Current Affairs – 29th Feb 2024
Articles Covered
- Nepal-India official dialogue silent on landmark Pancheshwar project
- Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS)
- Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)
- Green Credit Rules will negatively impact forest ecology, say experts
- Kulasekarapattinam spaceport will launch small satellites within two years: ISRO chairman
- India’s first indigenously built Hydrogen Fuel Cell Ferry Boat
Nepal-India official dialogue silent on landmark Pancheshwar project
It is understood that the project is stalled because the Indian and the Nepali sides are unable to come to a consensus on sharing of benefits
- More than a month after India and Nepal signed the agreement on long-term power sharing, the two sides have not managed to make any forward movement on the stalled negotiations over the landmark Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP).
- On Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra met his Nepali counterpart Sewa Lamsal here. A press note issued on this meeting mentioned the two sides discussed “multifaceted cooperation” but it did not include any reference to PMP, which is by far the biggest bilateral power project conceived between the two sides.
Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP) between India and Nepal, has been a topic of concern in official dialogue due to its stagnant progress over the years.
Mahakali River
- Mahakali River is Known as Sharda River, Kali River.
- It Originates at Kalapani in the Himalayas in Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand.
- Flows along Nepal’s western border with India.
- Basin area covers 14,871 square kilometers.
- It meets with Ghaghra River, a Ganges tributary.
- Takes the name Kali River after merging at Gunji in the hills.
- It is known as the Sharda River upon entering Terai plains near Brahmadev Mandi close to Tanakpur.
Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP)
- This project is a part of the Mahakali Treaty.
- It was signed in 1996.
- It is planned on the Mahakali River.
- It involves the construction of equal-sized powerhouses of 3240MV on both sides of the river.
The Mahakali Treaty
- The Mahakali Treaty, signed in 1996, is an agreement between the governments of Nepal and India.
- It focuses on developing the watershed of the Mahakali River.
- The treaty includes 12 articles detailing plans for building barrages, dams, and hydropower plants.
- Objective:To facilitate mutual cooperation between the two countries in managing water resources.
- The treaty officially recognizes the Mahakali River as the boundary between Nepal and India.
In addition to generating power, the project will irrigate 130,000 hectares of land in Nepal and 240,000 hectares in India, along with providing flood protection and other related benefits.
Reasons for stalled Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP):
- Lack of Consensus on Detailed Project Report: Though the treaty was signed in 1996, there are disagreements between Nepal and China over specifics outlined in the Comprehensive Detailed Project Report (DPR).
- Contentious Issues: There is difficulty in finding mutually acceptable solutions over dam height, Submergence area and Downstream benefits.
- Inconsistent political support: The project has not consistently garnered robust political support from either India or Nepal.
- Delays in Decision-Making: Bureaucratic hurdles on both sides have significantly slowed down the decision-making process.
Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS)
- technical challenge- It is equipped with advanced AI algorithms which can independently identify and engage targets without human intervention.
It can enhance military conflicts because it may lead to indiscriminate or erroneous targeting of civilians without human intervention. - Ethical challenge– It undermines fundamental principles of humanitarian law and responsibility. The absence of human oversight in the decision-making process of life and death raises moral questions about accountability.
- Arms race– The proliferation of LAWS could lead to an arms race. This can destabilize international peace and security.
Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)
- TheUNEP-CCAC is a partnership of over 160 governments, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations.
- It works to reduce powerful but short-lived climate pollutants(SLCPs) – methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and tropospheric ozone – that drive both climate change and air pollution.
- It aims to connect ambitious agenda-setting with targeted mitigation actionwithin countries and sectors.
- Robust science and analysis underpin its efforts and bolstered by its Trust Fund, it has given rise to a high level of political commitment, in-country support, and a range of tools that help make the case for action and support implementation.
Green Credit Rules will negatively impact forest ecology, say experts
Former forest official alleges Centre wants to facilitate ‘ease of business’
- The Green Credit Rules have raised concerns from experts due to their potential adverse impact on forest ecology.
These rules, issued by the Union Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), instruct state forest departments to identify land parcels categorized as degraded.
These areas are then used for planting trees to make more green spaces in India and earn green credits.
Green Credit Programme
- Launched by:The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in October 2023.
- Administered by:The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE).
- Green Credit is a reward given to individuals and organizations involved in activities benefiting the environment.
- It’s a voluntary program by the government to motivate different stakeholders to help preserve the environment and adopt sustainable practices.
- This initiative is under the larger‘LiFE’ campaign (Lifestyle for Environment).
- It promotes and acknowledges voluntary environmentally-friendly actions.
Objectives:
- Incentivizing Environmental Actions: The green credit program seeks to motivate positive environmental behaviors through a market-based mechanism.
- Generation and Tradable Nature of Green Credits: Green credits are generated from undertaking environmental activities specified in sub-rule (2) of rule 4.
- These credits are tradable and can be exchanged on a domestic market platform.
- Incentivizing Compliance: The program encourages industries, companies, and other entities to meet their existing legal obligations.
- It also promotes adherence to other obligations under current laws.
- Promoting Voluntary Environmental Measures:Additionally, the program encourages individuals and entities to undertake voluntary environmental actions outlined in rule 4.
- This participation can be facilitated through the generation or purchase of green credits.
Benefits of Green Credits Program |
Challenges Faced in Green Credits Program |
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Reasons for criticism of Green Credit Rules:
- Unscientific Approach: The rules use vague terms like “degraded land” to identify areas for tree plantation.
- Neglecting Ecological Value: The rules fail to recognize the ecological importance of certain areas.
- For instance,grasslands, often labeled as“wastelands,” play a crucial role in conserving unique biodiversity and sequestering carbon.
- Potential Soil Degradation: Large-scale plantations can alter soil quality, affecting nutrient cycles and water retention. This could lead to long-term soil degradation.
- Biodiversity Loss: Replacing native vegetation with monoculture plantations can reduce biodiversity. Native species adapted to local conditions may be replaced by non-native species.
- Ecosystem Services Disruption: Industrial plantations may disrupt ecosystem services such as pollination, water purification, and soil fertility.
- Ignoring Local Communities:The rules should consider the needs and knowledge of local communities who depend on these ecosystems for their livelihoods.
Kulasekarapattinam spaceport will launch small satellites within two years: ISRO chairman
- The new spaceport, coming up in T.N.’s Thoothukudi district, will focus on the launch of SSLVs on a commercial basis, said ISRO chairman S. Somanath
- Honorable Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for India’s second spaceport at Kulasekarapattinam, a coastal village in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district.
Space Port
- A spaceport or cosmodromeis a site for launching or receiving spacecraft, by analogy to a seaport for ships or an airport for aircraft.
- Factors Considered for a spaceport Establishment: Geographical location, weather conditions, and availability of vast tracts of uninhabited land, among others.
- India established its first spaceport, Satish Dhawan Space Centre (initially known as Sriharikota Range), in the year 1971, in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
Kulasekarapattinam
- Offers a strategic advantage: Kulasekarapattinam, located 700 kilometers south of Sriharikota, offers a strategic advantage for such launcheswithout the need to overfly Sri Lanka (Dogleg Manoeuvre).
- Ensures fuel-efficient trajectories and Maximizes payload capacity, especially crucial for smaller rockets catering to the growing demand for small satellite launches.
- Recently, the Establishment of aSpace Industrial and Propellant Parknear Thoothukudi District.
- This facility near the new spaceport would ensure efficient logistics and supply chain management.
Launch Site:
- Historical significance: It was an ancient port dating back to the 1st century AD.
- During that period, it thrived alongside other renowned ports such as Kollam, Cheran, and Pandyan.
- Selection of Kulasekarapattinam: It offers strategic advantages, particularly in enhancing payload capability with its direct southward launch trajectory for small launch vehicles.
- The launch site will be fully commissioned within 24 months.
- It will enhance the space activities of Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs).
India’s first indigenously built Hydrogen Fuel Cell Ferry Boat
Recently, the Prime Minister flagged off India’s first indigenously built hydrogen fuel cell inland waterway vessel in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.
Key Features of the Green Hydrogen Vessel:
Manufactured by: Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), under the Harit Nauka initiative
PEM fuel Cell Technology:
- Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells, also called proton exchange membrane fuel cells, use a proton-conducting polymer membrane as the electrolyte.
- Hydrogen is typically used as the fuel. These cells operate at relatively low temperatures and can quickly vary their output to meet shifting power demands.
Significance:
- It will make urban mobility smooth and easy,
- It underscores India’s commitment to leveraging innovative clean energy technologies in the transportation sector.
- It aligns with India’s net-zero commitments.
Working Principle of the Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vessel:
The green hydrogen vessel operates by converting hydrogen’s chemical energy into electricity through a reaction with oxygen.
- UtilizingProton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology, specifically designed for transportation,
- The vessel’s fuel cell generates electricity by directing hydrogen fuel through PEM cell stacks.
- Consequently, the vessel emits only water and warm air, ensuring zero emissions.
Green Hydrogen:
- Green hydrogen is defined as hydrogen produced by the electrolysis of water, that is splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity.
- Aim: To limit global warming to 1.5C and reduce fossil fuel dependency by replacing green hydrogen.
- Production: Green hydrogen is traditionally produced from methane (CH4), split with steam into CO2 (GreenHouse Gas) and H2 (Hydrogen).