Page 261 - Environment
Rahul slams govt over sugar cane farmers' dues
Attacking the Centre over alleged farm distress, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the BJP governments of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have not given dues of Rs 11,000 crore to sugarcane farmers, but Rs 30,000 crore was "put in the pocket" of a big businessman. Gandhi's attack came after a media report claimed that mills in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have piled up almost Rs 11,000 crore in payment dues to farmers. "Just imagine, on one hand the farmer grows sugarcane with his hard work throughout the year, takes it to sugar mill. But when the farmer asks for remuneration for his hard work, the BJP governments of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra do not give Rs 11,000 crore dues to sugarcane farmers," Gandhi said in a Facebook post. By the end of April, the outstanding dues of sugarcane farmers will rise to Rs 20,000 crore, he claimed. "On the other hand, a big businessman (Double A) opens a company 10 days ago, and Modi ji embraces him and puts Rs 30,000 crore in his ...
Polavaram dam project in Andhra sets record in concrete pouring
The Polavaram multipurpose irrigation project on Monday entered the Guinness Book of World Records by pouring 32,000 cubic metres of concrete in 24 hours during the work of dam construction, according to Guiness officials present here to record the feat.
Trade body trims cotton output estimate to 33.5 million bales
MUMBAI (Reuters) - India is likely to produce 33.5 million bales of cotton in the 2018/19 season that started on Oct. 1, down 1.5 percent from an earlier estimate, a leading trade body said on Monday.
Indian trade body trims cotton output estimate to 33.5 million bales
MUMBAI (Reuters) - India is likely to produce 33.5 million bales of cotton in the 2018/19 season that started on Oct. 1, down 1.5 percent from an earlier estimate, a leading trade body said on Monday.
Forest land the size of Kolkata diverted for projects in past three years
Kolkata, Jan 7 (IANS/Mongabay) The Indian government has diverted over 20,000 hectares (the size of Kolkata) of forest area for developmental activities such as mining, thermal power plants, dams, road, railways and irrigation projects in the past three years (2015-18) across India.
Planting roadside hedges may combat pollution exposure
Planting roadside hedges, rather than just relying on trees, can most effectively reduce pollution exposure from cars in near-road environments, according to scientists including one of Indian origin. Researchers from University of Surrey in the UK looked at how three types of road-side green infrastructure -- trees, hedges, and a combination of trees with hedges and shrubs -- affected the concentration levels of air pollution. The study, published in the journal Atmospheric Environment, used six roadside locations in the UK, as test sites where the green infrastructure was between one to two metres away from the road. The researchers found that roadsides that only had hedges were the most effective at reducing pollution exposure, cutting black carbon by up to 63 per cent. Ultrafine and sub-micron particles followed this reduction trend, with fine particles (less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter) showing the least reduction among all the measured pollutants. The maximum reduction in ..
Women to soon trek Agasthyarkoodam as Kerala govt lifts ban
Women will soon begin trekking Agasthyarkoodam, the second highest peak in Kerala, at Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary here after the state forest department lifted a long-standing ban following a high court order. The Kani tribe has claimed that they have been traditionally worshipping the idol of Agasthya Muni atop the hill and it was customary for women not to go near the idol. The peak has been named after the mythical Hindu sage Agasthya. The Kerala High Court had on November 30 last year ruled that no gender-based restrictions can be imposed on those who intend to trek Agasthyarkoodam, and lifted the unofficial ban on the entry of women to the peak. "In case permission is being granted for trekking in the year 2019, it is made clear that restrictions shall not be imposed only on the ground of the gender of the trekker," the high court had observed. The government had told the high court that no one had any vested right to trek to Agasthyarkoodam, which was a reserve forest and a UNESCO
Protest against stray cattle menace temporarily suspended in UP's Mathura
Farmers protesting against the stray cattle menace here Sunday temporarily suspended their agitation after the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet empowered urban and rural civic bodies to run temporary shelters for stray animals. "On the assurance of the district administration, we have suspended the agitation for a fortnight," Raj Kumar Tomar, district president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Tikait group) said. He said the agitation will be remain suspended till January 10, the deadline set by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for setting up of cowsheds. A few days back, residents of Mathura had locked up herds of stray animals, especially cows, in government schools because they were allegedly damaging crops. Subsequently, the district administration had made arrangements for over 3,000 bovines in different gaushalas. Later, the state cabinet approved the proposal for setting up cowsheds at the village-level. "We have not only made adjustment for over 4,000 cattle in different gaushalas, a meeting ..
Delhi's pollution level falls to year's lowest after rainfall
Delhi recorded its lowest pollution level of this year on Sunday after a spell of rain, but the air quality remained in the 'very poor' category, authorities said. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city was 338. An AQI between 100 and 200 comes under 'moderate' category, 201 and 300 is considered 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', while that between 401 and 500 is 'severe'. Delhi's air quality has been oscillating between upper range of 'very poor' and 'severe' category for the past two weeks. Thirty-one areas in Delhi recorded 'very poor' air quality on Sunday, while in two areas it was 'poor', the (CPCB) data revealed. In the National Capital Region, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Noida recorded 'very poor' air quality, it said. According to authorities, Delhi's air quality improved significantly on Sunday after rainfall washed away pollutants. The overall PM2.5 level (fine particulate matter in the air with a ..
Call for subsidy in Kolkata-NE cargo movement via waterways
Inland waterways cargo requires subsidy, at least till navigation in the protocol route via Bangladesh is smoothened to boost cargo movement to North East from Kolkata on the National Waterways-II, officials said. "We are asking for some subsidy support for using NW-II, at least for a short term, till navigation issues in Bangladesh like dredging and installation of night navigation infrastructure are sorted out," Summit Alliance Port East Gateway (SAPEL) COO Tushar Biswas told PTI. SAPEL is a Bangladesh-based port and shipping operator which has signed an agreement with Inland Waterways Authority of India for the operation and management of two terminals in Kolkata. Trial cargo of 1,000 tonnes TMT bars is proposed to be transported to Guwahati from Kolkata tentatively on January 15 along the Brahmaputra river that is categorised as NW-II. Currently it takes around 12 days of sailing for the 1700 km journey, but the time could be reduced to just seven days if the ...
Greenland's melting ice sheet releasing tons of methane: Study
The Greenland ice sheet emits tons of methane according to a new study, showing that subglacial biological activity impacts the atmosphere far more than previously thought, say researchers.
'India's first greenfield ind city Dholera ready to take off'
India's first greenfield industrial city at Dholera in Gujarat is ready to take off, with basic infrastructural facilities for its first phase of development are set to be completed by this September, according to officials. Dholera, which is a project conceived under the then Chief minister and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is being developed from the scratch as a smart city, where the government will build robust infrastructure for industrial development in this saline region near the Gulf of Khambhat. "Basic infrastructure for the the Dholera Special Investment Region, initiation area of 22.5 kms will be ready by September 2019," CEO of Dholera Special Investment Region Development Authority (DSIRDA) Jai Prakash Shivhare told reporters Sunday. "Many countries, especially China, are developing new cities. India has developed many green field cities," he said, adding that Dholera is the first greenfield industrial city that is being developed in the country. ...
Carcasses of 12 crows found at Muzaffarpur village
Carcasses of about 12 crows were found in an orchard in Muzaffarpur district on Sunday morning, triggering fear of suspected bird flu among the locals. District Animal Husbandry Officer,Dr Manoj Kumar, said prima facie it did not appear to be a case of bird flu. The crows were found dead in a mango orchard at Chandanpatti village under Sakra block. An Animal Husbandry Department team, led by Dr Manoj Kumar, reached the mango orchard after the villagers informed the district administration about the death of the crows. An officer of the team examined the dead birds and said that prima facie, no symptoms of bird flu have been found in the dead crows. Samples of the dead crows would be sent to a laboratory for an in-depth analysis, he said. Carcasses of eight crows had been found in College of Arts and Crafts at Patna following which the institute was closed till January 5. Around 400 chickens were found dead at a poultry farm at a village in Bikram block of Patna district ..
Oil sardine catch may go down during coming years: CMFRI
The Indian oil sardine stock along the Kerala coast is likely to suffer a setback during the coming years, according to the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).
30 killed in gold mine collapse in Afghanistan: officials
At least 30 people were killed when a gold mine collapsed in northeastern Afghanistan on Sunday, officials said, in the latest tragedy to strike the war-torn country. Another seven were injured in the incident in Kohistan district of Badakhshan province, district governor Mohammad Rustam Raghi told AFP. Villagers had dug a 60-metre (200-feet) deep shaft in a river bed to search for gold. They were inside when the walls fell in. It was not clear why the shaft collapsed, but the provincial governor's spokesman Nik Mohammad Nazari told AFP the miners were not professionals. "The villagers have been involved in this business for decades with no government control over them," Nazari said. "We have sent a rescue team to the area, but villagers have already started removing bodies from the site.
3 poachers held in Dudhwa reserve
Three poachers were caught red-handed laying traps for herbivorous animals in forests of Mailani range in the buffer zone of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, officials said Sunday. "The poachers were caught red-handed late on Saturday night when they were laying half a dozen 'khabars' (nets used to trap spotted deer, wild boars, etc). Three poachers were caught on the spot. Some of their accomplices managed to escape, " Field Director Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) Ramesh Kumar Pandey told PTI. Pandey lauded the forest patrolling team and said forest guard Mohd Umar and his team would be felicitated for their commendable job.
Kullu's Bhoothnath bridge closed for traffic after cracks were seen
The Bhoothnath bridge in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district has been closed for vehicular traffic for a month after it developed cracks, an official said Sunday. Opened about five years ago, the bridge near Kullu city bus stand and Bhootnath temple has developed cracks and is not safe for vehicular traffic, Kullu Deputy Commissioner Yunus said. He said the bridge has been closed till February 5 for its repair on the recommendation of the Public Works Department (PWD). Special arrangements are being made for smooth and uninterrupted flow of traffic in Kullu city till then, he added. The 96-metre-long double-lane bridge over the Beas river at Bhoothnath was constructed at a cost of Rs 10 crore and was inaugurated by then chief minister Virbhadra Singh on October 9, 2013.
Forest cover in NE states: Parl panel asks Environment Ministry to arrest declining trend
Noting that forest cover in the northeastern states of the country decreased in 2017 compared to what it was in 2015, a parliamentary panel has recommended the Environment ministry to take necessary steps to arrest the declining trend. The ministry, in its action taken report to the panel, has said that special attention is being given towards increasing forest cover in the northeastern states. This was mentioned in the 321st report on action taken by the ministry on the recommendations contained in the 313th report of the department-related parliamentary standing committee on science and technology, environment and forest on the demands for grants (2018-19) of the Environment ministry. Giving its suggestion under 'Green India Mission-National Afforestation Programme (GIM-NAP)', the committee noted that one of the mandates of the Environment ministry is afforestation and regeneration of degraded forests. The panel said it is happy to note that forest and tree cover of the country has .
Bird population increases by more than 1.5 lakh in Chilika
The bird population in Chilika, Asia's largest brackish water lagoon located in Odisha, has increased this year by over 1.55 lakh when compared to last winter, forest officials said. The annual bird census conducted by the Chilika wildlife Division on Friday revealed that a total of 10,47,868 birds belonging to 181 different species have taken shelter in 1,100 sq km vast lagoon this winter, they said. These included 105 different species of waterfowls and 76 species of water dependent birds, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Chilika Wildlife Division, Bikash Ranjan Das, said. Last winter a total of 8,93,390 birds belonging to 147 different species had been counted in the lake, he said. The Nalabana island inside the lake continued to be the most favourite destination for the winged guests, as the highest number of migratory birds took shelter in the 15.59 sq km sanctuary area this year. The census has revealed that this winter a total of 3,93,541 of migratory birds ...
3 Bhutanese arrested for smuggling rhino horn, elephant tusk
Three Bhutanese citizens were arrested in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district with an illegal consignment of a rhino horn and an elephant tusk, an official said on Sunday.