PM e-VIDYA Channel

•   Union Minister of Education launched PM e-VIDYA Channel 31, a DTH channel dedicated to sign language.  
• This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which demands promoting and standardising Indian Sign Language (ISL) throughout India to create a more inclusive instructional environment.
• According to the Census 2011, a total of 2.68 crore humans in India have been pronounced as having disabilities out of which 19% have listening to disabilities. 
• In 2023, WHO estimates that in India, about 63 million people suffer from enormous auditory impairment.
• PM e-Vidya was launched as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan by the Ministry of Education in 2020.
• The initiative aims to provide multi-mode access to training through digital, online, and on-air platforms to minimise studying losses, especially inside the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

100 Days TB removal campaign

·         In a decisive step toward eliminating TB in India, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is ready to launch the 100 Days TB removal campaign.

·         The initiative, set to be carried out in 33 States and Union Territories, has been designed to enhance TB case detection, lessen diagnostic delays, and enhance treatment effects. 

·         India’s purpose is to do away with tuberculosis (TB) through 2025, 5 years beforehand of the global goal of 2030.

·         Global TB Cases: TB remains the leading infectious killer, surpassing COVID-19, with 8.2 million new cases in 2023.

·         India’s TB Burden: India, with the very best TB burden globally, recorded 2.8 million cases in 2023.

·         India alone accounted for 26% of global cases and 29% of worldwide TB deaths (315,000 deaths).

·         India is followed through Indonesia (10%), China (6.8%), the Philippines (6.8%), and Pakistan (6.3%).

·         Multidrug-Resistant TB: India represents 27% of the arena’s multi-drug-resistant TB cases, underscoring the need for specialised treatment strategies.

 Tuberculosis

·         Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disorder that most usually influences the lungs and is as a result of the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis.  

·         It spreads through the air while infected humans cough, sneeze or spit.

·         Symptoms: extended cough (once in a while with blood), chest pain, weak spot, fatigue, weight reduction, fever, night sweats.

·         While TB typically influences the lungs, it also influences the kidneys, brain, spine and skin.

·         Treatment: It is preventable and curable with antibiotics.

·         TB Vaccine: The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine remains the only certified vaccine against TB; it affords moderate safety against severe forms of TB (TB meningitis) in babies and younger children.

Challenges Faced by India in Eliminating TB

·         Drug-resistant TB cases: India has a significant  burden of drug-resistant TB, including multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).

·         This kind of TB is an awful lot tougher to treat and requires extra steeply-priced, specialized drugs and a longer length of treatment.

·         Diagnostics and Case Detection: The correct and timely diagnosis of TB remains an assignment.

·         Poor primary health-care and infrastructure: In many components of India, specifically in rural and remote areas, there’s confined access to healthcare facilities.

·         Stigma and Awareness: Stigma related to TB causes  delays in seeking healthcare, and lack of knowledge about the disease may also make contributions to its endurance. 

·         Private Sector Engagement: A significant share of healthcare services in India is furnished by the private sector.

·         Treatment Adherence: TB treatment requires a prolonged route of antibiotics, and ensuring patient adherence to the overall route is tough. 

·         Vulnerable Populations: Certain populations, such as migrant employees, urban slum dwellers, and those living in crowded situations, are at higher risk of TB.

Steps Taken by Government of India to Eliminate TB

·         Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP): The RNTCP, launched in 1997, was the flagship program to govern TB in India.

·         National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP): The Government of India has developed a National Strategic Plan (2017-25) for Ending TB in the country by 2025.

·         Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (PMTBMBA): Launched in 2022 for network aid to TB patients with the goal to offer humans with TB with additional nutritional, diagnostic and vocational help.

·         Universal Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST): The government has scaled up efforts to offer widespread access to drug susceptibility testing, supporting the identification of drug-resistant strains of TB early and tailor remedy for that reason.

·         Ni-kshay portal: An online Ni-kshay portal has been established to tune the notified TB cases.

·         New Drugs: Newer tablets along with Bedaquiline and Delamanid for the remedy of drug-resistant TB were covered in the government’s basket of medication furnished free TB patients. 

·         R&D for Treatment: Researchers have been analyzing shorter three- and four-month guides of anti-tubercular medicines , in place of the present six-month remedy.

·         Vaccine Development: Trials are underway to check the effectiveness of a vaccine referred to as Immuvac, which was first of all advanced to save you leprosy, in stopping TB.

Mahaparinirvan Diwas

·          Mahaparinirvan Diwas is observed on December 6 annually, commemorating the loss of life anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. He passed away in 1956.

·         Champion of Dalit Rights: Ambedkar fought against the caste system and untouchability, and his efforts brought about the abolition of untouchability in the Indian Constitution.

·         He led movements just like the Mahad Satyagraha (1927), fighting for Dalits’ right to access public water tanks and temples.

·         He also organized the Kalaram Temple Entry Satyagraha in 1930, pushing for Dalits to enter temples from which they were previously barred.

·         Indian Constitution: As the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, Ambedkar played a vital function in framing India’s Constitution, ensuring that it enshrined concepts of equality, justice, and human rights.

·         Social Reforms: He recommended for ladies’s rights, schooling, and social justice.

·         He was instrumental in the passage of laws that promoted social equality, such as the Hindu Code Bill, which aimed to provide girls with rights in marriage and belongings.

·         Labour Rights: He became one of the founding members of the Indian Labour Party and worked to steady labour rights for business workers.

·         He encouraged minimum wages, operating hours, and social safety for employees.

INS Tushil Commissioned , stealth frigate INS Tamal to be completed in 2025

·          INS Tushil, which is expected to significantly bolster the Indian Navy''s operational capability in the IOR, has been constructed as part of an over $2.5-billion deal that India had inked with Russia in 2016 for four stealth frigates.

·         Two of these, INS Tushil and the second frigate of project 11356, INS Tamal, are to be built in Russia while the other two are being constructed in India

·         The Indian Navy is set to commission its latest multi-role stealth guided missile frigate, INS Tushil, at Kaliningrad, Russia.

Frigate:

·         It is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied. The name frigate in the 17th to early 18th centuries was given to any full-rigged ship built for speed and maneuverability, intended to be used in scouting, escort and patrol roles

 INS Tushil

·         INS Tushil is part of the upgraded Krivak III class of Project 1135.6 frigates. It is the seventh ship in this series and the first of two additional frigates being built under a 2016 agreement between India and Russia.

·         The ship was constructed at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad and has undergone various trials, including Factory Sea Trials, State Committee Trials, and Delivery Acceptance Trials.

·         The ship reached a top speed of over 30 knots during these tests.

·         The frigate features a length of 125 metres and a displacement of 3,900 tonnes.

·         It incorporates both Indian and Russian technologies, with Indian components accounting for 26 percent of its construction.

·         Indian firms such as BrahMos Aerospace, Bharat Electronics Limited, and Nova Integrated Systems have contributed to the ship’s development.

·         Named Tushil, meaning “protector shield,” the ship’s motto is “Nirbhay, Abhedya aur Balsheel” (Fearless, Indomitable, Resolute).

''Nano Bubble Technology''

·         Union Minister of State for Forest, Environment and Climate Change launched ''Nano Bubble Technology'' for cleaning and purifying water of National Zoological Park, Delhi to promote the health of aquatic animals.

 Nano Bubbles:

·         Nano bubbles, also known as ultra-fine bubbles, are gas-filled cavities within liquids that have diameters smaller than 200 nanometers.

·         These bubbles are invisible to the naked eye and exhibit unique properties due to their small size and high surface energy.

Characteristics of Nano Bubbles

How Nano Bubbles Work

·         Formation: Created using specialized equipment such as ultrasonic generators or venturi nozzles.

·         Stability: Electrostatic charges prevent them from coalescing or bursting easily.

·         Behavior: They penetrate deep into liquid systems due to their minute size and neutral buoyancy.

·         Energy Release: Burst or collapse releases hydroxyl radicals and other reactive species.

Applications of Nano Bubbles

Water Treatment

·         Effective in breaking down organic pollutants.

·         Generate reactive oxygen species for sterilization.

·         Enhance oxygen transfer efficiency in wastewater treatment.

·         Agriculture

·         Improve nutrient absorption and oxygen availability in irrigation systems.

·         Detoxify contaminated soils by enhancing microbial activity.

·         Healthcare and Medicine

·         Facilitate precise delivery of therapeutic agents to targeted areas.

·         Used in ultrasonic treatments for localized tumor destruction.

·         Promote cell growth and disinfection in wound management.

·         Industrial Applications

·         Ultra-fine bubbles help in removing dirt and contaminants from surfaces.

·         Enhance cooling efficiency by improving heat exchange.

·         Aquaculture

·         Improve water quality and oxygenation for healthier aquatic life.

Benefits of Nano Bubbles

 What is Business for Land (B4L)?

• B4L is the UNCCD’s main initiative to engage the private sector in sustainable land and water management. It helps companies and financial institutions manage risks and seize opportunities tied to land degradation and drought.
• B4L aims to restore 1.5 billion hectares of land by 2030, contributing to Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), a global commitment to achieve net zero land degradation by 2030, as well as enhancing drought resilience.

How does B4L make an impact?

• B4L helps businesses understand their risks and impacts related to land degradation. It provides support for reporting, target-setting and transforming value chains. As part of the UNCCD, B4L also advocates for better policies to promote sustainable land management.

B4L’s work is built around three key pillars:

• Business operations and value chains: Promote sustainable practices and set targets for reducing land-related impacts across business operations.
• Finance: Support the creation of sustainable finance solutions for land restoration and drought resilience.
• Advocacy: Advocate for policies that foster a business environment conducive to sustainable land and water management.

Private sector engagement

• Private companies can join B4L as members to showcase their contributions to sustainable practices, access tools, and help shape the agenda. B4L encourages businesses to submit commitments under one or more of its pillars to address land degradation and drought

Targeted sectors:

B4L focuses on sectors with a significant dependency on land and water, including:

• Agriculture
• Textiles
• Forestry
• Mining
• Energy
• Pharmaceuticals
• Construction
• ICT
• Finance and insurance
• Each sector faces unique challenges and opportunities in achieving land sustainability and resilience.

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification:

• The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was established in 1994 to protect and restore land and ensure a safer, just, and more sustainable future.
• The UNCCD is the only legally binding framework set up to address desertification and the effects of drought.
• There are 197 Parties to the Convention, including 196 country Parties and the European Union.
• The Convention – based on the principles of participation, partnership and decentralization – is a multilateral commitment to mitigate the impact of land degradation, and protect land to provide food, water, shelter and economic opportunity to all people.
• The Convention unites governments, scientists, policymakers, the private sector and communities around a shared vision to restore and manage the world’s land.
• This work is crucial to ensure the sustainability of the planet and the prosperity of future generations.

Syrian Crisis.

•  India has advised its citizens to avoid travelling to Syria and urged those staying in that country to exercise “utmost precaution” and restrict their movements.
• In an advisory, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) asked the Indians living in the violence-hit country to leave by the earliest available commercial flights if they can.
•  The rebels had almost taken control of the central Syrian city of Homs after capturing much of Aleppo, the country’s largest city.
•  More than 280,000 people have been uprooted in northwest Syria in a matter of days following the sudden and massive offensive into government-controlled areas led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is sanctioned by the Security Council as a terrorist group. 
•  The MEA urged the Indians residing in Syria to remain in touch with the Indian embassy in Damascus.
•  Those who can, are advised to leave by the earliest available commercial flights and others are requested to observe utmost precaution about their safety and restrict their movements to the minimum, MEA said.

Situation in Syria

•  The crisis in the Syrian Arab Republic is extending into its fourteenth year – with more people than ever sliding into deeper poverty and 16.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and protection. 
•  After over a decade of conflict, Syria remains the world’s largest refugee crisis. Since 2011, more than 14 million Syrians have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety. More than 7.2 million Syrians remain internally displaced in their own country. Adding to the suffering, Syria is grappling with the aftermath of the catastrophic earthquakes in February 2023, which inflicted severe human and material damage.Approximately 5.5 million Syrian refugees live in the five countries neighbouring Syria — Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt. Germany is the largest non-neighbouring host country with more than 850,000 Syrian refugees.
•  Over half a million people have fled Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and crossed into Syria since late September, and there remains a steady flow of movement, with thousands of people driven across the border into Syria every day.
• Renewed fighting last week led by the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other armed groups has engulfed parts of Aleppo, Idlib and Hama, shifting frontlines that had remained unchanged since 2020.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed for an end to the fighting in Syria.

When did the Syrian refugee crisis begin?

• The Syrian refugee crisis began in March 2011 as a result of a violent government crackdown on public demonstrations in support of teenagers who were arrested for anti-government graffiti in the southern town of Daraa.
• The arrests sparked public demonstrations throughout Syria which were violently suppressed by government security forces.
• The conflict quickly escalated and the country descended into a civil war that forced millions of Syrian families to flee their homes. 

Where do Syrian refugees live?

•  Syrian refugees have sought asylum in more than 130 countries, but the vast majority live in neighbouring countries within the region.
• Approximately 92 per cent of refugees who have fled to neighbouring countries live in rural and urban settings, with only roughly five percent living in refugee camps. However, living outside refugee camps does not necessarily mean success or stability. More than 70 per cent of Syrian refugees are living in poverty, with limited access to basic services, education or job opportunities and few prospects of returning home.
•  Millions of refugees have lost their livelihoods and are increasingly unable to meet their basic needs — including accessing clean water, electricity, food, medicine and paying rent. The economic downturn has also exposed them to multiple protection risks, such as child labor, gender-based violence, early marriage and other forms of exploitation.

UN’s peace plan 

• The UN Security Council passed a resolution in 2015 aimed at ending the conflict, calling for a new constitution, UN-supervised elections and transparent and accountable governance.Implementation has gone nowhere.
• UN Syria envoy Geir Pedersen said the escalation showed a collective failure to bring about a political process and urged substantive negotiations to find a way out of the conflict.

 Ministry of Culture brings National Mission on Cultural Mapping

•  To preserve and promote India’s rich cultural heritage, the Ministry of Culture established the National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM). Implemented by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), the mission aims to document India’s cultural heritage and its potential to revitalise rural economics.
• It aims to preserve and promote India’s rich cultural heritage for future generations by creating an objective cultural map that reflects the country’s diverse cultural landscape, designing mechanisms to meet the needs of the artist community, and fostering cultural vibrancy nationwide. NMCM is a significant step towards preserving India’s cultural heritage and empowering rural communities. 
•  By documenting and promoting cultural assets, the mission aims to strengthen cultural identity and foster economic development.
• The mission will develop a database that contains a comprehensive inventory of India’s cultural assets and resources. To effectively safeguard and revitalise these traditions, it is essential to implement community-based initiatives that promote collaboration between the state and local communities. 
• The Ministry of Culture has partnered with the Common Services Centres (CSC) under the Ministry of Electronics & IT to implement the cultural mapping initiative.
•  NMCM launched the Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) portal in June 2023. This initiative aims to document the cultural heritage of 6.5 lakh villages of India. Currently, 4.5 lakh villages are live on the portal with their respective cultural portfolios.

The aims and objectives and expectations are as under:

• i) To identify and document India’s cultural heritage and its creative potential to regenerate and revitalise rural economies, thereby making Village India self-reliant. 
• ii) To create awareness about the strengths of cultural heritage and its interface with development and cultural identity.
• iii) Cultural Mapping of villages along with their geographical, demographic profiles, and creative capitals. 
•  NMCM is a significant step towards preserving India’s cultural heritage and empowering rural communities.

Building on the revival of the manufacturing sector

Strong reforms are needed for India to fully capitalise on its manufacturing potential

• The revival of the manufacturing sector is a critical aspect of economic growth and development, particularly in countries like India.
• India’s journey to becoming a global manufacturing hub has gained momentum with the government’s strategic policy initiatives, particularly the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.
• This scheme has been instrumental in transforming the manufacturing landscape in sectors such as mobile manufacturing, electronics, pharmaceuticals, automobile, and textiles, among others, through enhanced production, exports and job creation
• This resurgence is influenced by various factors, including government initiatives, technological advancements, and global market dynamics. Below is an analysis of the current state of the manufacturing sector, its challenges, and the opportunities for growth.

Current State of the Manufacturing Sector

• Economic Contribution: The manufacturing segment is a central component of the Indian economy, in terms of gross domestic income as well as work opportunities. According to the recent statistics, manufacturing contributes normally around 16-17% to the GDP of India; the government wants to reach this figure 25% by 2025 with its campaign “Make in India” and “Self-Reliant India”.
• Growth Trends: Manufacturing activities have been identified to have returned to higher levels of activity in the post-pandemic period.
•  Large scale manufacturing indexes such as the PMI (Purchasing Managers’ Index) have pointed to output expanding, a sure sign that there is demand as well capacity on the production floor. Electronic, pharmaceutical and automobile industries for instance, continue to record impressive growth, both in terms of local market sales and export .

Challenges Facing the Sector

• Infrastructure Bottlenecks: However, the manufacturing sector is facing various challenges even if it portrays the right growth trend. Another key challenge is lack of proper physical network, especially where transport of products and services is concerned, this tends to be very expensive.
•  Efficiency of heat and mass transfer, organization of production flows, and competitiveness may be diminished due to inadequate transport and weak power supply.
• Skill Gap: A second major issue is the shortage of skills in employees. Thus, despite the increasing need for qualified employees in the application of high-tech solutions in manufacturing, there are currently not enough qualified specialists. This gap reduces innovation and efficiency within the sector .
• Regulatory Hurdles: It can also be seen that choosing sites involves regulatory considerations which present Manufacturing with challenges. Adherence to a number of statutes might be tiresome and unproductive because it repels investments and delays realization of projects.
• The improvement of these processes is crucial in order to create proper conditions for manufacturing development .

Opportunities for Growth

• Technological Advancements: The application of technology in the process of producing goods is of great potential for improvement. The digitization of processes by using automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) enables to attain higher productivity and lower costs as well as better product quality. The application of Industry 4.0 can help the manufacturers to transform as well as compete on the global platform.
• Global Supply Chain Resilience: Specifically, COVID-19 affected the supply chain industry by revealing some of the weaknesses of a worldwide approach. Manufacturing companies are known to be expanding their supply base and India should expect more FDI flows in manufacturing. On this note the emphasis on creating an investment friendly environment may be useful when targeting multinational firms interested in entering or increasing operations within the India market .
• Sustainable Manufacturing Practices: In the context of manufacturing there has been increased focus toward environmental management.
•  With a focus on protection of the environment through green technologies and practices, firms can indeed cut down their impacts to the environment as well as attract customers who are wising up to the effects of marketing on the environment. There is thus every reason to believe that this shift towards sustainability can propel innovation and create new markets .

Conclusion

• The revival of the manufacturing sector in India presents both challenges and opportunities. While infrastructure deficits, skill gaps, and regulatory hurdles need addressing, advancements in technology and shifts towards sustainable practices offer pathways for growth.
• By leveraging these opportunities and implementing strategic reforms, India can enhance its manufacturing capabilities and position itself as a global leader in this vital sector.

 India ‘takes note’ of new payment system proposed at BRICS summit

• The Union Finance Ministry provided a cautious and non-committal response to a question in Parliament regarding India’s stance on a potential joint currency for BRICS nations.
• This comes amid recent threats from US President-elect Donald Trump to impose 100 per cent tariffs on BRICS nations if they attempt to establish a currency to rival the US dollar
• The BRICS bloc—comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and later South Africa (which joined in 2010)—was initially formed in 2006 to enhance economic and political collaboration among emerging economies. Over time, additional nations like Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates have also become part of BRICS.
• Significantly, the 16th BRICS Summit, held at Kazan in Russia from October 22 to 24, 2024, highlighted the importance of enhancing economic cooperation among member nations to reduce reliance on the West  
• India is actively involved with the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB). India has contributed USD 2.0 billion to the NDB, paid in seven installments from FY 2015–16 to 2021–22.
• There are about 20 ongoing externally aided projects in India, lifted by a USD 4.87 billion loan from the NDB. These projects span sectors such as infrastructure, water conservation, water supply, flood area management, and rural connectivity improvement.

Contaminated water claims three lives in Chennai; authorities wash off accountability citing heavy rains

This year, three individuals in Chennai lost their lives through suspected water-piped water-borne diseases and hence exposing India’s struggle in ensuring that its citizens have access to safe drinking water. 

• However, the safety of piped water supply has not improved much with the extension of coverage, let alone in developing countries; even in high coverage of piped water supply countries, areas such as urban areas, safety is still an issue.

The Scale of the Problem

• WHO estimates that at least 1.7 billion people in 2022 relied on drinking water sources with faecal contamination.
• Globally, more than 1 million people die from diarrhoeal diseases from inadequate access to water, sanitation and hygiene.
• According to the Jal Shakti Ministry data, arsenic has been found in the groundwater across parts of 230 districts in 25 of the country’s states, while fluoride has been found in 469 districts in 27 states across the country.
• Climate change in the country adds to the water problem since the weather pattern and warmer temperatures influence the supply and quality of water.

Risk Factors for Ensuring Clean Water

• Climate Change: Global warming and climate change have affected water resources whereby there is increased water scarcity while population increase has put great pressure on water resource infrastructure.
• Infrastructure: These are some of the causes of water pollution which include; Old bridges and roads, and No proper ways of disposing wastes.
• Regulatory Framework: One of the major challenges is that a good regulation to ensure that the water available is safe and of high quality is not well developed.
• Public Awareness: Inadequate knowledge on the part of the public on issues to do with safe water and the consequences of having poisonous water is another issue.
• Financial Constraints: Two are lack of adequate funding for water infrastructure and services and lack of funding.

Way Forward

• Investing in Infrastructure: The governments should therefore endeavor to increase funding to improve and expand water facilities such as treatment facilities and lines.
• Regulatory Reforms: It is therefore necessary for a sound legal system for water quality and safety to be developed.
• Public Awareness: Advocacy has to be made for the general public and this will involve making the public aware how vital it is to get as well as dangers of consuming water that has been contaminated.
• Community Participation: Stakeholder involvement is very vital in implementing and enhancing safe drinking water projects.
• Technological Innovations: There is also an opportunity to use water treatment technologies and systems based on the use of IoT for monitoring transport networks to guarantee the availability of safe drinking water.

Role of Government

• Policy Framework: For this reason, the government must set up a sound policy goal to work towards provision of safe drinking water to every citizen.
• Funding and Investment: These funding and investment should be provided by the government in order to ensure effective delivery of water infrastructure and service
• Regulatory Oversight: It becomes the role of the government to supervise water organizations to ensure that quality and safety of water to be supplied is up to standards.

Role of Citizens

• Public Awareness: People out there should have knowledge about safe drinking water as well as the hazards of using contaminated water.
• Community Participation: Thus, citizens must take an active part in community activities regarding water drinking to make water available safely.
• Demanding Accountability: The citizens should also ask for their representatives in parliaments and other government bodies to keep the commitments made on delivering safe drinking water.

Conclusion

• This Chennai case shows that it is high time for policymakers to consider the safety of piped water supply. 
• Water is one of the basic needs of every human being and it should be provided safely by the government of every country. 
• India has the human and financial capital to take a major leap towards delivering safe drinking water to everyone provided the government is committed to investing in infrastructure, the legal framework that supports proper regulation and monitoring, in creating demand from the communities to demand proper water treatment, and in positive technological development.

Polavaram multipurpose project

•  Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has renewed its protest against the development of the Polavaram multipurpose project in Andhra Pradesh, alleging that the project would submerge a large portion of land inhabited by tribals in Malkangiri, Odisha.

What is the Polavaram multipurpose project?

• The project is an interstate project on river Godavari which was conceived in 1980 as a part of recommendations of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT).
• On 2 April 1980, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha executed an agreement to clear construction of the project with a full reservoir level of 150 feet and with a spillway discharging capacity of 36 lakh cusecs.
• The Andhra Pradesh State Reorganization Act (APRA), 2014, declared the project a national project, mandating that the Union government executes the project and obtains all requisite clearances as per environmental, forest, rehabilitation and resettlement norms.
• In 2016, it was decided that the Centre would provide 100% of the remaining cost of the project’s irrigation component only for the period starting from 1 April 2014.

What are the concerns raised ?

• The BJD alleges that significant changes have been made to the original design of the flood discharge capacity, increasing the capacity from 36 lakh cusecs to 50 lakh cusecs.
• The party claims that this was done without sufficient consideration of the backwater impact on the upstream states of Odisha and Chhattisgarh (earlier a part of Madhya Pradesh), which affect populations of Malkangiri who are at could risk of losing their lands and homes. Nearly 162 villages in Malkangiri are likely to be submerged due to the project.
• The BJD also claims that the change in the flood discharge design would increase the maximum backwater level in Odisha to 174.22 feet — it should have been 150 feet as mentioned earlier to limit submergence levels in the state.
• The party alleges that the CWC refused to conduct a fresh backwater study for the revised design, despite experts’ recommendations and concerns of the Odisha government.
• It has also cited various studies on estimates for submergence levels. For instance, a 2009 study conducted by Andhra Pradesh showed that a 50-lakh cusec flood discharge would cause submergence of up to 216 feet in Odisha.
• A 2019 report by IIT Roorkee estimated that a flood discharge of 58 lakh cusecs would result in submergence levels of 232.28 feet in Odisha.
• Besides Odisha, Chhattisgarh in 2011 and Telangana (after it bifurcated from Andhra Pradesh) in 2019 also challenged the project in the Supreme Court against the clearances granted to it and its impact in their respective states.
• On 11 April 2011, the apex court nominated M Gopalakrishnan, an ex-member of CWC and other members of CWC to inspect the Polavaram dam and submit a report verifying whether the construction of the dam is by the GWDT order.
• After field visits, two reports were submitted in June 2011. In both reports, it was concluded that the planning of the Polavaram project and limited construction activities were in tune with the approved project and GWDT provisions.
•  Subsequently, the court accordingly clubbed all cases together and the matter is sub-judice.