• 27 Jan 2025

News Regional Office of Inland Waterways Authority

Why in News? 

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) upgraded its sub-office in Varanasi into a regional office to effectively implement Inland Water Transport (IWT) activities on National Waterway-1 (NW-1) along the River Ganga.  

 Key Points 

• IWAI Regional Offices: 
  • The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) operates under the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. 
  • It currently has five regional offices in Guwahati (Assam), Patna (Bihar), Kochi (Kerala), Bhubaneswar (Odisha), and Kolkata (West Bengal). 
  • The newly established regional office in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), becomes the sixth. 
    • The Varanasi office will manage operations over a 487-kilometre stretch from Majhua to the Varanasi Multi-Modal Terminal (MMT) and up to Prayagraj. 
    • It will also oversee works related to other National Waterways (NWs) in Uttar Pradesh. 
• Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP): 
  • The office will prioritize implementing the World Bank-supported Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP). 
  • It aims to enhance the capacity of River Ganga (NW-1) through: 
    • River conservancy works such as bandalling and maintenance dredging. 
    • Construction of key infrastructure, including MMTs at Varanasi, Sahibganj, and Haldia, an intermodal terminal at Kalighat, and a new navigational lock at Farakka (West Bengal). 
    • Promoting cruise tourism and seamless cargo movement along the waterway. 
    • Development of Community Jetties: 
      • Under JMVP, 60 community jetties are being constructed across four states: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. 
      • These jetties aim to benefit local commuters, small and marginal farmers, artisans, and fishing communities. 
      • The Varanasi Regional Office will monitor and ensure efficient execution of these activities. 
• National Waterways in Uttar Pradesh: 
  • Uttar Pradesh has around 30 rivers, with 10 declared as National Waterways. 
  • The office will oversee development works on River Ganga and its tributaries, including Betwa, Chambal, Gomti, Tons, Varuna, Gandak, Ghagra, Karamnasa, and Yamuna. 

 Inland Waterways Authority of India 

• It came into existence on 27^th October 1986 for development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation. 
• It primarily undertakes projects for development and maintenance of IWT infrastructure on national waterways through grants received from the Ministry of Shipping. 

 Inland Water Transport (IWT) 

• About: 
  • Inland water transport refers to the transportation of people, goods, and materials via waterways such as rivers, canals, lakes, and other navigable bodies of water that are located within a country's boundaries. 
  • IWT is the most economical mode of transportation, especially for bulk cargo like coal, iron ore, cement, food grains and fertilizer. Presently, it remains underutilized at a share of 2% in India’s modal mix. 
• Socio-Economic Benefits of IWT: 
  • Cheaper operating cost and relatively lesser fuel consumption 
  • Less polluting mode of transportation 
  • Lesser requirement of land relative to other modes of transportation 
  • More environment friendly mode of transportation 
  • Moreover, waterways can be used for recreational purposes such as boating and fishing.  

Dhanauri Wetland

Why in News? 

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) instructed the Uttar Pradesh government to submit the status of notifying the Dhanauri water body near Jewar airport as a wetland within four weeks.  

 Key Points 

• State Government's Stand: 
  • The Uttar Pradesh’s counsel stated that the government is in the process of notifying Dhanauri as a wetland. 
  • The NGT bench questioned the need for three months to complete the notification process when the site has already been identified for wetland status. 
• The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO): 
  • The DFO of Gautam Buddha Nagar informed the NGT through an affidavit that the proposed Dhanauri wetland spans 112.89 hectares. 
  • The area primarily includes privately owned land located across the villages of Dhanauri Kalan, Thasrana, and Amipur Bangar in the Sadar tehsil of Gautam Buddha Nagar. 
  • The DFO requested three months to consult with landowners and obtain their consent before proceeding with further action. 
• Wetland Notification and Ramsar Site Process: 
  • State governments can notify lakes and water bodies as wetlands for protection. 
  • Ramsar site designation requires approval from the Central Government, based on recommendations by state governments. 
  • Wetlands qualifying under ecological and biodiversity criteria are identified under the international Ramsar Convention treaty of 1971, which ensures special conservation measures. 

 Dhanauri Wetland 

• Location: 
  • Situated in Greater Noida, Gautam Buddha Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh. 
  • Lies close to the Okhla Bird Sanctuary and Surajpur Wetland. 
  • Positioned within the floodplains of the Yamuna Basin, about 15 km from the River Yamuna. 
• Ecological Significance: 
  • Composed mainly of marshes, the wetland is an essential habitat for the vulnerable Sarus Crane (Antigone antigone). 
  • Hosts a variety of bird species, including: 
    • Common teal 
    • Mallard 
    • Northern pintail 
    • Greylag geese 
    • Bar-headed geese 
    • Woolly-necked stork 
    • Black-necked stork 
    • Painted stork 
    • Eurasian marsh harrier 
• Conservation Status: 
  • Recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International. 

Bihar CM Felicitates Olympians, Paralympic Athletes

Why in News? 

During the Sportstar Focus Bihar Conclave at the Taj City Centre in Patna, Bihar Chief Minister honored athletes and para-athletes for their achievements and contributions in sports. 

 Key Points 

• Athletes Felicitated: 
  • The event honored notable athletes and para-athletes, including: 
    • Deepa Malik, Paralympic silver medallist. 
    • Vijender Singh, Olympic bronze medal-winning boxer. 
    • P.R. Sreejesh, double Olympic bronze medallist in hockey. 
    • Sharad Kumar, double Paralympic medallist. 
    • Shiva Keshavan, six-time Winter Olympian. 
    • Harendra Singh, head coach of the Indian women’s hockey team. 
• Special Awards for State Athletes: 
  • In keeping with the Sportstar Conclave tradition, two special awards were given to athletes from Bihar: 
    • Jai Prakash Singh, a decathlete, received the Unsung Champion Award. 
    • Md. Reyan, a teenage chess talent, was honored with the Young Achiever Award. 
  • Both awardees were granted a cash prize of Rs 50,000 each. 

 The Paralympics 

• The Paralympics is the largest international event for disabled athletes and takes place shortly after the Olympic Games. 
• Olympic-style games for athletes with a disability were organised for the first time in Rome in 1960. 
• It is supervised by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), a body recognised by the IOC. 

 

Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary

Why in News? 

The Forest Department has begun revising the boundaries of Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary to address existing legal complications. This initiative originated during a meeting held in Jaipur led by Rajasthan's Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden. 

 Key Points 

• Discussion in the meeting: 
  • The meeting focused on resolving disparities between: 
    • The sanctuary's original notification issued on September 22, 1980. 
    • The eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) notification issued on March 8, 2019. 
  • The Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Jaipur Zoo, presented the sanctuary's original boundary details. 
    • The 1980 notification defined the sanctuary's boundaries using only 11 GPS coordinates. 
    • The ESZ map from 2019 marked 100 reference points leading to significant boundary differences. 
  • These inconsistencies have resulted in multiple legal cases and court challenges. 
• Decision on Revising Sanctuary Map: 
  • Authorities decided to create a revised sanctuary map based on the Revenue records and the 1980 notification. 
  • The Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Jaipur Zoo, was assigned the task of drafting the new map. 
  • The draft map will be reviewed by a committee and subsequently submitted to the state government for approval. 
• Opposition from Environmental Activists: 
  • Environmental advocates have highlighted discrepancies in the sanctuary and ESZ maps, accusing the Forest Department of preparing a false map. 
  • A complaint was filed with the Lokayukta, which noted the issue. 
• Response from Forest Authorities: 
  • The Office of the Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF), Rajasthan, responded to the Lokayukta stating: 
    • Questioning the maps after seven years was inappropriate. 
    • The sanctuary and ESZ maps were approved and accurate. 

 Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary 

• About: 
  • Situated in the Aravalli hills, approximately 20 kilometres from Jaipur, Rajasthan. 
  • Named after Nahargarh Fort, an 18^th-century fort built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur. 
  • Covers an area of 720 hectares. 
  • Includes Nahargarh Biological Park, renowned for its lion safaris. 
• Flora: Comprises dry deciduous forests, scrublands, and grasslands. 
• Fauna: 
  • Mammals: 
    • Common species include leopards, wild boars, deer, lions, tigers, sloth bears, and various small mammals. 
  • Birds: 
    • A paradise for bird watchers, featuring species such as peacocks, owls, and eagles. 
  • Reptiles and Amphibians: 
    • Home to reptiles like Indian rock pythons and monitor lizards. 
    • Amphibians such as frogs and toads are also found here. 
      
      

NMDC to Extract Diamonds Near Tiger Reserve

Why in News? 

India's National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) plans to extract 6,500 carats of diamonds, valued at USD 3.4 million, from ores in a mine near Panna tiger reserve. 

 Key Points 

• Delays in Mining Operations: 
  • NMDC faced delays in obtaining environmental clearances, halting mining at the Panna mine in Madhya Pradesh for over three years due to its proximity to the tiger reserve. 
  • The Supreme Court later allowed NMDC to resume mining operations, subject to certain guidelines, enabling the company to restart its work at the mine. 
• Diamond Extraction: 
  • Since resuming operations, NMDC has extracted 3,700 carats of diamonds, valued at USD 1.93 million. 
• About the Panna Mine: 
  • The Panna mine spans 275.96 hectares (681.91 acres) and began operations in the early 1970s. 
  • It is the only mechanized diamond mine in India. 
• Diamond Mining in Madhya Pradesh: 
  • Madhya Pradesh is one of Asia’s major diamond mining regions. 
  • Global and domestic companies have faced challenges in mining diamonds at the Bunder project, near the Panna reserve. 

 Panna Tiger Reserve 

• About: 
  • Located in the Vindhyan mountain range in northern Madhya Pradesh. 
  • Covers an area of 542 sq.km. 
  • The only Tiger Reserve in the Bundelkhand region. 
  • Declared a Tiger Reserve by the Government of India under Project Tiger in 1994. 
• Landscape: 
  • The reserve features a 'Table Top' topography. 
  • It includes extensive plateaus and gorges. 
  • The Ken River flows from south to north through the reserve. 
  • The area also contains two-thousand-year-old rock paintings. 
• Flora: 
  • Dominated by dry deciduous forests interspersed with grasslands. 
  • In the north, the reserve is surrounded by teak forests. 
  • To the east, it is bordered by Teak-Kardhai mixed forests. 
• Fauna: 
  • The reserve is home to a significant population of tigers, sloth bears, leopards, and striped hyenas. 
  • Other notable carnivores include jackals, wolves, wild dogs, jungle cats, and the rusty spotted cat. 
  • The Vindhya Hill ranges, running from NE to SW, help connect the eastern and western populations of wildlife. 

Asian Waterbird Census

Why in News? 

Volunteers at the Asan Wetland in Dehradun district, Uttarakhand, identified 5,225 birds across 117 different species during a bird counting campaign. 

 Key Points 

• About the Event: 
  • The bird counting campaign was organized by a team of 35 participants, divided into five groups. 
  • It aimed to monitor both domestic and migratory bird populations in the Asan Wetland. 
  • The teams conducted a comprehensive bird count at locations including Asan Lake, the Yamuna and Asan rivers, the Shivalik mountain range, and nearby protected forests. 
• Survey and Methodology: 
  • More than 150 volunteers and forest staff surveyed 23 sites following a pre-determined protocol to count waterbirds and document other bird species. 
  • Observers also recorded the behaviors and activities of birds in and around the marshes and wetlands. 
• Citizen Science Initiative: 
  • The Asian Waterbird Census occurred simultaneously at 23 wetland sites across Uttarakhand. 
  • The initiative was supported by the Uttarakhand Forest Department and involved various non-governmental organizations (NGOs). 

 Asan Conservation Reserve 

• About: 
  • The Asan Conservation Reserve spans 444 hectares along the Asan River, extending to its confluence with the Yamuna River in Dehradun district. 
  • The Asan Barrage, built in 1967, led to siltation above the dam, creating bird-friendly habitats. 
• Biodiversity and Species: 
  • The reserve is home to 330 species of birds, including the critically endangered red-headed vulture, white-rumped vulture, and Baer’s pochard. 
  • The site records over 1% of the biogeographical populations of the red-crested pochard and ruddy shelduck. 
  • Non-avian species present include 49 fish species, with the endangered Putitor mahseer among them.