• 21 Jan 2025

Study to Revive Bison Population

Why in News? 

Recently, the Jharkhand Forest Department launched a study to revive the declining population of Bison, commonly known as Gaur, at Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR). 

 Key Points 

• Bison Population Status in Jharkhand: 
  • Bison, an important food source for big cats, has gone extinct across Jharkhand, except in the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR). 
  • The current bison population in PTR is between 50 and 70, a significant decline from the 1970s, when it stood at around 150. 
• Reasons for Decline: 
  • Major factors include poaching, infections, and habitat disturbances caused by local cattle. 
  • Domestic cattle, numbering over 1.5 lakh, occupy the bison's habitat, consuming their food and spreading infections like mouth and foot disease. 
• Current Conservation Efforts: 
  • The PTR authority has initiated a study to assess factors affecting bison survival, including habitat improvement and grass species preferences. 
    • A comprehensive revival plan will be created after the study. 
  • To curb the spread of diseases, a vaccination drive is underway to vaccinate 1.5 lakh domestic cattle from 190 surrounding villages. 
  • Grassland improvement and anti-poaching measures are also being strengthened. 
• Core and Buffer Zone Management: 
  • PTR spans 1,129.93 sq km, with 414.08 sq km designated as core (critical tiger habitat) and 715.85 sq km as a buffer zone. 
  • Betla National Park occupies 226.32 sq km of PTR, with 53 sq km in the buffer zone open to tourists. 
  • Efforts are underway to relocate eight of the 34 villages within PTR limits to protect core habitats. 

 The Bison 

 

• About: 
  • The Indian Bison or Gaur (Bos gaurus) is the tallest species of wild cattle found in India and largest extant bovine. 
  • There are about 13,000 to 30,000 gaurs in the world with approximately 85% of the population present in India. 
    • The first-ever population estimation exercise of the Indian gaur carried out in the Nilgiris Forest Division in February 2020 estimated around 2,000 Indian gaurs to be inhabiting the division. 
• Geography: 
  • It is native to South and Southeast Asia. 
  • In India, they are very much prevalent in the Western Ghats. 
    • They are primarily found in Nagarhole National Park , Bandipur National Park, Masinagudi National Park and Biligirirangana Hills (BR Hills). 
  • It is also found in Burma and Thailand. 
• Habitat: 
  • They prefer evergreen forests and moist deciduous forests. 
  • They are not found in the Himalayas with an altitude greater than 6,000 ft. 
• Conservation Status: 
  • Vulnerable in IUCN Red List. 
  • Included in the Schedule I of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972. 

Benami Transactions in Pench Tiger Reserve

Why in News? 

The Benami Prohibition Unit (BPU) of the Income Tax Department detected three Benami transactions in the Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh. 

 Key Points 

• Details of Benami Transactions: 
  • Two Benami transactions involved land with existing resorts, while the third pertained to land intended for a resort. 
  • The IT Department’s Benami Prohibition Unit (BPU) detected and attached all three properties under the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act 2016. 
    • Madhya Pradesh leads the country in Benami property attachments with over 1,400 properties worth Rs 900-950 crore. 
• Legal Context in Scheduled Tribal Areas: 
  • Section 165 of the Code of Land Revenue prohibits selling tribal land to non-tribals in Madhya Pradesh’s notified scheduled areas. 
  • Tribals may lease land to non-tribals in notified and non-notified rural areas without district collector approval. 
  • Beneficial owners circumvented this ban by using tribal proxies to purchase the land and then leasing it back for resort construction. 
• Significance of Benami Property Attachments in Tiger Reserves: 
  • These attachments represent a rare crackdown on Benami transactions within tiger reserves. 
  • Other resorts in tribal-dominated areas near tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries are under investigation for similar violations. 

Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) 

• PTR is the joint pride of both Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. 
• The Reserve is located in the southern reaches of the Satpura hills in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts in Madhya Pradesh, and continues in Nagpur district in Maharashtra as a separate Sanctuary. 
  • It was declared a National Park by the Government of Maharashtra in 1975 and the identity of a tiger reserve was granted to it in the year 1992. 
  • However, PTR Madhya Pradesh was granted the same status in 1992-1993. It is one of the major Protected Areas of Satpura-Maikal ranges of the Central Highlands. 
• It is among the sites notified as Important Bird Areas (IBA) of India. 
  • The IBA is a programme of Birdlife International which aims to identify, monitor and protect a global network of IBAs for conservation of the world’s birds and associated diversity. 

 The Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act 2016 

• The Act amended the Original Act (Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Act 1988) and renamed it as Prohibition of Benami Property Transaction Act, 1988. 
• The Act defines a benami transaction as a transaction where: 
  • a property is held by or transferred to a person, but has been provided for or paid by another person. 
  • the transaction is made in a fictitious name 
  • the owner is not aware of denies knowledge of the ownership of the property, 
  • the person providing the consideration for the property is not traceable. 

PM SVANidhi Plates Distributed to Street Vendors

Why in News? 

Recently, the Commissioner of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), distributed Dogri-language PM SVANidhi plates to street vendors of Jammu and Kashmir. 

 Key Points 

• Overview of PM SVANidhi Scheme: 
  • PM SVANidhi is a micro-credit initiative launched by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat program. 
    • The scheme offers working capital loans, encourages regular repayments, and promotes digital transactions to improve the livelihoods of street vendors. 
  • The vendors are urged to fully utilize the scheme to enhance their income and economic stability. 
• Guidelines for Street Vendors: 
  • Vendors were advised to avoid placing carts on footpaths or roads to prevent inconvenience to pedestrians and reduce traffic congestion. 
  • They are urged to use designated vending zones within municipal jurisdiction for smoother traffic flow and public convenience. 

 Street Vendor 

• Any person engaged in vending of articles, goods, wares, food items or merchandise of daily use or offering services to the public in a street, footpath, pavement etc., from a temporary built up structure or by moving from place to place. 
• The goods supplied by them include vegetables, fruits, ready-to-eat street food, tea, pakodas, breads, eggs, textile, apparel, artisan products, books/ stationery etc. and the services include barber shops, cobblers, pan shops, laundry services etc. 
• Around 49.48 lakh street vendors have been identified in India. 
  • Uttar Pradesh has the maximum at 8.49 lakh, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 7.04 lakh. 
  • Delhi has only 72,457 street vendors. 
  • No street vendor has been identified in Sikkim. 

Haryana to Dispose and Recycle Old Vehicles

Why in News? 

The Haryana Government has notified the Vehicle Scrappage and Recycling Facility Incentive Policy, 2024, to ensure the proper disposal and recycling of old vehicles and promote environmental sustainability by reducing pollution. 

 Key Points 

• About the Decision: 
  • It is highlighted that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) set a 10-year limit for diesel vehicles and 15 years for petrol vehicles in the National Capital Region (NCR). 
  • This regulation led to a continuous increase in the number of condemned vehicles, prompting the Haryana Government to act. 
• Environmental and Economic Benefits: 
  • The policy aims to protect the environment by reducing pollution and promoting economic growth. 
  • Vehicle owners would receive financial benefits, and the public would gain relief from abandoned vehicles cluttering roads, streets, and public spaces. 
• Implementation as an Industrial Scheme: 
  • The state government plans to implement the policy as an industrial scheme with incentives such as capital subsidies or state GST reimbursement for new industrial units. 
  • The Department of Industries and Commerce will develop a 10-year land leasing module through the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC). 
• Financial Support for Entrepreneurs: 
  • The government will provide up to Rs 20 crore in financial assistance, covering 10% of project costs (excluding land), to startups, women entrepreneurs, and candidates from the Scheduled Caste category for venture capital funds. 
  • Complete stamp duty reimbursement is offered in D-category industrial blocks, while B and C blocks receive a 75% reimbursement. 
• Incentives for Centres of Excellence and Skill Development: 
  • The government will provide a 50% grant of project costs, up to Rs 5 crore, for establishing Centres of Excellence. 
  • An additional Rs 50 lakh will be granted to 10 industries that contribute to youth skill development and employment within the state. 

NGT Notice to Haryana Pollution Board

Why in News? 

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued a notice to the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) in response to an appeal filed by the Freedom Park Society, Gurugram, challenging the Rs 1.55 crore penalty imposed as Environmental Compensation (EC) for faults in its Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). 

 Key Points 

• Cause of STP Damage: 
  • It was argued that stormwater flooding in August 2022 caused damage to the STP, as heavy rainfall affected the entire Gurugram area. 
• Remedial Measures Taken: 
  • Following the natural disaster, the Freedom Park Society immediately repaired the STP and restored its compliance with environmental norms. 
  • Private lab test reports confirm that the STP resumed functioning properly after repairs. 
• Contention Over the Penalty: 
  • The penalty for 415 days of violation is arbitrary, irrational, and contrary to the "Polluter Pay" principle established by the Supreme Court in cases such as Indian Council for Enviro vs. Union of India and Vellore Citizens Welfare vs. Union of India. 

 Haryana State Pollution Control Board 

• It was formed as a statutory organisation by Government of Haryana in the year 1974 to preserve the wholesomeness of water and prevent water pollution after Government of India legislation of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. 

Panchayat Elections in Chhattisgarh

Why in News? 

According to the Chhattisgarh State Election Commission, the state is going to conduct elections for urban and panchayat bodies, including municipal corporations, in February 2025. 

 Key Points 

• About the Election: 
  • Elections for 173 civic bodies, including 10 municipal corporations, 49 municipal councils, and 114 Nagar Panchayats, will take place in a single phase on 11th February 2025. 
  • The three-tier Panchayat elections will be held in three phases: 17, 20, and 23 February 2025. 
  • With the announcement of the election schedule, the model code of conduct has come into effect for the civic and panchayat bodies. 
• Voting Method and Election Type: 
  • Civic elections will be conducted using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), while panchayat elections will use ballot papers. 
  • Civic body elections will be held along party lines, while panchayat elections will be conducted on a no-party basis. 

 State Election Commissions (SECs) 

• The State Election Commission has been entrusted with the function of conducting free, fair and impartial elections to the local bodies in the state. 
• Article 243K(1): It states that the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the Panchayats (Municipalities under Article 243ZA) shall be vested in a State Election Commission consisting of a State Election Commissioner to be appointed by the Governor. 
• Article 243K(2): It states that the tenure and appointment will be directed as per the law made by the state legislature. However, the State Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his/her office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of a High Court.