14th, May, 2022

 

 

Topic: Research at IIT Mandi

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

What is the news?

• The IIT-Mandi team is developing technical applications for the Internet of Things.
• IIT researchers Mandi is working to develop an efficient remote communication and power technology for futuristic applications of the Internet of Things (IoT).

 

What IoT?

• IoT is a collection of objects (“things”) that can exchange data among themselves via the Internet.

 

Uses:

• Shivam Gujral, PhD scholar, School of Computing and Electrical Engineering, IIT, Mandi, said:
• IoT devices range from ordinary household appliances in a ‘smart’ home to sophisticated industrial and scientific tools. These smart things are equipped with sensors, chips and software. . “We have developed a cooperative model in which backscatter communication and radio-frequency energy harvesting (RF-EH) devices act together to optimally allocate the resources such as time and antenna weights,” he added.
• “The team performed research on two such powering options RF-EH and backscatter communication. In RF-EH, energy is transmitted by a dedicated transmitter to the IoT device through radio waves, the same kind of waves that are used in mobile phones for communication,” he added.

(Source: The Tribune)

 

 

Topic: Environmental Concern

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

What is the news?

• NGT is holding up Shimla’s development plan.

 

Reason:

• Says constructions in core area, green belts detrimental to the environment.

 

What is the plan of State Government?

• The plan of the state government to throw open the congested core area and 17 green belts of the town for construction has been put on hold as the National Green Tribunal has restrained the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department from taking any further step in pursuance of the Draft Development Plan.

 

What was the plea?

• The applicant Yogendra Mohan Sengupta, had pleaded that the Shimla Draft Development Plan was contrary to the sustainable development principle and destructive of environment and public safety.
• Despite 98 objections and suggestions to the Draft Development Plan, including very vociferous opposition by environmentalists and academicians against opening of the green and core areas to construction, the state government allegedly wanted to oblige the powerful realtors’ lobby and those who have raised constructions in violation of the TCP norms.

 

What was the NGT orders?

• The NGT order issued yesterday also pointed out that the Chief Secretary would be held personally accountable for any violation of the orders.
• The case will now come up for hearing before the NGT on July 22. “Himachal Pradesh is trying to assume jurisdiction of appellate authority over the NGT, in breach of rule of law, not expected from a lawful government which has to work as per law and the Constitution and not as per its fancies as appears to be the case,” the court order read.
• “Our attention has been particularly drawn to the draft plan permitting construction of more floors, new constructions in the core area, constructions in green area, permitting development in sinking and sliding area in violation of the order of this Tribunal. If the state proceeds in such a manner, not only will it damage the rule of law, it may result in disastrous consequences for environment,” the order read.

 

About NGT:

• The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 is an Act of the Parliament of India, which enables the creation of a special tribunal to handle the expeditious disposal of the cases pertaining to environmental issues.
• The National Green Tribunal has been established on 18.10.2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources, including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
• It is a specialized body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues.
• The Tribunal shall not be bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.
• The Tribunal’s dedicated jurisdiction in environmental matters shall provide speedy environmental justice and help reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts.
• The Tribunal is mandated to make and endeavor for disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing of the same.
• Initially, the NGT is proposed to be set up at five places of sittings and will follow circuit procedures for making it more accessible.
• New Delhi is the Principal Place of Sitting of the Tribunal and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai shall be the other four places of sitting of the Tribunal.

(Source: The Tribune and greentribunal)

 

Other Himachal News:

1) Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur released book Hashiye Wali Jagah, a collection of poems published by Himtaru Prakashan at Kullu today. This book is a collection of poems written by budding poets of Himachal Pradesh. It has been edited by noted poet and thinker Ganesh Gani.

2) Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of development projects worth Rs 23.16 crore in the city here today. These included inauguration of children park and car parking lot on lower Dhalli built at a cost of Rs 36 lakh and book café in Chotta Shimla, which has been built through funds provided by Smart City Mission.