UPSC(CSE) STUDY ZONE

2021-12-25 20:49:29 Recent Developments:

From 1974, Karnataka started diverting water into its four newly made reservoirs, without the consent of Tamil Nadu resulting in a dispute.

To resolve the matter, the CWDT was established in 1990 which took 17 years to arrive at the final order (2007) on how Cauvery water should be shared between the 4 riparian states in normal rainfall conditions.

In distress years, a pro-rata basis shall be used, it instructed. The government again took 6 year and notified the order in 2013.

This was challenged in SC which directed Karnataka to release 12000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu prompting protests in the State.

The final verdict of the SC came in 2018 where it declared the Cauvery a national asset and largely upheld the water-sharing arrangements finalised by the CWDT and also reduced the allocation of water from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu.

As per the SC, Karnataka would get 284.75 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft), Tamil Nadu 404.25 tmcft, Kerala 30 tmcft and Puducherry 7 tmcft.

It also directed the Centre to notify the Cauvery Management Scheme. The central government notified the ‘Cauvery Water Management Scheme’ in June 2018, constituting the ‘Cauvery Water Management Authority’ and the ‘Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’.

Way Forward

The states need to shed the regional approach as the solution lies in cooperation and coordination, not in conflict. The planning must be done at the basin level to make the solution sustainable and ecologically viable.

In the long term, there is a need to recharge the river through afforestation, river linking, etc and increased focus is needed on increasing water use efficiency viz. micro irrigation, awareness in people to prudently use water and water smart strategies. ओपन / कमेंट

2021-12-25 20:49:29 ##MEKEDATU PROJECT
##CSE PRELIMS/ MAINS -2022

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

The joint committee is supposed to look into allegations of unauthorised construction activity taking place in Mekedatu, where Karnataka had proposed to construct a dam across the Cauvery.

Mekedatu, meaning goat’s leap, is a deep gorge situated at the confluence of the rivers Cauvery and its tributary Arkavathi.

Mekedatu Project:
The Rs. 9,000 crore project aims to store and supply water for drinking purposes for the Bengaluru city. Around 400 megawatts (MW) of power is also proposed to be generated through the project.

It was first approved by the Karnataka state government in 2017.

It received approval from the erstwhile Ministry of Water Resources for the detailed project report and is awaiting approval from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

The approval from MoEFCC is crucial because 63% of the forest area of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary will be submerged.

In 2018, Tamil Nadu approached the Supreme Court (SC) against the project even if Karnataka had held that it would not affect the flow of water to Tamil Nadu.

In June 2020, during the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s meeting, Tamil Nadu reiterated its opposition to the project.

Reasons for Opposition by Tamil Nadu:

Tamil Nadu is opposed to any project being proposed in the upper riparian unless it was approved by the SC.

Karnataka has no right to construct any reservoir on an inter-state river without the consent of the lower riparian state i.e. Tamil Nadu in this case.

The project is against the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) in which the SC held that no state can claim exclusive ownership or assert rights to deprive other states of the waters of inter-state rivers.

The CWDT and the SC have found that the existing storage facilities available in the Cauvery basin were adequate for storing and distributing water so Karnataka’s proposal is ex-facie (on the face of it) untenable and should be rejected outright.

It has also held that the reservoir is not just for drinking water alone, but to increase the extent of irrigation, which is in clear violation of the Cauvery Water Disputes Award.

Cauvery River Dispute
River Cauvery (Kaveri):

It is known as ‘Ponni’ in Tamil also known as Ganga of the south, and it is the fourth largest river of southern India.

It is a sacred river of southern India. It rises on Brahmagiri Hill of the Western Ghats in southwestern Karnataka state, flows in a southeasterly direction through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and descends the Eastern Ghats in a series of great falls and drains into Bay of Bengal through Pondicherry.

Some of its tributaries are Arkavathi, Hemavathi, Lakshmana Theertha, Shimsa, Kabini and Harangi.

The Dispute:
Historical Background:

As the river originates in Karnataka, flows through Tamil Nadu with major tributaries coming from Kerala and drains into Bay of Bengal through Pondicherry the dispute therefore involves 3 states and one Union Territory.

The genesis of the dispute is 150 years old and dates back to the two agreements of arbitration in 1892 and 1924 between the then Madras presidency and Mysore.

It entailed the principle that the upper riparian state must obtain consent of lower riparian state for any construction activity viz. reservoir on the river Cauvery. ओपन / कमेंट

2021-12-19 07:42:12 ##MAITRI SETU ( FENI BRIDGE )
##CSE PRELIMS-2022

#The bridge 'Maitri Setu' has been built over Feni river which flows between Indian boundary in Tripura State and Bangladesh. The 1.9 Km long bridge joins Sabroom in India with Ramgarh in Bangladesh. It is poised to herald a new chapter for trade and people to people movement between India and Bangladesh.

#Maitri Setu: 1.9km Long Bridge Over Feni River in Tripura ( INDIA ) To BANGLADESH.

# India and Bangladesh inaugurated a bridge over the river Feni connecting Tripura to Bangladesh even as a new World Bank study said transport connectivity between the two South Asian neighbours would increase national income by as much as 17% in Bangladesh and 8% in India.

#Maitri Setu
Maitri Setu( মৈত্রী সেতু ) (मैत्री सेतु) Total length1.9 kilometres (1.2 mi) History Constructed byDineshchandra R. Agrawal Infracon Private Limited (DRA Infracon)Construction .

#Feni river location :-
Feni River (Bengali: ফেনী নদী ; ISO: Phēnī Nadī ) is a river in southeastern Bangladesh and Tripura state of India. It is a trans-boundary river with an ongoing dispute about water rights. The Feni River originates in South Tripura district and flows through Sabroom town and then enters Bangladesh. ओपन / कमेंट

2021-12-19 07:26:00 ##KALANAMAK RICE
## CSE PRELIMS-2022

Kalanamak is one of the finest quality scented rices of Nepal and India .

This variety has been in cultivation since the Buddhist period (600 BC). It is quite popular in Himalayan Tarai of Nepal i.e., Kapilvastu, and eastern Uttar Pradesh of India, and is also known as the scented black pearl of Uttar Pradesh.

It was also featured in the book 'Speciality rices of the world' by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

The black husk of Kalanamk rice grain.

Kalanamak was grown widely in Tarai belt of Uttar Pradesh, which comprised districts Siddharth Nagar, Sant Kabir Nagar, Maharajganj, Basti, Gonda, and Gorakhpur.

Until 30 years ago, the variety covered more than 10% of total rice cultivation area in Siddharthanagar. However, acreage growing this variety in this district declined to <0.5% of total rice area during 2002. ओपन / कमेंट

2021-12-19 06:47:36 ##KALINGA FROG |
##UPSC PRELIMS/ MAINS - 2022


HEADLINES:
Kalinga frog in Western Ghats shows physical differences from Eastern Ghats counterpart
      
WHY IN NEWS:
Scientists claim the morphological phenotypic plasticity found in the Kalinga cricket frog is first such in India

   ISSUE: 
Indian scientists have reported a first-of-its-kind discovery of morphological phenotypic plasticity (MPP) in the Kalinga cricket frog.

KALINGA FROG‘LARGEST SPECIES’
The Kalinga cricket frog is one of the largest of its group and grows up to 6.5 cm,whereas the other has an average size of 2 cm.

Cricket frogs are indicators of healthy ecosystem and live in wide habitat ranges in agricultural fields, streams, swamps and wetlands.

Kalinga frog is a semi-aquatic frog that actively breeds in the monsoon.

HABITAT
It was thought to be endemic to the hill ranges of the Eastern Ghats.

In the Eastern Ghats, the species is found on the higher-elevation hill ranges of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. 

It also indicated the frog species being endemic to the Eastern Ghats.

The frog from the Eastern Ghats is phenotypically different when compared with the population in Eastern Ghats.

DNA ANALYSIS
Frogs are known to exhibit varied reproductive behaviours by adopting different modes and strategies for successful survival.

The behavioural studies of many anuran (frog or toad) species let us study about breeding sites, courtship patterns and ecological adaptations. 

It was only genetic analysis that helped prove that physically different-looking frogs were the same.

GEOGRAPHICAL ZONES
The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats are the two different biogeographic zones, with unique histories.

While the Western Ghats are considered as a biodiversity hotspot, eastern its counterpart is not.

Geologically, the Western Ghats are ancient, having Gondwanaland relict forests in the south, while the formation of the Eastern Ghats is recent.

Both landscapes have unique ecosystems, with special microclimates and microhabitats .

MORPHOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES 
Any classical taxonomist would consider these two populations as two different species on the basis of morphological characters alone ! -Researchers .

Colour variations across the different populations of the same species were quite common.

Morphometric differences show up in terms of head shape and size. 

The number and size of the fingers vary from two to four, which are comparatively larger.

The toe sizes were observed to be smaller in the frog species found in the Western Ghats.

       ओपन / कमेंट

2021-12-13 08:58:57 Geography
KEN- BETWA LINK PROJECT
CSE, MAINS 2022
GS Paper - 1
GS Paper - 2
Water Resources
Inter-State Relations

Why in News
Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh signed a memorandum of agreement to implement the Ken Betwa Link Project (KBLP), the first project of the National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers.

The two states signed a tripartite agreement with the Centre on World Water Day (22nd March) to finally implement this ambitious project.

Key Points
Ken Betwa Link Project (KBLP):
The Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is the River interlinking project that aims to transfer surplus water from the Ken river in MP to Betwa in UP to irrigate the drought-prone Bundelkhand region.

The region spread across the districts of two states mainly Jhansi, Banda, Lalitpur and Mahoba districts of UP and Tikamgarh, Panna and Chhatarpur districts of MP.

The project involves building a 77-metre tall and a 2-km wide Dhaudhan dam and a 230-km canal.

Ken-Betwa is one of the 30 river interlinking projects conceived across the country.

The project has been delayed due to political and environmental issues.

Advantage of Interlining of Rivers:

Reducing Drought: River linking will be a solution to recurring droughts in Bundelkhand region.

Farmers’ Benefit: It will curb the rate of farmers suicide and will ensure them stable livelihood by providing sustainable means of irrigation and reducing excessive dependence on groundwater.

Electricity Production: It will not only accelerate the water conservation by construction of a multipurpose dam but will also produce 103 MW of hydropower and will supply drinking water to 62 lakh people.

Rejuvenate Biodiversity: Few are of the view that the introduction of dams inside the water scarce regions of panna tiger reserve (MP), will rejuvenate the forests of the reserve that in turn will pave the way for Rich Biodiversity in the region.

Issues:
Environmental: Because of certain environmental and wildlife conservation concerns like passing of the project though critical tiger habitat of panna tiger reserve, the project is stuck in for the approval from National Green Tribunal (NGT), and other higher authorities.

Economic: There is a huge economic cost attached with the project implementation and maintenance, which has been rising due to delays in project implementation.

Social: Reconstruction and rehabilitation caused due to displacement resulting from the implementation of the project will involve social cost as well.

Ken and Betwa Rivers
Ken and Betwa rivers originate in MP and are the tributaries of Yamuna.

Ken meets with Yamuna in Banda district of UP and with Betwa in Hamirpur district of UP.

Rajghat, Paricha and Matatila dams are over Betwa river.

Ken River passes through Panna tiger reserve.

National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers:

The National River Linking Project (NRLP) formally known as the National Perspective Plan, envisages the transfer of water from water ‘surplus’ basins where there is flooding, to water ‘deficit’ basins where there is drought/scarcity, through inter-basin water transfer projects.

Under the National Perspective Plan (NPP), the National Water Development Agency (NWDA), has identified 30 links (16 under the Peninsular Component and 14 under the Himalayan Component) for the preparation of feasibility reports (FRs).

The NPP for transferring water from water-surplus basins to water-deficit basins was prepared in August 1980.

Source: IE ओपन / कमेंट

2021-12-13 08:47:09 #AMUKTAMALYADA
#CSE PRELIMS-2022

#Āmuktamālyada is a Telugu epic poem composed by Krishnadevaraya, the Vijayanagara Emperor in the early 16th century.

# Amuktamalyada translates to "One who offered the garland after wearing it themselves".

#Considered as a masterpiece, Amuktamalyada describes the story of wedding of the Hindu Lord Ranganayaka an avatar of Lord Vishnu and Goda Devi aka Andal the Tamil Alvar poet and daughter of Periyalvar, at Srirangam.

#Considered a masterpiece in Telugu literature, the epic poem, ‘Amuktamalyada' tells the well-known story of the daughter of Periazhvar, Goda Devi, who used to wear the garlands intended for Lord Ranganatha before they were offered to the deity, and hence the name ‘Amukta Malya Da' — one who wears and gives away garlands.

#Sri Krishna Devaraya is believed to have written and dedicated the poem to Lord Venkateswara as ordained by God in his dream.

#Aptly, he sings in praise of the Lord and His divine weapons and pays obeisance to the Azhvars, the poet-saints of Vaishnavism.

#The work also speaks in some detail about Vishnuchitta (Periazhvar) and the arguments he put forth in support of Visishtadvaita and against other schools of philosophy.



#PRELIMS-2022 ओपन / कमेंट