07-08-11-21 Daily-Karnataka-KPSC Current Affairs

Plenty of water has flowed down the river since theKrishnaWater Disputes Tribunal-2 (KWDT-2) delivered its final award, and yet the Upper Krishna Project (UKP) is still stuck in limbo.

Implementing the award, removing silt from the Almatti and Narayanapur reservoirs and improving crumbling Irrigation are major challenges inKarnatakas bid to ensure UKP, one of the biggest irrigation projects in the country, is a success.

UKP consists of three phases, two of which have been implemented. The third stage making use of 177tmcft of water allocated by KWDT-2 is meandering through the judicial system. Some also say there is lack of government will.

The State Government intends to use 130tmcft to irrigate 5.3lakh hectares in Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, Bagalkot, Raichur and Gadag districts under UKP Stage 3. However, plans are stuck as the Tribunals final award has not been notified in the central gazette. Without this mandatory process, the state cannot use the water.

Some farmers believe the state is not all that keen since it would require gigantic sums some Rs 70,000 crore to implement UKP Stage-3. To harness the additional Krishna water, the state will have to increase storage levels in Almatti Dam to 524 metres. But this will affect 22 villages and parts of Bagalkot town. Over 1.3 lakh acres of agricultural land will be submerged under water and a huge chunk of funds will go towards compensating and rehabilitating residents.

The Delhi Cabinet has authorized a budget of Rs 1544 crores to improve Health Services in the union territory as part of its fight against COVID-19.

Highlights:

The ‘Emergency COVID Response Package’ was adopted by the Delhi government, led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal (ECRP).

The ECRP 2021 was established because there was widespread agreement that the epidemic was not yet over and that a third wave was likely.

Thus, in order to avoid any doubts about virus management and prevention, the cabinet granted Rs 1544.24 crore for the State ECRP 2021-22.

The ECRP will aid in improving resource management in Delhi. It will be critical in the event of a future Covid-19 wave.

This fund will be used to fund all long-term and short-term pandemic management initiatives.

China successfully launched three new remote sensing satellites from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

Highlights:

The satellites are from the Yaogan-35 constellation.

They were launched successfully into the desired orbit by a Long March-2D carrier rocket.

This was China’s 396th mission using its Long March series carrier rockets.

In March 2019, China’s Long March-3B rocket successfully completed its 300th launch.

It successfully launched a new Communication satellite into orbit.

Since 1970, this rocket has been the backbone of China’s space program.

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation produced the Long March carrier rocket series.

On November 2, 2021, the ongoing UN COP26 Climate conference in Glasgow Global Methane Pledge was launched.

Highlights:

This promise has been signed by over 90 countries so far.

The United States and the European Union are jointly leading the Global Methane Pledge.

Because methane is the second most abundant greenhouse gas in the , this vow is significant.

Global Methane Pledge

The US and EU originally launched the Global Methane Pledge in September 2021. It’s a deal to cut down on worldwide methane emissions.
This commitment was made with the goal of reducing methane emissions by 30% by 2030 when compared to 2020 levels.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, methane is responsible for around half of the 1.0 degree Celsius increase in global Average temperature since pre-industrial times.

According to the United Nations, methane is responsible for 25% of Global Warming.

The 8th of November is World Urbanism Day, often known as “World Town Planning Day.”

Highlights:

Its goal is to acknowledge and promote the importance of planning in the development of livable communities.

World Urbanism Day is an occasion to examine planning from a global perspective in order to raise awareness of the environmental consequences of urban and territorial development.

The International Society of City and Regional Planners hosts WUD (ISOCARP).

Professor Carlos Maria della Paolera of the University of Buenos Aires inaugurated the day in 1949 to promote public and professional interest in planning.

ISOCARP was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands.