‘Buldhana Pattern’ for Water Conservation

NITI Aayog has prepared draft guidelines for convergence of the activities of (i) sourcing earth for improvement/construction of national highways, state roads and railways and (ii) water conservation works through desiltation/ deepening of water bodies. This two-fold activity has already been successfully implemented as a pilot project in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra state.

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India has also issued a letter to all States/UTs and project/construction agencies in 2017 conveying that contractors/construction agencies responsible for construction of National Highways should excavate the earth as per their project requirements from such identified water bodies/areas at no cost to the village panchayats/ rural development departments/water conservation departments and transport the same to their project sites. Similarly, the panchayats/water conservation departments of the states should not charge any amount from the agencies for the earth so excavated. Through this arrangement,  gram panchayats/farmers will gain by having a pond/water body dug in their land at no cost which will help in restoration of such water bodies while the construction agency would get the material for embankments for its road building and road expansion projects free of cost.

 The National Perspective Plan (NPP) was prepared by the then Ministry of Irrigation (now Ministry of Jal Shakti) in August 1980 for water resources development through inter basin transfer of water for transferring water from water surplus basins to water-deficit basins.  Under the NPP, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has identified 30 links (16 under Peninsular Component and 14 under Himalayan Component) for preparation of Feasibility Reports (FRs).   The Government has also taken up the inter-linking of rivers (ILR) program in a consultative manner for relief to the people suffering from floods and droughts. 

This Information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti & Social Justice and  Empowerment, Shri. Rattan Lal Kataria  Rajya  Sabha  today.

Water Sharing Disputes Between AP and Telangana

Sharing of Krishna river waters is being carried out as per working arrangement agreed between both the States of Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Telangana, out of the total 811 TMC allocated by Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal-I (KWDT-I), pending award of Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal-II (KWDT-II). However, with regard to sharing of Godavari river waters, there is no agreement between AP and Telangana.

In the second meeting of the Apex Council held on 06.10.2020 under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Minister (Jal Shakti) with Hon’ble Chief Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, following decisions in respect of resolving water sharing disputes between AP and Telangana were taken:

For considering the request of Telangana for a Tribunal under section-3 of Inter-State River Water Dispute (ISRWD) Act, 1956, Telangana has to withdraw the case it has filed in the Supreme Court on the subject. After receiving such assurance, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India will seek legal opinion on whether a new Tribunal has to be appointed or new Terms of Reference can be issued to the existing KWDT-II to hear the matter.

Both the States agreed for setting up of a Godavari Tribunal for adjudicating on the sharing of the waters of Godavari river between AP and Telangana. Hon’ble Union Minister (Jal Shakti) requested both the States to send their proposal for the same.

North Eastern Region throwing immense post-COVID opportunities for tourism sector in India: Dr Jitendra Singh

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh said today that there was an immediate need to avail of the post-COVID opportunities in tourism sector in India, particularly the North Eastern  Region, which can offer itself as an alternative to some of the European destinations that many regular holiday-makers may find less preferable in the immediate aftermath of high Corona prevalence over there.   

At a meeting with representatives of various Tourist and Transport bodies, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the opportunity is knocking at our door and it is now up to us as to how best we are prepared to avail of this opportunity. He said, if in this season we are able to ensure a boost in our tourist inflow, it will set a trend for the following years. 

Dr Jitendra Singh said, the North Eastern Region, despite some of its choicest destinations in Meghalaya, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, could not adequately avail of the opportunities because of lack of support from the Centre and low prioritization from successive governments. However, he said, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there has been revolutionary and fast track improvement in means of connectivity and transport, which should facilitate the ease of tourism. Citing an example, he said, there was a time where roads linking the two States remained unattended because none of the States would take the responsibility, but now under Central government’s North Eastern Road Development Scheme, this issue has also been addressed. Tourists landing at Guwahati airport today prefer to go to Shillong and other destinations in Meghalaya by road rather by Helicopter or by other means, simply to relish the joy of a picturesque journey, he added. 

Laying particular emphasis on three components of tourism, namely Holiday Makers, Medical Tourists and Film Makers, Dr Jitendra Singh referred to the decision to set up a Film Studio in Sikkim and the upcoming Film and Television Institute in Arunachal Pradesh. He said, in the last six years, Guwahati has developed as one of the best Super Specialty Healthcare destinations and this aspect needs to be propagated not only in the neighbouring States but also in the counties across Eastern border like Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal who would realise the option of easier treatment with cost-effective medical care.  

During the meeting, various representatives also offered some constructive suggestions to which the DoNER Minister said that they should prepare a proposal, which could be subjected to further perusal after the elections when the Model Code of Conduct ceases to exist. The issue of easy Visa facilities for patients coming from the Eastern countries across the Eastern borders and the airfare rates also came up during the discussion. It was decided to follow up all the issues raised and mutually coordinate to supplement the private sector with government support. 

 

Lightsource bp solar farm powers bp service stations with 100% renewable energy in Australia

Powering these bp sites using renewable energy is a demonstration of our strategy in action and is another step towards our ambition to be a net zero company by 2050 or sooner and to help the world to get to net zero. -Frédéric Baudry, president, bp Australia and SVP fuels & low carbon solutions, Asia Pacific

 Lightsource bp announced that through a PPA with Snowy Hydro, its West Wyalong solar farm will supply renewable energy to 88 of bp’s service stations across New South Wales, Australia. 

This milestone is the result of a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Snowy Hydro which owns, operates and maintains the Snowy Scheme and is the fourth largest energy retailer in the Australian National Electricity Market given the strong growth of its retailer Red Energy in New South Wales in recent years. 

The PPA will enable the construction of a 107MWdc solar farm in West Wyalong, New South Wales. Snowy Hydro will purchase two-thirds of the 238,000MWh generated annually from the solar farm through a 15-year PPA. Under this arrangement Snowy-Hydro will in turn supply 23,000MWh of renewable energy annually, through Red Energy, to bp for 10 years to meet the power requirements of all its service stations throughout the state of New South Wales. 

New South Wales residents can expect the 88 bp service stations to be powered by 100% renewables from January 2023. Lightsource bp has secured a contract with an EPC company and is now working to bring the project portfolio to financial close. 

Adam Pegg, country manager, Lightsource bp – Australia, said: “We are delighted to be able to leverage our existing relationship with Snowy Hydro on our solar farm in Wellington, to sign this PPA with our West Wyalong project. Being able to facilitate powering bp’s service stations in New South Wales with renewable electricity from our West Wyalong solar farm is an achievement which demonstrates our commitment to provide sustainable and affordable energy to our communities.” 

Frédéric Baudry, president, bp Australia and SVP fuels & low carbon solutions, Asia Pacific said: “Powering these bp sites using renewable energy is a demonstration of our strategy in action and is another step towards our ambition to be a net zero company by 2050 or sooner and to help the world to get to net zero. We are proud to be advancing solar in Australia in partnership with Lightsource bp.” 

Paul Broad, Snowy Hydro’s CEO said: “We are pleased to be able to keep facilitating the deployment of renewable energy into the grid and providing innovative solutions to help our customers meet their sustainability needs.”  

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Lightsource bp

Lightsource bp is a global leader in the development and management of solar energy projects, and a 50:50 joint venture with bp. Our purpose is to deliver affordable and sustainable solar power for businesses and communities around the world.

Our team includes over 500 industry specialists, working across 14 countries. We provide a full service to our customers, from initial site selection, financing and permitting through to long-term management of solar projects. For more information visit lightsourcebp.com

 

The Partnership for Biodiversity Accounting Financials (PBAF) welcomes Rabobank and fourteen other new financial institutions

Rabobank and fourteen other financial institutions have joined the Partnership for Biodiversity Accounting Financials (PBAF). By doing so, they are showing their commitment to actively pursuing a shared methodology for measuring and reporting the impact of their loans and investments on biodiversity. This allows financial institutions to calculate their biodiversity footprint and take targeted action to restore and protect biodiversity.

The Partnership for Biodiversity Accounting Financials was formed in 2019 by founding partners ASN Bank (part of de Volksbank), ACTIAM, FMO, Robeco, Triodos Bank and Triple Jump. Fifteen more financial institutions have now decided to join the partnership. These are ABN AMRO Bank, APG, Achmea Investment Management, a.s.r. vermogensbeheer, BNP Paribas, de Volksbank, Finance in Motion, FirstRand Group, NN Investment Partners, NWB Bank, Piraeus Financial Holdings, Rabobank, Rathbone Greenbank Investments, UFF African Agri Investments and Van Lanschot Kempen. Today, the partnership consists of 21 members and total participant assets under management are $ 6.4 Trillion.

Roel Nozeman, Senior Advisor Biodiversity at ASN Bank and chairman of the partnership, is excited about the new partners joining the platform.

“A growing number of banks and insurance companies realise that loss of biodiversity poses a major threat both to society and to the economy, and that we need action now. Through our loans and investments, we can limit the damage to ecosystems and contribute to the protection and restoration of nature. To do so, we have to adopt a common approach to measuring our impact and using data, as we did before in the climate debate. The Common Ground Report, which PBAF presented last year at a UN biodiversity convention, is an excellent first step. We will join hands with all new partners to continue developing that common approach in dialogue with initiatives such as the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and in line with EU legislation.”

2021: common metrics

The shared ambition of the PBAF partners is for financial institutions to measure their impact on biodiversity, for them to be transparent about their impact reporting and for them to set targets to improve their ecological footprint. The aim is to present a new report describing the partners’ common metrics in 2021. To achieve this, the partners will team up in a number of working groups to address relevant issues, such as:

  • Biodiversity impact of investments in the agricultural sector.
  • Biodiversity impact of and dependencies in equity investments.
  • Biodiversity impact of investments in forestry, agroforestry and ecological restoration.

Biodiversity loss

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on earth and to ecosystems, i.e. the systems that sustain this life, such as forests and oceans. As it stands, the planet’s biodiversity is rapidly declining across the globe. Studies show that 1 million plant and animal species are threatening to become extinct. The world is losing biodiversity at an unprecedented rate. Many commodities and economic sectors are dependent on the variety of plants, animals and insects in the world, either directly or indirectly. An estimated 50% of global economic value generation is dependent on nature.

 

Cargill promotes the role of Mexican women in agricultural

Through social responsibility programs, the company also demonstrates its commitment to achieving gender parity, not only within the company, but through its supply chains by empowering women in communities.Key partners, Heifer International and Educampo Chiapas, enhance the economic well-being of women by strengthening their capacity and presence in their rural communities and families.

Historically, women have had less access to agricultural assets, inputs, services, and employment opportunities in rural areas compared to men. In order to break a cycle that excludes 51% of the Mexican population, Cargill Mexico, together with Heifer International and Educampo Chiapas, work to strengthen female participation throughout the agribusiness value chain.

This support is done through the economic empowerment of women. The organizations offer women who participate in Hatching Hope and Educampo Chiapas the skills, tools, and resources needed to empower their production, business management and life. The stereotypes that usually slow down their development are challenged, and their voices are included in critical conversations, transforming the role of women for future generations.
In 2019, Cargill in partnership with Heifer International, launched Hatching Hope to improve the income, poultry production, and access to protein for women farmers and their communities.

By 2021, Hatching Hope Mexico plans to impact 6.56 million people through increasing awareness and education around the production, promotion, and consumption of poultry, with a focus on eggs. This goal is only possible thanks to the hard work of women smallholder farmers who are committed to helping their families, communities and businesses prosper.

“With the trainings I have managed to produce 150 eggs a week for my own consumption and sale, this improved my family income because now I help with the family’s spending,” said Luisa Martínez Cruz, beneficiary of the town of San Lorenzo Barreras, Oaxaca.

In May 2020, 178 families were trained in improved production techniques, 58 producers were receiving training on improved poultry production and productivity, and 32 have already been linked to a reliable market.

Another key partner in Mexico, Educampo Chiapas, promotes the development of small producers who have incomes below the minimum wage and who subsist in conditions of high marginalization. Through these programs the organizations #ChooseToChallenge the current economic and social roles of women that resulting in equity in society and at home.

Valencia Figueroa, Educampo Chiapas participant in Flores Magón, shared, “In the last year my production  and quality life have both improved. We sell a portion of our outputs and the other half is for our personal consumption. Now my husband focuses on the field and I manage the overall operations.”

From 2019 to 2020, 14 localities in seven municipalities of Chiapas have benefited, 194 producers increased their production by 150%, of which 6% are women.

Women have always been present in the field, with an active and leading relevance derived from their work that has served to connect and educate.

Alejandra Ruiz, leader of the Cargill women’s network in Mexico commented that “Cargill recognizes the critical role that women play in agribusiness. When women can increase their income, whole community thrives with them, therefore, it is relevant for the company to work hand in hand with strategic allies to promote inclusive financing, access to markets and improve its technical capabilities.”

About Cargill

Cargill’s 155,000 employees across 70 countries work relentlessly to achieve our purpose of nourishing the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way. Every day, we connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients, and people and animals with the food they need to thrive. We combine 155 years of experience with new technologies and insights to serve as a trusted partner for food, agriculture, financial and industrial customers in more than 125 countries. Side-by-side, we are building a stronger, sustainable future for agriculture.

About Cargill Mexico
Cargill Mexico aims to contribute to the improvement of agricultural productivity, satisfying and fulfilling the expectations of the national industry. In addition to adding value to human and animal nutrition, thus encouraging economic development, Cargill Mexico reinvests its profits in different new businesses within the country. Cargill maintains operations in Mexico through 8 business units, employs more than 1,750 people in 12 states of the country and has 25 facilities, including a corporate office in Mexico City. For more information, visit Cargill.com.mx

About Educampo
Mexican Foundation for Rural Development, A.C. is a non-welfare civil association that emerged more than five decades ago to promote productive projects and human development of Mexican rural producers, thus generating a decent, sustainable, and independent standard of living.

It encourages small producers to obtain higher yields in their production lines through access to technology, to better productive, commercial, and organizational practices. The Foundation is aimed at the low-income rural sector with potential for development, that is, peasants who have tools to work with, such as small areas for planting.

Its pioneers believed it possible to bring the sense of business to the field, considering that the lack of capital was the cause of low productivity in this sector. The operational team is made up of multidisciplinary professionals. The national office is located in Mexico City, extending its reach to four entities in Mexico: Campeche, Chiapas, Jalisco and Yucatán.

About Heifer International
Heifer International is an NGO that works to combat hunger and poverty and take care of the planet, promoting sustainable practices involving small producers in agricultural development.

Heifer International, focuses its work on strengthening the livelihoods of rural families, to alleviate hunger and poverty while taking care of the earth, achieving a sustainable life through the generation of a decent income and the development of their social capital and associative capacities. Since its founding in 1944, Heifer has provided assistance to 20.7 million families – more than 36.9 million people – in more than 21 countries, pushing them on the path to economic prosperity, out of poverty and hunger.

Heifer has been working in Mexico since 1977 supporting families to achieve better nutrition and higher incomes through projects that promote food self-sufficiency and participation in inclusive value chains, strengthening the local economy with a focus on market ties, care of the environment and seeking to restore the social fabric with a focus on women and the family.