The world’s strongest #earthquakes since 1900

Saturday's quake is touted to be worst in the Himalayan nation in over 80 years. A look at the world's strongest earthquakes since 1900.

A magnitude-7.8 earthquake shook Nepal’s capital and the densely populated Kathmandu Valley on Saturday, the worst quake in the Himalayan nation in over 80 years. The world’s strongest earthquakes since 1900:

The world's strongest earthquakes since 1900

• Jan. 31, 1906 - A magnitude—8.8 quake off the coast of Ecuador generates a tsunami that kills at least 500 people.
• Nov. 11, 1922 - A magnitude-8.5 quake along the Chile—Argentina border triggers a tsunami that causes damage along Chile’s coast.
• Feb. 3, 1923 - A magnitude-8.5 quake in Kamchatka in Russia’s Far East triggers a tsunami.
• Feb.1 , 1938 - A magnitude-8.5 quake in Banda Sea, Indonesia, generates a small tsunami.
• Aug. 15, 1950 - A magnitude-8.6 earthquake in Tibet kills at least 780 people.
• Nov. 4, 1952 - A magnitude-9.0 quake in Kamchatka in Russia’s Far East causes damage but no reported deaths despite setting off 9.1-meter (30-foot) waves in Hawaii.
• March 9, 1957 - A magnitude-8.6 quake strikes the Andreanof Islands in Alaska triggers a 16-meter (52-foot) -high tsunami.
• May 22, 1960 - A magnitude-9.5 earthquake in southern Chile and ensuing tsunami kill at least 1,716 people.
• Oct. 13, 1963 - A magnitude-8.5 quake in the Kuril Islands triggers a tsunami.
• March 28, 1964 - A magnitude-9.2 quake in Prince William Sound, Alaska, kills 131 people, including 128 from a tsunami.
• Feb. 4, 1965 - A magnitude-8.7 quake strikes Alaska’s Rat Islands, causing an 11-meter (35—foot) -high tsunami.
• Dec. 26, 2004 - A magnitude-9.1 quake in Indonesia triggers an Indian Ocean tsunami, killing 230,000 people in a dozen countries.
• March 28, 2005 - A magnitude-8.6 quake in northern Sumatra in Indonesia kills about 1,300 people.
• Sept. 12, 2007 - A magnitude-8.5 quake near Sumatra in Indonesia kills at least 25 people.
• Feb. 27, 2010 - A magnitude-8.8 quake shakes Chile, generating a tsunami and killing 524 people.
• March 11, 2011 - A magnitude-9.0 quake off the northeast coast of Japan triggers a tsunami, killing more than 18,000 people.
• April 11, 2012 - A magnitude-8.6 quake off the west coast of northern Sumatra in Indonesia triggers tsunami warnings in more than two dozen nations.

India's aid to Nepal named #'Operation Maitri'

The Indian Army has named the aid to Nepal 'Operation Maitri' or friendship, a day after it started extending help to the neighbouring country that was hit by a massive earthquake just before noon on Saturday, leaving a trail of death and destruction.

In addition to the specialist teams of its National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), India has already moved large amounts of relief material to the Himalayan kingdom, besides its Air Force moving essential supplies to Nepal and flying back over 500 of its stranded citizens from its capital Kathmandu since late Saturday.

"India is moving in massive amount of rescue and relief material, equipment and specialists the second day (Sunday)," said Sitanshu Kar, the spokesperson for the defence ministry.

"Ten flights are planned for Kathmandu today (Sunday). These would be airlifting army's forward hospitals, engineering task forces, water, food, National Disaster Response Force teams, medical personnel and equipment, blankets and tents."

‪#‎CAPF‬(AC)-2015 NOTIFICATION IS OUT.

http://www.upsc.gov.in/…/…/CAPF_2015/CAPF%202015-ENGLISH.pdf

Water Pollution

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has identified 150 polluted rivers stretches in the year 2008. A comprehensive study has been conducted through SPCBs for 29 of these river stretches for assessment of polluting sources and estimation of pollution load reaching the river.

World Health Organization has informed that in the recent past, it has not published any report indicating high level of water pollution in Indian cities.

Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoE,F&CC) has been supplementing the efforts of the State Governments in abatement of pollution of various rivers and lakes/wetlands under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) and National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystem (NPCA) respectively. NRCP has covered polluted stretches of 40 rivers in 121 towns spread over 19 States at an expenditure of Rs.4876.40 crore. Sewage treatment capacity of 3833.49 million litres per day (mld) has been created so far. In addition, MoE,F&CC has released Rs 605.05 crore for conservation of 63 lakes and Rs.138.53 crore for conservation of 80 wetlands.

CPCB has made a comprehensive programme on water pollution for controlling point sources by developing industry specific standards and general standards for sewage which have been notified under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 which are to be enforced by the SPCBs/PCCs. Various steps including Environmental Auditing, promotion of Common Effluent Treatment Plants, promotion of Low Waste and No Waste technology, augmenting flow in rivers, Rain Water Harvesting practices, implementation of guidelines prepared for idol immersion in rivers and lakes, promotion of Zero Liquid Discharge and sewage treatment infrastructure in the housing projects etc. are being taken for the abatement of pollution.

National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) proposes to tap the drains and treat the waste water to improve the quality of water in river Ganga.

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) monitors ground water quality of shallow aquifers once every year during pre-monsoon (April/May). The data generated are shared with concerned State Government departments for taking necessary remedial actions. CGWB also provides technical guidance to State agencies in tackling the problem of water quality. The real time monitoring system has been established on river Ganga (8 nos.), Yamuna (3 nos.), Gomti (1 no.) and Ramganga (1 no.) by MoE,F&CC and MoWR, RD & GR and the same is proposed to be extended to the polluted rivers and industrial units in the country in a phased manner for creating a warning mechanism. 113 locations have been identified on the main stem of Ganga for the purpose. 

Growing threat to Great Indian #Hornbills

The magnificent birds which were a common sight in the Western Ghats are rarely seen, due to deforestation.

Since yore a sight to behold in many parts of the Blue Mountains, a Great Indian Hornbill (Buceros Bicornis) flying from one tree to another, may in a matter of time become extremely rare if habitat loss continues at the rate at which it has been happening for sometime now.

Conservationists concerned
With this concern growing among conservationists in general and birders in particular, a nature enthusiast-cum-wildlife photographer of the Nilgiris, M. Murali, who has been keeping track of Great Indian Hornbills in the district for the past few years, regrets that the magnificent birds which were a common sight in the evergreen rain forests of the Western Ghats are now forced, due to deforestation, to adapt themselves to hollows in silver oak trees which form part of thick coffee plantations in Singara and Moyar and some tea plantations in the lower part of the hills.

Stating that it now takes a great deal of effort and patience to spot a hornbill, he told The Hindu here on Wednesday that those familiar with its characteristics keep their ears open for its take off sound which is akin to the start of the steam locomotive of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway.

Pointing out that the hornbills are mostly dependent on wild berries, he lamented that they were also becoming increasingly hard to come by.

The birds which follow a unique nesting style are also being targeted by poachers for their meat and casques, he said.

#14thFinance Commission awards more than 3 times grant to #Panchayats

14th Finance Commission awards more than 3 times grant to Panchayats

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will address a Conference on National Panchayati Raj Day tomorrow to highlight the steps taken by the Government for real devolution of administrative and financial powers. It is to be noted that the 14th Finance Commission has awarded Rs. 200,292.2 crores to Panchayats for 2015-2020, which is more than three times the grant of the 13th Finance Commission, FC. This amount is fixed. The 13th FC had recommended a percentage of the divisible pool for local bodies, and the estimated grant for Panchayats was Rs. 63,051 crores. While the 13th FC grant was for all three tiers of Panchayats: district, block and Gram Panchayat, the 14th FC grant is for Gram Panchayats only. The fund availability at the GP level will now be Rs. 2,404 per capita over five years, and Rs. 17 lakh per year (Rs.85 lakh for five years) for an average GP. The Fourteenth FC grant is to be spent on basic services such as sanitation, drinking water, maintenance of community assets etc. For this, Panchayats will have to prepare local plans, to ensure that these basic services reach everyone, including the most marginalized sections of society. Panchayats can especially focus on sanitation.

The Prime Minister will also release the Devolution Index Report 2014-15 on the occasion. The Study on ‘How effective is devolution across Indian States? –Insights from the field’ was undertaken by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai for the year 2014-15. Previous studies had focused on the initiatives taken by States to comply with the Constitutional mandate by way of legislation and enabling policy, coupled with policy initiatives for governance, accountability and capability development, and ranked States accordingly.

The present study attempts to match functional devolution in each domain listed in the Eleventh Schedule with devolution of resources both financial and human, and to validate the extent of devolution undertaken by the State by the effectiveness of devolution on the ground- ie, in the three tier Panchayats. 

#Indo - French Naval Exercise #Varuna Commences at Goa

Indo - French Naval Exercise Varuna Commences at Goa

Fourteenth (14th) edition of Indo-French naval exercise (VARUNA) started with the arrival of four French naval ships at Goa today. Representing the French Navy is Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle, two destroyers Chevalier Paul and Jean de Vienne, replenishment tanker Meuse and a maritime patrol aircraft Atlantique 2. The Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle is carrying its complement of fighter aircraft Rafale M, Strike Aircraft Super Etendard, E2C Hawkeye AWACS and helicopters Dauphin and Alouette 3.

Aircraft Carrier INS Viraat, destroyer Mumbai, stealth frigate Tarkash, guided missile frigate Gomati, replenishment tanker Deepak, submarine Shankul and a few Fast Attack Craft are participating from the Indian side. Aviation assets of the Indian Navy participating in VARUNA-15 include carrier-borne fighter aircraft Sea Harriers, maritime reconnaissance aircraft P-8 I and Dorniers along with integral helicopters Seaking 42B and Chetak.

The scope of Exercise VARUNA includes the entire gamut of maritime operations from Aircraft Carrier Operations, Anti Submarines Warfare Exercises, Maritime Interdiction Operations to multi-ship replenishment exercise.

Regular IN-FN interaction over the years has allowed both navies to gradually and systematically increase the complexity and professional content of the joint exercises. VARUNA aims at deriving mutual benefit from the experiences of the two navies. The confidence gained through such exercises helps develop Standard Operating Procedures, particularly in the fields of Joint Maritime Air Operations Planning with exchange of Carrier Operational Capabilities. The other joint exercises include Coordinated Anti-Submarine Exercises, Surface Exercises, Cross Deck Flying, Damage Control and Fire Fighting, Air Defence, Firing Drills, Air to Sea Firing, Tactical Exercises and Visit Board Search and Seize Operations, which further hone the fighting efficiency of the two combat forces.

VARUNA-15 is scheduled from 23 Apr 15 to 02 May 15 off Goa and is aimed at further strengthening bilateral ties between India and France.

Background

Relations between India and France have traditionally been close and friendly. With the establishment of strategic partnership in 1998, there has been significant progress in all areas of bilateral cooperation and exchanges including naval exercises. The Indian Navy and the French Navy have been conducting naval exercises since 1983 and following the establishment of a strategic partnership, these exercises were christened as ‘VARUNA’ in 2001. Till date, thirteen such exercises have been conducted and the last exercise VARUNA 12 was conducted in the Mediterranean Sea from 19-22 Jul 12 off Toulon.