Green Revolution 2.0

A string of previously laggard states are poised to overtake Punjab and Haryana, India’s traditional grain bowl, as the new powerhouses of food production, driven largely by — surprise — state support.
While privatisation is often thought desirable for key sectors of the economy, second-generation “green revolutions” across several states demonstrate that government initiatives can still turn things around.
India had raised the annual funding for a "green revolution in eastern India" from Rs.400 crore to Rs.1,000 crore for 2012-13. The results are showing.
Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Bihar have posted over 10 million tonnes of food output for the first time, with Madhya Pradesh picking a top central award recently.
Each of these states were awarded Rs.2 crore for highest overall foodgrain output, while they were also given Rs.1 crore in the individual crop category.
With the gradual weakening of the 60s green revolution, which had transformed India into a nation that could feed itself, planners knew it was time to turn the foot-dragging eastern part into the next food bowl.
Rising consumption and flattening yields in the country's breadbasket (Punjab and Haryana) has necessitated a renewed “green revolution”, especially in newer states. Northeast, with its fertile soil and abundant rainfall, could be the country's next agricultural powerhouse, trends show.
Nagaland and Manipur achieved farm output of nearly 1 million tonne this year.
Under individual crop category for rice, Bihar outperformed even big states. In wheat, pulses and coarse cereals, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh have nearly matched Haryana’s production.
Roughly two years of work has paid off for Bihar, which has doubled its rice output from 3 million tonnes to about 6 million tonnes, while Jharkhand has trebled production from 1.1 million tonnes to 3.3 million tonnes.
Overall, the eastern states have produced 7 million more tonnes of rice, an official said.

Heavy rains in Rajasthan

The heaviest downpours in more than three decades flooded large parts of the capital of the desert state of Rajasthan , leaving eight people dead and forcing the administration to shut down schools.
At least 14 people, including eight in Jaipur, two each in Jaipur rural and Dholpur and Dausa, were killed in the rain across the state.
The downpour in Jaipur that lasted for two hours on Tuesday midnight saw 17cm rainfall, the highest in a day since July 23, 1981 when 32.6cm was recorded. Flights were disrupted early on Wednesday as Jaipur airport was flooded. The runway was cleared later in the day.
Besides the Pink City, several other places in Rajasthan witnessed heavy rains with Niwai near Tonk receiving the highest rainfall of 25cm, followed by Sapotara and Sawaimadhopur 21cm each, Udaipurwati and Lalsoth 19cm, Laxmangarh 18cm, Neem Ka Thana 16cm, Shahpura 15cm, Amer and Malsidar 14cm each, Viratnagar and Behror 13cm each.
Rail and road transport was disrupted across the state. While trains were running late, several buses were cancelled, especially the ones going to Agra as the highway was flooded. District officials were put on alert with the Met department predicting more rainfall in the coming days.
The heavy rain washed away the railings of the Man Sagar lake near the Jal Mahal in Jaipur. Several vehicles got stranded near Jal Mahal. Many low-lying areas in Jaipur were flooded and power supply was hit. At least 200 houses in and around Jaipur collapsed and more than 2,000 people were evacuated.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called up CM Ashok Gehlot, who directed senior state officials to speed up relief operations.

Of NCR expansion....

The Centre will consider inclusion of Mahendragarh, Bhiwani, Mathura and Bharatpur in the National Capital Region (NCR) following demands put forth by Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan governments to the NCR Planning Board.
In a written reply to Lok Sabha, minister of state for urban development Saugata Roy stated that these demands will be examined by a study group constituted for review and revision of regional plan-2021 for NCR. “The matter will be considered by the Board after the examination by the study group,” the minister replied.
Three MPs had asked the UD ministry whether there are any laid down norms for extension of the NCR. Roy explained that while there is no such norm, the study group on policy zone, demographic profile and settlement pattern constituted by NCRPB had recommended not to extend the region at least upto 2021. The group had reasoned that the existing NCR “has not developed as envisaged and any extension will amount to spreading of scarce financial resources thinly.”
However, after fresh requests came from three constituent states of NCR, the Board has asked them to submit their views and comments. Roy mentioned that the study group had recommended NCR boundary should coincide with the district boundary of Alwar. NCRPB officials said this recommendation was accepted by the Board and entire 7,829 sq km of Alwar was included in the region. Earlier only 4,493 km of Alwar was part of NCR.
States have been lobbying for inclusion of more areas in the NCR since they can get additional funds from the Board for development activities.