Hindu Notes from General Studies-01

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One third of new foresters in TN are women

News:

• 38 women have been appointed as foresters in various divisions to take up the challenging task of protecting the forests and its resources.

Significance:

• Another male domain has been breached.

Beyond News:

• All are now placed in 12 forest circles in the State and four women foresters have been appointed in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve.
• Women perform well in police department and in other challenging jobs.

Their role is to protect the forest and its resource, plant saplings, monitor various programmes being implemented in the forest area, control the watchers and also carryout patrolling. Also, they have to prevent poaching in the forest areas in their jurisdiction.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-02

Rafale deal has better terms, cleared by CCS, says Nirmala

News:

• The Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) with France for 36 Rafales was arrived at to meet the critical requirement of the Air Force (IAF) and was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), Parliament informed.

Beyond News:

• In the present procurement, 36 Rafale aircraft are being procured in direct fly-away condition under IGA between the government of India and French Republic.
• In the IGA, better terms have been achieved in terms of better pricing, better maintenance terms and better delivery schedule.
• In September 2016, India and France signed the €7.87-billion agreement for the aircraft, spares, weapons, 10 years of annual maintenance and associated equipment. The deal has a 50% offset clause to be executed by Dassault and its partners.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-03

PM Modi to launch Magenta Line section on Dec 25

News:

• Kalkaji Mandir-Botanical Garden stretch of the Magenta Line, which will reduce travel time between Noida and south Delhi, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25.

Why its significant?

• This section will also be the model for the first-of-its-kind signalling system, called the Communication Based Train Control (CBTC).

Importance of Magenta Line

• The system will increase frequency of trains and the waiting time at platforms will go down to 90 seconds, from the existing two minutes.
• With the opening of this section, the travel time from Noida to south Delhi will reduce to just 45 minutes, from more than one hour.
• The Kalkaji Mandir station has also been developed as an interchange station and this will help reduce travel time between the Blue and Violet Lines significantly.

The section is part of the 38.23-km Botanical Garden-Janakpuri West corridor.

The line will also cater to two educational institutions: Jamia Millia Islamia and Amity University.

 DMRC is making use of the latest technology such as the Unattended Train Operations-enabled trains that will ply on this route.

These trains have also been developed with the driverless technology, which is the first in the country.

Green nod to Kaleshwaram a major milestone, says CM

News:

• Chief Minister of Telangana has welcomed the environmental clearance granted to the Kaleshwaram Project by the Central Government and said the project had reached a major milestone in securing the clearance.

Kaleshwaram Project

• A mega project in Telangana designed to bring drinking water and irrigation to its parched areas has run into troubles with land acquisition and charges of cost escalation.

Beyond News:

• The project was given forest clearance for phase-I and II and had now received this clearance which is crucial.
• The Chief Minister’s reaction comes in the light of the expert appraisal committee according clearance to the project claiming that there was no danger to environment on account of Kaleshwaram Project.
• The EAC said categorically that it had no objection to the construction of barrages, pump houses and canals as part of the project.

According to a release, the Government acquired 3,100 hectares of forest land showing alternative land elsewhere and releasing money for afforestation.

The project would serve 70% irrigation and drinking water needs of seven erstwhile undivided districts.

Land acquisition was progressing at a brisk pace after the Government enacted new legislation.

Govt mulling use of anti-smog guns to reduce pollution

News:

• Delhi government is mulling the use of anti-smog guns to bring down pollution levels in the Capital.

Beyond News:

• As per the plan, a trial run of the anti-smog gun will be held at east Delhi’s Anand Vihar ISBT. Environment Secretary apprised Lieutenant-Governor of the trial run of anti-smog gun during a meeting to review the detailed action plan of agencies and stakeholders on measures to combat air pollution.
• The L-G also directed all three municipal corporations to ensure no methane fires happen at the three landfill sites, and that they should take the help of experts from the Science and Technology Ministry for this.

 The L-G was also informed that the Badarpur Thermal Power Station will be permanently closed by July 2018.

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