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.

• It seeks to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution and conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.
• It is being operated under Ministry of Jal Shakti.

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:

• Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure
• River-Surface Cleaning
• Afforestation
• Industrial Effluent Monitoring
• River-Front Development
• Bio-Diversity
• Public Awareness
• Ganga Gram

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:

• Methane hydrate is a crystalline solid that consists of a methane molecule surrounded by a cage of interlocking water molecules.
• It only occurs naturally as ‘ice’ in subsurface deposits where temperature and pressure conditions are favourable for its formation.
• It becomes unstable if the ice is removed from its environment.
• Other names: Methane clathrate, methane ice, fire ice, natural gas hydrate, and gas hydrate.
• Most methane hydrate deposits also contain small amounts of other hydrocarbon hydrates.

Krishna-Godavari Basin:

• It is an extensive deltaic plain formed by two large east coast rivers, Krishna and Godavari
• Location: Andhra Pradesh and the adjoining areas of Bay of Bengal.
• The site is known for the D-6 block with the biggest natural gas reserves in India.
• The first gas discovery was made in 1983 by ONGC.
• The basin is home to the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (IUCN Status: Vulnerable).

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:

• The Partnership will focus on expanding economic ties, green growth, and cooperation on global challenges such as climate change.
• Danish companies with niche technologies and expertise have offered to help India in meeting its air pollution control targets, Covid-19 pandemic and cooperation in water efficiency and water loss.
• The creation of India-Denmark energy parks in areas with large numbers of Danish firms and an India-Denmark skill institute to train Indian manpower has been proposed.

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.