BIHAR
Experts: Patna,seven other cities stare at water crisis
Even as Bihar continues to face acute shortage of potable water, the proposed ‘State Groundwater Authority’ is yet to see the light of the day.
In 2006, the state minor irrigation department had proposed to set up a state-level authority on the pattern of the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) to regulate the exploitation of groundwater resources, but it did not materialize due to reasons best known to the authorities.
The proposed Bill was supposed to ensure better management and conservation of groundwater, the level of which is going down fast. Its passage would not only regulate water use, but also focus on its conservation by digging out ponds and cleaning choked water bodies to recharge the groundwater.
According to a study conducted by the CGWB, groundwater reservoirs in as many as 11 blocks of the state — Gaya Sadar, Rajgir, Nagarnausa (Nalanda), Meskaur (Nawada), Kurtha (Arwal), Birpur and Naokothi (Begusarai), Masaurhi and Sampatchak (Patna), Mushhari (Muzaffarpur) and Tajpur (Samastipur) — are in semi-critical condition.
So far as Patna is concerned, the water table has reportedly gone down 10 to 15 feet in recent years. Over-exploitation through deep tubewells is forcing the groundwater reservoir to deplete faster than it is being replenished.
INTERNATIONAL
‘World’s oldest rhino’ dies in Tanzania
A female black rhino, Fausta, who was believed to be the world’s oldest rhino has died at the age of 57 in a Tanzanian conservation area.
Fausta died of natural causes in captivity in Ngorongoro Crater, which lies in Ngorongoro Conservation Area of Tanzania.
The records showed that Fausta lived longer than any rhino in the world.
India improves Sustainable Development Goals Index score by three positions
India has improved its composite score from 57 in 2018 to 60 in the Sustainable Development Goals Index 2019-20.
This has been achieved due to better work in water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy and industry, innovation, and infrastructure.
Kerala achieved the first rank in the composite SDG Index with a score of 70, followed by Himachal Pradesh at 69.
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu ranked at the third position with a score of 67.
The states showing the biggest improvement since 2018 are Uttar Pradesh which has moved from the 29th position to the 23rd, Odisha from 23rd to 15th and Sikkim from 15th to 7th position.
NATIONAL
India State of Forest Report, 2019
The total tree and forest cover in the country increased by 5,188 square kilometer in the last two years, said the India State of Forest Report 2019.
The top three states in terms of forest cover are Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.
While Karnataka grew the maximum forest-and-tree cover at 1,025 sq km, Andhra Pradesh grew a 990-sq km cover and a 823-sq km of forest cover was created by Kerala in the last two years.
The total forest cover of the country is 7,12,249 sq km which is 21.67% of the geographical area of the country.
The tree cover of the country is estimated as 95,027 sq km which is 2.89% of the geographical area.
Finance Minister Sitharaman launches ‘eBkray’ auction platform for assets attached by banks
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched eBkray, an e-auction platform to enable online auction of attached assets by banks.
The eBkray platform provides navigational links to all PSB e-auction sites, property search feature and presents single-window access to information on properties up for e-auction, comparison of similar properties, and also contains videos and photographs of the uploaded properties.
Indian Banks Auctions Mortgaged Properties Information (IBAPI) portal is an initiative of Indian Banks Association (IBA) under the policy of the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance.
SBI to launch OTP-based cash withdrawal at all its ATMs from January 1, 2020, onwards
The State Bank of India (SBI) will switch to a one-time password (OTP) based cash withdrawal system at all its ATMs from January 1, 2020, onwards.
With this latest move, the lender aims to ensure the protection of its customers from unauthorised transactions at ATMs.
The new OTP-based ATM withdrawal will be applicable for transactions above Rs 10,000, between 8 pm to 8 am.
Customers withdrawing cash from SBI ATMs will receive an OTP on their mobile number registered with the bank.
However, the facility won’t apply in case of transactions made by SBI cardholders at any other bank’s ATM.
All India Radio organizes National Symposium of Poets 2020
National Symposium of Poets 2020 organized by All India Radio. This poet symposium attended by select poets of all 22 languages recognized in the constitution. It is held continuously every year since 1956. The country gave their presentations and captivated the hearts of the people.
The national symposium is organized every year and broadcast on the eve of Republic Day and at all the centers of AIR. The special conversation with AIR News, senior litterateur Dr. Chitra Mudgal the events unify the country.
Gen Bipin Rawat named as countrys first Chief of Defence Staff
Indian Army General Bipin Rawat named as the country’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). Chief of Defence Staff will be a 4-star General, the principal military advisor to the defence minister, and will head the new Department of Military Affairs. Chief of Defence Staff ensures the jointness in training, logistics, and procurement of the three services. General Rawat is the first officer to hold the post of the Chief of Defence Staff.
Defence Ministry amended the army, air force, and navy rules by bringing in a new clause that allows the CDS to serve up to a maximum age of 65 years. The CDS will administer all tri-services organizations command will be with the Chief of the service. Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) is a position for the tri-service chief of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, with the first CDS being General Bipin Rawat.