VIASACADEMY | IAS Online Coaching | upsc live classes

Earthquake

Tremors lasting several seconds were felt in Delhi and other parts of North India as a strong 6.5- magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan recently.

What is an Earthquake?

  • An earthquake is an intense shaking of the ground caused by movement under the earth’s surface.
  • The location below the earth’s surface where the earthquake starts is called the • The location directly above the hypocentre on the surface of the earth is called the epicentre.
  • It happens when two blocks (tectonic plates) of the earth suddenly slip past one another releasing stored-up ‘elastic strain’ energy in the form of seismic waves.
  • These spread through the earth and cause the shaking of the ground.
  • They are measured on scales called the —
  • Moment Magnitude Scale (Mw), based on the total moment (a product of the distance a fault moved and the force required to move it) release of the earthquake.
  • The Richter scale (magnitude scale) - energy released - 0-10.
  • The intensity scale/Mercalli scale - visible damage - 1-12.
  • Earthquakes continue to remain the most common natural hazard that cannot be predicted as no early warning systems can be developed.
What are the Earthquake High Risk Zones in India?

  • Western Himalayas continue to be one of the most dangerous seismic zones in the world.
  • According to the scientists, the Himalayan region - the 2500-km stretch from the Hindu Kush mountains to the end of Arunachal Pradesh - is due for a big earthquake (magnitude of over 8 on Richter scale) anytime.
  • This is because of the huge amount of energy stored along the fault lines due to the continuous interaction of different tectonic plates.
  • This energy can be released only in the form of massive earthquakes.

How big is the Earthquake in Afghanistan?

  • The earthquake was deep (origin 187.6 km below the earth’s surface) and the epicentre of the earthquake was in northeastern Afghanistan (earthquake prone Hindu Kush region), close to Tajikistan borders.
  • Shallow earthquakes are generally more devastating because they carry greater energy when they emerge on the surface.
  • Deeper earthquakes lose much of their energy by the time they come to the surface - cause less damage. However, they spread farther as the seismic waves move radially upwards to the surface.
  • That is why the tremors were experienced in Punjab, Rajasthan’s Jaipur, and J&K, however, no damage is reported in India.
  • This earthquake was of 5-magnitude.
  • Magnitude is a measure of how big the waves are, while the strength refers to the energy it carries.
  • Magnitude 6 earthquakes have 10 times higher amplitude than magnitude 5 earthquakes.
  • The energy differential is even higher, 32 times for every change of 1 in magnitude.

River Kothari

Recently, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) to recover environmental compensation from Bhilwara municipal council for its failure to take action to remedy the pollution of River Kothari.

About River Kothari -

  • The Kothari River raises from the Aravalli hills near Devgarh in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan.
  • This river joins the river Banas at Nandrai in Kotri tehsil.
  • The Meja dam on the Kothari river provides drinking water to the Bhilwara district.
  • The most open wells in villages near the Kothari river, which flows along the industrial belt, had chromium, lead, iron, zinc and sodium above the norms set by the Bureau of Indian Standards, Poisoned Water.

About National Green Tribunal -

  • It is a specialised body set up under the National Green Tribunal Act (2010) for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.
  • The Tribunal comprises of the Chairperson, the Judicial Members and Expert Members. They shall hold office for term of five years and are not eligible for reappointment.
  • The Chairperson is appointed by the Central Government in consultation with Chief Justice of India (CJI).
  • The Tribunal has jurisdiction over all civil cases involving substantial question relating to environment (including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment).
  • The Tribunal is not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure 1908, but shall be guided by principles of 'natural justice’.
  • The NGT deals with civil cases under the seven laws related to the environment, these include - The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977; The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980; The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 and; The Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
  • The NGT has not been vested with powers to hear any matter relating to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and various laws enacted by States relating to forests, tree preservation etc.
  • India became the third country in the world to set up a specialised environmental tribunal, only after Australia and New Zealand.
What is the composition of NGT?

  • The Tribunal comprises the Chairperson, the Judicial Members, and Expert Members.
  • They shall hold office for a term of 5 years and are not eligible for reappointment.
  • The Chairperson is appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
  • A Selection Committee shall be formed by the central government to appoint the Judicial Members and Expert Members.
  • There are to be at least 10 and a maximum of 20 full-time Judicial members and Expert Members in the tribunal.

International Telecommunication Union

Prime Minister has inaugurated the new International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Area office and Innovation Centre at a programme in Delhis Vigyan Bhawan.

About International Telecommunication Union (ITU) -

  • It is the United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technologies.
  • It is an intergovernmental organisation that coordinates between governments and private sector bodies with respect to global telecommunication and information communication technology (ICT) services.
  • It was established in 1865 as International Telegraph Union.
  • In 1947 the ITU became a specialised agency of the United Nations.
  • Headquarters — Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Membership — It has a membership of 193 countries and nearly 800 private sector entities and academic institutions.
  • Functions —
  • Allocate global radio spectrum and satellite orbits;
  • Coordination and setting of technical standards related to telecommunication/ICT;
  • Strive to improve access to ICTs in underserved communities worldwide;
  • India and ITU — India has been an active member of the ITU since 1869 and has been a regular member of the ITU Council since 1952.
ITU Area office and Innovation Centre -

  • The Area Office, which is fully funded by India, is located on the second floor of the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) building at Mehrauli in New Delhi.
  • It will serve India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan, and Iran.
  • It will enhance coordination among nations and foster mutually beneficial economic cooperation in the region.