CURRENT-AFFAIRS

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• The Union Cabinet has recently given the green light for the creation of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) in Lothal, Gujarat.
• About the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC):
  • As part of the Sagarmala initiative, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways is establishing the NMHC, a premier facility located in Lothal, Gujarat. This complex aims to become a major international tourist attraction, highlighting India’s rich maritime history from ancient to contemporary times through an engaging edutainment model that leverages cutting-edge technology.
• The development will take place in multiple phases:
  • Phase 1A will feature the NMHC museum, which will house six galleries, including an extensive Indian Navy & Coast Guard gallery anticipated to be one of the largest in the nation, along with external naval artifacts. Visitors can also explore a replica of the ancient Lothal township, complete with an open aquatic gallery and a jetty walkway.
  • Phase 1B will expand the museum to include eight additional galleries, along with a lighthouse museum projected to be the tallest in the world, and the Bagicha complex, which will offer parking for approximately 1,500 vehicles, a food court, a medical center, and more.
  • Phase 2 will introduce Coastal States Pavilions developed by the respective coastal states and union territories, a Hospitality Zone featuring maritime-themed eco-resorts and museotels, a recreation of the historical Lothal City, a Maritime Institute with hostel facilities, and four themed parks: a Maritime & Naval Theme Park, a Climate Change Theme Park, a Monuments Park, and an Adventure & Amusement Park.
  • Phases 1A and 1B will be developed using an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) model, while Phase 2 will utilize land subleasing and public-private partnerships (PPP) to position NMHC as a world-class heritage museum.
• A dedicated society will be established to oversee the development of future phases, governed by a Council led by the Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, in accordance with the Societies Registration Act of 1860. This society will be responsible for the implementation and management of the NMHC.

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• A team of researchers has recently identified a new species of damselfly named Agasthyamalai Bambootail, found in Manjadininnavila in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala.
• About Agasthyamalai Bambootail:
  • This newly discovered damselfly species is notable for its rarity and belongs to the bambootail group, characterized by their long, cylindrical abdomens that resemble bamboo stalks.
  • It was located within the Agasthyamalai region of the Western Ghats.
  • The only other known species in this genus is the Malabar Bambootail (Melanoneura bilineata), which inhabits the Coorg-Wayanad area of the Western Ghats.
  • Members of this genus are distinguished from other bambootails by the lack of an anal bridge vein in their wings.
  • These damselflies exhibit long black bodies adorned with striking blue markings.
  • Agasthyamalai Bambootail is distinct from the Malabar Bambootail due to variations in the structure of its prothorax, anal appendages, and secondary genitalia.

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• A recent study has revealed that cacao farming in the Congo Basin, which is the largest carbon sink on the planet, contributes to deforestation rates that are up to seven times higher than those associated with other agricultural practices.
• About the Congo River:
  • The Congo River, also known as the Zaire River, is located in west-central Africa.
  • Stretching approximately 2,900 miles (4,700 km), it is the second longest river in Africa, following the Nile.
  • By discharge volume, it ranks as the world's second-largest river, surpassed only by the Amazon.
  • Additionally, it holds the title of the world's deepest river, reaching a maximum depth of 720 feet (220 meters), where light cannot penetrate.
  • Course:
  • The river originates in the highlands of northeastern Zambia, emerging as the Chambeshi River between Lakes Tanganyika and Nyasa (Malawi) at an elevation of 5,760 feet (1,760 meters) above sea level.
  • Its journey follows a vast counterclockwise arc, flowing northwest, west, and southwest before it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Banana (Banane) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • The Congo River crosses the equator twice during its course and discharges water and sediment into the Congo Plume, one of the largest carbon sinks in the world.
  • This river system traverses several countries, including the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, western Zambia, northern Angola, and parts of Cameroon and Tanzania.
  • The drainage basin spans 1,335,000 square miles (3,457,000 square kilometers), making it the second-largest river basin globally, after the Amazon River Basin.
  • Bordered by the Sahara Desert to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west, and the East African lakes region to the east, the basin supports a rich ecosystem.
  • Major Tributaries: The Congo River is fed by several major tributaries, including the Lomami, Kasai, Lulonga, Ubangi, Aruwimi, Itimbiri, and Mongala rivers.
  • The combination of the equatorial climate and the abundant water supply from the river creates ideal conditions for the Congo Basin rainforest, the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world. The Congo River is highly navigable for much of its length, facilitating significant trade throughout Central Africa.