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The National Disaster Management Autho www.gradeup.co Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs): How to tackle a glacial burst? Why in the news? • The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had issued detailed guidelines on how to reduce and deal with disasters caused by what is scientifically called Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in October 2020. National Disaster Management Policy and Guidelines • The guidelines' main objective is to generate awareness of various aspects of dam failure hazards in India and implement suitable actions to reduce both the risk and costs associated with these hazards. • The Guidelines envision improving administrative response, bringing together the nation's relevant scientific capabilities to eliminate the losses from glacial and landslide hazards. • These Guidelines' main aim and objectives are to develop a strategy that encourages the use of scientific information, maps, methodology, guidance for the early warning system, response management, development, and implementation of initiatives to reduce losses from glacial hazards. How can the risk be reduced? • The NDMA guidelines say that risk reduction has to begin with identifying and mapping such lakes, taking structural measures to prevent their sudden breach, and establishing a mechanism to save lives and property in times of a breach. • According to NDMA, glacial retreat due to climate change occurring in most parts of the Hindu Kush Himalaya has given rise to the formation of numerous new glacial lakes. • Potentially dangerous lakes can be identified based on field observations, records of past events, geomorphologic and geotechnical characteristics of the lake/dam and surroundings, and other physical conditions. • NDMA has recommended the use of Synthetic-Aperture Radar imagery to automatically detect changes in water bodies, including new lake formations, during the monsoon months. About the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) • It is the apex statutory body for disaster management in India. • It is headed by the Prime Minister of India. • The NDMA was formally constituted on 27th September 2006, in accordance with the Disaster Management Act, 2005 with Prime Minister as its Chairperson and nine other members, and one such member to be designated as Vice-Chairperson. www.gradeup.co • It has five major divisions viz. Policy & Plans, Mitigation, Operations & Communications & Information & Technology, Administration and Finance. Mandate • Its primary purpose is to coordinate natural or man-made disasters and capacity- building in disaster resiliency and crisis response. • It is also the apex body to lay down policies, plans, and Disaster Management guidelines to ensure a timely and effective response to disasters. State-level Institutions State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) • It is headed by Chief Minister of the respective state which lays down the policies and plans for disaster management in the state. • It is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the State Plan, recommend the provision of funds for mitigation and preparedness measures and review the developmental plans of the different departments of the state to ensure integration of prevention, preparedness and mitigation measures. District level Institutions District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) • Section 25 of the Disaster Management Act provides for constitution of DDMA for every district of a state. • The District Magistrate/ District Collector/Deputy Commissioner heads the Authority as Chairperson besides an elected representative of the local authority as Co-Chairperson except in the tribal areas where the Chief Executive Member of the District Council of Autonomous District is designated as Co-Chairperson. • Further, in the district, where Zila Parishad exists, its Chairperson shall be the Co- Chairperson of DDMA. • The District Authority is responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing disaster management and taking such measures for disaster management as provided in the guidelines. • The District Authority also can examine the construction in any area in the district to enforce the safety standards and arrange for relief measures and respond to the disaster at the district level. For further reading: • https://ndma.gov.in/sites/default/files/PDF/Guidelines/Guidelines-on- Management-of-GLOFs.pdf Topic- GS Paper III – Disaster Management Source- Indian Express The cost of Internet shutdowns Why in the news? • Recently, a principal concern among these has been the recurrent shutdowns, ordered by the Ministry of Home Affairs, of Internet services around many NCR border areas since the unruly incidents on January 26. Background • India shuts down Internet services more than any other democracy in the world. • The past four years have seen over 400 such shutdowns. www.gradeup.co • Many parts of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a partial restoration of digital services after a long period of 223 days since the abrogation of Article 370 in the erstwhile State. Important Judgment • The Supreme Court had declared in January 2020 that the right to access the Internet is one of our fundamental rights, alongside the freedom to carry on any trade, business, or occupation over the medium of Internet, under Article 19 of the Constitution. About Internet shutdown • Shutdowns and website blocking, both are controlled by the same agency, the Department of Telecommunications. • Section 69A of IT Act, along with the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009 provide for a mechanism to block information from public access through any computer resource by a direction from the Central Government or any officer specially authorized in this behalf. • The rules for suspending telecommunication services, including voice, mobile Internet, SMS, landline, fixed broadband, etc., are the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017. • These Rules derive their powers from the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885, Section 5(2), which talks about the interception of messages in the "interests of India's sovereignty and integrity". • Under the 2017 Rules, directions to "suspend the telecom services shall not be issued except by an order made by the Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Home Affairs in the case of Government of India or by the Secretary to the State Government in-charge of the Home Department in the case of a State Government (hereinafter referred to as the competent authority). Impact of Internet Shut down Digital inequality • Blanket bans on digital connectivity during the COVID-19 crisis may breed deep-rooted societal difficulties. Health service • The most vulnerable people may be cut off from health and welfare alerts. Disrupt medical services www.gradeup.co • There could be breaks in vital digital services, including those currently being used by hospitals to monitor their patients' well-being at risk of infection, including the elderly, and pregnant women. E-learning • Students may lose access to avenues of learning as classes shift online. Journalists may find it impossible to do ground-reporting from already volatile areas. International criticism • UN rights groups termed these shutdowns a form of collective punishment for people and an overreach of governments on citizens' rights and liberties. Massive Economic losses • Today, almost all white-collar employment sectors, including IT, financial and consulting services, encourage their employees to work from home. • Internet shutdowns will freeze economic activity in affected areas and cause large-scale disruptions in economic output. • India is estimated to have lost over ₹20,000 crores in 2020 because of Internet shutdowns. Topic- GS Paper II– Polity Source- The Hindu Economic Impact of Judicial Decisions Why in the news? • Recently, Government think-tank NITI Aayog has asked Jaipur- headquartered research organisation Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS) International to conduct a study on the “economic impact” of various judgments delivered by Supreme Court, the high courts, and quasi-judicial bodies such as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the “judicial activism” of such courts and tribunals. Objectives of the Study • The study aims at a narrative building for sensitising the judiciary on the economic impact of their decisions. • The findings will be used as a training input for judges of commercial courts, NGT, HCs, SC, etc. www.gradeup.co • The study is to do an objective cost-benefit analysis of the economic impact of the decisions. What to study? • As a part of the new study, CUTS International has been asked to study the economic impact of five different decisions by the SC and the NGT which have either stalled or completely stopped projects in various parts of the country. • The first study is on the economic impact of the ban imposed by the apex court in March 2019 on the construction of a greenfield airport at Mopa in Goa. • The top court had suspended an economic clearance granted for the airport and had then asked the Expert Appraisal Committee to revisit its decision. • The ban on construction was lifted by order of the top court in January 2020 but had several revised conditions. 1. The four other judgments, for which the economic impact assessment study will be carried out by CUTS International, include the SC’s February 2018 ban on iron ore mining in Goa. 2. A 2013 NGT ban on sand mining in the Yamuna river in Gautam Buddha Nagar 3. the recurring SC ban on construction
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