Alappuzha – A Leading Urban Centre in Waste Management
- The report by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) titled ‘Solid approach to waste: how 5 cities are beating pollution” was released.
- Alappuzha in Kerala is among the five cities recognized by the UNEP as global success stories in solving the problem of solid waste.
- The other four cities are Osaka (Japan), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Penang (Malaysia) and Cajicá (Colombia).
- Alappuzha, which is known as ‘the Venice of the East’ for its backwaters and coastal lagoons adopted decentralized waste management system.
- The biodegradable waste was segregated at the ward level, and treated in small composting plants which provide biogas for residents.
- Alappuzha has also received the Clean City Award from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in 2016.
UN Environment Assembly
- The UN Environment Assembly is the world's highest-level decision-making body on the environment.
- The third UN Environment Assemble will gather in Nairobi, Kenya in December 2017 under the overarching theme of “pollution”.
- The Assembly has the universal membership of all 193 UN Member States.
- It is prepared throughout the year by a Committee of Permanent Representatives which is based in Nairobi.
- It aims to deliver a number of tangible commitments to end the pollution of air, land, waterways, and oceans, and to safely manage chemicals and waste.
First CoP of Minamata Convention
- The Minamata Convention is a global treaty established to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury.
- The Minamata Convention on Mercury entered into force in August 2017 with ratification by over 50 countries.
- The first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (Mercury COP1) was held at Geneva, Switzerland.
- The report, ‘Towards a pollution-free planet’, was launched during the COP1.
- Global Environment Facility (GEF) is the financial mechanism for Minamata Convention.
India Hypertension Management Initiative (IHMI)
- IHMI is a collaborative project of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Union Health Ministry, State Governments and WHO.
- The primary goal of this project is to reduce morbidity and mortality due to Cardiovascular Disease, the leading cause of death in India.
- IHMI will be progressively rolled out in 25 districts in the first two years across districts selected by the Health Ministry.
- It involves active screening and intensification of treatment activities for hypertension by improving the control of high blood pressure, which is the leading cause.
SC’s order on Hadiya’s Case
- Supreme Court has recently overturned Kerela HC’s decision and protected her freedom to choose her religion (Article 25) and her freedom of movement (Article 19)
- HC made some fault observations like that a woman’s marriage requires the involvement of her parents and that even if she had attained the age of majority she was still at a “vulnerable age” were flawed.
- The Supreme Court has also made it clear that the National Investigation Agency can continue its ongoing probe into radicalisation.
NTPC & Reverse Bidding
- The power sector has been languishing in recent times due to stressed power units.
- NTPC is the largest thermal power generating company in the country.
- It has decided to rescue the power sector by issuing a tender to buy stressed units via reverse bidding.
- In a regular auction, a seller puts up an item and buyers place bids until the close of the auction and the item goes to the highest bidder.
- In a reverse auction, the sellers compete to obtain business from the buyer.
- The sellers typically underbid each other.
- At the end of the auction the seller with the lowest amount wins.
- Here operators of plants with stressed units, principle lenders and banks are the bidders.
- NTPC is the buyer.
- NTPC’s rate last year was Rs 3.18 per unit. So as per the principle, bidders would quote tariff below Rs.3.18
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