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Places in News 2013

Mukundra Hills: Rajasthan's third tiger reserve

Jaipur: After Ranthambore and Sariska, Rajasthan will now boast of yet another tiger reserve. The state government has declared the Mukundra Hills a reserve for the conservation of the majestic cats, officials said Thursday.

The reserve area is spread over 759 square kilometres in four districts - Kota, Bundi, Chittorgarh and Jhalawar. About 417 square kilometres have been defined as the core tiger habitat, while an area of 342.82 has been notified as the buffer zone.

Mukundra Hills is connected with the Ranthambore National Park, located in the state's Sawai Madhopur district. In the two existing reserves in the state, Ranthambore has 50 majestic cats including 24 cubs, while Alwar's Sariska is home to nine tigers.

High Level Working Group Presented Report on Western Ghats to MoEF

The 10-member High Level Working Group (HLWG) headed by K Kasturirangan presented report on Western Ghats to Ministry of Environment and Forests on 17 April 2013.

The Working Group makes a range of recommendations to incentivize green growth in the Western Ghats. These include managing forests and improving their productivity to ensure inclusive growth and economic benefits for local communities; integrating forest accounts into state and national economic assessments; initiating an ecosystem service fund to help villages around the forests; promoting sustainable agriculture and; encouraging ecotourism for local benefits.

As part of the governance of ecologically sensitive areas, the Working Group has proposed to set up a Decision Support and Monitoring Centre for Geospatial Analysis and Policy Support in the Western Ghats, which will monitor changes and advise state government on policy reform. But it has made it clear that all these reports must be in the public domain. It has also recommended that the high-resolution map, which demarcates ecologically sensitive areas, down to each village settlement, must be put in the public domain so that people can be involved in taking decisions about environment, which is first and foremost their concern.

Daring robbery in Chandigarh Jewellery Showroom

Unidentified persons looted a Tanishq showroom on the wee hours of the morning on 12/1/2011. The burglars around ten to fifteen in number came in dressed as cops and tied the hands of the two security guards stationed outside the showroom. They then barged into the shop and started removing all the jewellery from the shelves. Within an hour and a half they wiped the shop clean to the tune of 15 crores. The Panchkula and Haryana police are looking at the possible involvement of the Badri gang. Rajesh Badri its ringleader is the most wanted criminal of the Haryana Police. The police have now released the CCTV footage of the showroom where you can see the burglars looting the shop.

Allahabad High Court Nullified the District Status of Amethi

Amethi, Uttar Pradesh: The Allahabad high court on 15 April 2013 nullified the district status of Chatrapati Sahuji Maharaj Nagar, which at present is called Amethi. While nullifying the district status of Amethi, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court described it as illegal.

It is important to note that Amethi is Congress Vice- President, Rahul Gandhi's constituency. In 2010, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati had carved this district by taking out Tiloi and Salon regions from Rae Bareli and also adding Amethi, Musafirkhana and Gauriganj tehsils. The district was renamed as Amethi after the Samajwadi Party came into power.

President dedicated Siddheshwar Dham Temple to the Nation

President Pranab Mukherjee on 16 April 2013 dedicated Siddheshwar Dham Temple to the Nation at Solophok in south Sikkim. The temple is built by the state government in form of replica of all four religious pilgrims in India to promote religious tourism.

It is situated amidst the breadth taking surroundings of Solophok Hill, 5 km from Namchi, befitting the mythological setting behind the establishment of the original Dhaam.

It has a 108 ft tall statue of Shiv, replicas of 12 Jyotirling, models of sacred Chaar Dhaam Hindu Temples of Jagannaath, Badreenath, Dwaarakaa and Raameshwaram and a 18-feet statue of Kiraateshwar - the hunter incarnation of Shiv.

It has been created over 29.9 hectares at a cost of Rs 56.51 crore. The giant statue of Lord Shiv in sitting posture has been erected at the highest point of the hilltop. The temple implements this unique concept of bringing all four Dhams under one roof in Sikkim.

Ahmedabad became the first City in South Asia to launch Heat Action Plan

President Pranab Mukherjee on 16 April 2013 dedicated Siddheshwar Dham Temple to the Nation at Solophok in south Sikkim. The temple is built by the state government in form of replica of all four religious pilgrims in India to promote religious tourism.

It is situated amidst the breadth taking surroundings of Solophok Hill, 5 km from Namchi, befitting the mythological setting behind the establishment of the original Dhaam.

It has a 108 ft tall statue of Shiv, replicas of 12 Jyotirling, models of sacred Chaar Dhaam Hindu Temples of Jagannaath, Badreenath, Dwaarakaa and Raameshwaram and a 18-feet statue of Kiraateshwar - the hunter incarnation of Shiv. It has been created over 29.9 hectares at a cost of Rs 56.51 crore. The giant statue of Lord Shiv in sitting posture has been erected at the highest point of the hilltop. The temple implements this unique concept of bringing all four Dhams under one roof in Sikkim.