UTTARAKHAND

The need for seriously safekeeping our wetlands

In the past few years wetland conservation has become an overloaded buzzword when it comes to environmental conservation. In fact the government as well as community have begun realising that without resuscitating and replenishing our wetlands, all attempts to ensure sustainable water supply in our cities will remain superficial.

These wetlands not only serve as a reservoir of water, but they also support a wide variety of flora and fauna. In fact when situated near rivers and sea they act as natural barricades from floods, besides being a site of ground water. They help filter contaminants from water before it seeps into major water bodies and into the ground water.

This makes it the largest in this context in the entire south east Asia. While this may have accorded the much needed importance to our wetlands, ignorance among populace at large continues to haunt prospects of wetland resuscitation. An official estimate states that we are losing our wetlands at an alarming rate of two to three per cent each year.

Among the major anthropogenic causes of this wetland erosion are overfishing, agriculture, deforestation, land encroachment and urban development. While across the country these are the major reasons behind wetland degradation, a microscopic analysis of Uttarakhand’s scenario reveals two issues.

One is the fact that since its attaining statehood back in 2000, the pattern of urbanisation has been unsystematic and the other is that until recently, not even one wetland from the state had achieved recognition under Ramsar convention. Until recently when the Asan Conservation Reserve in Dehradun district became the first wetland from Uttarakhand to be recognised by Ramsar.

INTERNATIONAL

Climate Finance Urged Ministry Of Finance

The Minister of Finance of India urges advanced economies to expand their commitments to climate finance and technology transfer, which is essential to achieving climate-related commitments and goals. The Minister delivered a speech at the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI). Highlights:

Local, national or transnational financing-drawn from private, public and alternative financing sources referred by Climate financing.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement call on countries with more financial resources to provide financial assistance to countries with weaker and more vulnerable financial resources.

Blockage of Suez Canal

The Department of Commerce has formulated a Four Point Plan to solve the blocking problem of the Suez Canal. Highlights:

A four-point plan was developed to deal with the situation caused by the blockage of the Suez Canal.

The plan has been formulated by the Logistics Division of the Department of Commerce.

The plan includes:

Priority of cargo: The Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO), MPEDA and APEDA will jointly determine the priority of cargo, especially perishable cargo, and cooperate with the shipping company.

Freight Rates: The Container Shipping Lines Association (CSLA) guarantees that it will comply with the existing contract freight rates. The shipping company has been asked to maintain stable freight rates during the crisis.

NATIONAL

MoU signed for Ken Betwa River Linking

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Union Minister of Jal Shakti and the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to implement the Ken Betwa Link project to be signed.

A team of experts from the Ministry of Environment has postponed environmental clean-up work to the Lower Orr River Dam, which is part of the second phase of the Ken-Betwa River Connection Project.

The Lower Orr Dam (Orr River in Madhya Pradesh) project is considered a national project and is part of the Ken-Betwa project.

There are differences between the two states (Uttar Pradesh and MPs) on water sharing.

NITI Aayog Sustainable Vision for Great Nicobar Island

Over 150 square kilometers. (18%) of the land has been used for the first phase of the “holistic” and “sustainable” vision of Greater Nicobar Island piloted by NITI Aayog. The island is the southernmost island in the Andaman and Nicobar Group Highlights:

It will cover nearly a quarter of its coastline.

The complete plan envisages the use of primary forests and coastal systems as the main components.

The projects to be implemented include the airport complex, the South Bay Transshipment Port (TSP), a large-scale rapid transportation system parallel to the coast, a free trade zone, and a storage complex on the southwest coast.

Nodal agency: Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO)

In January 2021, the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) named the entire Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary to allow the port to enter the area.

Agreement Signed for Milan-2T

The Department of Procurement of the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and the National Defense Public Undertaking (DPSU) Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) signed a contract to provide the Indian Army with MILAN-2T Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) Highlights:

Milan-2T is a 1,850-meter Tandem Warhead ATGM produced by BDL under the license of the French MBDA missile system.

These missiles can be launched from the ground and vehicle launchers

These can also be deployed in Anti-Tank roles for offensive and defensive missions.

introduction of these missiles will further enhance the armed forces’ operational preparedness, which will be completed within three years.

This is a step towards achieving the goal of the Defense Department “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.

The Insurance Amendment Bill passed on Rajya Sabha

This bill amends the Insurance Act of 1938. Increase the maximum foreign investment allowed by insurance companies from 49% to 74%. Highlights:

The Act provides a framework for the operation of insurance business and regulates the relationship between the insurer, its policyholders, its shareholders and the regulator (India Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority).

The Act allows foreign investors to hold up to 49% of the capital in an Indian insurance company, which must be owned and controlled by an Indian entity.

The bill also removes restrictions on control and ownership.

Foreign investment may be subject to additional conditions set by the central government.

The Act requires insurance companies to make a minimum investment in assets, which is sufficient to liquidate their insurance claims liabilities.

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