General Studies-III
Topic– Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Assam Inland Water Transport Project (AIWTP)
Context
World Bank and Government of India Sign $88 million loan agreement for the implementation of Assam Inland Water Transport Project.
About
To help modernize Assam’s passenger ferry sector that runs on its rivers including the mighty Brahmaputra, World Bank and Government of India and Assam has sign a Loan agreement.
Why?
- A majority of Assam’s more than 361 ferry routes cross the Brahmaputra or serve its islands.
- These are providing a crucial means of transport to thousands of commuters in both the urban and rural areas of the Brahmaputra Valley.
- The Assam Inland Water Transport Project (AIWTP) will help Assam improve the passenger ferry infrastructure and its services.
- Technically better designed terminals and energy-efficient vessels (both new and retrofitted) will make the ferry services more sustainable with least disruption to nature.
About AIWTP
- Assam Inland Water Transport was established in the year 1958.
- The department of Transport, Govt of Assam is the Administrative department of Inland Water Transport, Assam.
- In October, 1963 the Directorate of Inland Water Transport was shifted from Shillong to Guwahati.
Functions and responsibilities
- Ferry Services: IWT is operating 102 nos. ferry services on the river Brahmaputra, Barak and in its tributaries for the purpose of public utility.
- River Conservancy: The Department has its own river conservancy wing for maintaining proper navigability of the river route.
- Crew Training Centre: The Directorate of IWT marinating a Crew Training Centre at Guwahati for imparting training to the fresh candidates as well as in – service personnel of IWT n the North Eastern
Mission
- Safe and secured Passenger & cargo ferry services.
- Capacity building of crew members in both public and private sector.
- Enforcement of Acts.
- Cruise Services in select areas.
National Waterways of India
National Waterway 1
- From Allahabad to Haldia with a distance of 1620 km.
- The NW1 run through the Ganges, Bhagirathi and Hooghly river system with having fixed terminals at Haldia, Farrakka and Patna.
- Floating terminals at the riverside cities like Kolkata, Bhagalpur, Varanasi and Allahabad.
- It is the longest National Waterway in India.
National Waterway 2
- Brahmaputra River from Sadiya to Dhubri in Assam state.
- The NW2 is the third longest Waterway with a total length of 891 km.
National Waterway 3
- The West Coast Canal or NW3 is in Kerala state and run from Kollam to Kottapuram.
- The 205 km long West Coast Canal is India’s first waterway with all-time navigation facility.
- The NW3 is consisting of West Coast Canal, Champakara Canal and Udyogmandal Canal.
- It runs through Kottappuram, Cherthala, Thrikkunnapuzha, Kollam and Alappuzha.
National Waterway 4
- NW4 connect Kakinada to Pondicherry.
- The NW4 the second longest waterway of India
- Total length of 1095 km in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
National Waterway 5
- NW5 connects Odisha to West Bengal.
- It runs through the stretch on Brahmani River, East Coast Canal, Matai River and Mahanadi River.
- The 623 km long canal system handle the traffic of cargo such as coal, fertilizer, cement and iron.
National Waterway 6
- NW6 is the proposed waterway in Assam.
- It will connect Lakhipur to Bhanga at River Barak.
- The 121 km long waterway will boost trade between Silchar (Assam) to Mizoram.
General Studies-I
Topic- Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
Bru-Reang Refugee Crisis
Context
Historic Agreement was signed to end the Bru-Reang Refugee Crisis; Around 34,000 Internally Displaced People to be settled in Tripura.
About
- Under the new agreement, around 34,000 Bru refugees will be settled in Tripura.
- They would be given aid from the Centre to help with their rehabilitation and all round development, through a package of around Rs 600 crores.
- These people would get all the rights that normal residents of the States get.
- The settlement has been reached after detailed discussions held by Union government with the State governments of Mizoram and Tripura and the representatives of Bru tribes and it was decided that the Bru refugees.
Background of the Issue
- In 1997, following ethnic tension, around 5,000 families comprising around 30,000 Bru-Reang tribals were forced to flee from Mamit, Kolasib and Lunglei districts of Mizoram and seek shelter in Tripura.
- These people were housed in temporary camps at Kanchanpur, in North Tripura.
- Bru or Reang is a community indigenous to Northeast India, living mostly in Tripura, Mizoram and Assam.
- In Mizoram, they have been targeted by groups that do not consider them indigenous to the state.
- In Tripura, they are recognised as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group.
- In June 2018, community leaders from the Bru camps signed an agreement with the Centre and the two state governments, providing for repatriation in Mizoram.
- But most camp residents rejected the terms of the agreement. The camp residents say that the agreement doesn’t guarantee their safety in Mizoram.
The New Agreement
- 2018 agreement was about the Bru tribals would have settled in Mizoram.
- Under the new agreement, around 34,000 Bru refugees will be settled in Tripura.
- Each of the displaced families would be given 40×30 sq.ft. Residential plots.
- In addition to the aid under earlier agreement of a fixed deposit of Rs. 4 lakhs,
- 5,000 cash aid per month for 2 years,
- free ration for 2 years and
- 1.5 lakhs aid to build their house.
- Bru tribals would be included in Tripura’s voter list.
For Prelims
K9 VAJRA-T Gun
Highlights
- Raksha Mantri flagged off 51st K9 VAJRA-T Gun
- K9 VAJRA-T Gun was manufactured by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Armoured System Complex at Hazira in Gujarat.
- L&T Armoured Systems Complex (ASC) is the country’s first private facility where the K9 Vajra self-propelled Howitzer guns will be manufactured.
Features of K9 VAJRA
- K9 VAJRA-T 155mm/ 52 are a tracked self-propelled howitzer.
- Offers a high rate of fire at a long range and is compatible with Indian and standard NATO ammunition.
- Its roots in the K9 Thunder, the mainstay of the South Korean Army.
- Developed under the `Buy Global’ programme of the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP), which allows foreign companies are allowed to participate.
- Hanwha Techwin of South Korea is the technology partner of L&T.
- The first 10 K9 Vajra guns have been imported from South Korea and have been assembled by L&T in India.
- The remaining 90 guns will be largely manufactured in the country.
