3. At present, these are exempted from obtaining prior environmental clearance.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Explanation
— The Union Environment Ministry has proposed to exempt common municipal solid waste management facilities and common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) from obtaining prior environmental clearance. At present, CETPs are not exempt from obtaining prior environmental clearance (EC). They require EC under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, which was issued under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
— A Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) is a centralized facility that collects and treats wastewater from multiple industries, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within a cluster or industrial estate. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
— The EAC said that solid waste management facilities and CETPs are governed under provisions of the Water Act, 1974, and the Air Act, 1981, and the regulatory regimes under these statutes are both stringent and comprehensive. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
— The draft notifications have thus proposed to omit entries related to solid waste municipal management facilities and CETPs from the list of activities that need prior environmental clearance under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification, 2006.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
QUESTION 2
With reference to the National Red List Assessment (NRLA), consider the following statements:
1. It is a comprehensive framework prepared by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), in close collaboration with IUCN-India and the Centre for Species Survival, India.
2. It is aligned with IUCN global standards.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation
— The centre will for the first time assess the extinction risk of approximately 11,000 species, including 7,000 kinds of flora and 4,000 types of fauna — across the country to prepare a ‘national red list’, as part of its global commitment towards biodiversity protection.
— According to the assessment plan, the aim is to establish a nationally coordinated, participatory and upgradable ‘Red Listing’ system that accurately reflects the conservation status of India’s biodiversity.
— The National Red List Assessment (NRLA) is a comprehensive framework prepared by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), in close collaboration with IUCN-India and the Centre for Species Survival, India. This vision outlines our roadmap for a nationally coordinated, inclusive and science-based system to assess and monitor the conservation status of our species. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
— To fulfil our commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), India has launched the National Red List Assessment initiative, aligned with IUCN global standards. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
(Other Source: pib.gov.in)
QUESTION 3
The Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project is proposed to be built on:
(a) Beas
(b) Indus
(c) Sutlej
(d) Chenab
Explanation
— The Sawalkote hydroelectric project on the Chenab river in the Indus basin has received a push, with the Union Environment Ministry’s expert panel on hydropower projects recommending it for environmental clearance.
— The 1,865 MW project, to be built by NHPC Ltd in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district, will be one of the largest on the west-flowing Chenab. It entails a 192.5-metre-high concrete gravity dam with a reservoir capacity of 530 million cubic metres spread over 1,159 hectares. The installed capacity will be 1,406 MW in Stage I and 450 MW in Stage II.
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
QUESTION 4
With reference to the Camels in India, consider the following statements:
1. They are suited to their desert habitats, with numerous clever physiological adaptations helping them tolerate extreme hot (and cold) environments.
2. In India, camels are only found in the Thar Desert.
3. Two-humped camels are not found in India.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Explanation
— The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is mulling the launch of the National Camel Sustainability Initiative (NCSI) to curb the decline in India’s camel population.
— Camels are well suited to their desert habitats, with numerous clever physiological adaptations helping them tolerate extreme hot (and cold) environments. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
— India is home to several camel breeds, including Bikaneri, Jaisalmeri and Mewari in Rajasthan’s Thar Desert, and Kachchhi and Kharai in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. Ladakh’s inhospitable high-altitude cold desert climes also support two-humped Bactrian camels. Hence, statements 2 and 3 are not correct.
— But over the years, India’s camel population has witnessed a sharp decline. As per the 20th Livestock Census, the total number of camels in the country stood at 2,52,956 in 2019, a fraction of the 11 lakh camels that once lived in the country in 1977. In fact, the population decline has been rapid in recent years: even in 2013, there were around 4 lakh camels in India.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
QUESTION 5
With reference to the Teesta basin, consider the following statements:
1. West Bengal forms its boundary with Sikkim state in North through RamamKhola.
2. It shares its border with Nepal and the Mahananda river basin in West.
3. It shares its border with Jaldhaka river basin in East and Bangladesh in south.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation
— Darjeeling, known for its beauty and salubrious climate, has been a victim of several natural disasters in the past. Available records show that massive landslides occurred in 1899, 1934, 1950, 1968, 1975, 1980, 1991 and more recently in 2011 and 2015. The year 1968 saw devastating floods, also in October, killing over a thousand people.
— The State of Environment Report, 1991, published by the non-profit Centre for Science and Environment, stated that during 1902-1978, there were nine cloud burst occurrences in the Teesta Valley.
— Teesta basin in West Bengal forms its boundary with Sikkim state in North through RamamKhola, Rangit and Teesta rivers. It shares its border with Nepal and Mahananda river basin in West, Jaldhaka river basin in East and Bangladesh in south. Hence, statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct.
— Teesta sub-basin in West Bengal covers an area of 3225 sq. Km. which comprises hilly terrain of Darjeeling district (approximately 1121 sq. km) and plains of Jalpaiguri district (2104 sq. km).
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
(Other Source: moef.gov.in)
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Check your progress and revise your topics through this quiz on the Environment and Geography. Find a question on the Teesta Basin in today's quiz. (file photo) 
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