08 Apr 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Chamoli Disaster
2. AVSAR
3. India’s Collaboration with SCO

1. Chamoli Disaster

Syllabus: GS III, Disaster Management

Prelims: Facts related to Chamoli Disaster, Seismic Zones of India, 

Mains: Analysing the causes of glacier disasters that contribute to the instability of the Himalayan region. 

Context: A group of scientists decoded the root cause of the Chamoli disaster and also observed a sequence of seismic activity in the region.

The Chamoli Disaster: What Happened?

• A deadly ice-rock mass avalanche had hit the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand leading to significant casualties of more than 200 people. 
• The disaster was accompanied by massive economic losses. 
• As a result of the flash flood, modern structures were damaged including two hydropower projects, bridges and roads. 

Scientific Findings:

• It was found by the scientists that the region surrounding Chamoli was seismically active before the onset of the disaster. 
• The study found that precursory signals of rock-ice detachment were conveyed before the formation of new structures by self-assembly or self-organisation method which is known as the dynamic nucleation phase. 
• The retreating Himalayan glaciers and the associated melting of ice along the unstable slopes are key contributors to landslides by rainfall during monsoon or by induced seismic activities.
• Also, snow, ice and rock avalanches may become disastrous for the people and infrastructure downstream in mountainous areas. 
• The group of scientists also analysed the satellite images of the avalanche zones and observed that there exists gradual emergence of cracks and the joint near the crown of the weak wedge that result in the initiation of ice-rock mass avalanche which acts as the seismic precursors. 
• The seismic signals were analysed and verified to evaluate the velocity of dynamic flows and associated impacts. 
• The Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology has been engaged in understanding the process involved in glacial disasters in the Himalayas. This institute has successfully identified a network of seismic disturbances that give rise to disasters like the one that took place at Chamoli. 

Significance:

• The study offers high quality data that enables the reconstruction of the complete sequence of seismic events in a chronological manner and evaluates the effects of such events. 
• As the area surrounding Chamoli has been found to be prone to seismic activities, it is suggested that the area must be monitored regularly with an assessment of the glacial status. 
• Such advanced scientific evidence regarding the seismic disturbances in the Himalayan region broadens the scope of developing early warning systems for the region. It can facilitate an enhanced preparedness for glacial disasters.

Image Source: nidm.gov.in

What is an Avalanche?

• An avalanche can be defined as the rapid flow of snow down a slope such as a hill or a mountain. 
• It can cause havoc to the human settlements in the glaciated valleys and adjoining areas. 
• This is driven by factors such as increased precipitation of snowpack, seismic activities, human activities and so on. 
• There are different types of avalanches depending on the texture of the snow that flows. Slab avalanches are triggered by the collapse of an underlying weak snow layer whereas loose snow avalanches involve the flow of loose snow. 

Image Source: Hindustan Times

2. AVSAR

Syllabus: GS II, Welfare schemes for the vulnerable sections of the population

Prelims: Features of the AVSAR scheme

Context: The Airports Authority of India has stepped ahead with an initiative to encourage local women, artisans and craftsmen by introducing the AVSAR (Airport as Venue for the Skilled Artisans of the Region) scheme.

Provisions of the AVSAR scheme:

• Under this scheme, artisans and craftsmen will be allowed space at the airports for selling or presenting their self-made products. 
• The scheme will look forward to creating an opportunity for the vulnerable sections to become self-reliant and self-dependent. 
• The provision of the scheme offers 100-200 square feet of area to be allocated for the beneficiaries. 
• The space is allotted to the self-help groups for a duration of 15 days on a turn-on-turn basis. 

Functional Outlets:

• The exhibitions of handicrafts and self-made products have been commissioned at the airports of Chennai, Agartala, Dehradun, Kushinagar, Udaipur and Amritsar wherein the local women are demonstrating and marketing their homemade local products. 
• The products include puffed rice, packaged papad, pickles, bamboo-based ladies bag/bottle/lamp sets, local artefacts, traditional crafts, natural dyes, embroidery items and so on.

3. India’s Collaboration with SCO

Syllabus: GS II, Global Groupings involving India and/or India’s interests

Prelims: SCO

Mains: Significance of SCO in terms of India’s interests.

Context: India requested the countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to collaborate and work towards innovation and affordable scientific solutions for common challenges of food security, healthcare and energy access to the people. 

An overview of the matter:

• In a virtual SCO meeting, India highlighted the major and emerging challenges that demand a cooperative approach. 
• The SCO Samarkand Summit under the chairmanship of Uzbekistan has been decided to be organised and India agreed to extend its full support to the cause of the upcoming summit. 
• An intense engagement in the areas of environment and climate change has been envisaged as there is an increasing improvement in the ranking of SCO countries in the field of innovation. Such an engagement will contribute significantly to the global scientific arena.
• SCO’s importance for India’s strategic interests has been highlighted as a key regional organisation in the Eurasian space in the past two decades of its existence. 

Read more about SCO in the linked article.

Read previous PIB here.

April 8th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here