Discuss about the White Hydrogen, Sagarmala Project and Central Bureau of Investigation
White Hydrogen
In northeastern France, two scientists uncovered a significant reserve of “white hydrogen,” marking one of the most substantial concentrations of this clean energy source ever identified.
What is White Hydrogen?
White hydrogen is a clean-burning energy source found naturally in the Earth’s crust. It is Natural hydrogen and is found as naturally occurring molecular hydrogen on or on Earth. The name white hydrogen distinguishes it from green hydrogen (produced from renewable energy sources from the electrolysis of water), and from grey, brown or black hydrogen (which is obtained from fossil sources)
Significance:
- White hydrogen is seen as a potentially abundant and untapped source of clean-burning energy.
- White hydrogen’s estimated cost is around $1 per kilogram, significantly lower than green hydrogen, which costs about $6 per kilogram, making it a more affordable clean energy source.
- White hydrogen deposits have been identified worldwide including in the US, eastern Europe, Russia, Australia, Oman, France, and Mali
Challenges associated with hydrogen energy:
- Lack of information: Scientists have pointed out the lacunae in data on hydrogen leaks and the potential harm they could cause.
This is a major challenge for the industry as it could affect adoption rates.
- Environmental damage: Leakage of hydrogen into the atmosphere can lead to a reduction in the concentration of atmospheric molecules that destroy the greenhouse gases.
This counteracts the potential environmental benefits of white hydrogen.
However, the indirect global warming impact of fugitive hydrogen emissions is much lesser than the impact of other life cycle greenhouse gas impacts.
- Safety: Technology needs to be developed to help monitor hydrogen leaks which could otherwise lead to significant health and environmental damage.
Hydrogen molecules are much smaller and lighter than methane, making them harder to contain, and more explosive than natural gas.
This was one of the major reasons for the popularity of heat pumps and battery powered EVs over hydrogen-based alternatives.
Therefore, white hydrogen must be used with caution in order to tackle safety risks.
- Transportation and storage: The transportation and storage of hydrogen makes it more expensive than other energy sources.
It occupies a lot of space in its gaseous state.
Temperatures of -253 °C are required to liquify hydrogen.
There is a lack of adequate infrastructure for the transport of hydrogen such as pipelines and distribution systems.
Hydrogen can corrode metal pipes which can lead to cracking
Sagarmala Project
Objective:
Reducing the cost of logistics for EXIM is the primary objective of the Sagarmala Project. The other objectives are as follows.
- To identify the upcoming industrial capacities near the coastline to cut down on the cost of logistics for bulk commodities.
- An objective of the Sagarmala Project is to develop a discrete manufacturing cluster that will be situated nearby sports in order to enhance the competition in the export of goods.
- Optimize the timing for import and export container movement.
- Another objective of the Sagarmala Project was to create 40 new direct jobs and 60 indirect jobs for youth in this field
Features of Sagarmala Project
The Sagarmala project was launched by the ministry of shipping on July 31st, 2015. The key features of this project were:
- The total expenditure allotted for this Sagarmala Project is over 4 crores. It has 150 initiatives in four areas, which are: improving the port connectivity; upgrading the existing infrastructure; creating 14 coastal economic zones as well as a SEZ, and training the existing fisherman and other coastal communities to create job opportunities.
- A company called Sagarmala Development Company was formed to fulfil the purpose of the Sagarmala Project in 2016.
- To reduce India’s dependency on foreign nations for technology, the centre for inland and coastal maritime technology has also been set up at IIT Kharagpur.
Components of the Sagarmala Project
Sagarmala Project is built on the foundation of integrated planning, connectivity enhancement, and sustainable development, with a focus on creating synergy among various components such as:
- Port Modernization and New Port Development: Expand the capacity of existing ports, and develop new greenfield ports.
- Port Connectivity Enhancement: Enhance and improve the links between inland and the Port and also develop the domestic waterways.
- Port-Linked Industrialization: Develop the industries nearby the force and reduce the cost of Logistics for domestic operations.
- Coastal Community Development: Providing fire-safety training projects for workers which are directly funded by the project and focus on improving the lifestyle of employees by providing proper training and skills.
- Coastal Shipping and Inland Waterways Transport: Moving the cargo in an easy manner such that it does not create any harm to the environment and promotes the sustainability of industrialization.
Issues related to Sagarmala Project
As with any large-scale infrastructure project, the Sagarmala Project faces a range of complex challenges and concerns as follows.
- The Sagarmala Project connects the ports of different cities in India, which is a very costly project.
- The turnaround time taken is about 4 days, which is about 2 days at the global level. Hence, the Sagarmala Project is a gamechanger in the field of logistics as it cuts down the turnaround time and costs related to it.
- Apart from the turnaround time, the last mile connectivity is also an issue for Sagarmala Project, as it is necessary to ensure the easy movement of cargo, which will eventually lead to robust economic growth and increased productivity.
- The participation of inland waterways cargo is reduced as it counts up to only 6%, which is much less than other countries like China, the USA, etc.
Significance of Sagarmala Project
Launched in 2015, this project aims to transform India’s maritime sector by modernizing ports, improving logistics infrastructure. The Sagarmala Project is of great significance to India’s coastal line as:
- It improves the condition of the population living near the coastal areas.
- Sagarmala Project helps people by providing them with employment opportunities.
- It boosts different sectors of Indian economy and global supply chain and improves its reputation at the global level.
- Sagarmala Project helps to improve and foster the businesses and, eventually, the economy of India
Central Bureau of Investigation
- History of the CBI:
- The CBI came into being during World War II, when the colonial government felt the need to probe cases of corruption in the War and Supply Department. A law came in 1941. It became the DSPE Act in 1946.
- The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was established by a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, dated April 1, 1963.
- The CBI is not a statutory body but derives its power to investigate from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.
- The CBI functions under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions of the central government, and is exempted from the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
- Functions:
- In 1963, the CBI was established by the Government of India with a view to investigate serious crimes related to the defence of India, corruption in high places, serious fraud, cheating, and embezzlement and social crime, particularly hoarding, black marketing, and profiteering in essential commodities, having all-India and inter-state ramifications.
- It is also the nodal police agency in India that coordinates investigations on behalf of Interpol member countries.
- Jurisdiction:
- Section 6 of the DPSE Act authorises the central government to direct CBI to probe a case within the jurisdiction of any state on the recommendation of the concerned state government. The courts can also order a CBI probe, and even monitor the progress of investigation.
- CBI can suo-moto take up investigation of offences only in the Union Territories.
- The Lokpal Act 2013 prescribed that the CBI director shall be appointed on the recommendation of a committee comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Chief Justice of India or a judge of the Supreme Court nominated by him
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Consent of States for CBI Investigation:
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- Conviction rate :
- According to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) annual report, its conviction rate is as high as 65 to 70%, which is comparable to the best investigation agencies in the world