Gujarat ranked top for water efficiency Delhi among worst performing states
Context :
Gujarat ranked the best for parameters on efficiency targets in the review of state and Central government water departments by the ministry of Jal Shakti.
Highlights :
The seven Central departments reviewed, the Survey of India, got the top billing followed by the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) and Central Water Commission.
The Central Pollution Control Board, the country’s pollution watchdog, has got the lowest rank in the ranking for the year 2019. Telangana got the top slot, and this year’s topper, Gujarat, was ranked seventh last time. Delhi. Among the states that significantly improved its ranking was Tamil Nadu.
Central government :
- The departments ranked on parameters for procurement, finance, real-time data acquisition system, data digitization, analytical work, training, and updating MIS.
- The agencies are given a score out of 100, and those scoring between 48 and 100 are called satisfactory; the ones scoring between 40 and 48 are moderately satisfactory.
- The ranking is moderate considering moderate is 48 to 100 points, the water resource departments of nine states, union territories, and river basin organizations ranked as satisfactory, eight are moderately satisfactory, four moderately unsatisfactory, and 12, including Delhi, are in the unsatisfactory category.
- The states that have done satisfactory work under the project are Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat SW, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra Rajasthan, Telangana, and West Bengal SW.
- SW stands for the surface water department and GW for the groundwater department.
- Gujarat surface water department scored 80.51 to be on top of the implementing agencies, followed by Damodar Valley Corporation with a 68.24 score and Rajasthan with a score of 66.73.
- The other states have scored less than 50, indicating that there is a vast scope of improvement in these states to achieve the national water targets.
- Rajasthan ranked 16th in the April-May 2018 rankings. In the rankings issued in December 2019, the country has made a quantum jump and is among the rules for the best management of its water resources.
Irrawaddy Dolphins in the Chilika Lake
Context :
During the Dolphin Census in Chilika lake, direct sighting of 146 Irrawaddy dolphins has been reported. The Census is being carried out using Hydrophone monitoring technique. A hydrophone is a microphone designed to be used underwater for recording or listening to underwater sound.
About Irrawaddy dolphins :
- Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) are found in coastal areas in South and Southeast Asia, and in three rivers: the Irrawaddy (Myanmar), the Mahakam (Indonesian Borneo) and the Mekong (China).
- They are listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ as per the IUCN Red List.
- The total population of these aquatic mammals in the world is estimated to be less than 7,500.
- More than 6,000 Irrawaddy dolphins have been reported from Bangladesh.
- Dolphin distribution in Chilika is considered to be the highest single lagoon population.
- Irrawaddy Dolphins
Chilika Lake :
- Chilika is Asia’s largest and world’s second-largest lagoon.
- It lies on the east coast of India in the state of Odisha, separated from the mighty Bay of Bengal by a small strip of sand.
- It is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent and is home to a number of threatened species of plants and animals.
- In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
- The major attraction at Chilika is Irrawady dolphins which are often spotted off Satpada Island.
- The large Nalabana Island (Forest of Reeds) covering about 16 sq km in the lagoon area was declared a bird sanctuary in 1987.
- Kalijai Temple is located on an island in the Chilika Lake.
Wings India 2020
Context :
Wings India 2020 is a flagship event of the Indian Civil Aviation industry which will held at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad from 12th-15th March, 2020.
Highlights :
- Wings India 2020 is an international exhibition and conference on the civil aviation sector.
- Hyderabad being the hub of Aviation remains the natural host of the event.
- It will be jointly organised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, Airport Authority of India (AAI) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
- The theme of the year 2020 is “Flying for All’’ and the focus is on the new business acquisition, investments, policy formation and regional connectivity in the civil aviation industry.
- It will be Asia’s largest and most popular gathering in the aviation industry.