MENTOR
Bhuvan Ganga Mobile Application launched to aid National Mission for Clean Ganga
To aid National Mission for Clean Ganga, the Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti on 23 June 2015 launched Bhuvan Ganga mobile application and a web portal.
The app will allow people to upload pictures of pollution sources of river Ganga for further action by the concerned authorities.
The application and web portal was launched after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the National Mission for Clean Ganga and the National Remote Sensing Centre (ISRO).
Purpose of the user-friendly Bhuvan Mobile App and Portal
• The android based app will help in monitoring Union Government’s flagship Clean Ganga Mission.
• It will be used as a tool to support decision making and planning for the Clean Ganga Mission.
• It will enable public to collect and report information on various pollution sources that affects the water quality of river Ganga.
Bhuvan Ganga Portal is an exclusive web portal deployed in ISRO Bhuvan’s geoportal with all geospatial layers related to river Ganga.
The first version of the app is available for download in the Bhuvan Ganga web portal (
Typhoon Kujira struck south China's Hainan Province
Typhoon Kujira struck China on 22 June 2015. The typhoon made its landfall in south China’s Hainan province with heavy rain in the drought hit island. It also carried packing winds of up to 90 kilometers per hour.
Critically endangered Sangai deer found in Manipur’s Loktak Lake to be translocated
Manipur Forest Department in the third week of June 2015 decided to translocate a section of rare and critically endangered species of Brow Antlered deer known as Sangai. It will be shifted with an aim to save it from extinction.
The deer found only in Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP), a floating biomass in Manipur's Loktak Lake, will be shifted to Pumlen Pat, which is close to Loktak. KLNP is the only floating national park in the world.
Northern Railway rolled out India’s first rail coach lit by solar panels
The Delhi division of the Northern Railway on 3 June 2015 rolled out a non-AC coach lit by solar panels mounted on its roof.
The eco-friendly solar panels will save fossil fuel as it needs reduced external charging of battery, thus reducing carbon foot print. The panels also require less maintenance in comparison to existing equipments.
This is the first time in the history of Indian Railways, that a solar photovoltaic system has been used for power requirements of light and fan in a broad gauge coach.
The coach, on an experimental basis, was attached to a high speed Self Propelled-Accident Relief Unit (SPART) that travelled from Delhi Cantonment to New Delhi railway station.
Environmental Democracy Index 2015 released; India at 24th position
Washington-based World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Access Initiative on 20 May 2015 released the first Environmental Democracy Index (EDI) for the year 2015. The index evaluates the environmental democracy in 70 countries based on recognised international standards.
The index evaluates whether Governments are enacting national laws to promote transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in environmental decision making. It is assessed and analysed by more than 140 international lawyers and experts.
India was ranked at 24th position out of 70 countries in the first Environmental Democracy Index that is topped by Lithuania at the first position, Latvia at the second and Russia at the third position.
Highlights of the Environmental Democracy Index
• 79 percent of countries assessed earned only fair or poor ratings for public participation adding that many nations lag on providing citizens basic environmental information.
• Nearly half (46 percent) of the countries do not provide any ambient air quality data online for their capital cities.
• In 73 percent of the countries, courts hear environmental cases. But very few countries have assistance for marginalized groups.
• Around 64 percent of countries with laws on the books do not release any information to the public on emissions or wastewater discharges, pollutants that can impact human health and the environment.
• Only 14 percent of the countries have legal mechanisms that help women access courts to obtain redress when their environmental rights are violated.
• The index found that wealth is an important facilitator for environmental democracy, as is being a signatory of a major treaty like the Kyoto Protocol or the Aarhus convention.
• Right to environmental information has been established in the 93 percent of the assessed countries.
About Environmental Democracy Index
The Environmental Democracy Index (EDI) is the first comprehensive index designed specifically to measure procedural rights in an environmental context.
The United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Bali Guidelines for the Development of National Legislation on Access to Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters provide EDI with an international standard against which national laws can be assessed.
New Catfish Species Glyptothorax Senapatiensis discovered in Manipur
The Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered a new species of catfish named Glyptothorax senapatiensis in the Chindwin river drainage in Senapati district of Manipur. The discovery was published in the Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters journal in March 2015.
The discovery was published in the research paper titled Glyptothorax senapatiensis, a new species of catfish from Manipur, India. The lead authors of the research paper are Kosygin, Nongthombam Premananda and Bano Saidullah.
The people of the Chindwin river drainage region used to have this 6 cm long freshwater fish as food. They called this fish as Ngapang.
About Glyptothorax senapatiensis
• It is edible fish with high nutritional value and has high oil content.
• It has thoracic adhesive apparatus with U-shaped median depression opening caudally that helps the fish to cling on rocky riverbed in mountains against strong currents.
• It is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of characters: deep body, deep caudal peduncle, narrow head, short dorsalfin spine and short pectoral-fin.
• It has nasal barbell extending to middle of orbit; skin on head and body densely tuberculate.
Opah, the world’s first fully warm-blooded fish species, discovered by researchers
Researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) discovered the world’s first fully warm-blooded fish species named Opah. These fishes are found in the deep waters off the US, Australia and several other countries.
The finding of the researchers was published on 15 May 2015 in the journal Science.
How the Opah conserves its warmth?
According to the finding, the Opah fish has developed an internal heat exchange system within its gills to conserve the warmth and it raises its temperature by flapping its fins.
This adaptation means warm blood that leaves the opah’s body core helps heat cold blood returning from the surface of the gills where it absorbs oxygen, maintaining an average body temperature of about 4 degree Celsius to 5 degree Celsius.
This system is more akin to a car radiator and is similar to that used by mammals and birds, which are known as endotherms for their ability to maintain body temperature independent of the environment.
While tuna and some sharks can warm certain parts of their bodies, such as their brains and eyes, fish are generally classed among cold-blooded animals, known as ectotherms.
Characteristics of Opah fish
• Opahs are more effective predators by virtue of being a warm-blooded species.
• It swims faster, reacts more quickly and sees more sharply than the other marine life
• It can dwell 50 meter to 400 meter underwater.
• It can weigh up to 90kg and are oval-shaped roughly the size of a car tyre.
• It has fatty deposits around the gills, heart and muscle tissue in order to provide insulation from the cold water.
Union Cabinet Approved Namami Gange programme under National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 13 May 2015 gave its nod for implementation of Namami Gange programme (NGP).
The programme will be operational under the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA).
Key Features of Namami Gange Programme (NGP)
• It is an Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission in the sense that it tries to integrate the efforts to clean and protect the Ganga river in a comprehensive manner and will result in socio-economic benefits in terms of job creation, improved livelihoods and health benefits to the vast population that is dependent on the river.
• Its focus is on pollution abatement interventions namely Interception, diversion and treatment of wastewater flowing through the open drains through bio-remediation or appropriate in-situ treatment or use of innovative technologies such as sewage treatment plants (STPs) or effluent treatment plant (ETPs).
• It has a budget outlay of 20000 crore rupees for 2015-20. This is a significant four-fold increase over the expenditure in the past 30 years as the Union Government incurred an overall expenditure of approximately 4000 crore rupees on this task since 1985.
• The Union Government will sanction 100 percent funding for various activities or projects under this program and the operation and maintenance of the assets will be for a minimum period of 10 years.
• It would be implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and its state counterpart organizations that is State Program Management Groups (SPMGs).
• A three-tier mechanism will be established for project monitoring viz., A high level task force chaired by the Union Cabinet Secretary assisted by NMCG at national level, State level committee chaired by Chief Secretary assisted by SPMG at state level and District level committee chaired by the District Magistrate.
• It emphasizes on improved coordination mechanisms between various Ministries or Agencies of the Union and State governments and will involve the States and grassroots level institutions such as Urban Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and people living on the banks of the river in implementation to attain sustainable results.
• It adopts a PPP (Public Private Partnership) or Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) approach for pollution hotspots.
• A 4-battalion Ganga Eco-Task Force, a Territorial Army unit, will be set up to bolster enforcement.
NGT imposed monthly tax on all households in Delhi
National Green Tribunal (NGT) on 8 May 2015 ordered that every household in Delhi will have to pay a monthly environmental compensation to clean up Yamuna River.
According to the direction, the compensation to be paid will be directly proportional to the property or water tax whichever is higher, paid by a particular household. In case of unauthorized colonies households that do not pay property tax or water bill will have to pay an amount that would be between 100 rupees to 500 rupees.
The decision was made by the NGT bench headed by its chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar on a petition of environmental activist, Manoj Misra against severe pollution in Yamuna River.
This amount would be added to electricity bills, water bill or the property tax by the respective departments which will transfer the money to Delhi government. The amount collected through the compensation will be utilized to set up new sewage treatment plants and provide other technology to clean up river Yamuna.
Calbuco volcano of Chile erupted after 42 years
Calbuco volcano of Chile erupted twice on 22 April and 23 April 2015 after 42 years. Tonnes of ash rained down following two volcanic eruptions leading to declaration of state of emergency by President Michelle Bachelet.
When it first erupted on 22 April 2015, it produced a column of ash extending to more than 49000 feet into the sky. The scientists called for an evacuation zone of 12.5 miles.
Turrialba Volcano erupted in Costa Rica
Turrialba volcano in Costa Rica erupted on 24 April 2015. The eruption led to rise of a column of gas and ash in the sky and forced closure of the airport in the capital city San Jose.
The blast from the Turrialba volcano in the east of the Central American country came after the Calbuco volcano in Chile erupted twice on 22 April and 24 April 2015.
Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand declared as India's 48th Tiger Reserve
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) on 21 April 2015 accorded final approval to Rajaji National Park, Uttarakhand as India's 48th Tiger Reserve. With this notification, Uttarakhand got its second tiger reserve after the Corbett Tiger Reserve.
The notification was announced by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat while releasing logo of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve.
The Rajaji National Park that came into existence in 1983 is spread across three districts of Uttarakhand namely Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri Garhwal in an area over 820 square km.
The park is a home to 315 bird species, 40 species of reptiles and fish and 400 Asian elephants.
Thane named as National Earth Hour Capital 2015 by WWF
Thane in Mumbai, Maharashtra was named as the National Earth Hour Capital 2015 on 9 April 2015. It was named so after it emerged as winner among the three finalists from India viz., Thane, Rajkot and Pune, in the Earth Hour City Challenge (EHCC) 2015 conducted by World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
For its city mobility plan and solar and waste-to-energy initiatives, Pune received a special mention from the jury. Rajkot was felicitated for the city’s performance in the field of renewable energy.
Actions of Thane city administration that helped Thane to be named as the National Earth Hour Capital 2015 includes
• Mandatory use of solar water-heating systems for municipal buildings
• Solutions such as wind-solar hybrid systems
• Use of solar energy for lighting and air-conditioning
• Cities plan for solar rooftop net metering-based power generation and regular energy audits
• Energy Service Company (ESCO) project like
a) Energy-efficient street lighting
b) Commissioning of a bio-methanation plant to treat municipal solid waste and generate electricity
c) Three cyclic switching units for optimal use of streetlights
The 2015 Earth Hour Challenge saw the participation of thirteen Indian cities.
In 2014, Coimbatore was selected as the National Earth Hour Capital.
Seoul won WWF’s Earth Hour City Challenge to become the Global Earth Hour Capital 2015
Seoul city, the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea, on 9 April 2015 was awarded the title of Global Earth hour Capital 2015 after it won the Earth Hour City Challenge (EHCC) of World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The challenge saw the participation of 163 cities from 16 countries.
The award ceremony was held in Seoul, South Korea.
The city of Balikpapan, Indonesia was recognized as the Most Loveable City for 2015 and Thane city was named as the National Earth Hour Capital 2015 of India.
Seoul was chosen as the winner by EHCC jury of international experts for its comprehensive approach to tackle climate change and its determination to ramp up use of renewable energy. Seoul’s approach to radically reduce emissions includes
• Allocation of a realistic budget for increasing the use of solar power by residents
• Reduction of transport emissions through greener fuels
• Building more bus lanes and car sharing programs
To reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10 million tons Seoul has started an ambitious initiative under which by 2020 it will achieve 20 percent electricity self-reliance.
Union Government to re-classify industries in a three-coloured scheme based on pollution potential
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on 7 April 2015 proposed a colour-coded system to re-classify industries based on pollution potential. As per the proposal, the industries will be re-classified under three-coloured scheme, viz., Red, Orange and Green.
The proposal was part of the resolution adopted at the two-day State Environment and Forest Ministers' Conference at which measures to amend regulations to improve ease-of-doing business while protecting the environment was discussed.
Proposed colour-coded scheme
• Red Category: Industrial sectors with a score of 60 and more
• Orange Category: Industrial sectors with a score between 30 to 59
• Green Category: Industrial sectors with a score between 15 to 29
Industrial sectors scoring below 15 will be considered as white as they are environment friendly.
New renewal system for industries
Further, it is proposed to scrap the present system of annual renewal of certification for industries and replace it with a scheme that ties in with the colour-coded categories. Thus, as per the new renewal system:
• Industrial sectors falling under Red category will be given consent to operate with the validity period of five years
• Industrial sectors falling under Orange category will be given consent to operate for ten years
• Industrial sectors falling under Green category will be given a onetime consent
Apart from this, the individual units’ operative under this colour-coded scheme in various sectors will earn stars for compliance with environmental norms.
The two-day conference, which was participated by 30 ministers from different state looked upon a wide range of issues like waste to wealth, ease of doing business, TSR Subramanian committee recommendations, forest, wildlife, pollution-related issues, biodiversity and climate change.
Scientists discovered an endangered species of plant named Oldenlandia dineshi from Western Ghats
Scientists from four research institutions in Kerala discovered a rare species of plant named Oldenlandia dineshi from Palakkad region of Western Ghats. The discovery of the shrub was published in the Kew Bulletin on 19 March 2015.
The scientists came across the plant in a quarry during an exploration of the Nenmara region south of Palakkad in the valley of the Nelliyampathy hills.
Based on International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria, the researchers have classified Oldenlandia dineshii as an endangered species.