2013 designated as the UN International Year of Water Cooperation by UNGA

2013 designated as the UN International Year of Water Cooperation by UNGA

March 29th, 2013

Subsequent to a proposal initiated by Tajikistan, in 2010 UN General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2013 as the UN International Year of Water Cooperation via its resolution : A/RES/65/154.
UN-Water has asked UNESCO to lead the initiative keeping in view of the UNESCO’s multi-dimensional potency in the region of natural and social sciences, culture, education and communication, and its substantial and long-standing contribution to the management of the world’s freshwater resources.
What is the objective of designating 2013 as International Year of Water Co-operation ?

• In assigning 2013 as the UN International Year of Water Cooperation, the UNGA has actually made out that cooperation is necessary to attain a balance between the various needs and priorities and share this valued resource equitably, using water as an instrument of peace.
• Encouraging water cooperation means an interdisciplinary approach bringing in cultural, educational and scientific factors, as well as religious, ethical, social, political, legal, institutional and economic dimensions.

• The UNGA designating March 22, 1993 as the first World Water Day.
• Each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater.

ISRO designing GISAT

ISRO designing GISAT

March 28th, 2013

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is creating a GEO Imaging Satellite (GISAT) which it plans to launch during 2016-17.
About GISAT:

The satellite will carry a GEO Imager with multi-spectral (visible, near infra-red and thermal), multi-resolution (50m to 1.5 km) imaging instruments. It will be placed in geostationary orbit of 36,000 km.

Functions:  GISAT will provide near real time pictures of large areas of the country, under cloud free conditions, at frequent intervals. That is, selected Sector-wise image every 5 minutes and entire Indian landmass image every 30 minutes at 50m spatial resolution. It will function as ‘an eye in the sky’observe earth from geo-stationery orbit, enabling continuous observation of Indian sub-continent, to facilitate quick monitoring of natural hazards and disaster.

Green Tribunal prohibits roads construction, cutting of trees in Aravallis

Green Tribunal prohibits roads construction, cutting of trees in Aravallis

March 28th, 2013

The National Green Tribunal has ordered ban on construction of roads and cutting of trees in the Aravallis directing the parties concerned to restore the area to its original condition. The Tribunal also set up a three-member panel comprising Haryana Pollution Control Board environmental engineer, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate concerned and a senior forest officer to ensure execution of the order.

What was the case?

An applicant had filed a plea on violation of provisions of the notification issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests on May 7, 1992 that prohibited certain activities in the Aravalli Hills in Gurgaon.

As per the plea, illegal activities were being carried by marble traders and others on a particular khasra of Sikandarpur Ghosi village. The encroachers were felling trees, adversely affecting the environment.

The Bench lambasted the Haryana administrative bodies for erring on their part in proper implementation of the provisions of the notification. It further ordered that each of the non-applicants would plant at least 50 trees and take care of them. It also directed demolition of all sheds of temporary or permanent nature within two weeks from the pronouncement of the order and restricted people from throwing debris at the site.

Revised National Food Security Bill cleared by the Union Cabinet

Revised National Food Security Bill cleared by the Union Cabinet

March 28th, 2013

The revised form of the National Food Security Bill has been cleared by the Union Cabinet. As per the revised Bill:

• 67% of nation’s population (including 75% rural and 50% urban) will be entitled for subsidized grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
• 5 kg of rice, wheat or coarse cereals at Rs. 3, 2 and Re. 1 a kg a month to every beneficiary who will be identified by the States based on parameters prescribed by the Union government.
• Antyodaya Anna Yojna, which serves 2.43 crore beneficiary households with 35 kg grains a month under the TPDS, will continue.
• Maternal benefits will not be provided to a pregnant woman beyond two live births to encourage “two-child norm”.
• Subsidized prices of grains may be revised after 3 years to the level of the minimum support price paid for procurement of grains.
• Bill will be implemented in phases.
• While the existing allocation of grains to the States shall be protected, the cost of transporting grains to ration shops shall not be passed on to consumers as was proposed earlier.
• The additional burden on the food subsidy is estimated at about Rs. 23,000 crore at 2012-13 prices.
• The grain requirement is estimated at 61.23 million tonnes.

ISRO prepares palaeochannel map of River Saraswati

ISRO prepares palaeochannel map of River Saraswati

March 28th, 2013

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has prepared an integrated palaeochannel map of River Saraswati from the origin in Himalayas to Rann of Kutchch. The origin of the mapped course of the River Saraswati palaeochannel in North West India was linked to Himalayan perennial source through Sutlej and Yamuna Rivers.

To carry out the study ISRO used Indian Remote Sensing Satellite data along with digital elevation model. It was observed that major Harappan sites of Kalibangan (Rajasthan), Banawali and Rakhigarhi (Haryana), Dholavira and Lothal (Gujarat) lie along the River Saraswati.

What is a Palaeochannel?

The word Palaeochannel is formed from the words “palaeo” meaning “old” and “channel”. A palaeochannel is a remnant of an inactive river or stream channel that has been either filled or buried by younger sediment. The sediments that the ancient channel is either cut into or buried by can be unconsolidated, semi-consolidated, consolidated, or lithified.  Paleochannels are formed through aggradation (depositing sediment on their bed).

Kishenganga Project

Kishenganga Project

March 28th, 2013

Recently, India won the legal battle against Pakistan regarding construction of Kishenganga Hydro Electric Project in North Kashmir.

What is the issue?

Pakistan had pleaded before the Court of Arbitration at The Hague that India’s construction of Project over Kishenganga was a violation of Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) signed in 1960.

What is the Project?

India is constructing Rs. 3600 crore, 330 MW, run-of-the-river, hydro-electric project on Kishenganga River (known as Neelam in Pak) which is a tributary river to Jhelum. The power project is under construction by the National Hydro Power Corporation in Gurez valley near Bandipura in north Kashmir.

What is the opposition from Pakistan?

• The project involves diverting waters from a dam site to Bonar Madmati Nallah, another tributary of Jhelum. Pakistan sees it a breach of India’s legal obligations owed to Pakistan under the IWT, as interpreted and applied in accordance with international law, including India’s obligations under Article III (2) (let flow all the waters of the Western rivers and not permit any interference with those waters) and Article IV (6) (maintenance of natural channels).
•  Another objection is the use of modern drawdown flushing technique for the management of sedimentation on the dam. It requires waters to be brought below the Dead Storage Level.  Pakistan had objected to the drawdown flushing apprehending that it will affect flows at its downstream Neelam project.

 What was the award by the Court of Arbitration?

• The Court of Arbitration has allowed India to go ahead with the construction of the project in rejecting Pakistan’s plea that this was a violation of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty.
• However, the court restrained India from adopting the draw down flushing technique for clearing sedimentation. India may have to adopt a different technique for flushing.

Is it for the first time Pakistan dragged India to international court on a river issue?

No. This was the second water dispute on which Pakistan dragged India to an international arena charging New Delhi with violation of the IWT. Earlier a neutral expert was appointed by the World Bank to adjudicate on the Baglihar dam built on Chenab River also located in Jammu and Kashmir.

What is Indus Waters Treaty?

Background:

After the partition of India-Pakistan, the issue of sharing of water of rivers originating from Indus basin surfaced. India had all the advantage of using the waters of the all six main rivers originating from either the Himalayan or the Chinese Tibet side. Pakistan was wary that since the sources of rivers of the Indus basin were in India, it could potentially create droughts and famines in Pakistan, especially at times of war.

During the first years of partition the waters of the Indus were apportioned by the Inter-Dominion Accord of May 4, 1948. As per this accord, India was required to release sufficient waters to the Pakistani regions of the basin in return for annual payments from the government of Pakistan. The accord was meant to meet immediate requirements and was followed by negotiations for a more permanent solution. However, neither side was willing to compromise its respective position thus the issue reached a deadlock.

The Treaty:

Finally, head of both countries (India’s then PM Jawaharlal Nehru and Pak’s then President Mohammed Ayub Khan) came to negotiation table to sign the Indus Waters Treaty brokered by the World Bank. As per the treaty proposed by the World Bank, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, which constitute the eastern rivers, are allocated for exclusive use by India before they enter Pakistan. However, a transition period of 10 years was permitted in which India was bound to supply water to Pakistan from these rivers until Pakistan was able to build the canal system for utilization of waters of Jhelum, Chenab and the Indus itself, allocated to it under the treaty. Similarly, Pakistan has exclusive use of the Western Rivers Jhelum, Chenab and Indus but with some stipulations for development of projects on these rivers in India. Pakistan also received one-time financial compensation for the loss of water from the Eastern rivers. Now, as the moratorium is over, India has secured full rights for use of the waters of the three rivers allocated to it. The treaty resulted in partitioning of the rivers rather than sharing of their waters.

Italian envoy can’t claim immunity: CJI

Italian envoy can’t claim immunity: CJI

March 21st, 2013

A Bench of Chief Justice Altamas Kabir and Justices Anil R. Dave and Ms. Ranjana Desai has clarifies to Italian envoy Daniele Mancini that a person who came to the court as a petitioner could not claim any immunity. The Apex court has extended its direction until further orders restraining the envoy from leaving the country.
The Italian Ambassador Daniele Mancini claimed complete immunity under the Vienna Convention.
The Ambassador had signed an undertaking assuring the return of the two marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen. On his assurance the court had allowed the two accused to go to their country to exercise their votes in elections there. However, Italy refused to return the marines insisting that by planning to try the naval mariners India violates its international pledges, specifically the UN Law of the Sea Convention, since the incident occurred in the open sea (as claimed by Italy).
What is Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations?
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 is an international pact that defines a framework for diplomatic relations b/w independent nations. It specifies the privileges of a diplomatic mission that enable diplomats to perform their function without fear of coercion or harassment by the host country. This forms the legal basis for diplomatic immunity. It has been ratified by 187 nations.
Summary of the Treaty:
The treaty consists of 53 articles. Key articles of the treaty are:
Article 9: The host nation may at any time and for any reason declare a particular member of the diplomatic staff to be persona non grata. The sending state must recall this person within a reasonable period of time, or otherwise this person may lose their diplomatic immunity.
Article 22: The premises of a diplomatic mission, such as an embassy, are inviolate and must not be entered by the host country except by permission of the head of the mission. Furthermore, the host country must protect the mission from intrusion or damage. The host country must never search the premises, nor seize its documents or property. Article 30 extends this provision to the private residence of the diplomats.
Article 27: The host country must permit and protect free communication between the diplomats of the mission and their home country. A diplomatic bag must never be opened even on suspicion of abuse. A diplomatic courier must never be arrested or detained.
Article 29: Diplomats must not be liable to any form of arrest or detention. They are immune from civil or criminal prosecution, though the sending country may waive this right under Article 32. Under Article 34, they are exempt from most taxes, and under Article 36 they are exempt from most customs duties.
Article 31.1c: Actions not covered by diplomatic immunity: professional activity outside diplomat’s official functions.
Article 37: The family members of a diplomat that are living in the host country enjoy most of the same protections as the diplomats themselves.