WATER WISDOM DURING A PANDEMIC
Introduction The World Water Day on March 22 was observed more online than in-person this year, considering the Pandemic More than any previous year, there was a recognition of the importance of water in handwashing and personal hygiene practices. Theme of Water Day 2020: “Water and Climate Change” Water is the primary medium through which climate change […]
FAC ON DIBANG VALLEY PROJECT AND AMRABAD TIGER RESERVE
Why in news? The environment ministry’s Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has deferred its decision on granting forest clearance to: Hydropower Project in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang Valley The exploration of Uranium in Telangana’s Amrabad Tiger Reserve Details An FAC subcommittee report on April 21 recommended that the Etalin Hydroelectric Project, which will involve clearing 270,000 trees, be […]
MASSIVE REVAMP OF FOREST MINISTRY UNITS
Why in news? The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has introduced a massive restructuring plan that entails merging the 10 regional offices of the MoEF&CC and 19 centres of the Forest Survey of India (FSI), National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) and Central Zoo Authority (CZA) into just […]
INDIAN GREY WOLF SIGHTED
Why in news? A group of conservationists studying and camera-trapping leopards in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary has stumbled upon an Indian grey wolf (Canis lumpus pallipes). Why is it significant? This is reckoned to be its first-ever documentation of Indian grey wolf in Chamarajanagar district. What is significant is that this indicates the presence of all four […]
MASS HATCHING OF OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLES: RUSHIKULYA ROOKERY
Why in news? Mass hatching of Olive Ridley turtles began at Odisha’s Rushikulya rookery, a major nesting site of these marine turtles, on 7th May night. Details Thousands of hatchlings came out of the nests buried in sand to crawl towards the sea to start their long journey. On an average 80 to 100 turtles hatch […]
CRISIS ALONG THE COAST
Why in news? Skyscrapers constructed at Maradu in Kochi in violation of the CRZ rules, following an order from the Supreme Court. Four illegal apartments, which came up on the banks of the Vembanad Lake, a Ramsar site, were pulled down in two days after evicting its residents. What happened? On January 10, on the […]
NMCG & NIUA ORGANIZED IDEATHON
Why in news? The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti and National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) organized an IDEAthon on “The future of River Management’ to explore how the COVID-19 crisis can shape River Management strategies for the future. The IDEAthon examined how the social angle of rivers […]
GI TAG TO MANIPUR BLACK RICE, GORAKHPUR TERRACOTTA, KOVILPATTI KADALAI MITTAI
Why in news? Chak-Hao, the black rice of Manipur, the Gorakhpur terracotta, Kovilpatti kadalai mittai have bagged the Geogrphical Indication (GI) tag in 30th April 2020. Chak-Hao Chak-Hao is a scented glutinous rice which has been in cultivation in Manipur over centuries and is characterised by its special aroma. It is normally eaten during community feasts […]
56% MORE WATER IN RESERVOIRS THAN LAST YEAR
Do we have enough water? Under a lockdown with summer approaching and with the injunction of constant hand washing as a preventative for the spread of COVID-19 the water availability in India was a concern. The plentiful rains last year and heavy snowfall in the Himalayan States have ensured that in terms of just volumes, […]
CONCERNS OVER CHINA’S MEASURES TO PREVENT ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE
Why in news? China recently started a process to classify a step to rein in animals and birds from illegal trading in wildlife. China has drawn criticism from several quarters over its handling of wet animal markets after the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). China on April 8, 2020, circulated a list of […]