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Daily Current Capsules - 26th March 2020

Environment Conservation
Hubballi-Ankola rail line

Relevance IN - Prelims (about the Hubballi-Ankola railway line project + about state board for wildlife + National Board for Wildlife + Kali tiger reserve) + Mains ( GS III Environment conservation)
What's the NEWS
  • The Chief Minister of Karnataka cleared the controversial Hubballi-Ankola railway line project at the State Wildlife Board meeting despite opposition by several members of the State Board of Wildlife.
Know! more about the project
  • The alignment of the tracks is between Kali Tiger Reserve and Bedthi Conservation Reserve and more than 80% of the line cuts through Western Ghats. It requires diversion of 727 hectares of pristine forests for a line which could become redundant owing to depletion in mining
  • The railway line passes through different types of forests, including evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous, and dry deciduous forests with a high canopy density.
  • The forests along the proposed project zone is rich in fauna represented by 29 species of mammals, 256 species of birds, 8 species of reptiles, and 50 species of butterflies.
  • The issue and the State Board's decision will now go before the National Board for Wildlife.
State Board for Wildlife
  • The State Board for Wildlife has been formed under the Section 6 of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) (and its subsequent Amendment in 2002) in all states of the country.
  • The main functions of this Board are conservation and protection of wildlife in Protected areas, selection and appraisal of areas to be declared as sanctuaries, etc.
  • It also appraises proposals which affect Protected areas or buffer zones around Protected areas and only after the recommendation of the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL), is the proposal forwarded to the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife. Chief Minister is the Chairperson of the Board,
National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)
  • The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) is constituted by the Central Government under Section 5 A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WLPA).
  • The Government of India during 1952 had constituted an advisory body designated as the Indian Board for Wildlife (IBWL).
  • The Indian Board for Wildlife was chaired by the Prime Minister.
  • A comprehensive central legislation was enacted in 1972 called the Wildlife (Protection) Act for providing special legal protection to our wildlife and to the endangered species of fauna in particular.
  • The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 was subsequently amended during 1991 and last during 2002.
  • As per the amendment of the Act in 2002, a provision was incorporated for the constitution of the National Board for Wildlife, replacing the Indian Board for Wildlife.
  • The National Board for Wildlife came into existence with the Gazette Notification dated 22nd September 2003.
  • The National Board for Wildlife has 47 members with the Prime Minister in the Chair. The Minister in charge of the Ministry of Environment & Forests in the Central Government is the Vice-Chairperson.
  • The National Board may, at its discretion, constitute a Standing Committee under sub-section (1) of Section 5B.
  • The Standing Committee shall consist of the Vice-Chairperson (Union Minister in charge of Forests and Wildlife) the Member Secretary and not more than ten members to be nominated by the Vice-Chairperson from amongst the members of the National Board.
  • The WLPA mandates that without the approval/recommendation of the NBWL, construction of tourist lodges, alteration of the boundaries of PAs, destruction or diversion of wildlife habitat and de-notification of Tiger Reserves, cannot be done.
Kali Tiger Reserve
  • Kali Tiger Reserve is a protected area and tiger reserve. It is located in Uttara Kannada district, in Karnataka, India.
  • The park is a habitat of Bengal tigers, black panthers and Indian elephants, amongst other distinctive fauna.
  • The Kali River flows through the tiger reserve and is the lifeline of the ecosystem and hence the name.
Health Sector
National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
Relevance IN - Prelims (about NCDC)
What's the NEWS
  • Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare visited National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Control Room and the Testing Laboratories, and reviewed the current status
Know! about NCDC
  • NCDC is taking a lead role in undertaking investigations of disease outbreaks all over the country employing epidemiological and diagnostic tools.
  • National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC; previously known as National Institute of Communicable Diseases) is an institute under the Indian Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
  • It was established in July 1963 for research in epidemiology and control of communicable diseases and to reorganize the activities of the Malaria Institute of India (MII).
Prelims Factoids
Over 900 Yakshagana scripts go digital

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Yakshagana )
What's the NEWS
  • More than 900 Yakshagana scripts, including the ones printed in 1905 and 1907, have now been digitised and made available online for free,
  • The ‘Prahlada Charitre' printed in 1905 and ‘Ramashwamedha' printed of 1907, ‘Putrakamesti' published of 1913, ‘Kanakangi Kalyana' of 1929, Kumudhwati Kalyana of 1931 and Sampoorna Ramayana printed in 1938 are among the ones digitised.
Know! more about Yakshagana
  • It is a traditional Indian theatre form, developed in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Shimoga and western parts of Chikmagalur districts, in the state of Karnataka and in Kasaragod district in Kerala that combines dance, music, dialogue, costume, make-up, and stage techniques with a unique style and form.
  • It is believed to have evolved from pre-classical music and theatre during the period of the Bhakti movement.
  • This theatre style is mainly found in coastal regions of Karnataka in various forms.
Prelims Factoids
Beginning of a traditional new year
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Ugadi, Gudi Padava, Chaitra Sukladi, Sajibu Cheiraoba, Navreh and Cheti Chand )
What's the NEWS
  • The Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu conveyed his best wishes to people on the auspicious occasion of Ugadi, Gudi Padava, Chaitra Sukladi, Sajibu Cheiraoba, Navreh and Cheti Chand which mark the beginning of a new year in different parts of India.
Know! more about the traditional fest
  • Ugadi is the New Year's Day for the Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana states in India. It is festively observed in these regions on the first day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Chaitra. This typically falls in March or April of the Gregorian calendar
  • Gudhi Padwa is a spring-time festival that marks the traditional new year for Marathi and Konkani Hindus. It is celebrated in and near Maharashtra and Goa on the first day of the Chaitra month to mark the beginning of the New year according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar
  • Chaitra Sukladi is the New Year in traditional Hindu calendar based on the beginning of the new moon.
  • Shukladi method is followed in the calendars followed in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
  • In northern parts of India this day is celebrated as Chaitra Sukhladi. In Andhra and Karnataka it is celebrated as Ugadi: Yuga + aadi means start of new era.
  • In Maharashtra and Goa it is celebrated as Gudi Padwa: Padwa means crop; it marks the end of Rabi crop and time for a new 'Vasant'/spring season.
  • Sindhis celebrate the new year as Cheti Chand
In Kashmir the new year is celebrated as Navreh:
  • In Manipur this day is celebrated as Sajibu Cheiraoba
Hantavirus
Relevance IN - Prelims (about Hantavirus )
What's the NEWS
  • A man from China's Yunnan province died from Hantavirus while on a bus to the Shandong province.
Know! more about Hantavirus
  • The Centre for Disease Control says that the virus is spread mainly from rodents.
  • Hantaviruses are a family of rodent-borne viruses, with each strain tied to a specific host species. It is spread when people come into contact with infected droppings, saliva, urine or nesting materials, but is extremely rare, and rarely passed from person to person.
  • Infection with any of the hantavirus can cause hantavirus disease in people.
  • Hantaviruses in the Americas are known as "New World" hantaviruses and may cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS).
  • Other hantaviruses, known as "Old World" hantaviruses, are found mostly in Europe and Asia and may cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS),
  • Hantanvirus is not a new virus and has been infecting humans for decades
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