Current Affairs Question - 05 October 2019

Explanation :

• The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) issued a 15-point directive to the 11-Ganga basin states to prevent idol immersion into river Ganga and its tributaries and on their banks, including cordoning off the ghats.
• According to the directive, a fine of Rs. 50,000 would be imposed if immersion of idols took place in the Ganga or its tributaries during various upcoming festivals.
• These directives were issued by NMCG under Section-5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• 11 States-Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

Ganga River

• It is a trans-boundary river originating in the western Himalayas (Gangotri glacier) in Uttarakhand, and flows south and east through the Gangetic Plain of India and Bangladesh, eventually emptying into the Bay of Bengal.
• Tributaries of Ganges from the North: Yamuna, Ramganga, Karnali (Ghaghra), Tapti, Gandak, Kosi.
• Tributaries of Ganges from the South: Chambal, Son, Betwa, Ken, Southern Tons
• Namami Gange Programme was launched in 2014, as an Integrated Conservation Mission, to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation, and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.

Explanation :

• PRAKASH (Power Rail Koyla Availability through Supply Harmony) has been launched for better coordination among the ministries of power, coal and Indian Railways for coal supply to power plants.
• The portal is developed by NTPC, using sources data from different stakeholders such as CEA (Central Electricity Authority), Centre for Railway Information System (CRIS) and coal companies.
• However, the portal, unlike the power ministry’s other recently launched websites, is not accessible to general public.

Benefits

• Apart from mapping coal stocks in mines, the portal will also help stakeholders monitor the movement of railway rakes and coal availability at power plants.
• It is expected to help coal companies to track stocks and requirement at power stations for effective production planning as coal cannot be stockpiled beyond a certain quantity without the risk of catching fire.