India has cancelled a $ 500 million deal to buy 1,600 Spike anti-tank guided missiles from Israel.
This is because of decision of defence ministry to procure world-class missile from state owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) by 2021.
Spike is a man-portable "fire and forget' missile built by Israel's state-run firm, Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, which can hit moving targets such as a tank.
It allows the soldier who fires the missile to quickly move for cover.
Barak missile
India is now planning a deal for 131 Barak surface-to-air missiles from the Israeli firm coasting around $70 million.
These missiles are surface to air missiles designed to be used as a ship-borne anti-missile defence system against anti-ship missiles.
Barak also known as LR-SAM or as MR-SAMis an Indian-Israeli surface-to-air missile (SAM), both maritime and land-based versions of the Barak exist.
Barak 8 was jointly developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), India's Defence Research &Development Organisation (DRDO).
KAB-1500 bombs
India has announced its first proposal for procurement of 240 KAB-1500 bombs,from Russia.
It is a precision guided weapon which uses laser for precision guidance.
It will be used in IAF's Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets.
It is designed to destroy ground targets such as railway lines, ammunition depots, bridges, military facilities and ships.
The bomb has folding fins that allow it to manoeuvre while being guided to the target.
Ujh multipurpose project
The Central Water Commission (CWC) has finalised a detailed report on Ujh multi-purpose project .
The project is to come up in Kathua district, will store around 0.65 million acre feet (MAF) of water from Ujh (a tributary of Ravi).
It will irrigate 30,000 hectares and produce over 200 MW of power.
India has planed this project under the mandates of Indus water treat (IWT)
CWC
Central Water Commission is a premier Technical Organization of India in the field of Water Resources.
It is presently functioning as an attached office of the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.
The Commission is entrusted with the general responsibilities of initiating, coordinating and furthering in consultation of the State Governments concerned, schemes for control, conservation and utilization of water resources throughout the country, for purpose of Flood Control, Irrigation, Navigation, Drinking Water Supply and Water Power Development.
It also undertakes the investigations, construction and execution of any such schemes as required.
Keoladeo National Park
It is Located in Bharatpur district, the eastern part of Rajasthan.
The park is spread over nearly 30 sq.km which comprises many artificial and seasonal lagoons.
Keoladeo attracts several migratory birds that make the region their breeding and wintering grounds.
It is an UNESCO World Heritage and also a Ramsar site.
The Siberian crane is one of the rare species that was spotted here till about the turn of the century.
It habitat for nearly 365 species of birds, including raptors and waterfowls.
Animal such as Jackals, Sambar, Nilgai, wild cats, hyenas, wild boar, porcupine and mongoose can be found in the region.
Ramsar convention
The Convention on Wetlands called the Ramsar Convention is the intergovernmental treaty.
It provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
The Convention was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975.
Since then, almost 90% of UN member states, from all the world’s geographic regions, have acceded to become “Contracting Parties”.
The Convention uses a broad definition of wetlands, It includes all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, Peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, mangroves and other coastal areas, coral reefs, and all human-made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and salt pans.
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites
Parliament has recently passed Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill, 2017.
The Bill permits construction of public works in ‘prohibited areas’ for public purposes.
The Act defines a ‘prohibited area’ as an area of 100 meters around a protected monument or area.
Source: PIB, The Indian express, Economic times, The Hindu
