Sundarbans

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Why in News?

Recently, a study by top environmental scientists warned that air pollution poses a serious threat to the Sundarbans, a crucial mangrove forest in West Bengal.

What is Sundarbans?

- About Sundarbans:

• Largest mangrove forests globally, located at the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna River delta.
• Mangroves are where land meets the sea in tropical areas.

 

- Flora and Fauna:

• Various habitats, from swamps to mangroves to saline forests.
• Home to rare and endangered species like crocodiles, dolphins, and turtles.

- Protection:

• 40% of Sundarbans in India, the rest in Bangladesh.
• UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987 (India) and 1997 (Bangladesh).
• Sundarban Wetland, India, declared 'Wetland of International Importance' in January 2019.
• Project Tiger helps control prey populations, maintaining the ecosystem's balance.
• Protecting tigers ensures a healthy habitat for other species.
• India and Bangladesh signed an MoU in 2011 to conserve the Sundarbans.

 

What are the Challenges Faced by the Sundarbans?

- Rising Sea Levels:

• Consequence of climate change.
• Threaten low-lying mangroves by flooding them with saltwater.
• Makes mangroves more vulnerable to cyclone storm surges.

- Increased Cyclone Intensity:

• Climate change leads to more frequent and intense storms.
• Cyclones damage mangroves physically and disrupt sediment patterns.

- Conversion for Agriculture:

• Mangrove forests converted to farms for crops like palm oil or rice.
• Destroys habitat and fragments existing ecosystems, affecting biodiversity.

- Loss of Ecosystem Services:

• Mangroves provide important services like shoreline protection and fish nursery grounds.
• Deforestation disrupts these services, impacting coastal communities and fisheries.

- Threat to Wildlife:

• Loss of mangroves leads to endangered species losing habitats.
• Settlement mangroves, once safe for diverse species, are disappearing due to pollution and breeding activities.

- Effect of Pollutants:

• Urban and industrial pollutants worsen air quality in the Sundarbans.
• Pollutants impact the ecosystem's ecology and biogeochemistry.

Way Forward

- Protecting Streambanks:

• Cultivate native grass species like wild rice, biscuit grass, and salt couch grass to stabilize streambanks and prevent erosion.
• Avoid introducing non-local species like vetiver, which can't handle salt.

- Promoting Sustainable Agriculture:

• Support soil-tolerant paddy varieties and organic farming practices to boost productivity and farmer income while reducing environmental harm.
• Implement rainwater harvesting and watershed development for better agricultural production.

- Wastewater Treatment:

• Use natural processes and microorganisms like lactic acid bacteria and photosynthetic bacteria for wastewater treatment to improve water quality and ecosystem health.

- India-Bangladesh Collaboration:

• Transform the India-Bangladesh Joint Working Group (JWG) into a board of interdisciplinary experts to plan and execute climate resilience strategies for the Sundarbans and its communities.

- Innovative Solutions:

• Promote solar energy, electric transportation, and subsidized LPG.
• Regulate tourism, close pollutant factories, regulate brick kilns, and manage land use.
• Strengthen coastal regulations for better protection.

- Multi-Sectoral Approach:

Engage multiple ministries including tourism, disaster management, agriculture, fisheries, and rural development for a comprehensive plan addressing various aspects of the Sundarbans' sustainability.

Global Report on Neglected Tropical Diseases 2024

Why in News?

Before the 77th session of the World Health Assembly, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued its 2024 Global report on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

This report details the advancements made in 2023 in implementing the Roadmap for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030.

What are the Key highlights of the WHO Report?

Global Status for 2023:

• By December 2023, 50 countries eliminated at least one NTD, halfway to the 2030 goal of 100 countries.
• 5 countries were recognized for eliminating one NTD, and 1 for eliminating two.
• In July 2023, Iraq became the 50th country to eliminate at least one NTD.
• Noma was added to the NTD list in 2023.
• Bangladesh was validated by WHO in October 2023 for eliminating visceral leishmaniasis.

Global Status for 2022:

• In 2022, 1.62 billion people needed NTD interventions, a 26% drop from 2010.
• About 848 million received treatment for at least one NTD in 2022.
• Reported deaths from vector borne NTDs increased by 22% compared to 2016.

India:

• India was declared free of NTDs like dracunculiasis and yaws.
• Treatment for lymphatic filariasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis in India decreased by 117 million people in 2022.
• 40.56% of India's population needed NTD interventions in 2022.

Key Challenges:

• Slow post-Covid recovery.
• Uncertainties in funding.
• Geopolitical disruptions.
• Climate change impacts.
• Knowledge and tool gaps.
• Insufficient data for addressing NTDs.

What are the Key Facts About Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)?

About Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs):

• NTDs are a group of diverse conditions caused by various pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and toxins. They have severe health, social, and economic impacts.
• These diseases are predominantly found in impoverished communities in tropical regions, although some have a wider geographic spread.

Factors Contributing to NTDs Being "Neglected:

• The epidemiology of NTDs is complex and often linked to environmental factors.
• Epidemiology involves studying the determinants, occurrence, and distribution of health and disease in a specific population.
• Many NTDs are transmitted by vectors (like mosquitoes or flies), have animal hosts, and involve complex life cycles.
• Compared to diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, NTDs receive much less funding for research and development of treatments.

What are the Global and Indian Initiatives to tackle NTDs?

Global Initiatives:

• WHO's 2021-2030 Roadmap: Focuses on impactful actions rather than just treatment, promoting collaboration across healthcare, sanitation, and community sectors. Encourages countries to manage their own NTD programs.
• 2012 London Declaration: An international agreement addressing the global burden of NTDs and advocating for a unified approach to eliminate them.

Indian Initiatives:

• Elimination Programs: India has eradicated guinea worm, trachoma, and yaws. The Accelerated Plan for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (APELF) aims to eliminate this disease by 2027.
• WHO Collaborations: India works with WHO in regional partnerships, such as a 2005 initiative with Bangladesh and Nepal for early diagnosis and treatment of Kala-azar.
• Mass Drug Administration (MDA): Regular distribution of free anti-parasitic medications in high-risk areas to prevent NTD transmission.
• Vector Control: Programs like Indoor Residual Spraying target insect breeding grounds to curb the spread of NTDs like Kala-azar.
• Financial Assistance: Wage compensation schemes support individuals affected by NTDs, particularly those with Post-Kala Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis, to manage their financial burden.

Conclusion

The 2024 WHO report shows progress in fighting neglected tropical diseases. Several countries eliminated some of these diseases in 2023, but more work is needed to reach global goals. Challenges like funding shortages and the effects of COVID-19 slow progress. Greater cooperation within countries and worldwide is needed to eliminate these diseases.

Land Acquisition Valid Only if it Passes Constitutional Test

Why in News?

In an important decision to protect landowners, the Supreme Court of India ruled that the government must follow Article 300A when taking land. The Court cancelled the Kolkata Municipal Corporation's plan to take private land for a public park because it was not legally allowed.

The Right to Property in India:

Before the 44th Constitutional Amendment in 1978:

• The Indian Constitution's Part III (Fundamental Rights) included Article 19(1)(f) and Article 31.
• Article 19(1)(f) gave Indian citizens the right to buy, own, and sell property.
• Article 31 protected people from being deprived of their property, making this right absolute.

 

These provisions conflicted with the state's ability to acquire property for public use, as the right to property was a fundamental right.

The 44th Amendment to the Indian Constitution:

• Abolished Article 19(1)(f) and Article 31.
• Introduced a modified version of Article 31 as Article 300-A.
• Changed the right to property from a fundamental right to a legal/constitutional right.

Article 300-A states:

• No person shall be deprived of his property except by authority of law," allowing the government to take property for the public good.

How the courts interpreted Article 300-A:

• The Madhya Pradesh High Court (2022) stated that property acquisition laws must be legitimate and for public benefit.
• In Vidya Devi v. State of Himachal Pradesh (2022), the Supreme Court ruled that even in a welfare state, the government must follow legal procedures to seize property.
• In Vimlaben Ajitbhai Patel vs. Vatslaben Ashokbhai Patel, the Supreme Court affirmed that while the right to property is no longer fundamental, it remains a human right.

What were the Observations Made by the SC in the Recent Case?

Nature of the right to property:

Under the current constitutional framework, the right to property in India is protected as a constitutional right and is also recognized as a human right.

Seven basic rights under Article 300A:

• The court has identified seven essential procedural rights for landowners and corresponding duties for the state to ensure any property acquisition is valid. These are:

1. Right to notice: The state must inform the property owner about its intention to acquire the property.

2. Right to be heard: The state must allow the property owner to raise objections.

3. Right to a reasoned decision: The state must inform the property owner of its decision regarding the acquisition and provide reasons.

4. Acquisition only for public purpose: The state must demonstrate that the acquisition is for a public cause.

5. Right to fair compensation: The state must provide fair compensation and ensure restitution and rehabilitation.

6. Right to an efficient conduct: The state must conduct the acquisition process efficiently and within prescribed timelines.

7. Right of conclusion: The state must bring the acquisition proceedings to a final conclusion.

Procedural justice - A key mandate of Article 300A:

Adhering to procedural safeguards is crucial for protecting the right to property. These safeguards ensure:

• Fairness,
• Transparency,
• Natural justice, and
• Non-arbitrary exercise of power in the acquisition process.