JAIPUR: After mining denuding the topography ruthlessly, there is hope for the Aravalis and Vindhya ranges in the state as Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) undertakes restoration of ecological status through reforestation. The project would also increase green cover, improve water table and augment the economy of the villagers besides reducing dependence on the forests.

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on Wednesday sanctioned Rs 284.33 crore for the first phase of the greening project. The total outlay is more than Rs 900 crore which will be distributed in three phases to the forest department.

The Rajasthan Government has adopted a new wind power policy to facilitate installation of wind energy plants of 3,000 MW capacity during the next three to four years and promote private investments in the sector through a slew of incentives and concessions.

State Energy Minister Jitendra Singh said here on Thursday that the Government-owned power discoms would purchase electricity from the plants at the rates decided by the Power Tariff Regulatory Commission while the investors would be free to sell electricity to any other institution.

JAIPUR: If you have a gutkha habit, now would be a good time to stop. The Rajasthan government on Wednesday decided to ban production, storage, distribution and sale of gutkha in the state, clearing the proposal during a meeting of the council of ministers.

The ban would come into force with immediate effect once the state government issues the notification. In fact, the ban would mean a revenue loss of Rs 125 crore for the state government.

JAIPUR: Each and every maternal death in the state will be audited on a monthly basis at the district health society meetings headed by district collectors. The decision was taken to bring down the high rate of maternal deaths, which is currently 318 per 1,00,000 lakh live births.

Principal secretary, health, B N Sharma said the district health society meeting, headed by the collectors, will audit each and every maternal and infant death. Besides, each death would be reported at the medical directorate.

JAIPUR: Six new antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres will be opened this year in the state to provide free drugs to people living with HIV, as the National Aids Control Society (NACO) has approved funds for the purpose in its annual action plan 2012-13.

The new centres would come up at Bharatpur, Jhunjhunu, Barmer, Dungarpur, Nagaur and Jalore. The NACO has approved Rs 32 crore for preventing new infections, care support and treatment, institutional strengthening and strategic management information system. Last year too, NACO had approved almost an equal amount for the state.

JAIPUR: The work on the Ghat ki Guni tunnel project has hit another roadblock, this time, in the form of protests by residents on acquisition of land for widening of the road from Jawahar Nagar end to the tunnel.

The project on the Jaipur-Agra national highway has already missed its June deadline. Now, officials fear the protests could further push the August 15 deadline. Residents along with public representatives launched a strong protest on Sunday against the 200-feet road widening plan that would require the authorities to acquire land.

There appears to be considerable opposition from the local population to the Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) proposed to be set up at Rawatbhata near Kota in Rajasthan. The complex, with an envisaged capacity of 500 tonnes fuel a year, is to cater to the four PHWR (Pressurized heavy water reactors) plants of 700 MWe capacity each coming up by 2016 in Rajasthan and Gujarat. In capacity, the Rawatbhata fuel complex is to be next to only Hyderabad NFC in the country which produces 850 tonnes fuel a year.

Jaipur: The forest department has finally notified the buffer zones of Sariska Tiger Reserve and Ranthambhore National Park. The notification of buffer zones would help regulate commercialization of revenue land and create a better habitat for the big cat.

As per the notification issued under Wildlife (Protection) Act, a 298 sq km of buffer area has been added to the Ranthambore park which is spread over approximately 400 sq km. Similarly, 392 sq km buffer area has been added to the STR, which is spread over 800 sq km.

JAIPUR: The first spell of monsoon shower brought a huge relief from the blistering summer heat, but along with it came a sordid tale of woes, particularly water-logging and garbage strewn all over.

Most places saw water-logging on the roads with garbage meant to be picked up, clogging the drains as the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) disposal system in the city is in a sorry state. Trash thrown outside the bins just got washed away in the streets. It seems 51 health inspectors, 208 jemadars, 6,330 street sweepers and 1,392 temporary sweepers on the rolls of the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) have failed on their job.

JAIPUR: One out of four women in Rajasthan delivers her child at home, which is a major cause of maternal deaths. The state government has a tough job on its hands to reduce the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) from 318 per lakh live births to 150 and infant mortality rate (IMR) from 55 per 1000 live births to 25 per 1000 births by 2015.

Around 23% pregnant women continue to deliver at home even though the Central and state governments have been spending crores every year to promote institutional deliveries under various schemes including the state flagship scheme- Janani Shishu Suraksha Yojana (JSSY).