Maharashtra
First in India, ‘Maharashtra Gene Bank’ project approved by State Cabinet
With an aim to document native natural resources and conserve them with the help of the local community that will ensure not just biodiversity conservation but also inclusion of traditional knowledge, the Maharashtra Cabinet on Thursday approved the ‘Maharashtra Gene Bank’, a first-of-its-kind project in India.
While clearing the proposal for the Maharashtra Gene Bank, the Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray considered that the recommendations of the two-volume report of the pilot project by the same name, if implemented properly, would help in better conservation of the state’s rich biodiversity that will also ensure availability of natural resources for the future generation.
The Cabinet’s decision would guarantee the permanent continuation of the project that was run as pilot by Maharashtra government’s Rajiv Gandhi Science & Technology Commission across 27 districts. It would now be run by the State Biodiversity Board to sustain and continue the work.
“The Chief Minister understood and supported that biodiversity conservation cannot be a time-bound project. It is essential for survival, especially in these times of changing climatic conditions. Now, it will be a permanent institutionalised system cutting across 10-12 departments,” member secretary, Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board (MSBB), Praveen Srivastava, told IANS.
The Maharashtra Gene Bank is unique because it has tried to authenticate traditional knowledge by scientific institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, and the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa, Srivastava said, adding that CSIR institutions, several agricultural universities in Maharashtra and 25-odd NGOs too were part of the pilot project.
The government also sanctioned Rs 172.39 crore for implementing the action plan for the next five years. Earlier, the Maharashtra government budget had created a separate account head for the same, which will benefit the local communities using traditional and scientific knowledge for sustainable development.
Marine biodiversity; local crop/seed varieties; indigenous cattle breeds; freshwater biodiversity; grassland, scrubland and animal grazing land biodiversity; conservation and management plans for areas under forest right, and rejuvenation of forest areas are the seven main themes identified for the Gene Bank work.
Ecologist and former Secretary in the government of India, Madhav Gadgil, had conceptualised the project that aims to bring the members of the grass-roots community and the scientific community together.
Mumbai: Anti-Narcotics Cell ANC claims to have seized drugs worth Rs 1.45 crore in various operations in Mumbai city. In four operations in Worli, Wadi Bunder, Wadala areas, ANC has seized 541 grams of MD, while 203 grams of MD has been seized from the possession of two accused and a case has been registered against them in Bandra unit under the NDPS Act.
During a patrol in Worli, Mumbai, 86 grams of MD was found from a suspect who was arrested. Ghatkopar unit has recovered 75 grams of MD while conducting an operation in Wadi Bunder and has arrested the accused. Similarly, Kandivali unit has seized 78 grams of drugs while conducting an operation in Wadala and has arrested him. Ghatkopar Mankhord has seized 840 bottles of codeine syrup during an operation on codeine syrup.
Mumbai: Mumbai Police’s Tilak Nagar police have claimed to have arrested three thieves and chain snatchers. The complainant said that on April 12, during a morning walk, three unknown thieves snatched a chain and fled. Tilak Nagar police had formed four teams in this case and conducted a search operation at various places in this case and arrested three accused Mohammad Jalil Khan, Sameer Mohammad Ansar Ahmed Sheikh and Mohammad Naseeb. A gold chain worth Rs 40,000 and a car worth Rs 3.40 lakh have also been seized from their possession. Cases of theft including chain snatching have been registered against these accused in the limits of Wadala TT police station. Further investigation is underway in this case after the arrest.
Mumbai: Film actor Salman Khan has once again received a death threat. Salman Khan is being targeted by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and the Lawrence gang has also threatened to kill Salman, after which Salman Khan is continuously receiving death threats on social media. The Mumbai Traffic Control Room received a WhatsApp message in which Salman Khan has been threatened to enter his house and kill him and blow up his car with a bomb. After receiving this threatening message, the Worli Police has registered a case of threat against an unknown person on the complaint of the Traffic Police.
Mumbai Police is now investigating whether the person who threatened Salman Khan belongs to a gang or if this threat was made by someone mischievously. The police are also on alert after the threatening message. Tight security arrangements have been made near Salman Khan’s house, along with which Salman Khan also has V-Plus security. In such a situation, the police have also taken this threat seriously.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Panchalkar has also ordered the police to be alert regarding threatening phone calls, WhatsApp or threatening messages on social media. The Mumbai Police and the Crime Branch are also investigating this matter. Salman Khan’s life is in danger, so the police do not want to take any kind of negligence and the police have also started an investigation in this matter. Salman Khan has received death threats several times before. The police have also arrested three people in this case.
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