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1st, September, 2022

 

Topic: Climatic changes affecting many parts of the Himalayas

 

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

Importance for Prelims: General issues on environmental ecology, bio-diversity and Climate Change.

Importance for Mains Exam:

  • PAPER-VI: GENERAL STUDIES-III: Unit III: Topic: Himalayan ecology, biosphere reserve, Science and economics of climate change.

 

 

What is the news?

  • In the backdrop of climatic changes affecting many parts of the Himalayas, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) is resuming studies of the mass balance of the Hampta Glacier in Himachal Pradesh this year to assess and analyze the loss of snow cover.
  • The mass balance of a glacier describes the amount of snow and ice received, retained or lost and the volumetric changes it undergoes over a period of time.
  • It is one of the most important aspects of glacier studies which help to understand the prevailing climatic conditions and their impact.

Why this study conducted?

  • “As per the guidelines of Temporary Technical Secretariat (TTS), some of the selected glaciers should be monitored for mass balance studies for a few decades. Therefore, another five year study will make Hamptah glacier mass balance data complete for a full two decades; which is an essential requirement,” a note prepared by the GSI states.
  • The glacier is located in the Chenab catchment and is 6 km long and about half a km wide. It is also a popular destination for adventure tourists for trekking.

 

What does the study convey?

  • Mass balance studies on Hamptah Glacier began in 1999-2000 and continued till 2016-17. Since then, the glacier has consistently shown a negative mass balance, implying that it is reduced in volume.
  • According to GSI data, between 2000 and 2016, the glacier has receded by 169 meters, with the average rate of recession being 10.5 meters per year.

 

What does this show?

  • It shows that Hamtah Glacier has a consistent retreating trend, which could be caused by gradual increase in the temperature, related to global warming phenomenon and also possible changes in climatic condition,” the note adds. This would also help in understanding the trend of the loss of the glacier mass in terms of volume and fluctuation of the snout in space and time.

 

What is meant by glacial mass balance?

  • The Mass balance of a glacier can be thought of as the health of a glacier. Mass balance is the total sum of all the accumulation (snow, ice, freezing rain) and melt or ice loss (from calving icebergs, melting, sublimation) across the entire glacier.

 

About Hampta Glacier:

  • The glacier is located in the Chenab catchment and is 6 km long and about half a km wide. It is also a popular destination for adventure tourists for trekking.

 

About Geological Survey of India:

  • The beginning of geological investigation in India was in the early part of the nineteenth century. A few amateur geologists associated with the Survey of India and Army initiated geological studies in the country.
  • H.W. Voysey (1818-1823) of the Great Trigonometric Survey made the first Geological Map of Hyderabad region along with a detailed report. A committee for “The Investigation of Coal and Mineral Resources” was set up in 1837. The Secretary of the Committee John McClelland made the appointment of the first professional geologist.
  • D. H. Williams was the first Geological Surveyor appointed by the East India Company in 1846.
  • John McClelland for the first time used the term Geological Survey of India in his report in 1848.
  • He designated himself as officiating Surveyor, Geological Survey till 1st April 1850.
  • The Geological Survey of India (GSI) was set up in 1851 primarily to find coal deposits for the Railways. The arrival of Sir Thomas Oldham, Professor of Geology at Trinity College Dublin and the Chief of Irish Geological Survey at Calcutta on 4th March 1851, marked the beginning of the continuous period of the Geological Survey of India. Over the years, it has not only grown into a repository of geoscience information required in various fields in the country, but has also attained the status of a geo-scientific organisation of international repute.

 

Main Function:

  • The main functions of GSI relate to the creation and updating of national geoscientific information and mineral resource assessment. These objectives are achieved through ground surveys, airborne and marine surveys, mineral prospecting and investigations, multi-disciplinary geoscientific, Geo-technical, Geo-environmental and natural hazard studies, Glaciology, seismotectonic study, and carrying out fundamental research. Outcome of work of GSI has immense societal value. Functioning and annual programs of GSI assume significance in the national perspective.

Headquarter:

  • GSI, headquartered at Kolkata, has six Regional offices located at Lucknow, Jaipur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Shillong and Kolkata and State Unit offices in almost all States of the country. Presently, Geological Survey of India is an attached office to the Ministry of Mines.
(News Source: The Tribune)

 

 

 

Topic: Highest Single Day Power Generation Record

 

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

Importance for Prelims: Economic development of Himachal Pradesh.

Importance for Mains Exam:

  • PAPER-V: GENERAL STUDIES-II: Unit I: Topic: Hydro potential

 

 

What is the news?

  • The 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri hydro power stations have set a new record in single-day energy generation.
  • The hydro power station generated 39.526 million units (MU) energy in a single day on Monday, surpassing the previous record of 39.524 million units achieved on July 18 earlier this year.
  • The company’s 412 MW Rampur hydro power stations also achieved the highest daily generation for the current financial year on August 26, when it generated 10.908 MU.

About Nathpa Jhakri hydro power station:

  • At 1,500 MW capacity, Nathpa Jhakri is the largest hydropower project on the Sutlej River in the state of Himachal Pradesh in northern India. The Sutlej River rises in the Tibetan Plateau at an elevation of about 4,570 masl, meeting the Chenab River to form the Panjnad River before the confluence with the Indus River.
  • The project is owned by the SJVN Ltd, a joint venture between the government of India and the government of Himachal Pradesh. The government of India envisages a total of around 30 projects on the Sutlej River.
  • Nathpa Jhakri boasts the largest and longest headrace tunnel, largest desilting chambers, deepest and largest surge shaft, and the largest underground power complex.

 

About Rampur hydro power station:

  • The Rampur hydroelectric power plant (RHEP) is a 412MW hydropower station situated on the Satluj River in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India.
  • The power station is located downstream of the existing 1,500MW Nathpa Jhakri hydroelectric power project (NJHEP), the biggest operating hydroelectric power plant in India. It is designed to utilize the desired water of NJHEP and can generate approximately 1,770.68GW of electricity a year.
(News Source: The Tribune)

 

 

Topic: Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Act, 1977

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

Importance for Prelims: Economic development of Himachal Pradesh.

Importance for Mains Exam:

  • PAPER-V: GENERAL STUDIES-II: Unit I: Topic: Hydro potential

 

What is the news?

  • The Cabinet under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today approved the recommendations of a Cabinet sub-committee headed by the Jal Shakti Minister for the exclusion of some areas from the purview of the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Act, 1977.

What is the recommendation of the subcommittee?

  • The subcommittee had recommended the exclusion of areas beyond 50 meters from the edge of the control width on either side of the four-lane highways, 30 metres from the edge of the control width on either side of national highways and 10 metres from the edge of control width on either side of state highways/ major district roads.
  • The proposed exclusion is likely to benefit and provide long-desired relief to the residents of 21 planning areas and 15 special areas in the state.

 

About Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Act, 1977:

1) This Act may be called the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Act, 1977.
(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Himachal Pradesh.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification, appoint and different dates may be appointed for different areas and for different provisions of this Act.

(3A) It shall apply to a real estate project proposed to be developed on an area of more than 2500 M2 for plotting or plotting and construction of apartment or any building or buildings having more than eight apartments for the purpose of selling outside the notified planning areas or special areas constituted under this Act and such areas shall be deemed to be planning areas.

(News Source: The Tribune)

 

 

Topic: Solar Power based solid waste management plant

 

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

Importance for Prelims: Social sector initiatives

Importance for Mains Exam:

  • PAPER-VI: GENERAL STUDIES-III: Unit III: Topic: Environment protection

 

What is the news?

  • Deputy Commissioner Raghav Sharma today inaugurated a solar power plant which will operate the solid waste management plant in Ajouli Panchayat of Una subdivision.

Why important?

  • With this, Ajouli has become the first Panchayat in the district to have a solar power-operated waste management plant.
  • About six years ago, Ajouli became the first Panchayat in Una district to have an electrically-operated solid waste management plant, having three separate machines to cater to plastic, biodegradable and biomedical waste.

 

What is Solid waste treatment plant?

  • The solid waste treatment plant is a solid waste treatment & disposal facility consisting of different devices and combining with different sorting methods to separate useful resources out of the municipal solid waste.
(News Source: The Tribune)

 

 

 

Topic: HP High Court notice to Shimla MC on state plea against NGT order

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

Importance for Prelims: Social sector initiatives

Importance for Mains Exam:

  • PAPER-IV: GENERAL STUDIES-I: Unit II: Topic: Urbanization pattern.

 

What is the news?

  • The HP High Court today sought response from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, Shimla Municipal Corporation and Yogendra Mohan Sengupta on a petition filed by the state government challenging the recent order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) restraining the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department from taking any further steps in pursuance of the Draft Development Plan, 2041 for the Shimla Planing area.

 

What is the petition?

  • Sengupta had challenged the Draft Development Plan, Shimla, 2041 before the NGT and on his petition the restraining order was passed.

What does the Government representative say?

  • Vinay Kuthiala, senior counsel representing the government, contended before the court that the NGT had exceeded its jurisdiction while passing the aforesaid order.
  • “The NGT does not have the jurisdiction to pass orders in matters that do not fall within the purview of forest, water and environment-related enactments,” he said.
  • He contended that by way of this plan, the state was attempting to balance development requirements for catering to the needs of the rising population with safeguards to preserve and protect the environment.
  • The Development Plan for Shimla Planning area had been finalised in accordance with the statutory provisions of the HP Town and Country Planning Act.
  • The plan had been prepared after collecting data from various stakeholders. The NGT order is violative of various Supreme Court judgments.
(News Source: The Tribune)

 

 

Topic: New Initiative by Palampur Varsity

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

Importance for Prelims: Himachal Current Events

Importance for Mains Exam:

  • PAPER-VI: GENERAL STUDIES-III: Topic: Initiative in Himachal Pradesh.

 

What is the news?

  • Palampur Varsity Opens outlet to sell milk products.

What will be the Products?

  • High Quality Pasteurized Milk,Paneer, Curd,Burfi,Gulab Jamun,Flavored Milk,Ghee,Khoya and other mild products.

 

Under which brand it will be sold?

  • Him Palam
(News Source: The Tribune)

 

 

Topic: First all-women Farmer Producer Company

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

Importance for Prelims: Social sector initiatives

Importance for Mains Exam:

  • PAPER-VI: GENERAL STUDIES-III: Unit III: Topic: Concept of organic farming

 

What is the news?

  • Women farmers are set to become the ‘change makers’ in the agro-marketing field with the registration of the first all-women Farmer Producer Company (FPC) for collective marketing of certified chemical-free natural produce in the state.

About Farmer Producer Company:

  • The FPC comprises farmers from three panchayats namely Jabal Jamrot, Haripur and Deothi in Solan district.

 

How this will work?

  • These women first switched from chemical based farming to non-chemical, low cost and climate resilient natural farming technique few years back after getting training under the Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana (PK3Y). They are now heading towards becoming entrepreneurs.

 

Radha Devi, Chairman, Solan Natural Farmer Producer Company shared:

  • The Solan Natural Farmer Producer Company has ten primary shareholders (five women farmers on the board of directors and five others as promoters). 60 more women farmers are ready to be part of this FPC for marketing of natural produce, including a range of vegetables, fruits and milk products.
  • Chemical based farming had led to increasing expenditures, stagnant production and many diseases. Shifting to natural farming techniques was the first important step to save our agriculture.
  • Coming together on one platform for collective marketing of their produce was the second step that will help them to get better prices.
(News Source: The Tribune)