IASTODAY DAILY CAPSULES -General Studies-02

SC asks Centre to withdraw or amend 2017 rules on confiscating animals during trial

News

  • The Supreme Court asked the Centre to either withdraw or amend rules notified in 2017 for confiscating animals of traders and transporters during the pendency of trial in cases under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, saying they are contrary to the law.

Withdraw or amend rules

  • The top court said the rules will stay if not withdrawn or amended by the Centre as the law provides that animals can be confiscated only if a person is convicted under the Act.
  • The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Care and Maintenance of Case Property Animals) Rules, 2017 framed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
  • The traders have claimed that they were being forcibly deprived of their cattle which is sent to ‘Gaushalas’, and the seizure of their livestock that is a means of livelihood for many families was being done under the 2017 rules.
  • The association alleged that the 2017 rules have travelled beyond the limits of the 1960 Act.
  • The 2017 rules allow a magistrate to forfeit the cattle of an owner facing trial under the Act and the animals are later sent to infirmaries, ‘gaushalas’ and ‘pinjarapole’ and offered for adoption.

Delhi to set up academy to ‘protect Tamil language’

News

  • The Delhi government announced its plan to set up a Tamil Academy to “protect Tamil language and culture”.

Protect Tamil language

  • The academy will function under the Delhi government’s department of Art, Culture and Language.
  • The department currently runs academies for Urdu, Sanskrit, Punjabi, Hindi, Sindhi, and most recently, Maithili and Bhojpuri in the capital.
  • The activities of the academy will include introducing new awards to promote and reward works in Tamil, providing language courses and organising cultural festivals.

IASTODAY DAILY CAPSULES -General Studies-03

Rs. 1.59 crore fine levied as environment compensation against non-compliant construction and demolition entities.

News

  • With a view to abate dust and related air pollution from the construction and demolition activities, the Commission for Air Quality Management for Delhi NCR and adjoining areas had directed the Central Pollution Control Board, the State Pollution Control Boards of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to constitute special teams and launch inspection drives in the premises, processes and transportation of materials related to Construction &Demolition(C&D) activities in the NCR.

Environment compensation

  • These teams carried out surprise checks and inspections at more than 3000 C&D sites of which about 386 sites were found to be non-compliant with the various C&D Waste Management Rules / Guidelines and dust mitigation measures stipulated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Central Pollution Control Board.
  • Further, an amount of approx. Rs.1.59 crore was levied as environment compensation against the defaulting agencies besides orders for stoppage of work at 12 locations.
  • Compliance with respect to transportation of materials related to C&D activities was also seen by the inspecting teams.
  • About 325 vehicles, not in conformance with guidelines related to transportation of C&D materials, were levied environment compensation charges of approximately Rs. 1.17 crore.
  • Such fortnightly drives are planned to be continued to enforce compliance of the C&D waste management rules and related guidelines to abate dust pollution from C&D sector, which contributes significantly to poor air quality in the region.

ADB, India sign $100 million loan to upgrade power distribution system in Bengaluru

News

  • The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $100 million loan to modernise and upgrade the power distribution system to enhance the quality and reliability of electricity supply in Bengaluru city in the state of Karnataka.

Upgrade the power distribution system

  • Beside the $100 million sovereign loan, ADB will provide a $90 million without sovereign guarantee loan for the project to Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM), one of five state-owned distribution utilities in Karnataka.
  • In parallel to underground distribution cables, over 2,800 km of fibre optical cables will be installed to strengthen communication network.
  • Moving about 7,200 km of distribution lines underground will help reduce technical and commercial losses by about 30%.
  • The fibre optical cables will be used for smart metering systems, distribution automation system (DAS) in the distribution grid, and other communication networks.
  • The project will install 1,700 automated ring main units adapted with a DAS to monitor and control the distribution line switchgears from the control centre.
  • The loan will strengthen the capacity of BESCOM in operation and maintenance of underground cabling, environment and social safeguards, financial management and commercial financing.
  • Improved financial management capability will help BESCOM access domestic and international commercial financing market.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members 49 from the region.

40th Indian scientific expedition to Antarctica launched

News

  • India launched the 40th scientific expedition to Antarctica. This Indian expedition marks four decades of country’s scientific endeavour to the southern white continent.

40th scientific expedition

  • The 40th expedition journey will be flagged off from Goa, with 43 members onboard. The chartered ice-class vessel MV Vasiliy Golovnin will make this journey and will reach Antarctica in 30 days.
  • After leaving behind a team of 40 members, it would return to India in April 2021. On return, it will also bring back the winter team of the preceding trip.
  • The Indian Antarctic expeditions began in 1981. The first trip comprised of a team of 21 scientists and support staff.
  • After a humble beginning, the Indian Antarctic programme has now credited to have built three permanent research base stations in Antarctica named Dakshin Gangotri, Maitri, and Bharati.
  • India has two operational research stations in Antarctica named Maitri and Bharati.
  • The scientific and logistic activities of the 40thIndian Antarctic expedition are limited due to the existing challenges associated with COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The focus is to support the ongoing scientific projects on climate change, geology, ocean observations, electric and magnetic flux measurements, environmental monitoring; resupplying of food, fuel, provisions and spare; and accomplishing the return of the winter crew.

Paw patrol: Units formed to fight wildlife crime in Uttarakhand

News

  • For focused efforts to control wildlife crime and act against poachers, the Uttarakhand government has created two seven-member Wildlife Crime Control Units for its administrative divisions of Garhwal and Kumaun.

Wildlife Crime Control Units

  • Each will have jurisdiction spanning over an entire region to take action against poachers, register cases and pursue them in court, and maintain records of criminals and their wildlife crime history.
  • These will also act as a consultancy for the government on wildlife crimes.
  • They will also serve as nodal bodies sharing information and coordinating with the Union government’s Wildlife Crime Control Bureau .
  • These units can develop an intelligence network in any of the forest divisions of their jurisdiction area.