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  • Disasters and Disaster Management – Sendai Framework, Floods, Cyclones, etc.

    PM CARES Fund is a “public charitable trust”: SC

    SC Judgements | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Disaster Management

    The Supreme Court has endorsed the PM CARES Fund as a “public charitable trust” to which donors contribute voluntarily.

    Try this question:

    Q. The creation of PM CARES fund is violative of the provision of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Analyse.

    What is the case?

    • The petition had argued that the PM-CARES Fund was not subject to CAG audit.
    • It was not under “public scrutiny”. Contributions to it were “100% tax-free”.
    • It was accused that there was statutory fund already in existence under the Disaster Management Act of 2005 to receive contributions to finance the fight against a calamity.

    About PM CARES Fund

    • The Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) were created on 28 March 2020 following the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
    • The fund will be used for combat, containment and relief efforts against the coronavirus outbreak and similar pandemic like situations in the future.
    • The PM is the chairman of the trust. Members will include the defence, home and finance ministers.
    • The fund will also enable micro-donations. The minimum donation accepted for the PM CARES Fund is ₹10 (14¢ US).
    • The donations will be tax-exempt and fall under corporate social responsibility.

    What did the Court rule?

    • There is “no occasion” for the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to audit a public charitable trust independent of budgetary support or government money.
    • The court said that PM-CARES is “not open” for a PIL petitioner to question the “wisdom” that created the fund in an hour of need.
    • The court dismissed the idea that the PM CARES was constituted to “circumvent” the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
    • The Bench also refused to direct the transfer of funds from the PM CARES Fund to the NDRF. It said they were two separate entities.

    Also read:

    PM-CARES Fund

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  • Coronavirus – Economic Issues

    Re-imagining and reinventing the Indian economy

    | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy

    The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the global economy and India is no different.  Besides the stimulus package totalling ₹20 lakh crore, a lot more needs to be done, however, to resuscitate the country’s growth engine.

    Try this question:

    Q.Economic reconstruction needs a multi-pronged strategy apart from economic stimulus. Discuss.

    Need for a two-pronged strategy

    • At this critical juncture, India needs a two-pronged strategy to successfully navigate the current crisis and recover strongly thereafter.
    • First, minimise the damage caused by the COVID and clear a path to recovery and second, rebooting and re-imaging India by promptly exploiting new opportunities unleashed by evolving business scenarios.

    Identifying the four major economic drivers:

    1. Big Business Houses which are a major contributor to GDP and large employment generators
    2. MSMEs which are the lifeline of the country, generating wealth for the middle class
    3. Startups which bring innovation and transformation to our country’s economy
    4. Approaching Indian Diasporas for driving foreign investments

    Following suggestions by the author gives a way forward strategy to recover the economy:

    1. Tax incentivization

    • Big business houses should be supported by the government to reopen their operations by way of tax incentives or ease of procurement of raw materials or other goods and services on credit.
    • This will energize consumer demand and boost the functioning of the vendor or ancillary industry in the MSME sector (which has huge potential for job creation).

    1. Ensuring seamless credit flows considering NPAs

    • The RBI should consider Single One Time Window for restructuring business loans, as required, by all banks.
    • There is a high probability that non-performing assets are likely to rise once the prevailing moratorium is lifted by RBI.
    • The government and RBI also urgently need to assure banks, that their business decisions will not be questioned, to encourage credit flows.

    1. Calibrating Make in India

    • The ongoing distrust on Chinese manufacturing amid US-China spat can be very well garnered by India.
    • Making India a global trading hub – devise an incentive regime for companies setting up global trading operations from India.
    • The govt. should think of establishing self-contained “industrial cities” that earmark space for manufacturing, commercial, educational, residential and social infrastructure.
    • The Centre can prepare a five-year plan on getting at least 60 per cent of those companies, desiring to move manufacturing out of China to India.

    1. Encouraging sunrise sectors

    • It should also encourage sunrise sectors as part of re-imagining Indian economy such as battery manufacturing (storage systems)/ solar panel manufacturing.
    • The government can also consider giving impetus to “Deep Tech”-leveraged businesses — blockchain, robotics, AI, machine learning, augmented reality, big data analytics, cybersecurity, etc.

    1. Creating an ecosystem to boost startups

    • India is amongst the top start-up ecosystems globally. Several of them are in pre-Angel or Angel-Funding stages and are under significant pressure to stay afloat in view of a lack of adequate liquidity.
    • Start-ups not only help drive innovation but also create jobs, which will be very important going forward.
    • The government needs to provide significant support to the start-up ecosystem.

    1. Auto-sector reforms

    • The auto industry which contributes significantly to GDP (nearly 9%) deserves special treatment.
    • In addition to reducing GST rate, old vehicle scrap policy with tax incentives for creating a demand for new vehicles may be formulated.
    • There is a need to recognise the Auto Sales Industry channel partners as MSMEs.

    1. Plug-and-Play model for foreign investment

    • Maharashtra has created a turnkey ‘plug-and-play’ model for foreign investors.
    • Similarly, other States must get their act together, be it on land acquisition, labour laws and providing a social, environment and other infrastructure.
    • Land should be made available for projects with all necessary pre-clearances — at Centre’s level (including Environmental), State’s and Municipal dispensations.

    1. Labour law reforms

    • Reforms in labour laws do not only mean permission to hire and fire.
    • Leeway should be given to strictly enforce discipline within the factory premises and demand higher productivity.
    • The moves by U.P., M.P. and Gujarat are welcome signals.
    • The government should provide health insurance for migrant labourers as experimented by certain States.

    1. Encouraging Diaspora

    • Investments of NRIs and OCIs in India should be treated on par with those of Resident Indians as regards interest and dividend repatriation and management control of Indian companies.
    • It may be mentioned that the Chinese government had called on rich overseas Chinese to invest in China with minimum government control, and massive investments followed.
    • This has contributed to China’s prosperity and economic rise.
    • A similar investment boom can take place in India through NRIs and OCIs who have the resources and expertise in manufacturing and technology.

    1. Creating off-Shore investment centres

    • Off-Shore investment centres like Singapore can be opened in Mumbai where Indian domestic laws and taxation will not be applicable.
    • MNCs may route their investments into India through the Off-Shore Centre in Mumbai.
    • Foreign legal firms and banks along with domestic institutions can be invited to have a presence in the Off-Shore Centre.

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  • Biofuel Policy

    Bioethanol Blending in Petrol

    Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.

    The government has set targets of 10 per cent bioethanol blending of petrol by 2022 and to raise it to 20 per cent by 2030 to curb carbon emissions and reduce India’s dependence on imported crude oil.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.Given below are the names of four energy crops. Which one of them can be cultivated for ethanol?(CSP 2010)

    (a) Jatropha

    (b) Maize

    (c) Pongamia

    (d) Sunflower

    What is Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Program?

    • Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme was launched in January 2003 for the supply of 5% ethanol blended petrol.
    • The programme sought to promote the use of alternative and environment-friendly fuels and to reduce import dependency for energy requirements.
    • OMCs are advised to continue according to the priority of ethanol from 1) sugarcane juice/sugar/sugar syrup, 2) B-heavy molasses 3) C-heavy molasses and 4) damaged food grains/other sources.

    Bio-ethanol blend in India

    • 1G and 2G bioethanol plants are set to play a key role in making bio-ethanol available for blending but face challenges in attracting investments from the private sector.
    • 1G bioethanol plants utilise sugarcane juice and molasses, byproducts in the production of sugar, as raw material, while 2G plants utilise surplus biomass and agricultural waste to produce bioethanol.
    • Currently, domestic production of bioethanol is not sufficient to meet the demand for bio-ethanol for blending with petrol at Indian Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
    • Sugar mills, which are the key domestic suppliers of bio-ethanol to OMCs, were only able to supply 1.9 billion litres of bio-ethanol to OMCs equating to 57.6 per cent of the total demand of 3.3 billion litres.

    Hurdles in meeting the demand

    • Lack of infrastructure: Many sugar mills are best placed to produce bioethanol do not have the financial stability to invest in biofuel plants. There are also concerns among investors on the uncertainty over the price of bio-ethanol in the future.
    • Lack of raw materials: Presently there is no mechanism for depots where farmers could drop their agricultural waste. The central government should fix a price for agricultural waste to make investments in 2G bioethanol production an attractive proposition.
    • Rigid pricing mechanism: Sugars mills have to pay high prices for sugarcane set by the government even when there have been supplying gluts. The prices of both sugarcane and bio-ethanol are set by the central government.

    Way ahead

    • The government should provide greater visibility on the price of bioethanol that sugar mills can expect by announcing a mechanism by which the price of bio-ethanol would be decided.
    • 2G bioethanol not only provided a clean source of energy but also help provide greater income to farmers and prevent them from having to burn agricultural waste which can be a major source of air pollution.

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  • Global Geological And Climatic Events

    Tornado’s dynamics and its India connection

    Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 1: Geographical Features & Their Location

    Babu ChunderSikur Chatterjee’s paper was the earliest record of a tornado’s dynamics in the history of meteorology, according to a study.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q. In the South Atlantic and South-Eastern Pacific regions in tropical latitudes, cyclone does not originate. What is the reason? (CSP 2015)

    (a) Sea surface temperatures are low

    (b) Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone seldom occurs

    (c) Coriolis force is too weak

    (d) Absence of land in those regions

    What is a Tornado?

    • A tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the Earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud.
    • The windstorm is often referred to as a twister, whirlwind or cyclone winds blow counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern.
    • Tornadoes come in many shapes and sizes, and they are often visible in the form of a condensation funnel originating from the base of a cumulonimbus cloud, with a cloud of rotating debris and dust beneath it.
    • It is generally accompanied by extreme weather such as heavy downpours, hail storms, and lightning.

    Who was Babu ChunderSikur Chatterjee?

    • Chatterjee was an Indian scientist employed with the Surveyor General of India during the British colonial era.
    • He was likely the first person to scientifically document a tornado’s path in 1865, a study from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, has claimed.
    • Chatterjee had published his findings in a journal named Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, in a paper titled ‘Note on a whirlwind at Pundooah’, near Hooghly.
    • The paper described a tornado’s dynamics in meticulous detail and was accompanied by a sketch that mathematically depicted its scale, track and rotation.

    His work

     

    • Chatterjee quantitatively mapped the entire trail of á tornado’s destruction.
    • He benefited from the rare opportunity to observe a tornado passing through a railway track where there were conveniently placed markers at predefined locations.
    • This enabled him to observe and make clear measurements of the tornado’s direction, dynamics and path.

    Back2Basics

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  • Festivals, Dances, Theatre, Literature, Art in News

    In news: Lingaraj Temple

    Prelims Only | History | Mains Paper 1: Arts & Culture

    The Odisha government has announced to give a facelift to the 11th century Lingaraj Temple, akin to its pre-350-year structural status.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q. Building ‘Kalyaana Mandapas’ was a notable feature in the temple construction in the kingdom of- (CSP 2019)

    (a) Chalukya

    (b) Chandela

    (c) Rashtrakuta

    (d) Vijayanagara

    About Lingaraj Temple

    • Lingaraja Temple is a temple dedicated to Shiva and is one of the oldest temples in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
    • It represents the quintessence of the Kalinga Architecture and culminating the medieval stages of the architectural tradition at Bhubaneswar.
    • The temple is believed to be built by the kings from the Somavamsi dynasty, with later additions from the Ganga rulers.
    • It is built in the Deula style that has four components namely, vimana (structure containing the sanctum), jagamohana (assembly hall), natamandira (festival hall) and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings), each increasing in the height to its predecessor.

    • Bhubaneswar is called the Ekamra Kshetra as the deity of Lingaraja was originally under a mango tree (Ekamra) as noted in Ekamra Purana, a 13th-century Sanskrit treatise.
    • The temple has images of Vishnu, possibly because of the rising prominence of Jagannath sect emanating from the Ganga rulers who built the Jagannath Temple in Puri in the 12th century.

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  • Policy Wise: India’s Power Sector

    Power sector reforms

    | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.

    This article analyses the issue of affordability of electricity in the country and the factors making it expensive.

    How recent changes increased subsidy burden

    •  Recent policy measures like the the “Saubhagya” scheme have remarkably improved the first 3 ‘A’s, i.e., awareness, accessibility and availability.
    •  It has also increased the cost of supply due to an increase in LT distribution network length necessitating more conductors, meters, transformers, etc.
    • Most of the newly-added consumers are from rural areas of low-income states like UP and Bihar.
    • They belong to subsidised consumer categories, viz. agriculture, rural-domestic, etc.
    • Thus, the subsidy burden of respective state governments has increased.

    Affordability of subsidy by States

    • The state’s capacity to service power subsidy of its BPL consumers is dependent on its per capita income which varies from state to state.
    •  The central government provides no subsidy for this purpose.
    • Therefore, making electricity affordable for consumers becomes a priority for the power sector.
    •  Limiting focus only to reduction of the cross-subsidy burden of industries may not be fruitful.

    Policy steps to make electricity affordable

    1) Expedite overdue distribution reforms

    • While generation and transmission sectors have been unbundled, unbundling (segregation of carrier and content business) of distribution has been started yet.
    • Privatisation of, and governance reforms in, state-owned distribution companies are likely to unlock huge value and provide efficiency gains through loss reduction for making power affordable.

    2) Capping of stranded capacity charges

    • As of now, we have surplus installed capacity of around 370 GW against a peak demand of 183 GW.
    • So, any fresh capacity addition should be limited to projected load demand growth and replacement of retiring power plants.
    • This will reduce the stranded capacity charges the discoms are currently paying to gencos under their long-term power purchase agreements without taking any power from them under availability-based tariff regime.

    3) Scrap cost-plus regime

    • Now, when the country has sufficient installed capacity, it makes no sense to provide a risk-free 15.5% tax-free (or 22% after-tax) return on equity to the power companies.
    • No new project (except hydro and nuclear) should be allowed on cost-plus route or MoU route under section 62 of the Electricity Act.

    4) Restructure normative debt-equity financing to 80:20

    • At present, the regulatory norm used for tariff computation of projects is 70:30 debt: equity.
    • Debt servicing is limited only to the term of the loan, i.e., up to 12 years, but Return of Equity is allowed in perpetuity even after the plant has fully depreciated.
    • This needs to be limited to the useful life of the unit.

    5) No double-whammy for consumers:

    • National Clean Energy Fund was created as a non-lapsable fund in 2010 for promoting clean technology, and since then around Rs 1 lakh crore has been collected from coal cess.
    • However, most of it has been diverted and used for other purposes like funding to states for their GST losses, etc.
    • Asking gencos to install Fuel Gas Desulfurization and pass on the cost to the consumer amounts to a double whammy for the consumers who first paid the coal-cess and now will have to bear the FGD cost also.
    • We should stop using cess as a tax and NCEF should be used to fund the clean energy initiative and FGD installation etc.

    Consider the question “What are the factors responsible for making the electricity costly in India. Suggest the pathways to make it affordable to all.”

    Conclusion

    Making electricity affordable following these steps would be instrumental in the progress of the nation.

    Source: https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/powering-reforms-bringing-power-psus-under-competitive-bidding-will-help-in-tariff-reduction/2057940/

    B2BASICS

    Electricty generation,transmission and Distribution

    Saubhagya scheme

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  • Foreign Policy Watch: India-Middle East

    Importance of close alignment with moderate Arab centre

    op-ed snap | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

    The article analyses the threat the Arab countries faces from the new geopolitical realignment and India’s role in it.

    Geopolitical realignment in the middle east

    • Agreement on the normalisation of relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel was signed recently.
    • At the same time, there is an equally significant reorientation of the Subcontinent’s relationship with the region.
    • This is marked by Pakistan’s alignment with non-Arab powers.

    Deteriorating relation of Pakistan with Arab world

    • Pakistan has been angry with UAE’s invitation to India to address the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in early 2019.
    • Saudi Arabia’s reluctance to convene a meeting to condemn Indian actions in Kashmir last August has angered Pakistan.
    • While Pakistan appears to be dreaming of a new regional alliance with Turkey and Iran.
    • Pakistan is also betting that a rising China and an assertive Russia will both support this new geopolitical formation as part of their own efforts to oust America from the Middle East.

    Threat to the Arab world

    • Saudis and Emiratis see sharpening existential threats to their kingdoms from both Turkey and Iran.
    • Both Turkey and Iran now intervene with impunity in the internal affairs of the Arab world.
    • Two other states have joined this Great Game.
    • Malaysia’s Mahathir fancied himself as a leader of the Islamic world.
    • Arab Qatar, which is locked in a fraternal fight with the Saudis and the Emiratis, wants to carve out an outsized role for itself in the Middle East.

    India’s should follow five principles for Arab Sovereignty

    • 1) India must resist the temptation of telling the Arabs what is good for them.
    • India should support their efforts to reconcile with non-Arab neighbours, including Israel, Turkey and Iran.
    • 2) Oppose foreign interventions in the Arab world. In the past, those came from the West and Israel.
    • Today, most Arabs see the greatest threat to their security from Turkish and Iranian interventions.
    • 3) Extend support to Arab economic integration, intra-Arab political reconciliation and the strengthening of regional institutions.
    • 4) Recognise that India’s geopolitical interests are in close alignment with those in the moderate Arab Centre — including Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman.
    • 5) India can’t be passive amidst the unfolding geopolitical realignment in West Asia.
    • Some members of the incipient alliance — Turkey, Malaysia and China — have been the most vocal in challenging India’s territorial sovereignty in Kashmir.

    Consider the question “Examine the importance of India’s relations with Arab countries. What are the threats the region faces to their sovereignty and how India can play an important role to ensure their sovereignty.”

    Conclusion

    Standing up for Arab sovereignty and opposing the forces of regional destabilisation must be at the very heart of India’s new engagement with the Middle East.

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  • Delhi Full Statehood Issue

    Jurisdictional conflict in the running of Delhi Government

    op-ed snap | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Federalism

    The article analyses the tussle between the Delhi Government and the Lt. Governor.

    What the 2018 SC judgement was about

    • The Supreme Court in Government of NCT of Delhi vs. Union of India (2018) decided on the conflicts between the government of NCT and the Union Government and its representative, the Lieutenant Governor.
    • It reminds the Lt. Governor what his real functions are.
    •  It tells the State government that it should remember that Delhi is a special category Union Territory.
    • It lays down the parameters to enabling the harmonious functioning of the government and the Lt. Governor.
    • It did not very clearly delineate the issues in respect of which the Lt. Governor can refer a decision taken by the Council of Ministers to the President in the event of a difference of opinion between the Lt. Governor and the State government.

    Settled issues and clarifications

    • The Supreme Court affirming that the Lt. Governor is bound to act on the aid and advice of council of ministers except in respect of ‘Land’, ‘Public Order’ and the ‘Police’.
    • The Court has also made it clear that there is no requirement of the concurrence of the Lt. Governor and that he has no power to overrule the decisions of the State government.
    • However, Article 239AA (4) (proviso) which says that in the case of a difference of opinion between the Lt. Governor and his Ministers on any matter, the Lt. Governor shall refer it to the President for decision and act according to that decision.
    • If the Lt. Governor thinks that the matter is urgent he can take immediate action on his own.

    How Article 239 AA(4) matters

    •  Lt. Governor can frustrate the efforts of the government, by declaring that there is a difference of opinion on any issue and refer it to the President.
    • Refering matter to the President in reality means the Union Home Ministry.
    • The Lt. Governor being its representative, it is easier for him to secure a decision in his favour.
    • The State government will be totally helpless in such a situation.
    • The recent appointment of prosecutors for conducting the Delhi riot cases in the High Court is a case in point.
    •  When the government decided to appoint them, the Lt. Governor referred it under proviso to Article 239AA (4) to the President stating that there is a difference of opinion.
    • This episode clearly points to the fault lines which still exist in the power equations in the capital’s administrative structure.

    But, can Lt. Governor refer routine administrative matter to the President?

    • A close reading of the Supreme Court judgment in the NCT Delhi case (supra) would reveal that he cannot.
    • The Supreme Court says “The words ‘any matter’ employed in the proviso to Article 239AA (4) cannot be inferred to mean ‘every matter’.
    • Court also says that “The power of the Lieutenant Governor under the said proviso represents the exception and not the general rule”.
    • The President is the highest Constitutional authority and his decision should be sought only on constitutionally important issues.

    Executive powers and legislative powers

    • Parliament can legislate for Delhi on any matter in the State List and the Concurrent List.
    • But the executive power in relation to Delhi except the ‘Police’, ‘Land’ and ‘Public Orders’ vests only in the State government headed by the Chief Minister.
    • The executive power of the Union does not extend to any of the matters which come within the jurisdiction of the Delhi Assembly.
    • The only occasion when the Union Government can overrule the decision of the State government is when the Lt. Governor refers a matter to the President under the proviso to clause (4).

    Consider the question “What are the parameters laid down by the Supreme Court in the Government of NCT of Delhi vs. Union of India (2018) to avoid the conflict between Lt. Governor and the Delhi Government? Also examine the scope of referring any matter to the consideration of the President by the Lt. Governor.”

    Conclusion

    In the Constitutional scheme adopted for the NCT of Delhi Lt. Governor should not emerge as an adversary having a hostile attitude towards the Council of Ministers of Delhi; rather, he should act as a facilitator.

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  • International Space Agencies – Missions and Discoveries

    Dwarf Planet Ceres

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    The dwarf planet Ceres, which lies in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter now, has the status of an “ocean world”.

    Note various dwarf planets and the criteria making a planet dwarf, as mentioned in the B2b section.

    Ceres exploration

    • The dwarf planet was first spotted by Giuseppe Piazzi in 1801, who assumed that Ceres was the missing planet between Mars and Jupiter.
    • It was classified as a dwarf planet in 2006 and is the first dwarf planet to be orbited by a spacecraft.
    • In 2015, NASA’s Dawn reached it to study its surface, composition and history.

    What does it mean to be an “ocean world”?

    • With a crust that mixes ice, salts, rock-forming minerals and other materials, Ceres looks to be a remnant “ocean world,” wearing the chemistry of its Old Ocean and records of the interaction on its surface.
    • The observations from Dawn suggest the presence of briny liquid (saltwater) water under Ceres’s surface.
    • Scientists have determined that Ceres has a brine reservoir located about 40 km deep and which is hundreds of miles wide, making the dwarf planet, “water-rich”.

    Why do researchers study Ceres?

    • Scientists are interested in this dwarf planet because it hosts the possibility of having water, something that many other planets do not have.
    • Therefore, scientists look for signs of life on Ceres, a possibility that has also maintained scientists’ interest in the planet Mars, whose atmosphere was once warm enough to allow water to flow through it.
    • Another reason why scientists are interested in that studying it can give insights about the formation of the Solar System since it is considered to be a fossil from that time.

    Back2Basics: Dwarf Planets

    • As of today, there are officially five dwarf planets in our Solar System.
    • The most famous is Pluto, downgraded from the status of a planet in 2006.
    • The other four, in order of size, are Eris, Makemake, Haumea and Ceres. The sixth claimant for a dwarf planet is Hygiea, which so far has been taken to be an asteroid.
    • These four criteria are – that the body orbits around the Sun, it is not a moon, has not cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit and has enough mass for its gravity to pull it into a roughly spherical shape.

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  • Water Management – Institutional Reforms, Conservation Efforts, etc.

    Bhadbhut Project

    Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.

    The Gujarat government recently awarded the contract for a the Bhadbhut project in Bharuch, Gujarat. It has faced protests from local fishermen for its likely impact on fishing patterns, notably those of hilsa.

    Make a note of major dams in India along with the rivers, terrain, major wildlife sanctuaries and national parks incident to these rivers.

    What is the Bhadbhut Project?

    • It is planned to be a 1.7-km causeway-cum-weir barrage with 90 gates, across the river Narmada, 5 km from Bhadbhut village, and 25 km from the mouth of the river, where it flows into the Gulf of Khambhat.
    • The barrage will stop most of the excess water flowing out of the Sardar Sarovar Dam from reaching the sea and thus create a “sweet water lake” of 600 mcm (million cubic metres) on the river.
    • The barrage will also have a six-lane road that will connect the left and right banks of the river and provide shorten the land distance between two large industrial estates in Surat and Bharuch.
    • The project also aims to prevent flooding in years when rainfall is higher than normal.
    • Embankments 22 km long will be made and will extend upstream towards Bharuch, from either side of the river.
    • The project is part of the larger Kalpasar Project, which entails the construction of a 30-km dam across the Gulf of Khambhat between Bharuch and Bhavnagar districts.
    • The reservoir is meant to tap the waters of the Narmada, Mahisagar and Sabarmati.

    Why are fishermen upset?

    • The barrage is expected to interfere with the migration and breeding cycle of hilsa.
    • A marine fish, hilsa migrate upstream and arrives in the brackish water of the Narmada estuary near Bharuch for spawning usually during the monsoon months of July and August, and continue doing so till November.
    • Once the barrage is built, it is expected to block its natural entry.

    About Hilsa Fish

    IUCN status: Least Concerned

    • The Hilsa is a species of fish related to the herring, in the family Clupeidae.
    • It is a very popular and sought-after food fish in the Indian Subcontinent.
    • Though it’s a saltwater fish, it migrates to sweet waters.
    • It is the national fish of Bangladesh and state symbol in the Indian states of West Bengal and Tripura.
    • The fish contributes about 12% of the total fish production and about 1.15% of GDP in Bangladesh.

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