KERALA
- Water tanks in Thiruvananthapuram are nearly empty
- The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has started pumping five million litres of additional water daily and plans to increase it to 10 mld within a week. Though these steps are expected to solve the current drinking water crisis, the water level in major tanks suggests otherwise.
- One of the major tanks – the overhead tank at Observatory which has a capacity of 7 million litre, has a level of only 0.2m. The maximum level of the tank is 4m. Sources said that the diameter of the outlet pipe is 0.9m, which means that the water level is not even half the level of the outlet pipe.
- Surprisingly, the 4.4- million litre water tank of Japan International Corporation Agency-assisted water supply scheme at Observatory has no water in it. It is learnt that water is being diverted by providing direct connections from the transmission line.
- Similarly, the water level in another major tank in Peroorkada has a level of only 0.5 million litres. The water level in Attukal, Iranimuttam and Thirumala tanks is only 1.3m.
INTERNATIONAL
- Singapore airport named worlds best aviation hub for the seventh time
- According to the Skytrax World Airport Awards, Singapore’s Changi Airport has been crowned the world’s bestaviation hub for the seventh time in a row, while New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport featured at number 59.
- Singapore Changi Airport is known for its rooftop swimming pool, two 24-hour movie theaters and shopping spots.
- At number two on the list is Tokyo International Airport (Haneda), up one place from 2018. This hub also won World’s Best Domestic Airport and World’s Cleanest
- Incheon International Airportsecured 3rd position in the list.
- The other Indian aiports in the list were Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 64, the Rajiv Gandhi Hyderabad International Airport at 66, and Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport at 69.
- IAE report says rate of emission of CO2 increased in India
- The International Energy Agency (IEA) report onCarbon dioxide emissions said thatIndia emitted 2,299 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2018. The rate of growth of carbon dioxide emission in India was higher than that of the United States and China which are the two biggest emitters in the world. India’s emissions carbon dioxide witnessed an increase of 4.8% rise from 2018. This increase in the emission of carbon dioxide was attributed to coal consumption.
- China, the United States, and India accounted fornearly 70% of the rise in energy demand. India’s per capita emissions were about 40% of the global average and contributed 7% to the global carbon dioxide burden whereas the largest emitter the United States was responsible for 14%.
- India has pledged to reduce the emissions intensity of its economy by 2030.But India’s energy intensity improvement declined 3% from last year even as its renewable energy installations increased 10.6% from last year. As per estimates, India requires at least $2.5 trillion (Rs 150 trillion approx.) to implement its climate pledge which is around 71% of the combined required spending for all developing countries pledges.
NATIONAL
- Kandhamal haldi gets GI tag
- Kandhamal haldi (turmeric) produced by the tribal farmers in Odisha’s Kandhamal district received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
- Kandhamal turmeric, originally grown by tribal people in Kandhamal, is famous for its medicinal properties.
- Kandhamal haldi is organic by default being cultivated by more than 60,000 families.
- The colour of Kandhamal haldi is golden yellow being well distinguished from other varieties.
- Chunar sandstone second natural good to get GI tag
- Chunar Balua Patthar (sandstone), widely used in architectures and monuments across the country, has been granted Geographical Indication (GI) tag under natural goods category in the first week of March this year. It is the second GI tag under natural goods after Makrana Marble of Rajasthan.
- The use of Chunar sandstone could be seen in Ashokan Pillar and Lion Capitol at ASI museum of Sarnath, Chunar Fort, Ramnagar fort, ghats of Varanasi, main building of Sampurnanad Sanskrit University, 80-feet Buddha statue in Kandhar style at Thai Temple in Sarnath, 70-feet sitting statue of Buddha at Vietnamese Temple, Sarnath, and innumerable architectures and monuments in the country.
- South Korea defeat India in Azlan Shah Cup final
- India has lost to South Korea in the final of Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey tournament at Ipoh in Malaysia.
- South Korea lifted the title, defeating India in a shootout 4-2.
- Till the stipulated time both the teams had a score of 1 goal each.
- Hosts Malaysia defeated Canada 4-2 and secured the 3rd place.
- India win ICC Test Championship mace for 3rd straight year, get USD 1 million
- India have won ICC Test Championshipmace for the third year in a row after finishing at the top of ICC Test team rankings on the cut-off date of April 1.
- India have also been awarded $1-millioncash prize.
- New Zealand, who are ranked second, won $500,000 prize money after finishing with 108 points, eight behind India.
- South Africafinished 3rd with 105 points.
- Nine Test nations will compete across 27 series and 71 Test matches to reach the ICC World Test Championship Final in 2021 where the World Test Champions will be crowned.