Prelims: Indian Geography, Ken River, Crocodiles, Ken-Betwa River Link Project
Mains: General Studies-I, Important Geophysical Phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
Why in the News ?
The Prime Minister in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ recently cited crocodiles in Ken River to hail how technology is being used extensively for the conservation of wildlife in different parts of the country.
Source: TOI
📌 FYI on Prelims
Bundelkhand region
- Bundelkhand is a geographical and cultural region, divided between the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
- Jhansi is the largest city of Bundelkhand and Sagar is the second-largest city, the area of Bundelkhand is 59000 sq km, spread over 7 districts of Uttar Pradesh namely Chitrakoot, Banda, Jhansi, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Mahoba, and Lalitpur, and 6 districts Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Damoh, Sagar, Datia and Panna of Madhya Pradesh.
About:
Ken River
- It is one of the major rivers of the Bundelkhand region of central India.
- It flows through two states, namely Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
- It is a tributary of the Yamuna River. The river is the last tributary of the Yamuna before the Yamuna joins the Ganga.
- Course:
- The river originates near the village of Ahirgawan on the north-west slopes of the Kaimur Range in the district of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
- Crossing the Bijawar-Panna hills, the river cuts a 60 km long, and 150- 180 m deep gorge. It is joined by several streams in this gorge, making waterfalls.
- It travels a distance of 427 km and then merges with the Yamuna at Chilla village, near Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh.
- It is known for its rare Sajhar or Dendritic Agate stone.
- Banda city is located on the banks of Ken River.
- Tributaries: The major tributaries of the Ken River are Bawas, Dewar, Kaith, Baink, Kopra, and Bearma.
Ken-Betwa River Link Project
- It aims to transfer surplus water from the Ken River to the Betwa River basin through concrete canal to irrigate India’s worst drought-prone Bundelkhand region.
- It is the first project under the National Perspective Plan for the interlinking of rivers.
- It aims to provide irrigation to the Bundelkhand region, which is one of the worst drought-affected areas in India.
- The project will benefit Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in terms of meeting the irrigation, drinking water, and electricity needs of people across six districts in the two states.
Mugger or Marsh Crocodile:
- Description: An egg-laying and hole-nesting species, also known to be dangerous.
- Habitat:
- Mainly restricted to the Indian subcontinent where it may be found in a number of freshwater habitat types and also in coastal saltwater lagoons and estuaries.
- It is already extinct in Bhutan and Myanmar.
- Threats: Habitat destruction, fragmentation, and transformation, fishing activities and use of crocodile parts for medicinal purposes.
- Protection Status:
- Wildlife Protection Act Schedule 1
- IUCN – Vulnerable
- CITES – Appendix 1
UPSC CSE EXAMS Corner
Prelims: PYQ/FAQ
Q. Consider the following pairs: (2010)
Protected area | Well-known for | |
1. | Bhiterkanika, Orissa | Salt Water Crocodile |
2. | Desert National Park, Rajasthan | Great Indian Bustard |
3. | Eravikulam, Kerala | Hoolak Gibbon |
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: b. 1 and 2 only
Explaination:
- Bhitarkanika National Park is the core area of the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary located in the Kendrapara district in the state of Odisha. It was designated as national park in 1998 and as a Ramsar site by the state of Odisha in 2002. The national park is home to saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), Indian python, king cobra, black ibis, darters and many other species of flora and fauna. It hosts a large number of mangrove species. The national park and wildlife sanctuary are inundated by the rivers Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra, Pathsala. Hence, pair 1 is correctly matched.
- Desert National Park is located in the Thar Desert and is situated near Jaisalmer. The major wildlife found in the park are chinkara, desert fox, blackbuck, Bengal fox, spiny-tail lizard, sandfish, desert monitors, chameleons, etc. The main attraction of the national park is the Great Indian Bustard which is a critically endangered bird species. Hence, pair 2 is correctly matched.
- Eravikulam National Park, located in Kerala, holds the largest viable population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr and is a famous habitat of Neelakurinji, which blooms once in 12 years. Apart from Tahr, the park is an abode of other little known fauna such as nilgiri marten (endemic), ruddy mongoose, small clawed otter, dusky striped squirrel etc.
- Hoolock Gibbons are found in several states of North- East including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland. They are also spotted in the Kaziranga National Park, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary and Namdhapha National Park. Hence, pair 3 is not correctly matched.
