Sunday, 19 June 2011

Bihar News, Latest News from Bihar, News of Bihar, Biharprabha News

Bihar News, Latest News from Bihar, News of Bihar, Biharprabha News

Another first, Bihar launches Fisheries insurance policy

Posted: 19 Jun 2011 06:13 PM PDT

PATNA: Bihar on Friday became the only state in the country to launch Fisheries Insurance Policy for the fish farmers. The Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Resources minister Giriraj Singh launched the policy in the presence of officials of Oriental Insurance Company Limited.

Singh said the state government has planned to make radical changes in the agriculture-animal husbandry sector. He said that fisheries sector in Bihar must be developed as the state has vast resources of water. “At the meeting of Agriculture cabinet, CM Nitish Kumar desired to achieve a threefold increase in fish production in the state,” Singh said and added that at present the fish production is about 1,000kg per hectare.

The minister said that consumption of fish in the state is more than production. “We are producing 3 lakh kg fishes every year while the consumption is about 4.50 lakh kg.” He said the state government is planning to revive the traditional ponds and reservoirs to produce fish.

Describing the insurance policy as a unique one, he urged the officials of Oriental Insurance Company Limited to work transparently. He also handed over a cheque of Rs 5 lakh to the chief regional manager of the company on the occasion.

The minister also urged different banks to be liberal in providing loans. “The bankers are quite conservative in Bihar,” he said.

Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries secretary Sudhir Kumar said that it is for the first time in Bihar that such an insurance policy had been launched with a view to increasing the production of fishes to nine lakh tonnes by 2017.

Kumar said the premium amount had been fixed at Rs 3,200 per hectare. The state government would give an insurance subsidy of Rs 1,600 per hectare and the rest would be borne by fish farmers.

Director, Fisheries, Nishat Ahmad said that when the state government had prepared the Agriculture Roadmap, it was also decided to launch the fisheries policy. He said that though an MoU had been signed with the Oriental Insurance Company Limited on March 26, 2010, the policy was launched today.

Oriental Insurance Company Limited general manager (GM) N K Singh said that insurance cover had been given to fishes including Rohu, Katla, Mrigal, Common Karp, Silver Carp and several other recognized varieties. He said that the cover has been given for diseases, pollution, rioting, terrorists’ activities, any nefarious act by a third party, flood and natural calamities.

He said that in case of destruction of fishes due to aforesaid causes, the farmer would have to inform the nearest office of the insurance company and submit death certificate, laboratory certificate and description of the loss suffered.

Bettery powered vehicles around Mahabodhy temple soon

Posted: 19 Jun 2011 08:08 AM PDT

Patna, June 17: Plans are afoot to make the area around Mahabodhi Temple a pollution-free zone.

Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) is planning to make the area around the temple a vehicle-free zone where only battery-operated vehicles would run within a radius of one kilometre of the temple.

BSTDC had recently invited operators to run battery-operated vehicles around the Buddhist temple, which is a world heritage site.

A source in the corporation said the objective of the move is to ensure a pollution-free environment. The source said the corporation would soon ban all gas, petrol and diesel-operated vehicles within a kilometre radius of the Mahabodhi temple.

"We have marked two routes along the main road from Rajgir and Patna. All the motor vehicles would be par-ked at the stands provided at these routes. The battery-operated vehicles would start from here and take the tourists to the hotel, monastery, museum and the Mahabodhi Temple. Initially, arou-nd 15 battery-operated vehicles with a capacity to accommodate 10 to 12 passengers would run in the area," said the source.

According to the terms and conditions of the agreement between the operator and the corporation, the tariff for these vehicles would be fixed by the corporation and it would charge a fixed monthly rent of around Rs 1,000 per vehicle from the operator.

The tourism corporation, on the other hand, would provide a night stand, parking space and battery charging facilities to the operator. Besides shops and restaurants, other amenities would also be made available at various points to facilitate visitors.

Former secretary of Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee Kalicharan Singh Yadav said it was a welcome step to introduce vehicles running on battery mode instead of petrol and diesel around the Mahabodhi Mahavihara. It will protect the ancient structure from pollution.

However, Yadav said the practical aspects like convenience of the people of the area as well as the tourists will also have to be considered.

US Govt official testimonies the development of Bihar

Posted: 19 Jun 2011 06:08 AM PDT

PATNA: Bihar has changed a lot in the last half-a-decade; the CM has done incredible work. The level of corruption and crime has gone down remarkably, which is why I have come here, said Robert Orris Blake, assistant secretary, south and central, Asian affairs, US government, during his visit to Patna on Saturday.

Speaking at an interactive session ‘American corner’ here at the Indian Institute of Business Management (IIBM), Blake said, “The state’s development is being noticed all around the world as it has successfully created a niche for itself at the international level and we are here to explore areas of possible cultural interaction.” Bihar has lots of talent, and its people are hard working, he said.

Blake served as deputy chief of mission at the US mission in New Delhi from 2003-2006. Then he went to Sri Lanka to take up his duties as ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives. Since 2009, he is working in his present post.

Interacting with the students of IIBM, Blake answered various queries of the undergraduates. He spoke on various issues like trade, business, terrorism, global warming, culture, development and energy saving. He shared with the students how Indo-US relations have developed in the last decade.

Blake said, “After 9/11 we realized that these two countries share more common interests that include terrorism.” “Come together and fight against terrorism,” he appealed to all nations

Answering a question, he said, “Condition of Indian women is changing. They are now as independent as US women are.”

Speaking on trade ties between the two countries, he said, “US companies come here to help in the growth of India. But, it is not that only we give opportunities to India; we receive the same benefits too. As the second fastest developing country in the world and the third largest economy of the world, India is not just a developing country but a developing power.”

He added, “The government’s role is to provide enabling hands to their countrymen, as their growth will in turn help in the development of the nation. US has a large number of Indians who have received heights in their profession in the US. We want the same to happen in India too.”

Blake told students, “If you have education, innovation and energy, you can very easily achieve success in US.”

Husk Power Systems wins International Ashden award

Posted: 19 Jun 2011 04:05 AM PDT

PATNA: Husk Power Systems have won this year’s International Ashden award for sustainable energy. The prestigious award was given at an official ceremony in London last Thursday.

Husk Power Systems (HPS) is a rural electrification company in Bihar which generates electricity through the gasification of rice husk, an abundant agricultural waste product found throughout India’s rice belt.

The company competed with seven other finalists from Africa, India and Pakistan for a prize money of over £120,000 as Ashden continued its 10 years old tradition of stealing the spotlight on the most effective innovations in sustainable energy across the world.

In the last two years, HPS has been working with Shell Foundation to scale-up operations to bring affordable electricity to many more rural villages in Bihar.

Shell Foundation’s support has helped the fledgling company to refine its business model and apply entrepreneurial thinking to India’s huge energy deficit areas. This partnership has now resulted in the creation of over 60 gasification plants – providing over 1.5 lakh households with access to clean, reliable and affordable electricity.

HPS aim to serve more than 5,000 villages, save 750,000 tons of CO2, create 7,000 local jobs and generate savings of US$50 million in cash for 5 million people (by replacing kerosene and diesel with renewable energy) by 2014.

Gyanesh Pandey, CEO of HPS told TOI, “Winning the Ashden awards is a big achievement for Husk Power Systems. Almost a third of India’s population have no access to electricity and the role of energy is vital in catalysing the economic development in India”.

“HPS is now scaling rapidly with a goal of reaching over 2,000 plants by 2014. We have adopted a new business model to expand effectively and efficiently, and this international recognition will certainly be a source of inspiration for everyone who is – and will be – involved,” Pandey said.

Anuradha Bhavnani, regional director at Shell Foundation, said, “Over 125,000 villages in India are not connected with the electricity grid. Existing options like kerosene lanterns and diesel generators are expensive, difficult to disseminate in remote areas and negatively affect air quality, thus contributing to indoor air pollution. Our partnership with HPS is about creating a financially-viable and scalable way to provide the poorest with access to modern energy services. It is fantastic that they have won the Ashden Awards so soon.”

HPS gives electricity on ‘pay as you go’ basis to local communities with a single connection costing around Rs 100 a month.

SBI fecilitates various toppers from the state

Posted: 18 Jun 2011 10:06 PM PDT

Patna: As many as 50 passouts of DAV Public School, BSEB Colony, who cleared different competitive examinations like AIEEE, IIT, medicals and others, were felicitated by State Bank of India on the school premises today.

Soumya Swaroop, who has got into Princeton University, USA, with 100 per cent scholarship, and Prateek Nishant, who is ranked 1108 in AIPMT and 8940 in AIEEE, were among the achievers who were honoured at the event. Both Soumya and Prateek credited their grandparents and parents for their success.

Prateek, who comes from a family of doctors, took his grandfather with him when he was called for felicitation. He said: "My grandfather, Dinanath Prasad Sinha, who was an administrator of a me-dical college, is my role model. Not only is he a great leader but also highly respected amo-ng his colleagues and stude-nts. Even after 13 to 14 years of retirement, he participates in different meetings related to his profession. He is an absolutely genius. I want to be like him and earn respect the way he did," said Prateek. Apart from clearing the exams of AIPMT and AIEEE, Prateek is also ranked 11 in Bihar medical entrance exam.

Dr Sinha (73) was overwhelmed hearing his grandson's speech. "I am happy to be a role model for my grandchild. I always believed Prateek will do well in his studies. He has given his parents and me enough reasons to be happy," said Dr Sinha, adding that Prateek will join the "family profession" as both his father and mother are doctors at PMCH. "Even his grandmother was a doctor. I am happy this trend is going to be continued further," said Dr Sinha.

Soumya Swaroop credited her grandmother for her success. "Whenever I needed support, my grandmother helped me," said Soumya.

When asked how she prepared for the examination, Soumya said: "Your studies are never going to get over until the examination arrives. All you need to do is keep your cool. The time that you spend on your studies does not matter, what matters is how focussed are you on your studies," said Soumya. She added that said she has also been offered a part-time job in the university.

Dr Ramanuj Prasad, principal of the school, said: "I am really proud of our students." As many as 28 students of the school have made it to IIT, 17 to AIEEE and two students to CBSE medical examination.
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