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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
India Water Impact Summit 2020

Why in News Recently, the 5th India Water Impact Summit (IWIS), organised by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and Center for Ganga River...

16 Dec 2020 Water Resources
Extreme Climate Events: CEEW

Why in News According to a recent study on the report “Preparing India for Extreme Climate Events” released by the Council on Energy,...

12 Dec 2020 Water Resources
China’s New Dam on Brahmaputra

Why in News Recently, Chinese authorities have given the go ahead for a Chinese hydropower company to construct the first downstream hydropower...

30 Nov 2020 Water Resources
Desalination Plants

Why in News Recently, Maharashtra announced the setting up of a desalination plant in Mumbai. The plant will process 200 million litres of water...

25 Nov 2020 Water Resources
India-China on Brahmaputra

Why in News The construction of several dams along the Brahmaputra river (known as Yarlung in China) on the Chinese side has become a repeated cause...

23 Nov 2020 Water Resources
Luhri Stage-I Hydro Electric Project

Why in News Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the investment for 210 MW Luhri Stage-I Hydro Electric Project. It...

05 Nov 2020 Water Resources
Ganga Utsav 2020

Why in News Recently, the Ganga Utsav 2020 has begun which celebrates the glory of the National river Ganga. Ganga was declared as the National...

03 Nov 2020 Water Resources
DRIP Phase II and Phase III

Why in News Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement...

30 Oct 2020 Water Resources
The Big Picture: Groundwater Extraction Norms

Why in News? With around one-sixth of assessed ground water units in the country facing over-exploitation, the Centre Govt has issued revised...

29 Oct 2020 Water Resources

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		'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>',
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		'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>
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		'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>',
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	(int) 3 => 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>',
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	(int) 4 => 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>',
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		'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>',
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		'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>',
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		'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>',
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		'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>',
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	(int) 9 => 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>',
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	(int) 10 => 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>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7223,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India Water Impact Summit 2020',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>5<sup>th</sup> India Water Impact Summit</strong> (IWIS), organised by the <strong>National Mission for Clean Ganga</strong> (NMCG) and <strong>Center for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies</strong> (cGanga) has held virtually.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Summit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India Water Impact 2020 is <strong>a five-day long summit</strong>, hosting experts and academicians from all over the world to discuss and <strong>debate issues related to water conservation, water security and river rejuvenation</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Theme:</strong> Comprehensive analysis and holistic management of local rivers and water bodies with focus on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/arth-ganga-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arth Ganga</a> - river conservation synchronised development.</li>
<li>At the event, <strong>Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research</strong> signed an MoU with cGanga for development of a <strong>sludge management framework</strong> in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the implementation wing of the <strong>National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection, and Management of River Ganga</strong> also known as <a href="/printpdf/first-meeting-of-national-ganga-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Ganga Council</strong></a> (set in 2016; which replaced the NRGBA).</li>
<li>NMCG was established in the year <strong>2011 as a registered society</strong>.</li>
<li>It has <strong>a two-tier management structure</strong> and comprises the <strong>Governing Council</strong> and <strong>Executive Committee</strong>.</li>
<li>The aims and objectives of NMCG are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To ensure <strong>effective control of pollution and rejuvenation of the river Ganga</strong> by adopting a river basin approach to promote inter-sectoral coordination for comprehensive planning and management.</li>
<li>To maintain <strong>minimum <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/government-notifies-e-flow-for-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ecological flows</a></strong> in the river Ganga with the aim of ensuring water quality and environmentally sustainable development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 2014, <strong>&lsquo;Namami Gange Programme&rsquo;</strong> was launched as an <strong>Integrated Conservation Mission</strong>, to accomplish the twin objectives of effective <strong>abatement of pollution, conservation, and rejuvenation of National River Ganga</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The program is <strong>being implemented by the NMCG</strong>, and its state counterpart organization viz., <strong>State Program Management Groups</strong> (SPMGs).</li>
<li>It has a budget outlay of <strong>Rs. 20,000 crore</strong>. The <strong>main pillars</strong> of the programme are:<br />
<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;">
<li>Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure &amp; Industrial Effluent Monitoring,</li>
<li>River-Front Development &amp; River-Surface Cleaning,</li>
<li>Bio-Diversity &amp; Afforestation, and</li>
<li>Public Awareness.</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies (cGanga):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was established at the <strong>Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur</strong> (IITK) in 2016.</li>
<li>The Centre is a <strong>Centre of Excellence</strong> for data collection, the creation and dissemination of knowledge and information for the sustainable development of Ganga River Basin.</li>
<li>The centre acts in the capacity of a <strong>comprehensive think-tank to the National Mission for Clean Ganga</strong> (NMCG), in its stated goals and objectives vis-&agrave;-vis the Ganga River Basin.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1680606" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7188,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Extreme Climate Events: CEEW',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to a recent study on the report <strong>&ldquo;Preparing India for Extreme Climate Events&rdquo;</strong> released by the <strong>Council on Energy, Environment and Water</strong> (CEEW),<strong> over 75% of districts in India are hotspots of extreme climate events</strong> such as <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cyclone-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cyclones</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/flood-management-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>floods</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unccd-drought-tool-box#:~:text=Drought%20is%20generally%20considered%20as,definition%20of%20drought%20in%20India." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>droughts</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/heat-waves" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>heat waves</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cold-wave-1#:~:text=Cold%20Wave%20Conditions%3A,degree%20Celsius%20is%20rarely%20reached." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cold waves.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is the<strong> first time</strong> that extreme weather event hotspots in the country have been mapped. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>CEEW</strong> is an independent, non-partisan, one of Asia&rsquo;s leading not-for-profit policy research institutions, devoted to research on all matters affecting the use, reuse, and misuse of resources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The report comes just after the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-environment-outlook" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Environment Programme</strong></a> (UNEP) <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/emissions-gap-report-2020-unep" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Emissions Gap Report 2020</strong></a> which warned that the world is heading for a temperature <strong>rise of over 3 degrees Celsius</strong> this century.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Major Findings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>frequency, intensity,</strong> and<strong> unpredictability</strong> of extreme events have risen in recent decades.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>While India witnessed 250 extreme climate events in 35 years between 1970 and 2005, it recorded 310 such weather events in only 15 years since then.</li>
<li>With an unusual spike in extreme events since 2005, these districts are bearing the <strong>effects of changing microclimate </strong>with<strong> loss of property, livelihoods and lives.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>pattern reflects the global changes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Extreme weather events resulting from climate change led to <strong>4,95,000 human deaths across the world in 1999-2018.</strong></li>
<li>More than 12,000 extreme weather events led to <strong>losses worth USD 3.54 trillion</strong> (measured in terms of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-purchasing-power-parities-icp-2017" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>purchasing power parity</strong></a> or PPP) during this period.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> current trend</strong> of catastrophic climate events <strong>results from a mere 0.6 degrees Celsius temperature rise in the last 100 years.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India is <strong>already the 5<sup>th</sup> most vulnerable country globally</strong> in terms of extreme climate events, and it is all set to become the world&rsquo;s flood capital.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cyclones:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>After 2005,</strong> the yearly average number of<strong> districts affected by cyclones tripled</strong> and the <strong>cyclone frequency-doubled.</strong></li>
<li>In the past decade, 258 districts were affected by cyclones with hotspot districts<strong> all along the eastern coastline.</strong></li>
<li>The east coast&rsquo;s warming regional microclimate, <strong>land-use change,</strong> and<strong> degrading forests</strong> are triggering the region&rsquo;s cyclonic activity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Flood Events:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The decade <strong>2000-2009 showed a spike in extreme flood events and in associated flood events,</strong> which affected almost 473 districts.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Events associated with floods such as<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/landslide-in-kodagu" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> landslides</strong></a>, <strong>heavy rainfall, hailstorms, thunderstorms, and cloudbursts</strong> increased by over 20 times.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The compounding effects of<strong> land subsidence,</strong> the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cities-are-turning-into-lightening-magnets" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>urban heat island phenomenon</strong></a>, and<strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/large-population-and-assets-to-be-affected-by-sea-level-rise" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> sea-level rise</a> due to glacial melts</strong> are leading to the <strong>intensification of cyclonic disturbances,</strong> thus increasing the number of flood events experienced during the decade and making it an outlier.</li>
<li>While the <strong>number of rainy days during monsoon has decreased, single-day extreme rainfall events are increasing,</strong> leading to flooding.</li>
<li><strong>Six of India&rsquo;s eight most flood-prone districts</strong> in the last decade, Barpeta, Darrang, Dhemaji, Goalpara, Golaghat and Sivasagar, are <strong>located in Assam.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Droughts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>yearly average of drought-affected districts increased 13 times after 2005.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Until 2005, the number of districts affected by drought was six, but<strong> after 2005 this figure rose to 79.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>While the<strong> intensity of damage in terms of loss of life has reduced significantly, </strong>droughts <strong>increase uncertainties related to agriculture and rural livelihoods.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Drought-affected district hotspots of India in the last decade</strong> were Ahmednagar, Aurangabad (both Maharashtra), Anantapur, Chittoor (both Andhra Pradesh), Bagalkot, Bijapur, Chikkaballapur, Gulbarga, and Hassan (all Karnataka).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Weakening of Monsoon:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The empirical evidence generated from the analysis coincides with the <strong>weakening of <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/monsoon-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">monsoons</a> due to rising micro-temperatures.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This further can be validated by the fact that states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh saw severe <strong>water scarcity during 2015 due to record-breaking temperatures during summer and weakening monsoons.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Swapping of Nature of Extreme Events:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The study also found a<strong> shift in the pattern of extreme climate events,</strong> such as <strong>flood-prone areas becoming drought-prone and vice-versa,</strong> in over 40% of Indian districts.</li>
<li>This swapping has<strong> happened in two ways.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In some cases, districts which were <strong>flood-prone have now become drought-prone and vice versa.</strong></li>
<li>While <strong>many districts are facing floods and droughts simultaneously.</strong> This trend is both <strong>unusual and alarming, </strong>and <strong>requires further investigation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Coastal southern Indian states</strong> are increasingly <strong>witnessing more droughts.</strong></li>
<li>Further,<strong> floods and droughts coincide during the same season</strong> in several districts of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Develop a Climate Risk Atlas</strong> to map critical vulnerabilities such as coasts, urban heat stress, water stress, and biodiversity collapse.</li>
<li><strong>Develop an Integrated Emergency Surveillance System</strong> to facilitate a systematic and sustained response to emergencies.</li>
<li><strong>Mainstream risk assessment at all levels,</strong> including localised, regional, sectoral, cross-sectoral, macro and micro-climatic level.</li>
<li><strong>Enhance adaptive and resilience capacity</strong> to climate-proof lives, livelihoods and investments.</li>
<li><strong>Increase the participatory engagement of all stakeholders</strong> in the risk assessment process.</li>
<li><strong>Integrate risk assessment</strong> into local, sub-national, and national level plans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Microclimatic zones shifting</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Microclimatic zones, or<strong> areas where the weather is different from surrounding areas, </strong>are<strong> shifting across</strong> various districts of India.</li>
<li>A shift in microclimate zones may<strong> lead to severe disruptions across sectors.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Every 2 degrees Celsius rise in annual mean temperature will reduce agricultural productivity by 15-20%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Some reasons<strong> identified behind this shift </strong>in microclimatic zones is<strong> change in land-use patterns, deforestation, encroachments upon mangroves, disappearing wetlands</strong> and <strong>natural ecosystems by encroachment, </strong>and<strong> urban heat islands that trap heat locally.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/over-75-districts-hotspots-of-extreme-weather-events-finds-study-2-7100341/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7098,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'China’s New Dam on Brahmaputra',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Chinese authorities have given the go ahead for a <strong>Chinese hydropower company</strong> to construct the<strong> first downstream hydropower project</strong> on the lower reaches of the river<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-on-brahmaputra" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Brahmaputra</strong></a> (known as <strong>Yarlung Zangbo in Tibet</strong>).</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1606728541_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1606728541_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="500" height="334" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Brahmaputra:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It originates under the name of <strong>Siang or Dihang,</strong> from the <strong>Chemayungdung glacier of the Kailash range near the Mansarovar lake.</strong> It enters India west of Sadiya town in Arunachal Pradesh.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Tributaries:</strong> Dibang, Lohit, Siang, Burhi Dihing, Tista, and Dhansari.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is a<strong> perennial river</strong> and has <strong>several peculiar characteristics due to its geography and prevailing climatic conditions.</strong></li>
<li>It is<strong> flooded twice annually.</strong> One flood is caused by the<strong> melting of the Himalayan snow in summer</strong> and the <strong>other due to the monsoon flows.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> frequency</strong> of these floods have increased and are devastating due to climate change and its impact on high and low flows.</li>
<li>These <strong>pose a concern for the population and food security in the lower riparian states of India and Bangladesh.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The river is in itself <strong>dynamic as frequent landslides and geological activity force it to change course</strong> very often.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About the Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> state-owned</strong> hydropower company <strong>POWERCHINA</strong> signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/60-years-of-1959-tibetan-uprising" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tibet Autonomous Region</strong></a> (TAR) <strong>government</strong> to implement hydropower exploitation in the downstream of the Yarlung Zangbo river as part of the new <strong>Five Year Plan</strong> (2021-2025).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This will be the<strong> first time the downstream sections of the river will be tapped.</strong> However, the<strong> location</strong> of the planned project <strong>has not been mentioned anywhere.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Great Bend of the Brahmaputra</strong> and the<strong> Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon in Medog county,</strong> where the river turns sharply to flow across the border into f <strong>Arunachal Pradesh could be the potential spot</strong> for the project. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This<strong> 50 km section</strong> alone offers a potential of developing <strong>70 million kilowatt hours</strong> (Kwh).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Previous Projects:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>2015,</strong> China operationalised its<strong> first hydropower project at <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dams-in-china-over-transboundary-rivers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zangmu in Tibet</a>,</strong> while three other dams at <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dams-in-china-over-transboundary-rivers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dagu, Jiexu and Jiacha</strong></a> are being developed, all on the upper and middle reaches of the river.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1606728929_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1606728929_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Importance of the Project for China:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> 60 million kWh hydropower</strong> exploitation could <strong>provide 300 billion kWh of clean, renewable and zero-carbon electricity annually.</strong></li>
<li>The project will play a significant role in realising China&rsquo;s goal of reaching a <strong>carbon emissions peak before 2030 and carbon neutrality till 2060.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns for India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has been expressing concerns on Brahmaputra<strong> since 2015</strong> when China operationalised its <strong>project at Zangmu.</strong></li>
<li>A dam at the <strong>Great Bend,</strong> if approved, would raise fresh concerns considering its <strong>location downstream and just across the border</strong> from Arunachal Pradesh.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For India, <strong>quantity of water is not an issue</strong> because these are run of the river dams and will not impact the Brahmaputra flow. More importantly, Brahmaputra is not entirely dependent on upstream flows and an estimated <strong>35% of its basin is in India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, India is concerned about the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-on-brahmaputra" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chinese activities affecting the quality of water, ecological balance and the flood management.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-70-years-of-diplomatic-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India and China</strong> </a>do not have a water sharing agreement. Both nations share hydrological data so it becomes important to share genuine data and have continuous dialogue on issues like warning of droughts, floods and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/high-water-discharge-from-china-threatens-arunachal-assam" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>high water discharges.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is required to go beyond the exchange of hydrological data and ask China for information on the topographic condition of the whole basin.</li>
<li>Any forward movement on ensuring hydro-security in the Brahmaputra basin would require a long-term understanding between the two countries. It is necessary for India to engage China in a sustained dialogue and secure a water-sharing treaty that serves the interests of both the countries.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-hydropower-company-plans-first-downstream-dam-on-brahmaputra/article33206687.ece#:~:text=China's%20media%20reported%20on%20Sunday,of%20the%20river%20with%20potential" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7065,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Desalination Plants',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Maharashtra announced the setting up of a desalination plant in Mumbai.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The plant will process <strong>200 million litres of water daily (MLD),</strong> and will help in overcoming the<strong> water shortage faced by Mumbai</strong> in the months of <strong>May and June.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Maharashtra</strong> will be the <strong>fourth state</strong> to experiment with Desalination Plants.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Desalination Plants:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <strong>desalination plant</strong> turns salt water into water that is fit to drink.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/desalination-plants-harm-environment-un" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Desalination</strong></a> is the process of <strong>removing salts from water</strong> to produce water that meets the quality (salinity) requirements of different human uses.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Most commonly used <strong>technology</strong> for the process is <strong>reverse osmosis.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1606292180_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1606292180_image1.png" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An external pressure is applied to push solvents from an area of high-solute concentration to an area of low-solute concentration through a semi-permeable membrane.</li>
<li>The <strong>microscopic pores</strong> in the membranes allow water molecules through but leave salt and most other impurities behind, releasing clean water from the other side.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These plants are mostly set up in areas that have access to <strong>sea water.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advantage of Desalination Plants:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It can extend water supplies beyond what is available from the<strong> hydrological cycle,</strong> providing an<strong> &ldquo;unlimited&rdquo;, climate-independent</strong> and <strong>steady supply</strong> of high-quality water.</li>
<li>It can<strong> provide drinking water</strong> in areas where no natural supply of potable water exists.</li>
<li>As it generally <strong>meets or exceeds</strong> standards for <strong>water quality,</strong> water desalination plants can also<strong> reduce pressure on freshwater supplies</strong> that come from<strong> areas</strong> (over exploited water resources) that need protecting.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disadvantage of Desalination Plants:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Costly to build and operate</strong> desalination plants as the plants require huge amounts of energy. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Energy costs</strong> account for <strong>one-third to one-half of the total cost</strong> of producing desalinated water.</li>
<li>Because energy is such a large portion of the total cost, the <strong>cost is also greatly affected by changes in the price of energy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The environmental impact</strong> is another disadvantage to water desalination plants. Disposal of the salt removed from the water is a major issue. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This discharge, known as<strong> brine,</strong> can change the salinity and lower the amount of oxygen <strong>(Hypoxia)</strong> in the water at the disposal site, stressing or killing animals not used to the higher levels of salt.</li>
<li>In addition, the desalination process <strong>uses or produces numerous chemicals including chlorine, carbon dioxide, hydrochloric acid and anti-scalents</strong> that can be<strong> harmful in high concentrations.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Opportunities:</strong> The environmental problem can be changed into an economic opportunity as:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>discharge (brine)</strong> can also contain<strong> precious elements like uranium, strontium as well as sodium and magnesium</strong> which have the potential to be mined.</li>
<li><strong>Brine</strong> has been used for <strong>aquaculture,</strong> with <strong>increases in fish biomass of 300%.</strong> It has also been successfully used to cultivate the <strong>dietary supplement Spirulina,</strong> and to irrigate forage shrubs and crops.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use of Desalination Plants in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has largely been limited to countries in the <strong>Middle East</strong> and has recently started being used in parts of the <strong>United States and Australia.</strong></li>
<li>In India, <strong>Tamil Nadu</strong> has been the pioneer in using this technology, setting up two desalination plants near <strong>Chennai in 2010 and then 2013.</strong></li>
<li>The other states that have proposed these plants are <strong>Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a <strong>need to make desalination technologies more affordable,</strong> i.e. increasing the viability of desalination for addressing<strong> Sustainable Development Goal 6</strong> (SDG-6: Ensure Access to water and Sanitation for All).</li>
<li>To do this, <strong>technological refinement for low environmental impacts</strong> and <strong>economic costs,</strong> along with <strong>innovative financial mechanisms</strong> to support the sustainability of desalination schemes, will likely be required.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/mumbai-desalination-plant-7063528/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7052,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India-China on Brahmaputra',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The construction of several dams along the <strong>Brahmaputra river</strong> (known as<strong> Yarlung in China</strong>) on the Chinese side has become a repeated cause of concern for India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-70-years-of-diplomatic-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India and China</strong></a> continue to grow demographically as well as economically amid increased consumption among its citizenry,<strong> both nations face water constraints</strong> and in a race to develop new projects in order to overcome them.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1606129772_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1606129772_image4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Brahmaputra:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It originates under the name of <strong>Siang or Dihang,</strong> from the <strong>Chemayungdung glacier of the Kailash range near the Mansarovar lake.</strong> It enters India west of Sadiya town in Arunachal Pradesh.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Tributaries:</strong> Dibang, Lohit, Siang, Burhi Dihing, Tista, and Dhansari.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is a <strong>perennial river</strong> and has <strong>several peculiar characteristics due to its geography and prevailing climatic conditions.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>flooded twice annually.</strong> One flood is caused by the <strong>melting of the Himalayan snow in summer</strong> and the<strong> other due to the monsoon flows.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> frequency</strong> of these floods have increased and are devastating due to climate change and its impact on high and low flows.</li>
<li>These <strong>pose a concern for the population and food security in the lower riparian states of India and Bangladesh.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The river is in itself <strong>dynamic as frequent landslides and geological activity force it to change course</strong> very often.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Chinese Perspective:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China is home to close to <strong>20% of the world&rsquo;s population</strong> and has <strong>only 7% of its water resources,</strong> which also faces severe pollution caused by rapid industrialisation.</li>
<li>China&rsquo;s <strong>southern regions are water-rich in comparison to the water-stressed northern part</strong> and to solve that, it <strong>plans to link the major rivers</strong> in these regions through canals, aqueducts and other linking projects to ensure water security.</li>
<li>For that, China has been <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dams-in-china-over-transboundary-rivers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>blocking rivers like the Mekong</strong></a> <strong>and its tributaries,</strong> affecting Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>China, being an<strong> upper riparian state in Asia,</strong> sees these projects as a continuation of its <strong>historic tributary system.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>smaller states have no means of effectively resisting</strong> or even have <strong>significant leverage</strong> in negotiations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the<strong> Himalayas,</strong> there are <strong>multiple operational dams in the Yarlung Tsangpo basin</strong> with more dams commissioned and under construction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Perspective:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has <strong>17% of the world&rsquo;s population</strong> and <strong>4% of water.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>severely water-stressed</strong> and in summer, a vast majority of urban areas face water shortage.</li>
<li>A majority of India&rsquo;s population reside in the <strong>Gangetic plains which enjoy water throughout the year</strong> but the<strong> southern and western regions experience harsh and dry summer</strong> and the<strong> rainfall is scarce and erratic in the eastern coast.</strong></li>
<li>An ambitious <strong>north-south<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-floods-river-linking" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> river-linking</a> project has been proposed in India</strong> as well. However, it has come under criticism for <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>potentially disturbing fragile ecosystems.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns Raised:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Degradation of the Basin:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Massive amounts of silt carried by the river would get blocked by dams leading to a <strong>fall in the quality of soil</strong> and eventual <strong>reduction in agricultural productivity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats to Flora and Fauna:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Brahmaputra basin is <strong>one of the world&rsquo;s most <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/eco-sensitive-zones" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ecologically sensitive zones</a></strong> and is identified as <strong>one of the world&rsquo;s 34 biological hotspots.</strong></li>
<li>This region has several species of <strong>flora and fauna which are endemic to only this part</strong> of the world.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kaziranga-national-park-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kaziranga National Park</strong></a> houses 35 mammalian species out of which 15 are listed as threatened in the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> IUCN Red List.</strong></a></li>
<li>The river itself is home to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/project-dolphin#:~:text=The%20Gangetic%20dolphin%20census%20suggests,Pradesh%20and%20962%20in%20Assam." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gangetic river dolphin</strong></a>, which is listed as <strong>critically endangered.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Unfavourable Location:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The location of the dams also poses a risk as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/re-measuring-mount-everest" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Himalayas</strong></a> <strong>are one of the most vulnerable to <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/earthquake-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">earthquakes</a> and seismic activity.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/landslide-in-kodagu" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Landslides</strong></a> resulting from earthquakes pose a significant threat. For example, the 2015 Nepal earthquake and the resultant landslides wiped out several dams and other facilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Risk to Inhabitants:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Damming this perennial river would <strong>result in water security in an era of unprecedented shifting climate patterns.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> sheer size of the infrastructure projects</strong> undertaken by China and increasingly by India, poses a significant threat to the populations living downstream.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Close to a million people live in the Brahmaputra basin in India and tens of millions further downstream in Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strategic Implications:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There is the potential to<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/high-water-discharge-from-china-threatens-arunachal-assam" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> significantly change the flow rate</strong> </a>during times of standoffs and high tensions.</li>
<li>During the<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/india-s-world-pm-modi-s-visit-to-bhutan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> 2018 Doklam border standoff</strong> </a>between India and China, China stopped communication of water flow levels from its dams, effectively rendering India blind to floods during the standoff.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-China relations hitting its lowest point</strong> </a>since the 1962 war, border infrastructure has come under intense scrutiny. Alternative solutions to solving the water crisis which have to be adopted in order to neutralise this ticking water bomb.</li>
<li>Both nations must cease new constructions on the river and commit to potentially less destructive solutions like building a decentralised network of check dams, rain-capturing lakes and using traditional means of water capture.</li>
<li>These measures have shown effective results in restoring the ecological balance while supporting the populations of the regions in a sustainable manner.</li>
<li>India and China do not have a water-sharing agreement and they should work upon it. Both nations share hydrological data so it becomes important to share genuine data and have a continuous dialogue on issues like a warning of droughts, floods and high water discharges.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/brahmaputra-river-china-dam-india-china-relation-7061644/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6926,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Luhri Stage-I Hydro Electric Project',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cabinet-committees-formed" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs</strong> </a>has approved the investment for 210 MW <strong>Luhri Stage-I Hydro Electric Project.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is located on <strong>River Satluj in Shimla and Kullu</strong> districts of <strong>Himachal Pradesh.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is being implemented by <strong>Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited</strong> (SJVNL) on <strong>Build-Own-Operate-Maintain</strong> (BOOM) <strong>basis</strong> with active support from Government of India and the State Government.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Government of India is providing grants of Rs. 66.19</strong> crore for enabling infrastructure.</li>
<li>SJVNL has envisaged<strong> Internal Growth Targets</strong> of total installed capacity from all sources of 5000 MW by 2023, 12000 MW by 2030 and 25000 MW by the year 2040.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This project will generate<strong> 758.20 million units of electricity annually,</strong> which will help in providing grid stability and improve the power supply position.</li>
<li>Besides adding <strong>valuable <a href="/infographics/info-paper3/renewable-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">renewable energy</a></strong> to the grid, the project would also lead to a<strong> reduction of 6.1 lakh tons of carbon dioxide</strong> from the environment annually, thus contributing to an <strong>improvement in air quality</strong> and<strong> less <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/tackling-the-air-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">air pollution.</a></strong></li>
<li>The construction activities will result in<strong> direct and indirect employment</strong> and will <strong>contribute to the overall socio-economic development</strong> of the State.</li>
<li><strong>Himachal Pradesh will benefit with free power</strong> worth around Rs. 1140 crore, during the <strong>Project Life Cycle of 40 years.</strong></li>
<li>The project affected families will be provided with <strong>100 units of free electricity per month for ten years.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1670011" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6910,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Ganga Utsav 2020',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ganga Utsav 2020</strong> has begun which celebrates the glory of the <strong>National river Ganga.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ganga was declared as the National River of India on <strong>4<sup>th</sup> November 2008.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ganga Utsav:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-mission-for-clean-ganga#:~:text=National%20River%20Ganga%20Basin%20Authority,'National%20River'%20of%20India." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Mission for Clean Ganga</strong></a> (NMCG) celebrates the festival every year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>NMCG is the <strong>implementation wing of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-meeting-of-national-ganga-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Ganga Council</a></strong>, set up in 2016, which replaced the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NRGBA).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> three-day festival</strong> aims to <strong>promote stakeholder engagement and ensure public participation.</strong></li>
<li>It celebrates mystical and cultural river Ganga through storytelling, folklores, dialogues with eminent personalities, quizzes, displaying traditional art forms, dance and music performance by renowned artists, photo galleries and exhibitions and much more.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Programmes Held During the Festival:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Ganga Task Force</strong> (GTF) conducted an <a href="/daily-news-analysis/ganga-vriksharopan-abhiyan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>afforestation drive</strong></a> with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/expansion-of-the-ncc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Cadet Corps</strong></a> (NCC) cadets and educational tour for youth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>GTF is a<strong> unit of battalion of ex-servicemen deployed in the services of the Ganga</strong> with the approval of the Ministry of Defence for the period of four years till December 2020.</li>
<li>It was approved by the Cabinet under the <strong>Public Participation component of the Namami Gange Programme</strong> and the <strong>first battalion was raised in March 2016.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mini <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ganga-quest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ganga Quest</a></strong>, designed to make youth and students aware of environmental issues and explain their role in conservation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ganga Quest is <strong>a pan India bilingual quiz</strong> to increase public participation in Namami Gange program and encourage the youth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestion on the innovative ways in which <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/15-point-directive-to-clean-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Namami Gange</a></strong> can engage in activities throughout the year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In <strong>2014,</strong> Namami Gange Programme was launched to accomplish the<strong> twin objectives</strong> of <strong>effective abatement of pollution and conservation,</strong> and <strong>rejuvenation</strong> of Ganga.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Initiatives on River Ganga:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Ganga Action Plan:</strong> It was the <strong>first river action plan</strong> which was taken up by the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 1985,</strong> to improve the water quality by the interception, diversion and treatment of domestic sewage.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> National River Conservation Plan</strong> is an extension to this plan, which aims at<strong> cleaning the Ganga river under Ganga Action Plan phase-2.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National River Ganga Basin Authority:</strong> It was formed by the Government of India in the year <strong>2009</strong> under<strong> Section-3 of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/environmental-impact-assessment-1#:~:text=On%2027%20January%201994%2C%20the,Schedule%201%20of%20the%20notification." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Environment Protection Act 1986.</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Clean Ganga Fund: </strong>In<strong> 2014,</strong> it was formed for cleaning up of the Ganga, setting up of waste treatment plants and conservation of biotic diversity of the river.</li>
<li><strong>Bhuvan-Ganga Web App:</strong> It ensures the involvement of the public in the monitoring of pollution entering into the river Ganga.</li>
<li><strong>Ban on Waste Disposal:</strong> In <strong>2017,</strong> the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-green-tribunal-ngt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal</strong></a> (NGT) banned the disposal of any waste in the Ganga.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>River Ganga</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the<strong> longest river of India</strong> flowing over 2,510 km of mountains, valleys and plains and is<strong> revered by Hindus</strong> as the most sacred river on earth.</li>
<li>It <strong>originates in the snowfields of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/concentration-of-black-carbon-on-gangotri-glacier" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gangotri Glacier</a></strong> <strong>in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/re-measuring-mount-everest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Himalayas</a></strong> as the Bhagirathi River and is joined by other rivers such as the Alaknanda, Yamuna, Son, Gumti, Kosi and Ghagra.</li>
<li>The Ganga river <strong>basin is one of the most fertile and densely populated areas</strong> of the world and covers an area of 1,000,000 sq. km.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gangetic-dolphins-found-in-mahananda-river" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ganges River Dolphin</strong> </a>is an <strong>endangered</strong> animal that specifically habitats this river.</li>
<li>The Ganga widens out into the <strong>Ganges Delta in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sunderbans-damaged-in-cyclone-amphan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sundarbans</a> swamp of Bangladesh,</strong> before it ends its journey by emptying into the Bay of Bengal.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604398820_image0.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604398820_image0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1669540#:~:text=Amidst%20COVID%2019%20precautions%2C%20Ganga,with%20much%20fun%20and%20festivities&amp;text=The%20much%2Dawaited%20Ganga%20Utsav,childhood%20in%20conversation%20with%20Mahiya." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 6885,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'DRIP Phase II and Phase III',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs,</strong> chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-20th-september-2018-#:~:text=Dam%20Rehabilitation%20and%20Improvement%20Project%20(DRIP)&amp;text=Project%20was%20started%20in%202012,to%20be%20completed%20in%202018.&amp;text=It%20is%20an%20externally%2Daided,by%20the%20States%20%2F%20Central%20Government." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project</strong> </a>(DRIP) <strong>Phase II and Phase III.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<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>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To improve the safety and performance of selected existing dams and associated appurtenances in a sustainable manner.</li>
<li>To strengthen the dam safety institutional setup in participating states as well as at the central level.</li>
<li>To explore the alternative incidental means at few of selected dams to generate the incidental revenue for sustainable operation and maintenance of dams.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Project Cost and Funding: Rs. 10,211 crore.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Financial assistance of Rs. 7,000 from the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a> and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asian-infrastructure-investment-bank" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank</strong></a> (AIIB).</li>
<li>Rs. 3,211 crore is to be borne by the <strong>concerned implementing agencies in the states.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implementation Period:</strong> Over a <strong>period of 10 years</strong> from <strong>April 2021 to March 2031,</strong> in two phases of six years duration with two years overlapping.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was<strong> started in 2012</strong> and was <strong>scheduled to be completed in 2018.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In September 2018, the Government <strong>approved its revised cost estimates</strong> along with a <strong>two-year time extension from 2018 to 2020,</strong> for the completion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Apart from its general objectives, it also <strong>aims at ensuring the safety of downstream population and property</strong> that are affected in the case of a dam failure or operational failure.</li>
<li>It was initially taken up <strong>for the repair and rehabilitation of dam projects across the seven states of India,</strong> namely Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1668405" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 6868,
		'category_id' => (int) 15,
		'title' => 'The Big Picture: Groundwater Extraction Norms',
		'description' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eTyaAyM3nbU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<p>With around one-sixth of assessed ground water units in the country facing over-exploitation, the Centre Govt has issued revised <strong>guidelines for groundwater use</strong>. The new guidelines aim to ensure a more robust groundwater regulatory mechanism in the country.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier in December 2018, the <strong>CGWB (Central Ground Water Board)</strong> issued a draft notification that proposed a &lsquo;water conservation fee&rsquo; for industrial extraction and this was roundly criticised. The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-green-tribunal-ngt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal</strong></a> stayed the draft in January 2019 terming it &ldquo;unsustainable,&rdquo; and having &ldquo;serious shortcomings.&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The guidelines have <strong>pan-India applicability</strong> which was never there before.</li>
<li>Certain categories have been exempted from these guidelines under particular conditions.</li>
<li>The guidelines include the restoration and extraction charges for groundwater.</li>
<li>Saline groundwater is also exempted as it needs to be extracted as much as possible.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Guidelines</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Prohibition of industries:</strong> The new guidelines prohibit new industry and mining projects in over-exploited zones and makes it mandatory for existing industries, commercial units and big housing societies to take &lsquo;no objection certificate&rsquo; (NOC).</li>
<li><strong>Exemption:</strong> The domestic consumers, rural drinking water schemes, armed forces, farmers and micro &amp; small enterprises (that withdraw upto 10 m3 water per day) are exempted from the requirement of a no objection certificate from the CGWB.</li>
<li>The guidelines have also encouraged the use of recycled and treated sewage water by industries, mentioned a provision of action against polluting industries and mandated the requirement of digital flow meters, piezometers and digital water level recorders</li>
<li><strong>Compensation:</strong> The guidelines notified by the CGWB under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-shakti-mantralaya" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jal Shakti Ministry</strong></a> prescribes a minimum environmental compensation of ₹1 lakh on industrial, mining and infrastructure users for extracting groundwater without a no objection certificate (NOC). This can rise, depending on the quantum of water extracted and the duration of the breach.</li>
<li><strong>Abstraction charges:</strong> All residential apartments/ group housing societies/ Government water supply agencies in urban areas would be required to pay ground water abstraction charges.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All industries/mining/ infrastructure projects drawing groundwater in safe, semi-critical and critical assessment units will have to pay groundwater abstraction charges based on the quantum of groundwater extraction and category of assessment unit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<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 Water Resources</strong> and is the <strong>National Apex Agency</strong> 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 <strong>merged</strong> with the Groundwater Wing of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-navy-signs-mou-with-geological-survey-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Geological Survey of India</strong></a> during 1972.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>India and Groundwater</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is the <strong>largest user of groundwater in the world,</strong> extracting groundwater to the tune of <strong>253 billion cubic meter (bcm)</strong> per year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is about <strong>25%</strong> of the global groundwater extraction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Out of the total of <strong>6584</strong> assessment units, <strong>1034</strong> have been categorized as <strong>&lsquo;Over-exploited&rsquo;</strong>, <strong>253</strong> as <strong>&lsquo;Critical&rsquo;</strong>, <strong>681</strong> as <strong>&lsquo;Semi-Critical&rsquo;</strong> and <strong>4520</strong> as <strong>&lsquo;Safe&rsquo;</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The remaining <strong>96</strong> assessment units have been classified as <strong>&lsquo;Saline&rsquo;</strong> due to non-availability of fresh groundwater due to salinity problems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Availability of Water:</strong> 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. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<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 10% accounts for domestic and industrial purposes combined.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps Taken</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atal-bhujal-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Atal Bhujal Yojana</a>:</strong> It seeks to revive village-level Water User Associations (WUAs). The scheme will strengthen the financial state of the WUAs, including allowing these bodies to retain a significant portion of irrigation fees.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-aquifer-mapping-and-management-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Aquifer Mapping</a>:</strong> National Aquifer Mapping and Management program (NAQUIM) envisages mapping of aquifers (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</strong></a> resources.</li>
<li><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/selected-best-practices-In-water-management" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Selected Best Practices in Water Management</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Involved</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Although the new rules exempt farmers from the need for obtaining an NOC from CGWA, it highlights a key factor that leads to excessive <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/depleting-groundwater" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>groundwater extraction</strong></a> in the agriculture sector. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Exempting the agricultural sector from the guidelines would not provide much improvement as the sector alone is responsible for 90% usage of groundwater.</li>
<li><strong>Water use efficiency</strong> is very low in the agricultural sector and water guzzling crops worsen the situation.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/power-subsidy-in-agriculture-and-related-issue" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>free electricity supply</strong></a> provided to the farmers also contributes to excessive groundwater extraction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>No consideration of incentive</strong> has been taken into account for those industrial sectors who use groundwater less than the defined limit.</li>
<li><strong>Impact on industries:</strong> Although industries are responsible for less than 10% of consumption, still it will be the highest affected sector by these guidelines.</li>
<li><strong>Use of money collected:</strong> Ensuring that the money collected from imposed charges is used for making reforms in the same field only is a possible challenge.</li>
<li><strong>Water is a state subject</strong>. The primary entry in the Constitution relating to water is indeed <strong>Entry 17</strong> in the <strong>State List</strong>. It brings water including water supplies, irrigation and canals, drainage and embankments, water storage and water power under state list.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>But it is explicitly made subject to the provisions of <strong>Entry 56 in the Union List</strong> which enables the Union to deal with inter-State rivers if Parliament legislates for the purpose.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Micro irrigation:</strong> or drip irrigation should be encouraged. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In drip irrigation, water is run through pipes (with holes in them) either buried or lying slightly above the ground next to the crops. Water slowly drips onto the crop roots and stems.</li>
<li>Unlike spray irrigation, very little is lost to evaporation and the water can be directed only to the plants that need it, cutting back on water waste.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Extraction charges:</strong> The extraction charges collected, should be used for restoration of groundwater.</li>
<li><strong>Water guzzling crops:</strong> Discouraging water guzzling crops such as sugar canes.</li>
<li><strong>Target specific areas:</strong> Although the guidelines are pan-India, they should certainly target the states that have exploited/ overexploited groundwater. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are some of the states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Artificial recharge of groundwater:</strong> It is the process of spreading or impounding water on the land to increase the infiltration through the soil and percolation to the aquifer or of injecting water by wells directly into the aquifer.</li>
<li><strong>Groundwater management plants:</strong> Installing groundwater management plants at local levels, will help the people in knowing the groundwater availability in their area making them use it wisely.</li>
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