Cabinet to discuss NGT order on Western Ghats

Karnataka’s objections to the K. Kasturirangan Committee report on demarcation of ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs) got a major blow after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently directed the State, along with five other west coast States, not to clear projects affecting the Western Ghats.

The NGT directed the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) not to reduce the extent of the ESAs, and ordered the Centre to finalise the issue within six months. This has come as a blow to Karnataka where 20,668 sq. km of villages may be declared as ESAs.

Karnataka has most of the forest areas, while Gujarat has the least — 448 sq. km. The ESAs are expected to be declared covering 1,576 villages in Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Belagavi, Mysuru, Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Hassan, and Chamarajanagar districts in the Western Ghats region.

INTERNATIONAL

· Japan to test mini space elevator

Researchers at Shizuoka University, a Japanese team, has developed a space elevator, a miniature version on satellites. The first trial of the miniature version of the apparatus and monitoring equipment on satellites will be conducted in the month of September. This will be the world’s first experiment to test elevator movement in space.
The equipment will hitch a ride on an H-2B rocket being launched by Japan’s space agency from the southern island of Tanegashima next week. The test involves a miniature elevator stand-in, a box just 6 cm long, 3 cm wide, and 3 cm high.

India and Bulgaria sign five agreements

The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, reached Bulgaria on September 4, 2018 on the second leg of his state visit to three European nations – Cyprus, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.

India and Bulgaria have signed five agreements during President Kovind’s visit:

An agreement between Invest India and Invest Bulgaria

An agreement on cooperation in and facilitation of tourism

An agreement on enhanced science and technology cooperation

An agreement on civil nuclear research and cooperation

An agreement between the Indian Council of Cultural Relations and Sofia University to promote Hindi studies

· Typhoon Jebi: Japan hit by strongest storm of 25 years

Jebi, Japan’s most powerful storm in 25 years, has killed at least 10 people. It recorded winds of up to 216km/h (135mph).
In a separate incident, a 6 magnitude earthquake caused a landslide on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido.

NATIONAL

Cabinet approves continuation of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats scheme

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Umbrella Scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-IDWH)beyond the 12^thPlan period from 2017-18 to 2019-20.

The Scheme consists of Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger (CSS-PT), Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-DWH) and Project Elephant (CSS-PE).

The total outlay is Rs. 1731.72 crore as central share (Rs. 1143 crore for Project Tiger, Rs. 496.50 crore for Development of Wildlife Habitats and Rs.92.22 crore for Project Elephant) from 2017-18 to 2019-20.

· Draft charter of Patients Rights released by Union Health Ministry

Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released a draft Charter of Patients’ Rights for proper health care by medical establishments.
This was prepared by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
Under the draft, the patients have 17 rights.

Right to non-discrimination,

Right to informed consent,

Right to seek a second opinion and

Right to choose alternate treatment options.

· Suresh Prabhu Launches Technology Initiatives For Coffee Stakeholders

Suresh Prabhu launched Coffee Connect – India coffee field force app and Coffee Krishi Tharanga – digital mobile extension services for coffee stakeholders at a function in New Delhi.
The main aim is to provide customized information and services to increase productivity, profitability, and environmental sustainability.

· Schools cannot deny admission for lack of Aadhaar: UIDAI

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has asserted that schools cannot refuse admission to students for lack of Aadhaar, and termed denial on such grounds as “invalid”.
It has also exhorted schools to coordinate with local banks, post offices, State education department and district administration, to facilitate special camps in their premises for Aadhaar enrolment and updation.

· Swachh Bharat progress key to UN Sustainable Development Goal on open defecation

India is claiming the “world’s most improved” tag with regards to ending open defecation.

The deadline for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6.2 [regarding sanitation, hygiene and open defecation] is 2030

The Swachh Bharat programme aims to end open defecation across the country by October 2, 2019, which is the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. So far, 19 States and Union Territories have been declared ODF, or open defecation free, by the government. While 444 districts have been declared ODF, only nine of those are in Uttar Pradesh, and only four in Bihar.

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