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CSE INTERVIEW MATERIAL 2020 STATE RELATED MATERIAL

IAS YAN

ODISHA STATE RELATED MATERIAL

1. Bits and Pieces of Odisha’s History and Geography  Odisha, with a rich heritage that is more than two thousand years old, has a glorious history of its own. Various periods gave different names to state of Odisha: Kalinga, Utkal or Odradesha.  Seaports flourished along the coast as early as the 4th and 5th centuries B. C., when the sadhabs, the Odishan seafaring merchants, went to the islands of Java, Sumatra, Borneo and Bali with their merchandise.  Kalinga had made its mark in the Indian history when Ashoka, the Great invaded Kalinga in 261 B. C. and conquered her. But the terrible bloodshed on the banks of the river, Daya that preceded Ashokas victory changed his heart. He embraced Buddhism and preached peace and goodwill for the rest of his life.  The Kalingan Empire reached its zenith of glory during the reign ofEmperor Kharavela, great conquerer and patron of Jainism, in the second half of the Ist century B.C who even pursued the Greek King Demetrius out of India. The inscriptions on Hati Gumpha(Elephant Cave) on the Udayagiri Hill in record the story of his reign.  Odisha came under the rule of King Sasanka and later King Harsha Vardhana in the 7th century A. D. when the Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang visited Odisha.  The end of the 8th century saw the emergence of Jajpur-on-Baitarani as an epicentre of Brahminical religion  In the eleventh century A. D. Illustrious Ganga kings ruled Odisha for nearly three hundred and fifty years and they were followed by Suryavamsi Gajapati Kings and Mukunda Deva Harichandan of the Chalukya dynasty. This period witnessed the most of breathtaking Kaligan architecture we see in today‘s world.  The Hindu state of Odisha came under the Muslim rule in 1568 A. D. when King Mukunda Deva lost to the Sultan of Bengal, Suleiman Karni. Subsequently, Odisha came under the Mughals and the Marathas and finally in 1803 A. D., under the British rule.  Odisha became a separate province in 1936 A. D. with Cuttack as its capital. The new capital was built in Bhubaneswar after independence. However, the state tookits present shape only in 1949 with the merger of the princely states including Mayurbhanj

GEOGRAPHY

 The state may be divided into four distinct geographical regions: the Eastern Plateau, the Central River Basin, the Eastern Hill Region and the Coastal Belt.  The Odisha Coastal Plains are the depositional landforms of recent origin and geologically belong to the Post- Tertiary Period.  The plateaus are mostly eroded plateaus forming the western slopes of the Eastern Ghats with elevation between 305-610 metres. There are two broad plateaus in Odisha: (i) the Panposh - Keonjhar - Pallahara plateau comprises the Upper Baitarani catchment basin, and (ii) the

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Nabrangpur - Jeypore plateau comprises the Sabari basin.  The entire territory lies in the tropical zone as a result of which high temperature is recorded particularly during April-May.  The state is drained by six important rivers: the Subarnarekha, the Budhabalanga, the Baitarani, the Brahmani, the Mahanadi and the Rusikulya.

ART AND CULTURE OF ODISHA

 The early monuments date back to the third century B.C. The remnant of an Ashokan pillar, turned into a Siva Lingam and enshrined in the Bhaskaresvara temple at Bhubaneswar.  The rock cut caves of Khandagiri and Udaygiri and the inscriptions recording Kharavelas short but eventful reign during the first century B. C. constitute the second phase of the evolution in Odishan art. The fortification of Sisupalgarh near Bhubaneswar is yet another monument of ancient Odisha.  Odisha was at the height of her superb artistic glory during seventh to thirteenth century A. D. Somavamsis and the illustrious Gangas are particularly known for temple building. The Mukteswar Temple is the finest piece of architecture of Kalinga. The Lingaraj Temple at Bhubaneswar, Jagannath Temple at Puri and Sun Temple at Konark belonging to the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth centuries respectively stand as silent witnesses to Odishas glorious past.  Odisha‘s handicrafts also required a special mention. Silver filigree work of Cuttack, horn work of Cuttack andParlakhemundi and the famous applique work of Pipili deserve special attention.  Pattachitra, a form of folk painting of Odisha, is a unique craft  Various prophets blessed Odisha with their visits.Adi Sankaracharya in 9th century visited Puri to make it a center of his spiritual ideology & message. He established four monasteries in four corners of Indian Peninsula out of which ―The Gobardhan Pitha‖ of Puri was one of the most significant.  Another Great Saint Ramanujacharya, the propounder of Visista Dwaita philosophy also visited Puri and established the Emar Matha.  Odisha is also the abode of Jayadev, who composed the world famous lilting treatise ―Gita Govinda‖.

Demographic Profile of Odisha: Taken from Census 2011 and NFHS-4

• Share in India‘s population: 3.47% (approx. 4.2 crore). • Decadal growth rate = 14.05% • Population density:- 270 /km2 • Literacy rate: 72.87% • Sex ratio: 979 as compared to national value of 943 • Child sex ratio: 941 as compared to national value of 918  No. of Tribes:- 62 (out of which, 13 are Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups [PVTGs]) Odisha has the largest diverse groups of tribal population in India. Tribal populations are found in the entire seven districts of Kandhamal, Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh, Nabarangpur, Koraput, Malkangiri and Rayagada, and in parts of six other districts. • NFHS- 4 Data (NHFS-5 data for the state of odisha hasn‘t published yet)

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S. No Major Indicators Odisha 1 Population Below 15 years age (in %) 26.6% 2 Sex Ratio 1036 3 Sex Ratio at Birth 932 4 Women Literacy 67.4 % 5 Total Fertility Rate 2.1 6 IMR 40 7 U5MR 48 8 Average out of pocket expenses in public facility Rs. 4226 9 Institutional Births 85.3 %

WILDLIFE IN ODISHA

 One of the greatest benefits of Odisha ‗s vast expanses of unspoilt natural landscape has been its ability to offer a protected yet natural habitat to the state‘s incredible wildlife. Apart from the Nandankanan sanctuary and Similipal National Park, there are atleast eighteen smaller sanctuaries which are home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Current happenings in Odisha related to wildlife:- 1) Forest fire in Simlipal Biosphere Reserve (Sourece:- The IE; Economic Times) Context:-Recently, a massive fire broke out in the Similipal Biosphere Reserve in Odisha. The core area of the biosphere was untouched by the fire, however the fire is threatening damage to its rich biodiversity About Simplipal Biosphere reserve:-  Similipal derives its name from ‗Simul‘ (silk cotton) tree.  It is situated in the northern part of Odisha‘s Mayurbhanj district.  It includes three protected areas — Similipal Tiger Reserve, Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary with 191.06 km2 (73.77 sq mi) and Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary  It was formally designated a tiger reserve in 1956 and brought under Project Tiger in 1973.  It was declared a biosphere reserve by the Government of India in June, 1994 and has been part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserve since 2009  It boasts of having tropical semi-evergreen forests, tropical moist deciduous forests, dry deciduous hill forests, high level sal forests and sprawling meadows.

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Vulnerability of Simlipal towards Fire accidents  Generally, with the onset of summers and towards the end of autumn, the forest area remains vulnerable to forest fires.  They are a recurrent annual phenomenon, but are also brought under control due to short span of precipitation  This duration coincides with the shedding of deciduous forests in the forest areas. The fallen leaves are more vulnerable to catching fire and facilitate the spreading of these forest fires quickly over the entire forest areas Causes of Forest Fires:-  Natural causes :- such as lighting or even soaring temperatures can sometimes result in these fires. With dried leaves and tree trunks, even a spark can lead to a raging fire.  Man-made factors like Instances of poaching and hunting wherein the poachers set a small patch of forest on fire to divert the wild animals can also lead to such fires.  Collection of mahua flowers: jungle areas near to the reserve are also set on fire by villagers to clear the dry leaves on the ground for easy collection of mahua flowers.  Traditional Practices: Villagers also believe burning patches of sal trees will lead to better growth when planted again.  Support of Climate Change: This year, along with man-made factors, an advanced heat wave with the early onset of summer further deteriorated the condition.

Measures To Prevent And Control Forest Fires  Clearing camping sites of dried biomass, early burning of dry litter on the forest floor, growingstrips of

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fire-hardy plant species within the forest etc. can prevent the forest fire to some extent.  Forecasting fire-prone days using meteorological data is essential.  Creating fire lines in the forests is also a method to prevent fires. Fire lines are strips in the forestkept clear of vegetation to prevent the fire from spreading.  Once a fire starts, early detection and quick action by fire-fighting squads is crucial.  Including community members to mitigate incidents of fire

2) Mahendragiri Hills (Source :- Down to earth; The Hindu) Context:-The Odisha government has proposed a second biosphere reserve in the southern part of the state at Mahendragiri Hills About the Hills  Mahendragiri is a mountain in the Rayagada subdivision of the district of Gajapati, Odisha, India  It is situated amongst the Eastern Ghats at an elevation of 1,501 metres  The area of the proposed Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve is around 470,955 hectares and is spread over Gajapati and Ganjam districts in the Eastern Ghats.  The hill has water streams and is the origin point of the Mahendratanaya River  Mahendragiri is home to the Soura people, a particularly vulnerable tribal group as well as the Kandha tribe.

Need to designate it as a Biosphere Reserve:-  According to IUCN, Twenty-nine of the 41 species of threatened medicinal plants found in Odisha are found in Mahendragiri Hills  The rich flora in Mahendragiri represents 40 per cent of the reported flora of Odisha  The hill ecosystem acts as a transitional zone between the flora and fauna of southern India and the Himalayas, making the region an ecological estuary of genetic diversities

What is a Biosphere reserve?  A biosphere reserve is an area of land or water that is protected by law to support the conservation of ecosystems, as well as the sustainability of mankind‘s impact on the environment.  To carry out the complementary activities of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, biosphere reserves are traditionally organized into 3 interrelated zones, known as:  the core area  the buffer zone and  a transition zone or ‗area of cooperation

3) Karlapat Sanctuary (Source:- Hindustan Times; Down to earth) Context:-Six elephants die of haemorrhagic septicaemia in fortnight in Odisha‘s Karlapat Sanctuary

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About Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary  It is spread over 175 square kilometre area in Odisha‘s Kalahandi district  Have Dry Deciduous Forest as vegetation.  The sanctuary is home to a plethora of flora and fauna such as leopard, gaur, sambar, nilgai, barking deer, Bija, Asan, Harida, Amala, Bahada, and Bamboo and varieties of medicinal plants

Haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS)  It is a disease which infects animals that come in contact with contaminated water or soil by a contagious bacteria  In this disease the respiratory tract and lungs of the animals are affected, leading to severe pneumonia  It mainly affects water buffalo, cattle and bison with a high mortality rate in infected animals  Recently, around 40 buffaloes had succumbed to the infection in Odisha‘s Kendrapara district.  The disease occurs mostly in South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and most of Africa. In Asia, this disease outbreak is concentrated mostly in areas with climatic conditions typical of monsoon (high humidity and high temperatures).

ECONOMY OF ODISHA

 Odisha is one of the most mineral-rich states in India. Key minerals found in the state are iron, coal, bauxite, manganese, nickel, chromite, limestone, dolomite, graphite, decorative stones, beach sand, China clay, tin ore, etc  At 34.3 per cent in 2017-18, Odisha contributed the largest share of mineral production India in terms of value.  Odisha accounts for over 55 per cent of India‘s bauxite reserves, making it an ideal location for setting up aluminium and aluminium-based companies. The state ranks first in the country in terms of both production capacity and actual output of aluminium  Odisha is one of the largest producers of iron and steel in India and is favoured investment destinations for domestic and international iron and steel players  Odisha is amongst the top ten states accounting for the highest number of MSME enterprises. The state offers a wide range of fiscal and policy incentives for businesses under the Industrial Policy Resolution, 2015. The state government has constituted "Team Odisha" to help with investment promotion  Tourism is another star of Odisha‘s economy. It is one of the critical sectors of the state‘s economy, in terms of foreign exchange earnings as well as employment generation opportunities.

Initiatives taken by State Govt. for Regional Development  The Odisha Cabinet has approved the Odisha start-up policy, aimed at setting up at least 1,000 start-ups over the next five years and bringing the state amongst the top three start-up hubs by 2020  Odisha government is planning to invest US$ 28.69 billion in the manufacturing sector generating nearly three lakh job opportunities by 2020  A mega food park is being established near Bhubaneswar over 282 acres through the PPP mode.  In order to build up the health infrastructure & services, a provision of INR 1, 572 crore was made under the Mukhyamantri Swasthya Seva Mission.

Special about State Budget  Total budget outlay of INR 1, 70, 000 Crores.  It was presented in 2 parts – ‗Agriculture Budget‘ & ‗General Budget‘.  Introduction of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Budget document.  ABADHA (Augmentation of Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture (ABADHA)) scheme to transform Puri into a World Heritage City.

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 Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium, Rourkela which is one of the venues for Men‘s Hockey World Cup 2023 is set to be developed as India‘s Largest Hockey Stadium  Introduction of Fiscal risk statement for managing risk exposures.

But, despite having such abundance of resources, Odisha is considered as one of India‘s Poorest state. Odisha‘s per capita income is the fifth lowest in the country and poverty the sixth highest amongst various states of India. Reasons being:-  State not able to tap full potential of agriculture as most of it's population depend on agriculture.  industrial development cannot be given free hand as all rich natural resources region located in tribal areas which makes it difficult to explore without acceptance of tribal people.  Natural calamities like cyclones effecting coastal areas every year  Development is correlated with increased pace of urbanization. But according to census 2011, Less than a sixth of Oriyas lives in the cities.  Odisha not able to optimize the use of being a coastal state compared to Tamil Nadu, Kerela and Gujarat. Fisherman still uses traditional practices which is affecting their economic status  Maoist areas in state which are blocking developmental process.

What can be done?  ICRIER reveals that higher productivity and income in agriculture still hold the key for faster poverty alleviation in state  Improving status of agriculture should be the 1st priority. Increase cropped area under irrigation: by tapping state's rich ground water resources through solar powered irrigation pumps. Tropical location of Odisha guarantees atleast 300 sunshine days annually. This will boost agri-production & yield productivity in a cost effective manner.  Adequate Road infrastructure: to ensure connectivity of rural economies with input & output markets (urban centers); 46 percent villages of orissado not have all weather road connectivity that prevents farmers to realize best prices for inputs & output.  Incentivise Diversification of agriculture  State has a significant chunk of its population comprising of tribal communities, which have been marginalized since decades; educating such communities about modern methods & technologies used in agriculture through local awareness campaigns & training programmes will go a long way.  Tourism sector can be tapped in more efficient way by providing communication training and workshops.

ODISHA AND CYCLONE (Source:- TOI, The IE, Down to earth, PIB) Context:-Government of India has initiated the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) witha view to address cyclone risks in the country. About National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project:-  The overall objective of the project is to undertake suitable structural and non-structural measuresto mitigate the effects of cyclones in the coastal states and UTs of India  National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) is implementing the project in coordination with participating State Governments and theNational Institute for Disaster Management (NIDM).  Currently 13 cyclone prone States and Union Territories (UTs), with varying levels of vulnerability, have been identified under the Project. According to vulnerability, states have been divided in 2 categories  Category I: Higher vulnerability States i.e. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu andWest Bengal.

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 Category II: Lower vulnerability States i.e. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, Pondicherry,Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands  The project will be funded by the World Bank as an Adaptable Programme Loan (APL) with an International Development Association (IDA) credit

Appreciation of Odisha in handling cyclones:-  Learning its lessons from the super-cyclone of 1999 which claimed 10,000 lives in Odisha, the eastern state has, over the years, emerged as a role model in disaster preparedness.  In the aftermath of Cyclone Fani, one of the worst cyclones to hit India‘s eastern coastline, Odisha had proved it is one of the most disaster-ready states in the world.  According to UN, Odisha‘s zero casualty approach to managing extreme weather events is a major contribution to the implementation of the Sendai Framework

How Odisha handle cyclones every year  Cyclone shelters:- The Odisha State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA) designed some 800 multipurpose cyclone and flood shelters in the coastal districts in association with the Institute of Information Technology (IIT) Kharagpur.  Millions of SMS messages were sent out by Location Based Alert System (LBAS) and Group Based Alert System (GBAS) to warn people. The ―SATARK‖ (System for Assessing, Tracking and Alerting Disaster Risk Information based on Dynamic Risk Knowledge) of Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) has won the IT Excellence Award in 2019 for its innovative conception by using information technology in the field of disaster management.  Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS) proved to be a saviour every time. Using the mechanism, OSDMA can activate sirens across 122 towers operational across the state‘s 480 km coastline, alerting the population at the press of a single button.  Disaster Management cannot be done without the cooperation at grass root levels. Thus, Empowering the community has been a big game-changer.Odisha has managed to create a sense of community during such disasters that other states can also emulate. Cyclone evacuation is a social process, and people‘s decision to evacuate depends on how they perceive the risk from the warning message

Why Odisha is in the eye of a storm more often than other east coast states?  Between 1891 and 2018, over 100 tropical cyclones lashed Odisha (with some huge destroyers like 1999 cyclone, Phailin in 2013, Titli in 2018, Fani in 2019, etc.)— the highest number among other states on the coast.This is drastically higher from the western coast of India, which faces just a third of such storms or fewer.  As a state, the geography and topography of Odisha plays a big role in acting as a magnet for tropical cyclones. Geographically, the landmass between Puri to Bhadrak juts out a little into the sea, making it vulnerable to any cyclonic activity in the Bay of Bengal  Such cyclones and storms in the Bay of Bengal region travel in the northwest direction, upward, owing to the shape of the Indian landmass and the storms‘ anti-clockwise spin.  Because Odisha lies right at the point where India‘s coastline curves, its large shore makes for an easy target for most storms.  Furthermore, the Bay of Bengal also welcomes cyclones formed over the Pacific Ocean. As there is no landmass big enough to stop them, they pass through Malacca Strait the Gulf of Thailand and enter the Bay of Bengal. They end up circulating here because the Himalayas and the Western Ghats prevent the winds from crossing over.

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Tropical Cyclones:-  Tropical cyclone is an intense circular storm that originates over warm tropical oceans and is characterized by low atmospheric pressure, high winds, and heavy rain.  The temperature of the top layer of the sea, up to a depth of about 60 meters, need to be at least 28°C to support the formation of a cyclone. That is why the April-May and October-December periods are conducive for cyclones.  The low level of air above the waters needs to have an ‗anticlockwise‘ rotation (in the northern hemisphere; clockwise in the southern hemisphere).

COUNTRY'S FIRST GOVERNMENTAL WASTE TO ENERGY PLANT (Source:- The Hindu, PIB, TOI) Context:-Indian Railways has commissioned the country's first governmental waste to energy plant, having capacity of 500 Kg waste per day, in Mancheswar Carriage Repair workshop at Bhubaneswar under the East Coast Railway zone  This Waste to Energy Plant uses a patented technology called POLYCRACK, first-of-its-kind in Indian Railways and fourth in India.  It is world‘s first patented heterogeneous catalytic process which converts multiple feed stocks into hydrocarbon liquid fuels, gas, carbon and water.  Using Polycrack Plant, all types of waste including plastic and e-waste can be converted to Light Diesel Oil which is used to light furnaces. It can be fed with all types of Plastic.  One of the biggest advantage of this technology is that Pre-segregation of waste is not required to reform the waste. Waste as collected can be directly fed into Polycrack.  It is an enclosed unit hence the working environment is dust free

Waste to energy  Waste-to-energy (WTE) plant is a waste management facility that combusts wastes to produce electricity. This type of power plant is sometimes called a trash-to-energy, municipal waste incineration, energy recovery, or resource recovery plant.  Incineration-based waste-to-energy plants rely on mass burning of municipal solid waste, which involves complete combustion into ash. Depending on what is being combusted, the gases generated may contain dioxins and furans, which are toxic and can be lethal

Despite NITI Aayog, as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission, envisaged 800 Mega Watt from WTE plants by 2018-19, which is 10 times the capacity of all the existing WTE plants put together, the mechanism didn‘t became successful because:-  Municipal solid waste in India has low calorific value and high moisture content.  As most wastes sent to the WTE plants are unsegregated, they also have high inert content (inert materials like soil, sand, grit, etc).

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 These wastes are not suitable for burning, and therefore to burn them, additional fuel is required which makes these plants expensive to run. Also, costs of the projects are high as critical equipment for a project is required to be imported.  Generally, the tariff at which the power is purchased by to waste to energy plants across the country is around ₹7- 8 KwH which is higher than the ₹3-4 per KwH generated through coal and other means. This could be a serious challenge, as the selling price of power cannot be increased corresponding to the purchasing price.  Lack of conducive policy guidelines from State Governments in respect of allotment of land, supply of garbage and power purchase / evacuation facilities. Also, lack of devolution of financial resources to Municipal Corporations/Urban Local Bodies  WTEs have also triggered widespread criticism from citizens. For instance, there has been a continuous protest against the Okhla WTE plant in Delhi for polluting the environment.

What can be done?  With climate change at the doorstep and India‘s focus on renewable source of energy and burgeoning population, the WTEs approach is needed to address the growing energy need in a sustainable way. However, it is also important to ensure their effectiveness.  For this, Urban local bodies (ULBs) should invest in preparing an action plan on waste management in accordance with the Solid Waste Management (SWM) rules, 2016 within a time-bound approach and promote and adopt the key elements of waste hierarchy as refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle and recover.  It is also important to focus on segregation at source, spreading awareness, preparing an action plan for the city for waste management by adopting decentralised technologies. This will not only improve effectiveness of WTEs, but will also ensure protection and improvement of our environment as envisaged in Article 51 A(g) of our Constitution

ODISHA BORDER DISPUTES (Source:- The IE) Context:-Recently, a border dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh once again resurfaced when Andhra Pradesh announced panchayat polls in three villages of Kotia panchayat in Koraput district of Odisha.  This is the first time Andhra has held panchayat polls in any of these villages

Border Disputes of Odisha:-  Odisha was carved out of the Bengal-Bihar-Odisha province in 1936, but the inter-state border disputes continue even today.  Odisha continues to have unresolved border disputes with four neighbouring States in its 8 out of 30 districts.  However, the disputes over Kotia villages in Koraput district bordering Andhra Pradesh is the only major border conflict

Kotia Dispute  Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are locked in a territorial dispute over Kotia gram panchayat since 1960. Dispute is over 21 villages in Kotia gram panchayat.  Residents of Kotia panchayat receive benefits from both Pottangi block in Koraput and Salur in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh. They depend on both the blocks for their day to day activities.  Prior to April 1, 1936, villages under Kotia panchayat were

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part of Jeypore Estate.  In a joint survey of Odisha, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, seven villages of Kotia gram panchayat were recorded as revenue villages and revenue was collected by the Odisha government, but the exercise left out the 21 villages now under dispute.  When the state of Andhra Pradesh was created in 1955, the villages were not surveyed by the Andhra Pradesh government  In the early 1980s, Odisha filed a case in the Supreme Court demanding right and possession of jurisdiction over the 21 villages  In 2006 the Supreme court ruled that disputes belonging to the state boundaries are not within the jurisdiction of the Court.The matter can only be resolved by Parliament and passed a permanent injunction on the disputed area. Till then, no new development occurred from judiciary side.

Kotia :- These villages are inhabited by Kondh tribals. The region, once a Maoist hotbed, is also rich in mineral resources like gold, platinum, manganese, bauxite, graphite and limestone

Other Border issues of Odisha  With Jharkhand:-The border dispute between Odisha and Jharkhand arises due to change in course of river Baitarani. The Baitarani river originates from the hill ranges of Keonjhar district of Odisha. Major portion of its catchment lies in the state of Odisha and a small patch of the upper reach falls in Jharkhand  With West Bengal:-Odisha and West Bengal have disputes over 27 plots in Balasore District and some areas in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.  With Chhattisgarh:-With Chhattisgarh, Odisha has disputes relating to villages in Nabarangpur and Jharsuguda district.The Central Government constituted Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal in 2018

What can be done:-  The only effective way forward is deliberations in Inter State councils and Tribunals.  Sticking to the spirit of Cooperative federalism should be adopted to resolve such disputes

INITIATIVES UNDER ODISHA’S 5T MODEL OF GOVERNANCE (Source:- ANI, PIB, The Hindu) Context:- CM launched several online services under the 5T Initiatives

5T Model:-5T Model of Governance is based on the philosophy that technology, transparency, teamwork and time- laid leads to transformation. It was started to bridge the gap between the highest political decision-maker in the state and the most far-flung citizen.

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Key Initiatives under 5T:-  ―MO Sarkar :- is the Odisha government‘s citizen-centric project that takes feedback from ordinary people regarding their experience at the government-run facilities in the state. The objective is to provide service with dignity to people who are coming to government offices for different purposes. It will also help to make the governance people-centric.  BLUIS –It stands for Bhuwaneshwar Land Use Intelligence System. It is a web and the mobile-based solution which will help in the monitoring of government land in Bhubaneshwar.  ORTPSA Online Module:- It is a dashboard for monitoring delivery of notified public services.  state prisons directorate has decided to introduce e-custodysystem in jails. Once introduced, e-custody certificates of prisoners can be sent onlineto courts in quick time.  Mo-Chhatua App:-For Real time monitoring & efficient supply chain management of Take Home Ration (Chhatua)  Mo Sishu Portal:-An information management & monitoring system created exclusively for child protection services. It will enable systematic report & centralized recording of cases related to Child protection by Enforcement agencies.  MAMATA App &MIS:-Citizen centric app & MIS (Management Information System) for registration of pregnant and lactating women for cash transfer of INR 5, 000 under MAMATA Flagship scheme.

HOW ODISHA FIGHT COVID-19 (Souce:- TOI, PRS, WHO) Context:-Odisha‘s response to Covidearns praise from WHO  Odisha is among handful of states that is at the forefront of India‘s fight against a rapidly growing COVID-19 pandemic. Even before the national lockdown was imposed by the Union government on March 24,2020, Odisha was only state to have imposed partial lockdown in select districts.

Points Highlighted by WHO  Early start:-The state was the first in the country to initiate strict measures. It was also first state that took proactive steps to ramp up its health care system particularly having a COVID-19 hospital with intensive care units (ICUs) on public–private partnership mode  Setting up one of the biggest COVID health facility in the country in a record time of just one week; with the Kalinga Institute of Medical Science and SUM Hospital established as model COVID hospitals  The state laid down a strong governance framework with ‗Empowered Group of Ministers‘ for quick decision making and dedicated teams for social distancing, capacity building, containment strategy, isolation and treatment, and awareness campaign. The dedicated teams put up a synchronized effort by working in close coordination with the Department of Health and Family Welfare.  By the end of May 2020, the state managed to build a robust infrastructure with a capacity of 22 340 beds in the dedicated COVID health facilities.  Effective monitoring:-Utilizing their polio experience, the National Public Health Surveillance Project (WHO- NPSP) team prepared fifteen planning templates, to undertake activities such as control room meetings, supervision, containment zone microplanning, and community mobilization, etc.  Leveraging technology: Digital application is leveraged in monitoring movement of cases and contacts. Identification of containment zones is also guided through a geographic information system (GIS). Besides, dedicated call centers are established to address public queries

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 State engaged with the private sector to expand the surveillance to trace Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illnesses (SARI) cases helped to identify and isolate the risk groups  Patient care: Telemedicine services to enable patients to avail health services through direct consultation with the doctors have started at 41 health institutions.  India saw the huge distress of Migrant movement during 1st lockdown. The state also witnessed a huge influx of migrants. To manage this, the government adopted multi-pronged approaches such as monitoring of migrant‘s movement, issue of online e-pass, contact tracing, provision of food and accommodation, monitoring health and adherence to safety measures, etc. A dedicated online Grievance Redressal Portal exclusively for migrants was also set up.  The decentralized approach in collaboration with Gram Panchayats:-Gram Panchayats are entrusted with the responsibility of isolating suspect cases. This decentralized approach has worked well, as identifying and isolating suspects was managed at the local level.  Involvement of Self-help Groups under the Mission were done and trained through a cascade training model supported by UNICEF and UNFPA. The SHGs came together to stitch a whopping 1 million masks in a record time to address the acute scarcity of masks. This also provided an opportunity to improve livelihood of the women.  As many as 46,627 ASHAs have emerged as key pillars against COVID-19 in closely operating with Gaon Kalyan Samitis in the rural areas and Mahila Arogaya Samitis in the urban areas to address the health needs

Challenges Ahead  A rapid surge of infections despite improved recoveries have brought enormous stress on health care system particularly in major cities particularly Cuttack and Bhubaneswar which continue to be the major hotspots. Challenges related to poor health infrastructure are proving too difficult to overcome.  Shortage of health care professionals and quality medical facilities have started hurting the state‘s emergency response. For instance, in Ganjam district, of the 567 posts sanctioned for doctors, only 219 are occupied  Odisha provided series of material and economic packages to vulnerable populations including pensioners, aged and returnee migrant workers. With pandemic showing no sign of slowing down and economic activity still on a low key, livelihood and employment of most informal workers including returnee migrants are at stake.

PLACES AND PERSONS IN NEWS 1) Chilika Lake:- 2) (Source:- Down to Earth) Context:- A study by the marine archaeology department of the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa, has found that Chilika Lake was once part of the Bay of Bengal.

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About Chilika Lake:-  Chilika Lake is a brackish water lagoon, spread over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha.  It is located at the mouth of the Daya River, flowing into the Bay of Bengal and is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the largest brackish water lagoon in the world after The New Caledonian barrier reef.  It has been listed Ramsar Site as well as a tentative UNESCO World Heritage site.  The lake has been a useful centre for maritime activities since the third millennium before the Common Era (CE). Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang (7th century CE) recorded ‗Che-li-ta-lo-Ching‘ as a flourishing port, located at Chhatargarh on the banks of the Chilika  The Brahmanda Purana (10th century CE approximately) says the Chilika was an important centre of trade and commerce, with ships sailing to Java, Malaya and Ceylon.

How Chilika Lake get separated from the Bay of Bengal:-  The process of the formation of the Chilika might have begun in the latter part of the Pleistocene epoch, around 20,000 years ago  India‘s peninsular river Mahanadi carried a heavy load of silt and dumped part of it at its delta.As the sediment- laden river met the Bay of Bengal, sand bars were formed near its mouth.  These created a backflow of the seawater into the sluggish fresh water at the estuary, resulting in the huge brackish water lake, what we known as Chilika Lake.  Marine archaeological studies on the Odisha coast clearly show that the Chilika once acted as a safe harbour for cargo ships bound for Southeast Asia and other parts of the world  Some studies revealed that due to tectonic movements, it was separated from the Bay of Bengal through a barrier split near Palur around 4,000 years ago

3) Lingaraj temple (Source:- The Hindu, Hindustan Times) Context:-Odisha to bring special law for managing 11th century Lingaraj temple. Also, Odisha government has decided to give a facelift to the 11th century Lingaraj Temple. About Temple:- Bhubaneswar is called the Ekamra Kshetra as the deity of Lingaraja was originally under a mango tree (Ekamra) as noted in Ekamra Purana, a 13th-century Sanskrit treatise

Act:-  Government has drafted a Bill similar to that of Jagannath temple Puri (passed in 1955), to manage the rituals and other activities of the 11th century Lingaraj temple, the biggest temple in Bhubaneswar.  The Lingaraj Temple Bill, 2020 would free the temple in old Bhubaneswar area from the Odisha Hindu Religious Endowment Act and put the temple under the control of Lingaraj Temple Managing Committee with a full- time administrator looking after day-to-day affairs of the shrine.

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 Under Lingaraj Temple Bill, a fund would be created in which the income derived from the movable and immovable properties of the temple would be deposited. Renovation:-  Facelift to the 11th century Lingaraj Temple will be akin to its pre-350-year structural status.  This announcement has come despite the massive financial burden on the State economy in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.  The efforts will be to create a spiritual and ecological ambience in and around the Lingaraj Temple  Further, the government is planning a barrier-free access between the Temple and Bindusagar lake  This is a part of the Lingaraj Temple Heritage Development Project under Ekamra plan

4) Shantanu Mohapatra (Source:- PIB) Context:-Legendary Odia musician, Shantanu Mohapatra passed away  He was the first Odia music composer to collaborate with legends like Lata Mangeshkar, Manna Dey and Md Rafi and also the first to work in Hindi, Bengali, Assamese and Telugu film industries  He composed the first Modern Odia ballad ―Konark Gatha‖  Mohapatra, who retired as the Director of Odisha Mining Corporation, received several awards including the Odisha Film Critic Award for his contribution to Odia music

5) Jagannath heritage Corridor Project (Puri) Context:-The ODISHA assembly unanimously passed a resolution regarding the Jagannath Heritage Corridor project  The project‘s draft architectural plan and design, with an estimated cost of Rs 3,200 crore has been recently approved by the temple management committee  The project is divided into nine zones and to be completed in three phases  The project includes plans to beautify and develop the 75-metre corridor around the temple's boundary walks (meghanada pacheri)  Shree Jagannath Heritage Corridor (SJHC) projectwill be undertaken under the Augmentation of Basic Amenities & Development of Heritage & Architecture at Puri (ABADHA) scheme, which was approved by the state cabinet in 2019  Adding to the uniqueness of the plan is that the entire project is 100 per cent sustainable with services in place for rain-water harvesting, facilitated by an intricate canal, water filtration system and drainage system. Other elements such as renewable solar energy have also been incorporated to make the intervention as self-sufficient as possible  Khondalite rocks will be used for development of the corridor and other projects with an aim to maintain Kalinga architecture style  The heritage corridor is targeted to be completed by February 2022  The heritage corridor project was approved days after the Centre withdrew its notification for the draft heritage bylaws for Puri's Shree Jagannath Temple

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Jagannath temple  It was built in 12th century by King Anatavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty.  It is also called ―YamanikaTirtha‖ as it is believed that the the power of ‗Yama‘, the god of death has been nullified in Puri due to the presence of Lord Jagannath.  Also called White Pagoda and is famous for annual RathaYatra or Chariot festival, in which the three principal deities (Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra) are pulled on huge and elaborately decorated temple cars  In front of the entrance stands the Aruna stambha or sun pillar, which was originally at the Sun Temple in Konark Kaḷinga architecture style  Kaḷinga architecture style is a style of Hindu architecture and a sub-style of Nagara architecturewhich flourished in the ancient Kalinga previously known as Utkal and in present eastern Indian state of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Most of the main temple sites are located in ancient Kalinga—modern , including Bhubaneswar or ancient Tribhuvanesvara, Puri and Konark.  The temple complex is surrounded by a wall on each side of which is a gate over which rises a pyramid-shaped roof  A typical Kalinga Odishan temple consists two parts, a sanctuary where an idol or linga is placed and a hall where pilgrims can view the lord installed in the sanctuary.  In Kalinga style the temple is made up of two structures. Shikhara is called Deul and is almost vertical and suddenly curves sharply inwards at the topand Deuls are preceded, as usual, by mandapas called jagamohana in Odisha. It covers the garbhagriha.  The walls of both the deul and the jagmohan are lavishly sculpted with architectural motifs and a profusion of figures  The ground plan of the main temple is almost always square, which, in the upper reaches of its superstructure becomes circular in the crowning mastaka  The style consists of three distinct types of temples: Rekha Deula, Pidha Deula and Khakhara Deula. The former two are associated with , and Shiva temples while the third is mainly with Chamunda and Durga temples  Rekha Deula is generally the Shikhara above the sanctum sanctorum. The Rekha Deula is etymologically called ―curvilinear temple‖ because the Shikhara here is curvilinear with less density in the lower part but highly dense in the upper part. The famous temple of Lingaraja at Bhubaneshwar and Jagannatha at Puri are two prominent and gigantic examples of Rekha Deula  The Pidha Deula is etymologically called ―flat seat temple‖ because the Shikhara here is like a stepped but compressed pyramid. It is marked by a series of flat platforms placed one over the other, in diminishing order,

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each one representing a storey. It is topped by an Amalaka as a rule. Bhaskareshwar Temple at Bhubaneshwar is, however, the only known free-standing specimen of Pidha Deula style  Khakhra Deula is an elongated, barrel-roof shaped shrine. This could be called the Kalingan interpretation of Vallabhi shrines (Nagara form of temples generally seen in the Himalayan region). This form is inspired by the Shala element seen in Buddhist architecture.The most famous example of this style is Vaital Deula, Bhubaneshwar, and Varahi Deul, Chaurashi in Odisha  Examples of Kalinga architecture: (Bhubaneshwar); Jagganath Temple, Puri

PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TRIBAL GROUPS IN ODISHA (Source:- The IE) Context:-Covid-19 reaches remote tribes(Bondas and Didiayis) of Odisha.

PVTG:-  The classification among tribes was adopted by the Government after the Dhebar Commission (1960-1961) stated that within the Scheduled Tribes there existed an inequality in the rate of development.  During the 4th Five Year Plan (1969-74), a sub-category was created within Scheduled Tribes to identify groups at a lower level of development. This sub-category was called ―Primitive tribal group‖, which is now PVTG.  75 tribal groups have been categorized by the Ministry of Home Affairs as PVTGs.  PVTGsareidentified based on their:  Relative physical isolation,  Stagnant or declining population,  Low levels of literacy,  Absence of written language,  Pre-agricultural stage of economy, such as hunting, food gathering, shifting cultivation and terrace cultivation  Ministry of Tribal Affairs implements the Scheme of 'Development of PVTGs' exclusively for them

PVTGs in Odisha:-  Of the 62 tribal groups in Odisha, 13 are recognised as PVTGs - the highest in the country.Odisha has a population of 2.5 lakh belonging to the PVTGs  The PVTGs of the state have been identified as: Bonda, Birhor, Chuktia, Didayi, Dongaria Kandha, Juang, Kharia, Kutia Kondh, Lanjia Saora, Lodha, Mankirida, Paudi Bhuyan and Saora.  For reasons like poverty, illiteracy, lack of safe drinking water, poor sanitary conditions, difficult terrain, malnutrition, poor access to maternal and child health care services, superstition, nonavailability of adequate health care services, etc., COVID in these tribes is matter of grace concern. Their immunity is very weak and may lead to extinction of tribe seeing their depleting numbers.  According to tribal activists, the tribes‘ remote habitats also lack the required minimum administrative set-up and infrastructure. ―They maintain a community life and if one person is infected, the infection is likely to spread, which is why this calls for special attention In these testing times of Covid-19, the tribal population of both mainland India and Islands territory need proper attention. This must happen by respecting their way of living and providing ample opportunity while not interfering with their environment. 2. ‗Blue Flag’ certification (Source:- The IE, PIB) Context:-Eight beaches in India have been awarded the coveted ‗Blue Flag‘ certificationby an eminent international jury, which comprises UNEP, IUCN, United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)  The Chandrabhaga beach on the Konark coast of Odisha is the first in India to get the Blue Flag certification

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About Blue Flag Certfication  Blue Flag beaches are considered the cleanest beaches of the world  The Blue Flag Programme for beaches and marinas is run by the international, non- governmental, non- profit organisation FEE (the Foundation for Environmental Education) since 1985 and in areas outside Europe since 2001.  The Blue Flag is one of the world‘s most recognised voluntary eco-labels awarded to beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators  On the lines of Blue Flag certification, India has also launched its own eco-label BEAMS.  BEAMS (Beach Environment & Aesthetics Management Services) is launched by the Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM) and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

INTER-STATE TIGER RELOCATION PROJECT (Source:- IE, Down to Earth) Context:-Sundari — a tigress shifted as part of India‘s first inter-state translocation project in 2018 from Madhya Pradesh to Odisha has returned home.

Tiger relocation project:-  Tiger relocation project was initiated in 2018 wherein two big cats, a male (Mahavir) from Kanha Tiger Reserve and a female (Sundari) from Bandhavgarh from MP were relocated to Satkosia Tiger Reserve in Odisha.  It was the first inter-state tiger relocation project  The translocation project was as per the NTCA guidelines and in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India and the Government of India.  Relocation was meant to serve two purposes  To reduce the tigers in areas with excess tiger population, mainly to reduce territorial disputes  To reintroduce tigers in areas where the population has considerably reduced like Odisha.

Satkosia Tiger Reserve and why was it chosen?  Encompassing an area of 963.87 sq km, the Satkosia Tiger Reserve spreads across four districts and has as its core area 523 sq km  It is located where the Mahanadi River passes through a 22 km long gorge in the Eastern Ghats Mountains  Mammals found include the leopard, indian wild dog (also known as dhole), wild boars, striped hyena, sloth bear, leopard cat and the jungle cat  It was declared as a Tiger Reserve in 2007 with a population of 12 tigers then. The numbers reduced to two in 2018.  According to NTCA, Satkosia falls under reserves where ―there is a potential for increasing tiger populations‖.

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 The main purpose of the relocation was to repopulate tigers in the reserve areas

Why the project failed?  Relocation saw severe protests by villagers living on the fringes of the reserve and the matter eventually became a poll issue.  The villagers feared the big cats would endanger their livelihoods, lives and livestocks. They also alleged that they were not consulted or informed prior to the translocation  Relocation of tigers led to displacement of tribals from Raigoda in the core area to Saruali on the outskirts of the reserve which eventually led to attack on forest officials by villagers  The major reason which contributed to the failure of the project was the lack of confidence and trust-building between the forest department and the villagers.Within months of the translocation, Mahavir was found dead and was killed in poaching.  Sundari‘s proximity to human habitations which are in abundance even close to the core area in Satkosia could have led to the human-animal conflict  Protection was not up to the mark and the only undisturbed, prey rich habitat was already occupied by the old resident tigress causing Sundari to occupy human dominated, disturbed areas

OLIVE RIDLEY CONSERVATION (Source:- The Hindu, IE) Context:-Orissa High Court took suo motu cognisance on the death of around 800 Olive Ridley sea turtles due to negligence by Odisha‘s forest and fisheries departments  The state‘s Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is known as the world‘s largest rookery of sea turtles. It extends from Dhamra Rivermouth in the north to Brahmani river mouth in the south

Olive Ridley Sea Turtles  The Olive ridley turtles are the smallest and most abundant of allsea turtles found in the world, inhabiting warm waters of the Pacific,Atlantic and Indian oceans  These turtles, along with their cousin the Kemps ridley turtle, are bestknown for their unique mass nesting called Arribada, wherethousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs  The coast of Orissa in India is the largest mass nesting site for the Olive-ridley, followed by thecoasts of Mexico and Costa Rica  They come under Schedule- 1 of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and under Vulnerable in the IUCN Red list What are the major threats to Olive Ridley Sea Turtles?  Unfriendly fishing practices, development and exploitation of nesting beaches for ports, andtourist centres  Most severe threat is the accidental killing of adult turtles through entanglement in trawl nets andgill nets due to uncontrolled fishing during their mating season around nesting beaches  They are still extensively poached for their meat, shell and leather

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Government initiatives for their protection and conservation  To reduce accidental killing in India, the Odisha government has made it mandatory for trawls to use Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs), a net specially designed with an exit cover which allows the turtles to escape while retaining the catch  To ensure the safety of olive ridley turtles during their breeding and mating season, the Odisha government clamped a seven-month prohibition on sea fishing activity within 20 km of the coast at the river mouths of Dhamara, Devi and Rusikulya.  Three-member panel constituted by the Orissa High Court that would assessed the measures taken for the conservation of endangered olive ridley sea turtles.  Odisha Govt. requested WII to conduct fresh study on Olive Ridley turtle movement for better conservation of turtles.  The state governmentis organising 61 onshore and five offshore patrolling camps for keeping a close watch on mass nesting of turtles

NAXALISM IN ODISHA Naxalism  The term ‗Naxal‘ derives from the name of the village Naxalbari in West Bengal, where the movement had its origin.  The Naxals are considered far-left radical communists, supportive of Maoist political sentiment and ideology.  Their origin can be traced to the split in 1967 of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), leading to the formation of the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist).  Initially the movement had its centre in West Bengal. But gradually, it spread into less developed areas of rural southern and eastern India, such as Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh through the activities of underground groups like the Communist Party of India (Maoist). The whole area infamously known as ―Red Corridor‖.

Naxalism in Odisha  Years leading up to the origin of the Naxalite movement in Odisha witnessed the rural poor‘s exploitation and the tribals at petty landlords‘ hands  Poverty in Odisha was too high, especially in the southern and western regions of the state, including Koraput and Ganjam districts. As a result, an agricultural revolution broke out from these regions, which eventually grew into the infamous Naxalite movement in Odisha

 2007 arguably marked a peak in left-wing extremism in Odisha  Ironically enough, what started as a mere peasant movement in a small district of Odisha came to constitute ―the greatest internal security threat to the nation‖- as stated by former PM Manmohan Singh on Naxalism in India

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How Odisha handled Naxalism  In 2019, Odisha Chief Secretary claimed that ten out 15 Maoist-hit districts are now free from the influence of Left Wing Extremism  One of the crucial reasons behind Odisha Police success against LWE has been a clear strategy – strong intelligence set-up and ground operations.  Odisha created its anti-Naxal force Special Operations Group (SOG) modelling on Andhra Pradesh‘s Greyhounds, besides setting up Special Intelligence Wing (SIW), a dedicated intelligence apparatus, after it suffered some of the worst at the hands of Maoists in the 1990s and 2000s.  The wing created a roadmap for the SOG to take the battle to the rebel camp.The State Police has used the Maoist strategy against the Maoists – acting on ground intelligence and used small operational units  Against the guerillas, they have used Naxal‘s tactics by mobilizing smaller units which help them to adapt, attack and escape when required.  Another crucial aspect is Odisha Police has taken ownership and accountability of anti-Naxal operations despite having CRPF and BSF for support. All operational intelligence is shared with the State Police first before any plan is put into action. On the other hand, other states like Chhattisgarh and Andhra banked heavily on Central forces  The advantage with State Police remaining in charge is its strong connect with local population which is key in the fight against Maoists  Specific schemes included providing rights over forest land to over 1,41,471 tribal families, improving road communication with 29 completed road projects under Road Requirement Plan-I (RRP-I) whereas, another 33 projects sanctioned under RRP-II are under implementation

Initiatives by Govt. of India  The MHA established a robust mechanism under which timely reviews are conducted and policies and strategies are amended or fine-tuned  From 223 districts that were affected due to naxalism in the year 2010, the number has come down to 90 in nine years  SAMADHAN-A Comprehensive Policy Tool: An integrated strategy through which LWE can be countered with full force and competence. This is a compilation of short term and long-term policies formulated at different levels  Bastariya Battalion: The CRPF has decided to enhance local representation in its combat layout deployed in the Bastar area to

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provide the ‗Bastariya‘ youth better avenues of employment under its Civic Action Programme  In developing these capabilities, the MHA has deployed at least one Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or Mini- UAV for each CAPF battalions. More helicopter support is provided for CAPFs to rush in supplies and reinforcements  The government even started ‗Relief and Rehabilitation Policy‘ for bringing naxalites into mainstream  he Ministry of Home Affairs has set up a Multi-Disciplinary Group (MDG) comprising officers from various central and state enforcement units.  The issue of unemployment and illiteracy was addressed through ―Skill Development in 47 LWE affected districts‖ and PMKVY.  The Centre, under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), had upgraded schools and girls‘ hostels have been sanctioned in 35 most affected LWE districts

MAN- ANIMAL CONFLICTS IN ODISHA (Source:- Hindustan Times, Researchgate, The Hindu) Context:- Odisha Government formed a State level task force under the chairmanship of principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden for preparation of a master plan to reduce man-animal conflicts in state during the next three years.  Recently, a wild elephant went on rampage killing atleast 4 persons and critically injuring 3 others in Puri District.  Similarly, in January this year, around 600 schools in Jajpur were closed after an elephant killed 2 persons in the district.  A farmer in Angul district was trampled to death by a tusker when he was in his paddy field.  In 2019-20, Odisha recorded 115 human casualties and 132 injuries due to man-elephant conflict in a year, probably the highest ever in India. Retaliation by people with electric fences, live wire poaching, poaching for ivory etc have taken a heavy toll of elephant lives too

Reasons of such conflict:-  Encroachment of human beings in wildlife habitats for residential purposes and city expansion.  Accidents are also being caused due to expanding road networks and increase in vehicular traffic. Some of the road networks even pass through protected areas, hence creating danger zones for wild animals  Unscientific structures and practices of forest management in the country are another central contributor to man animal conflicts  Land use transformations such as change from protected forest patches to agricultural and horticultural lands and monoculture plantations are further destroying the habitats of wildlife  Infestation of wildlife habitat by invasive exotic weeds like lantana, eupatorium and parthenium have resulted in decreased availability of edible grasses for wild herbivores. As a result, herbivores come out of forest areas and cause depredation of agricultural crops on the fringes  Tourism without proper guidelines disturbs animal habitats and further leads to man animal conflict.

Odisha govt response:-  Government has formed a task force headed by its chief wildlife warden to prepare a 3-year master plan for reduction of man-animal conflict

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 Odisha‘s Athagarh Forest Division has started casting seed balls (or bombs) inside different reserve forest areas to enrich food stock for wild elephants. This will prevent man-elephant conflict. A seed bomb is a little ball generally made up of a combination of compost, clay and seeds.  The compost offers nutrients for the seeds to germinate and grow strong during their infancy and the clay binds the seed bomb, making it hard enough not to break when it hits the ground.It is used in re-vegetation and reforestation of the fragile ecosystems.  Further, the Government has taken initiative for fodder and water augmentation in forest areas so that animals get food and water in forest areas and not come outside. LiDAR technology is being used for the same  Govt. has identified 14 Elephant corridors in Odisha for safe movement of the pachyderms which frequently come out of their habitat in search of food and water.  Training programmes for forest staff and police to address the problems of human-wildlife conflicts.  Other than this, community based practices are required which can supplement the Govt initiatives like safe methods of driving away elephants must be practiced.  Crops that are unpalatable to elephants are encouraged to be farmed in highly vulnerable areas

What more can we do:-  Relocation of human settlements should be done, which will alter the ecological setting in favour of wild animals, and thus prevent conflict  Ecocentric tourism must be promoted so that the unique habitats of animals do not get disturbed or polluted.  Prompt delivery of compensatory assistance for the victims of conflicts may help mitigate local hostility towards animals to some extent. This is one of the major reason behind locals angry reactions towards animals and govt.  Cooperative Federalism is required between center and state Environment ministries for improvement of habitats to augment food and water availability, and to minimize animal movement  Awareness programmes should be conducted to sensitize the people about the Do‘s and Don‘ts to minimize conflicts  Encouraging and supporting involvement of research and academic institutions, and leading voluntary organizations having expertise in managing human-wildlife conflict situations.  Constructing solar powered fencing, protection walls, using natural fencing (eg. bee barriers) will also help in minimising conflict between human and wildlife

Global and regional practices which can be inculcated in India  To keep elephants at a safe distance, African villagers use all-natural solutions: bees and hot peppers. Elephants dislike the chemical capsaicin found in chili peppers, prompting farmers in Tanzania to smother their fences with a mixture of oil and chili peppers.  Villagers in India have had recent success preventing tiger attacks by exploiting their knowledge of big cat behavior. Tigers stalk their prey and attack from behind, so forest workers began wearing masks on the back of their heads to prevent sneak attacks  Solar powered electric fences keep crop-raiding elephants out of fields in Africa  A new conservation initiative in Western Ghats has utilized texting as an early warning system to prevent human-elephant encounters. Elephant tracking collars embedded with SMS chips automatically text nearby residents, warning them of recent elephant movements  In Canada, they constructed wildlife corridors, areas of preserved native habitat in human dominated regions, providing wildlife with a safe pathway as they travel between one to another  Hanging fences and rubble walls in Karnataka

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WILDLIFE CORRIDORS (In Odisha, we will specifically talk about Elephant Corridor) (Source:- The Hindu, Down to earth)  Elephant corridors allow elephants to continue their nomadic mode of survival, despite shrinking forest cover, by facilitating travel between distinct forest habitats. These corridors play a crucial role in sustaining wildlife by reducing the impact of habitat isolation  Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) upheld the 2011 order of the Madras High Court (HC) on the Nilgiris elephant corridor, affirming the right of passage of the animals and the closure of resorts in the area. It said that the government is fully empowered under the 'Project Elephant' of the Union government as well as Article 51 A(g) of the Constitution to notify the elephant corridor in the state‘s Nilgiris district  Recently, NGT directed the Odisha government to prepare an action plan within three months on 14 identified elephant corridors for providing stress-free migration to jumbos from one habitation to another in the State

Issues with Elephant Corridors in India Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) identified and recorded details pertaining to 101 elephant corridors across India, out of which  Only 22% corridors are of a width of one to three kilometres in 2017, compared with 41% in 2005, pointing to how constricted corridors have become in the past 12 years  Only 21.8% of corridors were free of human settlements in 2017  Almost two-thirds of the corridors have a National or State Highway passing through them, fragmenting habitats and hindering elephant movement further  Two in every three elephant corridors in the country are now affected by agricultural activities  All the corridors in northern West Bengal (100%) and almost all in central India (96%) and northeastern

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India (52.2% under settled cultivation and 43.4% under slash and burn cultivation) have agricultural land

RIVER WATER DISPUTE Mahanadi River Water Dispute (Source:- The Hindu, IE)  Sharing of Mahanadi river water has been a bone of contention between the states of Odisha and Chhattisgarh

Mahanadi River:-  The Mahanadi River system is the third largest of peninsular India after Godavari and Krishna, and the largest river of Odisha state  It rises from a place near Sihawa in Bastar hills in the state of Chhattisgarh to the south of Amarkantak  Major Tributaries are Seonath, Mand, Ib, Tel, Hasdeo, etc  Its basin is bounded by the Central India hills on the north, by the Eastern Ghats on the south and east and by the Maikala range on the west

Odisha‘s concern:-  Odisha is arguing that Chhattisgarh has been constructing dams and weirs (small dams) upstream the Mahanadi riverwithout consulting Odisha.  This would affect the flow of the river downstream and affect drinking water supply in Odisha.  Odisha also alleged that Chhattisgarh would utilise water far in excess of the equitable share of the waters of Mahanadi  Moreover, the weirs and other projects would impact the flow of water in the Hirakud reservoir, a multipurpose river valley project, which is a lifeline for many in the state.

Water Disputes Resolution in India  The Interstate River Water Disputes Act, 1956 (IRWD Act) is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted under Article 262 of Constitution of India to resolve the water disputes that would arise in the use, control and distribution of an interstate riveror river valley.  Article 262 of the Indian Constitution provides a role for the Central government in adjudicating conflicts surrounding inter-state rivers that arise among the state/regional governments.  Parliament may by law provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any other court shall exercise jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute or complaint.  Any river water sharing treaty made with other countries, has to be ratified by the Parliament as per Article 253 after deciding the share of the Indian riparian states per Article 262 to make the treaty constitutionally valid or enforceable by the judiciary

Way forward:-  Under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 a tribunal can be formed to resolve water disputes

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 Odisha has long been demanding the formation of a tribunal for resolving the Mahanadi river water dispute. However, notably only three out of the eight existing tribunals have given awards accepted by the states concerned  The Central Government has constituted Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal in 2018 under Section 4 of the Inter- State River Water Disputes Act, 1956. The tribunal is expected to give its verdict within a period of three years

Vamsadhara River Water Dispute Context:-Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha hold talks to clear out all differences with regard to the sharing of Vamsadhara river waters. Andhra Pradesh wants to build the Neradi bridge across the river which will be possible only after Odisha‘s consent.  Andhra Pradesh also wants to complete the inter-linking of its Nagavali river with the Vamsadhara and expand the Madduvalasa Reservoir project soon.

Vamsadhara River  It is an east-flowing river which originates in Kalahandi district of Odisha, flows in Odisha, along its boundary with Andhra Pradesh and finally joins the Bay of Bengal at Kalingapatnam, Andhra Pradesh  It is the main river of north-eastern Andhra region and the Boddepalli Rajagopala Rao Project was constructed on it to meet the irrigation needs of the region  The total catchment area of the river basin is about 10,830 square kilometres

Odisha‘s concerns:-  In February 2006, Odisha sent a complaint to the Central Government under Section 3 of the Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956 regarding its water disputes with Andhra Pradesh pertaining to Inter-State River Vamsadhara. It demanded for the constitution of an Inter-State Water Disputes Tribunal for adjudication  Inter-State Water Disputes Tribunal was setup in 2010 by Central govt and it submitted it‘s report in September 2017. But Further report is still pending.  Odisha is concerned about the adverse effect of undertaking the construction of a canal (called a flood flow canal at Katragada, Andhra Pradesh) taking off from the river Vamsadhara  The flood flow canal would result in drying up the existing river bed and consequent shifting of the river affecting the groundwater table  Odisha also raised the issue of scientific assessment of available water in Vamsadhara at Katragada and Gotta Barrage, Andhra Pradesh and the basis for sharing the available water

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KBK REGION (Source:- IE, Planning commission)  KBK stands for Kalahandi Balangir Koraput Region  These are the districts of Southern and which are regarded as the most backward region by the planning commission.  During 1992-93, the three larger districts were re- organized into eight districts viz. Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabrangpur, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Nuapada, Balangir and Sonepur  The four tribaldominated districts of Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Rayagada along withKalahandi form part of Eastern Ghats, and are hilly, forested and criss-crossed withseveral rivers.  Balangir, Nuapada and Subarnapur districts are mainly part of Central Table lands, which have varied topography including plain agricultural lands, hills and rolling uplands.  KBK districts are also rich in mineral resources such as bauxite, chromite, lime iron and manganese  Region account for 19.72% of the State‘s population but contributes 48% of state‘s poor people. (2011 census)  Region occupy over 30.59% geographical area of the State. Around 90% of the people of this region still live in villages.  The literacy rate at 43.3% is much lower than the State average of 63.1%.

Reason for backwardness  Persistent crop failure, lack of access to the basic service and entitlements, starvation, malnutrition and migration are the leading manifestations in the region.  Unequal distribution of industries, educational and health infrastructure compared to northern and eastern Odisha.  Inadequate irrigation facilities aggravated the situation in KBK region as Govt focused more on fertile Eastern stretch.  Weak agro-climatic conditions, poor connectivity and infrastructure, physical isolation, and low social capabilities among tribals characterize this region, which suffers from multiple deprivations and backwardness: (i) tribal backwardness, (ii) hill area backwardness, and (iii) backwardness due to severe natural calamities.

SPECIAL AREA DEVELOPMENT APPROACH  Removal of regional disparities has been one of the important planks of the development strategies adopted by Government of India as well as the State Government during successive Five Year Plans. However, due to several economic, social and institutional obstacles, this region in Odisha has not shared gains of development in an equitable manner and continues to languish  Therefore, in consultation with the Government of India, State Government has adopted a special area development approach for this region with a view to focusing attention on it and accelerating its development  A Long Term Action Plan (LTAP) for the KBK districts was formulated in consultation with the Government of India for a period of seven years from 1995-96 to 2001-02 with 2 principal objectives:- drought proofing and poverty alleviation. However, only a meager allocation of Rs. 20.49 crore was received, therefore Therefore, LTAP; 1995-2002 did not take off due to non-availability of sufficient funds

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 A Revised Long Term Action Plan (RLTAP) for the KBK districts was submitted to Government of India in 1998 on their advice with additional objective of improving quality of life along with 2 former objectives.  Biju KBK plan:- To improve socio-economic and human capital development in the region  Biju Kandhamal O Gajpati Yojana (BKOGY)- Scheme focused on providing basic amenities in the region like electricity, roads, water and employment.  Other schemes like AKANKSHY (Construction of hostel for tribal girls); KALIA scheme for farmers and other special assistance schemes were started to improve human development in the region  The specially targetted schemes to address the development deficits such as RLTAP, BRGF (Backward Region Grant Fund), IAP (Integrated Action Plan) started making visible impact by addressing the critical gaps in the field of infrastructure.

Strategies For Development Of KBK Districts  Building rural productive infrastructure (e.g., roads, bridges, irrigation projects, tanks, watershed development, markets, warehouses) and conserving natural resources (e.g., forests, soils and water).  Development programmes for income generation on sustainable basis (e.g., productive rural infrastructure, SGSY, SGRY, EAS, agriculture development, and micro- credit support)  Mobilizing and energizing the rural poor (e.g., Self Help Groups, Vana Samrakshana Samities, Pani Panchayats, and Bhumi Panchayats).  Restructuring and energizing social security system (e.g., emergency feeding programme, special nutritional Download link- programme for children under 3 years, mobile health https://www.iasgyan.in/ias-gazette-magazine units, promotion of education among ST/SC girls)

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