Kerala Affairs
Kerala: 74% of water samples tested at labs unfit for consumption
According to sources, of the 46 samples of KWA water tested, only 24 samples were fit for consumption, which means 48% of KWA water samples were contaminated with bacterial presence.
Among the samples tested, 80% of the samples were taken from wells and the remaining were KWA water, packaged drinking water, pond and lake water. These samples were given for testing by the public.
Of the contamination, 70.52% were due to the presence of coliform bacteria and 28.74% samples were due to E Coli.
With the rise in the number of tests in these labs, the KWA has also earned a good revenue. From just Rs 6,63,650 in 2020, the revenue increased to Rs 13,92,630 in 2022 (so far). In 2021, the revenue was Rs 9,27,219.
National and International Affairs
Restriction of Glyphosate
The glyphosate is a popular herbicide in India. Its usage became popular in the country after the illegal cultivation of Ht BT started. It is mainly used in tea plantations to control the Growth of unwanted Plants.
Glyphosate is an herbicide that is applied on the leaves to kill both broadleaf plants and Grasses. It is a non-selective herbicide that can kill almost all plants by stopping them from producing specific proteins required for their growth. Sodium salt form of this herbicide is used to regulate the plants growth and ripen specific crops.
TheCentrehas approved the setting up of theTerai Elephant Reserve(TER) at Dudhwa-Pilibhit inUttar Pradesh. The Terai Elephant Reserve is the3rd Elephant Reserve in Indiawhich is spread over3,049 sq km. The Terai Elephant Reserve includes protected areas, forest areas, and corridors for the conservation ofwild elephants.
The Terai Elephant Reserve will be developed in the joint forest areas of Dudhwa and Piliphit tiger reserve. This will cover the conservation of four wild species including tiger, Asian elephant, swamp deer, and one-horned rhinoceros.
Russia withdraws from Black Sea Grain Initiative
Russia recently pulled out of the Black Sea Grain Deal, which was launched to mitigate food caused by conflict in Ukraine.
Ukraine and Russia account for roughly 30 per cent of the worlds exported wheat and barley, one fifth of its maize, and over half of its sunflower oil.
Russia is also the worlds largest exporter of Fertilizers, accounting for 15 per cent of global exports.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative was signed by the UN, Ukraine, Russia and Trkiye during a ceremony in Istanbul in July. Under the deal, ships transporting grain from three Ukrainian Ports travel along an agreed corridor to markets worldwide
Brazil was the worlds largestcontributor to deforestation in 2021.
The country marked a 3% rise in the rate of deforestation in 2021 compared to the baseline 2018-2020.
Some 145 countries affirmed their commitment to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties(COP26) in Glasgow (2021).
Forest Declaration Assessment publishes annual updates on progress toward global forest goals.
2022 Forest Declaration Assessment
Recently, the 2022 Forest Declaration Assessment was published, showing that the<a href="https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/deforestation-in-cerrado-Brazil“>Deforestationrates worldwide declined only modestly in 2021 by 6.3 % compared to the 2018-20 baseline.