Daily News Notes: 2nd March, 2012

• ·         Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports informed that MPs across the country could use their Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds for augmenting and creating adequate sports infrastructure in their constituencies under the PYKKA and USIS schemes of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. For addressing the problem of lack of adequate sports facilities in the country, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has introduced the Scheme of Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) in 2008-09 for creation and development of basic sports facilities in all village and block panchayats of the country in a phased manner and the Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS) in 2010-11 for creation/development of sports infrastructure in urban areas. Both the schemes have been received well.
• ·         A Group of Ministers (headed by Finance Minister) has decided to shift the proposed site of NTPC's 1980-MW North Karanpura power plant in Jharkhand to low coal-bearing areas in the vicinity. The move is expected to save six billion tonnes of coal reserves. On mining in Mahan and Chhatrasal coal blocks in Madhya Pradesh, the panel has asked the Ministry of Environment and Forests to constitute an expert committee to assess the environmental impact on the Rihand dam.
• ·         Imports of sensitive items, including fruits and vegetables and edible oils, went up by 44.7 per cent in April-December, 2011. Items such as foodgrains, automobiles, milk and beverages fall in the sensitive category and the import of these goods is monitored by the government to see if there is any adverse impact on the domestic industry. Imports of edible oils rose by 67.6 per cent. India is the world's largest importer of edible oil and one of the largest consumers. During the first nine months of the current fiscal, imports of items such as alcoholic beverages and spices also increased by 55 per cent and 70.3 per cent, respectively. Imports of products of small-scale industries such as umbrellas, locks, toys and glassware went up by 44 per cent. Automobile imports jumped by 71 per cent year-on-year. However, imports of foodgrains and milk and its products contracted by 93.6 per cent and 3.7 per cent, respectively.
• ·         Despite directives from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) “not to entertain” the proposal for a dolphin park in Sindhudurg district, the Maharashtra government is still strongly defending the Rs.510-crore project. Opposition to the project — meant to promote the State's coastline and to be constructed on the lines of Orlando's Seaworld in the United States — has been coming from animal activists and environmentalists alike. Writing on behalf of the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), animal activists said “dolphins do not cope well in cramped, artificial environments and keeping them in captivity is morally and ethically indefensible. Even the largest aquarium in the world cannot begin to compare to the vast, complex ocean habitat where dolphins are meant to be. In tanks, their social and familial relationships are left in tatters and their ability to communicate is severely compromised. Dolphins in aquariums — even those born in captivity — quickly become depressed, stressed and volatile.” The MoEF also quoted the Central Zoo Authority as saying, “The objective of the said water park does not conform to the objective of its operation, i.e., conservation of wildlife, as the State government had proposed to undertake the project in the public-private partnership (PPP) model, which is meant for commercial purpose, and not permitted under Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. However, the State govt. revealed. “There are dolphins in the region, so [we] will not bring them out of their natural habitat. We have not yet decided if they will be kept in tanks or aquariums. But we will take care of the animals. This will be a huge boost to the tourism of Maharashtra.”
• ·         India and China have decided to open a new chapter in bilateral cooperation by agreeing to undertake joint operations against pirates and sharing technological knowhow on seabed research. The first proposal seeks to involve the Coast Guards, the navies and air forces in action against pirates. The modalities will be worked out by a joint group that will include the two Foreign Offices, besides the Ministries of Defence, Shipping and Oceanography. Chinese Foreign Minister’s second proposal — sharing technological knowhow on seabed research falling outside the domain of coastal countries — is aimed at dousing India's apprehensions after Beijing was permitted by the International Seabed Authority to explore in south-west Indian Ocean.
• ·         Polling has begun in Iran for 290 member parliament. The contest is out in the open between the two conservative factions, one which supports President Ahmadinejad, and the other which opposes him. The results this time would be faster since the entire system has been computerized.
• ·         The Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he does not know if the Syrian President Bashar-al-Assad can survive the turmoil in his country.  He said reforms in Syria were long awaited and should be carried out.  He added that Russia and Syria do not have a special relationship. Some experts regard the remarks as a policy shift. On Thursday, Russia backed a non-binding statement by the UN Security Council demanding immediate humanitarian access to Syria.
• ·         A deadly string of tornadoes cut a swath of destruction across the U.S. midwest, killing at least nine people and threatening scores more as a massive storm pushed eastward. Homes were smashed to bits, cars were tossed into lakes, huge trees were torn from ground and shops were reduced to rubble in towns.
• ·         For the first time, Pritzker Architecture Prize, considered as the Nobel prize in architecture, has been awarded to Wang Shu (48) a Chinese, for “producing an architecture that is timeless, deeply rooted in its context and yet universal.” Architecture should adapt constantly to the environment and conditions of construction and it has to be spontaneous and closer to life, thinks Wang. He often recycles materials obtained from demolished buildings and collaborates with construction workers. Mr. Wang is critical of large-scale demolition of urban areas and concretisation of rural areas in the country. To him, history must not be demolished in order to develop.