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Why in the News?

The Panama Canal, which links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Isthmus of Panama, opened to ships 110 years ago. Now, it is facing a serious threat to its existence.

System of Water Elevators

• The Panama Canal utilizes a sophisticated lock system that functions as water elevators, allowing ships to navigate the elevation difference between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This system is essential because the two oceans are at different elevations, with the Pacific being slightly higher.

Operation of the Locks

1. Ship Enters: A ship approaches the first lock chamber, which is at sea level. The gate opens to allow the ship into the chamber and then closes behind it.
2. Water Level Adjustment: The valve between the first and second chamber (at a higher elevation) is opened, allowing water to flow into the first chamber from the adjacent higher chamber. This increases the water level in the first chamber.
3. Transition: Once the water levels between the two chambers are equalized, the gate between them opens, allowing the ship to move into the next chamber. This process is repeated until the ship reaches the desired elevation of 85 feet at Gatun Lake.
4. Lowering: The reverse process occurs when lowering ships back to sea level at the other end of the canal.

Threat of Climate Change

• Recent droughts have led to significantly lower water levels in Lake Gatun because droughts were exacerbated by climate change and the El Niño phenomenon, which have led to significantly reduced water levels in the lake.
• In 2023, rainfall was 43% lower than average, making it one of the driest years on record for the region.  which reduced the number of ships able to transit the canal.
• In December, traffic dropped to as low as 22 ships per day, highlighting the vulnerability of the canal to climatic variations.

Contentious Solution

• Proposed Dam: This $1.6 billion project aims to create an additional water source for the canal on the Rio Indio, potentially securing water availability for the next 50 years. However, it has sparked controversy due to its social implications.
  • Displacement Issues: The dam would flood the homes of approximately 2,000 residents, predominantly from lower socio-economic backgrounds, forcing them to relocate and lose their livelihoods. This raises significant ethical concerns regarding the balance between infrastructure needs and the rights of affected communities

Conclusion:

Before proceeding with the Rio Indio dam project, engage in thorough consultations with the affected communities, ensuring their voices are heard in the decision-making process. Need to develop a fair compensation and resettlement plan that prioritizes the socio-economic well-being of displaced residents, offering alternative livelihoods and housing options to minimize the negative impact on vulnerable populations.

Mains PYQ:

Q  Mention the significance of straits and isthmus in international trade. (UPSC IAS/2022)

Why in the News?

India has 83 of the world’s 100 most polluted cities. Air pollution caused 2.1 million deaths, with 99% breathing air below WHO standards.

Share of Road Transport in India’s CO2 Emissions as per the International Energy Associates

• Road transport is responsible for approximately 12% of India’s total CO2 emissions. Within this sector, heavy vehicles are a significant contributor to particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions, which are particularly harmful due to their ability to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. 
• Studies indicate that heavy vehicles contribute to about 60-70% of total vehicular PM emissions and 40-50% of total Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions in urban areas. This highlights the critical role that road transport plays in India’s overall air pollution problem.

Why has the vehicular scrapping policy not been effective in States like Karnataka and Maharashtra?

• Insufficient Scrapping Facilities: Both states have a limited number of registered vehicle scrapping facilities (RVSFs). For instance, Karnataka has only two authorized RVSFs located in Devanahalli and Koratagere, which are unable to handle the volume of vehicles eligible for scrapping.
• Voluntary Compliance: The policy’s reliance on voluntary participation has resulted in low engagement from vehicle owners. For example, the policy targets around 20 lakh vehicles for scrapping, but without mandatory compliance, many older, polluting vehicles continue to operate on the roads
• Lack of Awareness and Less Incentives: There is a lack of awareness regarding the benefits of scrapping old vehicles among the public. Although the policy offers incentives, such as tax relief for scrapping vehicles may not be sufficient to encourage widespread participation.
• Bureaucratic delays: The implementation of the scrapping policy has faced bureaucratic delays and inconsistencies. In Maharashtra, despite announcing incentives for scrapping old vehicles, the actual impact has been limited due to slow bureaucratic processes and a lack of effective enforcement.

Steps taken: 

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has taken several significant steps towards enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing carbon emissions in the transport sector through the implementation of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) norms. 

• Introduction of CAFE Norms: The BEE has proposed the CAFE III and CAFE IV norms, which aim to set stringent targets for carbon emissions from passenger vehicles.
  • CAFE III, effective from 2027 to 2032, sets a target of 91.7 grams of CO2 per kilometer, while CAFE IV, from 2032 to 2037, aims for 70 grams of CO2 per kilometer. These targets are designed to drive innovation and encourage the adoption of cleaner technologies in the automotive sector.
• Transition to WLTP Testing: A significant step is the commitment to transition from the Modified Indian Driving Cycle (MIDC) to the World Light Duty Vehicle Testing Procedure (WLTP) by March 31, 2027.
  • The WLTP provides a more accurate and globally harmonized measure of a vehicle’s fuel consumption and emissions, ensuring that the targets reflect real-world driving conditions more effectively.
• Penalties for Non-Compliance: The BEE has outlined financial penalties for manufacturers that fail to meet the established fuel efficiency standards.
  • For instance, if a manufacturer’s average fuel efficiency exceeds the limit by up to 0.2 liters per 100 km, a penalty of ₹25,000 per vehicle applies. If it exceeds by more than 0.2 liters, the penalty increases to ₹50,000 per vehicle.

Way forward: 

• Enhance Infrastructure and Accessibility: Need to increase the number of registered vehicle scrapping facilities (RVSFs) across states like Karnataka and Maharashtra to make the process more accessible.
• Strengthen Policy Enforcement and Incentives: Transition from voluntary to mandatory compliance for the scrapping of old and polluting vehicles. This can be supported by enhancing public awareness campaigns that highlight the environmental and financial benefits of vehicle scrapping.

Mains PYQ:

Q Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata are the three Megacities of the country but air pollution is a much more serious problem in Delhi as compared to the other two. Why is this so? (UPSC IAS/2015)