Page 263 - Environment
'ORGANICS AND MILLETS-2019' International Trade Fair to take place in Bengaluru
The much sought after Organics and Millets-2019 International Trade Fair, organized by the Government of Karnataka's Department of Agriculture, will be held from 18th to 20th January 2019 in Bengaluru's Palace Grounds.The flagship event will revolve around the theme: K-Source, celebrating the State of Karnataka as the source for Next Gen Smart Foods. International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture (ICCOA) is the knowledge partner and co-organizer for the event.The Organics and Millets International Trade Fair 2019 will comprise of four aspects. The first and most important one being the B2B meetings in which the farmers will get to interact with the international buyers. The following three aspects includes exhibition, conference and food court.The event, which is for all organic stakeholders, including farmers, buyers, sellers and exporters of organic produces and millets, will have participation of over 200 exhibitors occupying an exhibition space of 10,000 square meters ...
NGT order causes heavy traffic jam on highway
The ban on entry of heavy commercial traffic into Delhi by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) caused heavy traffic jam on Saturday on the Jaipur-Delhi highway as police forced drivers to take a U-Turn ahead of the Kherki Daula toll barrier.
Scientists to hunt microbes beneath Antarctic ice sheet
An international team of scientists will begin the new year hunting for microbes and other living specimens in an unexplored lake far beneath the surface of the Antarctic ice sheet. Led by polar scientist John Priscu of Montana State University in the US, a team of 45 scientists, drillers and support staff will drill 4,000 feet to the bottom of the ice sheet that covers Mercer Subglacial Lake about 370 miles from the South Pole. The lake, which measures nearly 62 square miles, was discovered more than a decade ago through satellite images but has never before been explored. The expedition, known as SALSA (Subglacial Antarctic Lakes Scientific Access), hopes to shed light on what kind of life can survive in such remote regions and serve as an on-Earth comparison for habitats deep inside Mars or on the ice-covered moons of Jupiter and Saturn. While Mercer will be the second subglacial lake that humans have sampled directly, Fox wrote, it will be the first time scientists will use a ...
BHEL commissions 800 MW thermal power plant in 46 months in Telangana
State-owned BHEL said it has successfully commissioned a 800 MW thermal unit within a record time of 46 months in Telangana. "The 800 MW set has been commissioned at Kothagudem Thermal Power Station (KTPS) of Telangana State Power Generation Corporation (TSGENCO)," Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) said in a statement. BHEL has executed this project on Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) basis. "Enhanced focus on expeditious project execution has resulted in BHEL creating a new benchmark of successfully commissioning a 800 MW thermal unit within a record time of 46 months. Following the successful commissioning in record time by BHEL, the power plant has attained commercial operation," it added. Besides the 1x800 MW Kothagudem project, TSGENCO had awarded the 5x800 MW Yadadri project and the 4x270 MW Bhadradari project to BHEL, which are presently under execution. BHEL is also executing the Steam Generator package at the 2x800 MW Telangana STPP for NTPC in the state, it .
Planting hedges could help curb air pollution
Outdoor pollution has become a menace, having risen at an alarming rate in the past few years. Now, according to a study, planting hedges, or a combination of trees with hedges, could curb near-road pollution exposure.The findings of the University of Surrey research have been published in the journal Atmospheric Environment.Researchers from the Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE) 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 used six roadside locations in Guildford, 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 ...
Tiger found dead in Maharashtra's Melghat Tiger Reserve
A tiger was found dead in the Melghat Tiger Reserve near Motha village in Maharashtra's Amravati on Saturday.The reason of death is still unknown.The Maharashtra government recently came under fire after a female tiger, called T-1 or Tigress Avni by forest rangers was shot dead. Avni's death had invited massive flak from animal rights activists over the manner in which the tigress was killed by forest rangers and hunters.Tigress Avni, who was believed to be responsible for the death of at least 13 people in the past two years, was gunned down by sharp-shooter Asgar Ali in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district on November 2 last year..
PM lays foundation of several irrigation projects in J'Khand
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday laid the foundation of several irrigation projects in Jharkhand, including Rs 2,391.36 crore Mandal dam, that will provide irrigation to 19,604-hectare area in Palamu and Garhwa districts. Modi, prior to addressing a public rally here, also handed over keys of houses to five beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. The Mandal dam, work on which began in 1972, but was stalled since 1993, will be built on the North Koel river in Barwadih block of Latehar district. Taking a dig at previous governments, Modi said they were least bothered about farmers' welfare in Jharkhand, and the delay in completing the Mandal dam project was proof of that. "We consider farmers as 'annadata' (provider of food), unlike the previous governments who considered them as mere vote bank," the prime minister said.
Jammu-Srinagar National Highway closed due to snowfall
The Jammu Srinagar National Highway has been closed for vehicular traffic due to heavy snowfall in the region.Kashmir is currently under the grip of Chillai-Kalan, a 40-day long period of harsh winter. Chillai-Kalan commences each year on December 21 and concludes on January 30.During this period, water bodies situated in the region freeze, due to which locals light small fires each day around rivers and water taps for the deposited snow to melt.According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum and maximum temperature in Srinagar will be hovering around -1 and 4 Degree Celsius respectively.Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh also witnessed a fresh snow spell leading to traffic snarls in various pockets of the region..
Cyclone 'Pabuk' moves towards the Andamans; yellow alert sounded
A 'yellow' alert has been sounded for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a cyclonic storm is moving towards the archipelago, theHome Ministry said on Saturday. The sea condition will be high over the Andaman Islands, the Andaman Sea and the adjoining areas of east-central and south-east Bay of Bengal till January 7 due to the cyclonic storm 'Pabuk', a home ministry official said, quoting a weather bulletin. 'Pabuk' originated over the Gulf of Thailand and neighbourhood, moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 10 kmph and lay centred over Thailand and neighbourhood, he said. The storm will become very rough over south-east and east-central Bay of Bengal, the Andaman Islands and the adjoining Andaman Sea by January 8 and rough over east-central and adjoining south-east Bay of Bengal by January 8. The sea condition will be very rough over the Nicobar Islands till Sunday. People in the Andaman Islands are advised to remain in safe places, the official said. The weather department has ...
Delhi's air quality worsens again, turns 'severe'
Delhi's air quality deteriorated again to severe category on Saturday due to unfavourable meteorological conditions after showing a slight improvement on Friday, authorities said. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city reached 417, which is in the 'severe' category. Twenty six areas in Delhi recorded 'severe' air quality, while 8 gauged 'very poor', it said. In NCR areas, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Noida recorded 'severe' air quality, the CPCB said. Delhi's air quality slightly improved on Friday with improved wind speed but due to unfavourable meteorological conditions again turned severe, officials said. The overall PM2.5 level (fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers) in Delhi was recorded at 298 while the PM10 level was at 468, the CPCB said. An AQI between 100 and 200 comes under 'moderate' category, 201 and 300 is considered 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', while
Japan sushi tycoon pays record tuna price
A Japanese sushi tycoon has paid a record $3.1 million for a giant tuna at an auction here.
NGT penalises Meghalaya govt for failing to curb illegal coal mining
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a very heavy fine on the Meghalaya government for failing to curb illegal coal mining in the state.NGT chairperson AK Goel imposed a fine worth Rs 100 crore on the state for its inaction to curb illegal mining, after a recent report filed in the NGT stated that most of the mines were operating in the state without a licence.The NGT also stated that the fine amount can be recovered from illegal miners and concerned officials, and directed the amount to be deposited in the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) within two months.Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the Union of India and Meghalaya government to file a status report in the case by Monday. It also asked the state government and Centre to file a detailed report on the action taken to rescue the 15 workers trapped in East Jaintia Hills since December 13.As many as 15 miners have been trapped in a 370-feet deep illegal mine in Lumthari village since December 13, when ..
Telangana: Forest Department warns against sale of Chinese Manza
Telangana Forest Department has warned retailers and wholesalers to not sell banned Chinese Manza (thread) to people for upcoming Sankranthi festival."The nylon thread (Chinese Manza), which is mainly used for kites flying during Sankranthi festival. Due to Chinese Manza, many birds are getting hurt and sometimes humans are also being injured by this thread. After the festival too this Manza will get entangled with trees and will exist for years together. We have found after festival also the birds are struggling on the trees," Chief Conservator of Forest Department Prashanth Kumar Jha told ANI."We are conducting awareness and also conducting raids and seizing the Manza's from the shops. Till now we have made 120 seizures in which around 900 kgs of Chinese Manza have been seized," Jha added.
SAC approves Rs 186 cr project for rejuvenation of Devika, Tawi rivers in J-K
The Jammu and Kashmir State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here Friday under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik approved Rs 186 crore project for rejuvenation of Devika and Tawi rivers in Udhampur district of the state. The SAC approved the proposal of the Housing and Urban Development Department for implementation of the project 'Pollution Abatement of river Devika and river Tawi at Udhampur town' under the national river conservation plan (NRCP), an official spokesman said. The project will be executed at an estimated cost of Rs 186.74 crore based on 90:10 funding pattern between the Union government and the state, he said. Both the rivers are considered sacred by the people. However, pollution levels and silt deposition over the years have increased, he said.
'Energy Storage India' conclave in Delhi on January 10-11
Industry body India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) on Friday said it will hold "Energy Storage India 2019" conclave on renewable energy integration and energy storage on January 10-11.
Over 55% renewable energy MoUs signed in Vibrant Gujarat investors summits dropped
The Gujarat Government maintains that the state has been leading the renewable energy sector, but the latest numbers emerging from the biennial Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor Summit since 2003 do not support the claims.
PM to inaugurate 6 irrigation projects in J'khand
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate six irrigation projects, including the Rs 2,391.36 crore Mandal dam that will provide irrigation to 19,604 hectare in Palamau and Garhwa districts, Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das said Friday. The prime minister will inaugurate six ambitious irrigation projects on Saturday, which will speed up the progress of Palamau and Garhwa districts," Das told reporters here. The Mandal dam, work on which began in 1972, but has been stalled since 1993, will be built on North Koel river under Barwadih block in Latehar district, an official release said. It said foundation stone will also be laid for the Sone canal pipeline irrigation project worth Rs 1,169.28 crore, benefiting Garhwa district. Four other projects for which the foundation stones will be laid are: renovation and lining work of Bater Vier Irrigation Project, renovation of Bain Banki Reservoir Project, renovation and lining work of Anjanva Reservoir Project and ...
PM to visit Jharkhand, Odisha on January 5
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting two states, Jharkhand and Odisha, on January 5, said an official statement by PMO on Friday.
NGT imposes Rs 100 cr fine on Meghalaya govt for failing to curb illegal mining
The National Green Tribunal Friday imposed a fine of whopping Rs 100 crore on the Meghalaya government for its failure to curb illegal coal mining in the state. A senior advocate, who is assisting the tribunal as an amicus curiae in the matter, said a report of a high-level committee was submitted on January 2 before a bench headed by NGT chairperson A K Goel. The report stated that majority of the mines in the north eastern state were operating without a lease or licence. The Tribunal imposed Rs 100 crore fine on the state government as a "deterrent" and for its "inaction" to curb illegal mining in the north eastern state. The lawyer said during the hearing, the state government admitted that a large number of mines were operating illegally. At least 15 miners are trapped in the 370 foot-deep illegal coal mine in Lumthari village of East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya since December 13 and all efforts to pump the water out of flooded mine have been in vain. Senior advocate Raj ..
No 'good' air quality day for Patna in 2018
Bihar's capital city Patna did not see even a single "good" air quality day throughout the year gone by, according to a report by the Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED).