Atal Tunnel work, operation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (“RPA”), Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras
1. Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras accepting orders on WhatsApp and e-mail
- Amid lockdown many Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras(PMBJK) under the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers are accepting the orders for medicines on WhatsApp and e-mail, where on the basis of uploaded prescriptions medicines are delivered at the doorsteps of the patients.
- It is heartening to note that many PMBJKs are using modern communication tools including social media plataforms like Whatsapp to provide better services in effecting faster delivery of essential medicines to the needy.
- PMBJKs are working under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana ( PMBJP).
- At present threre are over 6300 PMBJKs functioning in 726 districts of the country ensuring supply of quality medicines at affordable prices.
- These medicine are cheaper by about 50% to 90% on an average.
- In April 2020 around 52,crore Rupees worth of medicine have been supplied throught the country.
- In addition, supply arrangements with India Post has also been made for supply to remotely located stores.
2. Government entities- operation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft ("RPA")
- Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have launched the GARUD portal (https://garud.civilaviation.gov.in) for providing fast track conditional exemptions to government agencies for COVID-19 related RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System)/ drone operations.
- GARUD is an acronym for ‘Government Authorisation for Relief Using Drones’.
- The rules and regulations related to operation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (“RPA”) are covered under Rule 15A of Aircraft Rules, 1937 and Civil Aviation Requirements (“CAR”) Section 3 Series X Part I dated 27.8.2018 issued by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
3. BRO perseveres with Atal Tunnel work through the lockdown, to complete it by September 2020
- Proactive measures are being taken by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to complete the work on strategic Atal Tunnel in the Pir Panjal ranges of Himachal Pradesh, which is at the crucial stage of construction.
- Road surface works, installation of electro-mechanic fittings including lighting, ventilation and intelligent traffic control systems are being executed. One steel super structure bridge of 100 meter length across river Chandra on the North Portal of the tunnel is also under construction.
- The work was halted for 10 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.
- Works in Atal Tunnel are being executed with all necessary COVID-19 precautions in place to ensure its completion in September 2020 as planned.
- Atal Tunnel is being constructed since Manali-Sarchu-Leh road remains closed for six months every year due to Rohtang Pass being completely snow bound between November and May.
- The tunnel will connect Manali to Lahaul Valley throughout the year and will reduce the road length of Manali-Rohtang Pass Sarchu-Leh road by 46 kilometres.
- Besides connecting the people of Lahual to rest of India through the year the tunnel will aid the forward connectivity offering the security forces a major strategic advantage.
