Namami Gange Programme
In News:
PM Modi inaugurated 6 mega projects in Uttarakhand under Namami Gange.
Details:
The six sewage treatment plants or STPs were inaugurated at Haridwar, Rishikesh, Muni-ki-Reti and Badrinath via video conference.
About Namami Gange Programme:
It an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as a ‘Flagship Programme’ in June 2014.
Implementation:
The program is being implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and its state counterpart organizations i.e., State Program ManagementGroups (SPMGs).
NMCG is the implementation wing of National Ganga Council (set in 2016; which replaced the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NRGBA).
National Ganga Council (NGC) was Created in October 2016 under the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016. It is Headed by Prime Minister.
Funding:
It has a Rs. 20,000-crore, centrally-funded, non-lapsable corpus and consists of nearly 288 projects.
Main Pillars of the Namami Gange Programme are:
Promotion of Buddhist Sites under Swadesh Darshan & PRASHAD
In news:
Development of tourism related infrastructure and facilities at various Buddhist Sites in India under flagship schemes of Swadesh Darshan & PRASHAD has been undertaken.
Ministry: Ministry of Tourism
Steps Taken:
Swadesh Darshan Scheme has included Buddhist circuit and Spiritual circuit among its 13 thematic circuits.
30 projects for development of infrastructure have also been undertaken under the PRASHAD Scheme.
Buddhist Sites at Bodhgaya, Ajanta & Ellora have been identified to be developed as Iconic Tourist Sites.
Buddhist Conclave is organised every alternate year with the objective of promoting India as a Buddhist Destination.
Signages have been installed in Chinese language at buddhist monuments in Uttar Pradesh and in Sinhala language at Sanchi monuments in Madhya Pradesh.
PRASHAD Scheme:
The ‘National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive’ (PRASAD).
Launched by: Ministry of Tourism (2014-15).
It was changed from PRASAD to “National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)” in October 2017.
Objective: (1) Holistic development of identified pilgrimage destinations; (2) Rejuvenation and spiritual augmentation of important pilgrimage and heritage sites; (3) Follow community-based development and create awareness among the local communities; (4) Strengthen the mechanism for bridging the infrastructural gaps.
Swadesh Darshan Scheme:
It is a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2014 -15.
Objective: Integrated development of theme based tourist circuits in the country;
To position the tourism sector as a major engine for job creation
The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for infrastructure development of circuits.
Study on biogenic methane hydrate in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin conducted
In news:
Recently, a study on biogenic methane hydrate in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin was conducted by the researchers at the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI).
Details:
They have identified the methanogens that produced the biogenic methane trapped as methane hydrate.
Methane hydrate can be a significant source of energy.
This study revealed maximum methanogenic diversity in the KG basin in comparison to the Andaman and Mahanadi basins.
Methane Hydrate:
Krishna-Godavari Basin:
Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark launched
In news:
India and the Kingdom of Denmark have launched the Green Strategic Partnership for delivering sustainable solutions to India.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Intellectual Property (IP) Cooperation with Denmark.
Green Strategic Partnership:
Intellectual Property Cooperation:
The MoU aims at increasing IP co-operation between the two countries through exchange of information and best practices on processes for disposal of applications for patents, trademarks, Geographical Indications, and cooperation in the field of protection of Traditional Knowledge.
It will be a landmark step forward in India’s journey towards becoming a major player in global innovation and further the objectives of the National Intellectual Property Rights Policy, 2016.