaipur-based Hindustan Zinc has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Rajasthan Government for adopting 92 Government schools in phases in Chittorgarh and Bhilwara districts.

JAIPUR: That a state with abundant sunshine should set an example in using solar energy to meet most of its requirements is still a distant dream.

JAIPUR: Anticipating the critical situation and high probability of extinction of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB), the state forest department is ready with an action plan to revive the population o

JAISALMER: For the first time in India, groundwater surveys using heliborne transient electromagnetic technique will be tried for aquifer mapping.

JAIPUR: On World Aids Day, Rajasthan got a jolt when it was ranked sixth among states with high HIV prevalence. One out of every 200 pregnant women in the state tested positive for HIV in 2010-11.