PLACES IN NEWS 6th MAY 2025

Safa Masjid

Why in news?

a. Following prolonged delay and neglect, ASI will now commence restoration of the damaged mihrab near Safa Masjid’s historic tank.

About Safa Masjid:

1. Geography and Location:
   1. Safa Masjid, also known as Safa Shahouri Masjid, is located in the town of

Ponda in the South Goa district of the Indian state of Goa.

1. 2. Ponda lies inland, approximately 30 km from the state capital, Panaji. The region is known for its lush greenery, temples, and historical monuments, making it a cultural and religious hub.
   3. The mosque stands near a centuries-old water tank and garden, set amidst a quiet and scenic landscape that reflects its spiritual and historical aura.
2. Historical Significance:
   1. Built in 1560 by Sultan Ibrahim Adil Shah I of the Bijapur Sultanate, Safa Masjid is one of the few Islamic monuments in Goa that survived the widespread destruction of religious structures during Portuguese colonisation.

2. 2. The mosque is notable for its Indo-Islamic architectural style, featuring a simple rectangular layout with a single prayer hall and terracotta-tiled roof. It lacks inscriptions or construction records, adding to its historical mystique.
   3. Nearby lies a carved stone water tank, likely part of a larger water system. The garden surrounding the mosque is laid out in the traditional Charbagh pattern, enhancing the site’s aesthetic and cultural value.
3. Deterioration of the Property:
   1. Despite being a nationally protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Safa Masjid has suffered prolonged neglect.
   2. The mihrab structure near the water tank had been damaged for months without restoration.
   3. Only recently has the ASI initiated repair efforts, following public concern over the deteriorating condition of this historically significant site.
       

Baglihar Dam

Why in news?

1. India recently halted water flow from the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River, significantly affecting the downstream supply to Pakistan.

About Baglihar Dam:

1. Baglihar Dam, also known as the Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project, is a run-of-the-river power project located on the Chenab River in the Doda District of Jammu and Kashmir.

2. It is a concrete gravity dam, standing 144.5 meters high and 363 meters long, with a total of 1.9 million m³.
3. The dam creates a reservoir with a storage capacity of 475 million m³.
4. Planning began in 1992, and the project was approved in 1996; construction started in 1999.
5. The project was developed in two stages, each with a capacity of 450 MW.
6. Phase I was completed in 2004, and Phase II was finished on 10 October 2008, bringing the total installed capacity to 900 MW.
7. It is situated on the Chenab River, a tributary of the Indus, which originates from the

confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers in Himachal Pradesh.

8. The Chenab River flows through Jammu and Kashmir into Pakistan, eventually merging with the Sutlej River.
1. The Indus Water Treaty governs the sharing of Chenab’s waters between India and Pakistan.

Mount Ontake

Why in news?

1. At Mount Ontake, Japan, Oxford scientists proposed using shear-wave splitting, a seismic method, to monitor potential volcanic eruptions.

About Mount Ontake:

1. Geography and Location:
   1. Mount Ontake, also known as Mount Kiso Ontake, is Japan’s 14th-highest mountain and second-highest volcano after Mount Fuji, standing at an elevation of 3,067 meters (10,062 feet).
   2. It is located around 100 km northeast of Nagoya and 200 km west of Tokyo, straddling the borders of Kiso and Ōtaki in Nagano Prefecture and Gero in Gifu Prefecture.
   3. The volcano features five volcanic crater lakes, with Ni no Ike being the highest mountain lake in Japan at 2,905 meters (9,531 feet).
   4. Recognised for its cultural significance, Mount Ontake is a sacred site in Shugendō traditions, often visited by spiritual practitioners and artists seeking divine inspiration.
2. Volcanic Activity and Eruptions:
   1. Mount Ontake was considered inactive until October 1979, when a phreatic eruption occurred, ejecting around 200,000 tons of ash with a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 2. Subsequent minor phreatic eruptions occurred in 1991 and 2007 (VEI 0).

The most devastating eruption happened on September 27, 2014, when the volcano erupted suddenly with a VEI of 3.

1. 2. It was a phreatic eruption—caused by groundwater converting to steam—with no preceding earthquakes to alert authorities.

1. 3. The eruption caught hikers off guard, resulting in 63 deaths, with five bodies never recovered.
   4. The event was considered an extremely rare and unpredictable phenomenon, posing a significant challenge to volcanic disaster preparedness in Japan.
       

Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary

Why in news?

a. Madhya Pradesh’s Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary is being developed as the third habitat for reintroduced cheetahs under India's conservation efforts.

About Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary:

1. Location and Geography:
   1. Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, covering 1,197 km², is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, India.
   2. Established in 1975, it spans parts of Sagar, Damoh, Narsinghpur, and Raisen

districts, situated about 90 km from Jabalpur and 56 km from Saugor.

1. 3. The sanctuary lies between the Narmada and Ganges river basins, with major rivers like the Ken, Bamner, and Vyarma flowing through it.