[Mission 2022] INSIGHTS DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS + PIB SUMMARY 05 FEBRUARY 2022

GS Paper 2:

Topics Covered: Government policies and issues related.

Context:

Even as the union Cabinet cleared the Rs 44,605-crore Ken-Betwa link project (KBLP) in December 2021 with a eight-year deadline for completion, the project does not have the clearances to start work as yet.

Why? What are the challenges?

2016-2017: KBLP got wildlife, environment and preliminary forest clearances on condition that no units of the proposed 78-MW powerhouse would be constructed in “the forest area to avoid constant disturbance in the Panna” tiger reserve. But KBLP is yet to submit a modified project plan of relocated power stations for fresh environment clearance.

2018-2019: Hearing a petition against KBLP’s wildlife clearance, the Supreme Court asked its Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to investigate the issue. The CEC recommended an examination of alternatives to meet irrigation and poverty alleviation targets set by specialised agencies, and a thorough study of KBLP’s impact on Panna, before approving the project. The Supreme Court is yet to decide on the matter.

2018-2021: Ministry of Jal Shakti repeatedly told the Environment Ministry that Madhya Pradesh could not find only 42.06 sq km revenue land for Panna tiger reserve instead of 60.17 sq km — a key precondition for KBLP’s final forest clearance.

Why was the Project being opposed?

The Ken-Betwa river interlinking project will lead to the submergence of a major portion of the core area of the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, triggering a major loss of the tiger and its major prey species such as chital and sambar, according to a new study.

• The project may incur an estimated loss of 58.03 square kilometres (10.07 per cent) of critical tiger habitat (CTH) in the reserve.
• There will be an indirect loss of 105.23 sq km of CTH because of habitat fragmentation and loss of connectivity due to submergence, the study.
• The total area submerged would be 86.50 sq km, of which 57.21 sq km lies within Panna Tiger Reserve. This will account for 65.50 per cent of total submergence.
• The area that will be submerged due to the KBRIL Project has a rich floral density and diversity. Ungulates such as sambar, chital, blue bull and wild boar are found here.

Funding:

The Union Cabinet has approved the funding and implementation of the Ken-Betwa river interlinking project at a cost of ₹44,605 crore at the 2020-21 price level.

• The Centre would fund ₹39,317 crore for the project, with ₹36,290 crore as a grant and ₹3,027 crore as a loan.

About the Project:

The project involves transferring of water from the Ken river to the Betwa river through the construction of Daudhan dam and a canal linking the two rivers, the Lower Orr Project, Kotha Barrage and the Bina Complex Multipurpose Project.

Significance of the Project:

• The project is slated to irrigate 10.62 lakh hectares annually, provide drinking water supply to 62 lakh people and generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power.
• The project will be of immense benefit to the water-starved Bundelkhand region, spread across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
• The project is expected to boost socio-economic prosperity in the backward Bundelkhand region on account of increased agricultural activities and employment generation.
• It would also help in arresting distress migration from this region.

Benefits of interlinking:

1. Enhances water and food security.
2. Proper utilisation of water.
3. Boost to agriculture.
4. Disaster mitigation.
5. Boost to transportation.

Key facts:

• Ken and Betwa rivers originate in MP and are the tributaries of Yamuna.
• Ken meets with Yamuna in Banda district of UP and with Betwa in Hamirpur district of UP.
• Rajghat, Paricha and Matatila dams are over Betwa river.
• Ken River passes through Panna tiger reserve.

Insta Curious:

Do you know about the National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers? Reference: read this.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. About the Project.
2. Ken and Betwa- tributaries and basin states.
3. About Panna Tiger Reserve.
4. Biosphere Reserves in India.

Mains Link:

Discuss the significance of the project.

Sources: the Hindu.

GS Paper 2:

Topics Covered: Important International institutions.

Context:

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022.

About UNEP:

Founded in 1972 following the landmark UN Conference on the Human Environment.

UNEP was conceived to monitor the state of the environment, inform policy making with science and coordinate responses to the world’s environmental challenges.

• Major Reports: Emission Gap Report, Global Environment Outlook, Frontiers, Invest into Healthy Planet.
• Major Campaigns: Beat Pollution, UN75, World Environment Day, Wild for Life.

Achievements:

• Since its creation, UNEP has worked closely with its 193 Member States and other stakeholders to galvanize worldwide commitments and coordinated action to address many of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
• It also played a leading role as the docking station for 15 multilateral environmental agreements.

Key milestones and timeline:

• 1972: Maurice Strong is elected as first head of UNEP.
• 1973: UNEP opens first headquarters. On 2 October at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.
• 1973: Leaders sign Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships Known as
• 1973: States adopt the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES became a UNEP-administered multilateral environmental agreement in 1984.
• 1974: World Environment Day makes its debut. The world celebrates the first World Environment Day organized by UNEP on 5 June under the theme “Only One Earth.”
• 1974: Regional Seas Programme established.
• 1976: The Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution (Barcelona Convention) was adopted on 16 February 1976 in Barcelona and entered into force in 1978.
• 1979: States adopt Convention on Migratory Species. Also known as the Bonn Convention.

For detailed overview of the timeline, refer this.

UNEP hosts the secretariats of many critical multilateral environmental agreements and research bodies. These include the following:

1. The Convention on Biological Diversity
2. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
3. The Minamata Convention on Mercury
4. The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
5. The Vienna Convention for the Protection of Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol
6. The Convention on Migratory Species
7. The Carpathian Convention
8. The Bamako Convention
9. The Tehran Convention

InstaLinks:

Prelims link:

• UNEP- aims, powers and mandate.

Mains link:

Throw light on the UNEP’s significance and its role in environmental conservation efforts

Sources: the Hindu.

GS Paper 2:

Topics Covered: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.

Context:

For its opening ceremony, China picked a final torchbearer from Xinjiang as a rebuttal to the many countries that have criticized its human rights record in the region.

• Xinjiang is a region where multiple governments suspect China is committing an ongoing genocide against Uighur/uyghur and other Muslim minorities.
• But, critics see these developments as publicity stunts.

What’s the issue?

Various countries have called on China to “ensure full respect for the rule of law” for the Muslim Uighur community in Xinjiang.

• Credible reports indicate that over a million people have been arbitrarily detained in Xinjiang and that there is widespread surveillance disproportionately targeting Uighurs and members of other minorities and restrictions on fundamental freedoms and Uighur culture.

China’s response:

Despite mounting evidence, China denies mistreating the Uyghurs, and goes on to insist it is simply running “vocational training” centres designed to counter extremism.

Who are Uighurs?

The Uighurs are a predominantly Muslim minority Turkic ethnic group, whose origins can be traced to Central and East Asia.

The Uighurs speak their own language, similar to Turkish, and see themselves as culturally and ethnically close to Central Asian nations.

• China recognises the community only as a regional minority and rejects that they are an indigenous group.
• Currently, the largest population of the Uighur ethnic community lives in the Xinjiang region of China.
• A significant population of Uighurs also lives in the neighbouring Central Asian countries such as Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

Uighur Muslims for decades, under the false accusation by the Chinese government of terrorism and separatism, have suffered from abuses including persecution, forced detention, intense scrutiny, surveillance and even slavery.

Insta Curious:

Do you know about China’s One Country Two Systems policy? Which regions are administered under this policy? Read this

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. Who are Uighurs?
2. Where is Xinjiang?
3. Who are Han Chinese?
4. Indian states bordering Xinjiang province.

Mains Link:

Who are Uighurs? Why are they in news? Discuss. 

Sources: the Hindu.

GS Paper 3:

Topics Covered: Infrastructure- Energy.

Context:

In line with National Hydrogen Mission, GAIL has commenced India’s first-of-its-kind project of mixing hydrogen into the natural gas system to establish the techno-commercial feasibility of blending hydrogen in City Gas Distribution (CGD) network.

• The project has been initiated in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
• GAIL has started injecting grey hydrogen. This grey hydrogen would subsequently be replaced by green hydrogen.
• The hydrogen blended natural gas will be supplied to Avantika Gas Ltd, one of GAIL’s joint venture with HPCL, for retailing of CNG to automobiles and piped natural gas to households in Indore.

The goal:

Government is planning to blend 15% green hydrogen with piped natural gas (PNG) for domestic, commercial and industrial consumption.

Importance of blending Hydrogen with natural gas:

• It is easier and safer to use than hydrogen as it contains very low energy content from hydrogen i.e., up to 30% by volume.
• Hydrogen-enriched compressed natural gas (HCNG) will ensure 70% more reduction in carbon monoxide emissions compared to CNG.
• Power output of HCNG is also better than CNG ones.
• Blending integrates concentrations of hydrogen into existing natural gas pipelines and reduces carbon intensity of methane.

Need for:

Zero-emission hydrogen is the latest buzzword around the world.

• India has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 and hydrogen together with renewable energy is seen as key to achieving that goal.
• For the transition, natural gas is the fuel and the government is looking to raise its share in the primary energy basket to 15 per cent by 2030 from the current 6.2 per cent.

What is Hydrogen fuel?

• Hydrogen is the lightest and first element on the periodic table. Since the weight of hydrogen is less than air, it rises in the atmosphere and is therefore rarely found in its pure form, H2.
• At standard temperature and pressure, hydrogen is a nontoxic, nonmetallic, odorless, tasteless, colorless, and highly combustible diatomic gas.

Occurrence of Hydrogen:

• Molecular hydrogen is not available on Earth in convenient natural reservoirs.
• Most hydrogen on Earth is bonded to oxygen in water and to carbon in live or dead and/or fossilized biomass. It can be created by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen.

Significance of Hydrogen Based economy:

• Due to its ability to power fuel cells in zero-emission electric vehicles, its potential for domestic production, and the fuel cell’s potential for high efficiency hydrogen is considered an alternative.
• Water is the only by-product that results from the usage of hydrogen fuel that makes the fuel 100 per cent clean.
• Hydrogen can also serve as fuel for internal combustion engines.
• The energy in 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) of hydrogen gas contains about the same as the energy in 1 gallon (6.2 pounds, 2.8 kilograms) of gasoline.

Government Missions towards hydrogen fuel:

• The Finance Minister in the Union budget for 2020-21 formally announced the National Hydrogen Mission which aims for generation of hydrogen from green power resources.
• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has also disclosed that the draft regulations for NHM will be finalised by the end of this month and will thereafter proceed for approval of the Union Cabinet.

Challenges for India:

• Economic sustainability of extracting green or blue hydrogen.
• The technology used in production and use of hydrogen like carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen fuel cell technology are at nascent stage and are expensive which in turn increases the cost of production of hydrogen.
• The maintenance costs for fuel cells post-completion of a plant can be costly, like in South Korea.
• The commercial usage of hydrogen as a fuel and in industries requires mammoth investment in R&D of such technology and infrastructure for production, storage, transportation and demand creation for hydrogen.

Insta Curious:

Depending on the source, the hydrogen is classified as blue, green or grey.

• Blue hydrogen is when natural gas is split into hydrogen and CO2. The CO2 is captured and then stored.
• Grey hydrogen is a similar process to blue hydrogen but the CO2 is not captured and is released into the atmosphere.
• Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced by splitting water by electrolysis using electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind or solar. This produces only hydrogen and oxygen.

Did you know that under Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act (PNGRB Act) 2006, PNGRB grants authorization to entities for developing a CGD network in a specified geographic area of the country?

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. About Hydrogen fuel.
2. Why is it called a clean fuel?
3. Features.
4. Benefits.
5. Production and storage.

Mains Link:

Discuss the significance of Hydrogen as a fuel.

Sources: PIB.

GS Paper 3:

Topics Covered: Infrastructure- Energy.

Context:

In its endeavour to reduce emissions and control dependence on crude oil, the Centre has said four coal gasification plants will be set up on a pilot basis to understand the technical and financial viability of such projects.

Significance:

India is committed to cut consumption of coal, a primary pollutant, in power plants to half by 2030 and reduce its overall carbon footprint. Coal gasification is considered a greener alternative to burning the fossil fuel in furnaces.

What is coal gasification?

It is the process of producing syngas, a mixture consisting carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), natural gas (CH4), and water vapour (H2O).

• During gasification, coal is blown with oxygen and steam while also being heated under high pressure. During the reaction, oxygen and water molecules oxidize the coal and produce syngas.

Benefits of gasification:

1. Transporting gas is a lot cheaper than transporting coal.
2. Help address local pollution problems.
3. Has greater efficiency than conventional coal-burning because it can effectively use the gases twice: the coal gases are first cleansed of impurities and fired in a turbine to generate electricity. The exhaust heat from the gas turbine can be captured and used to generate steam for a steam turbine-generator.

Concerns and challenges:

Coal gasification is one of the more water-intensive forms of energy production.

There are also concerns about water contamination, land subsidence and disposing of waste water safely.

What is coal liquefaction?

Also called Coal to Liquid (CTL) technology, it is an alternative route to produce diesel and gasoline and makes economic sense only in a world of high crude oil prices.

• The process involves gasification of coal, which in turn will produce synthetic gas (a mix of CO+H2). The synthetic gas can be liquefied to its fuel equivalent in presence of cobalt/iron-based catalysts at higher pressure and temperature.
• However, liquefied coal emits twice as much CO2 as burning oil. It also emits a large volume of SO2.

Benefits of liquefaction:

The CO2 emissions are more readily and cheaply captured from CTL plants than from conventional coal-fired power stations. The captured CO2 can be transported and injected into underground storage reservoirs (a procedure known as “carbon capture and storage”—CCS—or “geosequestration”).

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. What is Coal Gasification?
2. How is it done?
3. What are the byproducts?
4. Benefits of Gasification?
5. What is Underground Coal Gasification?
6. What is coal liquefaction?
7. Benefits of Liquefaction.

Mains Link:

Write a note on goal gasification and liquefaction. Discuss their significance.

Sources: the Hindu.

GS Paper 3:

Topics Covered: Conservation related issues.

Context:

When is it celebrated? 2nd Feb Every Year.

Significance: The day also marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) in Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971.

Protection: Wetlands are currently protected under different designations, including the Ramsar Convention on wetlands, the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme and others, and some of these overlap.

Significance of World Wetlands Day 2022:

The World Wetlands Day 2022 is significant as this is the first time that the day will be observed as a United Nations International Day.

Theme for 2022: “Wetlands Action for People and Nature”.

What are wetlands?

We can find wetlands wherever water bodies meet the land.

• Wetlands include mangroves and marshes, peatlands, rivers, lakes and other water bodies, deltas, floodplains and swamps in forested areas, paddy-fields and coral reefs.

Why wetlands are crucial for a healthy planet?

The health of people on our planet depends on healthy wetlands.

• 40% of the world’s species live or breed in wetlands.
• Wetlands are “nurseries of life” – 40% of animals breed in wetlands.
• Wetlands are “kidneys of the earth” – they clean the environment of pollutants.
• Wetlands “matter for climate change” – they store 30% of land based carbon.
• Wetlands “minimize disaster risks” – they absorb storm surge.

Ramsar Convention:

• The Ramsar Convention is an international agreement promoting the conservation of wetlands.
• The Convention was adopted at Ramsar in Iran in 1971 and came into force in 1975. Almost 90% of the UN member states are part of the Convention.

Montreux Record:

Montreux Record under the Convention is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference.

It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.

• The Montreux Record was established by Recommendation of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (1990).
• Sites may be added to and removed from the Record only with the approval of the Contracting Parties in which they lie.
• Currently, two wetlands of India are in Montreux record: Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and Loktak Lake (Manipur).

Chilka lake (Odisha) was placed in the record but was later removed from it.

Two more Ramsar sites announced on World Wetlands Day:

Two new sites are- Khijadiya wildlife sanctuary in Gujarat and Bakhira wildlife sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh.

• Now , India has a network of 49 such sites, the highest in South Asia, covering 10,93,636 hectares.

Insta Curious:

What are Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas? How are they protected? Reference: Read this.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. About Ramsar convention.
2. About Montreux record.
3. Wetlands in India covered under the convention.
4. Definition of Wetlands.
5. Important bird species found in the area.
6. About the Central Asian Flyway.

Sources: the Hindu.