Page 159 - Environment
Vikas Proppant & Granite receives mining license for Kaparada mines
Now the environment clearance and pollution control clearance is awaited and the same will be received in due course of time.
Next flu pandemic is inevitable: WHO
Another flu pandemic is inevitable and the world must prepare for potential devastation, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said, warning that the risks must not be underestimated.
Plastic in crosshairs at UN environment forum
Countries from around the world set their sights Monday on a pivotal deal to curb plastic waste, a source of long-term pollution and worsening contamination of the ocean's food chain. Thousands of delegates, business leaders and campaigners are in Nairobi for the five-day UN Environment Assembly, the top annual forum on the planet's environmental crisis. The UN wants individual countries to sign up to "significantly" reduce plastic production, including a phasing out of single-use plastics by 2030 -- a goal inspired by the 2015 Paris Agreement on voluntary reductions of carbon emissions. "In the field of (plastic) pollution we don't have such agreements," Siim Kiisler, UN Environment Assembly president and Estonia's environment minister, told journalists as the gathering got underway. "This is the first time (we have) to convince member states to make international commitments." A landmark report due out this week is expected to ram home the warning of the threat to ecosystems from ...
5-year-old elephant found dead near Coimbatore
A tusker, believed to be five years old, has been found dead at Adukamparai coming under Thadagam Reserve Forests, near here, forest department sources said Monday. The elephant was suspected to have fallen from a height and died, the sources said. The carcass, noticed Sunday night by the forest officials, would be buried there after a postmortem, they said.
Don't let poll code bring administration to halt: HC
The Bombay High Court Monday told the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other state authorities in Maharashtra to ensure that the implementation of the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls did not bring the administration to a halt. A bench of Chief Justice Naresh Patil and Justice N M Jamdar maintained that all required work must go on during the poll code enforcement period. "Code of doesn't mean you stop all work. All necessary work must continue going on," the bench said. It was hearing a petition seeking, among other things, directions to the BMC to appoint experts to its Tree Authority that holds the power to grant permissions for felling of trees for development projects. The bench asked the BMC about the status of such appointments. The civic body's counsel, advocate Anil Sakhre, however, sought time to respond to the court's query and said that while the appointments were to be finalised this week, they might be affected by the model code of conduct coming
SC dismisses Karnataka plea to vacate stay on use of secondary treated water
The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea by Karnataka government seeking vacation of stay on the proposal to pump secondary treated water from its sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Bengaluru into irrigation tanks in Kolar district for recharging the ground water table. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi expressed its displeasure that the state government has not mentioned requisite details in its application seeking vacation of the apex court's stay order of January 7 this year. "Are you playing around with the court? There are no details in your application. It is a bland application," the bench, which also comprised justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna, said. "The application for vacating the stay order dated January 7, 2019 does not mention adequate material and details, on the basis of which the court can come to the conclusion that the order dated January 7 requires reconsideration," the bench said and noted that the state government has not even mentioned the ...
NGT raps AAP govt over ridge demarcation, seeks proper map
The National Green Tribunal on Monday rapped the Delhi government over improper depiction of encroachments on forest land in Southern Ridge and sought a proper map giving complete detail. A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore directed the principal secretary of the Revenue Department to have a proper map prepared, under his supervision, by calling all the officials concerned, giving a complete picture about the forest land and encroachments. "The Revenue Department shall give a complete detail with regard to the khasra number; the total area and the date when such allotments were made. It shall also show as to whether proper approval, in accordance to law, for allotment of forest land had been obtained or not," the bench said. It also warned that in case of failure to prepare a complete and proper map before the next date, it would pass coercive orders against the officials of the Revenue Department. "The map and other details on an affidavit of principal secretary, Revenue .
File reply on plea on solid waste management policy: HC to BMC
The Bombay High Court Monday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to file a reply to a petition challenging its current solid waste management rules for housing societies in the metropolis. The public interest litigation (PIL), filed by city resident Aparajita Aiyer, has highlighted problems in a 2017 BMC notification that made it mandatory for hotels, malls and large housing societies -- termed by the civic body as bulk waste generators-- to segregate dry and wet waste at source and to treat or compost the wet waste it generated. The PIL, however, claimed that the notification was issued by the BMC in haste without creating adequate awareness among residents, housing society office-bearers, etc on waste segregation, treatment and composting. The plea stated that while the BMC's intention behind such notification was noble and much needed, it must be directed to first provide adequate awareness and training to residents. The petitioner's lawyer, advocate Shweta Kamble, also
Efforts on to check gold-smuggling via sea: Customs official
With the noose tightening around smugglers using the sea route to smuggle gold, a total of Rs 21 crore worth of the precious metal has been seized over the last one year-ending February 2019, a customs official said Monday. Speaking to reporters here, commissioner of customs Ranjan Kumar Rowdry, the haul of gold confiscated last year was several times higher than than seized over the previous two years. As part of efforts to curb gold-smuggling, several steps were underway, including installation of solar-powered light on the coastal areas including Thondi, Rameswaram and Mandapam areas, at a cost of Rs 6.90 lakh, he said.
NGT expresses concern over implementation of Solid Waste Management Rules in Delhi
The National Green Tribunal Monday expressed concern over the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in the national capital, saying the situation was highly unsatisfactory. The green panel said it was extremely dissatisfied with the solid waste management in the city and the AAP government cannot just lie back and shun its responsibilities. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said there was a serious need for a review at every level to implement the Solid Waste Management Rules and noted that the condition of sewage network was very bad and there was "absolute apathy" on part of authorities. "People are dying because of pollution, there is no proper policy, please devote some time... we have not yet come across any good officer or counsel for Delhi who understands the cause," the bench observed. It also voiced concern over illegal banquets and marriage halls and said they are violating norms and causing pollution by organising weddings and ...
China says air pollution dropped in 2018
China's air quality improved substantially last year, the environment ministry said Monday, following a government crackdown on pollution and a weakening economy. Thick smog clouds have plagued China's cities for years and represent the dark side of rapid development that has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty. The country's economic miracle has rested firmly on the output of goods like steel, coal and cement, the production of which are all heavily polluting. But last year the average level of microscopic airborne PM2.5 particles -- which penetrate deep into the lungs -- in 338 cities stood at 39 micrograms per cubic metre last year, a 9.3 percent year-on-year fall, according to a ministry report. It was an even greater improvement in air quality than 2017, which saw the average concentration of PM2.5 particles fall 6.5 percent from a year earlier, the report said. Ecology and environment ministry chief Li Ganjie said Beijing would maintain its commitment to fight pollution, .
Modi, Hasina inaugurate development projects
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina on Monday jointly unveiled e-plaques for development projects in Bangladesh. The two leaders, through video conference, unveiled e-plaques for supply of buses and trucks, inauguration of 36 community clinics, 11 water treatment plants and extension of National Knowledge Network to Bangladesh, a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said. Speaking on the occasion, Modi said this is his sixth video conference with Hasina. He said PM Hasina's vision is the biggest inspiration for stronger connectivity between India and Bangladesh. Today's unveilings will boost not only transport connectivity, but also knowledge connectivity, he said. The National Knowledge Network, the PM said, will connect scholars and research institutes in Bangladesh with India, and the world. He said the buses and trucks would assist the efforts towards affordable public transportation; water treatment plants will help supply clean ...
Air pollution: What action should be taken and when, IIT-Delhi to recommend Centre
The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi is working for the central government to devise a plan detailing what action should be taken and at what time for controlling air pollution in the city. IIT Delhi, which has a Centre of Excellence for Research on Clean Air, to take up research to study air pollution issues in Delhi-NCR region, is working closely with the Central Pollution Control Board in this regard. "Round the year, several initiatives are taken to deal with the problem of air pollution, including ban on construction activities, burning of crackers and restriction of outdoor activities in schools, to name a few. "However, what is not realised is that suddenly suspending construction activities when air quality has already deteriorated to a certain level does not help much," Mukesh Khare, Professor of Environmental Engineering at IIT Delhi, told PTI. "So, it is more advisable to implement the measures beforehand. We are evaluating what should be the timing of what action ...
Croatia's top oyster farmers in alarm after norovirus found
Oyster farming is the pride of this small town in the south of Croatia's Adriatic Sea coast. But tasting the famed local delicacy may not be a good idea at the moment. Authorities have detected norovirus, which causes diarrhea and vomiting, in parts of the Mali Ston bay triggering shock and alarm among the breeders. The traditional oyster-tasting feast in March has been canceled and fears are mounting of huge financial losses to the local community that harvests about 3 million oysters each year. Experts are pointing their fingers at the outdated sewage system in the area that has seen a rise in the numbers of tourists flocking to Croatia's stunning Adriatic coast. "I am really sorry but people themselves are to blame that something like this happened," explained Vlado Onofri from the Institute for Marine and Coastal Research in nearby Dubrovnik. "It's something that has to be solved in the future." While some stomach bugs can be eliminated with cooking, norovirus survives at ...
India, Bangladesh jointly inaugurate 4 projects
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina on Monday jointly inaugurated four projects, via video conferencing, in the areas of transport, health and education.
Over 7,000 new marine species discovered
Over 7,000 new marine species have been discovered from the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans, shedding new light on understanding of microbial biodiversity in the seas.
Maha: Leopard injures six while escaping from Nashik village
Six persons, including four of a family and a forest department official, were injured after a leopard attacked them while trying to escape from a village in Maharashtra's Nashik district, police said Monday. The leopard was spotted by residents of Ashakirnawadi village, under Wadivhare police station limits in Igatpuri taluka, at around 3:30 pm on Sunday, following which they alerted the local forest department, an official said. While the forest staff and assembled villagers tried to corner the leopard, the animal panicked and retaliated by attacking six people and escaping into the wilderness, Range Forest Officer Ramesh Dhomse said. Police identified the injured as Forest Circle Officer Omkar Deshpande (40), Sachin Joshi (20), Pandharinath Shene (40), Bhiva Shene (38), Hiranan Shene (20), Sagar Shene (14), the last four being family members. They have been shifted to Nashik Civil Hospital for treatment, the official said. Dhomse said forest department teams had been ..
Ashoka Buildcon's arm receives LoA for NHAI road project in Karnataka
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PM-Kisan scheme: Govt so far transferred Rs 5,215 cr to about 2.6 cr farmers
The central government has so far transferred Rs 5,215 crore to over 2.6 crore small and marginal farmers under the PM-Kisan scheme announced in the last month's interim budget. Ahead of the general election, the Centre announced the Rs 75,000-crore Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme under which Rs 6,000 per year would be disbursed in three instalments to around 12 crore farmers who hold cultivable land up to 2 hectares. In the budget, the NDA government allocated a sum of Rs 20,000 crore, to transfer Rs 2,000 each to farmers in the first installment by March-end, for the ongoing fiscal under the scheme. The scheme was formally launched at national level by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 24 at Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh by transferring the first instalment to 1.01 crore farmers, totalling Rs 2,021 crore. "Under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi: Benefit of over Rs 5,215 crore transferred directly into the bank accounts of more than 2.6 crore small and marginal farmers .
Govt approves Surat Metro Rail Project
Project will be completed in 5 years at an estimated project cost of Rs 12020.32 crore
