28 Jul 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

C. GS 3 Related

Category: ENVIRONMENT AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. The anatomy of the Yamuna floodplains

Syllabus: Conservation, Environmental pollution and degradation, and Environmental impact assessment

Mains: Causes and consequences of different types of pollution, role of human activities in exacerbating environmental degradation, and strategies for sustainable development and environmental conservation. 

Prelims: About Floodplains and the impact of encroachment

Context:

The article explores the importance of the Yamuna River and the issues related to its floodplains, such as encroachments and the impact on communities and flood management.

The Significance of Yamuna and its Floodplains

• Yamuna was Delhi’s lifeline and protected it from water scarcity and floods. Construction, urbanisation, and lax regulations have threatened the floodplains.
• Floodplains are integral to the river system, slowing water runoff, recharging groundwater, and storing excess water for non-monsoon seasons.

Communities on the Floodplains

• Floodplains house over 9,000 households with various livelihoods such as farming, daily wage work, and animal herding.
• Evictions and bans on agriculture have impacted communities, leading to a shift from farming to daily wage labour.

Also read: National Floodplains Zoning Policy

Emergence of Settlements

• Non-agricultural settlements emerged after independence, housing refugees and labourers from neighbouring states, contributing to rapid urbanisation.
• The floodplains were used for projects, impacting the ecosystem and restricting the river’s expansion.

Delhi’s Master Plan and Encroachments

• Delhi’s Master Plan designated the Yamuna floodplain as a protected area, but poor implementation allowed encroachments and construction.
• Building on recharge areas reduced groundwater and restricted the river’s ability to carry floodwater.

Impact of Encroachments on Flood Management

• Encroachments limit the river’s width, causing devastating flash floods and affecting sediment transport and river rejuvenation.
• Climate change intensifies rainfall, leading to severe flooding and challenges in flood management.

Also read: Flood Control and Management

Addressing the Challenges

• Floodplain zoning, climate-resilient infrastructure, desilting drains, and improving drainage systems can help mitigate flood risks.
• Policymakers must prioritise preserving the river’s ecosystem and avoid conflicts between development and nature.

Nut Graf: The article delves into the significance of the Yamuna River in Delhi and the challenges posed by encroachments on its floodplains. It highlights the impact on communities, flood management, and the need for climate-resilient measures to preserve the river’s ecosystem.

E. Editorials

Category: SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. Weighing in on the national research foundation bill

Syllabus: Issues Relating to the Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, and Human Resources.

Mains: Current status of R&D in India and how NRF will boost the research in India and concern surrounding this?

Context: Union Cabinet approved NRF Bill 2023 for research funding. Concerns arise over the abolition of SERB (Science and Engineering Research Board) & NRF’s limited budget.

Current Status of Research in India:

• Research spending in India is low at 0.64% of GDP. In comparison, the United States, China, Israel, and South Korea allocate 2.8%, 2.1%, 4.3%, and 4.2% of GDP, respectively, for research and innovation.
• Public and private expenditure on research and development combined has been declining over the years.

Kasturirangan Committee on Research:

• The Kasturirangan Committee, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, proposed the establishment of the National Research Foundation (NRF).
• The NRF aims to strengthen the research ecosystem in India, promote innovation, and nurture research across universities and colleges.
• The committee suggested that the NRF should receive an annual grant of Rs. 20,000 Crores (0.1% of GDP) to support research initiatives.

The provision in NRF Bill:

• The Union Cabinet approved the NRF Bill in June 2023, paving the way for the establishment of the National Research Foundation.
• The NRF Bill seeks to establish an apex body responsible for spearheading research and development in the country.
• Its primary objectives include funding and promoting research, fostering innovation, and facilitating collaboration among various stakeholders.
• The NRF will work in coordination with existing funding agencies and academic institutions to ensure synergy and avoid duplication of efforts.

Funding Provision in NRF:

• The Kasturirangan Committee proposed an annual grant of Rs. 20,000 Crores for the NRF, emphasizing the need for substantial financial support to strengthen the research ecosystem.
• However, as per available information from a Press Information Bureau release, the NRF will have a funding of ₹10,000 crore for a five-year period, amounting to a total of ₹50,000 crore.
• Out of this total amount, the government grant or budgetary support is expected to be approximately ₹14,000 crore, while the remaining ₹36,000 crore is to be mobilized through industry and other private philanthropic sources.
• This translates to a maximum annual grant of ₹2,800 crore over the next five years, which is merely 14% of what the Kasturirangan Committee had recommended.

Concerns Around Abolition of SERB:

• There are concerns within the scientific community regarding the repeal of the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) Act 2008 and its subsumption into the NRF.
• The SERB, established as a statutory body of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has been instrumental in funding internationally competitive research in emerging areas of science and engineering.
• Some worry that the merger of SERB into the NRF might lead to a reduction in budgetary allocation for research and could impact existing research programs.

Way Forward:

• The NRF needs to secure adequate funding to fulfil its objectives of promoting research and fostering innovation effectively.
• It is essential for the government to consider the significant role of research in the nation’s progress and allocate sufficient resources to the NRF.
• The budgetary allocation for the NRF should not be compromised by the merger with the SERB to ensure continued support for research initiatives.
• Collaborative efforts between the NRF, existing funding agencies, and academic institutions are crucial to maximize the impact of research funding and enhance the research ecosystem in India.

Nut Graf: The scientific community in India awaits the implementation of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill 2023, which aims to strengthen the research ecosystem. However, concerns arise over the abolition of the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) and the limited budget allocation for the NRF.

Category: ENVIRONMENT

1. The hornet’s nest in the Forests Amendment Bill

Syllabus: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.

Mains: Provisions of Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 & debate of Conservation vs development & security

Context: The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 raises concerns over narrowed forest definitions, exemptions, and impact on forest communities.

Key Provision of the Forest Conservation Act of 1980:

• Protectionist Approach: The Forest Conservation Act of 1980 adopted a protective stance towards forests, emphasizing the need to conserve and manage forest resources effectively.
• Forest Clearance Process: The Act established a stringent forest clearance process for activities that involved the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes, such as industrial projects, mining, and infrastructure development.
• Centralized Control: The Act vested the power of granting forest clearances primarily with the Central Government, ensuring uniformity and adherence to conservation principles across the country.
• Compensatory Afforestation: To offset the ecological impact of diverting forest land, the Act mandated compensatory afforestation, wherein an equivalent area of non-forest land had to be afforested or reforested.

Provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, and Challenges: 

• The Amendment excludes fragile ecosystems near international borders from requiring forest clearances for security-related infrastructure development within 100 km.
• Globally recognized biodiversity hotspots like northeastern India and Himalayan forests and meadows could be affected.
• Exemptions introduced for construction projects like zoos, safari parks, and eco-tourism facilities.
• Bill grants unrestricted powers to the Union government to specify ‘any desired use,’ raising concerns about potential exploitation without proper scrutiny.
• No mention of other relevant forest laws like the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest-dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, leading to forest people’s exclusion from consultations.

Read more on the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023.

Godavarman Judgment:

• The 1996 judgment expanded the Forest Conservation Act’s scope to include areas with trees, even if not legally notified as forests.
• The Amendment restricts the Act to legally notified forests and those recorded after October 25, 1980.
• Potential impact on 28% of India’s forest cover, approximately 2,00,000 square kilometres, including valuable Unclassed Forests in Nagaland.
• States may now allow the destruction of previously protected forests for construction and development.

Conclusion:

• The Amendment diverges from the spirit of the original law, potentially facilitating forest destruction instead of conservation.
• Excluding important forest areas and fragile ecosystems may have negative environmental consequences.
• The participation of forest people should be encouraged rather than disenfranchised to achieve net zero carbon commitments and increase forest cover.
• Fast-tracking strategic and security projects is necessary, but blanket exemptions from regulatory laws are not the ideal solution.
• Proper geological and environmental assessments are crucial for development projects near ecologically sensitive areas like India’s northern borders.
• Forests and natural ecosystems are indispensable and must be valued and protected for the well-being of society.

Nut Graf: The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, despite its promising Preamble, is causing concerns among environmental experts due to narrowed forest definitions, exclusions of fragile ecosystems, and exemptions for construction projects. The potential disenfranchisement of forest communities and lack of rectification for flawed forest clearance processes add to the worries.