Daily Current Affairs

Battling air pollution in Delhi (GS Paper 3, Environment)

Why in news?

• With air pollution choking Delhi every winter, the Delhi government has launched a new action plan to tackle the problem.

Green War Room:

• Under the 15-point ‘winter action plan’, a Green War Room has been set up to monitor air pollution 24X7.The war room will ensure the effective implementation of the action plan.
• It will comprise a 12-member team of environmental scientists, ‘green fellows’ and trainee engineers.
• It will monitor air pollution levels 24X7 and ensure that all necessary measures are taken to curb the pollution in accordance with the amended GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan). The war room will also analyse pollution data of the city.

 

Anti-dust campaign:

• The Delhi government will kick-off an anti-dust campaign on 6 October under which surprise assessments will be conducted at construction sites to curb dust pollution.
• As many as 586 teams have been established to keep an eye on construction sites.
• Construction sites bigger than 5,000 square metres (sqm) will have to mandatorily deploy one anti-smog gun, those over 10,000 sqm have to install two such guns and for sites bigger than 20,000 sqm, four anti-smog guns are compulsory.
• If these measures are not followed by companies at construction sites, then strict action will be taken against them under the anti-dust campaign.
• Moreover, 80 road sweeping machines will be used to stem pollution arising from road dust. Nearly 521 machines for water sprinkling to manage dust pollution and 150 mobile anti-smog guns will be deployed.

 

Stubble burning:

• The bio-decomposer developed by the PUSA institute will be distributed to the farmers without any cost.
• The bio-decomposer, which is in liquid form, is sprayed on the stem of the crop after the harvest; the stem decomposes and thus reducing the requirement for stubble burning.

 

Pollution check certificate must:

• From 25 October, vehicle owners will have to produce valid pollution under control (PUC) certificates for buying fuel at petrol pumps in Delhi.
• To control vehicular emissions, alternative routes will be suggested for more than 200 roads with heavy traffic for decongestion.

 

Firecrackers banned:

• The Delhi government has prohibited the online sale and delivery of firecrackers in Delhi till 1 January next year.
• There is already a ban on the production, storage, distribution and purchase of firecrackers.
• Over 200 teams will oversee the implementation of the ban.

 

Modified GRAP:

• The revised Graded Response Action Plan, a set of anti-air pollution measures, will be implemented in a stringent manner.
• Earlier, the curbs were imposed only after the concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 reached a certain limit. However, the measures will come into effect this year on the basis of Air Quality Index (AQI) values.

 

 

As per the new GRAP, the four stages of adverse air quality in Delhi have been classified as:

1. Stage I is if the AQI touches from 201-300, then the air is considered ‘poor’.
2. Stage II is for ‘very poor’ air when AQI is between 301-400.
3. Stage III classification is for ‘severe’ air when AQI is from 401-450.
4. Stage IV is when AQI is above 450, the air will be labelled as ‘severe plus’.

Ban on waste burning in open:

• The government in Delhi has banned the burning of garbage in the open.
• As many as 611 teams will fine those involved in the open-burning of garbage in the city.

 

Identifying pollution hotspots:

• The Delhi government has identified 13 hotspots that are being monitored.
• Strict pollution control measures will be implemented in these areas.

 

PNG for industries:

• Industrial units have to operate on piped natural gas (PNG).
• Although all the registered industrial units have switched to PNG, if there is any industrial unit which is using other pollution-causing fuels, they will be under the radar of 33 specialised teams which will ensure that they only use PNG.

 

Green Delhi App:

• The Green Delhi App was launched two years ago for people to report their problems concerning pollution.
• The maximum complaints were related to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (32,573), followed by Public Works Department (9,118) and Delhi Development Authority (3,333).

 

Green cover:

• The Delhi Government had set a target of 42 lakh saplings in the national capital.
• A real-time source apportionment study was carried out in collaboration with IIT Kanpur to find out the level of pollution and its source at any specific point in time.

 

E-waste park:

• An e-waste park will be set up to handle the pollution-causing electronic waste.
• The size of the park is 20 acres and it will be located in Holambi Kalan. Once inaugurated, all the e-waste of Delhi will be taken to this park and processed scientifically.

 

Paryavaranmitra:

• People can become ‘paryavaranmitra’ or volunteers who will spread awareness about environmental protection in Delhi.
• As per the Delhi chief minister, more than 3,500 volunteers have already registered.

 

Talks with Centre, states:

• The Delhi government has called for coordinated efforts with the neighbouring states and the central government to check air pollution in the national capital.
• The Delhi chief minister has asked states ban diesel generators and direct brick factories to enforce zig-zag techniques in manufacturing to control pollution.

 

Delhi’s winter pollution:

• Stubble burning from neigbouring states and use of biomass for household heating and cooking are the two major causes of the surge in air pollution in Delhi during the winter season, as per the study conducted by Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).
• Transport (12 per cent), dust (seven per cent), and domestic biomass burning (six per cent) are the prime sources of locally-generated pollution in Delhi during winter (15 October-15 January).
• 64 per cent of Delhi’s winter pollution load comes from outside its boundaries.
• Biomass burning of agricultural waste during the stubble burning phase and burning for heating and cooking needs during peak winter are estimated to be the major sources of air pollution from outside the city.

 

Health issues:

• The respiratory issues also witness a rise in the national capital during winter.
• Emergency hospital admissions linked with respiratory and cardiac stress and symptoms increase during winter months every year. Due to long-term exposure to air pollution, the health of the vulnerable is already compromised.

 

MGNREGS to fund work to reverse desertification of land across States

(GS Paper 2, Governance)

Why in news?

• With limited funds to deal with the task of restoring degraded land and reversing desertification in the country, the government is now planning to bring convergence between the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and the Pradhan MantriKrishiSinchayeeYojana (PMKSY).

Desertification and Land Degradation in India:

• According to the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas published by the Environment Ministry in 2021, at least 30% of India’s total geographical area is under the category of “degraded land”.
• Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Delhi, Gujarat and Goa have more than 50% of land area undergoing desertification or degradation, while States with less than 10% land degradation are Kerala, Assam, Mizoram, Haryana, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Arunachal Pradesh.

 

How the convergence will work?

• The Chief Secretaries of the States were urgedto ensure that the two schemes work in tandem.
• Under the latter, activities such as ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, soil and moisture conservation, rainwater harvesting, nursery raising, afforestation, horticulture and pasture development are done.
• The Union government now wants the States to undertake these activities using MGNREGS funds, which go towards both material and wage components.

 

Commitments & Initiatives:

• In 2019, the government raised its target of restoration of degraded land from 21 million hectares to 26 million hectares by 2030 following a commitment made during the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (COP14). Nearly three years on, the government is nowhere near this target.
• Though the Ministry has been making efforts to contribute towards meeting the international commitment, the constraints posed on economy by the pandemic restricted the target to 4.95 million hectares by 2025-26.
• Therefore, there is a compelling reason for the Ministry to explore alternative opportunities to fulfil the commitment.

 

Way Forward:

• The Rural Development Ministry is now hoping that by making use of the MGNREGS, which for the financial year 2022-23 has a budget of ₹73,000 crore, the government can scale up the area to be covered.
• As of now, there is Central allocation of ₹8,134 crore for developing 4.95 million hectares.
• By the Ministry’s own estimate, a convergence with the MGNREGS could help take up treatment of about 30% more land than feasible with the current scheme size.

 

The Mediation Bill, 2021

(GS Paper 2, Governance)

 

Context:

• The Mediation Bill, 2021 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in December 2021, with the Parliamentary Standing Committee being tasked with a review of the Bill. The committee’s report to the Rajya Sabha was submitted in July 2022.
• In its report, the Committee recommends substantial changes to the Mediation Bill, aimed at institutionalising mediation and establishing the Mediation Council of India.

 

Why does India need to promote mediation?

• While there is no standalone legislation for mediation in India, there are several statutes containing mediation provisions, such as the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, the Companies Act, 2013, the Commercial Courts Act, 2015, and the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
• The Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee of the Supreme Court of India describes mediation as a tried and tested alternative for conflict resolution.
• As India is a signatory to the Singapore Convention on Mediation (formally the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation), it is appropriate to enact a law governing domestic and international mediation.

What are the key features of the Bill?

• The Bill aims to promote, encourage, and facilitate mediation, especially institutional mediation, to resolve disputes, commercial and otherwise.
• The Bill further proposes mandatory mediation before litigation. At the same time, it safeguards the rights of litigants to approach competent adjudicatory forums/courts for urgent relief.
• The mediation process will be confidential and immunity is provided against its disclosure in certain cases.
• The outcome of the mediation process in the form of a Mediation Settlement Agreement (MSA) will be legally enforceable and can be registered with the State/district/taluk legal authorities within 90 days to ensure authenticated records of the settlement.
• The Bill establishes the Mediation Council of India and also provides for community mediation. 

What are the concerns with the Bill?

Article 21:

• According to the Bill, pre-litigation mediation is mandatory for both parties before filing any suit or proceeding in a court, whether or not there is a mediation agreement between them. Parties who fail to attend pre-litigation mediation without a reasonable reason may incur a cost.
• However, as per Article 21 of the Constitution, access to justice is a constitutional right which cannot be fettered or restricted. Mediation should just be voluntary and making it otherwise would amount to denial of justice.

 

Clause 26 of the Bill:

• Additionally, according to Clause 26 of the Bill, court-annexed mediation, including pre-litigation mediation, will be conducted in accordance with the directions or rules framed by the Supreme Court or High Courts. However, the Committee objected to this.
• It stated that Clause 26 went against the spirit of the Constitution. In countries that follow the Common Law system, it is a healthy tradition that in the absence of statutes, apex court judgments and decisions carry the same weight.
• The moment a law is passed however, it becomes the guiding force rather than the instructions or judgments given by the courts. Therefore, Clause 26 is unconstitutional.

 

Cross-border mediation:

• Furthermore, the Bill considers international mediation to be domestic when it is conducted in India with the settlement being recognised as a judgment or decree of a court.
• The Singapore Convention does not apply to settlements that already have the status of judgments or decrees. As a result, conducting cross-border mediation in India will exclude the tremendous benefits of worldwide enforceability.

 

What next?

• In order to enable a faster resolution of disputes, the Bill should be implemented after discussion with stakeholders.
• If the issues of the Bill aren’t fixed, our aspirations to become an international mediation hub for easy business transactions could be crushed before they’ve even begun.

 

‘Prachanda’ Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)

(GS Paper 3, Defence)

Why in news?

• Recently, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has formally inducted the first batch of indigenously-developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) at an event in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur.
• It was inducted into the IAF’s newly raised 143 Helicopter Unit.
• Designed and developed ground-up by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Defence Minister gave the new chopper, the name of Prachanda.

Background:

• In March, the Union Cabinet approved the procurement of 15 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) for Rs 3,887 crore, or about Rs 260 crore each. The Cabinet Committee on Security also approved the creation of infrastructure worth Rs 377 crore.
• Light Combat Helicopter Limited Series Production (LSP) is an indigenously designed, developed and manufactured, state-of-the-art modern combat helicopter containing approximately 45 per cent indigenous content by value, which will progressively increase to more than 55 per cent for the SP (series production) version. 

Post Kargil:

• The inception of the LCH programme came during the Kargil War of 1999. It was then that India felt the absence of an attack helicopter which could operate in ultra-high altitude areas.
• India’s then existing fleet of helicopters, mostly Russian, didn’t have the capability to be deployed at such heights. The IAF was forced to use the MI-17 helicopters in a modified role.
• In 2006, the LCH project was launched when HAL announced its intention to develop such a copter could, which operate in the harsh desert conditions as well as the high altitude areas of Ladakh including the Siachen Glacier.
• The first maiden flight of the LCH was conducted successfully on 29 March in 2010 after many delays.
• Modifications took place on this prototype and finally after its weapons trials in January 2019 and in February 2020, HAL announced that the LCH was ready for ‘operational induction’.

 

What makes the LCH so deadly?

• The LCH, designed and manufactured by HAL, is an attack helicopter that can be deployed in various roles, including tracking slow-moving aerial targets, insurgency, destroying enemy defences, search and rescue, anti-tank and scouting.
• The LCH, which contains around 45 per cent indigenous content by value, boasts of being the only attack helicopter in the world, which can land and take-off at an altitude of 5000 m (16,400 feet) with considerable load of weapons.
• The helicopter is powered by two HAL/Turbomeca Shakti turboshaft engines, each of which can generate up to 871kW and can run for up to 3,000 hours without maintenance.
• The engine received European Aviation Safety Agency certification in 2007. It features a Full Authority Digital Electronic Control system, which decreases the work of the pilot by automatically counting engine cycles.

 

Salient Features:

• It has a maximum speed of 268 km per hour and has a range of 550 km. The LCH has a maximum take-off weight of 5,800 kg.
• The attack helicopter has a glass cockpit accommodating two crew, who sit one behind the other. The cockpit is equipped with multifunction displays, target acquisition and designation systems, and a digital video recorder to capture footage of the battlefield for use in debriefing.
• The LCH is equipped with state-of-the-art sensor suite. It includes a charge-coupled device camera, a forward-looking infra-red camera and a laser designator. The two cameras capture the location and position of enemies, ensuring clear visibility during bad weather conditions. The laser range-finder and designator aim laser-guided bombs and missiles towards the target.
• When it comes to weaponry, the LCH is loaded with firepower. It is armed with air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles. It also also has a 20 mm gun and 70 mm rockets.
• Earlier in April, the LCH also successfully fired Helina, a three-generation anti-tank guided missile and destroyed armour targets at a five-km range at Pokhran Ranges, developed by DRDO.

 

What makes it ideal for high-altitude operations?

• The LCH is an ideal platform for providing infantry soldiers fire support in 15,000-16,000 feet high contested areas such as Depsang, Galwan, and the heights north and south of Pangong Tso where Indian soldiers were facing off against Chinese intruders.
• Infantrymen at those oxygen-deprived altitudes cannot carry heavy weaponry for long distances, but a high-altitude attack helicopter would provide them with fire support, using its on-board, 20-millimetre turret gun, 70-millimetre rockets, and air-to-air missiles.
• It can also carry an anti-tank guided missile and the IAF is close to choosing one.
• For delivering firepower accurately onto the enemy, the LCH is integrated with cutting-edge target-sighting systems, including an electro-optic pod and a helmet mounted display that allows a pilot to aim at a target just by looking at it.
• The LCH’s pilots are protected by armoured panels, self-sealing fuel tanks, a bulletproof windshield, damage-tolerant rotor blades, and a main gearbox that can run for 30 minutes even after a bullet hits it and drains out the oil.
• The LCH also has an electronic warfare system that detects incoming missiles and confuses them by scattering flares and chaff.

How will it serve the forces?

• The addition of the LCH will give India a further boost to the defence forces. The LCH can conduct combat search and rescue and destruction of enemy air defence.
• It can be deployed in high-altitude bunker-busting operations, counter-insurgency operations in the junglesand urban environments as well as for supporting ground forces.
• With these features, the LCH is bound to pose a problem for China and Pakistan, who continue to meddle at the borders. In fact, the LCH will be deployed along the Line of Actual Control.
• The LCH is also a boost for India’s defence production. As per an Indian Express report, it has already obtained a no-objection certificate from the Ministry of Defence for countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Angola, Egypt, Indonesia, Ecuador and Nigeria.