GS Analyst
Daily Current Affairs

The Kerala Legislative Assembly passed a resolution requesting the Centre to exempt inhabited places and agricultural lands in the state as eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around protected areas.

• The resolution was moved in the wake of a Supreme Court order of directing that each protected forest, including national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, must have an ESZ of atleast one km and banning of mining activities within such parks across the nation.
• In the resolution, the State government said that in view of the peculiar circumstances in the southern state, which has a population density of over 900 persons per sq km and limited amount of habitable land.
• There was a need to completely exempt inhabited places and agricultural areas from the ESZ.
• It has also been requested that the central government should take necessary steps and issue a notification regarding the ESZ.

What are ESZs?

• The National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) stipulated that state governments should declare land falling within 10 km of the boundaries of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries as eco fragile zones or Eco Sensitive Zones (ESZs).
• It has been notified under the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986.
• One km range is provided as a ‘Buffer zone’ in those areas where a 10 km range is not available for buffer zone.

 Purpose:

• The purpose of declaring ESZs around national parks, forests and sanctuaries is to create some kind of a “shock absorber” for the protected areas.
• These zones would act as a transition zone from areas of high protection to those involving lesser protection.
• Prohibited activities:
• Commercial mining, saw mills, industries causing pollution, establishment of major hydroelectric projects (HEP), commercial use of wood.
• Tourism activities like hot-air balloons over the National Park discharge of effluents or any solid waste or production of hazardous substances.
• Activities allowed:
• On-going agriculture or horticultural practices, rainwater harvesting, organic farming, use of renewable energy sources, adoption of green technology for all activities.

What are Supreme Court’s Guidelines for ESZs?

• The First Judgement came on a petition instituted for the protection of forest lands in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu.
• The apex court had said that no permanent structure will be allowed within such zones.
• It also mentioned that if the local law or other rules provide for an ESZ of more than one km buffer Zone, then the extended boundary should prevail.
• The judgement would apply in all such states/UTs where the minimum ESZ is not prescribed.
• The minimum width of ESZ may be diluted in the overwhelming ‘Public interest’.

Empowering Agencies

• The state or UT concerned shall approach the Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and MoEFCC (Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change) and both these bodies shall give the respective opinions or recommendations before this Court based on which the Court shall pass appropriate orders.
• The Court directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) of each state and UT to submit a report in three months to the Court providing a list of activities continuing in the ESZ of every national park or wildlife sanctuary.

Issues and loopholes

• In many states, protected areas do not have an ESZ of 10 km as specified by the Supreme Court.
• Some have a buffer zone of a few hundred metres to one-km radius, while other states still have not notified an ESZ.
• In cases where the ESZ notification is in the draft stage, a nod from NBWL is needed and can be applied for along with environmental clearance.
• For example, the Jim Corbett National Park has not notified its ESZ, but its draft notification provides a buffer of 1 km, while Bandipur Tiger Reserve has notified an ESZ of 7.7 km radius. ESZ for other tiger reserves like Nagarhole, Biligiriranga Temple Sanctuary and Ranthambore haven’t been notified.

Addressing a National conclave on the fruit, Centre has decided to promote the cultivation of dragon fruit, known as a “super fruit” for its health benefits.

• The dragon fruit was introduced to home gardens in India in the
• The low maintenance and high profitability of dragon fruits has attracted the farming community throughout India.
• Considering the cost effectiveness and global demand for the fruit due to its nutritional values, its cultivation can be expanded in India.
• This exotic fruit is cultivated in 3,000 hectares in India and the plan is to increase cultivation to 50,000 hectares in five years.
• India is now importing about 15,491 tonnes of dragon fruits but has potential to match the production of China.
  
  

About

• The dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) is indigenous to the Mexico.
• It is a member of the cacti family.
• It is also known as ‘Pitaya’, ‘Pitahaya’, strawberry pear, noblewoman and ‘queen of the night’ throughout the world.
• It is now produced mainly in Vietnam, helping it to boost its economy.
• Mizoram tops among the States that cultivate this fruit in India.
• The red and pink varieties of the fruit give better yield.
• It costs approximately about 400 per Kg in India.

Climatic Condition

• It is hardy and grows in diverse climatic conditions with varied soils, especially in the semi-arid and arid regions of India.
• It prefers slightly acidic soil and can tolerate some salts in soil too.
• Flowering and fruiting of dragon fruits coincide with the monsoon season in India (June to November).

Features

• Its flowers are hermaphrodites (male and female organs in the same flower) in nature and open at night.
• The plant sustains yield for more than 20 years, is high in nutraceutical properties (having medicinal effects) and good for value-added processing industries.
• It is a rich source of vitamins and minerals.
• The fruit is considered good for diabetic patients, low in calories and high in nutrients like iron, calcium, potassium and zinc.

Advantages for India

• There has been a steep increase in dragon fruit cultivation in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Gujarat and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as well as in many north eastern states.
• The country produces approximately 12,000 tonnes of the fruit every year.
• Other Benefits:
• Farmers will get high price for their cultivation.
• The fruit can be grown in degraded and rainfed lands.
• Farmers will get incentives under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).
• Processing infrastructure can also be developed with the help of the Food Processing Ministry.

Government Interventions in India

• The Gujarat Government recently renamed dragon fruit as ‘kamlam’(lotus) and announced an incentive for farmers who cultivate it.
• The Haryana Government also provides a grant for farmers who are ready to plant this exotic fruit variety.
• The Government of Maharashtra has taken the initiative to promote dragon fruit cultivation in different areas of the state by providing good quality planting material and subsidies for its cultivation through the Mission on Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).

The Chhattisgarh Government has received in- principal nod from the Centre to go ahead with a $300 million school education project which State is negotiating with the World Bank.

• The initiative will allow the Chhattisgarh Government to borrow $300 million over a period of five years.
• It will allow the state to pay significantly lower than market rates of interest, and repay it over a period of 20 years.
• This will boost the Chhattisgarh’s Education system.

What is an In-principal nod process?

• An in-principle nod means that the Centre has no objection to the State borrowing money from an external financial institution such as the World Bank.
• This is not the final approval but it paves the way for the State to proceed with subsequent discussions.
• Similarly, the World Bank has also approved in-principle that it’s willing to fund the project.

Procedure to be followed to sanction funds by the World Bank

• A World Bank team’s visit to Chhattisgarh. 
• Then a Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be prepared with the Centre and the World Bank, which will be put up before the World Bank Board and the Centre for a final approval.
• The DPR will also have a detailed plan on how the money will be spent.

Contributions of World Bank for Education in India

• The World Bank has been associated with India’s school education system since 1994.
• The $500 million Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States Program (STARS) of 2021, to improve the quality and governance of school education in six Indian States.

India will hold the presidency of G20 till 2023, and the need for a full-time Sherpa for this duration has called for the decision of appointing the Ex-NITI Aayog CEO the one.

• Former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has been appointed as India’s new Sherpa for the G-20, replacing Mr.Piyush Goyal.
• The last G-20 Sherpa summit was organised in September 2021.
• The G-20 Leaders’ Summit is going to held in India for the first time in 2023.
• Some of the previous Sherpas for the G-20 include Suresh Prabhu, Shaktikanta Das and Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
• Role of Sherpa is to participate in about 100 official meetings that are expected to be organised in the areas of employment, health, digital economy, trade, investment and industry, environment and climate, energy, anti-corruption, agriculture, tourism, culture, socio-economic development, education, and women empowerment.

What is a Sherpa?

• A Sherpa is the personal representative of a head of state or government who prepares an international summit, particularly the annual G7 and G20 summits.
• They help to reduce the amount of time and resources required at the negotiations of the heads of state at the final summit.
• The name Sherpa—without further context—refers to Sherpas for the G7 summit, but the designation can be extended to different regular conferences where the participation of the head of state is required.
• The Sherpa is generally quite influential, although they do not have the authority to make a final decision about any given agreement.
• The name is derived from the Sherpa people, a Nepalese ethnic group, who serve as guides and porters in the Himalayas, a reference to the fact that the Sherpa clears the way for a head of state at a major summit.

Role of G20

• The G-20 brings together the world’s developed and developing economies.
• It accounts for 85 per cent of the global GDP, 75 per cent of international trade and two-thirds of the world’s population.
• G20 is an influential forum for international economic cooperation.

Composition

• The G20 is an informal group of 19 countries and the European Union, with representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
• The members of the G20 are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.
• Spain as a permanent, non-member invitee, also attends leader summits.

How G20 Works?

The work of G20 is divided into two tracks:

• The finance track comprises all meetings with G20 finance ministers and central bank governors and their deputies. Meeting several times throughout the year they focus on monetary and fiscal issues, financial regulations, etc.
• The Sherpa track focuses on broader issues such as political engagement, anti-corruption, development, energy, etc.
• Each G20 country is represented by its Sherpa; who plans guides, implements, etc. on behalf of the leader of their respective country. (Indian Sherpa, at the G20 in Argentina, 2018 was Shri Shaktikanta Das)

States of Nebraska, Minnesota and Illinois in the US were hit by a storm system called a ‘Derecho’.

• As the storm rolled in, winds gusting at around 140 km per hour, snapped power lines and knocked down trees.

• Derecho, according to US's National Weather Service "a widespread, long-lasting, direct storm" associated with "a fast-moving rain belt or thunderstorm".
• The word comes from the Spanish word ‘la derecha’ meaning ‘straight’. Straight storms are those where thunderstorms do not change unlike a hurricane.
• These storms travel hundreds of miles and occupy a large area.
• As it is a warmer climate, Derecho usually - not always - occurs during the summer from May, and hits hard in June and July.
• However, they are rare compared to other storm systems such as hurricanes or hurricanes.

Classification

• For a storm to be classified as a derecho it must have wind gusts of at least 93 km per hour. The Wind damage swath extending more than 400 km.
• According to University of Oklahama’s School of Meteorology, the time gap between successive wind damage events should not be more than three hours.

Types of Derecho

• Progressive: A progressive derecho is associated with a short line of thunderstorms that may travel for hundreds of miles along a relatively narrow path. It is a summer phenomenon.
• Serial: A serial derecho, on the other hand, has an extensive squall line wide and long sweeping across a large area. It usually occurs during spring or fall.
• Hybrid: Hybrid ones have the features of both progressive and serial derechos.