Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF)

Why in news?

The administrative control of Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) has been transferred to the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Finance Ministry. So far, it was under the domain of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Background

• Over the last one and a half decade, the Central Road Fund (CRF) was a major revenue for the government to finance ambitious road projects.
• The CRF launched in 2000 is basically a cess imposed along with excise duty on petrol and diesel.
• The cess revenue was accrued to the CRF which was uniquely created and out of this major road projects were financed ever since its launch.
• The budget 2018 has amended the Central Road Fund Act, 2000, and has renamed the Central Road Fund as Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF).
• Main purpose of the amendment is to use the proceeds of the road cess under CRIF to finance other infrastructure projects including waterways, some portion of the railway infrastructure and even social infrastructure including education institutions, medical colleges etc.
• The amendment prescribes that road cess is first credited to the Consolidated Fund of India and later, after adjusting for the cost of tax collection, should go to the CRIF.

International Tiger Day

Why in news?

Global Tiger Day, often called International Tiger Day, is an annual celebration to raise awareness for tiger conservation, held annually on 29 July.It was created in 2010 at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit.

The goal of the day is to promote a global system for protecting the natural habitats of tigers and to raise public awareness and support for tiger conservation issues.

Concerns and challenges

• India has one of the lowest per capita forest areas in the world. Forests as carbon sinks are deemed to be a major mean of controlling climate change. Depletion of forests is responsible for reduction of tiger habitats.
• As forestlands fall to development projects, habitable land for animals that make for the tiger’s food base are also reduced.
• Another issue that has hindered tiger conservation in India and globally is poaching, which will persist as long as there is an illegal market for tiger body parts.
• Rising sea level as a result of climate change is on the verge of wiping out Sundarbans, one of the last remaining habitats of the Bengal tigers.

Conservation efforts

• The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has launched the M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers – Intensive Protection and Ecological Status), a mobile monitoring system for forest guards.
• The Project Tiger, launched way back in 1973, has grown to more than 50 reserves amounting to almost 2.2% of the country’s geographical area.
• The Global Tiger Initiative (GTI) program of the World Bank, using its presence and convening ability, brought global partners together to strengthen the tiger agenda.
• Over the years, the initiative has institutionalised itself as a separate entity in the form of the Global Tiger Initiative Council (GTIC), with its two arms – the Global Tiger Forum and the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection Program.

India’s first Mobile Open Exchange

Why in news?

Country’s first Mobile Open Exchange (MOX) zone will be opened in Noida.

• UP government had signed MoU with World Trade Centre, Noida at UP Investors Summit to develop Tech Zone which will act as catalyst for growth of mobile and allied sectors in the state.
• MOX will be a dedicated ecosystem for mobile industry, providing an integrated platform to mobile manufacturers, research and development and allied industries.
• It brings infrastructure service providers, handset manufacturers, mobile content, application and service providers, retailers and distributors at one place which promotes indigenous R&D in hardware and start-ups in app development and other domains of the industry.

Idukki dam

Why in news?

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), which manages one of Asia’s tallest arch dams, has issued an ‘orange alert’ after the water level in the Idukki dam breached the 2,395-ft mark.

• The KSEB issued the ‘orange alert’ .The full reservoir level (FRL) of the Idukki dam is 2,403 ft.
• ‘Red alert’ will be issued if the water level inches closer to 2,400 ft. After a specific time-frame to allow people to evacuate, the shutters of the Cheruthoni dam would be opened and excess water drained from the Idukki reservoir.

About Idukki Dam

The Idukki Dam is a double curvature arch dam constructed across the Periyar River in a narrow gorge between two granite hills locally known as Kuravan and Kurathi in Kerala, India.

Warning system

If the dam rupture is very likely (orange alert level) or imminent (red level), give “external alert” signal and the entity exploring the dam must warn population downstream of the dam. In orange level, the warning indicates people to be ready for evacuation and in red alert to evacuate quickly.