CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS
National Anti-Terrorism Day
- May 21marks the death anniversary of former PM Rajiv Gandhi. The day is also observed as Anti-Terrorism Day. Rajiv Gandhi was the sixth PM of India after his mother Indira Gandhi’s assassination in 1984.
- Anti-Terrorism Day is observed annually to spread the message of peace and humanity and to promote unity among people.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL
Coir geo-textiles to be used in rural road construction under PMGSY-III
- The government stated Coir geo-textiles will be used in the construction of rural roads under the third phase of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-III).
- Coir geo-textiles are permeable fabric, which are natural, strong, highly durable, resistant to rots, moulds and moisture, and free from any microbial attack.
- They will be used for construction of rural roads under the PMGSY-III, according to a communication from the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency under Union Ministry of Rural Development.
- As per the PMGSY new technology guidelines for road construction, 15 per cent length of roads in each batch of proposals is to be constructed using new technologies. Out of this 5 per cent roads are to be constructed using Indian Roads Congress (IRC) accredited technology.
- As per these instructions, 5 per cent length of the rural roads under PMGSY-III will be constructed using coir geo-textiles.
- Accordingly, 164 km of road will be constructed using coir geo-textiles in Andhra Pradesh, 151 km in Gujarat, 71 km in Kerala, 328 km in Maharashtra, 470 km in Odisha, 369 km in Tamil Nadu and 121 km in Telengana.
- Thus, 1,674 km road will be constructed using coir geo-textiles in seven states for which there will be a requirement of one crore sq mtr of coir geo-textiles, estimated cost of which would come to Rs 70 crore.
