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Geospatial Technologies for the Water Sector in India

Why in News Recently, the Association of Geospatial Industries released a report titled “Potential of Geospatial Technologies for the Water...

22 Jul 2021 Water Resources
Water Pollution by Detergents

Why in News Water pollution caused by detergents has become a big concern in the global context. The per capita (per person) detergent...

15 Jul 2021 Water Resources
Marine Plastic: Problem, And Solution

Why in News According to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Annual Report on Implementing the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016,...

07 Jul 2021 Water Resources
Andhra Pradesh-Telangana Water Dispute

Why in News Amid escalating tensions, the Police forces were deployed at various hydel power projects in bordering districts of Andhra Pradesh and...

03 Jul 2021 Water Resources
Changing Monsoon & Agriculture

This article is based on “Make a drop count: Southwest monsoon patterns are changing” which was published in The Times of India on...

01 Jul 2021 Water Resources
Baihetan Dam: World’s Second Biggest Hydropower Dam

Why in News Recently, China has put into operation the Baihetan Dam, world’s Second Biggest Hydropower Dam. The Three Gorges Dam is the...

29 Jun 2021 Water Resources
Inland Vessel Bill 2021

Why in News Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the Inland Vessels Bill, 2021, which will replace the Inland Vessels Act, 1917 after passing in...

18 Jun 2021 Water Resources
Deep Ocean Mission

Why in News Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) on the Deep Ocean...

17 Jun 2021 Water Resources
Southern Ocean

Why in News Recently, on the occasion of World Ocean Day (8th June), the National Geographic magazine has recognised the ‘Southern...

15 Jun 2021 Water Resources
Rescuing Gharials: Mahanadi River

Why in News Recently, Odisha announced a cash award of Rs. 1,000 to conserve gharials in Mahanadi River Basin. Key Points About...

11 Jun 2021 Water Resources
Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve and Vaigai River: Tamil Nadu

Why in News The recently declared Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu will provide protection to Megamalai, the Vaigai’s...

07 Jun 2021 Water Resources
Black Carbon and Glacier Melting

Why in News The report titled “Glaciers of the Himalayas: Climate Change, Black Carbon and Regional Resilience” says that the glaciers...

05 Jun 2021 Water Resources
Devika River Project: J&K

Why in News Recently, the Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region has asked for suggestions for the Devika River project in...

04 Jun 2021 Water Resources
Mekedatu Project: River Cauvery

Why in News Recently, the Karnataka government has decided to challenge before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) its decision to appoint a joint...

28 May 2021 Water Resources
Groundwater Depletion and Cropping Intensity

Why in News In a recent study, it has been found that groundwater depletion in India could reduce winter cropped acreage significantly in years...

26 Apr 2021 Water Resources
Godavari River

Why in News The Godavari water is to be released into the irrigation canals in East and West Godavari districts from the Polavaram irrigation...

05 Apr 2021 Water Resources
New Red Algal Seaweed Species

Why in News Recently, two new red algal seaweed species have been discovered along India’s coastline. India has a vast coastline of over...

30 Mar 2021 Water Resources
Cape of Good Hope

Why in News Due to the recent blockage of the Suez Canal, the option of re-routing ships via the Cape of Good Hope was explored. Key...

30 Mar 2021 Water Resources
Suez Canal

Why in News A large cargo ship named 'Ever Given' got stuck near the southern end of the Suez Canal due to a mishap caused by bad weather. This...

25 Mar 2021 Water Resources
Ken-Betwa Link Project

Why in News Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh signed a memorandum of agreement to implement the Ken Betwa Link Project (KBLP), the...

23 Mar 2021 Water Resources

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		'article_id' => (int) 8937,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Geospatial Technologies for the Water Sector in India',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Association of Geospatial Industries</strong> released a report titled <strong>&ldquo;Potential of Geospatial Technologies for the Water Sector in India''.</strong> The report mentions opportunities in the Water sector that can benefit from the use of Geospatial technologies.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As the severity of the water crisis in India increases every year, central and state government agencies are using a variety of resources to tackle the water crisis. One among them is the adoption of Geospatial technologies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Overview of Water Sector in India: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Demand-Supply Mismatch:</strong> India has about <strong>17% of the world population,</strong> but <strong>only about 4% of the world&rsquo;s freshwater reserves,</strong> and is currently facing a severe water challenge.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Further, total capacity of India&rsquo;s reservoirs stands at 250 billion cubic meters (bcm), while its total water bearing capacity over the surface is around 320 bcm.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Low Rate of Collection:</strong> India receives 3,000 billion cubic metres of water every year through rainfall or other sources such as glaciers; of this, only 8% is collected.</li>
<li><strong>Over-extraction &amp; Over-reliance on Groundwater:</strong> India fills groundwater aquifers at the rate of 458 bcm per year, while it extracts around 650 bcm of water from the earth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>89% of India&rsquo;s water resources are used for agriculture, out of which 65% is withdrawn from under the ground.</li>
<li>Thus, one of India&rsquo;s biggest challenges is to conserve groundwater.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Water Stress:</strong> As per a <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/niti-aayog-national-institution-for-transforming-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NITI Aayog</strong> </a>report, currently nearly 820 million people in 12 major river basins of India face extreme water stress.</li>
<li><strong>Qualitative Issue:</strong> Adding to the issue of lack of water availability is the issue of water quality. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Groundwater in one-third of India&rsquo;s 600 districts is <strong>contaminated mainly through fluoride and arsenic.</strong></li>
<li>Further, there has been <strong>a 136% increase in the number of grossly polluting industries</strong> between 2011- 2018, according to the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/state-of-environment-report-2021-cse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">State of India&rsquo;s Environment report</a>, 2019.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need to Conserve Water:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Given the <strong>population density </strong>and <strong>requirement of water for agriculture,</strong> India is heavily dependent on groundwater and is one of the worst hit countries as far as the water crisis is concerned.</li>
<li>Availability of clean water to all for personal, industrial, and agricultural use will not only ensure India reaches its vision of<strong> becoming a <a href="/be-mains-ready-daily-answer-writing-practice-question/papers/2019/economic-survey-2018-19-virtuous-cycle-help-indian-economy-to-become-a-usd-5-trillion-economy-by-2024-25" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USD 5 Trillion economy</a></strong> but will also enable it to achieve the <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3#:~:text=To%20bring%20sustainable%20development%20in,over%20the%20next%2015%20years." target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations Sustainable Development Goals</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About Geospatial Technologies:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Geospatial technologies is a term used to describe the range of modern tools <strong>contributing to the geographic mapping and analysis of the Earth and human societies.</strong></li>
<li>The term 'geospatial' refers not to one single technology, but a collection of technologies that help to collect, analyse, store, manage, distribute, integrate, and present geographic information.</li>
<li>Broadly speaking, it consists of the following technologies:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cartosat-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Remote Sensing</a></strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coast-india#:~:text=of%20migrant%20workers.-,Geographic%20Information%20System,understand%20spatial%20patterns%20and%20relationships." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GIS (Geographic Information System)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-visual-positioning-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System)</strong></a></li>
<li>Survey</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/formulation-of-policy-for-3d-printing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>3D modelling</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong> Geospatial technology enables better measurement, management, and maintenance of assets, monitoring of resources and even providing predictive and prescriptive analysis for forecasting and planned interventions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Geospatial Technology for Water Sector:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Geospatial and digital technologies like<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cartosat-3#:~:text=Cartosat%2D3%20is%20an%20earth,typically%20from%20aircraft%20or%20satellites." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Satellite Based Remote Sensing</strong></a>, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-visual-positioning-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GPS</strong></a> Based Equipment and Sensors, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Artificial Intelligence</strong></a>, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/big-data-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Big Data Analytics</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-must-get-on-the-iot-highway-fast#:~:text=Internet%20Of%20Things%20(IoT)%20is%20a%20computing%20concept%20that%20describes,than%20the%20object%20by%20itself." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Internet of Things</strong></a>, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-5g-the-road-ahead" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>5G</strong></a>, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/policy-watch-robotics-and-automation-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Robotics</strong></a> and <strong>Digital Twin</strong>, can be effectively used to combat the water crisis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626936050_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626936050_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="700" height="411" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Major Ongoing Water Projects in India:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recognising the water crisis in India, the government of India formed a single ministry i.e <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-shakti-mantralaya" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ministry of Jal Shakti</strong></a>. Previously, water was a subject which was dealt with by almost nine Ministries.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-jeevan-mission-urban" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/drip-phase-ii-and-phase-iii" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/namami-gange-programme#:~:text=Namami%20Gange%20Programme%20is%20an,rejuvenation%20of%20National%20River%20Ganga." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Namami Gange </strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/challenges-of-river-interlinking" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National River Linking Project (NRLP) </strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amrut-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) </strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mid-term-review-of-national-hydrology-project#:~:text=It%20was%20started%20in%202016,a%20budget%20outlay%20of%20Rs." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Hydrology Programme</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-krishi-sinchayee-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana (PMKSY)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-aquifer-mapping-and-management-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/policy-watch-national-water-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>River Basin Management</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atal-bhujal-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY) </strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/catch-the-rain-national-water-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Water Mission</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Digital Twin</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Digital Twin is a <strong>virtual replica of the physical world,</strong> its dynamics, and processes, which allow us to simulate real life situations and analyse its impact.</li>
<li>Digital twins are <strong>composed of three parts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>the physical entities in the physical world,</li>
<li>the virtual models in the virtual world, and</li>
<li>the connected data that tie the two worlds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Digital Twins not only integrate the digital representation of physical assets, like physical systems of pipes, pumps, valves, and tanks, but also include historical data sets such as weather records and realtime dynamic interactions, which allow them to be used for multiple analyses.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Long-term Geospatial Vision:</strong> In order to derive maximum benefit from geospatial technology implementation in various programmes, user departments need to build a long-term vision of the outcomes of geospatial implementation.</li>
<li><strong>Integrated Geospatial Platform:</strong> An integrated collaborative platform to connect the data and technology used by various organizations need to be developed for seamless access to information both locally and nationally and enable decision making.</li>
<li><strong>Data and System Integration:</strong> Various datasets including demography, socio-cultural, economic, and other parameters need to be integrated with spatial and non-spatial data related to water, like soil moisture, annual rainfall, rivers, aquifer, groundwater levels, water quality etc.</li>
<li><strong>Improving Water Use Efficiency:</strong> Agriculture sector is the largest user of water resources in our country. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They use 80-85% of water resources, while have only about 30-35% efficiency of water use.</li>
<li>Geospatial technologies can be used for increasing water use efficiency, so that this can be increased to at least 50%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sharing of Best Practices:</strong> A lot of good work has taken place in pockets within state governments or within programmes related to the water sector. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A lot of knowledge exists that can help stakeholders to leverage from and not reinvent the wheel.</li>
<li>A central repository of such a knowledge base, in the form of a Knowledge Portal can be created and maintained by the Ministry of Jal Shakti that includes case studies, best practices, tools, information on data sources etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1737365" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8879,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Water Pollution by Detergents',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Water<strong> pollution caused by detergents</strong> has become a big concern in the global context.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>per capita (per person) detergent consumption</strong> in<strong> India</strong> is around <strong>2.7 kilogram per year.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is around <strong>3.7 kg in the Philippines and Malaysia</strong> and <strong>10 kg in the United States of America.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Water Pollution</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Water pollution occurs when harmful substances&mdash;<strong>often chemicals or microorganisms&mdash;contaminate a stream, river, lake, ocean, aquifer, or other body of water,</strong> degrading water quality and rendering it toxic to humans or the environment.</li>
<li>Water is uniquely vulnerable to pollution. Known as a <strong>&ldquo;universal solvent,&rdquo;</strong> water is able to dissolve more substances than any other liquid on earth.</li>
<li>Some of the <strong>causes for water pollution</strong> are sewage water, industrial Wastes, agricultural sources, thermal and radiation pollution, marine pollution, invasive species, underground water pollution etc.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Point Source:</strong> When pollutants are<strong> discharged from a specific location</strong> such as a drain pipe carrying industrial effluents discharged directly into a water body it represents point source pollution.</li>
<li><strong>Non-Point Source:</strong> It includes <strong>discharge of pollutants from diffuse sources or from a larger area</strong> such as runoff from agricultural fields, grazing lands, construction sites, abandoned mines and pits, etc.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Detergents:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A detergent is a<strong> surfactant or mixture of surfactants</strong> that has cleaning properties in dilute solution with water. A detergent is similar to soap.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Surfactant,</strong> also called surface-active agent, substance such as a detergent that, <strong>when added to a liquid, reduces its surface tension,</strong> thereby increasing its spreading and wetting properties.</li>
<li><strong>Surface Tension</strong> is the property of the surface of a liquid that<strong> allows it to resist an external force,</strong> due to the cohesive nature of its molecules.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>They tend to be<strong> more soluble in hard water than soap</strong> because the sulfonate of detergent doesn't bind calcium and other ions in hard water as easily as the carboxylate in soap does.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Detergents &amp; Pollution:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bioaccumulation of Nonylphenol:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Nonylphenol,</strong> a hazardous chemical present in detergents, is known to enter water bodies and the food chains. It <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vulture-culture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>bio-accumulates</strong></a> and can pose serious environmental and health risks.</li>
<li>It has been <strong>detected in human breast milk, blood and urine,</strong> and is associated with reproductive and developmental effects in rodents.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inhibition of Biodegradation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Many laundry detergents contain approximately 35 to 75% phosphate salts. <strong>Phosphates can cause a variety of water pollution problems.</strong></li>
<li>For example, phosphate tends to <strong>inhibit the biodegradation</strong> of organic substances. <strong>Non-biodegradable substances cannot be eliminated by public or private wastewater treatment.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Biodegradation</strong> is the process by which organic substances are broken down into smaller compounds by living microbial organisms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Some phosphate-based detergents can also cause <strong>eutrophication.</strong> Phosphate-enrichment can cause the water body to become choked with algae and other plants.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Eutrophication:</strong> When a water body becomes overly enriched with minerals and nutrients which induce excessive growth of algae or algal bloom. It <strong>deprives the water of available oxygen, causing the death of other organisms.</strong></li>
<li>In Belgium,<strong> phosphates have been restricted for use in household detergents since 2003. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Oxygen-Reducing Substances:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Detergents also contain <strong>oxygen-reducing substances</strong> (ie, a chemical compound that readily transfers oxygen atoms) that may cause <strong>severe damage to the fishes and other marine animals. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Destruction of Mucus:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Detergents are capable of destroying the <strong>external mucus layers that protect the fish from bacteria and parasites,</strong> causing severe damage to the gills. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Mostly fish die when detergent concentrations are near 15 parts per million (ppm); however, detergent concentrations as low as 5 ppm will kill fish eggs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Makes Water Turbid:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A few more harmful components of detergents which are <strong>anthropogenic components such as herbicides, pesticides and heavy metal concentrations</strong> (like <strong>zinc, cadmium and lead</strong>) can cause the water to grow dark. This <strong>blocks out light and disrupts the growth of plants.</strong></li>
<li>Turbidity also<strong> clogs the respiratory system</strong> of some species of fishes. Pathogens from these toxic water bodies cause diseases, some fatal, in human or animal hosts diseases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hazardous for Humans:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The detergents contain suspected <strong>carcinogens,</strong> and ingredients that do not fully biodegrade.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong>carcinogen</strong> is an agent with the capacity to cause cancer in humans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Initiative:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>ECOMARK Scheme:</strong> The Government has instituted this scheme on<strong> labeling of Environment Friendly Products.</strong></li>
<li>The scheme is <strong>operating on a national basis and provides accreditation and labeling for household and other consumer products</strong> which <strong>meet certain environmental criteria</strong> along with quality requirements of the Indian Standards for that product.</li>
<li>The Ecomark Scheme covers various product categories like <strong>Soaps and Detergents, paints, food items etc.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Bioaccumulation vs Biomagnification</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bioaccumulation</strong> is when the<strong> concentration of chemicals increases within an organism or species.</strong> This can occur when toxic substances are ingested. These toxic substances are very difficult for organisms to excrete, therefore,<strong> accumulate in their tissues.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Biomagnification</strong> is the process by which toxic chemicals build up within predators. This <strong>typically occurs across an entire food chain</strong> and affects all of the organisms but animals higher up in the chain are more impacted.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626345937_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626345937_image6.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="441" height="309" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/water/how-our-detergent-footprint-is-polluting-aquatic-ecosystems-77935&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1626349523654000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2oNtSyPAttuydbCGUgMazI" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8799,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Marine Plastic: Problem, And Solution ',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cpcb-notifies-contaminated-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Pollution Control Board&rsquo;s (CPCB)</strong></a> Annual Report on Implementing the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-world-environment-day-identify-the-dangers-of-the-plastic-era" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016</strong></a>, the plastic waste generated in 2018-19 was 3.3 million tonnes per year (roughly <strong>9,200 tonnes per day</strong>).</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Plastic is a <strong>synthetic organic polymer</strong> made from petroleum with properties ideally suited for a wide variety of applications, including packaging, building and construction, household and sports equipment, vehicles, electronics and agriculture. Plastic is cheap, lightweight, strong and malleable.</li>
<li>Over <strong>300 million tons of plastic</strong> are produced every year, half of which is used to design <strong>single-use items</strong> such as shopping bags, cups and straws.</li>
<li>Only <strong>9% of plastic waste is recycled.</strong> Approximately 12% is burnt, while 79% has accumulated in landfills.</li>
<li>According to the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)</strong></a>, at least<strong> 8 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sources of Marine Plastic:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The main sources of marine plastic are <strong>land-based</strong>, from urban and storm runoff, sewer overflows, beach visitors, inadequate waste disposal and management, industrial activities, construction and illegal dumping.</li>
<li><strong>Ocean-based plastic</strong> originates mainly from the <strong>fishing industry, nautical activities and aquaculture.</strong></li>
<li>Under the influence of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ultraviolet-light-and-viruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> solar UV radiation</strong></a>, wind, currents and other natural factors, plastic fragments into small particles, termed <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/microplastics-in-deep-oceans" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>microplastics</strong> </a>(particles smaller than 5 mm) or nanoplastics (particles smaller than 100 nm).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In addition, <strong>microbeads</strong>, a type of microplastic, are very tiny pieces of manufactured polyethylene plastic that are added as exfoliants in health and beauty products, such as cleansers and toothpastes. These tiny particles easily pass through water filtration systems and end up in the ocean and lakes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns of Marine Plastic Waste:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Plastic waste <strong>blocks our sewers, threatening marine life</strong> and generating health risks for residents in landfills or the natural environment.</li>
<li>The <strong>financial costs of marine plastic</strong> pollution are significant as well. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to a forecast made in March 2020, the <strong>direct harm to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/importance-of-blue-economy#:~:text=The%20%27Blue%20Economy%27%20is%20an,environmental%20risks%20and%20ecological%20scarcities." target="_blank" rel="noopener">blue economy</a></strong> of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean#:~:text=The%20Association%20of%20Southeast%20Asian,is%20observed%20as%20ASEAN%20Day." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Association of Southeast Asian Nations</strong> </a>will be USD 2.1 billion per year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Enormous social costs</strong> accompany these economic costs. Residents of coastal regions suffer from the<strong> harmful health impacts of plastic pollution</strong> and waste brought in by the tides.</li>
<li>Boats may become entangled in abandoned or discarded fishing nets or their engines may become blocked with plastic debris.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It can create problems for industries such as <strong>Shipping, fisheries and aquaculture and maritime tourism</strong> which affect livelihood of the coastal community.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Steps Taken So Far:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>GloLitter Partnerships Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is launched by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/international-maritime-organization-and-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Maritime Organization (IMO)</strong></a> and the <strong>Food and Agriculture Organization of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a> (FAO)</strong> and . initial funding from the <strong>Government of Norway.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> To prevent and<strong> reduce marine plastic litter</strong> from shipping and fisheries. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will also <strong>assist developing countries in reducing marine</strong> litter, including plastic litter, from within the maritime transport and fisheries sectors, and to decrease the use of plastics in these industries.</li>
<li>Also assist in identifying opportunities to <strong>reuse and recycle plastics.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>30 countries including India</strong> have joined this global initiative to tackle marine litter.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>World Environment Day, 2018</strong> hosted in India, the world leaders vowed to <strong>&ldquo;Beat Plastic Pollution&rdquo; &amp; eliminate its use completely.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Specific to India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016</strong> state that every local body has to be responsible for setting up infrastructure for segregation, collection, processing, and disposal of plastic waste.</li>
<li><strong>Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2018</strong> introduced the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ban-on-single-use-plastics" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ban on Single-Use Plastics</strong></a> in a bid to free India of single-use plastics by 2022.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Solutions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Designing a product:</strong> Identifying plastic items that can be replaced with non-plastic, recyclable, or biodegradable materials is the first step.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Countries must embrace <strong><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-productivity-and-sustainability" target="_blank" rel="noopener">circular and sustainable economic</a> practices</strong> throughout the plastics value chain to accomplish this.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pricing:</strong> Plastics are inexpensive which provide <strong>fewer economic incentives to</strong> employ recycled plastics. Balancing price structure with environmental health should be a priority.</li>
<li><strong>Technologies and Innovation:</strong> Developing tools and technology to assist governments in measuring and monitoring plastic garbage in cities.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India should start projects like the <strong>&lsquo;Closing the loop&rsquo;</strong> project of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/economic-and-social-survey-of-asia-and-the-pacific-2021-unescap#:~:text=and%20the%20Pacific-,The%20United%20Nations%20Economic%20and%20Social%20Commission%20for%20Asia%20and,Asia%2DPacific%20Region%20including%20India." target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific</a> which</strong> assists cities in developing more inventive policy solutions to tackle the problem.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promoting a plastic-free workplace:</strong> All single-use goods can be replaced with reusable items or more sustainable single-use alternatives.</li>
<li><strong>Producer responsibility: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/e-retailers-to-collect-plastic-waste" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Extended responsibility</a></strong> can be applied in the retail (packaging) sector, where producers are responsible for collecting and recycling products that they launch into the market.</li>
<li><strong>Municipal and community actions:</strong> Beach and river clean-ups, public awareness campaigns and disposable plastic bag bans and levies.</li>
<li><strong>Multi-stakeholder collaboration:</strong> Government ministries at the national and local levels must collaborate in the development, implementation and oversight of policies related to plastic waste management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Central Pollution Control Board</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>CPCB is a statutory organisation which was constituted in September, 1974 under <strong>the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.</strong></li>
<li>It was entrusted with the powers and functions under the <strong>Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.</strong></li>
<li>It also provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change of the provisions of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/environment-protection-act-1986" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Environment (Protection) Act, 1986</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Principal Functions of the CPCB, as spelt out in the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>to promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of the States by prevention, control and abatement of water pollution.</li>
<li>to improve the quality of air and to prevent, control or abate air pollution in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/pollution/how-india-can-face-the-tidal-wave-of-marine-plastic-77819" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 3 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8771,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Andhra Pradesh-Telangana Water Dispute',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Amid escalating tensions, the Police forces were deployed at various hydel power projects in bordering districts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Andhra Pradesh has complained to the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/2nd-meeting-of-the-apex-council-for-krishna-and-godavari-river-water-dispute" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Krishna River Management Board (KRMB)</strong></a> about the drawing of water from the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/srisailam-dam" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Srisailam project</strong></a> by Telangana for power generation.</li>
<li>The KRMB, in its recent orders, had asked Telangana to stop power generation. The tension has emerged over defiance of orders of the <strong>KRBM</strong> by Telangana Government.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Dispute:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Telangana and Andhra Pradesh share stretches of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/water-dispute-between-telangana-and-andhra-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Krishna and the Godavari</strong></a> and own their tributaries.</li>
<li>Both states have proposed several new projects without getting clearance from the river boards, the <strong>Central Water Commission</strong> and the <strong>Apex Council,</strong> as mandated by the <strong>Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014</strong> mandates for the constitution of an Apex Council by the Central Government for the supervision of the functioning of the <strong>Godavari River Management Board </strong>and<strong> Krishna River Management Board.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Apex Council comprises</strong> the <strong>Union Water Resources Minister </strong>and the<strong> Chief Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Andhra Pradesh government&rsquo;s proposal to increase the utilisation of the Krishna water from a section of the river above the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/srisailam-dam" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Srisailam Reservoir</strong></a> led to the Telangana government filing a complaint against Andhra Pradesh.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Srisailam reservoir is constructed across the Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh. It is located in the<strong> Nallamala hills.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Andhra Pradesh government retaliated with its own complaints saying that <strong>Palamuru-Rangareddy, Dindi Lift Irrigation Schemes</strong> on the Krishna river and <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kaleshwaram-lift-irrigation-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kaleshwaram</a>, Tupakulagudem schemes</strong> and a few barrages proposed<strong> across the Godavari</strong> are all new projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inter-State River Water Disputes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Article 262</strong> of the Constitution provides for the adjudication of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-single-tribunal-for-river-water-disputes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>inter-state water disputes.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under this, Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution and control of waters of any inter-state river and river valley.</li>
<li>Parliament may also provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any other court is to exercise jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute or complaint.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Parliament has enacted the two laws, the<strong> River Boards Act (1956)</strong> and the <strong>Inter-State Water Disputes Act (1956).</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> River Boards Act</strong> provides for the establishment of river boards by the Central government for the regulation and development of inter-state river and river valleys.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A River Board is established on the request of state governments concerned to advise them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Inter-State Water Disputes Act</strong> empowers the Central government to set up an <strong>ad hoc tribunal</strong> for the adjudication of a dispute between two or more states in relation to the waters of an inter-state river or river valley.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The decision of the tribunal is final and binding on the parties to the dispute.</li>
<li><strong>Neither the Supreme Court nor any other court</strong> is to have jurisdiction in respect of any water dispute which may be referred to such a tribunal under this Act.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Godavari River</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Source:</strong> Godavari river rises from Trimbakeshwar near Nasik in Maharashtra and flows for a length of about 1465 km before outfalling into the Bay of Bengal.</li>
<li><strong>Drainage Basin:</strong> The Godavari basin extends over states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha in addition to smaller parts in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Union territory of Puducherry.</li>
<li><strong>Tributaries:</strong> Pravara, Purna, Manjra, Penganga, Wardha, Wainganga, Pranhita (combined flow of Wainganga, Penganga, Wardha), Indravati, Maner and the Sabri</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Krishna River</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Source:</strong> It originates near Mahabaleshwar (Satara) in Maharashtra. It is the second biggest river in peninsular India after the Godavari River.</li>
<li><strong>Drainage:</strong> It runs from four states Maharashtra (303 km), North Karnataka (480 km) and the rest of its 1300 km journey in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh before it empties into the Bay of Bengal.</li>
<li><strong>Tributaries:</strong> Tungabhadra, Mallaprabha, Koyna, Bhima, Ghataprabha, Yerla, Warna, Dindi, Musi and Dudhganga.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/tension-prevails-at-srisailam-nagarjuna-sagar-projects/article35109551.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8754,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Changing Monsoon & Agriculture',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-editorials/make-a-drop-count-southwest-monsoon-patterns-are-changing-implications-for-farming-are-huge-and-worrisome/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Make a drop count: Southwest monsoon patterns are changing&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Times of India on 29/06/2021. It talks about the effect of changing southwest monsoon patterns on Indian agriculture.</p>
</div>
<p><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-monsoon-respite-for-agriculture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Southwest monsoon</strong></a> is perhaps the most important feature of India&rsquo;s climate, because it is very critical for Indian agriculture. Therefore, long-term trends in the southwest monsoon overlap with economic security.</p>
<p>A recent study by IMD on monsoon variability over a 30-year period (1989-2018) is a wakeup call. UP, Bihar and West Bengal are three of five states that have shown a significant decreasing trend in the southwest monsoon. These states have a large bearing on India&rsquo;s agriculture output.</p>
<p>With around 55% of India&rsquo;s arable land dependent on precipitation, the amount of rainfall during the current monsoon season could sway economic activity in the agriculture sector and industries linked to it.</p>
<p>The shift in monsoon may entail grave consequences for India&rsquo;s economy, food systems and people&rsquo;s well-being.Therefore, remedial measures must be taken before it is too late.</p>
<h3>Monsoon &amp; Agriculture Linkage</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Southwest monsoon plays a crucial role in India&rsquo;s agriculture and affects the livelihood of a fifth of the world&rsquo;s population.</li>
<li>About 80 per cent of the annual precipitation over India occurs during the summer period, supplying water to crops during the prime agricultural season. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Monsoon friendly crops with a high requirement of water like sugarcane, jute and paddy can easily be cultivated during southwest monsoon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The agriculture sector in India is both economically and politically important. The industry accounts for around 14% of the country&rsquo;s $2.7 trillion economy and 42% of total employment.</li>
<li>Further, about one-third of India&rsquo;s manufacturing output &mdash; which makes up around 18% of the country&rsquo;s gross domestic product &mdash; is linked to turning agricultural products into food.</li>
<li>Therefore, too much rainfall or too little or a volatile monsoon pattern, can damage crops.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact of Changing Monsoon</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Depletion of Water Table:</strong> In India, a little over 50% of India&rsquo;s net sown area is under rainfed farming and a large part of the irrigated area depends on groundwater extraction through borewells, which needs to be recharged with the groundwater.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the event of a poor monsoon, these aquifers may not get adequately recharged, leading to water crisis.</li>
<li>Further, according to a NITI Aayog&rsquo;s report , nearly 21 Indian cities &mdash; including New Delhi, Hyderabad and Chennai &mdash; could run out of groundwater by 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fiscal Burden:</strong> Multiple crop failures may require the government to actively support farmers. Most likely, it may prompt the government to raise minimum support prices for all of the current season&rsquo;s crops to help support farmers&rsquo; incomes.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will have a diminishing effect on investments into agricultural investments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impacting Electricity Generation:</strong> Monsoon rains can be harnessed as hydropower, a valuable energy resource. Hydropower currently provides 25% of India&rsquo;s electricity. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Reservoirs are filled during the southwest monsoon rains and then the water is gradually released through dams, turning turbines to create electricity year-round.</li>
<li>During years when there is little monsoon rainfall, the reservoirs are not replenished, limiting the amount of hydroelectric power produced during the year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impacting Inflation:</strong> Normal monsoon rains keep a check on food inflation due to availability of food produce. However in a situation of drought, prices soar significantly.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, if a poor monsoon results in less crop output, the country may need to import.</li>
<li>It also impacts as many as a dozen sectors which depend on monsoon either directly or indirectly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Addressing Water Scarcity:</strong> Water availability is a national challenge. We have 18% of the world&rsquo;s population with just 4% of freshwater resources. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, the Indian government needs to put a high priority on investing heavily in improved water storage systems for the agricultural sector.</li>
<li>It would be worthwhile to give high priority to "more crops per drop" approach, rainwater harvesting, aquifer recharge, revival of water bodies and conservation technologies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Addressing Inefficient Water Use:</strong> Water use patterns are awfully inefficient in India, where Indian farmers use two to four times more water to produce a unit of any major food crop.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, Indian agriculture needs to adopt newer, less water-intensive technologies faster.</li>
<li>In this case, it needs a doubling down on efforts such as the ongoing government of India schemes to incentivise the use of micro irrigation measures that use water more efficiently.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Global climate change is not a new phenomenon. The effect of climate change poses many threats; one of the important consequences is bringing about changes in southwest monsoon and its impact on agriculture.</p>
<p>As India has set a target of halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 [15]. There is an urgent need for coordinated efforts to strengthen the research to assess the impact of climate change on agriculture, forests, animal husbandry, aquatic life and other living beings.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffef7;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>The shift in monsoon may entail grave consequences for India&rsquo;s economy, food systems and people&rsquo;s well-being.Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
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	(int) 5 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8731,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Baihetan Dam: World’s Second Biggest Hydropower Dam',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>China</strong> has put into operation the <strong>Baihetan Dam, world&rsquo;s Second Biggest Hydropower Dam.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Three Gorges Dam </strong>is the<strong> largest hydropower dam in the world </strong>and is also along <strong>China&rsquo;s Yangtze River.</strong> It began operations in 2003.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624963722_image10.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624963722_image10.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Dam:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is on the <strong>Jinsha River, a tributary of the Yangtze (the longest river in Asia).</strong></li>
<li>It has been built with a<strong> total installed capacity of 16,000 megawatts.</strong></li>
<li>It will eventually be able to <strong>generate enough electricity each day</strong> once to meet the <strong>power needs of 5,00,000 people</strong> for an entire year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance for China:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is part of Chinese efforts to<strong> curb surging fossil fuel demand</strong> by building more hydropower capacity. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This comes at a time when dams have fallen out of favor in other countries due to environmental complaints (such as flooding farmland and disruption of the ecology of rivers, threatening fish and other species).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s pledge in 2020</strong> to reach <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eu-green-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>carbon neutrality</strong> </a><strong>by 2060</strong> had also added urgency to the construction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Other Upcoming Projects:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China's planned <strong>mega-dam in Tibet's Medog County,</strong> which is set to surpass the <strong>Three Gorges Dam in size,</strong> has been described by analysts as a threat to Tibetan cultural heritage and a way for Beijing to effectively control a substantial portion of India's water supply.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The plan is to build <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-s-new-dam-on-brahmaputra" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>a dam on the lower reaches of the Brahmaputra River.</strong></a></li>
<li>The <strong>Brahmaputra (called Yarlung Tsangpo in China)</strong> is one of the longest rivers in the world.</li>
<li>Starting in the Himalayas in Tibet, it enters India in <strong>Arunachal Pradesh, then passes through Assam, Bangladesh, and empties into the Bay of Bengal.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> impact of dams on China's portion of the Mekong</strong> has also raised fears that irreversible damage is being inflicted upon a waterway which feeds 60 million people downstream as it winds through to the Vietnamese Delta.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Agriculture:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A huge dam <strong>(like on Brahmaputra)</strong> could hold back the massive amount of silt carried by the river (Silty soil is more fertile than other types of soil and it is good for growing crops.)</li>
<li>This could <strong>aﬀect farming in the areas downstream.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Water Resources:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India is also worried about the <strong>release of water during the monsoons,</strong> when north-eastern states such as Assam experience ﬂoods.</li>
<li><strong>Change in the ﬂow rate during times of standoﬀ between the countries</strong> is also a cause of concern.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>During the<strong> 2017 Doklam border standoﬀ</strong> between India and China, China stopped communication of water ﬂow levels from its dams.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ecological Impact:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The ecosystem in the <strong>Himalayan region is already on the decline. Several species of ﬂora and fauna </strong>are<strong> endemic</strong> to this part of the world and some of them are <strong>critically endangered.</strong> It could have disastrous consequences in this <strong>ecologically sensitive zone.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> massive engineering projects</strong> have also <strong>displaced</strong> hundreds of thousands of <strong>local communities</strong> and prompted concern in <strong>neighbouring countries.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has urged China to ensure that the interests of downstream states are not harmed by any activity in upstream areas. Meanwhile, India is considering building a 10 gigawatts (GW) hydropower project in the Dibang valley in Arunachal Pradesh, to mitigate the adverse impact of the Chinese dam.</li>
<li>However, the larger point is that too much <strong>hydro-power development is not a great idea in a fragile mountainscape.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/world/china-operationalises-world-s-second-biggest-hydropower-dam-11624879295781.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: Livemint</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8632,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Inland Vessel Bill 2021',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the <strong>Inland Vessels Bill, 2021</strong>, which will replace the <strong>Inland Vessels Act, 1917</strong> after passing in Parliament.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bill will <strong>regulate safety, security and registration of inland vessels.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Features of the Bill:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A key feature of the Bill is a <strong>unified law for the entire country</strong>, instead of separate rules framed by the States. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>certificate of registration</strong> granted under the proposed law will be deemed to be valid in all States and Union Territories, and there will be no need to seek separate permissions from the States.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Bill provides for a <strong>central database</strong> for recording the details of vessel, vessel registration, crew on an electronic portal.</li>
<li>All <strong>non-mechanically propelled vessels will also</strong> have to be enrolled at the district, taluk or panchayat or village level.</li>
<li>It enlarges the definition of <strong>&lsquo;inland waters&rsquo;</strong>, by including <strong>tidal water limit</strong> and <strong>national waterways</strong> declared by the Central Government.</li>
<li>It also deals <strong>with pollution control measures</strong> of Inland Vessels. This Bill directs the Central Government <strong>to designate a list of chemicals, substances</strong>, etc. <strong>as pollutants.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inland Waterways:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has <strong>about 14,500 km of navigable waterways</strong> which comprise of rivers, canals, backwaters, creeks, etc.</li>
<li>As per the <strong>National Waterways Act 2016, 111 waterways</strong> have been declared as <strong>National Waterways (NWs).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>NW-1: Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System (Prayagraj-Haldia)</strong> with length 1620 km is the <strong>longest National Waterway</strong> in India.</li>
<li>The <strong>Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)</strong> is implementing the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-marg-vikas-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jal Marg Vikas Project</a> (JMVP)</strong> for capacity augmentation of navigation on the Haldia-Varanasi stretch of Ganga (part of NW-1) with the technical and financial assistance of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Utilization:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>About <strong>55 million tonnes of cargo</strong> is being moved <strong>annually by IWT (Inland Water Transport)</strong>, a fuel-efficient and environment-friendly mode.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, <strong>freight transportation by waterways is highly underutilized</strong> in the country as compared to developed countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Its operations are <strong>currently restricted to a few stretches</strong> in the <strong>Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly rivers, the Brahmaputra, the Barak river</strong> (northeastern India), the <strong>rivers in Goa, the backwaters in Kerala, inland waters in Mumbai</strong> and the<strong> deltaic regions of the Godavari - Krishna rivers.</strong></li>
<li>Besides these<strong> organized operations by mechanized vessels, country boats</strong> of various capacities also operate in various rivers and canals and<strong> substantial quantum of cargo and passengers are transported in this unorganized sector</strong> as well.</li>
<li>In India, IWT has the <strong>potential to supplement the overburdened railways and congested roadways.</strong> In addition to cargo movement, the IWT sector also provides a convenient function in related activities such as <strong>carriage of vehicles {on Roll-on-Roll-off (Ro-Ro) mode of cross ferry} and tourism.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Steps Taken:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The waterways will also<strong> be linked to the</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dedicated-freight-corridor-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>eastern and western Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs)</strong></a>, <strong>as well as the</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sagarmala-seaplane-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sagarmala Project</strong></a>, which aims to promote port-led direct and indirect development.</li>
<li>Further, the provisions of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sonamura-daudkandi-inland-waterway-route" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indo-Bangladesh (Sonamura-Daudkandi)</a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/presidents-visit-to-myanmar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indo-Myanmar protocol (Kaladan)</a></strong> permitting transhipment of goods through Bangladesh and Myanmar waters &ndash; which, in many cases, are a continuum of India&rsquo;s inland waterways &ndash; enabling quicker shipments and deeper market penetration in India&rsquo;s North East.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624014464_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624014464_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="599" height="563" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Inland Waterways Authority of India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It came into existence <strong>on 27<sup>th</sup> October 1986</strong> for development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation.</li>
<li>It primarily undertakes projects for development and maintenance of <strong>IWT</strong> (Inland Water Transport) <strong>infrastructure</strong> on national waterways through grants received from the <strong>Ministry of Shipping.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>headquartered at Noida</strong> (Uttar Pradesh).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cabinet-nod-for-inland-vessels-bill/article34832506.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8629,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Deep Ocean Mission',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cabinet-committees-formed" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs</strong></a> has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) on the<strong> Deep Ocean Mission (DOM).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/govt-plans-isro-like-ocean-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> blueprint of the DOM</strong></a> to explore the deep recesses of the ocean was unveiled in 2018. Earlier, MoES had also rolled out the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-blue-economy-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>draft Blue Economy Policy.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623930284_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623930284_image5.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The cost of the Mission has been estimated at Rs. 4,077 crore <strong>over a five-year period</strong> and will be<strong> implemented in phases. MoES</strong> will be the <strong>nodal ministry</strong> implementing this multi-institutional ambitious mission.</li>
<li>It will be a <strong>mission mode project to support the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/blue-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Economy</a> Initiatives</strong> of the Government of India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Blue Economy</strong> is the<strong> sustainable use of ocean resources</strong> for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, and ocean ecosystem health.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> technology and expertise</strong> needed in such missions is now available with only five countries - US, Russia, France, Japan and China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India will now be the sixth country to have it.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Major Components:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Development of Technologies for Deep Sea Mining, and Manned Submersible:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong>manned submersible will be developed to carry three people</strong> to a depth of 6,000 metres in the ocean with a <strong>suite of scientific sensors and tools.</strong></li>
<li>An <strong>Integrated Mining System</strong> will be also developed for mining<strong> polymetallic nodules</strong> at those depths in the central Indian Ocean. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Polymetallic nodules</strong> are rocks scattered on the seabed containing iron, manganese, nickel and cobalt.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The exploration studies of minerals <strong>will pave the way for commercial exploitation in the near future,</strong> as and when commercial exploitation code is evolved by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-begins-talks-to-regulate-the-high-seas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Seabed Authority</strong></a>, an <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations (UN)</strong></a> organisation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Development of Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It entails developing a suite of observations and models <strong>to understand and provide future projections of important climate variables</strong> on seasonal to decadal time scales.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Technological Innovations for Exploration and Conservation of Deep-sea Biodiversity:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Bio-prospecting of deep sea flora and fauna</strong> including microbes and studies on sustainable utilization of deep sea bio-resources will be the main focus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will explore and identify <strong>potential sites of multi-metal Hydrothermal Sulphides mineralization</strong> along the Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Energy and Freshwater from the Ocean:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Studies and detailed engineering design for offshore <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/ocean-energy#:~:text=Ocean%20Thermal%20Energy%20Conversion%20(OTEC,1%2C000%20meters%2C%20to%20extract%20energy.&amp;text=In%20Closed%20cycle%20method%2C%20a,the%20steam%20runs%20a%20turbine." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)</strong> </a>powered <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/desalination-plants-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>desalination plants</strong></a> are envisaged in this proof of concept proposal. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>OTEC is a technology which <strong>uses ocean temperature differences</strong> from the surface to depths lower than 1,000 meters, <strong>to extract energy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is aimed at the development of human capacity and enterprise in ocean biology and engineering.</li>
<li>It will translate research into <strong>industrial application and product development</strong> through on-site business incubator facilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Oceans,</strong> which cover<strong> 70% of the globe,</strong> remain a key part of our life. About <strong>95% of the Deep Ocean remains unexplored. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Three sides of India are surrounded by the oceans</strong> and around<strong> 30% of the country's population living in coastal areas,</strong> the ocean is a major economic factor supporting fisheries and aquaculture, tourism, livelihoods and blue trade. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has a unique maritime position. Its <strong>7517 km long coastline is home to nine coastal states and 1382 islands.</strong></li>
<li>The Government of India's <strong>Vision of New India by 2030</strong> announced in February 2019 highlighted the Blue Economy as one of the ten core dimensions of growth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Oceans are also a<strong> storehouse of food, energy, minerals, medicines, modulator of weather and climate and underpin life on Earth.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Considering the importance of the oceans on sustainability, the UN has declared the decade, <strong>2021-2030 as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-day-for-biological-diversity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. </a></strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Blue Economy Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-norway-task-force-on-blue-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India-Norway Task Force on Blue Economy for Sustainable Development</a> :</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was inaugurated jointly by both the countries in 2020 to develop and follow up joint initiatives between the two countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sagarmala Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sagarmala-seaplane-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sagarmala project</strong></a> is the strategic initiative for port-led development through the extensive use of IT enabled services for modernization of ports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>O-SMART:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has an umbrella scheme by the name of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cabinet-approves-o-smart-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>O-SMART</strong></a> which aims at regulated use of oceans, marine resources for sustainable development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/integrated-coastal-zone-management-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Integrated Coastal Zone Management</strong></a>:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It focuses on conservation of coastal and marine resources, and improving livelihood opportunities for coastal communities etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Fisheries Policy :</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has a National Fisheries policy for promoting 'Blue Growth Initiative' which focuses on sustainable utilization of fisheries wealth from marine and other aquatic resources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1727525" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 8 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8609,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Southern Ocean',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, on the occasion of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-oceans-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Ocean Day</strong></a> <strong>(8<sup>th</sup> June),</strong> the <strong>National Geographic magazine</strong> has recognised the<strong> &lsquo;Southern Ocean&rsquo;</strong> as the world&rsquo;s <strong>fifth ocean.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> International Hydrographic Organization</strong> too had<strong> recognised &lsquo;Southern Ocean&rsquo; as a distinct body</strong> of water surrounding Antarctica <strong>in 1937</strong> but had <strong>repealed the same in 1953.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Other four Oceans are:</strong> Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic Oceans.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Hydrographic Organization</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IHO is <strong>an intergovernmental consultative and technical organization</strong> that was <strong>established in 1921</strong> to<strong> support the safety of navigation</strong> and the <strong>protection of the marine environment.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India is also a member</strong> of IHO.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Most of the <strong>waters that surround Antarctica out to 60 degrees south latitude, excluding the Drake Passage and Scotia Sea,</strong> constitute the newly acknowledged Southern Ocean.</li>
<li>The Southern Ocean is the<strong> only ocean</strong> &lsquo;to touch three other oceans (Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Ocean) and to completely embrace a continent rather than being embraced by them&rsquo;.</li>
<li>It is also defined by its <strong>Antarctic Circumpolar Current</strong> that was formed 34 million years ago. The current flows from<strong> west to east</strong> around Antarctica.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Antarctic Circumpolar Current:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>ACC is the <strong>only current in the global ocean to close upon itself in a circumpolar loop.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This trait makes the ACC the most important current in the <strong>Earth&rsquo;s climate system</strong> because it<strong> links the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans</strong> and is the <strong>primary means of inter-basin exchange</strong> of heat, carbon dioxide, chemicals, biology and other tracers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The ACC is<strong> created by</strong> the combined effects of<strong> strong westerly winds</strong> across the Southern Ocean, and the <strong>big change in surface temperatures</strong> between the Equator and the poles.</li>
<li>Ocean density increases as water gets colder and as it gets more salty. The <strong>warm, salty surface waters of the subtropics are much lighter than the cold, fresher waters close to Antarctica.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The depth of constant density levels slopes up towards Antarctica. The westerly winds make this slope steeper, and the ACC rides eastward along it, faster where the slope is steeper, and weaker where it&rsquo;s flatter.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Recognition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Step towards conservation of World&rsquo;s Oceans, focusing public awareness onto a region in particular needing a conservation spotlight.</li>
<li>In addition to the rapid warming of the Southern Ocean due to global warming, industrial fishing on species like krill and Patagonian toothfish had been a concern for decades. It hoped to draw attention to these issues.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623753848_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623753848_image5.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="500" height="507" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/world/national-geographic-recognises-southern-ocean-as-globe-s-fifth-ocean-77439" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8584,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Rescuing Gharials: Mahanadi River',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Odisha announced a cash award of Rs. 1,000 to conserve gharials in Mahanadi River Basin.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623407680_image7.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623407680_image7.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Gharials:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Gharials, sometimes <strong>called gavials,</strong> are <strong>a type of Asian crocodilian distinguished by their long, thin snouts. Crocodilians are a group of reptiles</strong> that includes crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and more.</li>
<li><strong>India has three species of Crocodilians namely:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Gharial</strong> (Gavialis gangeticus): <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IUCN Red List</strong></a>- <strong>Critically Endangered</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ghodahada-reservoir" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mugger crocodile</strong></a> (Crocodylus palustris): <strong>IUCN- Vulnerable.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-26th-november-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Saltwater crocodile</strong></a> (Crocodylus porosus): <strong>IUCN- Least Concern.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>All the three are listed on <strong>Appendix I</strong> of<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> CITES</strong> </a>and<strong> Schedule I</strong> of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Exception: Saltwater Crocodile populations of Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea </strong>are<strong> included in Appendix II of CITES.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat of Gharials:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Natural Habitat:</strong> Fresh waters of the northern part of India.</li>
<li><strong>Primary Habitat:</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ramgarh-dam#:~:text=1982%20Asian%20Games.-,Chambal%20River,(Indore%2C%20Madhya%20Pradesh)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chambal river</strong></a> (a tributary of Yamuna).</li>
<li><strong>Secondary Habitat:</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/release-of-gharials" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ghagra</strong></a>, Gandak river, Girwa river (Uttar Pradesh), the Ramganga river (Uttarakhand) and the Sone river (Bihar).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> Population of Gharials are <strong>a good indicator of clean river water.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Conservation Efforts:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Breeding Centres of <strong>Kukrail Gharial Rehabilitation Centre in Lucknow,</strong> Uttar Pradesh, <strong>National Chambal Sanctuary (Gharial Eco Park, Madhya Pradesh).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Increased river pollution, dam construction, massive-scale fishing operations and floods.</li>
<li>Illegal sand mining and poaching.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mahanadi River:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Mahanadi River system is the <strong>third largest of peninsular India after Godavari and Krishna,</strong> and the <strong>largest river of Odisha state.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> catchment area</strong> of the river extends to<strong> Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Maharashtra.</strong></li>
<li>Its <strong>basin is bounded by</strong> the Central India hills on the north, by the Eastern Ghats on the south and east and by the Maikala range on the west.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Source:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>rises from a place near Sihawa in Bastar hills in the state of Chhattisgarh</strong> to the south of Amarkantak.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Major Tributaries:</strong> Seonath River, Hasdeo river, Mand river, Ib river, Jonking river, Tel river</li>
<li><strong>Mahanadi River Dispute:</strong> The Central Government constituted <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/inter-state-river-water-sharing-disputes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal</strong></a> in 2018.</li>
<li><strong>Major Dams/Projects on Mahanadi:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nhrc-issues-notice-in-hirakud-displacement-case" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hirakud Dam</strong></a>: This is the longest dam of India.</li>
<li>Ravishankar Sagar, Dudhawa Reservoir, Sondur Reservoir, Hasdeo Bango and Tandula are other major projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623407885_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623407885_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/odisha-forest-department-announces-cash-reward-for-rescuing-gharials-77386" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8539,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve and Vaigai River: Tamil Nadu',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The recently declared <strong>Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve</strong> in <strong>Tamil Nadu</strong> will provide protection to <strong>Megamalai</strong>, the <strong>Vaigai&rsquo;s primary catchment</strong>, in turn helping water levels to rise in the river.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623047043_SVG_Map_River_Vaigai_EN.svg.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623047043_SVG_Map_River_Vaigai_EN.svg.png" width="400" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Vaigai River:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Origin and Tributaries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>originates in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ecologically-sensitive-areas-in-western-ghats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Western Ghats</a></strong> (Varushanad Hills).</li>
<li>It travels through the <strong>Pandya Nadu region</strong> of Tamil Nadu.</li>
<li>Its <strong>main tributaries</strong> are Suruliyaru, Mullaiyaru, Varaganadhi, Manjalaru, Kottagudi, Kridhumaal and Upparu.</li>
<li>The Vaigai is <strong>258 kms long</strong> and finally <strong>empties into the Palk Strait</strong> near the <strong>Pamban Bridge </strong>in<strong> Ramanathapuram district.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Heritage River:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Vaigai was the river that <strong>flowed through the noted city of Madurai</strong>, the <strong>capital</strong> (4<sup>th</sup>-11<sup>th</sup> century CE) <strong>of the ancient and prosperous Pandya kingdom</strong> located in southern Tamil Nadu.</li>
<li>The river finds a mention in <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper1/sangam-age-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sangam</a> literature</strong> dated to 3<strong>00 before the Common Era.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The river fulfils the <strong>drinking water requirement of five districts of Tamil Nadu</strong> namely Theni, Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai and Dindigul.</li>
<li>It also provides <strong>irrigation to 2,00,000 hectares</strong> of agricultural land.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rejuvenation of Vaigai:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Its <strong>deterioration happened at the end of the 18<sup>th</sup> century</strong> when the British started <strong>deforesting the Megamalai region</strong> which acts as a major catchment for Vaigai. Consequently, the <strong>water flow in the river reduced gradually.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Some <strong>2,00,000 people died</strong> in this region during the <strong>Great Famine of 1876-77.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Following the famine, the British Crown <strong>proposed diverting water from the Periyar river (Kerala)</strong> and feeding it to the Vaigai through a tunnel.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Vaigai presently <strong>gets about 80% of its water from the Periyar dam.</strong> The <strong>balance 20%</strong> is obtained from the <strong>major watershed of the Megamalai region</strong> during the northeast monsoon season.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Srivilliputhur-Megamalai</strong> <strong>Tiger Reserve</strong> will <strong>protect wild animals and the natural forests, their habitats</strong> which <strong>act as watersheds.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Establishment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was established <strong>in February 2021.</strong> It was jointly declared by the Centre and Tamil Nadu governments.</li>
<li>For this, the <strong>Megamalai WLS</strong> and the adjoining <strong>Srivilliputhur WLS</strong> were clubbed together.</li>
<li>Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve is the <strong>fifth Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu</strong>, and <strong>51<sup>th</sup> tiger reserve of India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ecological Diversity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Animals seen here are <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tiger-census-2018-guinness-book-of-world-records" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bengal tiger</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-elephant-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">elephants</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-bison-gaur" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gaur</a></strong>, Indian giant squirrel, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rise-in-leopard-population" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leopard</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nilgiri-tahr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nilgiri Tahrs</a>,</strong> etc.</li>
<li>It has a mix of tropical evergreen forests and semi-evergreen forests, dry deciduous forests and moist mixed deciduous forests, grassland.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other four Tiger reserves of Tamil Nadu:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pulayar-community-and-anamalai-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Anamalai tiger reserve</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mudumalai-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kalakkad - Mundanthurai tiger reserve</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mudumalai-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mudumalai tiger reserve</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mudumalai-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sathyamangalam tiger reserve</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/environment/a-tiger-reserve-declared-this-year-can-rejuvenate-vaigai-india-s-heritage-river-77165" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8530,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Black Carbon and Glacier Melting',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The report titled <strong>&ldquo;Glaciers of the Himalayas: Climate Change, Black Carbon and Regional Resilience&rdquo;</strong> says that the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/glaciers-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>glaciers</strong></a> are melting faster than the global average ice mass. However, the strong policy on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/concentration-of-black-carbon-on-gangotri-glacier" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>black carbon</strong></a> can sharply cut glacier melt.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The research report is <strong>released by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Bank</a></strong> and covers the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-mission-on-sustaining-himalayan-ecosystem" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Himalaya</a>, Karakoram</strong>, and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hindu-kush-himalayan-region" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hindu Kush (HKHK)</strong></a> mountain ranges.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Black Carbon</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Black carbon is <strong>a kind of an aerosol.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An <strong>aerosol</strong> is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in the air.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Among aerosols (such as brown carbon, sulphates), Black Carbon (BC) has been <strong>recognized as the second most important anthropogenic agent for climate change</strong> and the <strong>primary marker to understand the adverse effects caused by air pollution.</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>gets emitted</strong> from gas and diesel engines, coal-fired power plants, and other sources that burn fossil fuel. It <strong>comprises a significant portion of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dashboard-for-monitoring-air-quality" target="_blank" rel="noopener">particulate matter or PM</a></strong>, which is an air pollutant.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>HKHK Mountain Region:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>HKHK Region <strong>spans eight countries</strong>; Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, China, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar and also <strong>has some of the world&rsquo;s tallest mountains including <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-height-for-mount-everest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mt. Everest</a> and K2.</strong></li>
<li>HKHK Glaciers <strong>feed into river systems</strong> including Ganga, Yangtze, Irrawaddy, and Mekong.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The water that runs down from glaciers <strong>feeds the agriculture</strong>, on which nearly 2 billion people are dependent upon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>HKHK Region, also known as the <strong>third pole</strong>, along with China&rsquo;s Tien Shan Mountains holds most ice outside the North and the South Pole.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Black Carbon:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>BC is a <strong>short-lived pollutant</strong> that is the <strong>second-largest contributor to warming the planet behind carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>).</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Unlike other greenhouse gas emissions, BC is <strong>quickly washed out and can be eliminated from the atmosphere if emissions stop.</strong></li>
<li>Unlike historical carbon emissions it is <strong>also a localised source with greater local impact.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Source of Black Carbon in Himalayan Region:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Industry</strong> (primarily brick kilns) and <strong>residential burning of solid fuel</strong> together account for 45-66% of regional anthropogenic (man-made) BC deposition, followed by <strong>on-road diesel fuels</strong> (7-18%) and <strong>open burning</strong> (less than 3% in all seasons) in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact of Deposits of BC:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It <strong>acts in two ways</strong> hastening the pace of glacier melt:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>By decreasing surface reflectance of sunlight.</li>
<li>By raising the air temperature.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rate of De-glaciation:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The rate of retreat of HKHK glaciers is <strong>estimated to be 0.3 metres per year in the west to 1.0 metre per year</strong> in the east.</li>
<li>Full implementation of <strong>current policies to mitigate BC can achieve a 23% reduction</strong> but <strong>enacting new policies</strong> and incorporating them through regional cooperation among countries can achieve enhanced benefits.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>National Mission on Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE)</strong> is one such policy adopted in India. It is one of the eight missions under the <strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>BC deposits can be sharply reduced</strong> through new, currently feasible policies <strong>by an additional 50%</strong> from current levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact of Glacier Melt:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Glacier melt <strong>produces <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uttarakhand-flash-flood" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flash floods</a>, landslips, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/India%20lost%20One-Third%20of%20its%20Coastline%20Due%20to%20Soil%20Erosion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">soil erosion</a>, and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/himalayan-glaciers-impacted-by-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF)</a>.</strong></li>
<li>In the short run, the higher volumes of melt water <strong>could replace receding groundwater downstream.</strong> But in the long run, decreased water availability would <strong>aggravate water shortage.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Measures to be Taken:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the Himalayas, <strong>reducing black carbon emissions from cookstoves, diesel engines, and open burning</strong> would have the greatest impact and could significantly <strong>reduce radiative forcing</strong> and help to maintain a greater portion of Himalayan glacier systems. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Radiative forcing is a measure of the change in energy balance</strong> as a result of a change in a forcing agent (e.g., greenhouse gases, aerosol, cloud, and surface albedo) to affect the global energy balance and contribute to climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Steps to be Taken by Regional Governments:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Review the <strong>policies on water management</strong>, with an emphasis on basin-based regulation and use of price signals (value of a particular action) for efficiency.</li>
<li>Careful <strong>planning and use of hydropower</strong> to reflect changes in water flows and availability.</li>
<li>Increasing the <strong>efficiency of brick kilns</strong> through proven technologies.</li>
<li>There must also be greater <strong>knowledge sharing</strong> in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/strong-policies-on-black-carbon-can-sharply-cut-glacier-melt-says-world-bank-study/article34719913.ece/amp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8527,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Devika River Project: J&K',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region has asked for suggestions for the <strong>Devika River project in Udhampur, J&amp;K.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This project is compared with the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-mission-for-clean-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Namami Gange Project.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is a <strong>Rs. 190 crore Project.</strong></li>
<li>The work on the project was <strong>started in March 2019 under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP).</strong></li>
<li>Under the project, bathing <strong>&ldquo;ghats&rdquo;</strong> (places) on the banks of the Devika River will be <strong>developed, encroachments</strong> will be <strong>removed, natural water bodies</strong> will be <strong>restored</strong> and <strong>catchment areas will be developed</strong> along with <strong>cremation ground.</strong></li>
<li>The project includes the <strong>construction of three sewage treatment plants, sewerage network</strong> of 129.27 km, development of two cremation ghats, protection fencing and landscaping, <strong>small hydropower plants </strong>and <strong>three solar power plants.</strong></li>
<li>On completion of the project, the rivers will see <strong>reduction in pollution and improvement in water quality.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About Devika River:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Devika river <strong>originates from the hilly Suddha Mahadev temple in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir</strong> and flows down towards<strong> western Punjab</strong> (now in Pakistan) where it <strong>merges with the Ravi river.</strong></li>
<li>The river holds<strong> religious significance</strong> as it is revered by Hindus as the <strong>sister of river Ganga.</strong></li>
<li>In June 2020, <strong>Devika Bridge</strong> was inaugurated in Udhampur. Apart from taking care of traffic congestion, the Devika Bridge was also meant <strong>to help smooth passage of Army convoys and vehicles.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>National River Conservation Plan</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) is <strong>a centrally funded scheme launched in 1995</strong> aimed at<strong> preventing the pollution of rivers.</strong></li>
<li>Programs for river conservation are being implemented under National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) and NGRBA (National Ganga River Basin Authority).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Activities under NRCP:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Interception and Diversion works to capture the raw sewage flowing into the river through open drains and divert them for treatment.</li>
<li>Sewage Treatment Plants for treating the diverted sewage.</li>
<li>Low Cost Sanitation works to prevent open defecation on riverbanks.</li>
<li>Electric Crematoria and Improved Wood Crematoria to conserve the use of wood and help in ensuring proper cremation of bodies brought to the burning ghats.</li>
<li>River Front Development works such as improvement of bathing ghats.</li>
<li>Public awareness and public participation.</li>
<li>Human Resource Development (HRD), capacity building, training and research in the area of River Conservation.</li>
<li>Other miscellaneous works depend upon location specific conditions including the interface with human population.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1724159" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8475,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Mekedatu Project: River Cauvery',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Karnataka government has decided to challenge before the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/10-years-of-national-green-tribunal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal (NGT)</strong> </a>its decision <strong>to appoint a joint committee.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>joint committee</strong> is supposed to <strong>look into allegations of unauthorised construction activity taking place in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mekedatu-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mekedatu</a></strong>, where Karnataka had proposed to construct a dam across the Cauvery.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Mekedatu,</strong> meaning goat&rsquo;s leap, is a<strong> deep gorge</strong> situated at the confluence of the rivers <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/godavari-and-cauvery-river-interlinking-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cauvery and its tributary Arkavathi.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1622204210_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1622204210_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Mekedatu Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Rs. 9,000 crore project <strong>aims to store and supply water for drinking purposes for the Bengaluru city.</strong> Around <strong>400 megawatts (MW) of power is also proposed to be generated</strong> through the project.</li>
<li>It was first <strong>approved by the Karnataka state government in 2017.</strong></li>
<li>It received<strong> approval from the erstwhile Ministry of Water Resources</strong> for the detailed project report and is awaiting approval from the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The approval from MoEFCC is crucial because <strong>63% of the forest area of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cauvery-wildlife-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary</a> will be submerged.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 2018, Tamil Nadu approached the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court (SC)</strong></a> against the project even if <strong>Karnataka had held that it would not affect the flow of water to Tamil Nadu.</strong></li>
<li>In June 2020, during the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/karnataka-ordered-to-release-cauvery-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cauvery Water Management Authority</strong></a>&rsquo;s meeting, <strong>Tamil Nadu reiterated its opposition to the project.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for Opposition by Tamil Nadu:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Tamil Nadu is <strong>opposed to any project being proposed in the upper riparian</strong> unless it was approved by the SC.</li>
<li>Karnataka has <strong>no right to construct any reservoir on an inter-state river without the consent of the lower riparian state</strong> i.e. Tamil Nadu in this case.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The project is against the final order of the<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/inter-state-river-water-sharing-disputes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT)</strong></a> in which the SC held that no state can claim exclusive ownership or assert rights to deprive other states of the waters of inter-state rivers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>CWDT and the SC have found that the existing storage facilities available in the Cauvery basin were adequate</strong> for storing and distributing water so Karnataka&rsquo;s proposal is ex-facie (on the face of it) untenable and should be <strong>rejected outright.</strong></li>
<li>It has also held that the<strong> reservoir is not just for drinking water alone, but to increase the extent of irrigation,</strong> which is in clear violation of the Cauvery Water Disputes Award.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Cauvery River Dispute<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1622204658_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1622204658_image3.png" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="333" height="232" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>River Cauvery (Kaveri):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is known as <strong>&lsquo;Ponni&rsquo; in Tamil</strong> also known as <strong>Ganga of the south,</strong> and it is the <strong>fourth largest river of southern India.</strong></li>
<li>It is a <strong>sacred river of southern India.</strong> It<strong> rises on Brahmagiri Hill</strong> of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ecologically-sensitive-areas-in-western-ghats" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Western Ghats</strong></a> in southwestern Karnataka state, flows in a southeasterly direction through the states of <strong>Karnataka and Tamil Nadu,</strong> and descends the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-the-eastern-ghats" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Eastern Ghats</strong></a> in a series of great falls and <strong>drains into Bay of Bengal</strong> through <strong>Pondicherry.</strong></li>
<li>Some of its tributaries are<strong> Arkavathi, Hemavathi, Lakshmana Theertha, Shimsa, Kabini and Harangi.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Dispute:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Historical Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As the river originates in Karnataka, flows through Tamil Nadu with major tributaries coming from Kerala and drains into Bay of Bengal through Pondicherry the <strong>dispute therefore involves 3 states and one Union Territory.</strong></li>
<li>The genesis of the dispute is <strong>150 years old and dates back to the two agreements of arbitration in 1892 and 1924</strong> between the then <strong>Madras presidency and Mysore.</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>entailed the principle that the upper riparian state must obtain consent of lower riparian state</strong> for any construction activity viz. reservoir on the river Cauvery.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recent Developments:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>From<strong> 1974, Karnataka started diverting water</strong> into its four newly made reservoirs, without the consent of Tamil Nadu resulting in a dispute.</li>
<li>To resolve the matter, the<strong> CWDT was established in 1990</strong> which took 17 years to arrive at the<strong> final order (2007)</strong> on how Cauvery water should be shared between the 4 riparian states in normal rainfall conditions.</li>
<li>In distress years, a pro-rata basis shall be used, it instructed. The government again took 6 year and <strong>notified the order in 2013.</strong></li>
<li>This was challenged in SC which directed Karnataka to release 12000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu prompting protests in the State.</li>
<li>The final verdict of the SC came in 2018 where it declared the <strong>Cauvery a national asset</strong> and largely<strong> upheld the water-sharing arrangements finalised by the CWDT</strong> and also reduced the allocation of water from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As per the SC, <strong>Karnataka</strong> would get 284.75 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft), <strong>Tamil Nadu</strong> 404.25 tmcft, <strong>Kerala</strong> 30 tmcft and <strong>Puducherry</strong> 7 tmcft.</li>
<li>It also directed the Centre to notify the <strong>Cauvery Management Scheme.</strong> The central government notified the &lsquo;Cauvery Water Management Scheme&rsquo; in June 2018, constituting the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/karnataka-ordered-to-release-cauvery-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Cauvery Water Management Authority</strong></a>&rsquo; and the <strong>&lsquo;Cauvery Water Regulation Committee&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> states need to shed the regional approach</strong> as the solution lies in cooperation and coordination, not in conflict. The<strong> planning must be done at the basin level</strong> to make the solution sustainable and ecologically viable.</li>
<li>In the long term, there is a<strong> need to recharge the river through afforestation, river linking,</strong> etc and<strong> increased focus is needed on increasing water use efficiency</strong> viz. micro irrigation, <strong>awareness in people to prudently use water</strong> and water smart strategies.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/mekedatu-karnataka-to-challenge-ngt-decision/article34656187.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8240,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Groundwater Depletion and Cropping Intensity',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>In a recent study, it has been found that<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/depleting-groundwater" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> groundwater depletion</strong></a> in India could reduce <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cropping-patterns-and-major-crops-of-india-part-two" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>winter cropped acreage</strong> </a>significantly in years ahead.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The researchers studied India&rsquo;s three main<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/different-irrigation-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> irrigation types</strong></a> on winter cropped areas: dug wells, tube wells and canals.</li>
<li>The researchers also analysed the groundwater data from the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/groundwater-extraction-norms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Ground Water Board.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Wheat, barley, peas, gram and mustard </strong>are<strong> grown in winter.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Present Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has <strong>achieved impressive food-production gains since the 1960s,</strong> due to an increased reliance on irrigation wells, which allowed Indian farmers to expand production into the mostly dry winter and summer seasons.</li>
<li>India is the world&rsquo;s <strong>second-largest producer of wheat and rice</strong> and is home to more than 600 million farmers.</li>
<li>India produces <strong>10% of the world&rsquo;s crops</strong> and is now the <strong>world&rsquo;s largest consumer of groundwater,</strong> and <strong>aquifers are rapidly becoming depleted</strong> across much of India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In the <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/16-12-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>green revolution era</strong></a>, policy-supported environment led to a large increase in rice cultivation in northwestern India mainly in Punjab and Haryana which are ecologically less suitable for rice cultivation due to predominantly light soils.</li>
<li>This policy-supported intensive agriculture <strong>led to unsustainable groundwater use for irrigation</strong> and in turn groundwater scarcity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Findings of the Study:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Related to Groundwater:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Groundwater is a critical resource for food security, accounting for <strong>60% of irrigation supplies in India,</strong> but unsustainable consumption of groundwater for irrigation and home use is leading to its depletion.</li>
<li>Groundwater depletion in India could result in a <strong>reduction in food crops by up to 20% across the country</strong> and up to 68% in regions projected to have low future groundwater availability in 2025.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is found that 13% of the villages in which farmers plant a winter crop are located in critically water-depleted regions.</li>
<li>The results suggest that these losses will largely occur in northwest and central India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related to Switching to Canal Irrigation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Indian<strong> government has suggested that switching from groundwater-depletion wells to irrigation canals</strong> is one way to overcome projected shortfalls.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The irrigation canals divert surface water from lakes and rivers.</li>
<li>However, switching to canal irrigation has <strong>limited adaptation potential at the national scale.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The study suggests that switch to canal irrigation<strong> will not fully compensate for the expected loss of groundwater</strong> in Indian agriculture.</li>
<li>Further, in comparison to tube well irrigation, <strong>canal irrigation was associated with less winter cropped area</strong> and cropped area that was more sensitive to rainfall variability.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related to Impact on Crop Production:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Reduction in Cropping Intensity:</strong> Even if all regions that are currently using depleted groundwater for irrigation will switch to using canal irrigation, cropping intensity <strong>may decline by 7% nationally</strong> and by 24% in the most severely affected locations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is found that irrigation canals would favour farms close to canals, leading to unequal access.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reductions in Wheat Production:</strong> The reductions in crop area will occur largely in the states that grow wheat, potentially leading to substantial reductions in wheat production in the future.</li>
<li><strong>Food Security:</strong> The low wheat production could have ramifications for food security given that India is the second largest producer of wheat globally and wheat provides approximately 20% of household calories in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cropping Intensity</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It refers to<strong> raising of a number of crops from the same field during one agricultural year;</strong> it can be expressed through a formula.</li>
<li><strong>Cropping Intensity = Gross Cropped Area/Net Sown Area x 100.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Gross Cropped Area:</strong> This represents the total area sown once and/or more than once in a particular year, i.e. the area is counted as many times as there are sowings in a year. This total area is also known as total cropped area or total area sown.</li>
<li><strong>Net Sown Area:</strong> This represents the total area sown with crops and orchards. Area sown more than once in the same year is counted only once.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Around 51% of India's geographical area is already under cultivation as compared to 11% of the world average.</li>
<li>The present cropping intensity of 136% has registered an increase of only 25% since independence. Further, rainfed drylands constitute 65% of the total net sown area.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Central Ground Water Board</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a subordinate office of the<strong> Ministry of Jal Shakti</strong>&nbsp;and is the National Apex Agency entrusted with the responsibilities of providing scientific inputs for management, exploration, monitoring, assessment, augmentation and regulation of groundwater resources of the country.</li>
<li>It was <strong>established in 1970</strong> by renaming the Exploratory Tubewells Organization under the Ministry of Agriculture and later on merged with the <strong>Groundwater Wing of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-navy-signs-mou-with-geological-survey-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Geological Survey of India</a></strong> during 1972.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Irrigation Infrastructure in Easter India:</strong> There are enough groundwater resources supported with higher monsoon rainfall in eastern Indian states like Bihar. But due to lack of enough irrigation infrastructure, farmers are not able to make use of natural resources there.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is a need for better policies in eastern India to expand irrigation and thus increase agricultural productivity.</li>
<li>This will also release some pressure from northwestern Indian states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Water-saving Technologies:</strong> Adoption of water-saving technologies like a sprinkler, drip irrigation.</li>
<li><strong>Less water-Intensive Crops:</strong> Switching to less water-intensive crops in some areas may help use the limited groundwater resources more effectively.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/groundwater-depletion-may-reduce-winter-cropping-intensity-by-20-in-india/article34402181.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8075,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Godavari River',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Godavari water is to be released into the irrigation canals in East and West Godavari districts from the <strong>Polavaram irrigation</strong> project site up to 15<sup>th</sup> April 2021 against the previous deadline of 31<sup>st</sup> March 2021.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Work on the <strong>cofferdam</strong> is scheduled to commence in April.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Godavari River:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Godavari is the <strong>largest Peninsular river system.</strong> It is also called the <strong>Dakshin Ganga.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Source:</strong> Godavari river rises from <strong>Trimbakeshwar near Nasik</strong> in Maharashtra and flows for a length of about 1465 km before <strong>outfalling into the Bay of Bengal.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Drainage Basin:</strong> The Godavari basin extends over states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha in addition to smaller parts in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Union territory of Puducherry.</li>
<li><strong>Tributaries:</strong> Pravara, Purna, Manjra, Penganga, Wardha, Wainganga, Pranhita (combined flow of Wainganga, Penganga, Wardha), Indravati, Maner and the Sabri.</li>
<li><strong>Cultural Significance: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/haridwar-kumbh-mela" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kumbh Mela</a></strong> also takes place on the <strong>banks of the Godavari river in Nashik.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Other locations for Kumbh are the <strong>Shipra river in Ujjain,</strong> the <strong>Ganges in Haridwar,</strong> and the <strong>confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati river in Prayag. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Godavari River Dispute: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/water-dispute-between-telangana-and-andhra-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Godavari river water sharing</a></strong> is bone of contention among Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Karnataka.</li>
<li><strong>Important Projects on Godavari:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Polavaram Irrigation Project.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kaleshwaram-lift-irrigation-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kaleshwaram.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Sadarmatt Anicut</strong> across river Godavari is one among the two irrigation projects in the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) Register of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/heritage-tag-for-two-telangana-irrigation-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Heritage Irrigation Structures.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Inchampalli:</strong> The Inchampalli project is proposed on the Godavari River about 12 km downstream of the <strong>confluence of Indravati with the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is a joint project among the States of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sriram Sagar Project (SRSP):</strong> The Sriram Sagar Project is a multipurpose project, located across the Godavari River near Pochampad of Nizamabad District in Telangana.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617610456_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617610456_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Polavaram Irrigation Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Polavaram Project is located <strong>in Andhra Pradesh on the river Godavari,</strong> near Polavaram village.</li>
<li>It is a<strong> multi-purpose irrigation project</strong> as the project once completed will provide Irrigation benefits and will generate <strong>HydroElectric Power.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In addition, this project will also supply drinking water.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will facilitate an<strong> inter-basin transfer to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/refer-krishna-dispute-to-tribunal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Krishna river</a> basin</strong> through its Right canal.</li>
<li>It will also provide indirect benefits such as development of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-blue-revolution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pisciculture</strong></a> (breeding and rearing of fish), tourism and urbanisation.</li>
<li>The Project has been <strong>accorded national project status by the union government in 2014</strong> (under Section-90 of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/formation-day#:~:text=The%20Andhra%20Pradesh%20Reorganisation%20Act,was%20bifurcated%20to%20create%20Haryana." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014</strong></a>).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cofferdam</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A cofferdam is defined as a <strong>temporary barrier</strong> in or around a body of water which allows the process of <strong>de-watering, diversion, or damming of water within an enclosed area.</strong></li>
<li>The major purpose of any cofferdam type is to hold back overwhelming or inconvenient waters and create a dry work environment.</li>
<li>This allows a project to proceed with as little resistance and as much safety as possible.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617610479_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617610479_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="350" height="233" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/godavari-water-to-be-released-up-to-april-15/article34201278.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8039,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'New Red Algal Seaweed Species',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, two<strong> new red algal <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/saksham-portal-and-seaweed-mission-tifac" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seaweed</a> species</strong> have been discovered along India&rsquo;s coastline.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has a <strong>vast coastline</strong> of over 7,500 kms.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617107256_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617107256_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They grow in the<strong> intertidal regions of the coast,</strong> namely the area that is submerged during the high tide and exposed during low tides.</li>
<li>The genus<strong> Hypnea consists of calcareous, erect, branched red seaweeds.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There are 61 species of which <strong>10 were reported in India.</strong> With two new species, the <strong>total number of species now would be 63.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Location:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Hypnea indica</strong> was discovered in Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, and Somnath Pathan and Sivrajpur in Gujarat.</li>
<li><strong>Hypnea bullata</strong> was discovered from Kanyakumari and Diu island of Daman and Diu.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hypnea variants of seaweeds can <strong>fetch good monetary value if commercial-scale cultivation is taken up.</strong> Hypnea contains Carrageenan, a biomolecule commonly used in the food industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Seaweeds</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They are the <strong>primitive, marine non-flowering marine algae without root, stem and leaves,</strong> play a major role in marine ecosystems.</li>
<li>Large seaweeds form dense underwater forests known as<strong> kelp forests,</strong> which act as underwater nurseries for fish, snails and sea urchins.</li>
<li>Some species of seaweeds viz. Gelidiella acerosa, Gracilaria edulis, Gracilaria crassa, Gracilaria verrucosa, Sargassum spp. and Turbinaria spp.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Location:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Seaweeds, <strong>found mostly in the intertidal region,</strong> in shallow and deep waters of the sea and also in estuaries and backwaters.</li>
<li>The southern <strong>Gulf of Mannar&rsquo;s rocky intertidal and lower intertidal regions have rich populations</strong> of several seaweed species.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ecological Importance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bioindicator:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When waste from agriculture, industries, aquaculture and households are let into the ocean, it causes nutrient imbalance leading to algal blooming, the sign of marine chemical damage. <strong>Seaweeds absorb the excess nutrients</strong> and balance out the ecosystem.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Iron Sequestrator:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These aquatic organisms heavily rely on iron for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bbx11-gene-greening-of-plants" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>photosynthesis.</strong></a> When the quantity of this mineral exceeds healthy levels and becomes dangerous to marine life, seaweeds trap it and prevent damage. Similarly, most <strong>heavy metals found in marine ecosystems are trapped and removed by seaweeds.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Oxygen and Nutrient Supplier:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>On their part, the<strong> seaweeds derive nutrition through photosynthesis of sunlight and nutrients present in seawater.</strong> They release oxygen through every part of their bodies. They also <strong>supply organic nutrients to other marine life forms.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role in Climate Mitigation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Seaweed has a significant role in mitigating climate change. By afforesting 9% of the ocean with seaweed, it is possible to sequester 53 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually. Hence, there is a proposal termed as<strong> &lsquo;ocean afforestation&rsquo;</strong> for farming seaweed to remove carbon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Utilities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They can be used as fertilizers and to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pegasus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>increase aquaculture production.</strong></a></li>
<li>When <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/animal-husbandry#:~:text=It%20supports%20the%20livelihood%20of,%25%20(2018%2D19)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>livestock</strong> </a>is fed with seaweed, methane emission from cattle may be reduced substantially.</li>
<li>They can be buried in beach dunes to<strong> combat beach erosion.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>used as an ingredient in preparing toothpaste, cosmetics and paints.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related Initiative:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, the Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) has launched a<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/saksham-portal-and-seaweed-mission-tifac" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Seaweed Mission.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/two-new-seaweed-species-discovered-along-indias-coastline-7250122/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8033,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Cape of Good Hope',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Due to the recent blockage of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/suez-canal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Suez Canal</strong></a>, the option of<strong> re-routing ships via the Cape of Good Hope</strong> was explored.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Cape of Good Hope is <strong>a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A headland is a narrow piece of land which sticks out from the coast into the sea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Cape of Good Hope route joins Eastern Asia and Europe to southern parts of Africa.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 provided a much shorter route</strong> from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean, making the long trip around Africa inefficient.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Cape of Good Hope route is 8900 km longer than the Suez canal route and can take additional two weeks.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A common misconception is that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Contemporary geographic knowledge instead states the <strong>southernmost point of Africa is Cape Agulhas about 150 km to the east-southeast.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>warm-water Agulhas current (Indian Ocean) meets the cold-water Benguela current (Atlantic ocean)</strong> between Cape Agulhas and Cape Point (about 1.2 km east of the Cape of Good Hope).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>History:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Cape was<strong> originally named the Cape of Storms in 1488</strong> by the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias.</li>
<li>It was <strong>later renamed to Cape Good Hope to attract more people to the Cape Sea Route</strong> that passed the southern coast of Africa.</li>
<li>The Cape eventually <strong>became a significant port and waypoint</strong> for sailors traveling from Europe to Asia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617088277_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617088277_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/suez-canal-blocked-india-eyes-cape-of-good-hope/article34172951.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 18 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8012,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Suez Canal',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A large cargo ship named 'Ever Given' got stuck near the southern end of the Suez Canal due to a mishap caused by bad weather.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is causing a huge jam of vessels at either end of the vital international trade artery.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Suez Canal is an<strong> artificial sea-level <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/use-of-waterways-for-reducing-transportation-cost" target="_blank" rel="noopener">waterway</a></strong> running north to south across the Isthmus of Suez in<strong> Egypt, </strong>to<strong> connect the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.</strong></li>
<li>The canal <strong>separates the African continent from Asia.</strong></li>
<li>It provides the<strong> shortest maritime route</strong> between Europe and the lands lying around the Indian and western Pacific oceans.</li>
<li>It is <strong>one of the world&rsquo;s most heavily used shipping lanes,</strong> carrying over <strong>12% of world trade by volume.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It provides <strong>a crucial link for oil, natural gas and cargo</strong> being shipped from East to West.</li>
<li>As per Suez Canal Authority (SCA) data, in 2020, nearly <strong>19,000 ships,</strong> or an average of <strong>51.5 ships per day,</strong> with a net <strong>tonnage of 1.17 billion</strong> tonnes passed through the canal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The canal is <strong>a major source of income for Egypt&rsquo;s economy,</strong> with the African country earning USD 5.61 billion in revenues from it last year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In<strong> 2015,</strong> Egypt announced plans to further expand the Suez Canal, aiming to reduce waiting times and double the number of ships that can use the canal daily by <strong>2023.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>History:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Suez Canal is actually the <strong>first canal that directly links the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.</strong> It was <strong>opened for navigation in November 1869.</strong></li>
<li>The 150-year-old canal was <strong>controlled by British and French interests in its initial years,</strong> but was <strong>nationalised in 1956 by Egypt.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Suez Crisis,</strong> international crisis in the Middle East, precipitated in July 1956, when the Egyptian president, Gamal Abdel Nasser, nationalized the Suez Canal. The canal had been owned by the Suez Canal Company, which was controlled by French and British interests.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Canal<strong> was closed five times;</strong> the last time was the most serious one since it lasted for 8 years. The Canal was then reopened for navigation in June 1975.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1616668021_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1616668021_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-has-caused-a-traffic-jam-in-the-suez-canal-7243543/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1616671374368000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2XJuFYFcE1tPLYEFdtoz3P" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 19 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7990,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Ken-Betwa Link Project',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Chief Ministers of <strong>Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh</strong> signed a memorandum of agreement to implement the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/ken-betwa-interlink-project#:~:text=The%20Ken%2DBetwa%20Link%20Project,UP%20and%20Tikamgarh%2C%20Panna%20and" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ken Betwa Link Project (KBLP)</strong></a>, the first project of the <strong>National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The two states <strong>signed a tripartite agreement with the Centre</strong> on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-water-crisis-unicef" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Water Day</strong> </a>(22nd March) to finally implement this ambitious project.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ken Betwa Link Project (KBLP):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP)</strong> is the River interlinking project that <strong>aims to transfer surplus water from the Ken river in MP to Betwa in UP to irrigate the drought-prone Bundelkhand region.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The region spread across the districts of two states mainly Jhansi, Banda, Lalitpur and Mahoba districts of UP and Tikamgarh, Panna and Chhatarpur districts of MP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The project involves building a 77-metre tall and a 2-km wide <strong>Dhaudhan dam and a 230-km canal.</strong></li>
<li>Ken-Betwa is <strong>one of the 30 river interlinking projects</strong> conceived across the country.</li>
<li>The project has been <strong>delayed due to political and environmental issues.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advantage of Interlining of Rivers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Reducing Drought:</strong> River linking will be a solution to recurring droughts in Bundelkhand region.</li>
<li><strong>Farmers&rsquo; Benefit:</strong> It will curb the rate of farmers suicide and will ensure them stable livelihood by providing sustainable means of irrigation and reducing excessive dependence on groundwater.</li>
<li><strong>Electricity Production:</strong> It will not only <strong>accelerate the water conservation</strong> by construction of a multipurpose dam but will also <strong>produce 103 MW of hydropower</strong> and will <strong>supply drinking water to 62 lakh people.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Rejuvenate Biodiversity:</strong> Few are of the view that the introduction of dams inside the water scarce regions of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/panna-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>panna tiger reserve (MP)</strong></a>, will rejuvenate the forests of the reserve that in turn will pave the way for Rich Biodiversity in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Environmental:</strong> Because of certain environmental and wildlife conservation concerns like <strong>passing of the project though critical tiger habitat of panna tiger reserve</strong>, the project is stuck in for the approval from <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-green-tribunal-ngt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal (NGT)</strong></a>, and other higher authorities.</li>
<li><strong>Economic:</strong> There is a huge economic cost attached with the project implementation and maintenance, which has been rising due to delays in project implementation.</li>
<li><strong>Social:</strong> Reconstruction and rehabilitation caused due to displacement resulting from the implementation of the project will involve social cost as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Ken and Betwa Rivers</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ken and Betwa rivers originate in MP and are the <strong>tributaries of Yamuna.</strong></li>
<li>Ken meets with Yamuna in Banda district of UP and with Betwa in Hamirpur district of UP.</li>
<li>Rajghat, Paricha and Matatila dams are over Betwa river.</li>
<li>Ken River passes through Panna tiger reserve.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>National River Linking Project (NRLP)</strong> formally known as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/challenges-of-river-interlinking#:~:text=The%20National%20River%20Linking%20Project,inter%2Dbasin%20water%20transfer%20projects." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Perspective Plan</strong></a>, envisages the transfer of <strong>water from water &lsquo;surplus&rsquo; basins</strong> where there is flooding, to <strong>water &lsquo;deficit&rsquo; basins</strong> where there is drought/scarcity, through inter-basin water transfer projects.</li>
<li>Under the <strong>National Perspective Plan (NPP)</strong>, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA), has identified 30 links (16 under the Peninsular Component and 14 under the Himalayan Component) for the preparation of feasibility reports (FRs).</li>
<li>The NPP for transferring water from water-surplus basins to water-deficit basins was prepared in August 1980.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1616483113_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1616483113_image3.png" width="700" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ken-betwa-link-up-mp-to-sign-pact-today-7239044/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1616486682250000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3Cuziby0hv5PSwbwUWEzL2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	}
]
$tags = [
	(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'id' => (int) 263,
		'tag' => 'Water Resources',
		'colorcode' => 'FFFFFF',
		'posturl' => 'water-resources',
		'status' => (int) 1,
		'sort_order' => (int) 5,
		'type' => (int) 0,
		'relivant' => (float) 1,
		'metatitle' => 'Water Resources',
		'metakeyword' => 'Water Resources',
		'metadescription' => 'Water Resources',
		'addedby' => (int) 9,
		'updatedby' => (int) 9,
		'added' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'modified' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'tags'
	
	}
]
$title = 'Article Tags'
$lastyear = (int) 2018
$year = '2021'
$i = (int) 2017
$selected = ''
$m = (int) 13
$month = 'December'

include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp, line 100
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::_renderElement() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1554
Cake\View\View::element() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 668
include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/articlebox.ctp, line 5
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::_renderElement() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1554
Cake\View\View::element() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 668
include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Articles/tags.ctp, line 61
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 765
Cake\Controller\Controller::render() - CORE/src/Controller/Controller.php, line 623
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 125
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 93

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