Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 26 April 2024 | Download PDF

• The Supreme Court Registry has refused to accept a petition to end the Collegium system of judicial appointments and revive the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC).
• The NJAC, which gave an equal role to the government in judicial appointments, had been struck down by a Constitution Bench in October 2015.

About NJAC:

• The NJAC was introduced through the 99th Constitutional Amendment Act in 2014, along with the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, 2014.
• The purpose of the NJAC was to replace the existing Collegium system of appointing judges, which was criticized for lacking transparency and accountability.
• In October 2015, the Supreme Court declared the 99th Constitutional Amendment and the NJAC Act unconstitutional.
• The judgment reinstated the Collegium system, stating that the NJAC infringed upon the independence of the judiciary and violated the basic structure of the Constitution.

• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Maldives Islands significantly influence the currents in the Indian Ocean, altering their direction and speed.
• Scientists at the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) found that deep-swirling patterns in the ocean depths are opposite to the surface currents.

About Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS):

• INCOIS was established in 1999 as an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
• Mandate: It serves as a repository of ocean data and information, providing operational oceanographic services, modeling, and advisory services.
• Location: INCOIS is located in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• Objectives:
  • To provide ocean information and advisory services to various stakeholders.
  • To develop and implement operational oceanography systems for the Indian Ocean region.
  • To conduct research in various aspects of oceanography and related fields.

• The Supreme Court recently issued a stay on the construction of four proposed dams were to be constructed inside the Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary.

About Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Location: The sanctuary is situated in the Shivalik foothills of the Himalayas in Haryana, with the Yamuna River running to its east.
• Topography: The landscape varies from plains to hills, interspersed with narrow valleys locally called ‘khols’. These valleys house seasonal rivulets, known as ‘soats’, which remain dry for most of the year.

• The Sustainable Finance for Tiger Landscapes Conference was recently held.
• Bhutan and the Tiger Conservation Coalition made a significant commitment of US$1 billion for the conservation of tigers.

About Tiger Conservation Coalition:

• The Tiger Conservation Coalition is a group of NGOs that has worked for many years to conserve tigers.
• The eight NGOs in the coalition include 
  • The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA),
  • Fauna & Flora, 
  • The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), 
  • Panthera, 
  • TRAFFIC, 
  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),
  • Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and 
  • World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
• The members co-developed Tiger Conservation Landscapes 3.0, an integrated habitat modelling system to measure and monitor changes in tiger habitat at range-wide, national, biome, and landscape scales in near real-time.

• The Prime Minister of India recently addressed the 6th edition of the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI).
• The conference was organized by Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).

About Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI):

• CDRI is a multi-stakeholder global partnership that includes national governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, and academic and knowledge institutions.
• It was launched during the United Nations Climate Action Summit in 2019 in New York.
• The objective of CDRI is to promote the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks, thereby ensuring sustainable development.
• The international organisations include 
  • The Asian Development Bank (ADB), 
  • World Bank Group, 
  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),
  • United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), 
  • European Union, 
  • European Investment Bank, and 
  • The Private Sector alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies (ARISE).

• AI cameras are being used to monitor forest fires in Similipal National Park, Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.

Key points:

• The number of wildfires reported in Similipal National Park this summer is lower than last year.
• AI cameras are effectively detecting fires and alerting forest personnel for prompt action.
• More AI cameras will be installed in vulnerable areas, including Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary and forests in Southern Odisha.
• The cameras provide 360-degree surveillance and use GPS navigation to help personnel reach fire-affected areas.
• So far, 209 fire points have been detected and controlled, with only five detected today.
• No part of the core or buffer area has been affected, and wildlife is safe.
• Forest officials and ODRAF teams are working to control fires.

• IMD has issued a Red Alert for severe heatwave conditions in 11 districts of Odisha on April 27.

Heat Wave:

• • Qualitatively, heat wave is a condition of air temperature which becomes fatal to human body when exposed. 
  • Quantitatively, it is defined based on the temperature thresholds over a region in terms of actual temperature or its departure from normal.
• Heat wave is considered if maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 400C or more for Plains and at least 300C or more for Hilly regions.

a) Based on Departure from Normal

• Heat Wave: Departure from normal is 4.50C to 6.40C
• Severe Heat Wave: Departure from normal is >6.40C

b) Based on Actual Maximum Temperature

• Heat Wave: When actual maximum temperature ≥ 450C
• Severe Heat Wave: When actual maximum temperature ≥470C
• India Meteorological Department issues following colour code impact based heat warning jointly with National Disaster Management Authority. 

• People in Keonjhar district are suffering due to temperatures reaching 43 degrees Celsius.
• The scarcity of mango trees, locally known as ‘Amba Totas,’ has worsened the situation for humans, animals, and birds.
• Deforestation and poor plantation planning are leading to the unnecessary felling of mango trees.

Impact:

• Villagers are realizing the importance of mango trees and are calling for their restoration.
• Earlier, mango orchards were key social and meeting places.
• The absence of mango trees has affected social gatherings and traditional fairs like ‘Raja.’
• Natural calamities and urbanization have contributed to the decline of mango orchards.

Environmental Benefits:

• People are recognizing the environmental benefits of mango trees, including their ability to provide shade, reduce pollution, and offer natural cooling.
• The disappearance of mango orchards has led to a decline in social interaction, as concrete structures replace these natural meeting spots.

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