Navy commissions MH-60R helicopter squadron at Kochi.
About MH-60R helicopter
The Indian Navy commissioned the first squadron of the newly inducted MH-60R Seahawk multi-role helicopter at INS Garuda.
This chopper is a maritime variant of the Blackhawk helicopter, designed for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, and medical evacuation, among other operations.
The MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, or the 'Romeo', as an anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare platform.
For the uninitiated, this means it can take out both enemy submarines and surface ships.
It can operate from both shore-based facilities and ships.
The MH-60R's advanced digital sensors include a multi-mode radar, electronic support measures system, electro-optical or infrared camera, datalinks, aircraft survivability systems, dipping sonar, and sonobuoys.
The Romeo's fully-integrated mission system processes the data collected by its sensors to build a complete situational picture of both the ocean's surface and subsea domain.
And with the actionable knowledge that this provides, the MH-60R can track, target, and destroy ships or submarines.
The Seahawks are also designed for search and rescue, medical evacuation, command and control, and vertical replenishment missions.
The MH-60R's weapons include torpedoes, air-to-ground missiles, rockets, and crew-served guns.
The Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and the Mark 54 anti-submarine torpedoes are some of the specific weapons these helicopters are equipped with.
Sabari K Rice
Why in news?
Kerala recently introduced 'Sabari K Rice'.
About Sabari K Rice
K-Rice is being launched with an intention to provide good quality rice at affordable rates to the public through Supplyco outlets.
Sales of 'Sabari K-Rice' priced at Rs. 29 and Rs. 30 per kilogram is scheduled to begin from March 12.
The Sabari K-Rice will be sold in gunny bags with the K-Rice logo as part of a branding exercise.
Jim Corbett National Park Fell Prey to Greedy Naxus: Supreme Court
Why in news?
The Supreme Court has directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to establish a specialized committee to study and recommend whether tiger safaris should be permitted in tiger reserve buffer or fringe areas.
More detail about news
The Supreme Court condemned the illegal felling of over 6,000 trees to construct buildings, ostensibly for “eco-tourism” at the Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand, as a “classic case” of nexus between politicians and officials working to ransack the environment for short-term commercial ends.
Three-judge Bench headed by Justice B.R. Gavai observed, the present case depicts a sorry state of affairs of human greed devastating one of the most celebrated abodes of tigers i.e. the Corbett Tiger Reserve.
About Committee
The court said the proposed specialised committee of the Ministry would comprise representatives of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Wildlife Institute of India, Central Empowered Committee and a Joint Secretary from the Ministry.
Panel to access damage
The panel would assess the extent of damage done to the Corbett reserve’s green cover, quantify the cost of restoration and identify the “delinquent” persons and officials responsible for the damage.
The court said the cost for restoration would be recovered from these errant individuals and officials. The money would be used exclusively for forest restoration.
The committee has to file its report in three months.
Guidelines for safaris
The Bench said in case the committee’s recommendations were in favour of having tiger safaris in peripheral areas of tiger reserves, it should recommend guidelines for their operation.
The guidelines would be applied on a pan-India basis.
The approach to tiger safaris must be eco-centric and not human centric.
The court disagreed with the 2019 NTCA guidelines of bringing tigers exhibited in zoos for these safaris.
Court directed - The approach must be of eco-centrism and not of anthropocentrism. The precautionary principle must be applied to ensure that the least amount of environmental damage is caused.
The animals sourced shall not be from outside the tiger reserve.
The court objected to provisions in the 2019 guidelines which said the selection of animals to be put in the safaris would be done with the approval of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA).
The court dismissed the idea of the CZA formulating in the future a “Master Plan” for the management of tiger safaris.
Further, the judgment stressed that tiger safaris should be established keeping in mind the precautionary principle of causing least damage to the environment. Resorts, if any, should be built in tune with the natural environment.
Noise levels should be restricted.
Safaris should be proximate to animal rescue centres.
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