National
Four important Projects at Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla
⇒ The President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu, laid the foundation stone of four important Projects worth more than Rs 280 crore of Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla at Gujarat.
These Projects will enhance Port Infrastructure along with boosting its Logistics performance as well as the overall Economic Growth for its entire hinterland. These projects will also improve the cargo handling capacity of the port along with further improvement in the turnaround time of the Ships and faster evacuation of the cargo.
Four Projects:
- The project of Construction of New Dome Shaped Godowns inside Cargo Jetty Area with Project Cost of Rs 69.51 crore will have extended working height, resulting in more cargo handling; Further suitable for unloading the bulk cargo through hydraulic system by Trucks/Transport vehicles of fifth generation.
- The Upgradation of Plots & Storm Water Drains in 66 Hectare Area inside Cargo Jetty Area with Project Cost of Rs 80 crore will upgrade the Plots/ Storage Area including utility services like Concrete Roads, Storm Water Drains network, pipe conduit for electrical cables, Paving and labour amenity, facilities like drinking water, toilets, and rest-shelters for workers.
- The Upgradation of Plots, Roads and Storm Water Drains in another 40 Hectare Area inside Cargo Jetty Area with Project Cost of Rs 47 Crore will increase the handling & storage capacity inside Custom Bonded Area and help in boosting Import/Export of Dry Cargo with capacity of 8.8 lakhs MT.
- The project of Upgradation of Tuna Road from Two Lane to Four Lane with Project Cost of Rs 87.32 Crore will result into faster Cargo evacuation, looking to the increase in Traffic handling at Port and accommodate future Port Traffic seamlessly.
- It will provide much desired connectivity to the Port from the National Highway and provide a face–lift to the approach roads to the Port in line with Gati Shakti. The project will also benefit the proposed Jetties to be developed by the DPA on PPP.
Formal Induction of Light Combat Helicopter
⇒ Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh presided over the formal induction of Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), into the Indian Air Force in Jodhpur on 03 October 2022.
- Raksha Mantri named the LCH as “Prachanda”.
Key Points:
- The LCH is the first indigenous Multi-Role Combat Helicopter designed and manufactured by HAL.
- It has potent ground attack and aerial combat capability.
- Inducted in IAF’s newly raised No. 143 Helicopter Unit, it is a testimony to India’s growing prowess in indigenous design, development & manufacturing and a significant milestone in the path towards ‘Atmanirbharta’ in Defence.
- The helicopter possesses modern stealth characteristics, robust armour protection and formidable night attack capability.
- Onboard advanced navigation system, guns tailored for close combat and potent air to air missiles make the LCH especially suited for the modern battlefield.
- Capable of operating from high altitude terrain and carrying out precision strike at high altitude targets, the helicopter is a formidable addition to IAF’s arsenal.
Photography exhibition, titled “Cities of Tomorrow”
⇒ The National Institute of Urban Affairs under the CITIIS program organized a photography exhibition, titled “Cities of Tomorrow” with the purpose of depicting the positive impacts of sustainable and innovation-driven urban development in India as seen through the lens of the common citizen.
The exhibition was the culmination of the “Cities of Tomorrow” photography competition, which was conducted in the 12 Smart Cities where the CITIIS projects are located.
About Competition:
- Entries for the competition had been invited from these cities, namely, Agartala, Amaravati, Amritsar, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Dehradun, Hubballi-Dharwad, Kochi, Puducherry, Surat, Ujjain, and Visakhapatnam.
- Participants of the “Cities of Tomorrow” competition were required to interpret and take photographs based on themes corresponding to the focus areas of CITIIS, i.e., Sustainable Mobility, Public Open Spaces, E-Governance and ICT, and Social and Organisational Innovation in Low-Income Settlements.
- Over 400 entries were received and the winners were selected by a jury comprising renowned photographers Mr Raghu Rai, Ms Ketaki Sheth, and Mr Sounak Banerjee.
- The winning photographs, as well as a curated selection of other outstanding entries were displayed at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi from 3rd October to 6th October, 2022.
About CITIIS:
- CITIIS (Cities Investment to Innovate, Integrate & Sustain) is a joint program of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the French Development Agency (AFD), the European Union (EU), and National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).
- The program is assisting 12 cities across India – selected through a competitive process – to develop and implement innovative and sustainable urban infrastructure projects.
Important Day
World Habitat Day 2022
⇒ The United Nations designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of our habitats, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter.
- The World Habitat Day 2022 was observed on October 3, 2022.
» The Day is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns.
Theme:
In 2022, World Habitat Day (WHD 2022) under the theme “Mind the Gap. Leave No One and Place Behind” looks at the problem of growing inequality and challenges in cities and human settlements.
- World Habitat Day 2022 seeks to draw attention to the growing inequalities and vulnerabilities that have been exacerbated by the triple ‘C’ crises — COVID-19, climate and conflict.
History:
- In 1985 the United Nations designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day.
- The idea is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of all to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.
- World Habitat Day was first celebrated in 1986 with the theme “Shelter is My Right”. Nairobi was the host city for the observance that year.