Uttarakhand Affairs
Uttarakhand: ‘Develop Varunavat as disaster management tourism site’
Two decades after massive landslides severely damaged around 100 houses inUttarkashi’sVarunavatmountain in 2003, local residents have proposed to develop the mountain as a “Disaster Management tourism” site. The idea, they say, is to “let people take in the beauty of nature while remembering its fury.”
In a recent expedition, a group of hoteliers and nature lovers rediscovered a 3km-long trek route to the top of the mountain. This route, which was once used by local villagers, starts from Uttarkashi bus stand and passes through a herbal forest and villages such as Bagyal Gaon, Pata and Sangrali.
Developing Varunavat as a tourism site does not mean to construct concrete structures or increase vehicular traffic. Instead, the administration can develop a trek route, cycling trails, eco-park and an open museum by setting up signboards with information about the 2003 disaster and treatment work.
National and International Affairs
India lost $159 billion due to heat caused by emissions: Report
India is the worst affected amongG20 nationsbycarbonemission-induced rise in temperatures, losing $159 billion (5.4% of its GDP) in 2021 due to labour capacity reduction caused by extreme heat, says a report released on Thursday by Climate Transparency. According to the report, carbonemissionsfrom energy use rebounded by 5.9% acrossG20nations last year and surpassed pre-pandemic levels, causing huge income losses in Services, manufacturing, <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture and construction sectors.
The CT – an international PARTNERSHIP of organisations that provides an annual stocktake of climate action – noted that the G20 countries’ support to produce fossil fuels reached new heights at $64 billion in 2021 even before the Energy Crisis brought about by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
India successfully tests nuclear capable Agni Prime missile
India on successfully ‘testfired’ a new generation nuclear capableballistic missileAgni Prime ballisticmissileoff the coast ofOdisha.
This is the third test of the two-stage solid propellant Agni Prime missile, which has a dual redundantnavigationandguidancesystem.
Earlier, two missiles were successfully tested in June and December last year.
The surface-to-surface ballistic missile has a range of 1000 to 2000 km.
The nuclear-capable missile has been designed and developed by the DEFENCE Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The Agni Prime missile, the smallest and lightest among the entire Agni series of ballistic missiles, will further bolster India’s strategic deterrence capabilities once it is fully operational after a series of “developmental and user trials.
After Vishwanath temple in Varanasi and the Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand,Mahakal temple is the third jyotirlinga site to see a major upliftment exercise.
The Rs800-crore Mahakal corridor is four times the size of theKashi Vishwanath Corridor.