Content

1. Tamil Nadu Floods and Mullaperiyar Dam: Early Onset of Northeast Monsoon and Compound Flood Risks
2. Is Punjab’s Stubble Burning Problem Really Declining?
3. Why Cloud Seeding is Not a Solution to Delhi’s Air Pollution Crisis
4. Sanctuary’ Status for Forests of Saranda: Why This Matters, Case Before SC
5. Government to Issue Commemorative Coin to Mark 200th Anniversary of Rani Channamma’s Victory at Kittur

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How do monsoons affect Tamil Nadu?

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Why in News

• Tamil Nadu is experiencing early and heavy northeast monsoon rains, continuing a trend of above-average rainfall for the second consecutive year.
• Mullaperiyar Dam releases are exacerbating flood risks in Tamil Nadu, affecting farmland, urban areas, and infrastructure.
• Policymakers are questioning the conventional notion that “excess rainfall is good” in light of climate change and concentrated rainfall events.

Relevance:

• GS-1: Geography – Monsoon patterns, rainfall variability, river systems (Periyar, Vaigai), flood-prone regions.
• GS-2: Governance – Disaster management, inter-state water sharing (Tamil Nadu-Kerala coordination), reservoir/dam operation policies.
• GS-3: Environment & Climate Change – Impact of climate change on rainfall intensity, urban flooding, soil erosion, and disaster preparedness.

Early Onset of Northeast Monsoon

• Arrived at least four days earlier for the second consecutive year.
• Forecasts suggest rainfall exceeding long-period average by significant margins, similar to 2024 (33% higher).
• Short, intense bursts of rain are increasingly common due to climate change, causing localized flooding.

Urban Impacts

• Concrete and asphalt surfaces prevent infiltration, causing rapid runoff.
• Drainage systems overwhelmed, leading to:
  • Flash floods
  • Waterlogging of low-lying areas
  • Property damage
  • Disrupted transportation
• Overflows from sewage systems release untreated wastewater, creating health hazards.
• Past events (e.g., Cyclone Michaung, 2023) show that power outages occur due to risk management during floods.

Agricultural Impacts

• Waterlogged soil: Suffocates plant roots and young crops.
• Topsoil erosion: Loss of fertility and nutrients.
• Delayed sowing and crop losses reduce long-term agricultural productivity.

Role of Mullaperiyar Dam

• Located in Kerala (Idukki district), operated by Tamil Nadu for irrigation.
• Heavy rainfall in Kerala catchment fills reservoir rapidly.
• Tamil Nadu must open all 13 shutters to manage water levels, releasing thousands of cusecs.
• Resulting flows:
  • Periyar River (Kerala): Flooding low-lying areas, creating inter-State challenges.
  • Vaigai Dam (Tamil Nadu): Compound flood risk when combined with local monsoon rains.

Compound Flood Risk

• Tamil Nadu faces simultaneous inflow from Kerala and its own rainfall, turning excess water into immediate flood risk.
• Farmland and residential areas, particularly in Theni district, are already submerged.
• Risk to infrastructure, roads, and critical services increases.

 Environmental & Health Risks

• Standing water promotes vector-borne diseases (malaria, dengue).
• Water contamination from sewage overflows affects human and animal health.
• Soil erosion and sedimentation harm ecosystems and reduce soil fertility.

Climate Change Factor

• Increasing frequency of intense, short-duration rainfall events complicates traditional water management strategies.
• Challenges the notion that “excess rainfall is beneficial”, as concentrated rain overwhelms natural and man-made systems.

Policy and Planning Implications

• States need to rethink reservoir management considering upstream rainfall and inter-State coordination.
• Urban and agricultural planning must adapt to high-intensity rainfall and flood mitigation measures.
• Emphasis on real-time monitoring, early warning systems, and disaster preparedness.

Governance & Inter-State Coordination

• Tamil Nadu-Kerala coordination critical for dam releases and flood risk mitigation.
• Mismanagement or delayed communication can amplify flood impact, creating socio-economic and political tensions.

Way Forward

• Integrate climate-resilient infrastructure in urban and rural planning.
• Adopt holistic water management: reservoir operation, catchment area treatment, and floodplain zoning.
• Invest in early warning systems and community awareness for flood preparedness and response.

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Is Punjab’s stubble burning problem really declining?

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Why in News

• Paddy harvesting in Punjab has picked up pace, bringing renewed attention to stubble burning, a key contributor to air pollution in North India, including Delhi.
• 2024 saw fewer fire incidents due to flooded farmland, but total burnt area remains high, highlighting persistent challenges in crop residue management.
• Recent studies and satellite data reveal discrepancies in reporting, prompting calls for more accurate monitoring and integrated policy interventions.

Relevance:

• GS-1: Geography – Agricultural practices, seasonal crop cycles, regional climate impacts.
• GS-2: Governance – Policy interventions, state and central coordination, crop residue management schemes, enforcement measures.
• GS-3: Environment – Air pollution (PM2.5, PM10), greenhouse gas emissions, public health impacts, satellite monitoring of fires.

Context of Stubble Burning

• Post-paddy harvest, farmers burn crop residue (stubble) to prepare fields for wheat sowing within a short window (~3 weeks).
• Burning is considered quick and cost-effective, especially when mechanized alternatives are unavailable.
• Seasonal stubble burning contributes to air pollution spikes in post-monsoon and winter months.

Recent Trends

• Punjab government data (2024): 10,909 farm fires, down 70% from 36,663 in 2023.
• Despite fewer fire counts, area under burning: 19.17 lakh hectares (2024) vs 19.14 lakh hectares (2023).
• Indicates that smaller, low-intensity, or partial burns are harder to detect but still contribute to pollution.

Data Discrepancies

• Satellite limitations: MODIS and VIIRS pass a few times daily, missing late-afternoon/evening burns.
• Cloud cover, haze, fragmented landholdings, and deliberate concealment reduce detection accuracy.
• Optical sensors (e.g., Sentinel-2) can detect post-fire discoloration and burn scars, giving more precise burnt-area estimates.

Scientific Insights

• Not all burnt area implies high emissions; low-intensity, short-duration fires release less particulate matter.
• Accurate emissions assessment requires fire intensity, fuel load, and duration, not burnt area alone.

Floods & Weather Impacts

• 2024 floods in Punjab reduced stubble burning but caused waterlogging and crop damage, affecting sowing schedules.
• Early northeast monsoon and excessive rains exacerbate agriculture, urban infrastructure, and health risks.

Environmental & Health Impacts

• Stubble burning emits particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), carbon monoxide, and greenhouse gases.
• Major contributor to Delhi’s winter smog, respiratory diseases, and regional air pollution crises.
• Compound effect with vehicular and industrial emissions worsens public health burden.

Policy Measures

• Subsidized crop residue management machinery provided to farmers.
• Stricter enforcement and awareness campaigns to reduce burning.
• Crop diversification and alternative residue utilization promoted (bioenergy, compost, mulching).

Technological Solutions

• Integrated satellite monitoring: thermal + optical imagery for better burnt-area assessment.
• Ground verification to validate satellite data and assess emissions per fire intensity.

Socio-Economic Considerations

• Small landholdings and time pressure between crops make burning attractive.
• Any policy must balance farmers’ livelihoods, cost of machinery, and environmental targets.

Way Forward

• Evidence-based approach: quantify emissions, not just burnt area.
• Promote mechanized residue management, incentives for biofuel use, and crop rotation practices.
• Coordinate state and central policies, focusing on both short-term mitigation and long-term structural solutions to reduce air pollution sustainably.

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Why cloud seeding is not a solution to Delhi’s air pollution crisis

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 Why in News

• Delhi government is exploring cloud seeding as a solution to air pollution during post-monsoon and winter months.
• Experts argue it is scientifically weak, ethically questionable, and a temporary fix, diverting attention from structural solutions.
• Public and scientific debate has intensified following media reports and policy announcements.

Relevance:

• GS-3: Environment – Air pollution management, mitigation strategies, atmospheric science (Western Disturbances, moisture patterns).
• GS-2: Governance – Policy critique, ethical implications, accountability in technological interventions.
• GS-3: Science & Technology – Cloud seeding mechanisms, limitations, environmental risks, and feasibility.

Seasonal Air Pollution in Delhi & North India

• Air quality is poor year-round, but spikes post-monsoon and in winter.
• Meteorological causes:
  • Dry continental air masses from the northwest dominate after monsoon withdrawal.
  • Weak winds and stagnant air trap pollutants.
  • Cooler, stable high-pressure systems suppress cloud formation.
• Result: Hazy skies are trapped pollution, not clouds capable of producing rain.

Natural Rainfall Limitations

• Rain in winter occurs via Western Disturbances (Mediterranean-origin systems) or interaction with moisture from seas.
• Such events are sporadic, short-lived, and unpredictable, insufficient to consistently reduce pollution.

Cloud Seeding Basics

• Mechanism: Introduces compounds like silver iodide or sodium chloride into existing clouds to trigger condensation and ice formation.
• Requirement: Cannot generate clouds from thin air; depends on natural cloud presence.
• Evidence: Global studies show weak and contested results on effectiveness.

Limitations in Air Pollution Context

• Even if rainfall occurs, temporary reduction in particulate matter is short-lived (1–2 days).
• Does not address root causes: emissions from vehicles, industry, power plants, construction, waste burning, and stubble burning.

Environmental Risks

• Chemical accumulation: Silver iodide can persist in soils and water bodies over repeated use.
• Unknown long-term effects: Potential impacts on agriculture, ecosystems, and human health remain poorly understood.

Ethical & Governance Concerns

• Accountability questions if cloud seeding coincides with:
  • Flooding
  • Crop or infrastructure damage
  • Loss of life
• Public perception may misattribute disasters to cloud seeding, eroding trust in science and governance.

Scientific Critique

• Cloud seeding is a “snake–oil” solution that creates spectacular but ineffective interventions.
• Diverts resources and attention from long-term, evidence-based measures.
• Scientific credibility is at risk when institutions endorse unproven fixes.

Root Causes of Air Pollution

• Anthropogenic sources:
  • Vehicle emissions, industrial activity, construction dust, power plants, municipal waste burning.
  • Seasonal agricultural stubble burning.
• Meteorology: Stable air, low moisture, and stagnant winds exacerbate pollution.

Real Solutions

• Structural interventions include:
  • Cleaner transport: EVs, improved public transport
  • Sustainable energy: Shift from coal-based power
  • Waste management: Reduce open burning
  • Urban planning: Reduce dust, increase green cover
  • Agricultural measures: Stubble management, alternative crop residue use

Key Takeaways

• Cloud seeding: temporary, risky, ethically ambiguous, and scientifically weak.
• True mitigation requires systemic, evidence-based policies addressing sources of pollution rather than relying on flashy, ineffective interventions.
• Emphasis: patient, sustained action over spectacle;

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‘Sanctuary’ status for forests of Saranda: why this matters, case before SC

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 Why in News

• The Supreme Court/NGT is hearing a case on declaring Saranda forests in Jharkhand as a wildlife sanctuary.
• The issue arose because the Jharkhand government has not implemented earlier NGT orders despite the forest being notified as a game sanctuary in 1968.
• Petitioners argue the region requires legal protection to prevent biodiversity loss and habitat degradation.

Relevance:

• GS-2: Governance – Implementation of NGT orders, inter-agency coordination, legal enforcement of Wildlife Protection Act.
• GS-3: Environment – Biodiversity conservation, forest management, human-wildlife conflict, mining vs ecological protection.

Background

• Location: West Singhbhum, Jharkhand; 85 sq km notified area, part of the “Seven Hundred Hills”.
• Previous Notifications:
  • 1968: Declared a game sanctuary.
  • 2002: NGT ordered the government to declare it a wildlife sanctuary under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• Current Issue: Jharkhand government claims the forest department was not officially notified, preventing formal sanctuary status.
• Government Concern: Revenue from mining (~23% of India’s iron ore) funds regional development and tribal welfare (~₹140 crores reported by B S Bhatt Commission).

Ecological Significance

• Saranda forests contain India’s finest Sal forests.
• Rich biodiversity:
  • Elephants, four-horned antelopes, tigers (historically)
  • Other flora and fauna threatened due to mining, deforestation, and human activity.
• Wildlife Institute of India (WII) reports: Anthropogenic pressures necessitate sanctuary status to protect wildlife and biodiversity.
• Contributes ~23% of India’s iron ore production, essential for steel, infrastructure, and industrial growth.

Legal/Policy Context

• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Provides for creation of sanctuaries and protection of flora and fauna.
• NGT orders: Directed immediate notification as a wildlife sanctuary to curb habitat destruction.
• Government Draft (Oct 17, 2025): Proposed immediate action for sanctuary notification, signaling compliance.
• Conflict: Development vs. conservation – revenue generation vs. ecological sustainability.

Significance

• Environmental: Protects biodiversity, prevents habitat fragmentation, and sustains Sal forest ecosystem.
• Socio-economic: Balances tribal welfare and revenue from natural resources with ecological conservation.
• Legal/Policy: Test case for implementation of NGT orders and enforcement of Wildlife Protection Act.
• National Importance: Preserving forests vital for climate resilience and ecological balance in mineral-rich regions.

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Govt to issue commemorative coin to mark 200th anniversary of Rani Channamma’s victory at Kittur

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 Why in News

• The Government of India will issue a ₹200 commemorative coin to mark 200 years of Rani Channamma’s victory at Kittur (1824–2024).
• Purpose: Honouring one of the earliest armed resistances against the British East India Company, predating the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny.
• Significance: Symbolizes recognition of regional heroes and promotion of historical consciousness.
• Legal Status: Legal tender, but not for general circulation (commemorative in nature)

Relevance:

• GS-1: History – Early resistance against British East India Company, pre-1857 revolts, regional freedom movements, role of women in history.

Historical Background

• Birth & Early Life: Born on 23 October 1778, in Kakati village, Karnataka.
• Marriage & Ascendancy: Married Raja Mallasarja of Kittur; became queen after his death.
• Succession Conflict: Adopted Shivalingappa as heir after her son’s death; British East India Company refused to recognize him.
• Kittur Rebellion:
  • First Battle (1824): Channamma successfully resisted the British, showcasing strategic acumen and valour.
  • Second Attack (1824–1829): British launched a renewed assault; she was captured and imprisoned, dying in February 1829.
• Legacy: Early freedom fighter; symbol of resistance against colonial annexation policies.

Significance

• Historical: Highlights pre-1857 anti-colonial resistance, emphasizing regional contributions to India’s freedom struggle.
• Cultural: Promotes women’s leadership in history and inspires gender-inclusive narratives in freedom movements.
• Economic & Numismatic:
  • Commemorative coins generate collector interest, contributing to numismatic awareness.
  • Reflects India’s policy of honoring historical figures through currency.
• National Identity: Reinforces cultural memory and pride; aligns with Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav initiatives.