Current Affairs - State

The Sela Tunnel, located in Arunachal Pradesh, has been acknowledged as India's highest tunnel by the International Book of Honour. This tunnel, spanning 2.598 kilometres and situated at an altitude of 13,000 feet on the Tezpur-Tawang Road, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the world's longest twin-lane tunnel on March 9.

The 'Pirul Lao-Paise Pao' campaign has been launched in Uttarakhand by the state government to combat forest fires. This campaign involves collecting dry Pirul (Pine tree leaves) from forests and incentivizing locals and youth with Rs 50 per kg for their collection efforts. The initiative aims to reduce the fire risk posed by Pirul in Pine forests and utilize them for productive purposes such as electricity generation.

Despite the Uttarakhand government’s submission to the Supreme Court that the emergency situation regarding forest fires is now over, the State Forest Department reported 40 fresh cases of fire on May 8, 2024. This contradictory situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced in controlling the raging wildfires in the region. The Indian Air Force (IAF) provided relief by undertaking Bambi Bucket operations in Uttarakhand's Pauri Garhwal sector using its Mi17 V5 helicopters.

Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board collaborated with Starscapes to launch the Nakshatra Sabha initiative, making Uttarakhand the first state in India to introduce Astro Tourism on such a scale.

Maharashtra was officially formed as a separate state on May 1st, 1960, which is celebrated annually as Maharashtra Day or Maharashtra Diwas. This date marks the division of the former Bombay Presidency into Maharashtra and Gujarat following the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, which aimed to create states based on linguistic boundaries. It holds immense cultural significance for the Marathi people, symbolizing their unity, resilience, and heritage.