RAJ IAS ACADEMY DTE (April 2024) Page 1

RAJ MALHOTRA’S IAS ACADEMY, CHANDIGARH

DOWN TO EARTH - April 2024 2
Bengaluru Water Crisis 2
Polycrisis 3
Definition of forests 4
Migratory birds in Kashmir Valley 4
Climate Migration and Refugees 5
Human-Elephant Conflicts 7
Global Water Scarcity 8
Shifts in Global Weather Patterns 9
Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation 10
Land Subsidence 11
Chrysotile Asbestos 12
India’s First Marine Force 12
Rhodamine B 13
RAJ IAS ACADEMY DTE (April 2024) Page 2

DOWN TO EARTH - April 2024

Bengaluru Water Crisis
Bengaluru, the third most populous city in India, is facing the worst potable water crisis in its
nearly 500-year history.

About the Bengaluru Water Crisis -

• Bengaluru, India’s Silicon Valley, is grappling with a severe water crisis, exacerbated by erratic
monsoon patterns and rapid urbanisation.
• The city, which once abounded in lakes and rivers, is now facing a water shortage that is set to
deepen, with the state struggling with depleting resources.
• The city, which lost its green cover by 66%, water bodies by 74%, and witnessed a growth of
584% in built-up area, buckled under the El Nino’s assault this summer.
• The city needs 2,600 MLD of water, of which 1,450 MLD is coming from the Cauvery and 650
MLD from the underground water table through borewell. There is a shortage of 500 MLD.

Impact -
• The water scarcity crisis is not a recent phenomenon but the result of a long-standing disregard
for sustainable development.
• The city’s rapid expansion has been largely fueled by migration.
• However, the city’s administration has demonstrated a lack of foresight and resource planning,
which is compounded by their inefficiency.

Causes -
• The city has seen a 1055% increase in built-up areas, i.e., concrete structure and paved
surfaces, in the last few decades.
• In addition, it has seen a staggering drop in the water spread area which has now been termed
as the root cause of the depleting groundwater table across the city.
• A study by the IISC’s Centre for Ecological Sciences says that water spread area has fallen
from 2,324 hectares in 1973 to just about 696 hectares in 2023, a 70% drop.

Spatial Pattern of Water Crisis in India -

India, with 18 percent of the world’s population but only 4 percent of its water resources, is
among the most water-stressed countries in the world.

Regional Variations -
• The availability of water in India is largely dependent on hydro-meteorological and geological
factors, leading to high temporal and spatial variation of precipitation.
• As a result, water availability in some regions of the country is much below the national average,
resulting in water-stressed or scarce conditions.
• For instance, there are water surplus states such as Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and on
the other side, there are water scarce regions like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra,
Rajasthan, and parts of Gujarat.

Groundwater Depletion -
• Groundwater is one of the most important sources for irrigation as well as for rural and urban
domestic water supply.
• However, overexploitation of this valuable resource has led to its depletion.
• As per the 2020 assessment, out of 6,965 assessment units (Blocks/ Taluks/ Mandals/
watersheds/ Firkas) in the country, 1,114 units in 15 States/UTs have been categorised as ‘over-
exploited’ where the Annual Ground Water Extraction is more than Annual Extractable Ground
Water Resource.

Climate Change Impact -

• India’s dependence on an increasingly erratic monsoon for its water requirements increases the
challenge.
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• Climate change is likely to exacerbate this pressure on water resources, even as the frequency
and intensity of floods and droughts in the country increases.

Solutions -
Rainwater harvesting and wastewater treatment are considered the best options for Bengaluru.
The cumulative impact of these measures would meet the water requirement of 14 million people
in Bengaluru, without any dependence on groundwater.

Conclusion -
• The water crisis in Bengaluru is a wake-up call for the need for sustainable water management
practices.
• The city’s administration, citizens, and businesses must come together to address this crisis
and ensure the city’s future sustainability.

Polycrisis
The recent sixth UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) acknowledged the planetary ecological
meltdown caused by ‘Polycrisis’.

About the Polycrisis -

• The term ‘Polycrisis’ has emerged as a critical concept in understanding the complex,
interconnected challenges that the world is currently facing.
• The term was first coined in the 1970s and has been popularised by historian Adam Tooze to
describe the convergence of multiple crises.

Defining Polycrisis -
• A polycrisis is defined as any combination of three or more interacting systemic risks with
the potential to cause a cascading, runaway failure of Earth’s natural and social systems
that irreversibly and catastrophically degrades humanity’s prospects.
• It is the term to define the state of the global environment, pointing at three crises wrecking the
planet—the climate emergency, biodiversity loss and pollution.
• It signifies a loss of control, as we can barely understand the complex things that are happening
in the world around us, let alone control them.

Polycrisis in Action -
• In recent times, the world has been experiencing a state of polycrisis. The COVID-19 pandemic,
the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, cost-of-living crisis, and climate change are all distinct
crises that have come together to create a situation where everything seems to be impacting us
all at the same time.
• It is not a personal, private experience, but a collective one.
• For instance, the war in Ukraine sent energy and food prices soaring.
• The resulting inflationary pressures ignited a global cost-of-living crisis which has led to social
unrest.
• On top of all that, carbon emissions continued to rise as economies reopened after the
pandemic.

Implications of Polycrisis -
• The implications of a polycrisis are far-reaching. It can lead to catastrophic consequences
including armed conflict.
• The interconnected risk landscape heightens the likelihood of polycrises.
• The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2023 uses the term to explain how present
and future risks can interact with each other to form a polycrisis.

Addressing Polycrisis -
• Addressing a polycrisis requires a holistic approach that considers the interconnectedness of
various crises.
• It calls for global cooperation and a rethinking of our current systems and structures.
RAJ IAS ACADEMY DTE (April 2024) Page 4
• It also necessitates a shift from a reactive approach to a proactive one, where we anticipate and
prepare for potential crises before they occur.

Definition of forests
Nearly three decades have passed since the Supreme Court ruling in 1996, which mandated the
use of dictionary definition to delineate forests. Still, India grapples with the challenge of
accurately identifying its forests.

The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 -

• It was enacted to ensure the conservation of forests and their resources.
• The term ‘forest land’ mentioned in Section 2 of the Act refers to reserved forest, protected
forest, or any area recorded as forest in the government records.
• Lands notified under Section 4 of the Indian Forest Act also come within the purview of the
Act.
• The provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 extend to all areas recorded as forest in
government records and the areas which may be defined as forest as per its ‘dictionary
meaning’ irrespective of ownership.

T.N. Godavarman Thirumalpad vs Union of India (1996) -

• The Supreme Court of India, in TN Godavarman Thirumalpad vs Union of India Case,
observed that the ‘forest’ has to be understood in terms of its dictionary meaning.
• It defined ‘forest’ to include any piece of land that resembles the dictionary meaning of
forest for the purpose of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
• It ruled that the Forest (Conservation) Act applies to all land parcels that were either recorded
as ‘forest’, or which resembled the dictionary meaning of forest.
• This definition was further clarified in an interim order passed by the Supreme Court.
• It covers all statutorily recognized forests, whether designated as reserved, protected, or
otherwise.
• It is intended to ensure that the protection and conservation of forests are prioritised in India.

Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act of 2023 and related issues -

• Narrowing the Definition of Forest — It narrowed the definition of forest by inserting the
Section 1A in the Act, and contradicts the Supreme Court’s 1996 order, potentially
jeopardising legal safeguards for one-fifth to one-fourth of India’s forests.
• According to it, a land has to be either notified as a forest or specifically recorded as a
forest in a government record to qualify as a ‘forest’.
• Infrastructure Vs Environment — It exempts linear projects near borders, supporting
infrastructure development crucial for national security.
• Private Players and Economic Exploitation — It encourages private entities to undertake
afforestation projects, contributing to environmental conservation, and facilitates economic
exploitation by removing certain forest areas from legal jurisdiction.
• Limited Public Discourse — It has emerged with limited public discourse, raising concerns
about its ramifications for forests and indigenous communities.

Conclusion -
• The issue of ‘definition of forest’ in India has the implications on forest conservation, rights of
indigenous communities, and economic development.
• It is crucial that any changes to the definition of ‘forest’ are made with careful consideration of
their potential impacts on India’s rich biodiversity, the livelihoods of forest-dependent
communities, and the country’s commitments to climate change mitigation.

Migratory birds in Kashmir Valley

The wetlands of the Kashmir Valley become a sanctuary for countless migratory birds which arrive
in October and stay until March.
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About the Migratory Birds in the Kashmir Valley -

• The Kashmir Valley, with its picturesque landscapes and temperate climate, transforms into a
winter wonderland every year, attracting a plethora of migratory birds from across the globe.
• Every year, with the onset of winter, the wetlands of the Kashmir Valley play host to lakhs of
migratory birds.
• The migratory birds visiting Kashmir travel from the colder areas of the world, including Siberia,
China, Philippines, Eastern Europe, and Japan.
• The Valley presents them with a comparatively hospitable alternate habitat compared to the
extreme freezing conditions in their natural habitats in the northern hemisphere.
• Their primary destination is the region’s wetlands, including Hokersar, the second-largest
wetland reserve in the region, which spans 8 square miles on the outskirts of Srinagar.
• Over the years, more than 90 species of birds have made the trek to breed and feed at this
crucial wintering ground, which is surrounded by freshwater marshes.

The Avian Visitors -

• The birds that arrive here every year include mallards, greylag geese, pochards, common teals,
shovelers, pintails, and gharwals.
• Some of the bird species that visit Kashmir are Monal, Jungle Bush Quail, Shikra, Himalayan
Bulbul, Tragapon, common Kingfisher, Blue Whistling Thrush, Common Moorhen, Koklass
Pheasant, Little Grebe, Himalayan Woodpecker, Tundra Swan Great Tit, Black Kite, Mallards,
Greylag Geese, Pochard, Shovelers, Pintails, and Gharwals.

Significance -
• The presence of these different types and colourful migratory birds in the water bodies of the
Kashmir Valley, their chirping, and sweet dialects create a distinct sweetness in the air.
• The arrival of these birds not only adds to the natural beauty of the valley but also plays a
crucial role in maintaining the region’s ecological balance.

Concerns and Threats -

• Migratory bird hunting is a significant issue in India, posing a serious threat to the survival of
these avian visitors.
• Despite the country’s rich biodiversity and the critical role it plays in the migratory routes of
various bird species, anthropogenic activities, including hunting, are leading to a decline in their
numbers.
• Migratory bird hunting continues across wetlands in the Kashmir Valley despite a blanket ban
since 1972.
• Apart from hunting, migratory birds in India face several other threats. These include habitat loss
due to urbanisation, land acquisition, and climate change.
• Changes in breeding areas, untimely rainfall, and early or late onset of winters also have a direct
impact on the migration of birds in India.

Conservation Efforts -
• Despite the challenges, efforts are being made to protect migratory birds in India. Awareness
campaigns are held on World Migratory Bird Day to highlight the need to conserve migratory
birds and their habitats
• Moreover, wetlands scientist S. Sivakumar has emphasised the critical role of wetlands in
providing a safe habitat for migratory birds and the livelihood potential for urban and rural
dwellers in the emerging tourism sector of bird watching.

Climate Migration and Refugees

Seven decades after the world defined refugees, it still lacks a definition for climate refugees

Details :
• Climate change is increasingly being recognised as a significant driver of human migration and
displacement.
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• As the impacts of climate change intensify, more people are being forced to leave their homes in
search of safer and more sustainable living conditions.
• Climate Migration refers to the large-scale movement of people due to changes in the
environment that adversely affect their living conditions.
• The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that an average of
20 million people are forcibly displaced to other areas in countries all over the world by weather-
related events every year.

Impact of Climate Change on Migration -

• Climate change exacerbates existing vulnerabilities, requiring greater support for those on the
move and their host communities.
• The majority of people forcibly displaced by persecution, conflict, and violence today live in
countries that are highly vulnerable and ill-prepared to adapt to climate change.
• Displaced populations frequently have no option but to live in remote locations, in overcrowded
camps or informal settlements, with limited access to basic services or infrastructure and where
they are highly exposed and vulnerable to climate hazards like floods, drought, storms, and
heatwaves.

Policy Responses to Climate Migration -

• Protection — Strengthen and expand the protection of refugees and migrants in situations of
vulnerability affected by climate change.
• Partnerships — Enhance existing climate action by partnering with key humanitarian partners.
• Multilateral Engagement — Expand U.S. multilateral diplomacy and leadership to address the
impacts of climate change on migration and displacement in international fora.
• Coordination — Strengthen coordination between agencies to advance policy solutions for
refugees and migrants affected by climate change.

Role of International Organisations -

• International organisations like the UNHCR are working to protect displaced people and
strengthen their resilience to the current and future impacts of climate change.
• The UNHCR’s Strategic Plan for Climate Action 2024-2030 details a global roadmap for
prioritised action in support of governments and in collaboration with a wide range of partners.
• Geneva Convention (1951) — It gives a legal definition of refugees. It does not include climate
disasters as a ground for seeking asylum
• 1985 — UN Environment Programme for the first time broadly defines environmental
refugees as people who are forced to leave their traditional habitat, temporarily or permanently,
due to ‘environmental disruption’.
• 2011 — Nansen Conference on Climate Change and Displacement in Norway formulates 10
principles on climate change and crossborder displacement
• 2013 — European Commission downplays climate-induced migration into Europe.
• 2015 — The Paris Agreement calls for a taskforce to recommend approaches to avert,
minimise and address climate change-related displacement
• 2018 — The UN Global Compact on Refugees has a reference of climate refugees, but lacks
actionable commitments from countries
• It is the first inter-governmental and non-binding agreement that acknowledges that
climate change is a “deep cause” for the movement of people, but is silent on the impacted
communities.
• 2022 — Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change
allows people affected by weather events to move safely across the borders in the Horn and
East of Africa regions.
• It was adopted by 48 African countries in 2023 to address the link between climate change
and human mobility in the continent, and does not mention the term climate refugee.
• 2023 — Pacific island countries agree on a framework to allow cross-border movement of
people due to climate change.
• Australia and Tuvalu sign a treaty which allows some people from Tuvalu affected by climate
change to migrate to Australia and work there.
• The Global Goal on Adaptation, a significant outcome of the 28th Conference of the Parties
to the UNFCCC (COP 28) in 2023, fails to mention climate migration, mobility or refugees.
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• The global goal, enshrined under Article 7.1 of the 2015 Paris Agreement, pledges to
“enhance [the world’s] adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience, and reduce vulnerability to
climate change”.

Conclusion -
• Climate migration is a complex and urgent issue that requires coordinated global action.
• By understanding the link between climate change and migration, and by implementing effective
policies and strategies, there is a need to ensure the protection and resilience of climate
migrants and refugees.
• As the impacts of climate change continue to intensify, addressing climate migration will
become an increasingly important part of our global response to the climate crisis.

Human-Elephant Conflicts
Communities in Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh reduce human-elephant conflicts using
technology and proactive on-ground monitoring.

About the Human-Elephant Conflicts in India -

• Human-elephant conflict (HEC) has emerged as a significant challenge for elephant
conservation and management in India.
• The conflict, characterised by crop raiding, property damage, and loss of human and elephant
lives, is escalating due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

Understanding the Conflict -

• India is home to a significant population of Asian elephants, with Assam having the second-
highest number after Karnataka.
• However, loss of natural habitat and fragmentation have been bringing wild elephants closer to
human habitations, sparking conflicts.
• Over 500 humans are killed in encounters with elephants annually, and crops and property
worth millions are also damaged.
• Many elephants are also killed in retaliation.

Impact of Conflict -
• The conflict creates considerable economic hardships for the affected farmers.
• There are several regions that experience crop damage by elephants year after year. Human
deaths due to encounters with elephants are also an issue of serious concern.
• It is estimated that every year approximately 400 persons are killed by elephants across the
country, and more than 100 elephants are also killed annually, mostly as retaliatory killings by
people.

Government Initiatives -
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has released guidelines for
the management of HEC.
• These guidelines define HEC and provide measures for preventing the entry of elephants into
human-use areas, such as villages and agricultural fields.
• The government has launched a national portal on human-elephant conflict called
‘Surakhsya’ for the collection of real-time information and for managing the conflicts on a real-
time basis.
• It aims to help set the data collection protocols, data transmission pipelines, and data
visualisation tools to enable policymakers to leverage HEC data for policy formulation and
for the preparation of Action Plans for mitigation of conflicts.

Major Elephant Corridors in India -

• Elephant corridors are vital for the conservation of elephants as they provide connectivity
between different habitats, allowing elephants to move freely and access resources such as
food and water.
• They also play a crucial role in maintaining genetic diversity among elephant populations.

State of Elephant Corridors in India -

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• As per the MoEFCC, the number of elephant corridors in India has increased to 150, up from 88
in 2010.
• It reflects the expansion of elephant ranges in regions such as Vidarbha in Maharashtra,
southern Maharashtra bordering Karnataka, northern Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
• West Bengal has the highest number of elephant corridors, totaling 26, constituting 17% of
the total corridors.
• The East central region contributes 35% (52 corridors), and the North East region follows as the
second-largest with 32% (48 corridors).

Conclusion -
• Human-Elephant Conflict in India is a complex issue that requires a multi-pronged approach for
its resolution.
• While efforts are being made at various levels to mitigate the conflict, it is crucial to ensure the
protection of both humans and elephants.
• As we move forward, it is hoped that these initiatives will help in reducing the conflict and
contribute to the harmonious co-existence of humans and elephants.

Global Water Scarcity

A study has found that the cities with population above 1 million in 2016, will face water scarcity
in 2050.

About the Global Water Scarcity -

• Water scarcity is a relative concept, where the demand for water may exceed the supply, or the
infrastructure may be inadequate to meet everyone’s needs.
• It is an increasing problem on every continent, with poorer communities most severely affected.
• As the global population increases and climate change intensifies, the availability of freshwater
resources is becoming increasingly strained.
• Globally, 2 billion people (26% of the population) do not have safe drinking water, and 3.6 billion
(46%) lack access to safely managed sanitation.
• Between two and three billion people experience water shortages for at least one month per
year.
• It poses severe risks to livelihoods, notably through food security and access to electricity.

Conditions for Water Availability and Stress -

The natural distribution and availability of water resources is characterised by high or extreme
variability, as evidenced by increasing or decreasing river discharge.

Impact of Climate Change -

• Climate change is exacerbating the water scarcity crisis.
• Over the past twenty years, terrestrial water storage – including soil moisture, snow, and ice –
has dropped at a rate of 1 cm per year, with major ramifications for water security.
• The global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to double from 930 million in
2016 to 1.7 – 2.4 billion people in 2050.

Drought -
It is one of the major drivers of global food and water insecurity, and has strong links with land
use, land use change and resilience.

Widespread crisis -
Roughly half of the world’s population sees severe water scarcity, either for a few months or
throughout the year.

Human Cost -
• Poor and marginalised groups are on the frontline of any water scarcity crisis, impacting their
ability to maintain good health, protect their families, and earn a living.
• For many women and girls, water scarcity means more laborious, time-consuming water
collection, putting them at increased risk of attack and often precluding them from education or
work.
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Solutions -
• Shared Socioeconomic Pathway-1 (SSP1) and Representative Concentration Pathway-2.6
(RCP2.6), which are the most sustainable development pathway of low climate change
mitigation challenges and low social vulnerability, as per IPCC.
• Desalination of Seawater
• Groundwater exploitation
• Reservoir construction
• Inter-basin water transfer
• Domestic virtual water trade
• International water transfer / virtual water trade

Way forward -
• There is an urgent need to establish strong international mechanisms to prevent the global
water crisis from spiralling out of control.
• Integrated water resources management (IWRM) provides a broad framework for governments
to align water use patterns with the needs and demands of different users, including the
environment.
• Data, technology, and communications have a critical role.
• IWRM depends on good quality data on water resources; water-saving, green and hybrid
technologies, particularly in industry and agriculture; and awareness campaigns to reduce the
use of water in households and encourage sustainable diets and consumption.

Shifts in Global Weather Patterns

A study published in the Weather and Climate Dynamics found that the change in winter and
spring weather patterns is likely to get more intense.

Understanding Climate Change -

• Global weather patterns are undergoing significant shifts due to climate change.
• Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.
• These shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions.
• However, the changes observed since the mid-20th century are largely driven by human
activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels.

Impact on Weather Patterns -

• The warming of the planet impacts local and regional climates.
• It may cause weather patterns to become less predictable.
• These unexpected weather patterns can make it difficult to maintain and grow crops in regions
that rely on farming because expected temperature and rainfall levels can no longer be relied
on.
• Widespread changes in weather patterns and increased frequency and severity of extreme
weather events are well-documented consequences of global climate change.
• These departures from old norms can bring storms, droughts, heatwaves, and wildfire
conditions beyond what infrastructure has been designed to withstand or what people have
come to expect.
• Weather and Climate Dynamics reveals that over the past 70 years, western disturbances have
been occurring more often during summer, shifting precipitation trends.
• Globally, too, countries have reported extreme seasonal conditions this year, with record
breaking temperatures in countries like Indonesia, South Africa, Gabon, Kenya, South Sudan,
Algeria, Tunisia, Guyana, Colombia and Brazil.

Rising Sea Levels -

• In polar regions, the warming global temperatures associated with climate change have meant
ice sheets and glaciers are melting at an accelerated rate.
• It contributes to sea levels rising in different regions of the planet.
• Together with expanding ocean waters due to rising temperatures, the resulting rise in sea level
has begun to damage coastlines as a result of increased flooding and erosion.
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Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation

Recently, it was found that the Anthropogenic aerosols, which include pollution from
transportation, coal combustion and manufacturing, work to reduce AMOC movement by
shielding the solar heating and cooling the Earth's climate.

Details -
• It was found that anthropogenic aerosols over North America and Europe, along with rising
greenhouse gases, can contribute to a slowdown of AMOC.
• However, it was unclear whether aerosols from Asia could also impact the system.
• In a recent study published in Nature Communications, scientists have found a direct link —
an increase in aerosols over Asia could accelerate the risk of an AMOC collapse.
• Another study shows that the AMOC could collapse between 2025 and 2095 due to the
impact of anthropogenic emissions.
• If the above prediction deems true, AMOC may be the first of the 16 climate tipping elements
to be breached.

Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) -

• It is a system of ocean currents that circulates water within the Atlantic Ocean, bringing warm
water north and cold water south and is part of a complex system of global ocean currents.
• The global conveyor belt circulates cool subsurface water and warm surface water
throughout the world. It plays a crucial role in moderating the climate of Europe and North
America and influences temperatures near the Equator.
• The entire circulation cycle of the AMOC, and the global conveyor belt, is quite slow. It takes an
estimated 1,000 years for a parcel of water to complete its journey along the belt.
• Even though the whole process is slow on its own, there is some evidence that the AMOC is
slowing down further.

Tipping elements in the Earth's climate system -

• These are the critical threshold for a system that influences the climate and ecology of the
planet, indicating the point beyond which that system begins to undergo a large-scale
irreversible shift.
• Tipping elements include long-term loss of major ice sheets on Greenland and in Antarctica,
large-scale ecosystem shifts for the Amazon rainforest and northern evergreen forests, species
loss for coral reefs, shrinking Arctic sea-ice, and potential weakening of the AMOC etc.
• The collapse of AMOC could have a cascading impact on the stability of other tipping
elements and climate systems of the earth.

Domino effect -
• Collapse of the AMOC will impact other tipping elements and climate systems globally.
• Example: Tipping element
• The Amazon rainforest: AMOC collapse means more heat in tropics; Amazon could either
stabilise or turn dry.
• Sahel/West African monsoon: Impact on wind flow, ITCZ by AMOC collapse may hurt
establishment of monsoon.
• West Antarctic ice sheet: Heat would not get transferred northwards by AMOC, leading to
rapid melting of the ice sheet.

Slowing of AMOC -
• For the past few decades, more fresh cold water has been added to the North Atlantic Ocean
due to increased precipitation and rapid melting of the Greenland ice sheet, which is reducing
salinity and density of the water. This is slowing down AMOC and will lead to its collapse.
• Data for Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs) between 1870 and 2020 shows collapse of AMOC in
the North Atlantic Ocean (Subpolar gyre) “fingerprint” region is significant.
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• Historically, the collapse of AMOC has been associated with warming events. According to
paleoclimatic data, in the past before the start of the planet’s glacial periods or ice ages, there
was abrupt warming.
• Scientists term these incidents Dansgaard-Oeschger events, which occurred over a few
decades before gradual cooling heralds an ice age.
• The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its sixth Assessment Report
series estimates that AMOC is unlikely to see a halt this century.

What if AMOC would collapse?

• AMOC is a kind of ‘switch’ for climate in the northern hemisphere, especially Europe.
• It would cause widespread cooling across the northern hemisphere and less precipitation
in places such as Europe, North America, China and some parts of Russia in Asia.
• The excess heat due to a collapsed AMOC could lead to less rainfall over the Amazon
rainforest and make it drought prone and dry, and it could potentially transform it to a
savannah state.
• A slowdown of AMOC could hinder monsoon formation and rainfall in different regions.
• Rainfall in the Sahel region (the West African monsoon) could reduce, the summer
monsoon circulation in South Asia and India could weaken; and there might be more winter
storms in Europe.
• Weakening of the land-sea thermal gradient weakens the sea level pressure gradient and
the summer monsoon circulation over the Indian region.

Land Subsidence
Nearly 2 billion people globally are threatened due to land subsidence, a geohazard caused by the
sudden or gradual settling of ground surface.

About the Land Subsidence -

• Land subsidence, the sinking or lowering of the Earth’s surface, is a global geological hazard
that poses serious risks to infrastructure, natural resources, built environment, and businesses
in numerous places worldwide.
• It is caused by the sudden or gradual settling of the land surface due to the removal of
subsurface material.
• It can be due to a variety of factors, both natural (include earthquakes, volcanic activity, and
compaction of fine-grained unconsolidated sediments) and anthropogenic (include mining
and extraction of groundwater, oil, gas, and minerals).

Land Subsidence around the World -

• It is estimated that by 2040, land subsidence will affect about 8% of the world’s surface and
about 1.2 billion inhabitants living in 21% of the major cities worldwide.
• For example, Jakarta in Indonesia is another city experiencing significant land subsidence due
to unregulated pumping of groundwater.
• More than 6.3 million sq km of Earth's surface is susceptible to significant subsidence, with the
primary reason being groundwater abstraction.

Land Subsidence in India -

• In India, land subsidence has become a significant concern, particularly in the capital city, Delhi.
• A recent study shows that parts of Delhi, including Kapashera, an urban village near Delhi’s
international airport, and Faridabad, a part of Delhi’s larger metropolitan area, are experiencing
dangerous land subsidence.
• The subsidence rate was more than 11 cm/year in Kapashera and 3 cm/year in Faridabad.
• This subsidence is attributed to excessive groundwater extraction.

Impact of Land Subsidence -

• Land subsidence reduces the flood-control capacity in urban areas and brings security risk
and damage to buildings and a whole range of infrastructure including roads, bridges, rail
transits, flood control walls, and underground lines.
RAJ IAS ACADEMY DTE (April 2024) Page 12
• With an increase in land subsidence occurring in densely populated areas, a key factor driving
subsidence is groundwater abstraction — the removal of water stored in the pore space of
subsurface layers and transporting it away for human consumption and irrigation in agriculture,
leading to compaction of the subsurface sediments.

Conclusion -
• Land subsidence is a destructive phenomenon that damages infrastructure and aquifers, as well
as putting human lives at risk.
• Population growth has played an undeniable part in resource extraction that has led to
subsidence.
• Therefore, it is crucial to manage our resources sustainably and implement effective measures
to mitigate this geohazard.
• Further research and monitoring are needed to understand the full extent of land subsidence
and develop effective strategies to address it.

Chrysotile Asbestos
Recently, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a comprehensive ban on
Chrysotile Asbestos.

About the Chrysotile Asbestos -

• Chrysotile, commonly known as white asbestos, is a fibrous mineral and one of the six types of
asbestos.
• It is the sole form of asbestos in the serpentine group of minerals.
• It is the most commonly encountered form of asbestos, accounting for approximately 95% of
the asbestos in the United States and a similar proportion in other countries.
• It is a soft, fibrous silicate mineral in the serpentine subgroup of phyllosilicates.
• Chrysotile boasts properties such as high tensile strength, flexibility, and resistance to heat and
chemicals, which once made it a popular choice in construction materials.

Health Risks Associated with Chrysotile Asbestos -

• It is clear that chrysotile can cause mesothelioma (cancer of the lung or abdominal cavity
linings).
• The relevant primary scientific literature is systematically analysed in several international
scientific agency reports.
• All reports document and evaluate the extensive evidence in humans (and animals) and confirm
that all forms of asbestos — including chrysotile — are the only known cause of mesothelioma.
• It can also cause other cancers, including the most common cancer associated with asbestos
exposure, cancer of the lung, as well as cancer of the larynx and ovaries.
• It is also associated with pharynx, stomach, and cancer.

India’s First Marine Force

Recently, Tamil Nadu announced the launch of the country's first marine force to protect
marine resources and biodiversity in the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Bay.

About -
• The Marine Elite Force aims to combat marine wildlife crimes, including smuggling,
prevention, and poaching of marine animals, particularly in the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere and
Palk Bay.
• The force is equipped with two deep water boats with a wireless communication system.
• They have been training for over a year and have been carrying out pilot operations from April
2023.
• It enhances the capacity of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department to conserve marine and coastal
ecology in a professional manner but also plays a crucial role in combating illegal wildlife
smuggling in the region.
RAJ IAS ACADEMY DTE (April 2024) Page 13
• It sets a precedent for other coastal states in India to follow, thereby contributing to the larger
goal of marine conservation.

Team Behind the Force -

• Twelve marine watchers have been engaged in the Marine Elite Force from the local fishermen
community.
• They have been given extensive training related to marine patrolling, including scuba diving,
snorkelling.
• The Marine Watchers have been trained by specialised forces viz. Indian Coast Guard, Navy,
and Marine Police.

Impact of the Marine Elite Force -

• During the pilot operations, the force has detected 25 cases with the seizure of 4133 Kg of
illegal wildlife articles.
• It has been doing vigilant patrolling activities to strengthen the protection and sustainable
management of the marine area, build capacity, and collect and disseminate information.

Rhodamine B

Recently, Himachal Pradesh banned the production, sale and storage of cotton candy or candy
floss for one year, after tests revealed the presence of a potentially hazardous colouring agent
named Rhodamine B in samples.

About the Rhodamine B -

• It is a chemical commonly used for dyeing in the textile, paper, leather, and paints industry as a
colouring agent that helps in attaining the red and pink spectrum.
• In powdered form the chemical is green in colour and upon being added to water, it turns pink.
• It is being tested for use as a biomarker in oral rabies vaccines for wildlife, such as raccoons, to
identify animals that have eaten a vaccine bait.
• It is widely used as a food additive in the manufacturing, packaging, import, and sale of various
food items.
• Its low cost makes it a popular choice for food colouring.

Health Hazards of Rhodamine B -

• According to studies, even if consumed in small quantities, the chemical is highly toxic and
carcinogenic.
• If consumed regularly, Rhodamine-B can cause severe damage to the cerebellum tissue in the
brain and to the brainstem that connect the brain to the spinal cord.
• It can lead to functional abnormalities and can hinder human motor functioning.
• Several states in India, including Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, have banned the use of Rhodamine
B in food products.
• As per the Food Safety Standards Act, 2006, preparation, packaging, importing, selling and
serving food items with Rhodamine-B in wedding ceremonies and other public events is a
punishable offence.