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20th May 2022

NGT orders stay on Draft Shimla Development Plan 2041

Context

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently asked the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Department to put on hold the Draft Development Plan, Shimla Planning Area 2041.

About

About the Plan:

  • The plan proposes to permit construction of more floors, new constructions in core area, constructions in green area, development in sinking and sliding area in violation of the NGT orders.
  • The Draft Development Plan-Shimla Planning Area 2041(published February 2022) read: There is an urgent need of a development plan for Shimla in order to revive the growth regulators with the vision for a well-regulated and planned Shimla and its peri-urban areas, best capturing the urbanisation trend and aspiration of the city and its fringes.
  • The Development Plan was prepared under the AMRUT sub-scheme of the Government of India by the Town and Country Planning Department, Himachal Pradesh.

The  issue:

  • An application had been filed in the NGT in April, 2022 against the draft development plan on the ground that such a plan is contrary to the sustainable development principle and destructive of environment and public safety.
  • Tha application highlighted the NGT November 2017 judgement.
  • Interestingly the Draft Development Plan said that "town planning does not come under the purview of the NGT," and that the orders of the National Green Tribunal on "height restriction in Shimla Planning Area is a dent on meeting the future urbanisation challenges."
  • However, the Tribunal directed that the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Department should not proceed from taking any further step in pursuance of the Draft Development Plan 2041.

NGT november 2017 Judgement:

  • It warned that if unplanned and indiscriminate development was allowed, there would be “irreparable loss and damage to the environment, ecology and natural resources on one hand and inevitable disaster on the other”.
  • To prevent such untoward disasters, the court had prohibited new construction of any kind (residential, institutional and commercial) in any part of the core and green / forest areas “as defined under the various notifications issued under the Interim Development Plan as well by the State Government."
  • The order also said that even beyond the core and forest areas and the areas falling under the authorities of the Shimla Planning Area - construction would be permitted strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act, Development Plan and the municipal laws in force.
  • Construction is not be permitted beyond two storeys plus attic floor.

National Green Tribunal (NGT):

  • The National Green Tribunal has been established under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010.
  • Objective: 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.

Salient features:

  • The NGT is not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.
  • NGT is also not bound by the rules of evidence as enshrined in the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
  • It will be relatively easier (as opposed to approaching a court) for conservation groups to present facts and issues before the NGT, including pointing out technical flaws in a project, or proposing alternatives that could minimize environmental damage but which have not been considered.
  • While passing Orders/decisions/awards, the NGT will apply the principles of sustainable development, the precautionary principle and the polluter pays principles. However, it must be noted that if the NGT holds that a claim is false, it can impose costs including lost benefits due to any interim injunction.

Respiratory syncytial virus

Context

According to a new estimate published in The Lancet, Lower respiratory infection attributable to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was responsible for more than 1,00,000 deaths in children under five worldwide in 2019.

About

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV):

  • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat, lungs, and breathing passages.
  • RSV spreads through contact with respiratory droplets (coughing, sneezing, or kissing) from an infected person or touching surfaces contaminated with the virus and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
  • RSV can survive for many hours on hard surfaces such as tables and crib rails.
  • The virus typically lives on soft surfaces such as tissues and hands for shorter amounts of time.
  • Children are often exposed to RSV outside the home, in school or daycare centers. They can then transmit the virus to other members of the family.

  • Symptoms of RSV infection usually include
  • Runny nose
  • Decrease in appetite
  • Coughing
  • Sneezing
  • Fever
  • Wheezing

Severe RSV Infection

  • Virtually all children get an RSV infection by the time they are 2 years old. Most of the time RSV will cause a mild, cold-like illness, but it can also cause severe illness such as
    • Bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung)
    • Pneumonia (infection of the lungs)
  • One to two out of every 100 children younger than 6 months of age with RSV infection may need to be hospitalized.

Treatment

  • An antiviral drug called palivizumab (pah-lih-VIH-zu-mahb) is available to prevent severe RSV illness in high-risk infants (born prematurely or with congenital heart disease or chronic lung disease).

Key findings of Lancet estimates:

  • The study is the first to examine RSV disease burden in narrow age brackets.
    • There were over 45,000 deaths in infants under six months old in 2019, with one in five of the total global cases of RSV occurring in this age group.
  • Estimates from a 2015 study, placed the number of annual cases of RSV in children up to five years old at 3.3 crore, resulting in 1,18,200 overall deaths.
    • In 2019, there were 3.3 crore RSV-associated acute lower respiratory infection episodes in children under five years old, leading to 26,300 in-hospital deaths, and 1,01,400 RSV-attributable deaths overall.
  • For children under six months old, there were 66 lakh RSV-associated acute lower respiratory infection episodes globally in 2019 and 45,700 overall deaths.
  • According to the report the incidence rate in India is 53 per 1,000 children per year (5.3%) and there were an approximate 61,86, 500 episodes of RSV-associated acute lower respiratory infection in children below five years.
  • 97% of RSV deaths in children under five occurred in low- and middle-income countries.

Why has Centre advanced its 20% ethanol blending target by five years

Context

The Union Cabinet recently advanced by five years its target for achieving 20% ethanol blending in petrol.

The amended National Biofuel Policy-2018 has now set the new target for 2025-26 instead of 2030, apart from allowing more feedstock for production of biofuels and export of biofuels in specific cases.

About

Biofuel policy:

  • The National Biofuel Policy is aimed at reducing dependence on imports by encouraging fuel blending.
  • With bioethanol, biodiesel and bio-CNG in focus, its key parts include:
  • Ethanol Blending Programme (EPB),
  • production of second generation ethanol (derived from forest and agricultural residues),
  • increasing capacity for production of fuel additives,
  • R&D in feedstock, which is the starting material for ethanol production, and
  • financial incentives for achieving these goals
  • Initially with 20% blending target for 2030, the central government had announced premium rates for ethanol produced from sugar syrup, cane juice as well as B heavy molasses.

Molasses:

  • Molasses is the sticky liquid formed during sugar production from cane juice, and depending on the percentage of sugar left, it is categorized as B heavy and C.
  • Molasses is the feedstock used by sugar mills to produce ethanol.

Salient Features of National Policy on Biofuels 2018:

  • The Policy categorizes biofuels as "Basic Biofuels" viz. First Generation (1G) bioethanol & biodiesel and "Advanced Biofuels" - Second Generation (2G) ethanol, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to drop-in fuels, Third Generation (3G) biofuels, bio-CNG etc. to enable extension of appropriate financial and fiscal incentives under each category.
  • The Policy expands the scope of raw material for ethanol production by allowing use of Sugarcane Juice, Sugar containing materials like Sugar Beet, Sweet Sorghum, Starch containing materials like Corn, Cassava, Damaged food grains like wheat, broken rice, Rotten Potatoes, unfit for human consumption for ethanol production.
  • Farmers are at a risk of not getting appropriate price for their produce during the surplus production phase. Taking this into account, the Policy allows use of surplus food grains for production of ethanol for blending with petrol with the approval of National Biofuel Coordination Committee.
  • With a thrust on Advanced Biofuels, the Policy indicates a viability gap funding scheme for 2G ethanol Bio refineries of Rs.5000 crore in 6 years in addition to additional tax incentives, higher purchase price as compared to 1G biofuels.
  • The Policy encourages setting up of supply chain mechanisms for biodiesel production from non-edible oilseeds, Used Cooking Oil, short gestation crops.

Current blending status:

  • As of 2022, the all India average blending as per the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas stands at 9.90%.
  • At present, the installed capacity that sugar mills have for ethanol production is 460 crore litres.
  • It is expected that another 260 crore litres would be added to this once the 46 new distilleries become operational.
  • These have already been approved under a new financial scheme where Centre provides 6% interest subvention for new projects.

Amendments recently made:

  • The most important amendment has been advancing the 20% blending date by five years from Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2030 to 2025-26.
  • Introduction of more feedstock for production of biofuels; production of biofuels under the ‘Make in India’ programme in Special Economic Zones, Export Oriented Units; and permission to allow export of biofuels in specific cases are some other changes.
  • Apart from addition of new members to the NBCC, the Committee has now been given the permission to change the policy which it earlier lacked.

Is the new target achievable?

  • In order to achieve 20% blending, India would require a consistent supply of 1,500 crores litres of ethanol annually.
  • Niti Aayog has talked about managing 760 crore liters from sugar and 740 crore litres from grains to meet this ethanol requirement.
  • Once 20 per cent blending is achieved, 60 lakh tonnes of sugar would have to be diverted annually to produce the fuel additive.

Biofuels

  • Biofuels are liquid or gaseous fuels primarily produced from biomass, and can be used to replace or can be used in addition to diesel, petrol or other fossil fuels for transport, stationary, portable and other applications.
  • Crops used to make biofuels are generally high in sugar (such as sugarcane, sugarbeet, and sweet sorghum), starch (such as maize and tapioca) or oils (such as soybean, rapeseed, and coconut, sunflower).

Categories of biofuels

Biofuels are generally classified into three categories. They are

  • First generation biofuels - First-generation biofuels are made from sugar, starch, vegetable oil, or animal fats using conventional technology. Common first-generation biofuels include Bioalcohols, Biodiesel, Vegetable oil, Bioethers, Biogas.
  • Second generation biofuels - These are produced from non-food crops, such as cellulosic biofuels and waste biomass (stalks of wheat and corn, and wood). Examples include advanced biofuels like biohydrogen, biomethanol.
  • Third generation biofuels - These are produced from micro-organisms like algae

Pangong Bridge Construction Is In‘OCCUPIED TERRITORY’

Context

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) recently said that India is closely monitoring the construction of a bridge by China on the Pangong Tso (lake) in eastern Ladakh, which is in “occupied territory”.

About

About:

  • The construction of the main bridge had just commenced and the small bridge, of which satellite images had come out in January, was not a “permanent bridge” but a bailey bridge to support the construction of the main one.

Where Is The Bridge Coming Up?

  • The bridge is coming up near the Khurnak Fort, at one of the narrowest points of the 134-km-long Pangong Lake.
  • China occupied the area around Khurnak Fort in June 1958. In the 1962 war, China expanded its control to the Sirijap Complex, further west of the Khurnak Fort.
  • During the war, India had posts at Sirijap while the Chinese had a base at Khurnak.
  • The 'Fingers' area, occupied by Chinese forces in May 2020, leading to the standoff that continues at some places in eastern Ladakh, is further west of the Sirijap Complex.

Claims of both countries:

  • India controls the area upto the western side of Finger 4, which is also called Foxhole Point or Foxhole Ridge, and claims that the LAC runs east of Finger 8.
  • China claims that the LAC is close to Finger 2.
  • The PLA has a strong presence both north and south of Pangong Lake.
  • On the north bank, it has large bases at Khurnak and Sirijap.
  • Just south of the lake, it has bases on the bank of the Spanggur Lake.
  • The Indian Army has a permanent position near Finger 3, the Dhan Singh Thapa post.
  • The south bank leads to the Kailash range and to the Chushul sector. 
  • The Kailash Range, on which the Indian Army occupied tactically important heights in August 2020, is located just west of Spanggur Lake.

The recent standoff:

  • Standoff:
  • Before the standoff that began in May 2020, Indian patrols went upto Finger 8, and the Chinese patrolled the area upto the eastern side of Finger 4.
  • During the standoff, the Chinese, who had a base just east of Finger 8, occupied the area between Finger 8 and the eastern side of Finger 4, blocking India from accessing the area.
  • Disengagement deal:
  • As part of the disengagement deal reached in January-February 2021, the Chinese dismantled the posts they had built between Finger 8 and Finger 4 and moved back to their traditional base east of Finger 8.
  • Indian troops, who had taken up new positions in response to China's occupation, went back to their Dhan Singh Thapa Post, just west of Finger 3.
  • A no-patrol zone was set up between Finger 3 and Finger 8.

How would it help China?

  • China has a major base in the Rutog area which is taking care of both the southern and northern banks of Pangong Tso lake. 
  • Reduction in distance: Earlier, they had to take a detour encircling the lake to reach the northern bank of Pangong Tso from Rutog. But with the construction of this bridge, they would be able to reduce the distance from Rutog to Khurnak by 120-130 Km or 3 days.
  • Easy troop movement: It would also facilitate easy troop movement between both the banks of the lake. 
  • Multiple routes: A fully constructed bridge means China will have multiple routes to add troops in the contentious area.

Pangong Tso lake

  • Pangong Lake, situated at a height of almost 4,350m, is the world’s highest saltwater lake. 
  • Pangong Lake, one of the most famous lakes in Leh Ladakh, derives its name from the Tibetan word, “Pangong Tso”, which means “high grassland lake”.
  • PangongTso is an endorheic lake (landlocked) that is partly in India’s Ladakh region and partly in Tibet.
  • One-third of the nearly 160 kilometres-long lake lies in India, other two-thirds in China.
  • North of Pangong Lake lies the Chang Chenmo range.
  • The Karakoram Mountain range, which crosses Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and India, with heights of over 6,000 metres including K2, the world’s second highest peak, ends at the north bank of PangongTso.
  • Its southern bank too has high broken mountains sloping towards Spangur Lake in the south.
  • It was one of the prominent flashpoints when border tensions between the two countries flared up in June 2020. 

 

Space launch vehicle ‘Vikram-1’

Context

Space-sector start-up Skyroot Aerospace has successfully conducted the full-duration test-firing of the third stage of the Vikram-1 rocket.

About

About Skyroot Aerospace:

  • Skyroot Aerospace is the national-award winning startup.
  • It is building India’s first privately built space launch vehicles.
  • The firm, founded by former scientists of the Indian Space Research organization (ISRO), is a 150 plus member strong team actively developing their flagship Vikram series of space launch vehicles, named after ISRO founder Vikram Sarabhai.
  • Last year, Skyroot successfully demonstrated the country’s first privately developed cryogenic engine, Dhawan-1.
  • The engine, which will be the upper stage in the Vikram-2 rocket, was completely 3D printed using a superalloy, with the process reducing the manufacturing time by 95 per cent.

About Vikram-1:

  • The small-lift launch vehicle will be capable of putting 225 kg payloads into sun-synchronous polar orbit.
  • The Vikram 1 rocket will use four solid fuel-based stages for the launch.
  • The rocket stage is named ‘Kalam-100’ after former President late A P J Abdul Kalam.
  • The third stage of Vikram-1 produces a peak vacuum thrust of 100 kN (or ~10Tons) and has a burn time of 108 seconds.
  • The rocket stage is built with high-strength Carbon fiber structure, solid fuel, EPDM thermal protection system, and carbon ablative nozzle.
  • The rocket stage/engine has no moving parts and a high level of automation in manufacturing.
  • The rocket's stage was tested at the facilities of Solar Industries India Ltd, one of the investors in Skyroot.

Editorial

Understanding India’s ethanol blending policy

The Union Cabinet approved amendments to the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018, to advance the date by which fuel companies have to increase the percentage of ethanol in petrol to 20%, from 2030 to 2025. The policy of introducing 20% ethanol is expected to take effect from April 1, 2023.

What is the history of ethanol-blending in India?

  • Since 2001, India has tested the feasibility of ethanol-blended petrol whereby 5% ethanol blended petrol (95% petrol-5% ethanol) was supplied to retail outlets.
  • In 2002, India launched the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme and began selling 5% ethanol blended petrol in nine States and four Union Territories that was extended to twenty States and four UTs in 2006. Until 2013-14, however, the percentage of blending never crossed 1.5%.
  • Since 2020, India has been announcing its intent to achieve 10% blending by the end of 2022 and 20% blending by 2030. The Centre has also targeted 5% blending of biodiesel with diesel by 2030.
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ThinkQ

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QUIZ - 20th May 2022

Mains Question:

Q1. In the light of India’s policy to produce ethanol-blended petrol (EBP), discuss key issues challenging India's growing commitment to ethanol. (150 words)

Approach

  • Introduction-ethanol blending in India
  • Recent government policies
  • Issues (scarcity of resources- land, water)
  • Required measures
  • Conclude accordingly
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