Page 258 - Environment
Punjab govt to offer subsidy on paddy transplanters
The Punjab government will offer 40 to 50 per cent subsidy to paddy growers on the purchase of paddy transplanters, an official said Tuesday. "In order to encourage farmers towards mechanised paddy transplantation, the Punjab government has come up with a comprehensive plan to provide paddy transplanters with 40-50 percent subsidy, which will certainly ease out the labour problem being faced by the farmers in peak season," said Punjab agriculture secretary K S Pannu in an official release here. The agriculture department has sought applications from farmers interested in getting subsidised paddy transplanters till January 20, so that appropriate steps could be taken for booking machines in view of forthcoming season in the month of June and July. Pannu said Punjab had already taken a lead in mechanised farming of all crops except the sowing of paddy and harvesting of sugarcane, which was still operated manually. Punjab was facing an acute shortage of labour for the past few years due .
U.S.-China trade talks continue for a second day, few details: source
BEIJING (Reuters) - The United States and China extended trade talks late into a second day in Beijing on Tuesday, a source with knowledge of the meetings said, as the world's two largest economies looked to resolve a bitter trade dispute.
Two arrested after leopard hide, charas found in their possession
Two people were arrested here Tuesday after a leopard hide and 869 gm charas was found in their possession, police said. Balwant Ram and Girish Kumar were arrested near the Baltir Mod gas godown by a joint team of the anti-drug task force and the special operations group, they said. The duo have been booked under the NDPS and the Wildlife Conservation Acts, officials said. The recoveries are worth nearly Rs 4 lakh in the international market, they added.
BRD Medical College fined Rs 5 crore
National Green Tribunal (NGT) has slapped a fine of Rs 5 crores on BRD Medical college in Gorakhpur for failing to ensure proper disposal of medical waste, said sources in the Pollution Control Board office here. As per a senior official in the PCB office, a team of NGT had visited the medical college in November and subsequently asked the college to pay Rs 5 crore fine. The team found the medical waste of the college was not being disposed properly, with the waste being dumped and burnt in the campus, said the official who did not want to be identified. In November, the UP team of NGT visited BRD College and found Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 being "seriously violated" by the college as heaps of undisposed medical waste were causing air and land pollution with foul smell emanating from them, even as no arrangements were made to put separate dustbins to dispose four types of bio-medical waste which included, infectious waste obtained from HIV, TB, and cancer patients, the ...
PM to launch infra-projects in Maharashtra
Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Wednesday launch several development projects and address a public rally in Solapur in Maharashtra, officials said here on Tuesday.
Sterlite Power bags power augmentation project in West Bengal
Sterlite Power Tuesday said it has been awarded a power augmentation project for seven districts in West Bengal. The project will cover districts of Purba Medinipur, Murshidabad, Burdwan, Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Hooghly. "Sterlite Power has a long association of working in West Bengal. We have been actively engaged in uprating of lines from PGCIL Malda to WBSETCL Malda, Gokarna to Berhampore and Durgapur to Ukhra. "Currently, there is a transmission capacity shortage of 150 MW power in the New Kolkata region. The upgraded line will ensure reliable access to power in this part of the region," CEO Manish Agarwal said. Rapid urbanisation and longer commissioning time of greenfield transmission projects have resulted in more upgrade and uprate of projects of existing lines. Sterlite Power's solution business addresses time and space issues through its innovative business model, the company said.
Methane in interstellar atmosphere can exist, say IIT Madras researchers
Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) have formed clathrate hydrates in an environment similar to that of interstellar medium (ISM), according to a statement issued by the institute.
Why some snakes are deadlier than others decoded
Scientists have uncovered why the venom of some snakes makes them so much deadlier than others. Snakes are infamous for possessing potent venoms, a fact that makes them deadly predators and also strikes fear into humans and other animals alike, said researchers, including those from the Trinity College Dublin in Ireland. However, some species, such as cobras, boomslangs and rattlesnakes have far more venom than they apparently need. In a single reserve of venom, they have the potential to kill thousands of their prey animals and several adult humans. Why venoms vary so much in their ability to kill or incapacitate potential prey animals has long puzzled scientists. The study, published in the journal Ecology Letters, tackled this puzzle by comparing records of venom potency and quantity for over 100 venomous snake species, ranging from rattlesnakes, cobras and the tree dwelling boomslangs of Africa to sea snakes and burrowing asps. The team found strong evidence that venoms have ...
Here's why some snakes are deadlier than others
It turns out that some snakes are deadlier than others, according to a new study. Snakes are infamous for possessing powerful venom, however, some species, such as cobras, rattlesnakes and boomslangs, have far more venom than they apparently need.In a study was conducted by an international collaboration led by scientists from the National University of Ireland, Galway, The University of St Andrews, Trinity College Dublin and the Zoological Society of London scientists tried to figure out why venoms vary so much in their ability to kill or incapacitate potential prey animals.The study has been published in the international journal Ecology letter.The study, tackled this puzzle by comparing records of venom potency and quantity of over 100 venomous snake species.The team found evidence that the venoms have evolved according to what species the snake commonly eats.Speaking about the study, lead author Dr Kevin Healy said, "These results make sense from an evolutionary viewpoint as we ...
Pranav R Mehta becomes first Indian to Head Global Solar Council
A visionary in the field of Solar Energy and the chairman of National Solar Energy Federation, Shri Pranav R Mehta, has taken over as the president of Global Solar Council (GSC) from January 1, 2019. The GSC has its headquarters in Washington D.C., USA.The Global Solar Council (GSC) was launched on December 6, 2015, following the historic United Nations Climate Change Conference (UN COP 21). The GSC came into being as International Coalition of more than 30 nations, utilising maximum solar energy, decided to harness the renewable energy for the greater good.Mr Mehta has been invited by over 15 countries in the last two years to share his vision and experience in India's impressive solar growth. The visionary started his solar journey way back in 2006 when India was at Zero Megawatts solar capacity and is credited with having played a catalytic and pivotal role in opinion building, emphasis and awareness about the importance of solar energy, integrating the efforts of all solar energy .
K'taka govt should appeal against SC stay order on KC valley project: Cong leader
Senior Congress leader K H Muniyappa Tuesday urged the Karnataka government to appeal against the Supreme Court stay order on the Koramangala-Challaghatta valley project by submitting a fresh report on the quality of treated water. The apex court Monday had stayed the Karnataka High Court order on the KC valley project under which the state government was allowed to pump secondary treated water from Bengaluru-based sewage treatment plants (STPs) to minor irrigation tanks in Kolar district for recharging the ground water table. "We are surprised by the Supreme Court order. At least, five organisations have said the secondary treated water can be used for the farming purpose," Muniyappa, the Member of Parliament from Kolar Lok Sabha constituency, told reporters. The state government should appeal against the the stay order with a fresh report on the quality of the treated water and its impact, he said. Expressing concern over the acute shortage of water for irrigation and drinking in ...
Satellite images can precisely assess global poverty: Study
High-resolution satellite data can very precisely assess the status of poverty at household level in rural areas of developing countries, according to a study. If countries are to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, it is particularly important to track the living conditions in poor nations around the world where the future population growth is highest, according to a study published in the journal PNAS. It can be difficult to make a global assessment of poverty and poor economic conditions, but an eye in the sky can provide a good hint of the living conditions of populations, researchers said. "Based on high-resolution satellite images, we can very precisely assess the status of poverty at household level in rural areas in developing countries," said Jens-Christian Svenning, a professor at the Aarhus University in Denmark. In an agricultural area in Kenya, the researchers measured, among other things, the size of buildings and areas of uncultivated soil and the length of ...
PM to launch slew of developmental projects in Maharashtra's Solapur Wednesday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Solapur district in Maharashtra Wednesday where he will launch a series of developmental projects. The development projects, Modi said, will improve connectivity in Solapur and surrounding areas. "The housing project will particularly help 'beedi' and textile workers. Sanitation and sewerage facilities will also improve. We are committed to furthering Ease of Living for our citizens," the PM tweeted. He will dedicate four-laning of Solapur-Osmanabad section of NH-211 and lay the foundation stone for 30,000 houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna. He will also launch underground sewerage system and three sewage treatment plants. The PM said he will also lay foundation stone for underground sewerage system under AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation). "These will greatly benefit citizens," Modi wrote on Twitter.
Sri Lanka aims to import hybrid buses from China
Sri Lanka is in talks with China to import hybrid buses to upgrade the island's public transport sector, the media reported on Tuesday.
China greenlights 5 new genetically modified crops amid trade talks
China approved imports of five new varieties of genetically modified crops, paving the way for US agricultural firms to sell more biotech seeds to Chinese buyers, as Beijing and Washington seek to ease trade tensions.
Bill to provide ST status to 6 communities in Assam soon:
A bill to declare six communities in Assam as scheduled tribes will be introduced in Parliament soon, Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the Lok Sabha Tuesday. The minister, while speaking on the Citizenship Amendment Bill, said the Union Cabinet has approved the proposal and a bill to this affect will be brought soon. The communities that are proposed to be extended ST status include, Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Chutiya, Matak, Moran and the states's 36 tea tribes, he said.
A Symposium by IIT Kanpur Alumni to Find Practical Solutions to Counter Growing Air Pollution
/ -- The Alumni Association of IIT Kanpur (AAIITK) is organising a one-day symposium on 10th January 2019 at the IITK campus titled SEE Central - Care for Air. Speakers in the symposium will explain everything one needs to know about air pollution. The goal is to come up with solutions that can be first tried out at a city level in Kanpur by IIT Kanpur and later be scaled to cover the country at large. Air pollution has become the world's most pressing problem especially in India with 15 of the most polluted cities in the world being from India (according to a WHO report). Kanpur has even been listed as the most polluted city in the world. To find sustainable solutions for this growing menace, alumni of IITK organized this symposium to bring together entrepreneurs, doctors, policy-makers and researchers for a day of talks and discussions. IIT Kanpur has always been at the forefront of research in the area of pollution - the widely used Air Quality Index was developed at IIT Kanpur, ..
NGT concerned over lack of policy on disposal of antimony-coated solar panels
The National Green Tribunal has expressed concern over lack of policy or rules with regard to disposal of solar panels containing antimony and sought minimum time schedule required for the purpose. A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore asked the counsel appearing for the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Ministry of Environment and Forests and other parties to seek instructions on the issue and apprise it about the time needed to come out with such rules. "It is an undisputed fact that neither any policy nor rules are in existence with regard to disposal of antimony-coated solar panels. "We direct the respective counsels to seek instructions on the issue and in case the exercise is now to be done, the minimum time schedule which will be required," the bench, also comprising expert member Satyawan Singh Garbyal, said. The matter is listed for next hearing on February 4. Solar panels (also known as PV panels) are used to convert sunlight into electricity. The tribunal was .
Milky Way headed towards catastrophic galactic collision
A catastrophic collision with a neighbouring galaxy in two billion years' time could wake up Milky Way galaxy's dormant black hole, and send our solar system hurtling into space, scientists say. Researchers led by astrophysicists at Durham University in the UK predict that the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) could hit the Milky Way in two billion years' time. The collision could occur much earlier than the predicted impact between the Milky Way and another neighbouring galaxy, Andromeda, which scientists say will hit our galaxy in eight billion years. As it feeds, the now-active black hole would throw out high-energy radiation and while these cosmic fireworks are unlikely to affect life on Earth, the scientists say there is a small chance that the initial collision could send our solar system hurtling into space. Galaxies like our own Milky Way are surrounded by a group of smaller satellite galaxies that orbit around them, in a similar way to how bees move around a hive. Typically, these
Eye in the sky: Space technology aiding Meghalaya to expand boro rice cultivation (Agricultural Feature)
Shillong, Jan 8 (IANS/Mongabay) In Meghalayas tough hill terrains that limit field visits, space technology is aiding the selection of areas that are suited for growing and expanding cultivation of boro rice which is sown in winter and harvested in spring/summer, officials said.