SIKKIM LANDSLIDE

Teesta-V hydel power station suffers damage

Teesta–V Power Station:

• It is located in the state of Sikkim, on the Teesta River.
• It is a run-of-river project.
• Installed capacity: 510 MW

Sediment challenges:

• The Teesta–V Power Station faces significant challenges like erosion and sedimentation issues largely owing to its location in the seismically-active Himalayas and the naturally high rates of weathering, erosion and landslides.

Teesta River:

• It is a tributary of the Jamuna River (Brahmaputra River), flowing through India and Bangladesh.
• It originates from the Cho Lamo glacier above 7,068 metres and flows southward through steep slopes and extremely rugged terrain into the foothills of the Sikkim Himalaya and West Bengal.
• It is the largest river of Sikkim and second largest river of West Bengal after the Ganges.
• Its area is in the seismically active Zone-V and has experienced micro-seismic activity.
• Originally, the river continued southward to empty directly into the Padma River (main channel of Ganga in Bangladesh) but around 1787 the river changed its course to flow eastward to join the Jamuna River.
• The major portion or the greater part of the river basin lies in India and only 17% of it is in Bangladesh.

Water sharing challenge:

• The two countries India and Bangladesh share many rivers and among them, Teesta is the fourth-largest river.
• Disputes over the appropriate allocation and development of the water resources of the river have remained a subject of conflict between India and Bangladesh.
• Negotiations have been going on since 1983.

Telecommunications Act, 2023

Context:

• OTT communication services are covered under the new Telecom Act as an ‘access service’: Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI)

News:

• Over-the-top (OTT) communication platforms like WhatsApp were classified as ‘access services’ under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 as per COAI and the effect will be to place under a licensing framework.
• This is the interpretation of the telecom companies, and TRAI or the telecom department may or may not entertain them.

About Telecommunications Act, 2023:

• It aims to amend and consolidate the law relating to development, expansion and operation of telecommunication services and telecommunication networks; assignment of spectrum and for matters connected therewith.
• The Act also seeks to repeal existing legislative framework like Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and Indian Wireless Telegraph Act, 1933 owing to huge technical advancements in the telecom sector and technologies.

Salient features:

• Definitions: The Act clearly defines various terminologies related to the implementation of the Act thereby reducing uncertainties and improving investor confidence and is a step towards ease of doing business.
• RoW framework: The Act provides for effective Right of Way (RoW) framework, both on public and private property.
• The definition of public entities has been broadened to include government agencies, local bodies and PPP projects like airports, seaports, and highways. Public entities shall be obligated to provide right of way except in special circumstances. 
• The Act provides complete framework for RoW in respect of private property based on mutual agreement.
• Common ducts: In line with PM Gati Shakti vision, the law provides for Central Government to establish common ducts and cable corridors.
• Telecommunication standards: To ensure national security and promote India’s technology developers, the Act lays down powers to set standards and conformity assessment measures for telecommunication services, telecommunication networks, telecommunication security, etc.
• National Security and Public safety: The Act provides strong provisions to take necessary measures for national security and public safety.
• Inclusive service delivery, Innovation and technology development: The Act expands the scope of Universal Service Obligation Fund to include supporting universal services in underserved rural, remote, and urban areas; supporting research and development of telecommunication services, technologies, products and pilot projects.
• The Act also provides legal framework for Regulatory Sandbox to facilitate innovation, and deployment of new technology.
• Protection of users: The Act provides measures for protection of users from unsolicited commercial communication and creates a grievance redressal mechanism.
• Digital by design: The Act provides that the implementation shall be digital by design bringing online dispute resolution and other framework.
• Optimal utilization of spectrum: The Act provides legal framework for efficient utilization of scarce spectrum through processes such as secondary assignment, sharing, trading, leasing and surrender of spectrum.
• It also enables the utilisation of spectrum in a flexible, liberalised and technologically neutral manner.
• Prohibition of use of equipment which blocks telecommunications: The Act prescribes the use of any equipment which blocks telecommunication, unless permitted by the Central Government.

On the ethanol blending programme

Introduction:

• India is on its way to achieve its target of blending 20% of petrol with ethanol by 2025-26. However, the food versus fuel equation continues to hang over the ethanol economy along with questions regarding fuel efficiency in existing vehicles.

Status of ethanol production capacity:

• Two interest subvention programmes for establishing new distilleries had facilitated the ramping up of ethanol generation capacity.
• We are now witnessing 13% to 15% blending.
• Concern: Major concern is a lot more of grain-based distilleries were to come up than sugarcane-based distilleries.
• Industry demands: Industry has been demanding, that to maintain momentum and create surplus capacity for other uses such as blending with diesel, interest subvention programmes should be extended.
• Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) should sign more long-term contracts with distilleries until the supply chain is well and truly formed.
• Many across the industry demand an increase in ethanol pricing.

Sugarcane and ethanol production:

• Sugarcane gives rise to three main related products – sugarcane juice and syrup, B-heavy molasses and C-heavy molasses, in the order of decreasing sugar content.
• The first two would typically go to making sugar while the third will be used for ethanol production.
• In a bid to up fuel ethanol production, the government had started permitting the diversion of the first two away from sugar production to fuel ethanol.
• In 2022-23, 63% of fuel ethanol came from B-heavy molasses and 33% from molasses.
• In December, 2023, the government restricted the diversion of the first two over fears of falling sugar stocks.
• Problem: Expanding sugarcane cultivation would redirect irrigation water from essential food-grain crops, exacerbating concerns about agricultural sustainability.
• Solution: To make up for the shortfall due to restrictions on B-heavy molasses, grain-based distilleries, mainly maize, have likely been operating at full capacity to keep up with the blending percentages this year.
• Government policy is that maize as well as surplus rice and damaged grains will be used to feed grain-based distilleries.

Concerns regarding maize usage:

• Over the last few years, Indian maize imports have been hovering around 0.4 to 0.5 million tonnes a year.
• A rapid diversion to ethanol will drive up prices and negatively impact its major uses – poultry sector by 47%, livestock feed (13%) and starch (14%).
• At 3 to 4 tonnes per hectare, India’s maize yield is much lower than other countries.
• As per NITI Aayog’s estimates, some 4.8 million hectares will have to be added to maize cultivation area to meet the 20% target, which is almost half of the typical maize cultivation area.
• Maize import has increased from April to June of this year compared to last year at a time when maize has been used to produce more fuel ethanol to compensate for restrictions on using sugarcane products.
• However, with big food stocks across the country, there is no much concern about food security in the near future. The supplies and stocks are so large that it could lead to wastage and spoiling.
• All the emphasis has been on first generation (1G) ethanol that is directly made from foodgrains and sugarcane.
• The government should diversify and move to 2G and 3G that are more benign in terms of impact on food security.

On fuel efficiency in automobiles:

• Ethanol will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it will also prevent foreign exchange outgo and bolster the rural economy by promoting the cultivation of various crops through an assured market.
• Many vehicle makers say the government deadline of E20 (20% ethanol and 80% gasoline) compliance is achievable, but questions remain over existing vehicles whose performance would be affected by higher ethanol content.
• The NITI Aayog report notes that ethanol brought down fuel efficiency in vehicles not suited for ethanol by an average of 6%.
• Existing vehicles may have to go for an engine retuning and change over to E20 supported material depending on what grade they are.

How different States view the policy:

• While the fuel ethanol pricing is the same across India, States determine the pricing of Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA) that goes into making liquor for consumption and other uses.
• ENA pricing has been a decider for sugarcane-based distilleries in opting for highly pure fuel ethanol vis-a-vis ENA and other forms.

Uttar Pradesh (UP):

• In Uttar Pradesh, the government reserves some 25% of the ethanol for ENA.
• It is the single largest contributor to the ethanol blending program nationwide.
• Most of the distilleries in U.P., as well as new capacity coming up, are multi-fuel, allowing them to process both sugarcane juice and molasses, and grain, including rice and maize.
• For the upcoming year, it is anticipated that 55% of the national requirement of ethanol will be met from sugarcane and the balance 45% would be met by grain distilleries.

Tamil Nadu:

• In Tamil Nadu, where liquor is a highly lucrative market for distilleries, fuel ethanol has not yet caught on as much.
• The State government procures and sells all the liquor. Liquor revenue is one-sixth of all government revenue.
• Problem: An increase in sugarcane cultivation may not be possible because of water requirements. Broken rice may not be made available either.
• Solution: Government should support maize cultivation as an alternative.
• Maize is not water intensive. It degrades soil and cannot be the sole crop either. It can be used in rotation with sugarcane to ensure that soil fertility is not degraded.
• Assuring feedstock supply can help to promote a non-sugarcane distillery base in the State.

Maharashtra:

• In Maharashtra it is more profitable to make ENA and supply it for other uses such as manufacturing activities, fashion and medicine than for ethanol blending.
• All segments besides liquor are experiencing good demand thanks to a booming economy.
• If there is a steady contract for procurement in blending then fuel ethanol can be attractive since additional processing will not be required after purity is ensured.