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🗞 T.N. government sets up Nilgiri Tahr conservation project: • The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday launched an initiative for the conservation of the Nilgiri Tahr, the State animal, at a cost of ₹25.14 crore. • Under The Nilgiri Tahr project, the government plans to develop a better understanding of the Nilgiri Tahr population through surveys and radio telemetry studies; reintroduce the Tahrs to their historical habitat; address proximate threats; and increase public awareness of the species. • The project is to be implemented from 2022 to 2027. • Furthermore, October 7 will be celebrated as ‘Niligiri Tahr Day’ in honour of E.R.C. Davidar, who was responsible for pioneering one of the first studies of the species in 1975. • The challenges in the conservation of the Nilgiri Tahrs are: Potential local extinction due to highly fragmented populations; Invasion of exotic species into the habitat; Forest fires; Over-exploitation of forest resources; and Lack of ecological data and understanding. • According to the order, there are multiple references to the Nilgiri Tahr in Tamil Sangam literature dating back to 2,000 years. • The late Mesolithic (10,000-4,000 BC) paintings highlight the significance of the Tahr in folklore, culture and life. • The State animal of Tamil Nadu is Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius). • It is an endangered species and the sole Caprinae species found in the tropical mountains of southern India. • The animal inhabits meadows with steep cliffs at elevations between 300 metres and 2,600 metre above sea level. It is estimated that there are 3,122 Nilgiri Tahrs in the wild. • Historically, the Nilgiri Tahr was known to inhabit a large portion of the Western Ghats. • But today it remains restricted to a few scattered patches in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. • It has become locally extinct in around 14% of its traditional shola forest grassland habitat. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tn-government-sets-up-nilgiri-tahr-conservation-project/article66313586.ece

🗞 Fewer polluted river stretches but worst stretches unchanged: • The number of polluted stretches in India’s rivers has fallen from 351 in 2018 to 311 in 2022 though the number of most polluted stretches is practically unchanged, according to a report from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). • The CPCB network monitors water quality at 4,484 locations in 28 States and seven Union Territories including rivers, lakes, creeks, drains and canals. • Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) exceeding 3.0 mg/L (milligram per litre) are identified as polluted locations. • Two or more polluted locations identified on a river in a continuous sequence are considered as a “polluted river stretch.” • A BOD less than 3 mg/L means the river stretch is fit for ‘Outdoor Bathing.’ • Further, stretches with a BOD exceeding 30 mg/L are considered ‘Priority 1,’ meaning, the most polluted and thus needing the most urgent remediation. • There are five such categories with ‘Priority 2’ indicating a BOD of 20-30 mg/L and ‘Priority 5’ indicating 3-6 mg/L. • The success of river-cleaning programmes are measured by the number of stretches moving from 1 to 2, 2 to 3 until those in 5 (requiring the least action) too reduce. • Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh had the maximum number of ‘Priority 1’ river stretches (6), Maharashtra had the maximum number of polluted river stretches i.e. 55, followed by Madhya Pradesh (19), Bihar (18), Kerala (18), Karnataka (17) and Uttar Pradesh (17). • in 2018, the National Green Tribunal had passed orders that the CPCB and the Jal Shakti Ministry monitor river pollution and ensure that all acts of river pollution were dealt with. Every State had to ensure that at least one river stretch was “restored” to the extent that it was at least fit for bathing. • Under the Central Sector Scheme of Namami Gange program, 406 projects, including 176 projects for sewage treatment of 5,270 MLD and a sewer network of 5,214 km, have been sanctioned at a cost of ₹32,898 crore against which sewerage treatment capacity of 1,858 MLD has been created so far. □ What is Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)? • The biological oxygen demand (BOD) is also called Biochemical oxygen demand. • Biochemical oxygen demand is the amount of oxygen consumed by bacteria and other microorganisms while they decompose organic matter under aerobic conditions. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/fewer-polluted-river-stretches-but-worst-stretches-unchanged/article66304409.ece

🗞 Expedite categorisation of denotified, nomadic, semi-nomadic tribes: House panel: • The Parliamentary panel on Social Justice and Empowerment has pulled up the Union government over the “very slow” process to categorise over 260 denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes under either the SC/ST/OBC lists. • The government officials have pointed to for the delay in the approval of benefits under the SEED (Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs) scheme launched in February this year.  • The scheme was launched by Union Social Justice Minister Virendra Kumar, with the aim of providing free competitive exam coaching, health insurance, housing assistance, and livelihood initiatives. • An amount of ₹200 crore has been allocated for this scheme to be spent over five years from FY2021-22 to FY2025-26.  https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/expedite-categorisation-of-denotified-nomadic-semi-nomadic-tribes-house-panel/article66307303.ece