• 09 May 2024

IAF Continues to Douse Forest Fire in Uttarakhand

Why in News?

Recently, The Uttarakhand government informed the Supreme Court that the forest fire emergency is no longer present, with only 15 small to intermediate fires reported.

Key Points

• The Chief Minister emphasized the need for an efficient strategy to gather 'Pirul' (pine leaves) from the forests.
  • He urged all residents of the State to participate in a widespread campaign to collect Pirul and safeguard the surrounding forests.
• Additionally, he mentioned that the government is implementing the 'Pirul Lao-Paise Pao' initiative to incentivize the collection of pine leaves and prevent forest fires.
  • Under this mission, Pirul will be purchased at the collection centre at the rate of ₹50/kg with the aim of reducing forest fire. 
• Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force (IAF) continues to help the State in dousing forest fires. It has taken 23 sorties, for 11 and half hours and used 44,600 litres of water to douse the raging forest flames in the mountain.
  • In response to the raging forest fires at the Pauri Garhwal sector in Uttarakhand, the IAF provided much-needed relief by undertaking Bambi Bucket operations by its Mi17 V5 helicopters.

Bambi Bucket operation

• The Bambi Bucket, also called a helicopter bucket or a heli bucket, is a specialised container that is suspended by cable under a chopper, and which can be filled by lowering into a river or pond before being flown above a fire and discharged aerially by opening a valve at the bottom of the bucket.
• The Bambi Bucket is especially helpful in fighting wildfires that are difficult or impossible to reach from the ground. Around the world, helicopters are frequently commissioned to fight forest fires.

Wildfires Threaten Uttarakhand's Wildlife and Ecological Balance

Why in News?

The wildfires in Uttarakhand's forests are endangering the state's rich wildlife, which includes tigers, elephants, leopards, as well as a range of birds and reptiles.

Key Points

• The ecosystem is under severe pressure, particularly for birds and reptiles who are having difficulty fleeing the fires due to their limited mobility.
• According to environmental photographer, wildfires have resulted in the tragic loss of numerous bird species, including nesting ones.
• A conservator of forests (research), is concerned about the critically endangered yellow-headed tortoise as they are at increased risk during the fire season when they seek shelter under dried Sal leaves.
  • The loss of even a small number of these tortoises could have a significant impact on the survival of the species, considering their already declining population.
• Gajendra Pathak,associated with the Jungle Bachao Jeevan Bachao campaign, emphasizes the wider ecological consequences of the wildfires.
  • The burning of leaves not only damages wildlife but also interferes with the important humus layer vital for soil health and erosion prevention.
  • The disappearance of insects such as beetles, ants, and spiders adds to the challenges of maintaining the fragile ecological equilibrium.

Yellow-Headed Tortoise

• Scientific name: Indotestudo elongate.
• Common name: Elongated tortoise, Yellow Tortoise and Sal forest tortoise.
• Distribution: It is a species of tortoise found in Southeast Asia and parts of the Indian Subcontinent, particularly Northeast India.
• Physical description: These up to 1 foot-long tortoises have elongated somewhat narrow carapaces and yellow heads. Shells are typically a pale tannish-yellow to caramel color, with blotches of black.
• IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered.
• Population: According to the IUCN the population of the species may have fallen by about 80% in the last three generations (90 years).
• Threats: It is heavily hunted for food and collected both for local use, such as decorative masks, and international wildlife trade. In china, a mixture, made by grinding up the tortoise's shell, also serves as an aphrodisiac.

Thunderstorms

Why in News?

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a fresh western disturbance is poised to affect Northwest India, whose influence will surge a myriad of different types of weather over the region.

Key Points

• Rain accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds has been forecast over most parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand from 9^th to 12^th May 2024.
• Western disturbances are storms that originate in the Caspian or Mediterranean Sea, and bring non-monsoonal rainfall to northwest India.
• They are labelled as an extra-tropical storm originating in the Mediterranean, is an area of low pressure that brings sudden showers, snow and fog in northwest India.
• It brings winter and pre-monsoon rain and is important for the development of the Rabi crop in the Northern subcontinent.
• It is not always the harbingers of good weather. Sometimes it can cause extreme weather events like floods, flash floods, landslides, dust storms, hail storms and cold waves killing people, destroying infrastructure and impacting livelihoods.

Rabi Crops

• These crops are sown around the Retreating Monsoon and Northeast monsoon season, which begins in October and are called rabi or winter crops.
• The harvest for these crops happens typically during April and May, during the summer season.
• These crops are not much affected by the rainfall.
• Major Rabi crops are wheat, gram, peas, barley etc.
• A warm climate is required for seed germination and cold climate for the growth of crops.

ED Raids Jharkhand's Rural Development Department

Why in News?

Recently, The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided the premises of the Jharkhand rural development department in Ranchi as part of a money laundering investigation in which it recently seized huge cash.

Key Points

• The ED had claimed before a court that the government officials from "top to bottom" of the rural development department are involved in the alleged illegal cash payments nexus.
  • It also claimed that the names of "senior bureaucrats and politicians" have emerged in the case and this is being investigated.
• The money laundering case of September, 2020 is based on an anti-corruption branch (Jamshedpur) case of Jharkhand Police and a March 2023 FIR filed by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police against former chief engineer of the state rural works department and some others.

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED)

• It is a multi-disciplinary organization mandated with investigation of offences of money laundering and violations of foreign exchange laws.
  • It functions under the Department of Revenue of the Ministry of Finance.
• As a premier financial investigation agency of the Government of India, the Enforcement Directorate functions in strict compliance with the Constitution and Laws of India.

Money laundering

• It is concealing or disguising the identity of illegally obtained proceeds so that they appear to have originated from legitimate sources. It is frequently a component of other, much more serious, crimes such as drug trafficking, robbery or extortion.
• According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), global Money Laundering is estimated between 2 to 5% of World Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

World Migration Report, 2024

Why in News?

Recently, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched the World Migration Report 2024.

Key Points

• The Report reveals significant shifts in global migration patterns, including a record number of displaced people and a major increase in international remittances.
  • With an estimated 281 million international migrants worldwide, the number of displaced individuals due to conflict, violence, disaster, and other reasons has surged to the highest levels in modern-day records, reaching 117 million, underscoring the urgency of addressing displacement crises.
• In India, strong influence of climate impacts on internal migration from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
  • India hosts the world's largest number of international migrants (18 million) residing in UAE, USA and Saudi Arabia.
  • In 2022, India remained the top remittance destination, receiving more than USD 111 billion, the first country to reach and surpass the USD 100 billion mark.

International Organization for Migration

• About:
  • It originated in 1951 as the Provisional Intergovernmental Committee for the Movement of Migrants from Europe (PICMME) after World War II's upheavals.
  • It underwent name changes from PICMME to the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) in 1952, to the Intergovernmental Committee for Migration (ICM) in 1980, and finally to the International Organisation for Migration in 1989, reflecting its evolution into a migration agency.
    • In 2016, IOM entered into an agreement with the United Nations, becoming a related organization.
• Members: It currently has 175 Member States and 8 states with Observer status.
  • India became an IOM Member State on 18^th June 2008.
• Its headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland.

Shri Vallabhacharya Jayanti

Why in News?

Vallabhacharya Jayanti, celebrated on 4^th May 2024, commemorates the birth anniversary of the renowned Hind scholar and an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna, Shri Vallabhacharya (1479-1531 CE).

Key Points

• Vallabhacharya was a revered figure who had a deep command over the Vedas and Upanishads. He was known by the titles Vallabha and Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya.
• He founded the philosophy of Shuddha Advaita or pure non-dualism. He also founded the Pushti sect of Vaishnavism, a Krishna-centric cult in the Braj region of India.
• He was born in the year 1479 AD in Varanasi to a Telugu Brahmin family.

Pushti sect

• Vallabhacharya was the founder of the Bhakti sect named 'Pushtimarg'.
• Pushtimarg is a subtradition of Rudra Sampradaya, also known as Pushtimarg Sampradaya or Vallabha Sampradaya (Vaishnavism).
• He founded it in the early 16^th century, and it is dedicated to Krishna.
• Pushtimarg, a bhakti (devotional) school, was expanded by Vallabhacharya's followers, particularly Gusainji.
• Its principles are rooted from, and its devotional practises are centred on, the fabled amorous plays of young Krishna, such as those described in the Bhagavata Purana and those associated with Govardhana Hill.