Contents
- CWMA Drops discussion on Mekadatu Dam
- Trump renews offer to mediate on Kashmir, but skirts CAA
- Apex environment body defers decision on Parliament revamp plan
CWMA DROPS DISCUSSION ON KEKADATU DAM
Why in news?
Background
Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA)
- CWMA has been created as per the Cauvery Management Scheme framed by Centre and approved by Supreme Court.
- The Cauvery Management Scheme deals with release of water from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.
- It will be implemented by Cauvery Management Authority (CMA).
- CMA will be sole body to implement CWDT award as modified by Supreme Court.
- The Central Government will have no say in implementing of the scheme except for issuing administrative advisories to it.
- The authority will comprise a chairman, a secretary and eight members.
- Out of the eight members, two will be full time, while two will be part time members from centre’s side. Rest four will be part time members from states.
- The main mandate of the CMA will be to secure implementation and compliance of the Supreme Court’s order in relation to “storage, apportionment, regulation and control of Cauvery waters”.
- CMA will also advise the states to take suitable measures to improve water use efficiency.
- It will do so by promoting use of micro-irrigation, change in cropping patterns, improved farm practices and development of command areas.
- The CMA will also prepare an annual report covering its activities during the preceding year.
TRUMP RENEWS OFFER TO MEDIATE ON KASHMIR, BUT SKIRTS CAA
India and the United States on Tuesday strengthened their partnership with agreements on healthcare and energy, and issued a joint statement that designated the two countries as “Comprehensive Global Strategic partners
The statement followed bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump, during which the latter renewed his offer to mediate between India and Pakistan on Kashmir and discussed the issue of “religious freedom”
APEX ENVIRONMENT BODY DEFERS DECISION ON PARLIAMENT REVAMP PLAN
- An apex environmental screening committee has deferred a decision on clearance to the Parliament redevelopment project.
- This has been done on the grounds that there was a dispute, being heard in the Delhi High Court, regarding the land on which some of the proposed structures were to come up
- As the alterations which are proposed will involve land-use change not in conformity with Delhi’s Master Plan
What is parliament revamp plan?
- The expansion and renovation of the Parliament building, which is part of the Central Vista Redevelopment project and involves redeveloping the 3-km stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan to the India Gate in Lutyens’ Delhi.
- The revamp, which was announced in September, envisages a new triangular Parliament building that is targeted to be constructed by August 2022, when the country will be celebrating its 75th Independence Day.
- The CPWD applied to the environment ministry as part of a formal process.
