Just In Current Affairs: 8 August 2017

Centre declares entire Assam as 'disturbed' area under AFSPA for another month

The Centre on 7 August 2017 declared entire Assam as a disturbed area under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) with effect from 3 August to 31 August 2017. AFSPA was declared in the state following violent activities by insurgent groups ULFA, NDFB, and others.

In addition, the Home Ministry also declared Meghalaya's border areas adjoining Assam and three districts in Arunachal Pradesh as disturbed under the AFSPA for two more months with effect from 3 August to 31 September 2017.

Coconut regains tree status in Goa as Assembly passes bill

The Goa Legislative Assembly has passed a bill which reclassifies coconut as a tree ensuring legal protection for it. The Assembly, on the last day of Monsoon session on 7 August 2017, passed the Goa, Daman and Diu, Preservation of Trees Act, 1984 to regulate felling of coconut trees.

Goa Forward Party, a partner in the Manohar Parrikar-led government, had promised to reclassify coconut as a tree.

J&K govt would spend Rs 1 lakh crore on education & road connectivity

The Jammu and Kashmir government would spend Rs 1 lakh crore on development works in the next five years, with special emphasis on education and road connectivity.

This was stated by the Public Works Minister Naeem Akhtar on 7 August 2017 while speaking at a public meeting in Ramban. He said equal emphasis would be paid on all the constituencies for the development works.