Uttarakhand: Nainital High Court bans beautification works of Sukhatal lake

• The State Environment Impact Authority and the State Wetland Management Authority have also been made parties and notices have been issued to them in this regard.
• During the hearing, amicus curiae (friend of the court) Kartikeya Hari Gupta told the court citing hydrological studies that the Sukhatal lake recharges the Naini lake up to 40% and 50%.
• IIT-Roorkee did conduct a study but the institute does not have the expertise to determine the environmental impact of the constructions around the lake.
• Nainital resident G.P. Sah and others had written a letter to the chief justice of the high court, saying the ongoing beautification of the lake will lead to a closure of its natural water source.
• Sukhatal recharges the Naini lake and construction activities are being carried out around the water body in an unscientific manner, they had contended. The court has fixed December 20 for the next hearing in the case.

IIT Delhi Ranks in top 50 of Times Higher Education Employability Rankings

The Times Higher Education Global Employability University Ranking and Survey has ranked the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, at position 28. (GEURS). Only one Indian university, IIT Delhi, is among the top 50. Last year, the varsity team was rated 27th.

Key Points

• It is followed by IISc at rank 58 and IIT Bombay at rank 72. A total of seven Indian universities have ranked it in the top 250.
• Three US institutes have taken the top 3 positions including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, and Harvard University, respectively.
• The University of Cambridge and Stanford University have retained their position of fourth and fifth, respectively.
• The University of Oxford rose from eighth to sixth position this year while the University of Tokyo from Japan has slipped from sixth to seventh this time.
• Yale University which was ranked seventh last year has slipped to 10th position.

Tamil Nadu govt declared Arittapatti village in Madurai as a biodiversity heritage site

Arittapatti and Meenakshipuram villages in Madurai district have been named the state`s first biodiversity heritage site, according to a statement from the Tamil Nadu government. The Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage site will cover 139.63 hectares in Arittapatti village (Melur block) and 53.8 hectares in Meenakshipuram village (Madurai East taluk).

About Arittapatti:

• Arittapatti village, known for its ecological and historical significance, houses around 250 species of birds including three important raptors – birds of prey, namely the Laggar Falcon, the Shaheen Falcon and Bonelli’s Eagle.
• It is also home to wildlife such as the Indian Pangolin, Slender Loris and pythons
• The area is surrounded by a chain of seven hillocks or inselbergs that serve as a watershed, charging “72 lakes, 200 natural springs and three check dams
• The Anaikondan tank, built during the reign of Pandiyan kings in the 16th century is one among them.
• Several megalithic structures, rock-cut temples, Tamil Brahmi inscriptions and Jain beds add to the historical significance of the region.

What is Biodiversity Heritage sites (BHS)?

• "Biodiversity Heritage Sites" (BHS) are well defined areas that are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems – terrestrial, coastal and inland waters and, marine having rich biodiversity comprising components such as species richness, high endemism, presence of threatened species, keystone species or land races, or biological components having cultural or aesthetic values.
• As per Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, State Governments are empowered to notify such sites, in consultation with ‘local bodies’.
•  
• State Government in consultation with the Central Government may frame rules for the management and conservation.

National Current Affairs November 4th Week 2022