3rd June 2022

1. MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI RELEASED INTEGRATED LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT (ILM)
PLAN FOR GREATER PANNA LANDSCAPE

*Plan has been prepared in respect of the Ken-Betwa Link Project by the Wildlife Institute of India.
*ILM refers to long-term collaboration among different stakeholders to achieve multiple objectives required from the landscape, such as agricultural production, delivery of ecosystem services, cultural heritage and values, rural livelihood, etc.
*Rationale for ILM plan: Growing pressures on natural resources due to climate change, Unclear land tenure rights, Unsustainable land management practices, Uncoordinated and often competing sectoral policies, etc

-Key features of ILM are
Benefits of ILM
The scheme has the following components:
*Shared or agreed on management that encompasses multiple landscape benefits.
*Integrated management of natural resources for optimization of ecosystem
functions and services.
*Re-configuration of markets and public policies to achieve diverse landscape objectives.
*Cost efficiencies: By coordinating strategies and encouraging synergies between different levels of government.
*Empower communities: Given that ILM supports an inclusive, participatory process.
*Better habitat protection and management of flagship species such as tigers, vultures, and gharials.
*Holistically consolidate the landscape for biodiversity conservation and human well-being, especially in forest-dependent communities

2. NEW GUIDELINES FOR CENTRAL SECTOR SCHEME ‘PROMOTION OF MSMES IN NORTH
EASTERN REGION AND SIKKIM’ APPROVED

*The scheme will be implemented during the 15th Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26).
*Setting up of new and modernization of existing Mini Technology Centres: For the creation of common facilities to supplement manufacturing, testing, packaging, R&D, product and process innovations, etc.
*Development of Tourism Sector: For the creation of common services such as kitchen, bakery, IT infra, center for cultural activities, etc.
*Development of MSME will also help in meaningful involvement of NER in India’s Act East Policy.
*Development of new and existing Industrial Estates Scheme (Ministry of MSME) will provide financial support for enhancing productivity and competitiveness as well as capacity building of MSMEs in the North Eastern Region (NER) and Sikkim.
*As NER has a topographical drawback to supporting big industries, the MSME sector will help provide jobs and will also help in bringing overall balanced growth to NER.
*Full potential of MSMEs in NER could not be tapped because of the presence of multi-pronged deficits like Low per capita income, Low capital formation, Inadequate infrastructural facilities, Geographical isolation,

Ethanol

GS Paper 2:

Syllabus: Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors

Context: Indian Prime Minister briefed, that India has achieved 10% ethanol blending ahead of the deadline.

 

What is Ethanol Blending Programme?

  • Ethanol is an agro-based product, mainly produced from a by-product of the sugar industry, namely molasses.
  • Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme was launched in January 2003.
    • The programme sought to promote the use of alternative and environment-friendly fuels and to reduce import dependency for energy requirements.

 

Current Affairs

 

Need for Ethanol blending in India

  • Ethanol has become one of the major priorities of 21st Century India.
  • Mixing 20 percent ethanol in petrol holds multiple attractions for India.
    • First, it can potentially reduce the auto fuel import bill by a yearly $4 billion, or Rs30,000 crore.
    • Second, it also provides for farmers to earn extra income if they grow produce that helps in ethanol production.
    • Third, is the fact that ethanol is less polluting than other fuels and, per the NITI Aayog paper, “offers equivalent efficiency at a lower cost than petrol”.
  • Use of ethanol-blended petrol decreases emissions such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and nitrogen oxides (NOx), the expert committee noted. Higher reductions in CO emissions were observed with E20 fuel — 50 per cent lower in two-wheelers and 30 percent lower in four-wheelers.

 

Recent related developments

  • The procedure of procurement of ethanol under the EBP has been simplified to streamline the entire ethanol supply chain and remunerative ex-depot price of ethanol has been fixed.
  • To facilitate achieving of new blending targets, a “grid” which networks distilleries to OMC depots and details quantities to be supplied has been worked out.
  • State-wise demand profile has also been projected, keeping in view distances, capacities, and other sectoral demands
  • Further, The Government of India has advanced the target for 20% ethanol blending in petrol (also called E20) to 2025 from 2030.