KARNATAKA
Karnataka: Panel to scrutinise govt tenders above Rs 50 crore
To bring transparency and avoid irregularities in the tendering of government works, the Karnataka government has decided to subject tenders costing Rs 50 crore and above to scrutiny by an independent committee headed by a retired judge of the high court.
The state cabinet took a decision in this regard at its meeting here on Monday. Besides the retired high court judge, the committee will have two members with expertise in finances and technical field. “All tenders costing Rs 50 crore and above will go before the committee and they should be cleared in 15 days,” said state law and parliamentary affairs minister JC Madhuswamy.
The set government up two such has committees decided to to speed up the process of scrutiny. Currently, each department has a panel of its own to scrutinise the tenders. But allegations of overestimation of budget, tweaks in qualification of bidders and taking up works deemed not necessary have put a question mark on the functioning of these committees. “The new system will address all these issues,” said Madhuswamy.
The cabinet cleared a sandmining policy, which seeks to empower gram and taluk panchayats to dispose of sand mined in their jurisdiction.
Under the policy, gram and taluk panchayats can sell sand extracted from streams and lakes at Rs 300 a tonne. Similarly, Mysuru Mines and Minerals and Hatti Gold Mines have been empowered to extract sand from riverbeds and sell it in south and north Karnataka regions, respectively. The sand extracted from rivers will be priced at Rs 700 a tonne. The initiative will help GPs financially as 25% of the royalty will go to them.
INTERNATIONAL
Bird of The Year Award – New Zealand
Forest & Bird, an independent conservation organization, organized its annual Bird of The Year Award.
Highlights:
The Pekapeka-tou-roa, a New Zealand native bat species, took up the annual bird of the year award in 2021.
Despite not being a bird, the species was declared the winner of the competition.
Long-tailed bat is another name for Pekapeka-tou-roa. It is one of two land animals found in New Zealand.
Forest and Bird named this bat to their Bird of the Year list because both bats and native birds are endangered by the same issues such as habitat loss, predators, and climate change.
World Tsunami Awareness Day Is Commemorated On 5 November
On November 5, the world commemorated World Tsunami Awareness Day.
Highlights:
The day is observed to raise awareness about the hazards of tsunamis among people all around the world.
World Tsunami Awareness Day in 2021 promotes the “Sendai Seven Campaign,”
It aims to “significantly expand international cooperation to developing nations through suitable and sustainable support to complement their national measures for the implementation of the current Framework by 2030.”
After the proclamation of the UN General Assembly on December 22, 2015, World Tsunami Day was first formally marked on November 5, 2016.
The United Nations General Assembly urged all countries in international organizations to increase awareness of the crisis and share product ideas.
WEF Report: Mission 2070- A Green New Deal for a Net Zero India
The report was published in the backdrop of India’s target to achieve net zero emissions by 2070. This target was committed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow.
At the summit, PM Modi also committed:
- To bring non-fossil energy capacity of India to 500 GW by 2030,
- To lower carbon intensity to 45 per cent by 2030
- To reduce 1 billion tonnes of carbon emissions out of total projected emission by 2030.
- To fulfil 50 per cent of energy requirement using renewable waste by 2030.
Report highlights that, India’s transition towards a green economy could contribute about $1 trillion in economic impact by 2030. It will create more than 50 million jobs.
The economic impact would increase to $15 trillion by 2070.
Report notes that, India’s commitments are a critical foundation for achieving 1.5-degree Celsius global warming target.
India is on the frontline of climate change. More of Indians are exposed to negative effects of climate change and extreme weather events as compared to other nationality.
Five Pillars contributing towards emission in India
Energy, industry, mobility, agriculture and infrastructure & cities are the five pillars in India, contributing over 90 per cent emissions. India will require to curb this emission, along with four cross-sectoral enablers including-
- Accelerated approach to green technology innovation;
- Integrated approach to carbon, capture, utilisation and storage
- Overarching framework to catalyse green finance and
- Plan for climate adaptation.
NATIONAL
Marusudar River Diversion – Pakal Dul HE Project Launched
Minister of Power, New & Renewable Energy, R.K. Singh Launched the Pakal Dul Hydro Electric Project on November 1, 2021.
Highlights:
♦ This project is located in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district.
♦ Accelerated hydropower project development is critical for grid balancing and peak power generation.
♦ The Pakal Dul H.E. Project will contribute to achieving the 450 GW renewable energy target by 2030.
♦ In this region, an investment of Rs 8212 crores is being made through this project.
♦ Direct and indirect employment opportunities will be created as a result of the investment.
It will contribute to the general development of the local population.
World Bank And Niti Ayog Ready Electric Vehicles Financing Push
The World Bank and Niti Ayog are ready to financially push the EV’s in India.
Highlights
♦ The World Bank (WB) and the NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) are collaborating to support a scheme for faster and easier financing of electric vehicles (EVs).
♦ The State Bank of India (SBI) will serve as the program manager for a $300 million ‘first loss risk sharing instrument’ set up by NITI Aayog and the World Bank.
♦ The present rate of interest on electric two-wheelers and electric three-wheelers, which is at 20-25 percent, is likely to drop to 10-12 percent.
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