• 11 Jun 2025

New Water Harvesting Model in Rajasthan

Why in News? 

In Rajasthan’s arid landscape, a new water conservation model in Kukas village, Jaipur, using 50 climate-resilient farm ponds, aims to benefit farmers by conserving 10 crore litres of rainwater.

Note: Vipra Goyal, an IIT Kharagpur alumnus and former NITI Aayog official, is leading the initiative and has conducted awareness campaigns in Dausa through local sabhas and rallies.

Key Points 

• About the Rainwater Harvesting Model: 
  • The Kukas village panchayat in Jaipur’s Amber block is the second location in Rajasthan chosen for this rainwater harvesting initiative. 
    • The project follows the success in Dausa district, where 250 farm ponds helped farmers grow perennial crops in rainfed lands. 
  • The initiative involves building 10-foot-deep, plastic-lined ponds on 5% of each farmer’s land, with secure fencing. 
• Future Plans & Impact: 
  • The initiative, which has already seen the installation of 50 ponds, plans to expand with an additional 25 ponds. This expansion is expected to benefit around 50,000 villagers in the region over the long term. 
• Significance:  
  • Sustainability and Crop Diversification: The initiative focuses on providing year-round water supply, allowing farmers to grow both rabi and kharif crops while diversifying into more water-efficient and profitable crops like groundnuts and chaula (cowpeas). 
  • Groundwater Recharge: The ponds are designed not only to provide irrigation but also to help recharge the groundwater, an essential resource in areas like Amber block, which lacks river or canal networks. 
  • Livelihood Enhancement: The continuous water supply facilitates sustainable livestock rearing and high-value horticulture, creating opportunities for dairy farming and food processing units in the region. 
• Groundwater Stress in Jaipur District: 
  • 99.4% of Jaipur’s cultivable land depends on groundwater for irrigation. 
  • The district extracts water at 2.22 times the rate of natural recharge, indicating severe groundwater stress. 
• Overexploitation of Groundwater in Rajasthan: 
  • In 2023, Rajasthan extracted 149% of its annual groundwater recharge—second highest in India after Punjab (156%), as per the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). 
  • For every 1 litre recharged by rainfall, 1.49 litres were extracted, leading to severe groundwater depletion. 
  • Jaisalmer: Worst-hit District 
    • Jaisalmer topped the overexploitation chart, drawing 3.56 litres of groundwater for every litre recharged, putting its ancient aquifers at serious risk. 
  • Jaipur: A Critical Groundwater Zone 
    • All 16 blocks in Jaipur district are overexploited; the district extracted 2.22 litres per litre recharged in 2023. 
    • Despite near-average rainfall, groundwater use in Jaipur rose by 7–10% in 2024, worsening depletion. 
• Groundwater Recharge and Extraction: 
  • Rajasthan’s annual groundwater recharge has been estimated at 12.58 billion cubic metres (BCM). 
  • However, the total extraction in 2023 reached 17.05 BCM, far exceeding recharge capacity. 
  • The extractable groundwater resource was assessed at 11.37 BCM, highlighting an unsustainable gap between use and availability. 

Tamhini Wildlife Sanctuary

Why in News? 

The Maharashtra Forest Department partnered with Microsoft and Pune-based CYDA (Centre for Youth Development and Activities) to address the eco-restoration project in the Tamhini Wildlife Sanctuary.

Key Points 

• About Tamhini Wildlife Sanctuary: 
  • Located 70 km from Pune, Tamhini Wildlife Sanctuary is known for its lush biodiversity and scenic landscapes. 
    • It was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in January 2013. 
  • Situated along the crest of the Western Ghats, the sanctuary features popular eco-tourism spots like Andharban forest, Plus Valley, and Devkund. 
  • It attracts a high number of visitors during the monsoon season, especially trekkers, birders, and nature lovers. 
  • Biodiversity:  
    • Mammals: Home to 28 mammal species, including the endangered Kondana Soft-furred Rat (Millardia kondana). 
    • Birds: Hosts 150 bird species, including 12 species endemic to India. 
    • Butterflies and Reptiles: Records show 72 butterfly species and 18 species of reptiles. 
    • Invertebrates and Flora: Includes 33 invertebrate species and a variety of rare and interesting plant life. 
  • Notable Species: 
    • The Indian Giant Squirrel (Shekaru), Maharashtra’s state animal, is commonly seen here. 
    • The forests support rich bird life and endemic insect populations, making it a vital habitat for biodiversity conservation. 

 

New Himalayan Bat Species Found in Uttarakhand

Why in News? 

A recent study by Indian scientists has unveiled a new-to-science bat species, the Himalayan long-tailed myotis (Myotis himalaicus), recorded in Uttarakhand.  

• It was previously identified in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 1998.

Key Points

Key Findings and Implications of the Study 

• About the Study: Indian scientists documented 29 bat species between 2017 and 2021 during surveys in the Western Himalayas region of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.  
• New Bat Species: The Himalayan long-tailed myotis, found in Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, has been formally described as a new species in the Zootaxa journal. 
  • This addition brings India’s total bat species count to 135. 
• Range Extension of Known Species: The East Asian free-tailed bat (Tadarida insignis), previously mistaken for the European species, has been confirmed in India for the first time.  
  • This species, extending its range by 2,500 km from China and Taiwan, has now been documented in the Western Himalayas. 
• Confirmation of Babu’s Pipistrelle as a Valid Species: 
  • The study reinstated Babu’s pipistrelle (Pipistrellus babu) as a valid species, separate from Javan pipistrelle (P. javanicus). 
  • Previously thought to be a synonym due to morphological similarities, Babu’s pipistrelle is now confirmed to be found in Pakistan, India, and Nepal. 
• First-Time Records in India: 
  • The study also provided the first specimen-based confirmation in India for: 
    • Savi’s pipistrelle (Hypsugo savii) 
    • Japanese greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus nippon) 
• Key Species & Conservation Significance: 
  • Key species included Blandford’s fruit bat, Japanese and Chinese horseshoe bats, Nepalese whiskered bat, Mandelli’s mouse-eared bat, Kashmir cave myotis, chocolate pipistrelle, and eastern long-winged bat. 
  • According to the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), the research will significantly advance the conservation and documentation of India’s small mammal diversity, especially in the ecologically sensitive Himalayan region. 

Zoological Survey of India 

• ZSI is also a subordinate organization of the MoEFCC and was established in 1916 as a national center for the faunistic survey and exploration of the resources leading to the advancement of knowledge on the exceptionally rich faunal diversity of the country. 
• It has its headquarters in Kolkata and 16 regional stations located in different geographic locations of the country.

Indravati National Park

Why in News? 

During ongoing anti-Naxal operations, security forces encountered Maoists in Indravati National Park, located in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh.

Key Points 

• Indravati National Park:  
  • It is situated in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh.  
  • It attained the status of a national park in 1981 and was declared a tiger reserve in 1983 under India’s Project Tiger.  
  • It is named after the Indravati River, which flows from east to west and forms the reserve's northern boundary with Maharashtra.  
  • Vegetation:  
    • Comprises three major forest types:  
      • Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest with Teak.  
      • Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest without Teak.  
      • Southern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest.  
  • Flora:  
    • Common tree species include teak, achar, karra, kullu, shisham, semal, haldu, arjun, bel, and jamun.  
  • Fauna:  
    • Hosts one of the last populations of rare wild buffalo.  
    • Other species include Nilgai, Black Buck, Sambar, Gaur, Tiger, Leopard, Chital, Sloth Bears, and more. 
• Anti-Naxal Operations:  
  • Large-scale operations like Operation Green Hunt, Operation Kagar, Operation Black Forest, etc., deploy paramilitary forces to eliminate the Naxalite presence.   
  • Increased deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and state police, along with specialized forces such as Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and Greyhounds (Andhra Pradesh), strengthens counter-insurgency efforts in the Red Corridor for long-term security. 
• Maoist Casualties: 
  • In 2025, 209 Maoists were killed in Chhattisgarh, with 192 deaths reported in Bastar region alone. 
  • In 2024, a total of 219 Maoists were killed in the state, including 217 in the Bastar region. 

 

Concerns Over Ken-Betwa Project in Panna Tiger Reserve

Why in News? 

Wildlife experts and forest officials have raised concerns that construction under the Ken-Betwa river linking project is severely impacting wildlife in Madhya Pradesh's Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR).

Key Points 

• About Panna Tiger Reserve: 
  • Panna is the 22^nd Tiger Reserve in India and the 5th in Madhya Pradesh. 
  • It lies in the Vindhyan Ranges, covering parts of Panna and Chhatarpur districts in northern Madhya Pradesh. 
  • Panna National Park was established in 1981. It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1994. 
    • The National Park consists of areas from the former Gangau Wildlife Sanctuary created in 1975. 
  • The forests in the reserve were once hunting grounds for the royal families of the former princely states of Panna, Chhatarpur, and Bijawar. 
  • Flora:  
    • Dominated by dry deciduous forests interspersed with grasslands.  
    • In the north, the reserve is surrounded by teak forests.  
    • To the east, it is bordered by Teak-Kardhai mixed forests.  
  • Fauna:  
    • The reserve is home to a significant population of tigers, sloth bears, leopards, and striped hyenas.  
    • Other notable carnivores include jackals, wolves, wild dogs, jungle cats, and the rusty spotted cat.  
    • The Vindhya Hill ranges, running from NE to SW, help connect the eastern and western populations of wildlife. 
• Ken-Betwa River Linking Project Overview and Purpose: 
  • The Prime Minister launched the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project in December 2024, aiming to channel excess water from the Ken River to Betwa. 
  • The project seeks to provide drinking water to about 6.5 million people in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. 
  • Construction and Forest Impact: 
    • In March 2025, authorities began constructing a road to the Daudhan dam site in the core Chandra Nagar range of PTR. 
    • Trees on 15 hectares of forest land were cut, triggering wildlife migration from the affected area. 
  • Wildlife Disturbance and Migration: 
    • Herbivores are moving northwards, disrupting traditional territorial zones. 
    • Monkeys and birds are fleeing the area due to the growing human presence and machinery at the project site. 
    • The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) raised concerns about forest degradation and prey scarcity in PTR 
    • An April 2025 Wildlife Institute of India (WII) report showed prey density had fallen to 6 animals/sq km — well below the ideal 30–60. 
  • Government Measures: 
    • The displaced wildlife will be relocated to newly notified areas: 
      • Ranipur Tiger Reserve (UP) 
      • Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve (MP) 
      • Dr Bhim Rao Wildlife Sanctuary (MP) 
    • Plans are underway to translocate prey species from other forests to PTR. 
    • To mitigate the environmental impacts, the government has planned compensatory afforestation and wildlife relocation measures.  
      • The expansion of the reserve by 60 square kilometers has been proposed, with land acquisition already in progress in Chhatarpur and Panna districts. 
    • The Ministry of Environment approved the project with three conditions: 
      • Expanding PTR’s boundaries. 
      • Planting 2.5 million trees as compensatory afforestation. 
      • Monitoring tiger and leopard behaviour via radio-collaring. 
    • So far, the forest department has acquired only 30% of the land earmarked for afforestation.