• 21 Jun 2022

Chambal Jackfruit Festival

Why in News?

On June 20, 2022, 'Chambal Jackfruit Festival' was organized at 'Pachanada', the confluence of five rivers including Chambal, which was infamous for the terror of bandits.

Key Points

• This was the first time that the Jackfruit Festival was organized on the banks of this confluence of rivers. Here people gained information not only about jackfruit, but also about the production of jackfruit.
• The Chambal Foundation has been continuously striving for many years to bring the positive identity of the Chambal Valley to the world.
• The Chambal Jackfruit Festival showcased jackfruits brought from several states. Born in the ruggedness of Chambal, the largest sized jackfruit as well as the colorful jackfruit of Thailand caught the attention of the people.
• It is worth mentioning that in the British period, jackfruit was cultivated on a large scale in the Chambal region. In a heinous crime like murder, five jackfruit trees were granted bail. In the Chambal valley, cooked jackfruit is not eaten, while there is a lot of trend in the country to eat cooked jackfruit like the taste of banana and pineapple.

Formation of State Dam Safety Organization (SDSO) in Bihar

Why in News?

Recently a State Dam Safety Organization has been formed for the maintenance and safety of dams and barrages of Bihar.

Key Points

• For this, the Water Resources Department has formed a team of 56 officers and staff led by the Chief Engineer of Central Design, Research and Quality Control.
• The SDSO has been constituted in accordance with the directions given by the Government of India under the Central Dam Safety Act.
• The SDSO will have the responsibility of inspecting, maintaining and monitoring 27 dams and 5 major barrages in the state.
• It may be recalled that the Central Government has asked all the states to prepare their own action plans for the maintenance of dams and barrages under the Dam Safety Bill, 2018 to further strengthen the safety of dams across the country.
• With 5,254 large dams, India is currently the third largest country in the world.

Appointment of New Chief Justice of Rajasthan

Why in News?

The notification regarding the appointment of Justice Shinde Sambhaji Shivaji as the Chief Justice of Rajasthan was issued by the Central Government on January 19, 2022.

Key Points

• The Central Government has approved the appointment of a new Chief Justice within a month of the recommendation made by the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramanna.
• Article 217 of the Constitution states that a Judge of the High Court shall be appointed by the President in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the Governor of the state concerned.
• The Chief Justice of the High Court is consulted in the matter of appointment of a Judge other than the Chief Justice.
• At present, appointment of high court judges is recommended by a collegium, which consists of the CJI and two senior-most judges. However, the proposal for appointment of Judges is initiated by the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court in consultation with the two senior-most colleagues.

Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Century

Why in News?

Recently, experts from South Africa and Namibia came to see the preparations for the settlement of cheetahs in the Kuno Palpur Century and the member secretary of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, S.P. Yadav has recommended a complete shutdown of tourism activities around the cheetah enclosure.

Key Points

• Experts say that the cheetahs in Kuno are 5 square kilometers. It will be kept in the enclosure, around which neither entry should be given to the tourists nor any kind of tourism proposal should be approved for it.
• Not only this, the expert has also recommended to cover the fencing of the enclosure built for cheetahs with a green mat. The African expert said that if the green matis not installed, they will try to cross the fencing. Therefore, they will be made to feel that there is nothing after fencing by applying green mats.
• It is being recommended for the time being to ban tourism activities till the cheetahs remain in the enclosure. The proposal has dealt a blow to the state's forest and environment ministry's efforts to promote tourism.
• It is worth mentioning that the Tourism Department of Madhya Pradesh was making preparations to promote tourism in Kuno after the arrival of the cheetahs. Under this, the tourism plan of The Kuno Century was prepared. It was said to give entry to a maximum of 100 vehicles of tourists every day.
• The cheetahs coming from Africa are expected to arrive at the Kuno Sanctuary by August, 2022. Madhya Pradesh has been making efforts for the settlement of cheetahs in Kuno for the last 27 years. After 70 years of independence, an attempt is being made to establish this extinct creature once again in the country.

Adventure Sports Launched at Maithon Dam

Why in News?

On June 20, 2022, three-day adventure sports started at Maithon Dam located in Dhanbad district of Jharkhand.

Key Points

• The adventure activities being organized by Jharkhand Tourism Department for the first time near Gogna Sports Hostel in Maithon include Parasailing, Wall Climbing, Surfing, Kayaking, Ringo Riding, Jet Skiing etc.
• The main objective of organizing adventure activities in Maithon Dam is to make Maithon Dam a prestigious adventure sports center of the state by promoting adventure tourism.
• It may be mentioned that during the 34th National Games held in Jharkhand in 2011, several water sports events were held at Mathon Dam, including Kayaking and Canoeing.

Iron-Fortified Rice may Contain High Amounts of Iron: Report

Why in News?

Releasing a fact-finding report after visiting 11 villages in four districts of Chhattisgarh on June 20, 2022, ASHA (Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture) Kavitha Kuruganti said that iron-fortified rice can lead to iron excess.

Key Points

• Releasing the report after visiting 11 villages of five blocks of Bastar, Kondagaon, Surguja and Korba, Kuruganti said Chhattisgarh is self-sufficient in paddy production and also has a decentralized procurement system.
• He said that there is really no basis for large-scale scaling of rice fortification scheme in the state, where Chhattisgarh is now distributing 25-45 percent of all fortified rice being distributed across the country.
• According to the report, in Kondagaon district, neither the pilot work has been completed, nor has the evaluation been carried out and the results have been kept for public viewing, but it has been extended to 12 districts.
• Sangeeta Sahu of Right to Food Campaign (RTFC) Chhattisgarh said that pilot evaluation can be not only of efficacy but also of safety.
• He said that with the burden of diseases like Sickle Cell Disorder, Thalassemia, Tuberculosis (TB), Chhattisgarh should move out of the Centre's unscientific and risky policy of iron-fortified rice in public schemes.
• Chhattisgarh already has a high disease burden of sickle cell disorders of about 1.5 lakh persons. Thalassemia, Malaria and Tuberculosis are also prevalent in the state.
• He said the state already has some exemplary and unique initiatives such as a holistic, diverse, food-based 'Suposhan Abhiyan', 'Narwa, Garuwa, Ghuruva and Badi' (NGGB) and 'Godhan Nyaya Yojana', etc. .

500 Water ATMs to be Installed at Tourist Places in Uttarakhand

Why in News?

Recently, Uttarakhand Drinking Water Department Secretary Nitesh Jha informed that state-of-the-art water ATMs will be installed at every tourist place to reduce the use of plastic water bottles in the state, to provide self-employment to the villagers and clean water to the tourists.

Key Points

• On behalf of the department, the responsibility of operating 500 state-of-the-art water ATMs to be installed in the first phase at tourist places of the state will be given to the Gram Panchayat of the concerned tourist place.
• The quality of that water will be displayed at all water ATMs. Tourists will know what level of water they are drinking.
• It is worth noting that in order to reduce plastic waste in the state, under the directive issued by the State Urban Development Department, from July 1, 2022, Plastic straws, Spoons, Plates, Thermocol and things made of thermocol will be banned.