March 17th, 2020

 

 

Topic:- Illegal mining and infrastructural damage

 

 

Importance:- Mains

 

 

What is the news?

 

• Illegal mining poses a threat to power towers

 

Context:-

• As illegal mining continues unabated in the district, the infrastructure has suffered serious damage.

 

Example:-

• Electricity towers here are an example of that.

 

How?

• Sand around two 220-KV electricity towers on the Sutlej riverbed has been dug up, weakening the foundation.
• The towers on the 78-km Ganguwal-Jamalpur power supply line are on the verge of collapse as sand and gravel have been dug up to a depth of 20 ft.
• If the poles are felled, power supply to Ludhiana could be affected, the Punjab State Power Supply Corporation Limited (PSPCL) said.

 

Is this the first case?

• This is not for the first time that the mining mafia has damaged power supply lines.
• A couple of years ago, the Powercom authorities had laid a 66-KV line from Anandpur Sahib to Kiratpur Sahib and laid the foundation of three towers, which were to come up in the Sutlej riverbed near Sangatpur village.
• As soon as the foundation was laid, the mining mafia dug up the sand around it. The foundation was washed away during the monsoon and the authorities abandoned the work of laying a new power line.

 

Question:- Suggest some measure to save this from Illegal mining. (Answer in the comment section)

(Source:- The Tribune)

 

 

Topic:- Infrastructure

 

Importance:- Mains(Geography and Economy)

 

What is the news?

 

• Bathinda bridge submerges as drainage channel overflows.

 

Where did it happen?

• A rainwater drainage channel in the district’s Chak Ruldu Singhwala village has overflowed its banks after a recent spell of rain, submerging a bridge over it.
• The drainage channel is known as Losada drain that begins from Barnala district. Rainwater from hundreds of villages in Malwa districts flows through the channel before it enters Haryana and then Rajasthan.

 

Reasons for this shared by villagers?

• First, the Haryana Government levelled the drain at its end about 10 years ago, blocking the flow of water.
• Second, the drain is not cleaned regularly.

(Source:- The Tribune)

.