Status of missile development programmes, currently being run in the country, are given below:-
(i) Nag - It is a 3rd Generation Anti-Tank Missile having ‘top attack’ and ‘fire and forget’ capability with a range of 4 km. Its validation trial based on User Trial feedback has been completed successfully. Missile system is ready to enter production /induction phase.
(ii) HELINA - It is the Helicopter Version of 3rd Generation Anti-Tank Guided Missile with a range of more than 7 km. Launchers have been cleared for captive carriage trials and handed over to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for carriage trials.
(iii) Astra – It is Air-to-Air Missile system for beyond visual range, designated to be a missile for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). Its two guided flight trials from ground launcher have been undertaken during July 2010.
(iv) LR-SAM – It is a Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM) jointly developed / produced by DRDO and IAI, Israel. Its Ballistic flight trials was undertaken in May 2010.
(v) MR-SAM – It is a Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM) jointly developed/produced by DRDO and IAI, Israel. Its preliminary design has been carried out. Pre-tender briefing to all prospective vendors has also been carried out.
(vi) Agni Series of Surface-to-Surface Missiles: Agni-I with a range of 700 km and Agni-II with a range of more than 2000 km have been developed and inducted into Services. Agni-III with a range of 3000 km is ready for induction into Services.
(vii) BrahMos – it is a Supersonic Cruise Missile. It has twin roles against sea and land based targets and can be fitted on multiple platforms including ships, submarines, aircraft and mobile ground platforms. The missile has range of 290 km with 200 kg warhead and a speed of more than 2.8 mach number. BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile development programme started as a joint venture between India and Russia through an Inter Government Agreement in February 1998. It has already been inducted in Indian Navy and Indian Army. The Air Version of the missile is under development.
Except BrahMos, no offer has been received from any country for joint venture in missile development programmes. There is no plan to accept the conditions of Missile Technology Control Regime.
This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri SB Wankhede and Shri AP Shivaji in Lok Sabha today.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Measures to Increase Coal Production
Apart from initiating a series of measures, Ministry of coal has allocated 208 coal blocks to private and public companies to enhance coal production in the country. In addition, major steps taken by Coal India Ltd. to increase production of coal in its command area, which in turn enhances the supply to power sector is as under:-
• CIL has identified 142 new projects during XI Plan period the ultimate capacity will be 380.22 Mt. Out of 142 identified projects, 76 projects have been approved so far, and the expected contribution from these new projects will be 110.95 Mt in the terminal year of XI Plan (2011-12).
• Six high capacity underground mines identified for development and Operation through latest international technology.
• Restart mining in 18 abandoned mines belonging to three of its subsidiaries namely ECL, BCCL and CCL with appropriate technology forming JV with reputed mining companies.
• To meet coal demand, import coal by acquisition of mining stake abroad through Special Purpose Vehicle(SPV)/Coal Videsh.
• Up gradation of equipment size matching with bench height and stripping ratio are being introduced. For Dumper, up gradation from 35/50 T to 60T, 85T to 100T, 120 T to 150 T as well higher sizes are being introduced.
• Use of high capacity hydraulic shovels (10 to 25 CuM) will find increased acceptability. High capacity dozers of sizes up-to 850 HP will compliment the higher capacity excavators.
This was stated by Minister of State for Coal, Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha Today.
• CIL has identified 142 new projects during XI Plan period the ultimate capacity will be 380.22 Mt. Out of 142 identified projects, 76 projects have been approved so far, and the expected contribution from these new projects will be 110.95 Mt in the terminal year of XI Plan (2011-12).
• Six high capacity underground mines identified for development and Operation through latest international technology.
• Restart mining in 18 abandoned mines belonging to three of its subsidiaries namely ECL, BCCL and CCL with appropriate technology forming JV with reputed mining companies.
• To meet coal demand, import coal by acquisition of mining stake abroad through Special Purpose Vehicle(SPV)/Coal Videsh.
• Up gradation of equipment size matching with bench height and stripping ratio are being introduced. For Dumper, up gradation from 35/50 T to 60T, 85T to 100T, 120 T to 150 T as well higher sizes are being introduced.
• Use of high capacity hydraulic shovels (10 to 25 CuM) will find increased acceptability. High capacity dozers of sizes up-to 850 HP will compliment the higher capacity excavators.
This was stated by Minister of State for Coal, Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha Today.
Steps for Bird Conservation
The important steps and efforts taken by the Government for conservation of birds include:
(i) Rare and endangered species of birds have been included in the Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 thereby affording them highest degree of protection.
(ii) Hunting of birds included in the Schedules of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 is prohibited.
(iii) Important bird habitats have been declared as Protected Areas so as to protect the species as well as their habitats.
(iv) Financial & technical assistance is provided to the State/UT Governments for protection and management of wildlife including birds and their habitats.
(v) India is a signatory to the international conventions like Convention on Migratory Species, Ramsar Convention, etc for better conservation of migratory birds and their habitats including wetlands.
(vi) Research and monitoring activities on birds are promoted by the Government of India through reputed organizations/institutions.
Some leading Non Government Organizations (NGO) in the States of Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, associated with bird conservation
Sl. No. Name of State Name of NGO
1.Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Environment and Landscape Protection Society, Himalayan Nature & Environment Preservation Society, Rural Centre for Human Interests, Society for Development and Environment Protection etc.
2.Karnataka
Nature Conservation Foundation, Ashoka Trust for Research and Education, North Karnataka Birders Network, etc.
3.Madhya Pradesh
Samrat Vikramaditya Research Institute, Environment Conservation Society, SRISHT.
4.Orissa
Wild Orissa, Wildlife Society of Orissa, ASTHA, Action for Protection of Wild Animals etc.
5.Tamil Nadu
M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Natural History Trust, Zoo Outreach Organization, Nature Trust, Dhan Foundation, Nature Club, Arulagan, Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association etc.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests (Independent Charge) Shri Jairam Ramesh, in a written reply to a question by Shri Rama Chandra Khuntia in Rajya Sabha today.
(i) Rare and endangered species of birds have been included in the Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 thereby affording them highest degree of protection.
(ii) Hunting of birds included in the Schedules of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 is prohibited.
(iii) Important bird habitats have been declared as Protected Areas so as to protect the species as well as their habitats.
(iv) Financial & technical assistance is provided to the State/UT Governments for protection and management of wildlife including birds and their habitats.
(v) India is a signatory to the international conventions like Convention on Migratory Species, Ramsar Convention, etc for better conservation of migratory birds and their habitats including wetlands.
(vi) Research and monitoring activities on birds are promoted by the Government of India through reputed organizations/institutions.
Some leading Non Government Organizations (NGO) in the States of Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, associated with bird conservation
Sl. No. Name of State Name of NGO
1.Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Environment and Landscape Protection Society, Himalayan Nature & Environment Preservation Society, Rural Centre for Human Interests, Society for Development and Environment Protection etc.
2.Karnataka
Nature Conservation Foundation, Ashoka Trust for Research and Education, North Karnataka Birders Network, etc.
3.Madhya Pradesh
Samrat Vikramaditya Research Institute, Environment Conservation Society, SRISHT.
4.Orissa
Wild Orissa, Wildlife Society of Orissa, ASTHA, Action for Protection of Wild Animals etc.
5.Tamil Nadu
M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Natural History Trust, Zoo Outreach Organization, Nature Trust, Dhan Foundation, Nature Club, Arulagan, Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association etc.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests (Independent Charge) Shri Jairam Ramesh, in a written reply to a question by Shri Rama Chandra Khuntia in Rajya Sabha today.
Nurturing Ecologically Sensitive Areas on Western Ghats
The great mountain chain of Western Ghats is the source of all the major rivers of India’s southern peninsula; Godavari, Krishna, Tungbhadra, Kaveri, Tamraparni, and myriads of smaller one, Vaitarana, Kali, Netravati, Chazhiyar. Its ecological health depend on the livelihoods of millions of people, not only in the six Western Ghats states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Kerala, but of Andhra Pradesh as well. Besides, it is one of the world’s treasure troves of plant and animal life, with a great wealth of unique plant and animal species. The mountains also harbour a number of wild relatives of cultivated plants, including pepper, cardamom, mango, jackfruit and plantain. This biological wealth has paid rich dividends over the years, including, of course, the dubious dividend of attracting Romans and later other Europeans to trade in pepper, cardamom, sandal and ivory. The health of this precious eco-region has been on continual decline over the last couple of centuries with many ecosystem types almost totally eliminated. Recent decades have however seen serious measures being initiated to conserve some of this fast vanishing biological diversity with the constitution of wild life sanctuaries, national parks, tiger reserves, and biosphere reserves. More recently a significant new initiative has been added to these conservation efforts in the form of ‘Ecologically Sensitive Areas’ (ESAs), such as Dahanu taluka, Matheran and Mahabaleshwar- Panchagani.
As these examples indicate, the concept of ‘Ecologically Sensitive Areas’ is very different from that a protected area like a national park which is supposed to be entirely free from human interference, though in reality many management interventions such as creation of water holes and tourism related activities do continue even in the national parks. ‘Ecologically Sensitive Areas’ are areas under human use, sometimes quite intense human use such as generation of thermal power and cultivation of chikoo in Dahanu taluka. Hence, ESAs are to be viewed as areas where human activities will continue, but be prudently regulated under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. ESAs are not at all meant to stop development in ways that would hurt local people, but to ensure that development is environment friendly and people oriented, as well as serve to preserve the ecological heritage on a long term basis. There are no set regulations, such as ban on all new industries, or on conversion of agricultural into commercial land, that would prevail in every Ecologically Sensitive Area; instead, the regulations will be worked out with due respect to local context. Thus, the total ban on use of plastics at Ooty could be thought of as a specific regulation appropriate for a busy hill station like Ooty although Ooty has not been declared an Ecologically Sensitive Area. More importantly, Ecologically Sensitive Areas are not just about regulation, but about positive promotion of environment-friendly development as well. Thus areas that opt for the status of an Ecologically Sensitive Area could benefit from special programmes such as promotion of development of enterprises based on local plant resources like Garcinia indiaca- kokam, ratambi, muragalu, punampuzhi; whose fruit has been traditionally used in very many ways, and is now known to be an important source of hydroxycitric acid, or establishment of a green technology team of youth trained in setting up and maintaining solar panels, biogas plants, rain water harvesting devices, and so on. Gram panchayats in Ecologically Sensitive Areas could also receive special facilities to add to their incomes through taking advantage of new legal provisions such as charging ‘collection fees’ for biodiversity resources to which they are entitled under the Biological Diversity Act. They may also be paid specially for maintenance of traditional crop cultivars from the National Gene Fund, or for sequestration of soil carbon on farmlands under organic agriculture as a part of Indian plans for combating climate change.
How would we judge ecological sensitivity? Scientists view an ecologically sensitive area as an area whose ecological balance, once disturbed, is very hard to restore. Thus, steep western slopes of Western Ghats, subject to heavy rains and winds, if deforested, are likely to be quickly stripped of soil cover and for ever lose their pristine vegetation. We do have a scientific understanding of the environmental attributes that render areas more sensitive; we also have insights into processes that have resulted in irreversible ecological damage. A Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India is currently engaged in carefully compiling all available information in this context and preparing maps of levels of ecological sensitivity on the Western Ghats tract. This exercise is being conducted in a transparent manner.
Ecological sensitivity is not merely a scientific, but very much a human concern. In particular, a great deal of locality specific understanding of what has been happening and what is desirable is simply not part of any scientific databases and resides with local communities. The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India would therefore like to invite all
It is important that concerned people share their own perceptions as to what areas on the Western Ghats should be identified as being ‘Ecologically Sensitive Areas’, why they feel so, and what set of regulations tailored to the needs of the locality should be put in place if the area were to be formally declared as being ecologically sensitive. Alternatively, people’s opinion on some areas on the Western Ghats not to be identified as being ‘Ecologically Sensitive Areas’ and reasons supporting it and explanation will strengthen this exercise.
As these examples indicate, the concept of ‘Ecologically Sensitive Areas’ is very different from that a protected area like a national park which is supposed to be entirely free from human interference, though in reality many management interventions such as creation of water holes and tourism related activities do continue even in the national parks. ‘Ecologically Sensitive Areas’ are areas under human use, sometimes quite intense human use such as generation of thermal power and cultivation of chikoo in Dahanu taluka. Hence, ESAs are to be viewed as areas where human activities will continue, but be prudently regulated under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. ESAs are not at all meant to stop development in ways that would hurt local people, but to ensure that development is environment friendly and people oriented, as well as serve to preserve the ecological heritage on a long term basis. There are no set regulations, such as ban on all new industries, or on conversion of agricultural into commercial land, that would prevail in every Ecologically Sensitive Area; instead, the regulations will be worked out with due respect to local context. Thus, the total ban on use of plastics at Ooty could be thought of as a specific regulation appropriate for a busy hill station like Ooty although Ooty has not been declared an Ecologically Sensitive Area. More importantly, Ecologically Sensitive Areas are not just about regulation, but about positive promotion of environment-friendly development as well. Thus areas that opt for the status of an Ecologically Sensitive Area could benefit from special programmes such as promotion of development of enterprises based on local plant resources like Garcinia indiaca- kokam, ratambi, muragalu, punampuzhi; whose fruit has been traditionally used in very many ways, and is now known to be an important source of hydroxycitric acid, or establishment of a green technology team of youth trained in setting up and maintaining solar panels, biogas plants, rain water harvesting devices, and so on. Gram panchayats in Ecologically Sensitive Areas could also receive special facilities to add to their incomes through taking advantage of new legal provisions such as charging ‘collection fees’ for biodiversity resources to which they are entitled under the Biological Diversity Act. They may also be paid specially for maintenance of traditional crop cultivars from the National Gene Fund, or for sequestration of soil carbon on farmlands under organic agriculture as a part of Indian plans for combating climate change.
How would we judge ecological sensitivity? Scientists view an ecologically sensitive area as an area whose ecological balance, once disturbed, is very hard to restore. Thus, steep western slopes of Western Ghats, subject to heavy rains and winds, if deforested, are likely to be quickly stripped of soil cover and for ever lose their pristine vegetation. We do have a scientific understanding of the environmental attributes that render areas more sensitive; we also have insights into processes that have resulted in irreversible ecological damage. A Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India is currently engaged in carefully compiling all available information in this context and preparing maps of levels of ecological sensitivity on the Western Ghats tract. This exercise is being conducted in a transparent manner.
Ecological sensitivity is not merely a scientific, but very much a human concern. In particular, a great deal of locality specific understanding of what has been happening and what is desirable is simply not part of any scientific databases and resides with local communities. The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India would therefore like to invite all
It is important that concerned people share their own perceptions as to what areas on the Western Ghats should be identified as being ‘Ecologically Sensitive Areas’, why they feel so, and what set of regulations tailored to the needs of the locality should be put in place if the area were to be formally declared as being ecologically sensitive. Alternatively, people’s opinion on some areas on the Western Ghats not to be identified as being ‘Ecologically Sensitive Areas’ and reasons supporting it and explanation will strengthen this exercise.
Gagan to be Launched Tomorrow
| India to be 4th Country in the World to have Satellite Based Navigation System | |
| To Provide Satellite Based Augmentation System Services over GAGAN is a planned implementation of a Satellite Based Navigation System developed by Airports Authority of India ( The project involves establishment of a full complement of Satellite Based Augmentation System ( Global Positioning System ( The Global Positioning System ( The baseline satellite constellation consists of 24 satellites positioned in six earth-centered orbital planes. The orbital period of a Need for Augmentation · Current · Integrity is not guaranteed (all satellites are not monitored at all times; time-to-alarm is from minutes to hours, no indication of quality of service). · Accuracy is not sufficient (even with Selective Availability off, vertical accuracy>10m). · Availability and continuity must be met. How GAGAN works The Global Navigation Satellite System ( Seamless Coverage GAGAN will provide augmentation service for GAGAN Benefits To Civil Aviation Sector · Improved Efficiency/Economy Ø Direct Routes Ø Increased Fuel savings Ø Precision approach at all Runways Ø Significant cost savings due to withdrawal of ground aids Ø Reduced workload of Flight Crew and ATCOs Ø Improved Capacity through reduced aircraft separation · Higher Accuracy, Global Coverage · Improved Safety Ø Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) Ø Enhanced Air-to-Air Surveillance: ADS-B Ø Availability of MSAW facility (Min. Safe Altitude Warning) · Reduced Noise Pollution To Non-Civil Aviation Sector · Marine Navigation · Train & Road transport · Precision Farming · Search and Rescue (SAR) operations · Surveying (Geodetic & Geodynamic) · Scientific community. |
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