JAIPUR: The population and size of slums and underdeveloped areas in Jaipur are swelling with increased migration of people from rural areas to urban. Presently, more than half of the city's population resides in urban areas.

But 10 years ago, as per the 2001 Census, more than half of the population lived in rural areas here. But the 2011 Census shows more people are now living in urban areas, and points that since 2001, people have been continuously moving towards urban areas for employment.

JAIPUR: In its efforts to make Rajasthan a slum-free state, the government has been able to secure funds from the Centre for construction of 6,666 concrete houses under integrated housing and slum development programme (IHSDP).

In a total project cost of Rs 211 crore, the Central government has agreed to fund Rs 103 cr for the construction of pucca houses for slum dwellers. Rest of the money will be paid by the state government and the beneficiaries. The project will be implemented at 94 slums in the state for which areas have been identified by the local self governance department.

JAIPUR: With seven of the 13 panchayats in Jaipur district being declared as notified area by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), the officials at the ground water department say it's about time the state strictly implements projects to recharge the groundwater level.

The state government should draw an integrated water resource management plan, and be strict in implementing the projects, an official said.

JAIPUR: Putting to rest the possibilities of constructing the elevated road from Pani- Pech to Collectorate Circle under Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) project, phase II, the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) has sent a revised proposal of Rs 590 crore to the Centre for the approval.

After the elevated road proposed by the state government from Collectorate Circle to Government hostel was shelved after facing strong criticism that it might cause damage to the heritage building along the route, the decision was even taken to drop the plan of constructing elevated under BRTS to send the revised plan without including elevated road was taken by the JDA.

JAIPUR: A division bench of the high court issued a showcause notice to as many as 13 mobile companies besides central and state authorities on the issue of health hazards being caused by high frequency radiations emitted by mobile towers posing serious threat to public health and safety.

The court order came on a PIL filed by a retired Judge of the Rajasthan High Court, Jusitce I S Israni and others. Counsel for Israni, Prateek Kasliwal told a division bench of Chief Justice Arun Mishra and Justice N K Jain (senior), "The mobile towers are having no fixed criterion of emission of radiations and there were nine major directions given by the inter-ministerial committee in recent past but the same are also not being followed.

A Rs 67-crore, 5 megawatt solar photovoltaic power plant has been installed at village Rawara, Taluka Phalodi, in Rajasthan.

JAIPUR: The industries in the state will now have to deposit a bank guarantee and an affidavit to Rajasthan pollution control board (RSPCB) ensuring compliance with provisions mentioned in pollution control and environment protection laws.

To ensure compliance with provisions, RSPCB has issued orders that any industry that had earlier been barred from operating due to non-compliance to Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act provisions, will have to submit a bank guarantee.

JAIPUR: Rajasthan bagged the second prize in the Comprehensive Development of Tourism category during the National Tourism Awards ceremony on Wednesday. The award was given by President Pratibha Patil at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi to Seema Bahugana, principal resident commissioner in Delhi. In the same category, Madhya Pradesh was adjudged the best state.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday said the Dewas drinking water project in Udaipur district is on the “highest priority” for the State Government and would get additional budget for construction of the State's longest water transport tunnel for the benefit of the residents of the City of Lakes.

Intervening in reply to a question in the State Assembly, Mr. Gehlot said he had visited the project site recently and was monitoring the progress of work for supply of drinking water from Mansi Wakal, Akodra and Madri dams to Udaipur. Budget for the ambitious project had already been enhanced, he added.

JAIPUR: A delegation of the European Union MP and European Commission met chief minister Ashok Gehlot here on Thursday. The delegation admired the effective implementation of the water projects worth Rs 450 crore, funded by the European Commission, in the state.

The 11-member delegation headed by Bill Newton Dunn is in Rajasthan to evaluate the progress of the ongoing projects and identify new projects. The delegation would make recommendations for special assistance in new projects here.