Page 259 - Environment
Colossal erosion transformed ancient Earth's surface: Study
Earth's surface experienced the largest crustal erosion event in its history about 700 million years ago, paving the way for animal life to develop, according to a study. Scientists, including those from the University of Southampton in the UK, found compelling evidence for scouring of three to five kilometres across all the continents during the Neoproterozoic Era (one billion to 550 million years ago) which would have seen the Earth's crust wash into the oceans in unprecedented volumes. The finding, published in the journal PNAS, provides the strongest explanation yet for the origin and extent of the 'Great Unconformity' -- a profound gap in the Earth's rock record -- exposed most dramatically in the Grand Canyon in the US. Here, sedimentary rocks from the Cambrian era, which began 550 million years ago, were deposited directly on top of rocks from the Mesoproterozoic era, which ended one billion years ago. The erosion happened when most of the Earth's surface was covered in ice ...
Modi, Norwegian PM hold talks, vow to give new direction to ties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday discussed with his Norwegian counterpart Erna Solberg cooperation in efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and ways to give a new direction to bilateral ties. Modi and Solberg held delegation-level talks and reviewed the entire gamut of India-Norway ties. "We reviewed all areas of our cooperation, and discussed ways of giving new energy and direction to bilateral ties," Modi said in a press statement after talks with Solberg. He said they also had "fruitful discussions" on all aspects of ocean economy. India and Norway have strong cooperation at the international level. Both the countries coordinate closely on issues such as UN Security Council reforms, multi-lateral export control regimes and terrorism. Solberg, who arrived here on Monday, was accorded a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning. The Norwegian prime minister, during her press statement, said cooperation in the fields of energy, climate change and ...
NASA's planet hunting probe discovers third new planet
NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has discovered a third small planet outside our solar system, scientists report.
India needs hourly electricity tariffs: IEEFA
With $100 billion of existing and proposed thermal power plants in financial distress and low cost but variable renewable energy capacity best able to meet targets, India has an opportune moment to transform its electricity sector by introducing day-ahead market pricing, the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) said on Tuesday.
Four TN fishermen held by SL Navy for "fishing" off
Four Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing off Neduntheevu early Tuesday, a fisheries department official said. The fishermen from Kottaipattinam in Pudukottai district had ventured into the sea last night and were fishing near Neduntheevu when the Lankan naval personnel came to the spot and took them to Karainagar in the island nation, Fisheries department assistant director Kumaresan said. This comes a day after four fishermen from the same district were arrested by the Lankan Navy for fishing in their territorial waters.
China hands out long-awaited GM crop approvals amid U.S. trade talks
BEIJING (Reuters) - China approved five genetically modified (GM) crops for import on Tuesday, the first in about 18 months, a move that could boost future imports and ease pressure from the United States to open its markets to more farm goods.
NASA probe discovers new planet
NASA's latest planet hunting probe has discovered a new world outside our solar system, orbiting a dwarf star 53 light years away. This is the third new planet confirmed by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) since its launch in April last year. The planet, named HD 21749b, orbits a bright, nearby dwarf star about 53 light years away, in the constellation Reticulum, and appears to have the longest orbital period of the three planets so far identified by TESS. HD 21749b journeys around its star in a relatively leisurely 36 days, compared to the two other planets -- Pi Mensae b, a "super-Earth" with a 6.3-day orbit, and LHS 3844b, a rocky world that speeds around its star in just 11 hours. All three planets were discovered in the first three months of TESS observations. The surface of the new planet is likely around 300 degrees Fahrenheit -- relatively cool, given its proximity to its star, which is almost as bright as the sun. "It's the coolest small planet that we know ..
American-Sikhs urge Pakistan to maintain Kartarpur complex in original state
American-Sikh communities have urged the Pakistan government to make sure that the Kartarpur Sahib Complex (KSC) is maintained in its original state.
China approves five GM crops for import, first in 18 months
BEIJING (Reuters) - China has approved the import of five genetically modified crops, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday, amid growing pressure from the United States to open up its market to more farm goods.
91 Kanpur tanneries 'polluting' Ganga closed
Kanpur authorities have ordered the "immediate shutdown" of 91 leather tanneries in the city that were offloading their waste in the Ganga river, causing widespread water pollution, an official said on Tuesday.
Indian American Leads UT Energy Institute
Indian American Varun Rai has been elevated to the position of director of the Energy Institute at The University of Texas at Austin near here from January one. Rai succeeds Michael Webber, who served the institute as its acting director since September 2018 when Director Tom Edgar returned to his research and teaching. An Indian native, Rai did B Tech in mechanical engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur in 2002 before doing MS in the same engineering stream from Stanford University in 2004. Rai, who later secured a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Stanford University in 2008, also holds a courtesy faculty appointment at the Cockrell School of Engineering. Rai's research examines the underlying components of energy systems social, institutional, economic and technological and how they affect the adoption of clean energy technologies. Energy is perhaps more important today than it has ever been in the history of the world. Led by outstanding faculty ..
Wood smuggling from state forest must be brought down to zero: KCR
Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Monday claimed that under no circumstances wood smuggling from the state forest area will be allowed and the same shall be brought down to zero.Rao instructed the forest officials to take support from the police and with an iron hand, the Preventive Detention Act should be invoked wherever necessary on smugglers who frequently indulge in smuggling forest wood."The state shall be divided into four parts and action plan should be drawn for environmental protection," he added.The Chief Minister had held a review meeting on environment protection and development of forest area on Monday in Pragathi Bhavan in which Home Minister Mahamood Ali, Chief Advisor to Government Rajiv Sharma, Advisor Anurag Sharma, Chief Secretary SK Joshi, DGP Mahender Reddy, PCCF SK Jha, Senior officers S. Narsing Rao, Rama Krishna Rao, Rajiv Trivedi, Niranjan Rao, Smita Sabharwal, Rajashekhar Reddy, Bhoopal Reddy, Priyanka Verghese and Senior Police and Forest ...
Snakes seized in Telangana, two arrested
Forest officials in Telangana on Monday arrested two persons and seized two snakes from their possession, officials said.
Noida Authority, HCL Foundation ink pact for solid waste management
The New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA) Monday entered into a pact with the HCL Foundation for solid waste management in the city, which generates around 600 metric tonnes of solid waste daily, officials said. As part of the memorandum of understanding (MoU), HCL Foundation will collaborate with the Noida Authority for analysing, planning, designing and implementing solid waste management (SWM) strategies, focusing on waste segregation at source and effective management solutions for the remaining waste, they said. Noting that Noida currently generates around 600 metric tonnes of solid waste daily, the authority said that with a rising population, the waste generated by the city is expected to rise many-fold and if not effectively managed can lead to increased pollution and a heightened risk of vector-borne diseases spread by rodents and insects. "Thus, there is an urgent need for effective planning and implementation of Solid Waste Management for a clean Noida," it ...
2 nabbed for trying to sell snakes through social media platforms in Telangana
The Telangana Forest Department has nabbed two people for allegedly trying to sell two snakes through social media platforms, officials said Monday. According to an official release, the officers and staff of the Medchal District and Anti-Poaching Squad, Hyderabad, rescued one python and one bronze back snake from the poachers at Chowdarguda village in Medchal District. Sharan Moses and his friend Vanorous Praveen were trying to sell the reptiles to prospective buyers and in order to attract customers, Praveen got himself photographed with the python around his neck and uploaded the picture on Facebook and WhatsApp, the statement said. A case was registered under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in this connection, it added. The python is a Schedule I species, and possessing and illegal trade attracts imprisonment of three to seven years and minimum fine of Rs 10,000, the release said. The two accused have been produced before a local court which remanded them.
31 hillocks have disappeared from Rajasthan's Alwar due to illegal mining: Govt
Thirty-one hillocks have disappeared from Rajasthan's Alwar district as a result of levelling of ground due to illegal excavation of minerals, Parliament was informed on Monday. As per information provided by Rajasthan's Department of Mines and Geology, excavation of minerals from hillocks results in levelling of ground and the Forest Survey of India (FSI) has observed that 31 hillocks have disappeared in Alwar district, Minister of State for Environment Mahesh Sharma told the Rajya Sabha. No hillocks from the Aravalli Range have disappeared due to mining operation undertaken illegally, he said. The minister said this information was shared by the Haryana government.
1,641 registrations to importers of used batteries cancelled for failing to comply with rules: Govt
According to the CPCB, 1,641 registrations, issued to importers of used batteries, have been cancelled for failing to comply with the provisions of the Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001, Minister of State for Environment Mahesh Sharma told the Parliament on Monday. Replying to a question, he said there are about 641 authorised recyclers of lead acid batteries with an installed capacity of 2.2 million tonnes per annum. "The Central government has notified the Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001 as amended from time to time for disposal of used lead acid batteries generated from various sources," the minister told the Rajya Sabha. "The rules stipulate for establishment of collect back mechanism for old batteries. The manufacturers, importers, assemblers and preconditioners are responsible for collecting and channelizing the used batteries to collection centres for final disposal through registered recyclers," he said. According to the provisions under the Solid
Delhi government collaborates with Washington University to monitor air quality
With air pollution reaching 'severe' levels every winter in the national capital, the Delhi government on Monday joined hands with the Washington University to monitor real-time air quality and identify pollution sources in the city for the next 18 months.
CPCB issued 4 show cause notices for violation of air pollution norms in Nov, Dec: Govt
Show cause notices have been issued by the CPCB to four agencies for violation of air pollution norms, Union Minister of State for Environment Mahesh Sharma told Parliament on Monday. Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, he said the Supreme Court in its order dated November 26 has directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and authorities under Graded Response Action Plan to take immediate action for prosecution of the nodal agencies that are not taking the issue of air pollution seriously. Show-cause notices have been issued by CPCB for prosecution to four agencies, the Northern Railways, the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (DSIIDC) and the National Highways Authority of India on November 12 and to the Irrigation and Flood Control Department and the Government of National Capital Territory, Delhi, on December 3, Sharma said. The minister also said Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring ...
Musk lays foundation of USD 7 billion Tesla plant in China
US electric car maker Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Monday laid the foundation of a USD seven billion plant in Shanghai, becoming the first company to benefit from a new Chinese policy of allowing foreign vehicle manufacturers to set up wholly-owned subsidiaries in the Asian nation. Till now, foreign automakers in China were required to forge joint ventures with domestic firms for establishing manufacturing plants, which means sharing profits and technology with local partners. The plant, which is Tesla's first outside the US, is located at Lingang, a high-end manufacturing park in the southeast harbour of Shanghai. It has an annual production capacity of 500,000 electric cars. Tesla signed an agreement with the Shanghai municipal government in July 2018 to build the factory. In October, the company got the approval to use an 864,885 sq mt tract of land in Lingang for its Shanghai plant. Musk and Shanghai government officials attended the ground-breaking ceremony. "This will be the most ...