17-11-21 Daily-Kerala-KPSC Current Affairs

Even two years after awarding the work on integrated urban rejuvenation and water transport system (IURWTS) project, theKochi Metro Rail Ltd(KMRL) the nodal agency is yet to secure environmental clearance for the project fromKerala coastal zone management authority(KCZMA).

Though KCZMA has asked KMRL to “submit details and data regarding the implications of regulating water flow by the canal lock gates” on July 2, 2021, the Metro agency is yet to submit the details. When the Rs 1,528 crore IURWTS project, which was designed for cleaning and beautifying six canals in Kochi and making them navigable, was launched in November 2019, the plan was to start the work within six months.

Moreover, the land acquisition wing of KIIFB-funded projects in Kochi is overburdened. There are just 12 officials in the team which is to take care of land acquisition of all the KIIFB-funded project.

The Ministry of Science and Technology launched “TechNEEV@75” as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

Highlights:

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister, met with successful start-ups, including those from tribal communities, on the occasion.

The minister also stated that by the end of 2022, the Central Government will establish 30 Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Hubs for Scheduled Tribes (STs) across the country.

These STI centres will aid in the development of tribal communities’ scientific potential as well as general socioeconomic Growth.

The Department of Science and Technology has already established 20 of the 75 projected STI Hubs.

Through a variety of interventions across the farm, non-farm, and other linked livelihood sectors, these centres will directly assist 20,000 individuals.

“TechNEEV@75” is a year-long commemoration of the role of science, technology, and innovation (STI) in enabling communities to achieve equitable and inclusive economic growth.

This report was published at the time when Delhi and its adjoining states are reeling from a thick blanket of smog and deadly fumes.

As a result of this, government has shut schools and take emergency measures to control pollution.

The Supreme Court also noted that, it has become a trend to blame farmers and their practice of stubble burning for all the pollution in Delhi.

As per report, stubble burning incidents in the year 2021 are considerably lower in most states, with exception in Haryana.

In Haryana, stubble burning incidents has increased by 48.5 per cent in between September 15 and November 13, 2021.

In Punjab, the cumulative number of such incident is 21 per cent lesser as compared to However, since October 13, Punjab witnessed a 53.3 per cent jump in stubble burning incidents.

Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai are among the top ten most polluted cities in the world, according to the IQAir Air Quality Index.

Highlights:

Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai are among the top 10 most polluted cities in the world, according to statistics from IQAir.

With an AQI of 556, Delhi topped the list, while Kolkata and Mumbai, in 4th and 6th place, had AQIs of 177 and 169, respectively.

Lahore, Pakistan, and Chengdu, China, are among the cities with the poorest AQI indexes.

IQ Air:

IQ Air is an air quality and pollution city tracking service, a Switzerland-based Climate organisation.

IQAir is also a United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) technology partner (UNEP).

An AQI of zero to 50 is regarded as ‘good,” 51 to 100 is considered satisfactory,’ 101 to 200 is considered moderate,’ 201 to 300 is considered ‘poor,’ 301 to 400 is considered very poor,’ and 401 to 500 is considered severe.’