Hindu Notes from General Studies-01

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Rising sea levels to affect water table along Chennai’s shoreline

News

• The fragile water table in the city’s coastal areas, particularly along East Coast Road, is under threat of severe seawater intrusion due to anticipated rise in sea levels in the next few decades, according to a study.

Findings

• There is a rise in sea level by 2mm every year based on a report by the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• The increasing sea level would also force the water table along the coastline to move upwards. But it would slowly replace the freshwater at the bottom of the aquifer.
• The study has forecast the impact of sea level rise on the coastal aquifer in the coming years, till 2100.
• The water table would witness an incursion of sea water to the extent of 2-3mm every year. The volume of fresh water would gradually reduce in the coastal areas due to climate change-induced sea level rise.
• Rapid urbanisation and indiscriminate drawal have already led to salt water intrusion in areas from the Adyar river to Palavakkam. Residents are heavily dependent on other resources, including private water tankers.
• The water table along ECR is fragile as it is surrounded by the sea, the Adyar river, the Buckingham canal and the backwaters of Muttukadu. It is imperative to change the land-use pattern along the shoreline to tackle the impact of climate change. Areas closer to the coast must also adopt water conservation measures to sustain groundwater, notes the study.
• Only minimal groundwater extraction through open wells must be allowed and water pumped in localities along the shoreline must be replenished through rainwater harvesting. Large residential complexes must adopt other measures like permeable pavements.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-02

Wooing monkeys back to forest with a ‘bribe’

News:

• Odisha Forest department is planting guava and custard apple trees in many areas to lure the monkeys back to the forest.
• Monkeys have been moving out of their forest habitats in search of food and causing trouble to the villagers as well as wildlife conservationists across the State. At the same time, the simians also face threat to their lives as they are out of their natural habitats.

Beyond News

• Hundreds of monkeys live near the 5-km stretch between Biswanathpur and Kadalighat in Bhawanipatna-Lanjigarh Road.
• If the passers-by stop or slow down their vehicles on this stretch, monkeys rush from all sides in anticipation of food. Sometimes, the little ones even get crushed under the wheels of speeding trucks or buses.
• Once food-sharing is stopped, monkeys will feel compelled to go inside the forest. At the same time, we are also trying to enrich their habitats with food of their choice.
• The Kalahandi Forest Division (South) has identified 363 hectares of vacant land inside different forests to plant fruit-bearing trees, including guava, custard apple, cashew and mango, during 2019-20 season.
• Four years ago, the forest personnel had planted fruit-bearing trees in 40 hectares of land under Biswanathpur forest range.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-03

Indian naval crew has rescued more than 192 people in cyclone-hit Mozambique

News

• As part of its relief operations in cyclone-hit Mozambique, the Indian Navy has rescued more than 192 people and provided assistance to 1,381 people in medical camps set up by it.

Beyond News

• Cyclone Idai made landfall in East and Southern Africa causing widespread destruction and loss of human lives in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi.
• In response to a request from Mozambique, India immediately diverted three naval ships to the port city of Beira, a Ministry of External Affairs statement said.
• Over the last several days, the three ships, INS Sujata, ICGS Sarathi and INS Shardul, are undertaking Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief in coordination with local authorities and the High Commission of India, Maputo.
• As of now, the Indian naval crew has rescued more than 192 people. Medical assistance has been provided to 1,381 persons in medical camps set up by the Indian Navy.
• India’s Chetak helicopter undertook several sorties to facilitate aerial survey by disaster management officials of Mozambique to rescue people in coordination with local authorities and for dropping food and water packets in the cyclone-affected areas.
• To sustain relief operations, another ship INS MAGAR, suitably loaded with relief materials is being sent to Mozambique.
• The Indian Navy was the first responder in the evolving humanitarian crises in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai. Assistance is also being sent to Zimbabwe and Malawi, two other countries hit by the cyclone.

Plastic harms Galapagos wildlife

News

• Tonnes of plastic waste wash up on the shores of the Galapagos islands where microparticles end up in the stomachs of species found only in the Pacific archipelago 1,000 km west of mainland Ecuador.

Beyond News

• Those microparticles, often from waste discarded in big cities from other countries and even continents, are perhaps one of the greatest threats to the iguanas, tortoises, birds and fish of the Galapagos.
• The tiny plastic pieces become part of the food chain “that we may later feed on.
• Sun rays and the ocean’s saltwater break down bottles, bags, lids, containers and fishing nets.
• More than 90 percent of the waste gathered doesn’t come from Galapagos activities, but rather from South America, Central America and even a great deal of waste with Asian branding.

Army’s carbine procurement held up

News

• The fast-track procurement of 93,895 Close Quarter Carbine (CQB) rifles for the Army has been delayed even after the completion of cost negotiations as the case is pending with the Defence Ministry.

Beyond News

• Cost negotiations have been completed, and the file has gone to a three-member oversight committee where it has been held up without a decision.
• The status of the case was on the agenda of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting held last week.
• In 2018, the DAC approved the purchase of 72,400 assault rifles and 93,895 carbines for Rs. 3,547 crore through the fast-track procurement (FTP) mode. After evaluation, Sig Sauer of the U.S. emerged as the lowest bidder for the assault rifles and the United Arab Emirates-based Caracal for the carbines.
• Last month, the Defence Ministry signed an agreement with Sig Sauer for SIG 716 assault rifles meant for front-line infantry soldiers deployed in operational areas.
• The oversight committee consists of members of the Army, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Defence Ministry. It had received questions on the company’s capability to deliver the entire volume in time.
• The committee was supposed to give its comments in three days, but it had taken longer, and had not given any reason for the delay.
• The carbine should have an effective range of 200 m and weigh less than 2 kg. Under the FTP process, there is no elaborate general staff evaluation, and the exercise is expected to be completed in a year. The evaluation is based on the operational requirements, and deliveries should be completed in a year of the contract having been signed. The deal is estimated to cost Rs. 1,800 crore.

Chinook will be a game changer

News

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) inducted the first batch of four Chinook CH-47F(I) heavy-lift helicopters, which will significantly improve airlift to high-altitude areas.

Beyond News

• This modern, multi-mission-capable, heavy-lift transport helicopter will enhance our heli-lift capability across all types of terrain to the full effect.
• The service ceiling of 20,000 feet would redefine heavy lift not just in operations, inter-valley transport and artillery transport but also in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts in far-flung areas.
• These helicopters will be deployed in the northern and eastern regions. Besides Chandigarh, another unit will be created at Dinjan in Assam.
• India finalised a contract for 15 Boeing Chinook helicopters in September 2015. The first batch arrived at the Mundra Port in Gujarat in February this year. All helicopters will be delivered by March next year.
• The first batch of 12 pilots and as many flight engineers underwent training in the U.S. in 2018.
• The Chinook can carry a maximum payload of 11 tonnes and 54 combat-ready troops or 24 stretcher patients. The Army’s recently inducted M-777 Ultra-Light Howitzers can be carried under slung to forward areas. This will significantly improve the rapid reaction capabilities along the western and eastern borders.

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