DD ‘Arun Prabha’ Channel was launched in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh recently.
It will be a 24x7 satellite television channel.
It is Doordarshan’s second channel for the north-eastern region, after DD North East.
It is also the 24th satellite channel operated by Doordarshan.
The channel will showcase the rich tradition and diversity of local culture.
Sela Pass
The foundation stone for Sela Tunnel Project was laid recently.
The Sela Pass is called as Se La, as La means Pass.
It is the high-altitude mountain pass located in Tawang District of Arunachal Pradesh.
It has an elevation of 4170 m (13,700 ft) connects the Buddhist city of Tawang Town to Tezpur and Guwahati.
It is the main road connecting Tawang with the rest of India.
The Sela Lake also known as Paradise Lake is located near to the pass.
It is usually open throughout the year unless landslides or snow require the pass to be shut down temporarily.
Asiatic Lion Conservation Project
A dedicated “Asiatic Lion Conservation Project” was launched.
The Asiatic Lion is endemic to Gir landscape of Gujarat.
It is one of the 21 critically endangered species identified by the Ministry for taking up recovery programs.
Asiatic Lion, being listed in Schedule-I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, to be accorded the highest degree of protection.
This project has “Species Conservation over a large landscape” approach.
Girnar, Pania and Mitiyala have been notified as sanctuaries to widen the protected area network and home of lion Besides Gir National Park & Sanctuary.
Convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals (CMS)
The 13th Conference of Parties (COP) of the Convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals (CMS), will be hosted by India.
CMS is an environmental treaty under the aegis of United Nations Environment Program.
The Conference of Parties (COP) is the decision-making organ of this convention.
Migratory species are those animals that move from one habitat to another during different times of the year, due to various factors such as food, sunlight, temperature, climate, etc
It is also referred to as the Bonn Convention.
It provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats.
Under this convention, migratory species threatened with extinction are listed on Appendix I.
India has been a Party to the CMS since 1983.
India is temporary home to several migratory animals and birds.
The important among these include Amur Falcons, Bar headedGheese, Black necked cranes, Marine turtles, Dugongs, Humpbacked Whales, etc.
Tazkiras
Tazkiras are genealogies and short biographies.
It is essentially a collection of life stories or biographies put together on a theme.
The tazkira or “reminiscences” genre is a very old one in Persian literature.
The musicians’ tazkiras were a new thing in the late 18th century, especially during the Mughal period in Medieval India.
These tazkiras offers insights into the music, politics and society of the dying Mughal Empire.
The minutest details obtained from it are the information about new cultural centers and patrons who supported the musicians.
Hydro seismicity
The recent Palghar earthquake swarms may be due to a phenomenon called “hydro-seismicity.”
In “hydro-seismicity” water from heavy rainfall enters small fractures in rocks, which raises the pressure.
It is estimates that with every 10 meter rise in groundwater pore pressure increases by 1 bar.
The pressure built up due to the rise in ground water is released in earthquake swarms.
