Table of Contents
The Hindu Editorial Analysis
We understand the significance of reading The Hindu newspaper for enhancing reading skills, improving comprehension of passages, staying informed about current events, enhancing essay writing, and more, especially for banking aspirants who need to focus on editorials for vocabulary building. This article will explore today’s editorial points, along with practice questions and key vocabulary.
States directed to comply with SC order suspending Aravalli mining leases
- After facing criticism from environmental groups and allegations that the Aravalli hills were being opened for mining, the Union Environment Ministry has issued clear instructions to the states concerned.
- The Ministry directed the Chief Secretaries of Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat to strictly follow the Supreme Court’s orders that stop the granting of new mining leases in the Aravalli region with immediate effect.
- The ban on new mining will remain in place until a detailed and well prepared management plan for the Aravalli landscape is completed. This plan is meant to address environmental protection, long term sustainability and proper regulation in this ecologically sensitive area.
- However, mines that already have valid approvals and permissions will be allowed to continue operations. These mines must strictly follow all environmental rules, conditions and regular monitoring requirements laid down by the concerned authorities.
- The Ministry has also written to the Director General of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), asking the institution to prepare a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining in the Aravalli region as an expert body.
- This plan will clearly identify areas where mining may be permitted and also mark zones that are environmentally sensitive, important for conservation, or in need of restoration. Mining in such sensitive zones will be allowed only in rare cases and under strict conditions.
- No specific deadline has been given for completing the management plan. Earlier, the Supreme Court had accepted the definition of the Aravalli hills provided recently by an expert committee.
Avian flu outbreak poses a threat to the centuries-old tradition of duck farming in Kuttanad
- Repeated outbreaks of avian flu have pushed the traditional duck farming system of Kuttanad, which has existed for centuries, close to collapse. This has seriously affected the livelihoods of farmers and threatens the survival of this unique farming practice.
- The latest outbreak of avian influenza H5N1 is the seventh such incident in the region over the last eleven years. This shows that farmers are facing continuous disease risks year after year.
- The current outbreak was confirmed earlier this week in one ward each of eight panchayats across Alappuzha district, causing major concern for public health authorities.
- Apart from this, avian flu cases were also confirmed in four villages of the neighbouring Kottayam district, showing that the disease has spread to a wider area.
- So far, around fifty five thousand birds have died in the two districts. These include ducks, chickens and quails in large numbers.
- To control the spread of the disease, authorities have decided to cull another twenty five thousand birds during the current week as part of strict containment measures.
- For generations, duck farming has been a stable and dependable source of income for many families living in the Kuttanad region.
- According to farmers’ associations, the number of large duck farmers who own flocks of more than two thousand birds has dropped sharply over the years.
- Earlier, nearly fifteen hundred large duck farmers were active in the region, but now their number has fallen to fewer than two hundred fifty.
- Unlike poultry farming in many other places, duck farming in Kuttanad is mostly done in open natural surroundings rather than inside closed sheds.
- The region has vast backwaters and large paddy fields, which naturally support this traditional open method of duck rearing.
- Farmers regularly move their duck flocks from one place to another for feeding, using harvested paddy fields and wetland areas depending on the season.
- Experts say that this practice of moving ducks across open areas increases the risk of spreading infectious diseases like avian influenza.
- The region also attracts many migratory birds, which experts believe are the main source through which the avian influenza virus enters the area.
Protests Continue Over Lynching Incident in Bangladesh
- Protests over the lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh continued for the third day in a row in West Bengal. Members of pro Hindu organisations held demonstrations near several land ports along the India Bangladesh border.
- Demonstrations took place at Phulbari in Siliguri, Ghojadanga or Petrapole in North 24 Parganas, Mahadipur in Malda, and Changrabandha in Cooch Behar district.
- Supporters of Hindutva organisations marched towards these land ports carrying saffron flags, but Border Security Force personnel stopped them before they could reach the zero line.
- BJP MLA Ashok Kirtania led a rally from Jayantipur Bazaar towards the Petrapole border, which is the largest land port between India and Bangladesh.
- Ashok Kirtania said the purpose of the procession was to send a message to Bangladesh chief adviser Muhammad Yunus that trade could be stopped if the situation in Bangladesh does not improve.
- The protests were organised by Hindutva groups such as Sanatani Eikya Mancha, though BJP leaders were seen leading rallies and marches in several districts of West Bengal.
- Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari had called for protests at land ports and warned that exports could be halted if conditions in Bangladesh remain the same.
- Petrapole alone handles nearly sixty percent of land based garment imports from Bangladesh, with trade worth more than ₹30,420 crore during 2023–24, according to officials.
- Traders at Petrapole said that despite the protests, trade activities were not affected and operations continued normally at the border.
- The protests also spread beyond border areas, as BJP supporters attempted to block the Howrah Bridge in Kolkata but were stopped by the police.
- Arguments broke out when protesters blocked roads, tried to cross police barricades, and clashed with the police while attempting to intensify the protest in central Kolkata.
- The demonstrations began across Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal following the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district on December 18.
Important Questions
- Why did the Union Environment Ministry instruct the Chief Secretaries of Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat to enforce Supreme Court directions in the Aravalli region?
- What is the purpose of preparing a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining for the Aravalli landscape by ICFRE?
- How have recurring avian flu outbreaks affected the traditional duck farming system of Kuttanad?
- Why do experts state that movement based open farming practice and visits by migratory birds increase vulnerability to infectious diseases such as avian influenza in Kuttanad?
- Why were protests staged along several land ports in West Bengal over the lynching incident in Bangladesh?
- How did the Border Security Force respond when supporters of Hindutva organisations marched towards the land ports?
Important Vocabulary
- Allegations – claims made without final proof
- Comprehensive – covering all important aspects
- Ecologically – related to the natural environment
- Restoration – process of bringing something back to its original condition
- Recurring – happening again and again
- Containment – actions taken to control spread
- Vulnerability – being easily affected or harmed
- Migratory – moving from one region to another seasonally
- Lynching – killing by a mob without legal process
- Demonstrations – public protests expressing opposition
- Barricades – barriers used to block movement
- Escalate – increase or intensify a situation
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