Hindu Notes from General Studies-01

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Ancient water pipeline found in Hampi

News

• The Archaeological Survey of India has stumbled upon an ancient terracotta pipeline near the ‘Octagon’ pavilion near the Queen’s bath in Hampi.

Beyond News

• During inspection of the ongoing work on the protection wall for the ancient Octagon pavilion Superintending Archaeologist, Hampi Mini Circle, and other officials noticed a terracotta pipeline.
• Immediately, a thorough search of the area by them helped to unearth the pipelines in a few places in the vicinity.
• The ASI officials believe that these multiple-rowed pipelines, buried under the existing road between the Bhojana Shala on the opposite direction and the octagonal pavilion and further, continues towards the Royal enclosure.

Octagonal pavilion monument will be included in the vision plan under preparation so that an in-depth study of the area can be undertaken in a phased manner so as to find out the exact path of the pipelines and throw more light on the uncomparable hydraulic engineering techniques of the Vijayanagar rulers five hundred years ago.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-02

Illegal mining: T.N. recorded highest number of FIRs

News

• A total of 10,734 First Information Reports (FIRs) relating to illegal mining were registered across the State during 2017-18, the highest figure in the country.

Beyond News

• According to the information provided by Minister of State for Mines and Coal Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary in the Rajya Sabha, almost half of the total number of FIRs (21,559) registered in the States across the country during 2017-18 (till September 2017) were from Tamil Nadu.
• Rajasthan and Jharkhand registered 2,536 and 2,444 FIRs respectively.
• As per section 23-C of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, the State governments were empowered to frame rules for prevention of illegal mining, storage and transportation for both major and minor minerals.
• The information is based on the details provided by the respective State governments to the Indian Bureau of Mines.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-03

New species of water strider found in Nagaland

News

• Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of water strider from Nagaland.

Beyond News

• The species, named Ptilomera nagalanda Jehamalar and Chandra, was found in the river Intanki, Peren district.
• Water striders are a group of insects adapted to life on the surface of water, using surface tension to their advantage.
• Scientists working on the water striders say that their presence serves as an indicator of water quality and they are found on water surface.
• With the discovery of Ptilomera nagalanda the number of species of water striders belonging to the subgenus has increased to six.
• Water striders also play an important role in the food chain by feeding on mosquito larvae.

Ptilomera 

• What is unique about Ptilomerais that they are only found in rocky, fast flowing streams and rivers that are not exposed to a lot of sunlight.
• Orange with black stripes on the dorsal side and a pale yellowish brown ventral part of the body, this particular species has long slender legs and measures about 11.79 mm.
• Water striders have three pairs of legs.
• The front legs are relatively shorter than the mid and hind legs and used to catch and hold prey. The striders possess needle-like mouth parts that are used for sucking the juice of prey.

 ‘Over ₹3,600 cr. released in 3 years for cleaning Ganga’

News

• The government has released ₹3,633 crore between 2014-15 and 2016-17 for cleaning the Ganga and beautifying ghats along it, the Lok Sabha informed.

Beyond News

• Minister of State for Water Resources said that,construction and beautification of 228 of the total 361 ghats sanctioned have been completed till now under the Centre’s Namami Gange programme.
• Of these, 189 ghats are located along the river’s stretch in West Bengal.
• In Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand works on 20, 16, two and one ghats have been completed till date respectively.
• 154 priority drains and 1,109 grossly polluting industries (GPIs) have been identified along the river, most of which are located in Uttar Pradesh.
• Of the five basin States, the longest stretch of the Ganga is in Uttar Pradesh.

Anti-pollution steps

• Surprise inspection of GPIs is carried out for compliance verification of the stipulated environmental norms.
• Out of the 1,109 GPIs inspected, 538 were found to be non-complying and 358 of those were issued closure directions and 180 have been given show cause notices, he said.
• Implementation of water conservation measures in industrial sectors and establishment/upgradation of sewage treatment plants/common effluent treatment plants in the towns located along Ganga’s mainstream and tributaries are among the steps taken by the government to curb pollution in the river.

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