Madhya Pradesh State PCS

• 26 Aug 2024

Intense Rain Warning by IMD

Why in News?

Recently, the India Meteorological Department has warned of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in parts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra.

Key Points

• They have advised fisherfolk to avoid venturing into the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. 
  • Small ships and exploration and production operators have been asked to monitor weather developments and take necessary precautions.
• People are recommended to avoid locations susceptible to waterlogging and check for traffic alerts before commuting. 
• Farmers in the impacted regions should ensure adequate drainage in their fields and offer support to their crops.
  • There is a risk of landslides and damage to horticultural crops due to inundation in the affected regions.

India Meteorological Department

• IMD was established in 1875. It is the National Meteorological Service of the country and the principal government agency in all matters relating to meteorology and allied subjects.
• It works as an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India.
• It is headquartered in New Delhi.
• IMD is also one of the six Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres of the World Meteorological Organization.

New Ramsar Site in Madhya Pradesh

Why in News?

Recently, the centre declared the Tawa Reservoir in Madhya Pradesh as a new Ramsar Site.

Key Points

• The Tawa Reservoir:
  • It is situated at the confluence of the Tawa and Denwa rivers near Itarsi town, was originally built for irrigation and now also supports power generation and aquaculture. 
  • The reservoir lies within the Satpura Tiger Reserve, bordering the Satpura National Park and Bori Wildlife Sanctuary. 
  • River Malani, Sonbhadra, and Nagdwari are the major tributaries of the Tawa reservoir.
  • The Tawa River, a left-bank tributary of Narmada river, originates in the Mahadeo Hills of Chhindwara district, flows through Betul district, and meets the Narmada River in Narmadapuram district.
    • It is the longest tributary of the Narmada river.
  • The reservoir hosts Spotted deer and Painted Stork.

The Ramsar Convention

• The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, under the auspices of UNESCO, aimed at conserving wetlands of international importance. 
  • In India, it came into force on 1st February 1982, under which wetlands of international importance are declared as Ramsar sites.
• Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. 
  • It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.