Uttarakhand

• 16 Jul 2024

Uttarakhand First in the Country in SDG 2023-24

Why in News?

Uttarakhand secured the top position in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG INDEX) 2023-2024 report released by NITI Aayog.

Key Points

• According to the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand , the state government is committed to advancing towards a 'Developed Uttarakhand' by balancing ecology and economy.
• The SDG India Index is a tool developed by NITI Aayog to measure and track India’s progress towards the SDGs set by the United Nations.
  • The Index supports the localization of SDGs, encouraging states to integrate these goals into their development plans.
  • It serves as a benchmark for policymakers to identify gaps and prioritise actions towards achieving sustainable development by 2030.
• India's overall SDG score improved to 71 in 2023-24 from 66 in 2020-21 and 57 in 2018. All states have shown improvement in overall scores.
  • Progress has been largely driven by targeted government interventions in poverty reduction, economic growth, and climate action.
  • Top Performers: Kerala and Uttarakhand emerged as the best-performing states, each scoring 79 points.
  • Lowest Performer: Bihar lagged behind with a score of 57 points, followed by Jharkhand at 62 points.
  • Front-Runner States: 32 states and union territories (UTs) are in the front-runner category, with 10 new entrants including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh.

NITI Aayog

• The Planning Commission in India was replaced by NITI Aayog in 2015, with a shift towards a 'Bottom-Up' approach and emphasis on cooperative federalism.
  • The composition of NITI Aayog includes the Prime Minister as Chairperson, Chief Ministers of all states and Lt. Governors of Union Territories in the Governing Council, and experts nominated by the Prime Minister as Special Invitees.
  • Chief Executive Officer appointed by the Prime Minister for a specific term, holding the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.
• The key objectives are to promote cooperative federalism with states, develop plans at the village level, incorporate national security into economic strategy, focus on marginalised sections of society, encourage partnerships with stakeholders and think tanks, create a support system for knowledge and innovation, resolve inter-sectoral issues, and maintain a resource centre for good governance and sustainable development practices.

Uttarakhand New Hydel Power Projects

Why in News?

Recently, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami sought the clearance of 21 new hydel power projects with a capacity of 2123 MW for the state from the Centre.

Key Points

• The Union Minister of Power Manohar Lal Khattar is on a visit to the state to review the progress of Tehri Hydro Power Complex and various urban development projects in the state.
• According to the CM, only 40% of Uttarakhand's total capacity for hydro electricity generation is being utilised at present.
  • Expert committees have recommended the implementation projects on the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers and their tributaries.

Alaknanda River

• It is one of the headstreams of the Ganga.
• It rises at the confluence and feet of the Satopanth and Bhagirath glaciers in Uttarakhand.
• It meets the Bhagirathi River at Devprayag after which it is called the Ganga.
• Its main tributaries are the Mandakini, Nandakini, and Pindar rivers.
• The Alaknanda system drains parts of Chamoli, Tehri, and Pauri districts
• The Hindu pilgrimage center of Badrinath and the natural spring Tapt Kund lie along the banks of the Alaknanda River.

Bhagirathi River

• It is a turbulent Himalayan river of Uttarakhand, and one of the two headstreams of the Ganges.
• The Bhagirathi rises at the foot of Gangotri Glacier, at Gaumukh, at an elevation of 3892m and fanning out into the 350 km wide Ganga delta, it finally empties into the Bay of Bengal.
• The Bhagirathi and Alaknanda join at Devprayag in Garhwal andare thereafter known as the Ganges.

Uttarakhand’s First Bird Gallery

Why in News?

Recently, The Uttarakhand Forest Department established the state's first bird gallery at the Nature Education Centre, in Dehradun.

Key Points

• This gallery displays high-resolution images of birds in Uttarakhand, providing visitors with a stunning showcase of the state's avian residents.
  • It is an attempt to highlight Uttarakhand's avian diversity and promote a greater appreciation for these unique species.
  • By educating visitors about the numerous bird species and their functions in the ecosystem, the gallery would facilitate conservation and create awareness about these avian species
• Uttarakhand has over 710 bird species, which is more than 50% of India's bird species.