(Current Affairs) National Events | January: 2014

National Events

Amendment of Article 371(D) is needed for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh

The Union Law Ministry on 14 November 2013 told to the Group of Ministers (GoM) about the necessity of amendment of Article 371 (D) of the Constitution of India for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The Article 371D of Constitution of India writes Special provisions with respect to the State of Andhra Pradesh. Twothird majority of Parliament will be needed for the passage of the constitution Amendment Bill, which will be the biggest political inference in passage. The GoM will seek the advice of Goolam Vahanvati, the Attorney General before they proceed with the Bill. As they want to enquire that a single bill on bifurcation is sufficient or a separate bill will be required to be amendment.

Land transfer for Dr B. R. Ambedkar Memorial approved

Union Cabinet on 25 November 2013 approved a proposal to transfer Indu Mill land in Mumbai to Maharashtra government for constructing Dr B R Ambedkar memorial. The decision was taken in the meeting of the Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. It would empower the Centre to acquire certain area of the Millbelonging to National Textile Corporation Limited in Mumbai for facilitation of construction of the memorial. Over 48000 square metres of land will be acquired for the purpose. According to the cabinet note, NTCL will be paid 45.77 crore rupees for the land. In this regard, Dr. B R Ambedkar Memorial Bill, 2013 is likely to be introduced in Parliament in the winter session beginning on 5 December 2013. The legislation is aimed at empowering the Central government to acquire a portion of the land belonging to the National Textile Corporation Limited (NTCL) for facilitation of the construction of a memorial for Ambedkar. The ashes of Dr Ambedkar are interred at Chaitya Bhoomi, which is situated in the vicinity of the Indu Mill.

India declared itself free from Bird Flu

India on 12 November 2013 declared itself free from Notifiable Avian Influenza (H5N1), commonly called bird flu and notified the same to World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). India notified the outbreak of the Avian Influenza (H5N1) at poultry production unit, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Anjora, Durg and Government Poultry Farm, Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh on 05th August, 2013.

The control measures adopted in the outbreak was taken in form of stamping of the entire poultry population and it included the destruction of eggs, litters, feed and other infected materials within the radius of one kilometer around the location of the outbreak, restriction of the poultry movement, disinfection and cleaning up of the infected premises and subsequently issuing of the Post Operation Surveillance Plan (POSP). On 12 August 2013 the POSP was issued. Although India is free from the bird flu, but regular surveillance will be continued across the country especially in the vulnerable areas that is bordered by the infected countries and in areas which are visited by migratory birds.

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