On 9th October 2024, the Union Cabinet chaired by Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India, has approved the following proposals for,
i.Development of National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) in Lothal, Gujarat.
ii.Road construction in border areas of Rajasthan and Punjab with Rs 4,406 crore.
iii.Continuation of Supply of free Fortified Rice under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and other welfare schemes.
Cabinet approves Development of NMHC in Lothal, Gujarat
i.The Union Cabinet has approved the development of the world-class National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) by Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) at Lothal, Gujarat, to be executed in two phases.
- The project aims to highlight India’s 4,500-year-old maritime heritage which will benefit local communities, tourists, researchers, and cultural organizations.
ii.With the foundation stone laid in March 2019, the NMHC is envisioned to be one of the largest maritime complexes in the world.
iii.Its phase 1A is already in progress, with over 60% completion and is set for completion by 2025, while in-principle approval has been granted for Phases 1B and 2 raising funds through voluntary resources or contributions.
iv.A dedicated society will be established to oversee the development of future phases. It will be governed by a Governing Council headed by MoPSW, under Societies Registration Act, 1860 for implementation, development, management, and operation of NMHC.
Points to Note:
i.Implementation Authority: MoPSW has designated the Indian Ports Association (IPA) as the nodal agency to oversee the overall implementation of the NMHC, with the Indian Port Rail Corporation Ltd (IPRCL) as the executing agency.
ii.Master Plan: It is designed by M/s Architect Hafeez Contractor; Phase 1A construction assigned to Tata Projects Ltd.
iii.Land Allocation: The Government of Gujarat has allocated 400 acres for the project and will enhance external infrastructure, and some basic internal infrastructure.
iv.Job Creation: It is expected to create 22,000 jobs, including 15,000 direct and 7,000 indirect employment opportunities.
Phases of Development:
i.Phase 1A: It includes an NMHC museum featuring six galleries. It also includes an Indian Navy (IN) & Indian Coast Guard (ICG) gallery envisaged to be one of the largest in the country with external naval artefacts (INS Nishank, Sea Harrier war aircraft, UH3 helicopter etc.).
- Estimated cost: Rs 1,238.05 crore, including contributions of Rs 209 crore from Major Ports, Rs 178.9 crore from the Ministry of Defence/MoD (IN), and Rs 15 crore from the Ministry of Culture (MoC).
ii.Phase 1B: It is planned to include eight additional galleries, a lighthouse museum (world’s tallest), and a Bagicha complex.
- The cost of Light House Museum is Rs 266.11 crore, funded by Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL).
iii.Phase 2: It will feature Coastal States Pavilions (developed by respective coastal states and Union Territories/UTs), a maritime-themed eco resort, a recreation of ancient Lothal, a maritime institute, and four theme parks viz. Maritime & Naval Theme Park, Climate Change Theme Park, Monuments Park and Adventure & Amusement Park.
- It should be noted that Phases 1A and 1B of the project are to be developed in Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) mode, while Phase 2 of project will be developed through land subleasing/ Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
Cabinet approves Road Construction in Border Areas of Rajasthan & Punjab
The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of 2,280 km of roads in Rajasthan and Punjab, with an investment of Rs 4,406 crore. This initiative aims to enhance infrastructure in border areas, improve rural livelihoods, and boost connectivity with the National Highway (NH) network.
It will also facilitate better access to essential services like water, healthcare, and education in these areas .
Cabinet approves Continuation of Supply of free Fortified Rice under PMGKAY and Other Welfare Schemes
The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the universal supply of Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK) under various Central Government schemes, including Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), from July 2024 to December 2028, at a cost of Rs 17,082 crore.
Key Points:
i.This initiative, aimed at ensuring nutritional security, will be fully funded by the Central Government and provide free fortified rice through programs like Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Other Welfare Schemes, Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS), PM POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) in all States and Union Territories (UTs).
ii.The phased implementation, initiated in April 2022, successfully achieved universal coverage by March 2024.
iii.FRK enriched with essential micronutrients (Iron, Folic Acid, Vitamin B 12) are added to regular rice (Custom Milled Rice) as per FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority) standards.
CCS Approved two high-profile deals for 31 MQ-9B HALE UAV
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved deals for the purchase of 31 MQ-9B High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) from General Atomics of the United States of America (USA), and indigenous construction of two Nuclear Attack Submarines (SSN).
Key Points:
i.31 MQ-9B HALE UAVs are for the three services viz, Indian Army (IA), Indian Navy (IN), and Indian Air Force (IAF).
ii.As part of the deal, General Atomics to establish a Global Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India.
Recent Related News:
i.The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved 8 National High-Speed Road Corridor projects with a length of 936 kilometers (km) for Rs. 50,655 crore across India.
ii.The Union Cabinet has approved the modification of the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana, extending its implementation timeline by 5 years, till 2028-29.
About Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL):
Director General– N. Muruganandam
Parent Ministry– Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW)
Headquarters– Noida, Uttar Pradesh (UP)
