Madhya Pradesh

• 16 Jan 2025

High Court Postpones Hearing on Wild Elephants

Why in News? 

A division bench of the Madhya Pradesh (MP) High Court, postponed the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL).  

• The PIL seeks protection and proper care of wild elephants straying from Chhattisgarh to Madhya Pradesh.  

Key Points 

• The MP High court instructed that the case be presented before the regular bench hearing the matter.  
  • In the previous hearing before the bench headed by the Chief Justice, the state government informed the court that a committee, comprising a chairman and six experts, was constituted to examine the issues raised in the petition regarding the protection and well-being of wild elephants entering the jungles of Madhya Pradesh from Chhattisgarh.  
• The petitioner presented a list of experts in controlling wild elephants before the court.  
  • The state government requested time to consult experts from outside the state, as suggested by the petitioner.  
• During a previous hearing the petitioner raised the issue of the death of 11 wild elephants in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve area, stating that there is no expert in the state of MP to control the wild elephants.  

 

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve 

• It is located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh and is spread over the Vindhya hills. 
  • It holds significant historical importance, evidenced by the presence of the renowned Bandhavgarh Fort, along with numerous caves, rock paintings, and carvings throughout the protected area. 
• In 1968, it was designated as a national park and in 1993 was declared a tiger reserve. 
• It is known for the Royal Bengal Tigers. 
  • Other important prey species consist of chital, sambhar, barking deer, nilgai, chinkara, wild pig, chowsingha, langur and rhesus macaque. 
  • Dependent upon them are the major predators like tiger, leopard, wild dog, wolf and jackal. 

Clay Rudraksha Garlands

Why in News? 

Madhya Pradesh has become a leading state for women's empowerment and sustainable craftsmanship with the rising popularity of clay Rudraksha garlands.  

• This is skillfully crafted by women artisans using the soil from the Narmada River.  

Key Points 

• The women's empowerment and sustainable craftsmanship, spearheaded by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board (MPTB), has not only celebrated local artistry but also opened new avenues of employment for women. 
• As part of MPTB's Safe Tourist Places for Women initiative, women and girls in the Sanchi cluster receive clay art training through the ‘Maati Kala Shilp' scheme. 
  • The training programme emphasizes a balance between preserving traditional clay craft methods and incorporating modern techniques. 
    • Women artisans are taught soil preparation, moulding, drying, finishing, and quality control processes to meet market demands.  
• Over 200 women have been trained in various clay techniques, both fired and unfired, allowing them to produce a diverse range of items, including Sanchi stupas, diyas, ornamental vessels, animal figurines, and toys.  
• The initiative has significantly boosted the livelihood of women in Sanchi, where many now earn a stable monthly income of ₹14,000 to ₹15,000.  
• The artisans have also expanded their reach beyond Sanchi to cities like Bhopal and Jabalpur, receiving recognition and encouragement from various quarters. 
  • A key milestone in their success came when a private hotel chain began ordering approximately 2,000 garlands per month. 
• Currently, the women’s group has scaled production to around 5,000 garlands monthly and continues to explore new market opportunities with the support of MPTB. 

 Narmada River 

 

• About: 
  • The Narmada River (also known as Rewa) serves as a traditional boundary between North and South India. 
  • It is 1,312 km west of its origin from the Amarkantak peak of Maikal mountain. It flows into the Gulf of Khambhat. 
  • It drains a large area in Madhya Pradesh besides some areas in the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. 
  • It is a West flowing river of the peninsular region flowing through a rift valley between the Vindhya Range on the north and the Satpura Range on the south. 
• Tributaries: 
  • The predominant tributaries from the right are Hiran, Tendori, Barna, Kolar, Man, Uri, Hatni and Orsang. 
  • The predominant left tributaries are Burner, Banjar, Sher, Shakkar, Dudhi, Tawa, Ganjal, Chhota Tawa, Kundi, Goi, and Karjan. 
• Dams: 
  • The Major dams on the river include Omkareshwar and Maheshwar dams.