Page 170 - Environment
Nitrogen pollution is a big issue: UN Environment
Nitrogen pollution is one of the biggest environmental issues faced by humans today and requires urgent action from nations around the world, the UN Environment agency said on Monday.
Four US tourists, pilot killed in Kenya chopper crash
Four American tourists and a Kenyan pilot were killed when their helicopter crashed on a remote island in a lake in northwest Kenya, police said Monday. The accident occurred in the Central Island National Park in Lake Turkana on Sunday evening, police said in a statement. "There were five people on board, four of them were US citizens and the pilot, Capt Marious Magonga," the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement. Magonga owned the helicopter and also piloted for Kenya's deputy president, William Ruto. The helicopter "lost contact and crashed" shortly after taking off with a second chopper from Lake Turkana's Central Island, the statement said. Rescuers found the wreckage about seven hours later "with no survivors". "The cause of the incident is yet to be established and the details of the deceased will be released once the next of kin have been notified," a police statement said. Known as the Jade Sea, Lake Turkana, is the most saline lake in East Africa, the largest ...
Green tribunal asks poll panel, govt to consider banning campaign material made of plastic
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Election Commission, the Centre and the Central Pollution Control Board to convene a meeting to consider whether to ban the use of campaigning material made of plastic during elections. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed the Election Commission, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and CPCB to convene a meeting at the earliest, preferably within one week. The tribunal passed the directions on a petition seeking a direction to the MoEF&CC and the states to prohibit the use of short-life PVC (polyvinyl chloride), synthetic plastic polymer and chlorinated plastic which includes banners, hoarding, etc for promotion and advertising during the poll campaign. The petition, moved by W Edwin Wilson through advocate Sanjay Upadhyay, claimed that campaigning material made of plastic are used during election and later discarded as waste, which was detrimental to the environment. The ...
Amarinder lays foundation stones for 3 water supply projects
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Monday laid the foundation stones for three surface water supply projects and a domestic sewage treatment plant, having a combined worth of Rs 197.69 crore, for the rural areas of Amritsar district. Terming Punjab's water situation as precarious, Singh underlined the responsibility of the state to save water for the future generations. Punjab had 17 Million Acre Feet (MAF) water, which has depleted to 13 MAF in 30 years, the chief minister said. Earlier, launching a canal-based Surface Water Supply Project worth Rs 154.15 crore, the CM said the schemes would help mitigate the problem of groundwater for 1.5 lakh people spread across 112 villages in four blocks of the region. On the occasion, the CM also laid the foundation stone of an arsenic removal project for 102 villages in Amritsar. Further, with an aim to counter the high prevalence of contaminates like iron and other heavy metals in groundwater, Amarinder also launched an ultra-modern water .
Goyal dedicates to nation 1,000-MW thermal power project of NTPL
Coal Minister Piyush Goyal Monday dedicated to the nation a 1,000-megawatt (MW) thermal power project of Neyveli Tamil Nadu Power Ltd (NTPL) and a 150-MW solar power projects of NLC India Ltd (NLCIL) in Tamil Nadu. "Piyush Goyal...has dedicated the 1,000 MW coal-based thermal power station of Neyveli Tamilnadu Power Ltd (NTPL), Thoothukudi,...and 150-MW solar power projects of NLC India Ltd situated at Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar districts...on March 4," the coal ministry said in a statement. The 1,000-MW coal-fired thermal power project of NTPL is a joint venture between NLCIL and TANGEDCO with an equity participation of 89:11. "Tamil Nadu is the sole beneficiary of the 150 MW renewable power plants of Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram districts commissioned and dedicated to the nation today," the statement said. So far, NLCIL has installed 591 MW of solar power and 51 MW of wind power plants in various parts of Tamil Nadu. Also, 759-MW solar power projects are under execution in .
TN CM launches Rs 2,000 special assistance for BPL families
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palanswami on Monday launched financial assistance of Rs 2,000 for 60 lakh below the poverty line (BPL) families in the state affected by cyclone Gaja, drought and failure of rains.
Over 4 lakh Olive Ridley turtles spotted at Gahirmatha beach
Over four lakh Olive Ridley turtles have arrived for nesting in the past five days at Gahirmatha beach here, one of the world's largest rookeries of the endangered species, a forest official said. The mass nesting at the beach, which is close to the missile test range centre at Wheeler's Island, is likely to continue for another six to seven days, he said. "Since February 27, a total of 4,41,257 turtles have arrived at the beach to lay eggs. The numbers will be going down in the next few days, but we are expecting the turnout to touch six lakh," said Bimal Prasanna Acharya, the divisional forest officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) Division. Last year, 6.57 lakh female turtles had turned up on the beach to dig pits and lay eggs, Acharya stated. A 600-metre net barricade has been set up on the beach to ensure safety of the turtles, he said. "The forest officials are keeping a close watch on the beach to prevent dogs and jackals from venturing into the nesting ground. As ..
NLC India commissions entire 500 MW solar power projects in Tamil Nadu
NLC India Monday said it has commissioned the entire 500 MW solar power projects in Tamil Nadu. "The balance 200 MW of solar PV power projects, out of 500 MW solar PV power projects which was under implementation in the state of Tamil Nadu, have been commissioned," the company said in a filing to BSE. "With this, the entire 500 MW solar power projects in the state of Tamil Nadu have been commissioned," the filing said. NLC India, a Navratna company under the coal ministry, has a total power generation capacity of 4,731 MW, according to its website. It said NLC India has moved from only lignite mining and power generation company to become an energy firm.
Alien species driving global extinctions: study
Alien species -- those not native to a specific location -- are the main driver of recent extinctions in both animals and plants worldwide, according to a study published Monday. Researchers at University College London (UCL) in the UK found that since 1500 AD, alien species have been solely responsible for 126 extinctions, 13 per cent of the total number studied. Of 953 global extinctions, 300 happened in some part because of alien species, and of those 300, 42 per cent had alien species alone listed as the cause of their demise. The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, used data from the 2017 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List on the total numbers of species that are considered to have gone extinct globally since 1500 AD. In total, 261 out of 782 animal species (33.4 per cent) and 39 out of 153 plant species (25.5 per cent) listed aliens as one of their extinction drivers. In contrast, native species impacts were ...
Loans of 25 lakh MP farmers to be waived off in 4 days: CM
The Madhya Pradesh government will waive off agricultural loans of 25 lakh farmers over the next four days as part of its 'Jai Kisan Rin Mukti Yojana', Chief Minister Kamal Nath has said. Addressing a function Sunday in Rajgarh district, over 130 kilometres from here, Nath said the farm loan waiver process would continue until all beneficiaries are covered. "In next four days farm loan of 25 lakh farmers will be waived off and the process will continue for the remaining ones," he said, adding that his government was working continuously since taking over 65 days ago to fulfil promises in the Congress' election manifesto. On the occasion, Nath also distributed loan waiver certificates to some of the farmers. In Rajgarh district alone, agriculture loans worth Rs 144 crore are being waived, an official informed. The MP government's Jai Kisan Rin Mukti Yojana scheme aims to waive off loans worth Rs 50,000 crore of 55 lakh small and marginal farmers. Nath added that his ...
NLC India commissions 200 MW solar PV power projects in Tamil Nadu
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China to run driverless maglev trains at 200 kmph by 2020
China plans to run a new generation of self-developed driverless magnetic-levitation trains with a designed speed of 200 kmph by early 2020, its lead developer said on Monday. Magnetic-levitation (maglev) trains are capable of clocking a speed of 600 kmph while running 10 cm above the ground. Once put into operation, they will be the fastest maglev trains for commercial use in China, CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co.,Ltd which leads the efforts to develop the trains was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua news agency. Zhou Qinghe, chairman of the company, told reporters that new technologies are being used to enable the trains to travel faster and have greater hill climbing power. The latest maglev trains are also equipped with a "powerful brain" to realise safe and reliable autonomous operation. Zhou said the new trains are suitable for inter-city or urban transit between 50 and 200 kilometer in distance. They will also be the world's first maglev trains to run at 200 kmph, he ...
Air pollution from stubble burning costing India USD 30bn annually: Study
Air pollution due to crop residue burning in northern India causes an estimated economic loss of USD 30 billion annually, and is a leading risk factor of acute respiratory infections, especially among children, according to a study unveiled Monday. Researchers from the US-based International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and partner institutes found that living in districts with air pollution from intense crop residue burning (CRB) is a leading risk factor for acute respiratory infection (ARI), particularly in children less than five years of age. The study that estimates -- for the first time -- the health and economic costs of CRB in northern India also found that CRB leads to an estimated economic loss of over USD 30 billion annually. "Poor air quality is a recognised global public health epidemic, with levels of airborne particulate matter in Delhi spiking to 20 times the World Health Organization's safety threshold during certain days," said Samuel Scott, IFPRI Research .
Four US tourists and their pilot killed in Kenya chopper crash
Four American tourists and a Kenyan pilot were killed when their helicopter crashed on an island in a lake in northwest Kenya, police said Monday. The accident occurred in the Central Island National Park in Lake Turkana at around 8pm (local time) on Sunday, police said in a statement. All five on board the chopper were killed. "Security personnel dispatched to the scene confirmed that among the five were four Americans and the Kenyan pilot." The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and the identities of the victims would be released once their next of kin have been informed, the statement said. Known as the Jade Sea, Lake Turkana, which is popular with tourists, is the most saline lake in East Africa and the largest desert lake in the world. It is also a candidate site for the birthplace of mankind. Its islands are breeding grounds for the Nile crocodile, hippopotamus and several snake species while the lake itself is important to migratory birds. Last year, UNESCO placed it
Stung by honey bees, six hurt in UP's Shamli
At least six people were hurt when a swarm of honey bees attacked them on the Kandhla-Gageru road in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district, officials said Monday. The bees were riled by someone damaging their honey comb and went on a biting spree, injuring Hashim, Talib, Satbir, Rajiveumesh, Kapil and Raju, who were all rushed to hospital after being stung, the officials said. Vehicular traffic was disrupted for some time over the incident.
Bharat Heavy Electricals undertakes project for setting up network of solar EV Chargers on Delhi-Chandigarh Highway
BHEL's scope of work in the project includes design, engineering, manufacturing, supply and installation of the EV charging stations along with a Central Monitoring System. Each SEVC station will be equipped with a rooftop solar power plant to supply green energy and EV chargers.
Bar-headed geese largely give Pong wetlands a miss this year (Environment Feature)
Verdant forests, islands replete with shrubbery and swampy grasslands in the Pong Dam wetlands in the Himalayan foothills are agog with sharp calls and flapping wings of tens of thousands of feathered migratory birds.
Maha: Decomposed tigress carcass found in forest in Akola
The decomposed carcass of a tigress was found Sunday in a forest in Maharashtra's Akola district, police said. Villagers found the body of the six-year-old tigress in the forest near Shahpur and Amona and alerted police and forest department staff, an official said. Deputy Superintendent of Police (Akola) Sunil Sonone said preliminary probe has revealed the tigress possibly died four to five days ago. He said the carcass had been sent for post mortem to ascertain the cause of death.
Bushfires rage after Australia's hottest summer on record
Homes have gone up in flames and skies turned blood red as nearly 1,000 firefighters battle dozens of out-of-control blazes in southern Australia in the wake of the nation's warmest summer on record. A days-long heatwave sent temperatures soaring towards 40 degrees Celsius over the weekend, with bushfires raging across Victoria state forcing thousands of people to flee their homes. A lightning strike late last week sparked southeast Victoria's most severe at Bunyip State Park, which has burnt more than 14,800 acres so far. Aerial footage of the destruction showed tall trees engulfed by bright red flames and the smouldering, blackened wreckage of buildings. At least nine structures, including homes, have so far been damaged in the infernos, officials said. A local winemaker spoke of his heartache as he watched his vineyard destroyed by a raging fire on television. "I saw our wine cellar door, restaurant and the house next to our Airbnb cottage explode on TV. That's how we found out," ..
Crop residue burning gobbles up $30 bn annually: Study
Burning of crop residue, a common practice by Punjab and Haryana growers, leads to an estimated economic loss of over $30 billion annually, besides being a leading risk factor for acute respiratory infection, especially among children, researchers said on Monday.
