Article Tags

You searched “Water Resources”. Your tag search matches the following results:

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
Mullaperiyar Dam

Why in News Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the Mullaperiyar Dam Supervisory Committee to issue directions on issues concerning the...

17 Mar 2021 Water Resources
Removal of Heavy Metals from Water

Why in News Recently, a research team at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi has developed a new method for efficient removal of heavy...

17 Mar 2021 Water Resources
Dams and Destruction

Introduction About: A dam is a structure built across a river or stream to hold back water. Over the centuries dams have been built using...

16 Mar 2021 Water Resources
Declining Rainfall in Cherrapunji

Why in News A recent study that looked at the rainfall pattern in the past 119 years found a decreasing trend at Cherrapunji (Meghalaya) and nearby...

22 Feb 2021 Water Resources
Deglaciation and Threats

Deglaciation Glaciers, ice caps and continental ice sheets cover some 10% of the earth’s land surface at the present time, whereas during...

22 Feb 2021 Water Resources
Draft Blue Economy Policy

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has rolled out the draft Blue Economy policy, inviting suggestions and inputs from...

18 Feb 2021 Water Resources
Glaciers

About A glacier is a large, perennial accumulation of crystalline ice, snow, rock, sediment, and water that originates on land and moves down...

15 Feb 2021 Water Resources
Odisha’s Border Disputes

Why In News Recently, a border dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh once again resurfaced when Andhra Pradesh announced panchayat polls in...

08 Feb 2021 Water Resources
Centre for Wetland Conservation and Management

Why in News Recently, on the occasion of the World Wetland Day, the Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced the...

04 Feb 2021 Water Resources
Ageing Dams of India: UN Report

Why in News According to a United Nations (UN) report "Ageing water infrastructure: An emerging global risk", over 1,000 large dams in India will be...

02 Feb 2021 Water Resources
El Nino and La Nina

El Nino and La Nina are complex weather patterns resulting from variations in ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific Region. They are...

18 Jan 2021 Water Resources
Digital Ocean

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Earth Sciences inaugurated the web-based application DigitalOcean developed by Indian National Centre for...

30 Dec 2020 Water Resources
Aquifer Mapping & Management

Why in News A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) has been recently signed between Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Ministry of Jal Shakti and Council...

24 Dec 2020 Water Resources
Mid-term Review of National Hydrology Project

Why in News Recently, the Union Minister of Jal Shakti has reviewed the progress made under the National Hydrology Project (NHP) in its...

18 Dec 2020 Water Resources

Warning (2): count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable [ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp, line 100]

Code Context


<?php if(count($updates)>0){?>
  <div class="updates">

$viewFile = '/var/www/drishtiias.com/public_html/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp'
$dataForView = [
	'progress' => [],
	'bookmarks' => [],
	'notes' => [],
	'mynote' => [],
	'topdata' => [
		(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 1 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {}
	],
	'searchdata' => [],
	'amonth' => 'May',
	'ayear' => '2021',
	'articles' => [
		(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 1 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 2 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 3 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 4 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 5 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 8 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 18 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 19 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {}
	],
	'tags' => [
		(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {}
	],
	'title' => 'Article Tags'
]
$progress = []
$bookmarks = []
$notes = []
$mynote = []
$topdata = [
	(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/images/pdf/UPSC_Press%20Release_19042021%20Drishti%20IAS.pdf',
		'title' => 'UPSC Press Release April 2021',
		'type' => (int) 1,
		'date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {},
		'[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]' => 'news'
	
	},
	(int) 1 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/estore/english-books/all-english-books/Indian-and-World-Geography',
		'title' => 'New book release: Indian and World Geography - Prelims Practice Series (PPS)',
		'type' => (int) 1,
		'date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {},
		'[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]' => 'news'
	
	}
]
$searchdata = []
$amonth = 'May'
$ayear = '2021'
$articles = [
	(int) 0 => 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>',
		'posturl' => 'groundwater-depletion-and-cropping-intensity',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Water Resources',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 1 => 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>',
		'posturl' => 'godavari-river-1',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Water Resources',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 2 => 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>',
		'posturl' => 'new-red-algal-seaweed-species',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Water Resources',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 3 => 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>',
		'posturl' => 'cape-of-good-hope',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Water Resources',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 4 => 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>',
		'posturl' => 'suez-canal',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Water Resources',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 5 => 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>',
		'posturl' => 'ken-betwa-link-project',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Water Resources',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7953,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Mullaperiyar Dam',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, 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> has ordered the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mullaperiyar-dam" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mullaperiyar Dam</a> Supervisory Committee</strong> to issue directions on issues concerning the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/dams-and-destruction" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>dam's safety.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The SC constituted a <strong>permanent Supervisory Committee</strong> in<strong> 2014</strong> to<strong> oversee all the issues concerning Mullaperiyar dam.</strong> The dam is <strong>a source of friction between Tamil Nadu and Kerala.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <strong>petition</strong> was filed by a resident of Idukki district of Kerala to <strong>lower the water level of Mullaperiyar dam to 130 feet</strong> saying there is a <strong>danger of <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/earthquake-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">earthquakes</a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/flood-management-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">floods</a></strong> in the area as monsoon progresses in the State.</li>
<li>The petitioner contended that the <strong>Supervisory Committee had become &ldquo;lethargical&rdquo;</strong> about the safety inspection and survey of the dam. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It had <strong>delegated its duties to a sub-committee of local officials.</strong></li>
<li>The instrumentation scheme, safety mechanism, etc, have not been finalised for the past six years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tamil Nadu&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Blamed Kerala for delaying the finalisation of the <strong>rule curve</strong> for the dam.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Rule curve</strong> in a dam decides the fluctuating storage levels in a reservoir. The gate opening schedule of a dam is based on the rule curve.</li>
<li>It is<strong> part of the &ldquo;core safety&rdquo;</strong> mechanism in a dam.</li>
<li>The <strong>rule curve level is fixed to avoid emergency opening of dam shutters</strong> in case of a flood-like situation. It helps in controlling the water level in the dam during peak monsoon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Kerala has made consistent efforts to obstruct Tamil Nadu from operating the dam.</li>
<li>Tamil Nadu is <strong>not able to access data</strong> which is in Kerala&rsquo;s terrain. There is <strong>no road built,</strong> the<strong> power supply has not been restored</strong> although Tamil Nadu has paid for it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Kerala&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Accused Tamil Nadu of adopting an <strong>&ldquo;obsolete&rdquo;</strong> gate operation schedule dating back to 1939.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>SC&rsquo;s Ruling:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Tamil Nadu&rsquo;s Chief Secretary</strong> shall be<strong> &ldquo;personally responsible&rdquo;</strong> and <strong>&ldquo;appropriate action&rdquo;</strong> will be taken on failure to give information on the <strong>rule curve for Mullaperiyar dam</strong> to the SC -appointed <strong>Supervisory Committee.</strong></li>
<li>Directed the Supervisory Committee to<strong> issue directions or take steps to address the three core safety issues</strong> and submit a compliance report in four weeks.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Core Issues:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Monitoring and performance of the <strong>instrumentation</strong> of the dam.</li>
<li>Finalising the<strong> rule curve.</strong></li>
<li>Fixing the gate <strong>operating schedule.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The three core issues are <strong>directly concerned with the safety of the dam</strong> and will have a cascading effect on persons residing in the nearby areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Mullaperiyar Dam</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Mullaperiyar, a <strong>123-year-old</strong> dam, is<strong> located on the confluence of the Mullayar and Periyar rivers</strong> in <strong>Kerala&rsquo;s Idukki district.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The dam stands at the <strong>height of 53.66 metres</strong> and <strong>365.85 metres in length.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is <strong>operated and maintained by the Tamil Nadu</strong> for meeting the drinking water and irrigation requirements of five of its southern districts.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to a 999-year <strong>lease agreement</strong> made during the British rule the operational rights were handed over to Tamil Nadu.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>dam intends to divert the waters of the west-flowing river Periyar eastward</strong> to the arid rain shadow regions of the Tamil Nadu.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Periyar River</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Periyar River is the longest river in the state of Kerala</strong> with a length of 244 km.</li>
<li>It is also known as<strong> &lsquo;Lifeline of Kerala&rsquo;</strong> as it is one of the few perennial rivers in the state.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A<strong> perennial river is a channel that has continuous flow</strong> in parts of its stream bed all year round.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Periyar River <strong>originates from Sivagiri hills</strong> of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ecologically-sensitive-areas-in-western-ghats" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Western Ghats</strong></a> and flows through the <strong>Periyar National Park.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>main tributaries</strong> of Periyar are Muthirapuzha, Mullayar, Cheruthoni, Perinjankutti.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615975332_image7.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615975332_image7.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/come-out-with-rule-curve-for-mullaperiyar-sc/article34085574.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'mullaperiyar-dam-1',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Water Resources',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7952,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Removal of Heavy Metals from Water',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a research team at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi has developed a <strong>new method</strong> for efficient removal of <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/heavy-metals-contaminating-india-s-rivers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heavy metals from water</a>.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Several methods like chemical precipitation, ion exchange, <strong>adsorption</strong>, membrane filtration, reverse osmosis, solvent extraction, and electrochemical treatment have been used to remove heavy metals from contaminated water.</li>
<li>Many of these methods suffer from <strong>high capital and operational costs.</strong></li>
<li>Therefore, <strong>adsorption is one of the best-suited methods</strong>, due to its high efficiency, low-cost, and ease of operation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About the Research:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A research team has developed a fibrous membrane filter using a <strong>biopolymer-based material</strong> that helps to separate out the heavy metals from water samples.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These membranes contain adsorbents materials that attract and hold the metals.</li>
<li>These adsorbents contain a large amount of a biopolymer, Chitosan, derived from crab shells that is mixed with a well-known polymer, Nylon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Funding of Research:</strong>The study was funded by the <strong>Ministry of Mines, Government of India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Process Used:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The researchers have used a process called <strong>&ldquo;solution blowing&rdquo;</strong>, while regular fibre-based adsorbents are produced through a method called <strong>&ldquo;melt blowing&rdquo;</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Melt Blowing:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is a special technique for manufacturing material with <strong>very fine fibers, down to 0.5 &mu;m (in range of micrometers).</strong></li>
<li>The fibers are elongated by blowing hot air at high speed concentrically along the fibers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Solution Blowing:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It starts from dissolving the polymer in solvent, e.g. cellulose in ionic liquid.</li>
<li>The solution is pumped through a spin nozzle where air is blown at high speed concentrically.</li>
<li>Solution blowing produces fibres that are <strong>nanometres in diameter</strong>, a hundred thousand times thinner than a single human hair. Finer than those produced through the process of Melt Blowing. This <strong>increases the surface area</strong> of fibers tremendously, resulting in better adsorption of heavy metals.</li>
<li>This method also enables <strong>blending of higher concentration of natural polymers</strong> like chitosan and lignin with synthetic polymers like Nylon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advantages:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Higher Metal Removal Efficiency:</strong> The normal absorbent fibres bind to the target metal only at their surface, in their nanofiber membranes.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The biopolymer-based material adsorption was seen to happen at the sub-surface scale as well, which translates to higher metal removal efficiency.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reuse of Membrane:</strong> The membranes could be reused at least eight times before there was considerable reduction in the efficiency of metal adsorption.</li>
<li><strong>Recovery of Adsorbed Metal:</strong> The adsorbed metal in a metal-hydroxyl nitrate form can be easily recovered. It is a value-addition to the membrane filter.</li>
<li><strong>Industrial Production:</strong> The researchers have provided a method to produce fibre-based adsorbents at large scale for handling larger volumes of metal-contaminated water.</li>
<li><strong>Environmentally Efficient:</strong> Using the solution blowing technique could replace the synthetic polymers with natural polymers. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will be a welcome move in this era of environmental consciousness.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Heavy Metals</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The term heavy metal refers to any metallic chemical element that has a relatively <strong>high density (&gt; 5 g/cm 3)</strong> and is toxic or poisonous at low concentrations.</li>
<li><strong>Examples of heavy metals</strong> include mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), thallium (Tl), and lead (Pb)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Source of Heavy Metals:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Heavy metals are introduced into the environment either by <strong>natural means</strong> or by <strong>human activities.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Natural Sources:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Geographical phenomena like volcanic eruptions, weathering of rocks, leaching into rivers, lakes and oceans due to action of water.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Anthropogenic Sources:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These metals are released into the water through anthropogenic activities such as mining, manufacturing, electroplating, electronics, discharge from auto exhaust, domestic waste, agricultural waste and fertilizer production.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/central-water-commission-on-kerala-floods" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Water Commission (CWC)</strong></a> has reported that the samples from <strong>two-thirds of the water quality stations</strong> spanning India&rsquo;s major rivers are contaminated by one or more heavy metals, exceeding safe limits set by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bureau-of-indian-standards-bis-act-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bureau of Indian Standards.</strong></a></li>
<li>Several villagers in <strong>West Bengal</strong> are suffering from sores and ulcers due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/arsenic-affected-habitations-increased" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>arsenic poisoning</strong></a> from drinking water. According to a recent report, the number of arsenic-affected habitations in India has <strong>increased by 145% in the last five years (2015-20).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Effect of Heavy Metals on Human:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are some <strong>essential heavy metals</strong> which the human body requires in trace amounts such as Cobalt, copper, zinc, and manganese but in the excessive amount, it can be detrimental to health.</li>
<li>The heavy metals found in drinking water such as <strong>lead, mercury, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/arsenic-affected-habitations-increased" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arsenic</a>, and cadmium</strong> have no beneficial effects on our body. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In fact, their accumulation inside the body can cause severe health problems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: center; height: 19px; background-color: #8c1818; border-color: #ffffff;">
<p><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Metals</strong></span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: center; height: 19px; background-color: #8c1818; border-color: #ffffff;">
<p><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Disease</strong></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; height: 19px; background-color: #f5f2f2;">
<p>Mercury</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; height: 19px; background-color: #f5f2f2;">
<p>Minamata disease</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; height: 19px; background-color: #f5f2f2;">
<p>Cadmium</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; height: 19px; background-color: #f5f2f2;">
<p>Itai Itai</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; height: 19px; background-color: #f5f2f2;">
<p>Lead</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; height: 19px; background-color: #f5f2f2;">
<p>Anaemia</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; height: 19px; background-color: #f5f2f2;">
<p>Arsenic</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; height: 19px; background-color: #f5f2f2;">
<p>Black foot disease</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; height: 19px; background-color: #f5f2f2;">
<p>Nitrates</p>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; height: 19px; background-color: #f5f2f2;">
<p>Blue Baby Syndrome</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/pollution/new-method-for-efficient-removal-of-heavy-metals-from-water-75980" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'removal-of-heavy-metals-from-water',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Water Resources',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 8 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7942,
		'category_id' => (int) 26,
		'title' => 'Dams and Destruction',
		'description' => '<h3>Introduction</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A dam is a structure built across a river or stream to hold back water. Over the centuries dams have been built using different materials.</li>
<li>Ancient dam builders used natural materials such as rocks or clay while today most dams are built using concrete.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dams in India:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has 4,407 large dams, the third highest number in the world after China (23,841) and the USA (9,263). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dobra-chanti-bridge" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tehri Dam</strong></a> in Uttarakhand is the <strong>highest dam in India</strong> built on Bhagirathi river.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nhrc-issues-notice-in-hirakud-displacement-case" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hirakud Dam</strong></a> in Odisha built on river Mahanadi is the <strong>longest dam of India.</strong></li>
<li>Kallanai Dam in Tamil Nadu is the <strong>oldest dam of India.</strong> It is built on the Kaveri river and is about 2000 years old.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Dams:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Source of Clean Energy:</strong> Dams are the sources of clean power. Many countries have embraced dams as a way to reduce reliance on expensive fossil fuels.</li>
<li><strong>Irrigation:</strong> Dams and waterways store and provide water for irrigation so farmers can use the water for growing crops. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In areas where water and rain are not abundant (like the desert), irrigation canals from rivers and dams are used to carry water.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Prevent Flooding:</strong> Dams, if planned well, help in preventing floods. They catch extra water so that it doesn&rsquo;t run wild downstream.</li>
<li><strong>Source of Drinking Water:</strong> Since the water stored in dams is freshwater, it can also be used as drinking water.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615887794_Image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615887794_Image4.jpg" width="700" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<h3>Dams and Destruction</h3>
<p>While dams can benefit the society in many ways, they are also one of the biggest menaces to river ecology, wildlife, aquatic habitat of fish and ultimately humans.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Affect the Aquatic Life:</strong> Dams prevent fish migration and limit their ability to access spawning habitat, seek out food resources, and escape predation. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Aquatic organisms depend on steady flows to guide them while stagnant reservoir pools disorient migrating fish and can significantly increase the duration of their migration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dams block Rivers:</strong> Dams and reservoirs are physical barriers to the flow of water bodies as they fragment them and reservoirs, which impact their seasonal flow. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They also change the way rivers function and trap sediment, burying rock riverbeds where fish spawn.</li>
<li>Gravel, logs, and other important food and habitat features can also become trapped behind dams. This negatively affects the creation and maintenance of more complex habitat downstream.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>A Hazardous Infrastructure:</strong> Large dams, even if structurally sound, are regarded as &ldquo;high hazard&rdquo; infrastructure because of the potential for a massive loss of human lives, livelihoods and destruction in the event of failure.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the most recent <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uttarakhand-flash-flood#:~:text=Recently%2C%20a%20glacial%20break%20in,out%20settlements%20and%20took%20lives." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Uttarakhand flash floods</a></strong>, experts say the incident was induced by the effect of global warming on melting glaciers but the effect was worsened by construction of infrastructure (Hydroelectric Power Projects, HEPs). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>HEPs which use large-scale blasting, tree felling and tunneling, most certainly added to the proportion of the impact. They became a force multiplier in the destruction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The construction was against the recommendation of the Chopra Committee which submitted a detailed report warning that a glacial retreat in the state of Uttarakhand, coupled with structures built for hydroelectricity generation and dams, could lead to large-scale disasters downstream.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reservoir Induced Seismicity:</strong> There is a strong relation between the earthquakes and loading and unloading of water from the dam. The Koyna and Warna region is possibly the best example of <strong>reservoir-induced-seismicity (RIS).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Koyna and Warna reservoirs are responsible for the earthquakes in the south Maharashtra region which has experienced many earthquakes in five decades.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This series of earthquakes have occurred post the construction of dams in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Displacement of People:</strong> The land submergence and large scale displacement of people due to construction of large dams is one prevailing issue which is often overlooked by the authorities. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Construction of dams such as Hirakud, Bhakra Nangal and Tehri had displaced a number of families many of which were not rehabilitated at all. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Even after rehabilitation, lack of livelihood opportunities and poor living conditions are still observed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gujarat-madhya-pradesh-tussle-over-the-narmada#:~:text=The%20Sardar%20Sarovar%20Project%20(SSP,increase%20irrigation%20and%20produce%20hydroelectricity." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sardar Sarovar dam</a></strong>, the largest structure on Narmada river, has displaced over 3 lakh families.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Older Dams are Greater Hazard:</strong> <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ageing-dams-of-india-un-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Older dams</a></strong> pose greater safety risks, cost higher in terms of maintenance and have declining functionality due to sedimentation, stated <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Globally, over 1,115 large dams will be about 50 years old by 2025.</li>
<li>China, the US and India top the list of countries with a significant number of large dams. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>China alone hosts 40% of the world&rsquo;s large dams (numbering 23,841), their average age being 45 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India has 4,407 large dams of which more than 1,000 would be 50 years or older by 2025, a new study has shown.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has 209 dams that are over 100-year-old, built when design practices and safety were far below current norms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>GreenHouse Gas Emissions:</strong> Particularly in tropical regions, hydropower reservoirs emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The water gathers behind the dam, creates an unnatural, stagnant lake that often kills off a lot of the existing ecosystem. Bacteria in the water decompose these plants and generate carbon dioxide and methane (potent greenhouse gas).</li>
<li>Methane from reservoirs accounts for more than 4% of all human-caused climate change comparable to the climate impact of the aviation sector.</li>
<li>In some cases, hydropower projects are producing higher emissions than coal-fired power generating the same amount of electricity plants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Chopra committee</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The committee was appointed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (now Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change, MoEFCC) in October 2013, following the <strong>Supreme Court&rsquo;s suo motto order</strong> of August 13 2013.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The committee suggested that no hydroelectric power projects (HEPs) should be built in the paraglacial region as it has loose glacial debris which when carried downstream can be disastrous.</li>
<li>It also raised objections to the construction of HEPs in regions 2200-2500 metres above the sea level.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Preferring Viable Alternatives:</strong> Prioritizing <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/solar-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>solar</strong></a> and <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/policy-watch-indias-wind-energy-potential" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>wind</strong></a> projects are viable and sustainable alternatives to hydroelectric power projects.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, improving dam operations and finding more suitable locations for such infrastructure should also be part of the solution.</li>
<li>India should instead focus on technologies such as pumped storage, batteries and hydrogen for balancing the grid, Mishra said. As these technologies become economically viable, it will further weaken the case for large dams.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Timely Inspection of Dams:</strong> It is evident that instead of focusing on building new dams, there is a need to look at the underperformance of existing projects.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India must conduct a cost-benefit analysis of its ageing dams, and conduct timely safety reviews in order to ensure their operational and ecological safety, as well as the safety of those who inhabit the areas downstream.</li>
<li>Fifty years is not a defining age for all dams because the design life also depends on factors such as construction and maintenance.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A well constructed and well-maintained dam can go up to 100 years.</li>
<li>However, 50 years is roughly the age when a dam may begin to show signs of ageing.</li>
<li>In some cases, dam components such as gates and motors may need to be replaced after 30 years to 50 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Steps Recommended by WCD:</strong> The World Commission on Dams (WCD) lists seven steps as a remedy to issues arising from dams. These include:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Gaining wide public acceptance for construction of any dam.</li>
<li>Exploration of alternatives to dams.</li>
<li>Optimal usage of existing structures.</li>
<li>Protection and restoration of ecosystems at river basin level.</li>
<li>Recognising entitlements of the affected people.</li>
<li>Compliance with applicable regulations.</li>
<li>Regional cooperation on trans-boundary rivers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>World Commission on Dams (WCD)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The WCD is a global multi-stakeholder body established by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature</strong></a> <strong>(IUCN)</strong> in 1998 to investigate the effectiveness and performance of large dams around the world.</li>
<li>The WCD released its landmark report in November 2000 on the enormous financial, environmental and human costs and the dismal performance of large dams.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It found that while the construction of large dams had brought some economic benefits, they had also forcibly displaced an estimated 40-80 million people in the 20th century alone.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These people lost their lands and homes to dams and often with no compensation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The Case of Mullaperiyar Dam</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mullaperiyar-dam" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mullaperiyar dam</strong></a>, a <strong>gravity dam</strong> in Kerala is a <strong>126-year-old</strong> barrage that has dangerously outlived its 50 years of life.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The dam is located in the <strong>Western Ghats</strong>, adjacent to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/periyar-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Periyar wildlife sanctuary</strong></a>, built during the British colonial period.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A gravity dam is one which is designed to withstand water by its own weight and resistance.</li>
<li>The weight and width of the base prevent the dam from overturning when subjected to the force of impounded water.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The dam is considered hazardous, not only because of its age but also for its location in an acknowledged seismic zone (zone-III).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Decommission of the Dam:</strong> The government of Kerala carried out hydrological review studies between 2006 and 2011 that concluded that the Mullaperiyar Dam is unsafe for passing the estimated probable maximum flood limit.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both IIT-Roorkee and IIT-Delhi have deemed the dam to be fit to be decommissioned.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, decommissioning Mullaperiyar is strongly opposed by Tamil Nadu state, which inherited a lease agreement between the former princely state of Travancore (now Kerala) and the British government.</li>
<li>The lease allows Tamil Nadu to operate the dam and divert 640 million cubic metres of water annually for irrigation and power generation through a tunnel bored into the Western Ghat mountains that form a wall between the two states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'posturl' => 'dams-and-destruction',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Water Resources',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7745,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Declining Rainfall in Cherrapunji',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A recent study that looked at the <strong>rainfall pattern in the past 119 years</strong> found a <strong>decreasing trend at Cherrapunji (Meghalaya) and nearby areas.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The village of <strong>Mawsynram in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya</strong> has beaten Cherrapunji to become the <strong>wettest place in the world.</strong> Mawsynram receives over 10,000 millimetres of rain in a year.</li>
<li>Mawsynram is located around <strong>81 km by road from Cherrapunji</strong> however the straight line distance between the two is <strong>15.2 km.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613980587_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613980587_image1.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>Reduction in Rainfall:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>annual mean rainfall</strong> for the period <strong>1973&ndash;2019</strong> showed <strong>decreasing trends</strong> of about <strong>0.42 mm per decade.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was statistically significant along seven stations <strong>(Agartala, Cherrapunji, Guwahati, Kailashahar, Pasighat, Shillong and Silchar).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Rising Temperature:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>changes in the Indian Ocean temperature</strong> have a <strong>huge effect</strong> on the rainfall in the region.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Increasing sea surface temperatures in the tropical Indian Ocean region was pointed out by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/assessment-of-climate-change-over-the-indian-region-moes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>first climate change assessment report</strong></a> published by the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences in June 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increased Human Activities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The satellite data showed that there was a <strong>reduction in the vegetation area</strong> in northeast India in the past two decades, implying that human influence also plays an important role in the changing rainfall patterns.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The traditional way of cultivation known as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/niti-aayog-report-on-shifting-cultivation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jhum cultivation or shifting cultivation</strong></a> is now decreased and being replaced by other methods.</li>
<li>There is sizable <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/deforestation-rate-declined"><strong>deforestation</strong></a> in the region. The study saw the <strong>decrease in vegetation cover and increase in the areas of cropland</strong> mainly from the year 2006 onwards.</li>
<li>The analysis showed <strong>reductions in vegetation</strong> with <strong>104.5 sqkm lost per year.</strong></li>
<li>On the other hand, there were <strong>significant increases in cropland</strong> (182.1 sqkm per year) and <strong>urban and built-up lands</strong> (0.3 sqkm per year) during the period 2001&ndash;2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Studying the North-East Region:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since north-east India is mostly hilly and is an extension of the Indo-Gangetic Plains, the <strong>region is highly sensitive to changes</strong> in regional and global climate.</li>
<li>It has to be noted that the <strong>first signs of the effect of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change</a></strong> will be evident for the extreme cases such as the rainfall at Cherrapunji.</li>
<li>North-east India has the <strong>highest vegetation cover</strong> in India and includes <strong>18 biodiversity hotspots of the world</strong>, indicating the importance of the region in terms of its greenery and <strong>climate-change sensitivity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Reason for High Rainfall in Cherrapunji and Mawsynram</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Cherrapunji (elevation 1313 m)</strong> and <strong>Mawsynram (elevation 1401.5 m)</strong> are located on the southern slopes of the east Khasi Hills in Meghalaya. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Meghalaya is a mountainous state with <strong>numerous valleys and highland plateaus.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Elevation</strong> in the plateau region ranges between <strong>150 m</strong> to <strong>1,961 m ,</strong> with the central part comprising the Khasi Hills with the highest elevations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The rainfall in Cherrapunji-Mawsynram is <strong>caused by the orography favouring a monsoon wind regime.</strong></li>
<li>The northward moving moist winds from the Bay of Bengal passing over the plains of Bangladesh are <strong>forced to converge in the narrow valleys of the Khasi Hills</strong> with orography providing forced ascent that causes condensation, formation of clouds resulting in rain on the windward side of the slope.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Shifting Cultivation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Shifting cultivation, locally called 'Jhum', is a widely practiced system of crop cultivation among the indigenous communities of North-east India. The practice, also known as <strong>slash-and-burn agriculture</strong>, is when farmers clear land by slashing vegetation and burning forests and woodlands to create clear land for agricultural purposes.</li>
<li>This provides a <strong>very easy and very fast method</strong> of the preparation of the land for agriculture.</li>
<li>The bush and the weeds can be removed easily. The <strong>burning of waste materials provides needed nutrients for the cultivation.</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>gives</strong> a family its <strong>food, fodder, fuel, livelihood</strong> and is closely linked to their identity.</li>
<li>Because of cutting of forests and trees, this practice <strong>leads to soil erosion and may also affect the course of rivers.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/wettest-place-on-earth-sees-decreasing-trend-in-rainfall/article33889697.ece#:~:text=The%20quiet%2C%20sleepy%2C%20yet%20mesmerising,to%20The%20Hindu%20subscribers%20only." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'declining-rainfall-in-cherrapunji',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Water Resources',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7743,
		'category_id' => (int) 26,
		'title' => 'Deglaciation and Threats',
		'description' => '<h3>Deglaciation </h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Glaciers, ice caps and continental ice sheets <strong>cover some 10% of the earth&rsquo;s land surface</strong> at the present time, whereas during the ice ages, they covered about three times this amount <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The present ice cover corresponds to about three-quarter of the world&rsquo;s total freshwater resources. </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The gradual melting away of a glacier from the surface of a landmass is known as <strong>Deglaciation.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The processes that remove snow, ice, and moraine from a glacier or ice sheet are called <strong>Ablation.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It includes melting, evaporation, erosion, and calving.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The process of deglaciation, that intensified in the 20th century, is leaving our planet iceless. </li>
</ul>
<h3>Causes of Deglaciation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global warming:</strong> The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) produced by <strong>industry, transport, deforestation and burning fossil fuels,</strong> amongst other human activities, <strong>warm the planet and cause glaciers to melt.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Ocean warming:</strong> Oceans absorb 90% of the Earth's warmth, and this affects the melting of marine glaciers, which are mostly located near the poles.</li>
<li><strong>Rapid industrialisation:</strong> Since the early 1900s, many glaciers around the world have been rapidly melting, <strong>specifically, since the industrial revolution,</strong> carbon dioxide and other<strong> greenhouse gas emissions have raised temperatures,</strong> even <strong>higher in the poles,</strong> and as a result, glaciers are rapidly melting, calving off into the sea and retreating on land.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impacts of Deglaciation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Raised sea level:</strong> The melting glaciers have played the major role in<strong> raising average global sea level between four and eight inches</strong> (10 and 20 centimeters) in the past hundred years, according to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/special-report-on-climate-change-ipcc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Rising sea levels increase coastal erosion and elevates storm surge as warming air and ocean temperatures create more frequent and intense coastal storms like hurricanes and typhoons.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>On mountain glaciers:</strong> The famed snows of <strong>Kilimanjaro</strong> have melted more than 80% since 1912. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Glaciers in the Garhwal region</strong> of the Himalayas are retreating so fast that researchers believe that most central and eastern Himalayan glaciers could virtually disappear by 2035. </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In the Northern Hemisphere:</strong> Spring freshwater ice breakup in the Northern Hemisphere now<strong> occurs nine days earlier</strong> than it did 150 years ago, and <strong>autumn freeze-up ten days later. </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Arctic sea</strong> ice has thinned significantly over the past half century, and its extent has declined by about 10% in the past 30 years. </li>
<li>The <strong>Greenland</strong> ice sheet is disappearing four times faster than in 2003 and already contributes 20% of current sea level rise.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Melting of Thwaites Glacier:</strong> Also called <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/melting-of-thwaites-glacier" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Doomsday Glacier</strong></a>, it is a 120 km wide, fast-moving glacier located in <strong>Antarctica.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Because of its size (1.9 lakh square km), it contains enough water to raise the world sea level by more than half a metre.</li>
<li>Studies have detected the <strong>presence of warm water</strong> at a vital point beneath the Thwaites glacier as the cause of its melting.</li>
<li>Its <strong>melting already contributes 4% to global sea-level rise each year.</strong> It is estimated that it would collapse into the sea in 200-900 years.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Studies have found the amount of ice flowing out of it has nearly doubled over the past 30 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disappearance of species:</strong> Glaciers are the natural habitat of a number of animals, both terrestrial and aquatic, if the melting continues at the same rate, a number of species will become extinct.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will also disturb the balance of the food chain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613974001_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613974001_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>The Himalayan Glaciers</h3>
<p><strong>About</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Himalayan glaciers form the largest body of ice outside the polar caps and are the source of water for the innumerable rivers that flow across the Indo-Gangetic plains. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Himalayan glaciers are also known as the Third Pole. </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Himalayan glacial snowfields store about 12,000 km3 of freshwater. </li>
<li>15,000 Himalayan glaciers form a unique reservoir which supports perennial rivers such as the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra which, in turn, are the lifeline of millions of people in South Asian countries (Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, India and Bangladesh). </li>
<li>The Gangetic basin alone is home to 500 million people, about 10% of the total human population in the region.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The Receding Glaciers</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Rate of receding:</strong> Glaciers in the Himalaya are receding faster than in any other part of the world. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The glaciers have been losing the equivalent of more than a vertical foot and half of ice each year since 2000; double the amount of melting that took place from 1975 to 2000.</li>
<li>According to the statistics in the last 25 years approximate 400 crore tons of ice being melted in the Himalayan glaciers.</li>
<li>The 30.2 km long <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/concentration-of-black-carbon-on-gangotri-glacier" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gangotri Glacier</strong> </a>has been receding alarmingly in recent years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cause of receding:</strong> The receding and thinning of Himalayan glaciers can be attributed primarily to global warming due to increase in anthropogenic emission of greenhouse gases. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The relatively high population density near these glaciers and consequent deforestation and land-use changes have also adversely affected these glaciers. </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Effect on the Hindukush region:</strong> Climate change has hastened glacial melting across the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hindu-kush-himalayan-region" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region</strong></a>, home to some of the world&rsquo;s tallest peaks, including Mount Everest.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The recent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uttarakhand-flash-flood" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>glacier collapse at Nanda Devi</strong></a> in Uttarakhand&rsquo;s Chamoli district led to a massive flood in the Dhauli Ganga river and caused large-scale devastation in the upper reaches of the ecologically fragile Himalayas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Air warming over HKH:</strong> Air over HKH warmed at a rate of 0.2℃ each decade from 1951 to 2014 and at an even higher rate of 0.5℃ per decade at elevations higher than 4,000 meters, as per a report prepared by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The report projected that even with the Indian government&rsquo;s commitment to mitigate greenhouse gases by 2030, the Indian Himalayas could warm by 2.6℃&ndash;4.6℃ by 2100. </li>
<li>In the worst-case scenario, the mean surface temperature over the whole region could rise by 5.2℃ by 2100.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613973937_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613973937_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'deglaciation-and-threats',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Water Resources',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7718,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Draft Blue Economy Policy',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has rolled out the<strong> draft <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/blue-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Economy</a> policy,</strong> inviting suggestions and inputs from various stakeholders.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is in line with the Government of<strong> India&rsquo;s Vision of New India by 2030.</strong></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 policy document highlighted the blue economy as <strong>one of the ten core dimensions for national growth.</strong></li>
<li>It emphasizes policies across several key sectors to <strong>achieve holistic growth</strong> of India&rsquo;s economy. It recognizes the following seven thematic areas:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>National accounting framework for the blue economy and ocean governance.</li>
<li>Coastal marine spatial planning and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/tourism-sector-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>tourism</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Marine <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-fisheries-day-1#:~:text=The%20fisheries%20and%20aquaculture%20production,as%20envisioned%20by%20the%20government." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>fisheries</strong></a>, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-blue-revolution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>aquaculture</strong></a>, and fish processing.</li>
<li>Manufacturing, emerging industries, trade, technology, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sectors-of-indian-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>services</strong></a>, and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-problem-of-skilling-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>skill development.</strong></a></li>
<li>Logistics, infrastructure and shipping, including trans-shipments.</li>
<li>Coastal and deep-sea mining and offshore energy.</li>
<li>Security, strategic dimensions, and international engagement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aims:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Enhance contribution of the blue economy to India's <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-decreases-to-11-year-low" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gross Domestic Product (GDP)</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The blue economy, which consists of economic activities dependent on marine resources, comprises<strong> 4.1% of India&rsquo;s economy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Improve lives of coastal communities.</li>
<li>Preserve marine biodiversity.</li>
<li>Maintain the national security of marine areas and resources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason and Need for a Blue Economy Policy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Vast Coastline:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>With a coastline of nearly <strong>7.5 thousand kilometers,</strong> India has a unique maritime position.</li>
<li><strong>Nine of its 28 states are coastal,</strong> and the nation&rsquo;s geography includes 1,382 islands.</li>
<li>There are nearly <strong>199 ports,</strong> including <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/major-port-authorities-bill-2020#:~:text=It%20also%20seeks%20to%20replace,and%20Kolkata%20(including%20Haldia)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>12 major ports</strong> </a>that handle approximately 1,400 million tons of cargo each year.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613635691_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613635691_image4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Utilisation of Non-living Resources:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unclos-maritime-zones" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Exclusive Economic Zone</strong> </a>of over 2 million square kilometers has a huge living and non-living resources with significant recoverable resources such as<strong> crude oil and<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-natural-gas-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> natural gas</a>. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sustenance of Coastal Communities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The coastal economy sustains over 4 million <strong>fisherfolk and coastal communities. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Related Initiatives by India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-norway-task-force-on-blue-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-Norway Task Force on Blue Economy for Sustainable Development</strong></a> :<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was inaugurated jointly by both the countries in 2020 to<strong> develop and follow up joint initiatives</strong> 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 <strong>strategic initiative for port-led development</strong> through the extensive use of IT enabled services for modernization of ports.</li>
<li>It aims at developing Inland <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/use-of-waterways-for-reducing-transportation-cost" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>waterways</strong> </a>and coastal shipping which will revolutionize maritime logistics, creating million new jobs, reducing logistics costs etc.</li>
<li>It focuses on the <strong>development of coastal communities and people</strong> in the sustainable use of ocean resources, modern fishing techniques and coastal tourism.</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 focus on sustainable utilization of fisheries wealth from the marine and other aquatic resources</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Steps:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-indias-sustainable-development-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)- 14</strong></a> seeks to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Blue Economy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The concept was introduced by <strong>Gunter Pauli in his 2010 book-</strong> &ldquo;The Blue Economy: 10 years, 100 innovations, 100 million jobs&rdquo;.</li>
<li>It is the <strong>sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, and ocean ecosystem health.</strong></li>
<li>It<strong> advocates the greening of ocean development strategies</strong> for higher productivity and conservation of ocean's health.</li>
<li>It encompasses&ndash;<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-renewable-energy-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Renewable Energy</strong></a>: Sustainable marine energy can play a vital role in social and economic development.</li>
<li><strong>Fisheries:</strong> Sustainable fisheries can generate more revenue, more fish and help restore fish stocks.</li>
<li><strong>Maritime Transport:</strong> Over 80% of international goods traded are transported by sea.</li>
<li><strong>Tourism:</strong> Ocean and coastal tourism can bring jobs and economic growth.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Climate Change</strong></a>: Oceans are an important carbon sink (blue carbon) and help mitigate climate change.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/a-better-way-of-waste-management" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Waste Management</strong></a>: Better waste management on land can help oceans recover.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Blue Economy emphasizes on<strong> integration of development of the ocean economy with social inclusion, environmental sustainability, combined with innovative business models.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With its vast maritime interests, the blue economy occupies <strong>a vital potential position in India&rsquo;s economic growth.</strong></li>
<li>It could well be the<strong> next multiplier of GDP and well-being,</strong> provided sustainability and socio-economic welfare are kept center-stage.</li>
<li>Therefore, India's draft blue economy policy is envisaged as a<strong> crucial framework towards unlocking the country's potential</strong> for economic growth and welfare.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1698608#:~:text=The%20Ministry%20of%20Earth%20Sciences,NGOs%2C%20academia%2C%20and%20citizens.&amp;text=Stakeholders%20have%20been%20invited%20to,ideas%20by%20February%2027%2C%202021." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'draft-blue-economy-policy',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Water Resources',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7688,
		'category_id' => (int) 26,
		'title' => 'Glaciers',
		'description' => '<h3>About</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A glacier is a large, <strong>perennial accumulation of crystalline ice, snow, rock, sediment,</strong> and <strong>water</strong> that originates on land and moves down slope under the influence of its own weight and gravity. They are <strong>sensitive indicators of changing climate.</strong></li>
<li>Out of total water on Earth, <strong>2.1% is in glaciers while 97.2% is in the oceans</strong> and inland seas.</li>
<li><strong>Condition of glacier formation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Mean annual temperatures</strong> are close to the freezing point.</li>
<li><strong>Winter precipitation</strong> produces significant accumulations of snow.</li>
<li><strong>Temperatures throughout the rest of the year</strong> do not result in the complete loss of the previous winter&rsquo;s snow accumulation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Formation of Glacier</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Glaciers begin forming in places where more snow piles up each year than melts. Soon after falling, the snow begins to compress, or become denser and tightly packed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The process of snow compacting into glacial firn (dense, grainy ice) is called <strong>firnification</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>When the ice grows thick enough, about 50 meters (160 feet), the firn grains fuse into a huge mass of solid ice. The glacier begins to move under its own weight.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Different parts of a glacier move at different speeds. The flowing ice in the middle of the glacier moves faster than the base.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Geographical Location</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>91%</strong> of the Glaciers are in <strong>Antarctica</strong> and <strong>8%</strong> are in <strong>Greenland.</strong> They occupy about 10% of the world's total land area.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613373504_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613373504_image1.png" width="600" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Significance:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Glaciers as Reservoirs:</strong> About <strong>three-quarters</strong> of Earth's freshwater is stored in glaciers. Therefore, glacier ice is the <strong>second largest reservoir of water</strong> on Earth and the <strong>largest reservoir of freshwater</strong> on Earth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The cold runoff from glaciers also affects downstream water temperatures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Glaciers feeding Rivers:</strong> The <strong>Gangotri Glacier</strong>, one of the largest glaciers in the Himalayan Mountains, is <strong>the source of the Ganga River</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Ganges is the most important source of freshwater and electricity in India and Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Glaciers for Aquatic Life:</strong> Many <strong>aquatic species in mountainous environments</strong> require cold water temperatures to survive which is provided by Glaciers. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Some <strong>aquatic insects</strong> are <strong>especially sensitive to stream temperature</strong> and cannot survive without the cooling effects of glacial meltwater.</li>
<li>Such changes in stream habitat may also <strong>adversely impact native trout</strong> and other <strong>keystone salmon species.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Glaciers for People:</strong> Glaciers provide people with many useful resources. Glacial till <strong>provides fertile soil for growing crops</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Deposits of sand and gravel are used to make <strong>concrete and asphalt</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Classification of Glaciers</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Glaciers can be classified according to their: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Size</strong> (i.e. ice sheet, ice cap, valley glacier, cirque glacier)</li>
<li><strong>Thermal regime</strong> (polar vs. temperate).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Size Based</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ice Cap:</strong> An ice cap is a dome-shaped glacier mass flowing in all directions, such as the ice cap on Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is still some <strong>uncertainty about the full volume of glaciers and ice caps</strong> on Earth, but if all of them were to melt, <strong>global sea level would rise approximately 70 meters</strong> (approximately 230 feet), flooding every coastal city on the planet.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Valley Glaciers:</strong> Also called <strong>Alpine Glaciers</strong> or <strong>Mountain Glaciers</strong>, they form on mountainsides and move downward through valleys. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They are <strong>found in high mountains</strong> <strong>of every continent except Australia</strong> (although there are many in New Zealand). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Example: The <strong>Gorner Glacier in Switzerland</strong> and the <strong>Furtwangler Glacier in Tanzania</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ice Sheets:</strong> Unlike valley glaciers, ice sheets are not limited to mountainous areas. They form broad domes and spread out from their centers in all directions. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As ice sheets spread, they cover everything around them with a thick blanket of ice, including valleys, plains, and even entire mountains.</li>
<li>The largest ice sheets, called <strong>continental glaciers</strong>, spread over vast areas. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Continental glaciers <strong>cover most of Antarctica and the island of Greenland</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cirque glaciers:</strong> They are short and wide, are confined to cirques, or amphitheatres, cut in the mountain landscape.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Thermal Regime based:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Polar Glacier:</strong> A polar glacier is defined as one that is below the freezing temperature throughout its mass for the entire year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A subpolar glacier contains ice below the freezing temperature, except for surface melting in the summer and a basal layer of temperate ice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Temperate Glacier:</strong> A temperate glacier is the one that&rsquo;s <strong>essentially at the melting point</strong>, so liquid water coexists with glacier ice. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They are found in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and <strong>Asia</strong> and <strong>New Zealand.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Some of the <strong>Antarctic glaciers</strong> and <strong>Greenland&rsquo;s southern outlet glaciers</strong> are temperate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Landforms Formed</h3>
<p><strong>Erosional Landforms</strong><br /><strong></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Glacial Valleys/Troughs:</strong> These valleys are <strong>trough-like and U-shaped</strong> with broad floors and relatively smooth, and steep sides. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The valleys may contain littered debris or debris shaped as <strong>moraines</strong> with swampy appearance.</li>
<li>Very deep glacial troughs filled with sea water and making up shorelines (in high latitudes) are called <strong>fjords/fiords.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cirques:</strong> Often are found at the heads of glacial valleys, these are the most common of landforms in glaciated mountains. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They are <strong>deep, long and wide troughs</strong> or basins with very steep concave to vertically dropping high walls at its head as well as sides.</li>
<li>A lake of water can be seen quite often within the cirques after the glacier disappears. Such lakes are called <strong>cirque lakes or tarn lakes.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Horns and Serrated:</strong> Ridges Horns form through headward erosion of the cirque walls. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If three or more radiating glaciers cut headward until their cirques meet, high, sharp pointed and steep sided peaks called horns form.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Depositional Landforms:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Glacial Till:</strong> The unassorted coarse and fine debris dropped by the melting glaciers is called glacial till. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Some amount of rock debris small enough to be carried by such melt-water streams is washed down and deposited. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Such glaciofluvial deposits are called <strong>outwash deposits</strong>.</li>
<li>The outwash deposits are roughly stratified and assorted.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Moraines:</strong> They are <strong>long ridges of deposits of glacial till.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Terminal moraines</strong> are long ridges of debris deposited at the end (toe) of the glaciers.</li>
<li>Lateral moraines form along the sides parallel to the glacial valleys.</li>
<li>Many valley glaciers retreating rapidly leave an irregular sheet of till over their valley floors called <strong>ground moraines.</strong></li>
<li>The moraine in the centre of the glacial valley flanked by lateral moraines is called <strong>medial moraine.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They are imperfectly formed as compared to lateral moraines. Sometimes medial moraines are indistinguishable from ground moraines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Eskers:</strong> These are ridges made of sands and gravels, deposited by glacial meltwater flowing through tunnels within and underneath glaciers, or through meltwater channels on top of glaciers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Over time, the channel or tunnel gets filled up with sediments. As the ice retreats, the sediments are left behind as a ridge in the landscape.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Drumlins:</strong> They are <strong>smooth oval shaped ridge-like features</strong> composed mainly of glacial till with some masses of gravel and sand. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The long axes of drumlins are parallel to the direction of ice movement.</li>
<li>They may measure up to 1 km in length and 30 m or so in height.</li>
<li>The drumlin end facing the glacier is called the stoss end and is blunter and steeper than the other end called tail.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613374293_Image1.PNG" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613374293_Image1.PNG" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'glaciers-6',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Water Resources',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7639,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Odisha’s Border Disputes',
		'description' => '<h3>Why In News</h3>
<p>Recently, a <strong>border dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh</strong> once again resurfaced when Andhra Pradesh announced panchayat polls in three villages of<strong> Kotia panchayat</strong> in Koraput district of Odisha.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Border Disputes of Odisha:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612772987_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612772987_image1.jpg" style="float: right;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Odisha was <strong>carved out of the Bengal-Bihar-Odisha province</strong> on 1<sup>st</sup> April, 1936, but the inter-state border disputes continue even today.</li>
<li>Odisha continues to have <strong>unresolved border disputes with four neighbouring States</strong> in its 8 out of 30 districts.</li>
<li>14 of the 30 districts <strong>share borders with Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.</strong> However, the <strong>disputes over Kotia villages in Koraput district bordering Andhra Pradesh</strong> is the <strong>only major border conflict. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About the Kotia Dispute:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are <strong>locked in a territorial dispute over Kotia gram panchayat since 1960.</strong> Disputes pertain over <strong>21 villages</strong> in Kotia gram panchayat.</li>
<li>Residents of Kotia panchayat<strong> receive benefits from both Pottangi block in Koraput and Salur in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh.</strong> They depend on both the blocks for their day to day activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Water Dispute with Andhra Pradesh:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2006, Odisha sent a complaint to the Central Government under Section 3 of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/call-of-the-river" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956</strong></a> regarding its water disputes with Andhra Pradesh pertaining to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vamsadhara-river-water-dispute" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Inter-State River Vamsadhara.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disputes with Other States:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>West Bengal:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Odisha and West Bengal have disputes over 27 plots in Balasore District and some areas in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.</li>
<li><strong>Mayurbhanj district</strong> is known for its<a href="/to-the-points/paper1/mining-sector-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> iron ore reserves</strong></a> and <strong>Chhau dance</strong> (a tribal dance in which dancers wear colorful masks).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Jharkhand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The border dispute between Odisha and Jharkhand arises due to change in course of river <strong>Baitarani.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> Baitarani river</strong> originates from the hill ranges of Keonjhar district of Odisha.</li>
<li>It is <strong>an east flowing river</strong> of peninsular India, flowing eastward and joining the Bay of Bengal.</li>
<li>Major portion of its catchment lies in the state of Odisha and a small patch of the upper reach falls in Jharkhand.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Chhattisgarh:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>With Chhattisgarh, Odisha has disputes relating to villages in Nabarangpur and Jharsuguda district.</li>
<li>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>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Inter state dialogues, deliberations in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/western-zonal-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Inter State councils</strong> </a>and <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/tribunals-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tribunals</strong></a> and sticking the spirit of<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/cooperative-and-competitive-federalism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Cooperative federalism</strong> </a>should be adopted to resolve such disputes.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/border-dispute-naveenflayed-over-kotia-polls/article33763898.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'odisha-s-border-disputes',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Water Resources',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7607,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Centre for Wetland Conservation and Management',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, on the occasion of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-wetlands-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Wetland Day</strong></a>, the Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced the establishment of a <strong>Centre for Wetland Conservation and Management (CWCM),</strong> as a part of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-centre-for-sustainable-coastal-management" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM)</a></strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>World Wetlands Day</strong> is celebrated every year on the <strong>2<sup>nd</sup> of February.</strong></li>
<li>The year 2021 also commemorates the <strong>50<sup>th</sup> anniversary</strong> of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-wetlands-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Convention on Wetlands</strong></a> signed on 2<sup>nd</sup> February 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The theme for 2021 is <strong>'Wetlands and Water'.</strong></li>
<li>It was first celebrated in <strong>1997.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Significance of Centre for Wetland Conservation and Management (CWCM):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The dedicated Centre would<strong> address specific research needs and knowledge gaps and will aid in the application of integrated approaches for conservation, management</strong> and wise use of the wetlands.</li>
<li>It will help in <strong>building partnerships</strong> and <strong>networks</strong> with relevant national and international agencies.</li>
<li>It would serve as a<strong> knowledge hub</strong> and enable exchange between State/ UT Wetland Authorities, wetland users, managers, researchers, policy-makers and practitioners.</li>
<li>It would also <strong>assist the national and State/UT Governments</strong> in the design and implementation of policy and regulatory frameworks, management planning, monitoring and targeted research for wetlands conservation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Wetlands:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wetlands-restoration" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wetlands</strong> </a>are ecosystems saturated with water, either seasonally or permanently. They include <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coringa-mangroves" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>mangroves</strong></a>, marshes, rivers, lakes, deltas, floodplains and flooded forests, rice-fields, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/coral-bleaching" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coral reefs</strong></a>, marine areas no deeper than 6 metres at low tide, as well as human-made wetlands such as waste-water treatment ponds and reservoirs.</li>
<li>Though they cover only around<strong> 6% of the Earth&rsquo;s land</strong> surface, <strong>40% of all plant and animal species live or breed in wetlands.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Wetlands:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Wetlands are a critical part of our natural environment. They<strong> mitigate <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/flood-management-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">floods</a>, protect coastlines</strong> and build community resilience to disasters, absorb pollutants and improve water quality.</li>
<li>Wetlands are<strong> critical to human and planet life.</strong> More than <strong>1 billion people depend on them for a living.</strong></li>
<li>They are a <strong>vital source for food, raw materials, genetic resources for medicines, and hydropower.</strong></li>
<li>30% of land-based <strong>carbon</strong> is stored in peatland (a type of wetlands).</li>
<li>They play an important role in <strong>transport, tourism</strong> and the <strong>cultural and spiritual well-being</strong> of people.</li>
<li>Many wetlands are areas of <strong>natural beauty</strong> and many are important to Aboriginal people.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As per the IPBES <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-wetlands-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services)&rsquo;s</strong></a> global assessment, wetlands are the most threatened ecosystem.</li>
<li>Wetlands are <strong>disappearing 3 times faster than forests</strong> due to human activities and global warming.</li>
<li>According to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-heritage-week-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNESCO</strong></a>, the threat to wetlands will have an adverse impact on 40% of the world&rsquo;s flora and fauna that live or breed in wetlands.</li>
<li><strong>Major threats:</strong> Agriculture, development, pollution and <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Status of Wetlands in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has nearly <strong>4.6% of its land as wetlands,</strong> covering an <strong>area of 15.26 million hectares</strong> and has <strong>42 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Wetlands declared as Ramsar sites are protected under strict guidelines of the convention.</li>
<li>There are currently over 2,300 Ramsar Sites around the world.</li>
<li>Recently, India has added <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ladakh-s-tso-kar-wetland-complex-ramsar-site" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tso Kar Wetland Complex</a></strong> in Ladakh as its 42<sup>nd</sup> Ramsar site.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Wetlands are regulated under the <strong>Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.</strong></li>
<li>The 2010 version of the Rules provided for a<strong> Central Wetland Regulatory Authority,</strong> but new Rules of 2017 replaced it with state-level bodies and created a National Wetland Committee, which functions in an advisory role.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>newer regulations removed some items</strong> from the definition of &ldquo;wetlands&rdquo; including backwaters, lagoons, creeks, and estuaries.</li>
<li>Under the 2017 regulations, process to <strong>identify the wetlands has been delegated to the States.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Location:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is located at<strong> Chennai,</strong> Tamil Nadu.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Divisions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has various research divisions including, Geospatial Sciences, Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Coastal environmental impact assessment, Conservation of Coastal &amp; Marine Resources, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It aims to <strong>promote integrated and sustainable management of the coastal and marine areas</strong> in India for the benefit and wellbeing of the traditional coastal and island communities.</li>
<li>It also intends to promote <strong>sustainable</strong> coasts through increased partnership, conservation practices, scientific research and <strong>knowledge benefit</strong> and well being of the current and future generation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sahyog-app-survey-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Survey of India</strong> </a>and NCSCM have <strong>mapped the Hazard Line for the entire coast of India,</strong> which includes vulnerability mapping of flood, erosion and sea-level rise.</li>
<li>It also <strong>advises the Union and State Governments and other associated stakeholders</strong> on policy, and scientific matters related to<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/integrated-coastal-zone-management-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1694463#:~:text=and%20Climate%20Change-,On%20World%20Wetlands%20Day%20India%20gets%20its,for%20Wetland%20Conservation%20and%20Management.&amp;text=by%20PIB%20Delhi-,On%20the%20occasion%20of%20the%20World%20Wetland%20Day%20and%20as,Forest%20and%20Climate%20Change%2C%20Sh." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'centre-for-wetland-conservation-and-management',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Water Resources',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7592,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Ageing Dams of India: UN Report',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to a <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> (UN) report <strong>"Ageing water infrastructure: An emerging global risk"</strong>, over 1,000 large <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-floods-and-dam-management" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>dams in India</strong></a> will be roughly 50 years old in 2025 and such ageing embankments across the world pose a growing threat.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report, compiled by <strong>Canada-based Institute for Water, Environment and Health,</strong> says the world is unlikely to witness another large dam-building revolution as in the mid-20<sup>th</sup> century, but dams constructed then will inevitably be showing their age.</li>
<li>The analysis includes dam decommissioning or ageing case studies from the <strong>USA, France, Canada, India, Japan, and Zambia and Zimbabwe</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Most of the <strong>58,700 large dams</strong> worldwide were <strong>constructed between 1930 and 1970</strong> with a design life of 50 to 100 years.</li>
<li><strong>By 2050,</strong> most people on Earth will <strong>live downstream of tens of thousands of large dams built in the 20<sup>th</sup> century,</strong> many of them already operating at or beyond their design life.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>At 50 years, a large concrete dam &ldquo;would most probably begin to express signs of ageing.&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ageing signs include</strong> increasing cases of dam failures, progressively increasing costs of dam repair and maintenance, increasing reservoir sedimentation, and loss of a dam&rsquo;s functionality and effectiveness - &ldquo;strongly interconnected&rdquo; manifestations.</li>
<li>32,716 large dams<strong> (55% of the world's total)</strong> are <strong>found in just four Asian countries</strong>: China, India, Japan, and South Korea - a majority of which will reach the 50-year threshold relatively soon.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The same is true of many large dams in Africa, South America, and Eastern Europe.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India is ranked third</strong> in the world in terms of building large dams.</li>
<li>Of the over 5,200 large dams built so far, about <strong>1,100 large dams have already reached 50 years of age</strong> and some are older than 120 years. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>number of such dams will increase to 4,400 by 2050</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This means that <strong>80% of the nation&rsquo;s large dams face the prospect of becoming obsolete</strong> as they will be 50 years to over 150 years old.</li>
<li>The <strong>situation with hundreds of thousands of medium and minor dams is even more dangerous</strong> as their shelf life is even lower than that of large dams.</li>
<li><strong>Examples: Krishna Raja Sagar dam was built in 1931</strong> and is now 90 years old. Similarly, <strong>Mettur dam was constructed in 1934</strong> and is now 87 years old. Both these reservoirs are located in the water scarce <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/godavari-and-cauvery-river-interlinking-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cauvery river basin</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Problems:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Decreasing Storage Capacity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As dams age, <strong>soil replaces the water in the reservoirs</strong>. Therefore, the storage capacity cannot be claimed to be the same as it was in the 1900s and 1950s.</li>
<li>The storage space in Indian reservoirs is receding at a rate faster than anticipated.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Flawed Design:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Studies show that the<strong> design of many of India&rsquo;s reservoirs is flawed</strong>.</li>
<li>Indian reservoirs are <strong>designed with a poor understanding of sedimentation science</strong>.</li>
<li>The designs <strong>underestimate the rate of siltation and overestimate live storage capacity</strong> created.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>High Siltation Rates:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It refers both to the increased concentration of suspended sediments and to the increased accumulation (temporary or permanent) of fine sediments on bottoms where they are undesirable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Consequences:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Less Water:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When soil replaces the water in reservoirs, supply gets choked. The <strong>cropped area begins receiving less and less water</strong> as time progresses.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact on Groundwater:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The net sown water area either shrinks in size or <strong>depends on rains or groundwater, which is overexploited</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Affecting Farmers&rsquo; Income:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The farmer&rsquo;s income may get reduced as <strong>water is one of the crucial factors for crop yield along with credit, crop insurance and investment</strong>.</li>
<li>It is important to note that <strong>no plan on climate change adaptation will succeed with sediment packed dams</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Frequent Flood:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The designed<strong> flood cushions within several reservoirs across many river basins may have already depleted</strong> substantially due to which <strong>floods have become more frequent downstream of dams</strong>.</li>
<li>The <strong>flooding of Bharuch in 2020, Kerala in 2018 and Chennai in 2015</strong> are a few examples attributed to downstream releases from reservoirs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Step Taken:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the <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> Phase II and Phase III.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It envisages <strong>comprehensive rehabilitation of 736 existing dams</strong> located across the country and complements the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-dam-safety-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dam Safety Bill, 2019</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The nation will eventually be<strong> unable to find sufficient water in the 21<sup>st</sup> century</strong> to feed the rising population by 2050, grow abundant crops, create sustainable cities, or ensure growth. Therefore, <strong>it is imperative for all stakeholders to come together to address this situation urgently</strong>.</li>
<li>A <strong>preventive mechanism to avoid dam failures</strong> is necessary because if a dam fails, no amount of punishment can compensate for the loss of lives.</li>
<li><strong>Dam decommissioning should be seen as equally important as dam building</strong> in the overall planning process on water storage infrastructure developments.</li>
<li><strong>With the changing climate,</strong> it has become absolutely essential to really think about the issue of water carefully and proactively.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-problem-of-ageing-dams/article33711348.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'ageing-dams-of-india-un-report',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Water Resources',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7482,
		'category_id' => (int) 26,
		'title' => 'El Nino and La Nina',
		'description' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>El Nino and La Nina</strong> are complex weather patterns resulting from variations in ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific Region. They are opposite phases of what is known as the<strong> El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)</strong> cycle. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ENSO cycle describes the fluctuations in temperature between the ocean and atmosphere in the east-central Equatorial Pacific.</li>
<li>El Nino and La Nina episodes typically last nine to 12 months, but some prolonged events may last for years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>El Nino</strong> is a climate pattern that describes the<strong> unusual warming of surface waters</strong> in the <strong>eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the &ldquo;warm phase&rdquo; of a larger phenomenon called the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).</li>
<li>It occurs more frequently than La Nina.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>La Nina, the &ldquo;cool phase&rdquo;</strong> of ENSO, is a pattern that describes the <strong>unusual cooling</strong> of the tropical eastern Pacific. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>La Nina events may last between <strong>one and three years, unlike El Nino,</strong> which usually lasts no more than a year.</li>
<li><strong>Both phenomena tend to peak during the Northern Hemisphere winter.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>El Nino</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>El Nino was<strong> first recognized by Peruvian fishermen</strong> off the coast of Peru as the appearance of unusually warm water. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Spanish immigrants called it <strong>El Nino, meaning &ldquo;the little boy&rdquo;</strong> in Spanish.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>El Nino soon came to describe irregular and intense climate changes rather than just the warming of coastal surface waters.</li>
<li>The El Nino event is<strong> not a regular cycle,</strong> they are not predictable and occur irregularly at two- to seven-year intervals. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The climatologists determined that El Nino occurs simultaneously with the Southern Oscillation. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Southern Oscillation is a change in air pressure over the tropical Pacific Ocean.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>When coastal waters become warmer in the eastern tropical Pacific (El Nino), the atmospheric pressure above the ocean decreases.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Climatologists define these linked phenomena as <strong>El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Monitoring El Nino and La Nina</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Scientists, governments, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) collect data about El Nino using a number of technologies such as<strong> scientific buoys.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A buoy is a type of an <strong>object that floats in water</strong> and is used in the middle of the <strong>seas as locators or as warning points for the ships.</strong> They are generally bright (fluorescent) in colour.</li>
<li>These buoys measure ocean and air temperatures, currents, winds, and humidity.</li>
<li>The buoys transmit data daily to researchers and forecasters around the world enabling the scientists to more accurately predict El Nino and visualize its development and impact around the globe.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Oceanic Nino Index (ONI)</strong> is used to measure deviations from normal sea surface temperatures.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The intensity of El Nino events varies from weak temperature increases (about 4-5&deg; F) with only moderate local effects on weather and climate to very strong increases (14-18&deg; F) associated with worldwide climatic changes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Oceanic Nino Index (ONI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Oceanic Ni&ntilde;o Index (ONI),</strong> is a measure of the departure from normal sea surface temperature in the east-central Pacific Ocean, is the standard means by which each El Nino episode is determined, gauged, and forecast.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Impact of El Nino</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In order to understand the concept of El Nino, it&rsquo;s important to be familiar with non-El Nino conditions in the Pacific Ocean. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Normally,<strong> strong trade winds blow westward</strong> across the tropical Pacific, the region of the Pacific Ocean located between the <strong>Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact on Ocean:</strong> El Nino also impacts ocean temperatures, the speed and strength of ocean currents, the health of coastal fisheries, and local weather from Australia to South America and beyond.</li>
<li><strong>Increased Rainfall:</strong> Convection above warmer surface waters brings increased precipitation. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Rainfall increases drastically in South America, contributing to coastal flooding and erosion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Diseases caused by Floods and Droughts:</strong> Diseases thrive in communities devastated by natural hazards such as flood or drought. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>El Nino-related flooding is associated with increases in cholera, dengue, and malaria in some parts of the world, while drought can lead to wildfires that create respiratory problems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Positive impact:</strong> It can sometimes have a positive impact too, for example, El Nino reduces the instances of hurricanes in the Atlantic.</li>
<li><strong>In South America:</strong> As El Nino brings rain to South America, it brings droughts to Indonesia and Australia. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These droughts threaten the region&rsquo;s water supplies, as reservoirs dry and rivers carry less water. Agriculture, which depends on water for irrigation, is also threatened.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In Western Pacific:</strong> These winds<strong> push warm surface water</strong> towards the western Pacific, where it borders <strong>Asia and Australia.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Due to the warm trade winds, the sea surface is normally about <strong>0.5 meter higher </strong>and<strong> 4-5&deg; F warmer in Indonesia than Ecuador.</strong></li>
<li>The westward movement of warmer waters causes<strong> cooler waters to rise up</strong> towards the surface on the coasts of<strong> Ecuador, Peru, and Chile.</strong> This process is known as <strong>upwelling.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Upwelling elevates cold, nutrient-rich water to the euphotic zone, the upper layer of the ocean.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Previous El Nino Events:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>El Nino events of <strong>1982-83 and 1997-98</strong> were the <strong>most intense</strong> of the 20<sup>th</sup> century.</li>
<li>During the<strong> 1982-83</strong> event, sea surface temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific were 9-18&deg; F above normal.</li>
<li>The El Nino event of <strong>1997-98</strong> was the first El Nino event to be<strong> scientifically monitored from beginning to end.</strong></li>
<li>The 1997-98 event produced drought conditions in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Peru and California experienced very heavy rains and severe flooding.</li>
<li>The Midwest experienced record-breaking warm temperatures during a period known as <strong>&ldquo;the year without a winter.&rdquo;</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>La Nina</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>La Nina means The Little Girl in Spanish. It is also sometimes called El Viejo, anti-El Nino, or simply "a cold event."</li>
<li>La Nina events represent periods of <strong>below-average sea surface temperatures</strong> across the <strong>east-central Equatorial Pacific.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is indicated by sea-surface temperature decreased by more than 0.9℉ for at least five successive three-month seasons.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>La Nina event is observed when the<strong> water temperature in the Eastern Pacific gets comparatively colder than normal,</strong> as a consequence of which, there is a <strong>strong high pressure over the eastern equatorial Pacific. </strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The Conditions of La Nina.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>La Nina is caused by a build-up of<strong> cooler-than-normal waters in the tropical Pacific,</strong> the area of the Pacific Ocean between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.</li>
<li>La Nina is characterized by<strong> lower-than-normal air pressure over the western Pacific.</strong> These low-pressure zones contribute to increased rainfall.</li>
<li>La Nina events are also associated with<strong> rainier-than-normal conditions</strong> over <strong>southeastern Africa and northern Brazil.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, strong La Nina events are associated with catastrophic floods in northern Australia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>La Nina is also characterized by <strong>higher-than-normal pressure</strong> over the <strong>central and eastern Pacific.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This results in decreased cloud production and rainfall in that region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Drier-than-normal conditions</strong> are observed along the <strong>west coast of tropical South America, </strong>the <strong>Gulf Coast of the United States,</strong> and the <strong>pampas region of southern South America.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Impact of La Nina</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Europe:</strong> In Europe, El Nino reduces the number of autumnal hurricanes. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>La Nina tends to lead to <strong>milder winters in Northern Europe</strong> (especially UK) and colder <strong>winters in southern/western Europe</strong> leading to snow in the Mediterranean region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>North America:</strong> It is continental North America where most of these conditions are felt. The wider effects include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Stronger winds along the equatorial region,</strong> especially in the Pacific.</li>
<li><strong>Favourable conditions for hurricanes</strong> in the Caribbean and central Atlantic area.</li>
<li><strong>Greater instances of tornados</strong> in various states of the US.</li>
<li><strong>South America:</strong> La Nina causes<strong> drought in the</strong> South American countries of <strong>Peru and Ecuador.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It usually has a <strong>positive impact on the fishing industry</strong> of western South America.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Western Pacific:</strong> In the western Pacific, La Nina increases the<strong> potential for landfall</strong> in those areas most vulnerable to their effects, and especially into <strong>continental Asia and China.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It also leads to<strong> heavy floods in Australia.</strong></li>
<li>There are<strong> increased temperatures</strong> in Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and off the Somalian coast.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>La Nina in 2010</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The 2010 La Nina event correlates with one of the worst floods in the history of Queensland, Australia.</li>
<li>More than 10,000 people were forced to evacuate, and damage from the disaster was estimated at more than $2 billion.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>ENSO and India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>El Nino:</strong> Strong El Nino events contribute to weaker monsoons and even droughts in India Southeast Asia.</li>
<li><strong>La Nina:</strong> The cold air occupies a larger part of India than the El Nino cold air.</li>
<li>In the &lsquo;La Nina year&rsquo;, <strong>rainfall associated with the summer monsoon</strong> in Southeast Asia tends to be <strong>greater than normal,</strong> especially in<strong> northwest India and Bangladesh.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This generally <strong>benefits the Indian economy,</strong> which depends on the monsoon for agriculture and industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It usually brings in <strong>colder than normal winters</strong> in India.</li>
<li>La Nina influences the Indian subcontinent by piping in<strong> cold air from Siberia and South China,</strong> which interacts with the tropical heating to produce a north-south low-pressure system.</li>
<li>The <strong>cold air of La Nina</strong> associated with this north-south trough <strong>tends to extend much further south into India.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is remarkably different from the more northwest-southeast blast of cold air associated with El Nino.</li>
<li>The pressure pattern going north-south means lesser impact of western disturbances.</li>
<li>The <strong>cold temperature can go down as far as Tamil Nadu, </strong>but <strong>may not affect the North East that much.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1610954845_image2.gif" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1610954845_image2.gif" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'el-nino-and-la-nina',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Water Resources',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7340,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Digital Ocean',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Earth Sciences</strong> inaugurated the<strong> web-based application DigitalOcean</strong> developed by <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-national-centre-for-ocean-information-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)</a></strong> in a Virtual Meeting held in New Delhi.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Digital Ocean:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Digital Ocean</strong> is a new state of the art <strong>data platform</strong> for <strong>Ocean Data Management.</strong></li>
<li>It is the <strong>first such platform to provide ocean data related services at one place.</strong></li>
<li>It includes a set of<strong> applications</strong> developed to<strong> organize and present heterogeneous oceanographic data</strong> by <strong>adopting rapid advancements in geospatial technology.</strong></li>
<li>It facilitates an online interactive web-based environment for <strong>data integration, 3D and 4D (3D inspace with time animation) data visualization,</strong> data analysis to assess the evolution of oceanographic features, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Digital Ocean is a big <strong>step towards</strong> Prime Minister&rsquo;s vision of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Digital India</strong></a> that is to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.</li>
<li>It will serve as a one stop-solution for all the data related needs of a wide range of users including<strong> research institutions, operational agencies, strategic users, academic community, maritime industry, policy makers and the public.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will also contribute to the vision of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharathttps://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will play a <strong>central role in sustainable management of the oceans</strong> and expanding the government&rsquo;s <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/blue-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Blue Economy</strong></a> initiatives.</li>
<li>It will be promoted as a<strong> platform for capacity building</strong> on Ocean Data Management for all <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/19th-iora-council-of-ministers-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Ocean Rim countries.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Related Initiative:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Deep Ocean Mission:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Launched in <strong>2018.</strong></li>
<li>The mission proposes to<strong> explore the deep ocean.</strong></li>
<li>The focus of the mission is on <strong>deep-sea mining, ocean climate change advisory services, underwater vehicles and underwater robotics related technologies.</strong></li>
<li>Two key projects planned in the Mission are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong><a href="/printpdf/desalination-plants-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">desalination plant</a></strong> powered by <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/ocean-energy#:~:text=Total%20identified%20potential%20of%20Tidal,barrage%20technology%20could%20be%20used.&amp;text=OTEC%20has%20a%20theoretical%20potential,subject%20to%20suitable%20technological%20evolution." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>tidal energy.</strong></a></li>
<li>A<strong> submersible vehicle</strong> that can explore depths of at least 6,000 metres.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> It will enable India to <strong>develop capabilities to exploit resources in the <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/2020-07-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Central Indian Ocean Basin</a> (CIOB).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an <strong>autonomous organization under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).</strong></li>
<li>It is located in Hyderabad &amp; was <strong>established in 1999.</strong></li>
<li>It is a<strong> unit of the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO),</strong> New Delhi.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> ESSO</strong> operates as <strong>an executive arm of the Ministry of Earth Sciences</strong> (MoES) for its policies and programmes.</li>
<li><strong>ESSO&rsquo;s</strong> aim is to <strong>develop and improve capability to forecast weather, climate and hazard related phenomena</strong> for social, economic and environmental benefits including addressing aspects relating to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>climate change</strong></a> science, and climate services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is mandated to <strong>provide the best possible ocean information and advisory services</strong> to society, industry, government agencies and the scientific community through sustained ocean observations and constant improvement through systematic and focused research.</li>
<li>It has adopted and developed various state-of-the-art technologies and tools that includes<a href="/printpdf/isro-s-assistance-in-fishing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ)</strong></a> advisories, <a href="/pdf/1585108199-gemini-device.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ocean State Forecast (OSF)</strong></a>, <strong><a href="/printpdf/heat-wave-warning" target="_blank" rel="noopener">High Wave</a> Alerts</strong>, <a href="/printpdf/tsunami-early-warning-system-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tsunami early warnings</strong></a>, <strong><a href="/pdf/1593999528-cyclone-19.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Storm Surge</a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oil-spill-in-siberia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oil-Spill</a> advisories, etc.</strong></li>
<li>It has been serving as the National Argo Data Centre and Regional Argo Data Centre of the <strong>International Argo Programme.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1684418" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'digital-ocean',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Water Resources',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 18 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7301,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Aquifer Mapping & Management',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) has been recently signed between <strong>Central Ground Water Board</strong> (CGWB), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-shakti-mantralaya" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ministry of Jal Shakti</strong></a> and <strong>Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research&ndash;National Geophysical Research Institute</strong>, for use of <strong>advanced heliborne geophysical survey</strong> (through helicopter) and other scientific studies under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-aquifer-mapping-and-management-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aquifer Mapping Programme</strong></a>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Geophysical data is used to provide information on the <strong>physical properties</strong> of the <strong>Earth's surface and subsurface</strong>. As a result, geophysical data can <strong>help locate hydrocarbons, minerals, aggregate, and other natural resources</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example <strong>groundwater mapping, mineral mapping</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Objectives of the study:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>High resolution aquifer mapping using <strong>heliborne geophysical studies</strong>, including identification of sites for artificial recharge.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The main advantages of the <strong>Heliborne geophysical survey</strong> is that it is fast, highly data dense, precise and economical.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Create <strong>3D</strong> Geophysical model, geophysical <strong>thematic maps</strong> at <strong>horizontal and vertical plains</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Aquifer Geometry</strong> of principal aquifer with demarcation of de-saturated and saturated aquifers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The rocks in which groundwater is stored are called aquifers. They are typically made up of <strong>gravel, sand, sandstone or limestone</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Spatial and depth wise distribution of <strong>paleochannel network</strong> if any and its linkage with the aquifer system.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A palaeochannel, or paleochannel, is a remnant of an <strong>inactive river or stream channel</strong> that has been filled or buried by younger sediment</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Selecting suitable sites for groundwater withdrawal and water conservation through artificial or managed aquifer recharge.</li>
<li>The study is likely to generate <strong>groundwater data</strong> in a very short time period helping in groundwater management by preparing <strong>site specific plans</strong> for improving ground water levels in water stressed areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India and Groundwater</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is the <strong>largest user of groundwater</strong> in the world, extracting groundwater to the tune of <strong>253</strong> billion cubic meter (bcm) per year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is about <strong>25% of the global groundwater extraction</strong>.</li>
<li>Out of the total of <strong>6584</strong> assessment units, <strong>1034</strong> have been categorized as <strong>&lsquo;Over-exploited&rsquo;, 253</strong> as <strong>&lsquo;Critical&rsquo;, 681</strong> as <strong>&lsquo;Semi-Critical&rsquo;</strong> and <strong>4520</strong> as <strong>&lsquo;Safe&rsquo;</strong>.</li>
<li>The remaining <strong>96</strong> assessment units have been classified as <strong>&lsquo;Saline&rsquo;</strong> due to <strong>non-availability of fresh groundwater</strong> due to salinity problems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Availability of Water:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has about <strong>1123 billion m<sup>3</sup></strong> of water resources available, out of which <strong>690 bcm</strong> is surface water and rest <strong>433 bcm</strong> is groundwater.</li>
<li>Out of total groundwater available, <strong>90% of it is used for irrigation purposes</strong> which is mainly for agricultural purposes.</li>
<li>The remaining <strong>10% accounts for domestic and industrial purposes combined</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Water Crisis in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/solution-to-indias-water-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Composite Water Management Index</strong></a> (CWMI) report released by the <strong>NITI Aayog</strong> in 2018, <strong>21 major cities</strong> (Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and others) are racing to <strong>reach zero groundwater levels by 2020,</strong> affecting access for <strong>100 million people</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The CWMI report also states that by 2030, the country's water demand is projected to be <strong>twice the available supply,</strong> implying <strong>severe water scarcity</strong> for hundreds of millions of people and an eventual <strong>6% loss in the country's GDP</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Maharashtra and nearly half the country is facing an acute water shortage. Besides <strong>Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan, parts of Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana</strong> are facing a water shortage of unprecedented levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Aquifer Mapping and Management program (NAQUIM)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is being implemented by the <strong>Central Ground Water Board</strong> (CGWB).</li>
<li>NAQUIM envisages <strong>mapping of aquifers</strong> (water bearing formations), their characterization and development of Aquifer Management Plans to facilitate <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/india-s-water-crisis-every-drop-counts" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sustainable management of groundwater resources</strong></a>.</li>
<li>NAQUIM was initiated as a part of the <strong>Ground Water Management and Regulation Scheme</strong> to delineate and characterize the aquifers to develop plans for ground water management.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Central Ground Water Board</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>subordinate office</strong> of the <strong>Ministry of Jal Shakti,</strong> and is the National Apex Agency entrusted with the responsibilities of <strong>providing scientific inputs for management, exploration, monitoring, assessment, augmentation and regulation of groundwater resources</strong> of the country.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) is a <strong>geoscientific research organization</strong> established in 1961 under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).</li>
<li><strong>HQ:</strong> Hyderabad</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1682429" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'aquifer-mapping-management',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Water Resources',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 19 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7243,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Mid-term Review of National Hydrology Project',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Union Minister of Jal Shakti</strong> has reviewed the progress made under the <strong>National Hydrology Project</strong> (NHP) in its mid-term.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>National Hydrology Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was started in<strong> 2016</strong> as a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/reforming-centrally-sponsored-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Sector Scheme</strong> </a>with <strong>100% grant to implementing agencies </strong>on<strong> pan India basis.</strong></li>
<li>It is an<strong> initiative of the Ministry of Jal Shakti</strong> and is<strong> supported by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Bank.</a></strong></li>
<li>It has a<strong> budget outlay of Rs. 3680 crore</strong> to be spent over a<strong> period of 8 years.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To improve the extent, reliability and accessibility of water resources information.</li>
<li>To strengthen the capacity of targeted water resource management institutions in India.</li>
<li>To facilitate acquisition of reliable information efficiently which would pave the way for an effective water resource development and management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Project Beneficiaries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Central and state implementing agencies responsible for surface and/or groundwater planning and management, including river basin organizations.</li>
<li>Users of the <strong>Water Resources Information System</strong> (WRIS) across various sectors and around the World.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Project Components:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Water Resource Monitoring System:</strong> WRMS focuses on improving the extent, timeliness and reliability of water resources data.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Establishment of Hydromet Observation Networks.</li>
<li>Establishment of <strong>Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition</strong> (SCADA) Systems for Water Infrastructure.</li>
<li>Establishment of Hydro-Informatics Centers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Water Resources Information System:</strong> WRIS supports strengthening of national and sub-national water information centers with web-enabled WRIS through standardization of databases and products from various data sources/departments. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Strengthening of WRIS.</li>
<li>Establishing state WRIS.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Water Resources Operation and Planning System:</strong> WROPS supports the development of interactive analytical tools and decision support platforms that would integrate database, models and scenario manager for hydrological flood forecasting, integrated reservoir operations and water resources accounting for improved operation, planning and management of both surface and groundwater.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Development of Analytical Tools and Decision Support Systems.</li>
<li>Purpose Driven Studies.</li>
<li>Piloting Innovative Knowledge Products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Water Resources Institutions Capacity Enhancement:</strong> WRICE aims to build capacity for knowledge-based water resources management.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Water Resource Knowledge Centres.</li>
<li>Professional Development.</li>
<li>Project Management.</li>
<li>Operational Support.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mid-term Review:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The NHP has been termed as a <strong>project of National importance</strong> since it establishes a <strong>nationwide &lsquo;Nodal&rsquo; &lsquo;one point&rsquo; platform for all states to collaborate and share data</strong> pertaining to water resources.</li>
<li>Significant progress has been made in the fields of WRMS, WRIS, WROPS and WRICE.</li>
<li>Under the NHP, a nationwide repository of water resources data, <strong>National Water Informatics Centre</strong> (NWIC) has been established.</li>
<li>NHP is focusing on establishment of <strong>Real Time Data Acquisition System</strong> (RTDAS) on pan India basis, which <strong>would complement the manual data acquisition stations</strong> and would lay a strong foundation for informed decision making for better water resources management.</li>
<li>Through the NHP, the management of water resources shall <strong>witness a sea change since it will adopt an integrated approach and make use of cutting edge technology.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Collecting data from scattered agencies posed a major bottleneck in effective water resource management and also a stumbling block in important policy level decision making.</li>
<li>The lackadaisical approach and lack of interest shown by previous Governments has resulted in unavailability of reliable historic data.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Authorities should be directed to share the valuable works carried out under NHP in public domain and encourage academia, universities/research institutes globally to contribute towards this initiative.</li>
<li>Simultaneously, there is a need to further improve the water resources dissemination platform India-WRIS to take care of the requirements and aspirations of various stakeholders like<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/e-flows-in-river-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Central Water Commission</strong> </a>(CWC), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-aquifer-mapping-and-management-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Ground Water Board</strong> </a>(CGWB), <strong>National Water Development Agency</strong> (NWDA), <strong>National Institute of Hydrology</strong> (NIH), etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A lot of data-driven developments are expected to follow naturally over the course of time in the government as well as the private sectors and academic and research institutions, that hold the potential of transforming the water sector of the country from an age-old experience-based system depending largely on personal judgement to an optimised, transparent system where it is possible to holistically assess the impact of decisions across the sectors in advance, before they are actually made.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1681164" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'mid-term-review-of-national-hydrology-project',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Water Resources',
		'[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]' => '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

Achievers Corner

Prelims

Mains & Interview

Current Affairs

Drishti Specials

Free Downloads

Test Series

Videos

Tag Search Results

You searched “Water Resources”. Your tag search matches the following results: