Mahanadi water dispute
Odisha and Chhattisgarh expressed willingness to resolve Mahanadi water dispute ‘amicably’.
- In 2016, Odisha, the lower riparian state, alleged unilateral construction of multiple barrages by Chhattisgarh in the upper catchment areas, which reduced water flow during non-monsoon seasons.
- Consequently, Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT), 2018 was constituted under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
- The final decision is pending.
Constitutional Provisions related to interstate water dispute
- Article 262 empowers Parliament to adjudicate such disputes.
- Inter State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 empowers the Central Government to constitute water dispute tribunals.
- River Boards Act, 1956 provides for the establishment of River Boards to advise on interstate river development.
- Tags :
- Article 262
Kopili River (NW 57)
NW-57 on Kopili River was operationalised in Assam with cargo trials in line with the Maritime India Vision 2030 and PM Gati Shakti.
- Four National Waterways in Assam including Brahmaputra (NW 2), Barak (NW 16), Dhansiri (NW 31) and Kopili (NW 57) are now operational.
About Kopili River
- River Kopili is one of the important major left bank tributaries of the Brahmaputra.
- Kopili River is an interstate river in Northeast India that flows through the states of Meghalaya and Assam.
- It originates from the Saipong Reserve Forest situated in south east of Meghalaya.
- Tags :
- Inland Waterways
Articles Sources
'Matri Van' Initiative
Matri Van Initiative is launched in Gurugram to develop a 750-acre urban forest in the Aravalli hills.
- The initiative is part of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ programme
- It aims to enhance ecological preservation and foster community participation, marking a significant step towards urban sustainability.
- Ecological Restoration Components includes removal of invasive species, plantation of native trees and restoring Aravalli-specific biodiversity.
- Tags :
- 'Matri Van' Initiative
Articles Sources
Mount Lewotobi
Recently, Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki Volcano erupted twice sending ash 18,000 meters into the sky.
About Mount Lewotobi
- It is one of Indonesia’s 127 active volcanoes.
- Mount Lewotobi is composed of two adjacent stratovolcanoes:
- Laki-Laki and Perempuan, which lie less than 2 kilometers apart.
- Laki-Laki has been frequently active since the 19th century, while Perempuan erupted most in 1921 and 1935.
- The country is prone to volcanic eruptions due to its location along the “Ring of Fire".
- Ring of Fire is a string of volcanoes and sites of seismic activity, or earthquakes, around the edges of the Pacific Ocean.
- Tags :
- Ring of Fire
- Mount Lewotobi
District Flood Severity Index
Researchers from IIT Delhi and IIT Gandhinagar have developed a District Flood Severity Index that factors in flood duration, historically flooded area, etc., to assess flood impact.
About District Flood Severity Index (DFSI)
- It is designed to quantify flood severity at the district level, which is India's key administrative unit for disaster planning and management.
- Composite DFSI consists of six factors classified in two groups:
- variables representing the occurrence of floods – number of flood events, mean flood duration, flooded area, and population;
- variables representing the damage due to floods – human fatality and the number of humans injured in a district.
- Tags :
- District Flood Severity Index
- Flood Severity
Cold Pools
A new study by researchers at the University of Washington says rain sometimes makes the ocean's surface heavier and more stable due to Cold Pools.
About Cold Pools
- Cold pools are small-scale areas of evaporatively cooled downdraft air that spread on the surface underneath precipitating clouds.
- Phenomenon: When rain falls during a storm, some of it evaporates before reaching the ground. This evaporation cools the air, making it heavier. The cool, heavy air then sinks and spreads out across the ground like a shallow, cold bubble - that’s a cold pool.
- Tags :
- Cold Pools
- Cloud Bubble
C-295 Transport Aircraft
India received the final batch of 16 Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft in Spain.
About C-295 Transport Aircraft
- It is a new-generation tactical airlifter in the light and medium segment.
- Designed and built by: Airbus, a European multinational aerospace corporation.
- Features of Airbus C-295 Military Aircraft:
- It is an efficient tactical transport aircraft having a flight endurance of up to 11 hours.
- It is set to replace the IAF’s ageing Avro fleet.
- Tags :
- C-295
- Airbus
Notch Signaling
Recently, a team of scientists at Harvard engineered a synthetic activator of a key cellular pathway called Notch signalling.
About Notch Signalling
- It is a cell-to-cell communication system vital for various developmental processes and tissue homeostasis in multicellular organisms.
- Homeostasis is the process by which living organisms maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes.
- It plays a vital role in cell fate determination, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis.
- It can lead to birth defects and diseases like cancer.
- Tags :
- Notch Signaling
- Homeostasis