The place where Surajkund Mela takes place has an ancient connection to Tomar Dynasty.
Surajkund (the lake of the sun) is the oldest-surviving monument of Delhi.
Suraj Pal Tomar, in the 10th century, built Surajkund, the huge water reservoir along with a sun temple on the western bank.
The reservoir was constructed around 686 AD,as said by Syed Ahmed Khan in his book Asar-us-Sanadid.
The reservoir is built against the backdrop of Aravalli Hills forming a semi-circular shaped embankment.
It is designed in the shape of a rising sun with an eastward arc.
Forest owlet
The century old debate on forest owlet’s genetic relationship with spotted owlet is resolved.
The bird belongs to the same genus as spotted owlet (Athene).
The Heteroglaux blewetti is endangered under IUCN classification.
Also the bird is endemic to the central Indian forests.
It is sedentary resident with recent sightings from fairly open dry deciduous forest dominated by teak.
The species faces a number of threats such as forest loss and degradation as a result of illegal logging and human encroachment, forest fires and minor irrigation dams.
The birds is included under CITES Appendix 1.
Sunderbans Mangrove forest
Unique mangrove ecosystem that hosts a sizeable tiger population is unable to expand due to developmental pressures and sea level rise.
The Indian Sunderbans that comprise almost 43% of total mangrove cover.
‘State of Art Report on Biodiversity in Indian Sundarbans’ published by World Wide Fund for Nature, India, outlines the threats facing the ecosystem.
The threats are climate change, habitat degradation due to industrial pollution and human disturbance, fuel-wood collection.
If the present rate of change prevails, the Sunderbans may disappear due to sea level rise.
Its natural response to retreat further inland is blocked by geographical features and man-made obstructions.
The population density of the Indian Sunderbans outside the Tiger Reserve area is 1,000 people per sq km.
Rehabilitation of former mangrove areas and creation of new mangrove habitations through intensified afforestation program are the only way out.
Jatan and Darshak
Centre for Development for Advanced Computing (C-DAC), has developed software named “Jatan” that is set to revolutionize museum experience.
The latest technology will help online visitors get a 3-Dimensional (3D) view of hundreds of artifacts displayed at the museums.
The software will enable virtual tours to museums.
The group has developed “Darshak”, a mobile-based application, aimed at improving the museum visit experience among the differently-abled.
It allows real-time museum visitors gather all details about objects or artifacts simply by scanning a QR code placed near the object.
C-DAC is the premier R&D organization of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) for carrying out R&D in IT, Electronics and associated areas.
Atal Bhoojal Yojana
Atal Bhoojal Yojana is an ambitious plan aimed at efficient management of available water resources.
Atal Bhujal Yojana will focus on demand side management (how to meet requirements by minimum use of water).
The emphasis of the scheme will be on recharge of ground water sources and efficient use of water by involving people at the local level.
The half of the fund of 6000 crore will be supported by a world bank loan of 3000 crore and the rest will be funded by central government.
It would initially be implemented with community participation in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Enhanced Oil Recovery Program –ONGC
The program plans to introduce carbon dioxide injection in oil field to recover an extra 20 million barrels of crude oil.
It is carried out by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation in its Gandhar field.
The plan is carried out under enhanced oil recovery (EOR) program, whose objective is to improve India’s energy security.
It will be the first large scale CO2 injected project in South Asia.
Injected gas is miscible with residual oil and reduces its viscosity, making it easier to displace the oil from the rock pores.
