The Rajasthan Government will shortly launch a pilot project under the Rajiv Awas Yojana at a cost of Rs.400 crore for providing housing facility to about 12,000 people living in Sanjay Nagar slum colony here. The project forms part of the drive for providing better infrastructure and amenities to the urban poor.

State Principal Urban Development Secretary G. S. Sandhu said at a consultation on urban poverty here that the pilot project would pave the way for full-fledged implementation of the Union Government's ambitious housing scheme. The State Government intends to give land title to slum dwellers and would bring an Act for this purpose, said Mr. Sandhu.

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Trees (Plantation and Protection) Bill 2010, framed to check shrinking green cover and to increase plantation in the state, is yet to be presented before the cabinet due to government's lackadaisical approach.

The bill, forwarded by advocate general's office, is moving at snail's pace in various departments despite several reminders. Sources in the AG's office said a covering letter along with a copy of the bill was forwarded to the local self-governance department on October 18, 2010. As the bill was not processed even after a year, a reminder was sent in November 2011 and then again in December 2011.

JAIPUR/ALWAR: After being pulled up by the Rajasthan High Court for failing to curb illegal mining, the Alwar police kicked off a campaign against the menace in Tapukada and Behror area late on Wednesday night. The authorities seized a large number of mining equipment and cordoned off a huge area where the illegal activities are being carried out.

Hindustan Zinc has decided to plant one lakh saplings at its sites in Rajasthan to mark World Environment Day. Its zinc-producing mine at Rampura Agucha in Bhilwara district has started plantation of 70,000 saplings as part of the ambitious drive.

Inaugurating the drive on Tuesday, Bhilwara Collector Onkar Singh said the district administration would make available wasteland to Hindustan Zinc to include it in its plantation drive. “This unique initiative will surely become a benchmark for other corporate groups to follow.”

The country’s largest two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp (HMCL) on Monday announced that the company will invest Rs 800 crore in Rajasthan for projects spanning across verticals like manufacturing, research and development (R&D) and a global sourcing hub.

“We will be setting up our fourth plant at Neemrana in Rajasthan. The company will invest Rs 400 crore for the plant, which will have an installed capacity of 7.5 lakh units per annum.

JAIPUR: The medical, health and family welfare department managed to achieve only 85.09% of target set for full immunization of infants against various diseases in the financial year 2011-12.

The latest figures released by the health department shows that nine districts have failed to touch even 80% of the set target.It shows that there are nearly 15% of children left out from fully being vaccinated against various diseases. The vaccination targets were fixed on the basis of birth rate of the district.

JAIPUR: The state government will send a proposal to the Centre to formulate a policy on "possible" health hazards due to mobile towers without affecting mobile coverage, principal secretary, urban development and housing (UDH) GS Sandhu said on Saturday.

Sandhu was addressing a gathering of telecom experts, telecommunication officials, doctors and NGO activists during a seminar on 'Ensuring Public health & Safety in the Mobile Industry' organized by ASSOCHAM (The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry) at Officers Training School.

JAIPUR: Just five days after a labourer was killed and several others had a narrow escape in Harmara area, villagers alleged that unsafe mining practices have resumed in over 50 licensed stone mine

Mandatory To Get Permission For Land Use Before Conversion

Jaipur: The urban development and housing department has framed rules for Section 90A of the Land Revenue Act, 1956, paving way for conversion of agriculture land to non-agriculture. Shifting from the earlier practice of seeking permission separately for land conversion and land use, the rules under Section 90A binds applicant to obtain a prior permission for land use before applying for the land conversion.

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan High Court has proposed to constitute a committee to ascertain the veracity of allegations that the radiation emission from mobile phone towers are beyond the permissible limits and as to whether they are harmful or not.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Mahesh Bhagwati asked counsel for petitioner as also the state government and advocates appearing for respective telecom companies to assist the court by suggesting names of eminent scientists, experts and other persons who could be part of the committee.