State Govt sets up panel to recommend Miyawaki style afforestation in Jawhar
Committee will suggest steps for development of tourism and tribal population
Jawhar, which is situated in the ranges of the Western Ghats known for its picturesque setting and vibrant cultural heritage in Palghar district, will now have man-made afforestation on the lines of Zarbagda village in Purulia district of West Bengal. The objective is to develop the Miyawaki method of afforestation/planting trees which involves planting a number of different types of trees close together in a small pit.
The Maharashtra Government has established a nine-member committee for the manmade afforestation on hills and mountains. The state government on Wednesday issued a notification on the formation of a committee that is expected to submit a report in 15 days.
The formation of a committee was done days after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray visited the Palghar district.
The government hopes the afforestation will help increase the underground water table, attract tourists because of surroundings, and create jobs, especially for the tribal population. The state government hopes the afforestation will further increase the greenery and attract tourists in Jawhar which is a small hill station with abundant natural beauty and several manmade marvels.
The committee will suggest steps for the development of tourism considering the customs and traditions of the tribal population, create land banks, and provide a timeline to carry out tree plantation before the commencement of monsoon. The government expects after the committee’s recommendation the administration will start water conservation works before the onset of the monsoon. Further, the committee will make recommendations to improve health infrastructure in Jawhar.
After recording low turnout of beneficiaries since past few weeks, nearly 95 percent of the expected beneficiaries got inoculated on Friday, including 393 beneficiaries, who got the second dose of the vaccine.
According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) data, as many as 8,785 beneficiaries (3,000 healthcare workers or HCWs and 5,775 frontline workers or FLWs) were expected to get inoculated on Wednesday, of which 8,440 beneficiaries turned out (1,767 HCWs and 6633 FLWs).
Total 6,633 FLWs turned up for the jab, surpassing the expected footfall and recording a 115 percent surplus record on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, for the first time ever, more FLWs were vaccinated than HCWs.
Civic officials stated that the increase in turnout because the software has started to perform in an improved manner. "There is also prevailing fear amongst workers as the cases have started go rise, which is why the turnout has risen," said a senior civic official.
Additional municipal commissioner Suresh Kakani said healthcare workers should visit vaccination centres only after receiving text messages or calls from the local ward office.
Experts said the first dose of the vaccine helps recognise the virus and ramp up the immune system which helps the body fight against diseases. The second dose is called the booster shot, which helps in further boosting the immune system. “In the public health set-up, one needs to follow the rules and if our national immunisation guidelines say the second dose must be taken on completion of four weeks, we should abide by it,” said an expert.
Two months after the Bombay High Court resumed physical hearings for majority of cases, one of the judges issued a notice on Wednesday complaining of overcrowding in the court and directed everyone to strictly adhere to COVID-19 safety norms.
Justice Gautam Patel issued the notice that was published on the high court's website stating that he had noticed overcrowding in his courtroom, and pointed out that people were not adhering to safety norms.
Only those who had cases listed in his courtroom should enter and they must "strictly adhere" to safety norms, Justice Patel said in the notice. The judge further stated that if safety norms are not followed, his court will have to suspend physical hearings and revert to virtual proceedings.
"If these minimal precautionary measures are not observed, the court will immediately suspend all physical hearings and revert to online hearings in all matters," the notice reads.