Current Affaairs: 05 SEPTEMBER 2023

Why in news?

Frequent landslides in Himalayan Staes in now more common phenomenon.

Today in news?

· The Centre has proposed forming a 13-member technical committee to evaluate the “carrying capacity” of 13 Himalayan States.

· Frequent landslips leading to deaths and destruction had led the Supreme Court to moot a re-evaluation of the load-carrying capacity of hill towns and cities.

Cause and impact of landslides:

· The Court was considering the plight of the people facing serious threat to their lives, livelihood and properties due to frequent incidents of land subsistence, landslides and disasters happening mainly because of unplanned growth, overcrowding and ambitious heavy construction activities in violation of ecological norms and recommendations of expert geologists and environmental scientists

A case study in past: JOSHIMATH LAND SUBSIDENCE

· Joshimath in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand is the gateway to famous pilgrimage sites like Badrinath Dham, Tung Nath and Hemkund Sahib besides Chopta, Valley of Flowers

· The ancient township of Joshimath – inhabited on the dip slopes of Alaknanda River at the confluence of Dhauliganga river (at an altitude of over 6,107 feet) had last year suddenly redeveloped cracks in the households, streets and retaining walls affecting around 40 percent of the area.

· These slopes were subsequently inhabited in the historical period as they provided required soil cover for agriculture, vegetation for fuel and fodder.

· Joshimath has been declared a landslide-subsidence zone and over 60 families living in uninhabitable houses in the sinking town have been evacuated to temporary relief centers

· Joshimath are “sinking” owing to man-made and natural factors.

Why in news?

·

· The Indian Air Force kickstarted its annual mega training exercise Trishul

The exercise is aimed at testing the command’s operational preparedness and given it scale and complexity, a high-level of coordination and preparedness involved

Why in news?

CJI asks petitioners if Article 370 is above Basic Structure, amending powers of Parliament

Background:

Supreme Court hearing on Article 370 abrogation

Today in news:

· CJI said petitioners were placing Article 370 on a pedestal loftier than the Basic Structure Doctrine of the Constitution and even beyond the reach of the amending powers of Parliament.

· The Chief Justice, heading a Constitution Bench hearing the challenge to the repeal of Article 370, was responding, for the petitioner side, that Article 370 (1) had assumed a permanent character as soon as the Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly was dissolved in 1957 after the framing of the State Constitution.

· Mr. Sibal said Article 368 (Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution) did not apply to Article 370 as the special procedure for repealing or modifying the Article was only available under clause (3) of Article 370 and none other.

· It is a sui generis (unique) power given only in this Article to the highest constitutional authority… It is neither a constituent or legislative or executive power, but has the flavour of all three