GOA

There is so littleironin the ocean that even a bit of rust from an iron-made ship significantly throws measurements off. To avoid any such contaminations,scientistsfrom the National Institute of (NIO) studied samples of seawater from theArabian Seaand found that a large part of it in the south and northwest are iron-deficient, leading to lower productivity.

To remedy the situation, they have suggested seeding the waters of the Arabian Sea with an ample amount of iron toenhanceits biological pump, thereby increasing its capacity to sequester atmospheric CO2, which will help diminish the atmospheric CO2levelsintroduced into the Biosphere. ThisGeo-Engineering, they said, would also enhance biological productivity, leading to an increase in fish production.

As a part of the Geotraces-India initiative, a major oceanographic programme supported by the Union ministry of earth sciences, dissolved iron-cycling in the Arabian Sea and subtropical gyre region of the Indian Ocean have been studied.

TheGoa Universityhas signed a MoU with Bangladeshs Bangabandhu SheikhMujibur Rahman Maritime University(BSMRMU) for cooperation in the maritime fields. Goa University has become the first varsity in the country to forge ties with the university.

The MoU was signed between GU and BSMRMU for cooperation in the maritime fields, extending support for Education, research, training, student and faculty exchange and joint research in areas of mutual interest. The study involves both fundamental and applied research leading to conceptualisation of various sensors and equipment for a sustainable usage of blue water.

Budding entrepreneurs and innovators in Goa looking to convert technology-based ideas into successful startups could soon get aboostwith Silicon Valley-based Founder Institute (FI) launching its startup accelerator programme in Goa. In a sign that Goas nascent startup sector is gaining global attention, FI has announced that it aims to incubate projects in the ideation stage and build 20 technology companies per year in the state.

With a presence in 200 cities, FI is one of the worlds major pre-seed accelerators and focuses on mentoring and guiding startups through the early stage funding process. In Goa, FIs virtual accelerator programme will be steered by advisor for Lloyds Ventures, Chintan Oza, co-founder and chief executive officer of Brunchbites, Pritam Onsker, Brunchbites co-founder and image consultant Priyanka Row.

The GoaEnergyDevelopment Agency (GEDA) invited expression of interest from bidders to set up a minimum 500kW and maximum 2mW capacity grid connected ground mounted solar PV power Plants on barren or uncultivable lands.

A plant should be within a 10km radius of the 33kV/11kV Network of the electricity department (EDG) to facilitate easy supply of solar power.

The state wants to set up solar power plants under Component-A of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha (PM-KUSUM).

The ministry of new and (MNRE), government of India, has issued guidelines for setting up decentralised ground mounted grid connected renewable power plants under Component-A of PM-KUSUM scheme and further allocated 50mW to the GEDA under this component for pilot implementation.

Individual farmers, group of farmers, Cooperative Societies, panchayats, farmer producer organisations (FPO), water user associations (WUA) all of whom can be collectively referred as landowners hereinafter, can collaborate with EPC contractors or system integrators or developers to set up 500kW to 2 mW capacity grid connected ground mounted solar PV power plants on barren / uncultivable lands located within 10km radius of the substations notified by the GEDA.

A cause of concern for environmentalists is that while the National Centre for SustainableCoastalManagement (NCSCM) has used toposheets to prepare the draft CoastalZoneManagementPlan(CZMP), the agency has carried out no independent study to determine the states coastal geomorphology.

Environmentalists are of the view that this renders the draft plan inadequate as dressing or altering sand dunes, hills, natural features, including landscape changes for beautification, recreation and other such purposes, is among the prohibited activities within the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) as per the CRZ notification 2011.

Hilly areas and natural features are prohibited from being altered as per the CRZ notification 2011. These have to be identified and marked by using topographic sheets.

Chief ministerPramod Sawant said that the governments ambitious project Atmanirbhar Bharat -SwayampurnaGoa, aimed at making the state self-sufficient, would restart from July 1.

The project was suspended in May due to a sharp increase in Covid cases.

Sawant said that 191 swayampurna mitrs in village panchayats and 14 swayampurna mitrs in municipalities have started their work to make Goa swayampurna.

Sawant said that if the swayampurna mitr is active, they can do a lot of things for the people in their panchayat. He also said that grassroot-level politicians should keep politics aside and work for the people in their panchayats.

Under Swayampurna Goa, Panchayats And Municipalities were supposed to get funds under the15th Finance Commissionand under the funds allocated for the 60th celebration of Goas Liberation. The state, through the scheme, wanted to ensure 100% coverage of water and electricity connections to the people.

The government has roped in theagriculturedepartment to increase the vegetable and Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture production so that the state does not have to depend on other states.
Sawant had announced the Swayampurna Goa programme last year in October.

The Goa government reconstituted theGoa State Board for Wildlife.

The reconstituted Goa State Board of Wildlife is chaired by the chief minister,Pramod Sawant. The 31-member board includes representatives of varying departments from the state and central governments in addition to stakeholders and representatives of Environment organizations.

The board also comprises of prominent scientists from the Goa University and the NCPOR, Goa as members.

This year, theGoa State Board(GSBB) has decided that it will take suo motu cognizance of exemplary and pioneering work carried out in Biodiversity conservation in Goa and confer Awards for the works. The awards are presented every year by the board by calling nominations. But this year, the board has decided that it will take note of any outstanding contribution at its level itself.

The Biodiversity Conservation Awards recognise efforts by individuals and biodiversity management committees formed at the village level by the GSBB. The awards are conferred for work carried out in the areas of biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability across Goa.

Four products that are unique to Goa bebinca,malcorada mango, seven ridge okra and Agasaim brinjal have been published in the journal of the Geographical Indication (GI) Registry, which is the final stage in the process of obtaining a GI status for these items.

The products will officially have GI status in less than 3 months, following publication.

A GI label indicates a products specific geographical origin and the qualities that stem from that provenance.
The department of Science and Technology is the nodal agency to undertake GI registrations for products unique to Goa. These are agricultural produce, handicrafts, food items and handloom articles. The department has designated the Goa State Council for Science and Technology as the facilitator for the work.

The Goa Restriction on Transfer ofAgricultural Land Bill, 2023, introduced in the assembly, has provisions for industries, societies, andnon-agriculturistswho intend to buy agricultural land to pursue farming.

Farmerscannot sell agricultural land to non-agriculturists unless the collector concerned grants permission. The permission may be granted in special circumstances, such as when an industrial or a commercial undertaking needs land for Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture in connection with its operations.