Page 190 - Environment
7 islands in Andamans, Lakshadweep identified for seaplane operations
Seven islands in the Andamans and Lakshadweep have been identified for seaplane operations while private sector participation has been invited for tourism-based projects in the two archipelagos, the Home Ministry said Tuesday. The 5th meeting of the Island Development Agency (IDA), chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, also reviewed the progress made towards the program "Holistic development of islands". Four islands (Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep, Hutbay and Long) in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and three islands (Kavaratti, Agatti and Minicoy) in Lakshadweep have been identified for seaplane operations, a statement issued by the home ministry after the hour-long meeting said. Key infrastructure projects such as operationalisation of Diglipur airport for civilian aircraft and construction of a new airport in Minicoy Island have been accorded high priority by the government while Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance has been accorded for 'Middle Strait Bridge' on Andaman Trunk Road.
EU agrees to cut greenhouse gas emissions from trucks
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union agreed on Tuesday to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from new trucks and buses by 30 percent by a 2030 deadline as part of its commitment to cut its output of greenhouse gases.
Agri-Science Congress to kick off in national capital Wednesday
A four-day Agricultural Science Congress that aims to deliberate on doubling farmers income by 2022 with a spotlight on transformation through farm innovation will commence Wednesday in the national capital. Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh will inaugurate the event being organised by the National Academy of Agricultural Science (NASS), Indian Council of Agriculture Research(ICAR) and Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) here at Pusa complex. "The theme of the Congress is 'Innovations for Agricultural Transformation' which is highly topical at the juncture when the government is making all efforts to lessen the agrarian crisis and improve welfare of farmers through enhancing income," NASS President Panjab Singh told reporters. The Congress provides a single platform for agri-scientific community to discuss the problems and plan out a new strategy at a time when the prime minister has given a target of doubling farmers' income by 2022, said ICAR Director General ...
Amarinder lays stone for canal water projects in Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday laid foundation stones for three projects to supply canal water to 409 villages in the adjoining districts of Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib. Singh also inaugurated a sewerage project for a cluster of 10 villages near Bahadurgarh in Patiala district, where excess fluoride in water is causing skeletal and dental fluorosis, an official release said. Speaking on the occasion at Mandoli here, the chief minister appealed to the people to use the depleting groundwater reserves judiciously and not to waste the precious resource. "We will not leave anything for our future generations if we don't care for our water," he warned, describing the groundwater reserves in Punjab as "precarious". Singh said the state government would not allow its water to be shared with other states. He said the entire state was facing an acute drinking water crisis, which has only aggravated over the years. While the three surface water projects and a sewerage project ..
2 Delhi officials suspended after forest land found encroached
Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain on Tuesday ordered suspension of two Forest Department officials after finding large scale encroachment on forest land during an inspection in south Delhi.
No impact of hailstorm on wheat crop, output may cross 100MT: ICAR Official
Recent rains and hailstorm in key growing states have not affected the wheat crop and the output might cross 100 million tonnes, an all-time high level, in the current rabi season, a senior government official said Tuesday. Sowing of wheat, the main rabi (winter) crop, is almost complete and the acreage under the crop has reached 298.47 lakh hectare till last week, slightly lower than 299.84 lakh hectare in the year-ago period, according to the official data. Wheat production stood at a record 99.70 million tonne in the 2017-18 crop year (July-June). "No negative impact of rains on the wheat crop reported so far. There may be some minor impact in patches. However, the majority of the crop is in good condition," Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) Director General Trilochan Mohapatra told PTI. The extended winter has been good for the crop as low temperature will boost the crop growth, he said while cautioning that the crop could be affected if there are rains or hailstorm in
EU reaches provisional deal to limit truck emissions
The EU approved unprecedented pollution limits on new trucks Tuesday, though critics complained they did not go far enough because of pressure from Germany. The European Parliament and the European Council, which represents the 28 member states, struck the provisional agreement after months of tough negotiation. The limits are intended as a key building block of the EU's efforts to achieve its Paris climate deal commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. The deal imposes targets on CO2 emissions for heavy-duty vehicles at minus 15 per cent by 2025 and 30 per cent by 2030 compared to 2019. The deal must still be formally approved by the European Council and European lawmakers ahead of European parliamentary elections in May. The EU's powerful auto lobby said these targets are "highly demanding" and depended on governments installing the necessary equipment. EU member states must "urgently step up their efforts to roll-out the
Rare Red Coral Kukri snake rediscovered in Dudhwa
A Red Coral Kukri snake was sighted in the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) confirming the presence of the rare species in the forest after a gap of over 82 years, a senior official said on Tuesday.
MEA delegation visit Agartala-Akhaura railway site
A six-member delegation of the MEA Tuesday visited the Agartala-Akhaura railway site in the Indian side and left for neighbouring Bangladesh for a field visit there, official sources said. A 15.054 km-long railway line connecting Agartala with Akhaura in Bangladesh will connect Indian Railways with Bangladesh Railways for improved connectivity and boost trade between the two countries and will connect West Bengal and Tripura through Bangladesh, the officials said. The team will hold a meeting with the officials of Bangladesh Railways at Akhura, they said. Of the total stretch, five km will be on the Indian side and the rest in Bangladesh and is scheduled to be completed by 2020, they said. The new Akhaura rail line will reduce journey time between Agartala and Kolkata to 10 hours from 31 hours as the distance between the two places will be reduced to 550 km from 1600 km at present. It will cut through Dhaka instead of Guwahati and will help in freight movement as well as
India's thermal coal imports likely to rise 10 percent in 2019 - Adani Enterprises
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's thermal coal imports could rise by about 10 percent to 174-177 million tonnes in 2019, an executive from Adani Enterprises said on Tuesday.
11 arrested for illegal fishing in Odisha sanctuary
Eleven fishermen have been taken into custody by forest personnel and their trawls seized for venturing into the prohibited Gahirmatha marine sanctuary - one of the largest rookery of Olive Ridley turtles in Odisha's Kendrapara district - an official said. Nearly one quintal of sea fish was seized from the impounded vessels during the mid-sea interception near Hukitola coast on Monday, said B P Acharya, the divisional forest officer, Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) division. "Sea fishing has been restricted round the year within the marine sanctuary. However, patrolling is stepped up between November and May every year in view of the annual mass nesting season of the endangered turtles," he explained. The arrested fishermen, residents of a hamlet near Paradip port town, were forwarded to jail custody for 14 days on Tuesday under relevant provisions of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982, Acharya said.
Corrected: India's thermal coal imports likely to rise 10 percent in 2019 - Adani Enterprises
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's thermal coal imports could rise by about 10 percent to 174-177 million tonnes in 2019, an executive from Adani Enterprises said on Tuesday.
India's thermal coal imports likely to rise 10 percent in 2019 - Adani Power
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's thermal coal imports could rise by about 10 percent to 174-177 million tonnes in 2019, an executive from Adani Power said on Tuesday.
Environmentalists seek tougher EU curbs on Balkan coal power plants
SARAJEVO (Reuters) - Environmentalists urged EU policy makers on Tuesday to take a tougher stance on air pollution from coal power plants in the Western Balkans, blaming the fumes for 3,900 deaths across Europe each year.
Lithium-air batteries may power future cars, houses: Study
Lithium-air batteries, which run on ambient oxygen, may be a sustainable and environment-friendly way to store energy and power electric vehicles, houses, and industries of the future, scientists say. Current lithium ion battery technology will probably not be able to handle the coming decades' huge demand for energy. It is estimated that by 2050, electricity will make up 50 per cent of the world's energy mix. Today, that rate is 18 per cent. However, installed capacity for renewable energy production is expected to increase fourfold. This will require batteries that are more efficient, cheaper and environmentally friendly. According to researchers from University of Campinas in Brazil, one of the alternatives being studied today in many parts of the world is the lithium-air battery. The lithium-air battery, currently functioning only on a laboratory scale, uses ambient oxygen as a reagent. The battery stores additional energy through an electrochemical reaction that results in the ...
Chinese traders freeze Australian coal orders amid 40-day customs delays - sources
BEIJING/MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Chinese coal traders have stopped ordering Australian coal as clearing times through China's customs have doubled to at least 40 days, according to major buyers in China and international coal merchants, resulting in a sharp fall in Australian prices.
Advanced construction methods can help India reduce its carbon footprint: UNSW Researcher
Using advanced construction methods can help India plan energy efficient homes as well as reduce its carbon footprint, an Indian-origin researcher has suggested.
Rare snake species sighted in Dudhwa reserve
A rare Indian snake species - Red Coral Kukri- has been sighted in the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) here after a gap of 82 years, park officials said Tuesday. The snake was sighted on Monday night. The reptile was first sighted in Dudhwa in 1936 and even its zoological name 'oligodon Kheriensis' finds its roots in its Kheri-specific location. "It is after almost 82 years that this species has been rediscovered in Dudhwa forests," said Field Director, DTR, Ramesh Kumar Pandey. Pandey told PTI that "on Monday night, a team was patrolling in south Sonaripur range forests when about a one metre long snake clinging to railway track near Sonaripur Railway Station was sighted." "Its bright orange colour attracted the attention of the team as this type of snake was never before sighted here," he said, adding, "Out of curiosity, he photographed the snake and recorded it." Pandey said during a study it was found to be Red Coral Kukri snake. During his stint at Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in ..
Climate change making summer weather stormier: Study
Climate change is shifting the energy in the atmosphere that fuels summertime weather, which may lead to stronger thunderstorms and more stagnant conditions for regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including India, an MIT study has found. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that rising global temperatures, particularly in the Arctic, are redistributing the energy in the atmosphere. More energy is available to fuel thunderstorms and other local, convective processes, while less energy is going towards summertime extratropical cyclones -- larger, milder weather systems that circulate across thousands of kilometers. These systems are normally associated with winds and fronts that generate rain. "Extratropical cyclones ventilate air and air pollution, so with weaker extratropical cyclones in the summer, you are looking at the potential for more poor air-quality days in urban areas," said Charles Gertler, a graduate student at the ...
Himachal installs 6K bins with BJP MPs' names
Himachal Pradesh has installed 6,000 dustbins along urban and rural roads displaying names of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Members of Parliament. Another 13,000 more are in the process of being installed.
