Ecological Impact of Oil Palm Plantation

On the direction of Hon’ble Supreme Court, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun (ICFRE) submitted a report on 4th January, 2020, which suggested the need to conduct multi – disciplinary studies to comprehend invasiveness of Red Oil Palm, ecological impacts, development of inter-cropping models with suitable indigenous species.

Why is it in news?

Oil Palm Plantation is considered as non-forestry activity. All activities on forest land require forest clearance under Forest Conservation Act 1980.

Shifting Cultivations (Jhum Cultivation) is a traditional and primitive farming of small ethnic groups of the country.

The Reassessment Committee of ICAR-IIOPR, 2020 identified land suitable for oil palm cultivation under irrigated and rainfed condition taking into account various parameters.

Highlights

·       Furthermore, ICFRE with inputs from Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research (IIOPR) filed a detailed report ‘Replanting of the Existing Red Oil Palm Plantation in Little Andaman’ on 19th June, 2021.

·       As per information received from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, the Reassessment Committee of Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research (ICAR-IIOPR) has conducted a study in the year 2020 to assess the potential area in 22 States/UTs and identified 27.99 lakh hac potential area for Oil Palm cultivation in India including North-Eastern States and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

This information was given by Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change in Lok Sabha on 28^th March, 2022.

Social Forestry Schemes

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change encourages plantation in the country including various metropolitan cities through programmes and schemes such as Nagar Van Yojana, School Nursery Yojana, Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), National Afforestation Programme (NAP), National Mission for a Green India (GIM), etc. which promotes urban forestry, tree plantation on vacant lands and bunds on farm lands etc. by involving local communities, NGOs, educational institutions, local bodies, etc.

Why is it in news?

In specific respect to urban areas, the Ministry is implementing the Nagar Van Yojana the scheme initiated forcreation of Nagar Van (city forest) in urban areas over a period of five years at a total estimated cost of Rs.895crore under the National Fund of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). A total of 65 Nagar Van projects in 22 States have been approved for implementation, so far, under NVY.

Highlights

The following additional steps taken by the Government contribute to protection and development of forest areas in the country including in the metropolitan cities:

   i.            For preservation and protection of forest and wildlife, various laws including the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, Indian Forest Act, 1927, Wildlife Protection Act 1972, and other central/state laws as applicable to a State/UT, are implemented by the respective State Government /UT Administration. The Ministry also provides financial support to the States /UTs under Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme for protection against forest fire.

ii.            The Ministry has implemented National Afforestation Programme (NAP) for tree plantation in degraded forests through people’s participation which has been merged with National Mission for a Green India (GIM), under which, in addition to other sub-missions, there is a specific sub-mission for enhancing tree cover in urban and peri-urban areas. An area over 2 million hectare was sanctioned for taking up afforestation in the States/Union Territories (UTs) with an investment of about Rs. 3936.41 crores till 2020-21 under NAP since its launching year 2000. Under GIM an amount of about Rs. 455 crore has been released to States/UTs since 2015-16 to 2020-21.

iii.            Urban forestry is a permissible activity under the provisions of Compensatory Fund Act, 2016 and the Rules made there under. The Government of India has disbursed an amount of Rs. 48606.39crore from National Fund to 32 State funds as share of respective States as per Compensatory Fund Act, 2016.

iv.            As per information received from Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), 1864 No. of parks over 3794 acres of land have been developed in the Mission cities.

v.            Further, tree plantation, being a multi-departmental, multi-agency activity, are also being taken up cross-sectorally under various programmes/funding sources of other ministries/ organizations and also through State Plan budgets.

This information was given by Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change in Lok Sabha on 28^th March, 22.

Coal Centric Indian Economy

Demand Likely to Touch 1.5 Billion Ton By 2030

Why is it in news?

In India, energy transition away from coal is not happening during the  foreseeable future. Although there will be a push for renewable/non-fossil based energy, but share of coal in the energy basket is going to remain significant in the years ahead.

Highlights

Coal demand in the country is yet to peak. The draft Economic Survey 2021-22 projects coal demand in the range of 1.3-1.5 billion tonnes by 2030, an increase of 63 per cent from the current demand.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Prahlad Joshi in a written reply in Rajya Sabha 0n 28^th March, 2022.

MoD signs Rs 473 crore contract with GSL for construction of eight Fast Patrol Vessels for Indian Coast Guard

Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) for construction of eight Fast Patrol Vessels for Indian Coast Guard at a total project cost of Rs 473 crore. The contract was signed by Joint Secretary (Maritime & Systems) Shri Dinesh Kumar and Chairman & Managing Director, GSL Cmde BB Nagpal (Retd) in New Delhi on March 28, 2022.

Why is it in news?

These surface platforms will be indigenously designed, developed and manufactured by GSL under Buy (Indian-IDDM) Category. These eight high speed vessels will be based along the coast of India with capability to operate in shallow waters and enhance the security apparatus along the vast coast line.

Highlights

·       While meeting the objectives of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, this would boost the indigenous shipbuilding capability and increase employment opportunities in the sector.

·       The contract will further boost the Government’s resolve of making India a defence manufacturing hub which caters to not only the domestic needs but also the export market.

Promotion of MSMEs in the Defence Sector

The Government has taken important policy initiatives for the promotion of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Defence sector.

 Why is it in news?

·         An innovation ecosystem for Defence titled Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) had been launched in April 2018. iDEX is aimed at creation of an ecosystem to foster innovation and technology development in Defence and Aerospace by engaging Industries including MSMEs, Start-ups, Individual Innovators, R&D institutes and Academia and provide them grants/funding and support to carry out R&D which has potential for future adoption for Indian defence and aerospace needs.

·         The Defence Offset guidelines have further paved the way for proactive participation of MSMEs of India by incorporating a scheme of multipliers of 1.5 for engaging MSME as Indian Offset Partners (IOP), which promotes their integration in global supply chain.

Highlights

·         In the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, there are specific reservations on Orders up to Rs. 100 Crore/year for MSMEs.

·         MSMEs are important partners in DRDO projects and DRDO transfers technologies to them. They are important partners in industry ecosystem for the production of DRDO developed products. DRDO through its scheme Technology Development Scheme (TDF) funds industries, especially Start-ups and MSMEs upto an amount of Rs 10 Cr. for innovation, research and development of Defence Technologies in the field of Defence and Aerospace.

·         Department of Defence Production (DDP) conducts outreach programs in various parts of the country to interact with Industry Associations, Industry especially MSMEs and academia, to spread awareness about the potential export opportunities. A scheme aimed to promote MSMEs in defence is in place. Under this scheme, conclaves/ seminars are being organized in Tier II and Tier III cities across the country with strong industrial MSMEs presence with the support of the DDP.

·         Regular interactions are taking place to settle the grievance of vendors at DPSUs. A Defence Investor Cell has been opened in DDP to address the issues being faced by vendors especially MSME vendors.

Ministry of MSME through its 18 Tool Rooms and Technical Institutions spread across the country imparts training in the field of Tool making and allied Trades to youth as well as MSMEs and its workers, including during the COVID-19 pandemic period.  DPSUs also organize various MSMEs Vendor Development Program (VDP), Skill Development Programs and webinar sessions on regular basis for MSME vendors, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Online support and guidance is provided to MSMEs for registration and for uploading the tender on GeM and NIC portal by DPSUs. In addition, Ministry of MSME imparts training and upgrades/develops skills of unemployed youth and MSMEs through various programmes/schemes, as given below:

·       Under the National SC/ST Hub Scheme, skill training/entrepreneurship development programs are organized for aspiring and existing SCs/STs entrepreneurs through various Training Institutions across the country.

·       Under the Coir Vikas Yojana, Ministry also implements ‘Skill Upgradation and Mahila Coir Yojana’ which imparts training for Women artisans engaged in Coir sector.

·       Under the ‘Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme’ (PMEGP) Scheme, all beneficiaries are mandatorily provided with Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP) training through online/offline mode before setting up their units. 

·       Contracts for worth Rs 53,838 crore for 31 equipment have been awarded by the Armed Forces to the domestic industry since notification of the two Positive Indigenization Lists. No separate data for MSMEs is centrally maintained in this regard.

This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt in a written reply to Dr Kanimozhi Somu in Rajya Sabha on March 28, 2022.