- AVIAN FLU
- Amid fears of avian flu spreading, mass bird deaths have been reported from Muttar and Ambalappuzha North in Alappuzha district
- District Animal Husbandry Officers collected samples from two places
- They sent them to the Avian Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Thiruvalla for testing
- The tests carried out at the laboratory suspect bird flu
- The samples were then to the National Institute of High[1]Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal for final confirmation
- Note — An avian flu outbreak can only be declared after confirmation from the NIHSAD Surveillance – After the presence of the H5N1 subtype of the Influenza A virus was confirmed in ducks of three farmers rapid response teams of the Animal Husbandry Department culled 17,480 birds
- Mostly ducks, within a one-km radius of bird flu hotspots
- The avian influenza virus can be transmitted to humans
- The Health department has tightened preventive steps and urged people to maintain caution
- Surveillance has been strengthened within a 10-km radius of the hotspots
2. INDIA – WATER STRESS AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE
- Increasing water stress due to factors like population growth, pollution, and unsustainable water usage
- Changing monsoon patterns with both increased short-duration heavy rainfall and decreased overall availability
- Agriculture sector highly vulnerable due to its dependence on reliable water supply
- Need for water for clean energy transition (e.g., green hydrogen production) Current Initiatives (with limitations) Disaster preparedness programs – Need to shift from reactive to proactive measures
- Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Launched in 2019, it aims to provide piped water supply to every rural household by 2024
- National Water Mission – Aims for increased water use efficiency but lacks proper data collection
- Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation – Aims for reduced water loss but lacks strong baselines for measurement
- State and Local Level Initiatives
- Water Security Plans: On state level to assess water availability, identify vulnerable areas, and propose mitigation strategies
- Rainwater harvesting structures
- Promoting drought-resistant crops
- Public awareness campaigns
- Community-Based Water Management: To manage local water resources
- Traditional water conservation practices
- Forming water user associations
- Promoting equitable water distribution
- Early Warning Systems: to predict droughts and floods
- This allows authorities to take proactive measures
- Like water rationing or pre-emptive water storage
- Recommendations – Policy coherence: Integrate water management with food and energy policies
- Judicious water use: Promote water accounting, efficient irrigation methods, and wastewater reuse
- Financial tools: Increase funding for adaptation projects like wastewater management, desalination plants, and climate[1]resilient agriculture
- Potential sources include Green Credit Programme and CSR initiatives
- Data collection: Establish baselines for water use to measure progress and inform policy decisions
3. UNIQUE ID MUST BE GENERATED FOR ORGAN DONATION
- New Measures to Prevent Organ Transplant Malpractice in India The Union Health Ministry has issued new directives to improve transparency and prevent commercialisation in organ transplants, especially those involving foreigners.
- Key Points: Unique Identification System: All organ transplants (deceased or living donors) will require a unique ID from the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) for both donor and recipient
- Mandate for Deceased Donors: The NOTTO ID is mandatory for organ allocation in deceased donor transplants
- Early Registration for Living Donors: For living donor transplants, the ID must be obtained within 48 hours of surgery
- Stricter Monitoring: Local authorities will conduct regular inspections of hospitals performing transplants
- Focus on Quality and Follow-Up: Inspections will assess transplant quality, post-operative care, and long-term outcomes for both donors and recipients
- Action for Violations: Hospitals found breaching the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA) 1994 could face suspension of their transplant license
- Reasons for these measures – Reports of malpractice in organ transplants
- Increase in organ transplants involving foreigners, raising concerns about exploitation
4. CARBON EMISSION
- Over half (51%) of India’s top-100 listed companies are voluntarily disclosing their carbon footprint (Scope 3 emissions)
- Many companies (31%) have set net-zero emission targets, aligning with India’s national goal of 2070
- Increased focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors due to:
- New government ESG regulations.
- Adoption of the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) framework.
- Companies are taking steps towards sustainability, including:
- Life cycle assessments of products.
- Increased use of renewable energy.
- Energy-efficient technologies.
- Important Concepts – India’s net-zero target
- Carbon emissions
- Renewable energy
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
- Sustainable Development
- BRSR regulations
5. REPORT FAULTS CREW, STATION STAFF AND SAFETY LAPSES ON TRAIN FOR A.P ACCIDENT
- Cause of the Accident – The inquiry concluded that the train accident was caused by an “error in train working”
- The driver of one train overshot a danger signal and failed to stop, while the assistant failed to apply brakes
- Technical Issues -Failure of automatic signalling system
- Ambiguous rules regarding actions to take during signal failure
- Anti-telescopic features designed to absorb impact in coaches malfunctioned
- Modifications to coach design might have compromised safety features
- Lapses by Railway Administration
- Station staff bypassed safety protocols by informing train crews about failed signals
- Issuing a “Private Number” authorisation allowing a train to proceed despite a danger signal
- National Disaster Response Force Issues
- The report highlights a lack of expertise in handling rescue operations for train accidents
- Way Forward – The report recommends stricter enforcement of existing safety rules
- Redesigning the layout of coaches to improve crashworthiness, especially luggage compartments
- Equipping at least the last two coaches of passenger trains with improved safety features
- Re-evaluating modifications made to coach designs to ensure they don’t compromise safety
- Addressing the lack of expertise in disaster response for train accidents
ONE LINER
- Amitabh Bachchan has been awarded the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award for the year 2024
- April 22 – World Earth Day
