Important Facts for Prelims (01st October 2018) | 01 Oct 2018

Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention.

• The Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention (MGISC) is a 4-day event that brings together Sanitation Ministers and sector specialists from around the world.
• In 2018, delegates from 68 countries participated in the convention.
• It is being organized by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India.
• The convention aims to share sanitation success stories and lessons from the participating countries and will culminate on October 2nd, 2018, with the launch of the Mahatma's 150th birth year celebrations in India, as SBM enters its final year of implementation mark the beginning of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi, also coinciding with the fourth anniversary of the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission.

Surinsar-Mansar Lakes

• It is one of the 26 Ramsar Sites designated as Wetlands of International importance located in Jammu & Kashmir.
• Surinsar Lake and Mansar Lake are considered to be twin lakes.
• The Surinsar Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary is nestled in the midst of both the lakes.
• The site is socially and culturally very important with many temples around owing to its mythical origin from the Mahabharata period.
• Surinsar is rain-fed without permanent discharge, and Mansar is primarily fed by surface runoff and partially by mineralized water through paddy fields, with inflow increasing in the rainy season.
• Currently, it is facing an existential threat due to human intervention and climate change.

Mughal-era Bridge Oont Kadal

• The iconic 17th-century bridge, Oont Kadal, will be restored through a conservation project by INTACH with the help of Germany.
• The hump-backed bridge, locally known as Oont (Camel) Kadal lies in the middle of the Dal Lake mostly visible from Nishat Garden.
• Oont Kadal forms an important part of the locality along with the Dal Lake, the Zabarwan Mountain range (sub-mountain range between Pir Panjal and Great Himalayan Range) and the potential World Heritage Site of Nishat Bagh.
• The Zabarwan mountain range possesses great Himalayan features with rich wildlife. The Dachigam National Park is the main feature of the range which holds the last viable population of Kashmir stag (Hangul).
• The restoration of Oont Kadal will bring back the focus on the global, cultural and natural heritage of the Dal Lake.