Daily News Simplified - DNS

13 12 18
Notes
SL. THE HINDU
TOPICS
NO. PAGE NO.

1 SC asks Centre, Karnataka to respond on Mekedatu 05

2 India gets submarine rescue system 07

3 BJD opposes dam safety Bill in Lok Sabha 10

4 Protest rocks Parliament – Autism Bill 10

5 IIP rises to 11 month high in October 13

6 NSG must have its own air wing 07

Dated: 13.Dec.2018 DNS Notes

Title 1. SC asks Centre, Karnataka to respond on Mekedatu - (The Hindu, Page 5)

Syllabus Prelims: Environment

Mains: GS PAPER III - Environment

Theme Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Mekedatu Project

Highlights
Central Water Commission has given approval to Karnataka to proceed with the
preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Mekedatu Project. So, Tamil
Nadu has filed petition in SC against the unilateral approval granted by CWC. Arguing
that it goes against that violation of the decision of the Cauvery Tribunal and the apex
court on equitable apportionment of Cauvery water.
The dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the sharing of Cauvery waters is
decades old. For many years, both the states have been maintaining differences over
the sharing of water.

Points to Note:
Ø Setup by the Karnataka government, the project is near Mekedatu in Ramanagaram
district, across the river Cauvery in Karnataka, bordering Tamil Nadu.
Ø Experts are of the view that Mekedatu could address the Benagaluru’s growing
thirst in the near future. Therefore, its primary objective is to supply drinking water
to Bengaluru and recharge the groundwater table in the region.
Ø Following the green signal from the legal experts, the state government has decided
to develop a 'Balancing Reservoir' or 'Mini KRS' (Krishna Raja Sagar reservoir near
Mysuru) near Mekedaatu for supplying potable water to Bengaluru and parts of
Mysuru region in the near future.
Ø The study for the project has been cleared by Central Water Commission(CWC). The
process cleared by CWC would further need clearance of Cauvery Water
Management Authority (CWMA) before its final implementation.
Ø Dispute if any would be handled by Cauvery River Water Tribunal.

Cauvery River
Ø Cauvery is an inter-State basin having its origin Karnataka and flowing through
Tamil Nadu and Puducherry before falling out in Bay of Bengal.
Ø The total catchment of the Cauvery basin is 81,155 sq.km of which the catchment of
the river in Karnataka is about 34,273 sq. km that in Kerala is about 2,866 sq. km
and the remaining area of 44,016 sq. km in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Ø It rises at an elevation of 1,341 m at Talakaveri on the Brahmagiri range near
Cherangala village of Kodagu district of Karnataka.
Ø The total length of the river from origin to outfall is 800 km.
Ø Its important tributaries:
ü Left: the Harangi, the Hemavati, the Shimsha and the Arkavati, and
ü Right: the Amaravati, Lakshmantirtha, the Kabbani, the Suvarnavati, the
Bhavani, the Noyil
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Title 2. India gets submarine rescue system (The Hindu Page 7)

Syllabus Prelims - Current Event of National Importance

Mains - G.S. III in Disaster Management

Theme Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle

Highlights
Indian Navy has inducted its first non-tethered Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV)
from the United Kingdom. The second DSRV will be inducted by early 2019. Purpose of
DSRV is to rescue crew members from submarines stranded under water in the high seas.
Features:
Ø The flyaway Deep Sea Submarine Rescue System can be:
Ø Operated at max. depth of 650 m
Ø Ability to rescue 14 individuals
Ø Allows decompression chamber
Ø Includes Remotely Operated Vehicle
Ø Ability to be transported by aircraft

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Dated: 13.Dec.2018 DNS Notes

Title 3. BJD opposes dam safety Bill in Lok Sabha – (The Hindu, Page 10)

Syllabus Prelims: Polity & Governance; Environment, Ecology and Climate Change

Mains: GS Paper II – Polity & Governance; GS Paper III – Environment, Ecology and
Climate Change

Theme Dam Safety Bill, 2018

Highlights Why in news?

Ø The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister had earlier approved the proposal
for introduction of Dam Safety Bill, 2018. The Bill was introduced in Parliament
in the ongoing Winter Session.
Ø The objective of this Bill is to help develop uniform, countrywide procedures to
ensure safety of dams in India. It will help all the States and Union Territories to
adopt uniform dam safety procedures which shall ensure safety of dams and
safeguard benefits from such dams.

Reason for New Bill

Ø While dams have played a key role in fostering rapid and sustained agricultural
growth and development in India, there has been a long felt need for a uniform law
and administrative structure in the country for ensuring dam safety.
Ø The Central Water Commission, through the National Committee on Dam Safety
(NCDS), Central Dam Safety Organization (CDSO) and State Dam Safety
Organizations (SDSO) has been making constant endeavours in this direction,
but these organizations do not have any statutory powers and are only
advisory in nature.

Aims & Objectives of the Bill

Ø It provides for proper surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of all
specified dams in the country to ensure their safe functioning.
Ø It provides for constitution of a National Committee on Dam Safety which shall
evolve dam safety policies and recommend necessary regulations as may be
required for the purpose.
Ø It provides for establishment of National Dam Safety Authority as a regulatory
body which shall discharge functions to implement the policy, guidelines and
standards for dam safety in the country.
Ø It provides for constitution of a State Committee on Dam Safety by State
Governments.

National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA)

The Dam Safety Bill has bestowed NDSA the following functions:
Ø It shall maintain liaison with the State Dam Safety Organisations and the owners of
dams for standardisation of dam safety related data and practices.
Ø It shall provide the technical and managerial assistance to the States and State Dam
Safety Organisations.
Ø It shall maintain a National level Data-Base of all dams in the country and the
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records of major dam failures.

Ø It shall examine the cause of any major dam failure and penalise states for not
ensuring adequate safety standards.
Ø It shall accord recognition or accreditations to the organisations that can be
entrusted with the works of investigation, design or construction of new dams.
Ø It shall publish and update the standard guidelines and check-lists for the routine
inspection and detailed investigations of dams and appurtenances.
Ø It will also look into unresolved issues between the State Dam Safety Organisation of
two states, or between the State Dam Safety Organisation of a State and the owner
of a dam in that State, for proper solution.
Ø Further, in certain cases, such as dams of one State falling under the territory of
another State, the National Authority shall also perform the role of State Dam Safety
Organization and will help in eliminating potential causes for inter-state conflicts.

State Committees on Dam Safety

Ø The Bill also provides for constitution of a State Committee on Dam Safety by the
State governments.
Ø It will ensure proper surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of all
specified dams in that State and ensure their safe functioning.
Ø It further provides that every State shall establish a "State Dam Safety
Organisation", which will be manned by officers from the field dam safety
preferably from the areas of dam-designs, hydro-mechanical engineering,
hydrology, geo-technical investigation, instrumentation and dam-rehabilitation.
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Dated: 13.Dec.2018 DNS Notes

Title 4. Protest rocks Parliament – Autism Bill – (The Hindu, Page 10)

Syllabus Prelims: Polity & Governance

Mains: GS Paper II – Polity & Governance

Theme Bill for people suffering from Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple

Disabilities

Highlights Ø The National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental
Retardation and Multiple Disabilities (Amendment) Bill, 2018 – (referred as Autism Bill,
2018) was introduced in Rajya Sabha.
Ø The Autism Bill, 2018 aims to amend The National Trust for Welfare of Persons with
Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999.
Ø The 1999 Act was enacted to provide for the constitution of a body at the National level for
the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple
Disabilities.
Ø The 1999 Act has set up a National Trust to enable persons with disability to live
independently by:
1. promoting measures for their protection in case of death of their parents,
2. evolving procedures for appointment of their guardians and trustees, and
3. facilitating equal opportunities in society.

The problem in tenure of Appointment & Resignation

Ø Appointment - The 1999 Act provided that the Chairperson and Members of the Board of
National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and
Multiple Disabilities
ü shall hold office for a term of three years from the date of his appointment; or
ü until his successor shall have been duly appointed, whichever is longer.
Ø Resignation - Chairperson and Members, provides that the Chairperson shall continue until
the appointment of his successor is made by the Central Government.
Ø The problem - Such provisions allow the Chairperson and other Members to continue in office
even after the expiry of their tenure for an indefinite period until a suitable person is
appointed to such posts by the government.

So what does the Bill propose?

In view of the above problems, the Autism Bill 2018 provides for the following:
Ø for a fixed tenure of three years to the Chairperson and Members
Ø that the Central Government shall initiate action for filling up of the post of the Chairperson or
Member, at least six months prior to the expiry of the term of office of such Chairperson or
Member;
Ø that the Central Government may, in case of a casual vacancy in the office of the
Chairperson, by order in writing, direct an officer of appropriate level to perform the functions
of the Chairperson until such vacancy is filled in;
Ø for continuation of the Chairperson, in case he resigns from office, until his resignation is
accepted by the Central Government.
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Dated: 13.Dec.2018 DNS Notes

Title 5. IIP rises to 11 month high in October – (The Hindu, Page 13)

Syllabus Prelims: Economy

Mains: GS Paper III – Issues in Indian Economy

Theme IIP & CPI

Highlights Index of Industrial Production – IIP

Ø What – It is a composite indicator to measure short term changes in the volume of
production of basket of industrial goods during a given period.
Ø It is prepared by Central Statistics Office (CSO)
Ø CSO is under Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
Ø Base Year – 2011-12
Ø Frequency – Monthly
Ø Importance – Measures industrial activity every month
Ø Sectoral Composition – Mining (14.37%); Manufacturing (77.63%); and Electricity
(7.99%)

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

Ø CPI is the indicator to measure rate of Inflation in India.
Ø Three variants of CPI are: 1. CPI Rural 2. CPI Urban and 3. CPI Combined.
Ø Base Year – 2012
Ø Measurement – Point to point basis – Current Month over the corresponding
month of last year

Headline v Core Inflation

Ø Headline Inflation – CPI Combined – includes all categories
Ø Core Inflation – CPI Combined, but excludes volatile commodities such as food and
fuel.

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Dated: 13.Dec.2018 DNS Notes

Title 6. NSG must have its own air wing

Syllabus Prelims: Security

Mains: GS Paper III - Security

Theme Election Commission and its functions

Highlights Ø A Parliamentary panel has recommended that the Centre must urgently take steps to
ensure that the National Security Guard (NSG) to be equipped with its own dedicated
air wing.
Ø NSG is India’s premier counter-terrorist and contingency force — is equipped with its
own dedicated air wing.
Ø As per the Parliamentary Panel, Ministry of Home Affairs must make urgent and
sincere efforts to commission a dedicated Air Wing of NSG and provide requisite types
and number of air assets to strengthen the aviation capability of the force.
Ø This response of the Panel for NSG to have its dedicated Air Wing comes in the
backdrop of delay of NSG Commandos in reaching Mumbai during the terror attacks
of 2008.
Ø The NSG was raised in 1986 following the assassination of former Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi and Operation Blue Star.
Ø The force, which is trained to operate as an elite urban anti-terrorist and anti-hijack
force, doesn’t have a cadre of its own or direct recruitment and is instead dependent
on personnel sent on deputation from the army and the central armed police forces
(CAPF).
Ø NSG comes under Ministry of Home Affairs.

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