Page 266 - Environment
Karnataka to give funds for Bengaluru suburban train network (Lead, Correcting Para 3)
The Karnataka government on Thursday agreed to give its share of the Bengaluru suburban train project cost from the state budget for fiscal 2019-20, an official statement said.
Karnataka to give funds for Bengaluru suburban train network
The Karnataka government on Thursday agreed to give its share of the Bengaluru suburban train project cost from the state budget for fiscal 2019-20, an official statement said.
BJP govt has given Rs 50,000-cr aid to Maha farmers: Fadnavis
The BJP-led government in Maharashtra has given financial assistance of Rs 50,000 crore to farmers in the last four-and-a-half years, much more than the erstwhile Congress-NCP administration, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Thursday. Fadnavis said his government is working for the poor and common people and a slew of welfare schemes have been implemented for them in the state. He said the BJP-led government is committed to farmer welfare and since taking charge in October 2014, it has provided Rs 50,000 crore in financial aid to cultivators. More help will be made available to farmers, he said. In comparison, the previous Congress-NCP government had given only Rs 20,000 crore-Rs 22,000 crore to farmers in 15 years of its rule, said Fadnavis. He was speaking after the inauguration of construction work of an administrative building, a government guest house and other development works at Phulambri tehsil here in central Maharashtra. Fadnavis said his government is ...
GRAP restricts entry of truck in Delhi from January 4
In the view of 'Severe+' conditions that have been prevailing in the national capital region for more than a day, the Graded Response Action Plan for Delhi & NCR (GRAP) has restricted trucks from entering Delhi from 11 pm on January 4 to 11 pm on January 5th.The above regulation has come after the 'Severe+' conditions continued for 31 hours consecutively exceeding 300 ug/m3 for PM25. It has also been observed that while PM10 levels are marginally exceeding 500 ug/m3, PM25 levels are much higher reaching up to 350 ug/m3. According to the Task Force, this is why combustion sources require priority attention.In addition, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that presently, the wind speed is around 10 kilometre per hour (kmph) and is likely to increase resulting in better dispersion. There is also a forecast of rain in the evening of January 5th and January 6th."The Task Force further opined that the measures already in force must continue with intensified action by ...
Delhi air quality 'severe', trucks barred from entering Delhi
As Delhi continued to breathe toxic air for over 30 hours, the Supreme Court-appointed EPCA on Thursday issued directions to take urgent measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) from Friday and stop the entry of trucks in the city for a day.
Kolkata-bound ivory worth Rs 1.69 crore seized
In a major success against wildlife parts smuggling, sleuths of Revenue Intelligence have recovered over 16 kg of ivory worth Rs 1.69 crore in the international market from a place near Siliguri in Bengal, officials said on Thursday.
PM Modi ignoring issues of farmers: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the condition of farmers, alleging that on one hand the PM is not waiving their loans and on the other he is giving a "license of loot" to his "suit-boot friends". Citing a media report, he said in Narendra Modi's rule farmers are getting only Rs 490, after making an investment of Rs 90,000. "On one hand Prime Minister Modi is not waiving the loans of farmers, on the other hand he is giving a license of loot to his suit-boot friends in the name of crop insurance and watching the back of farmers being broken. "Farmers give life to the country. The Modi government is not letting them live," he said in a Facebook post. Earlier in the day, the Congress chief cited another media report which claimed that the Agriculture Ministry has told the Estimates Committee that if effective steps are not taken in a timely manner then by 2050 production of wheat could decrease by up to 23 per cent. "The very ...
Gadkari to inaugurate road projects in Rajasthan
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari will on Saturday inaugurate three national highway projects and lay the foundation stones for three others, at Jodhpur in Rajasthan.
Tiger cub found dead in Pench reserve, Maharashtra
The half-eaten carcass of a female tiger cub was found in Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra's Nagpur district Thursday morning, a senior forest official said. The dead cub, around 12 months old, was the offspring of a tigress known as 'T-15', said Field Director of the reserve Ravikiran Govekar. During a routine patrolling, forest guard Komal Davkare found a severed hind leg of a cub near a stream in Devlapar range, he said. Rest of the carcass, partially eaten, was found within hundred metres from the spot. Preliminary investigation showed that the cub was attacked by another tiger, probably a dominant male, Govekar said. Devlapar range is known for a high density of tigers. As per the latest estimates, it is home to 38 adult tigers.
Entry of trucks into Delhi banned for 24 hrs from Friday night: EPCA
Entry of trucks to Delhi would be stopped for 24 hours starting 11 pm Friday in view of the severe pollution in the national capital, the Supreme Court-appointed EPCA has instructed authorities. In a letter to chief secretaries of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) chief Bhure Lal directed them to stop the entry of truck traffic into Delhi, except essential commodities, from 11 pm on January 4 to 11 pm of January 5. "The enforcement of this direction requires coordination of all NCR (National Capital Region) states and you are therefore, requested to take steps to ensure that this happens. "Also, the opening of the Eastern and Western Expressway will make this easier to implement as the trucks that are not destined for Delhi now have convenient alternative to take," Lal said. The decision has been taken in view of the severe pollution level in the national capital for over 31 hours. Lal also urged people to minimise use of personal ...
Modi to lay foundation stone for three highway projects in Odisha
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Saturday lay the foundation stone for three national highway projects of nearly 200 km at Baripada in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
Gadkari to launch highway projects in Raj on Jan 5
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari will lay foundation stone and launch highway projects worth Rs 5,379 crore in Rajasthan, the government said Thursday. The minister will lay foundation stone for highway projects worth Rs 3,631.20 crore besides launching others worth Rs 1,747.54 crore, the Road Transport and Highways Ministry said in a statement. Foundation stone would be laid for widening of Dangiyavas-Keru-Nagaur section of Jodhpur ring road to four lanes, two/four laning of Gagariya-Bawri Kalan-Sedwa-Bakhasar section of NH-925 and Sata-Gandhav section of NH-925A. Besides, foundation stone would be laid for widening of Munabav-Sundra-Myajlar-Dhanana-Asutar-Ghotaru-Tanot section of NH-70 to two lanes. These projects have a total length of 545.456 km. The projects to be launched include widening of Jaisalmer-Barmer section of NH-68, widening of Barmer-Sanchor-Gujarat Border (upto Gandhav Bridge) section of NH-68 to two/four lanes and widening of Falodi-Jaisalmer section of NH-15 (new ...
BSES Delhi discoms ink deal to procure 200 MW wind power at low rate
Announcing a successful effort for a cleaner enviroment, Delhi electricity distribution company (discom) BSES on Thursday said it has signed a power sale agreement with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to procure 200 MW at competitive rates.
Delhi's air quality remains severe due to adverse meteorological conditions
Delhi's air quality remained severe for a second consecutive day on Thursday due to adverse meteorological conditions and authorities said relief is expected only if "sufficient amount" of rainfall occurs and the air gets cleansed. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the overall air quality index (AQI) in the city reached 443, which is in the 'severe' category. Thirty areas in Delhi recorded 'severe' air quality, while three areas gauged 'very poor' air quality, it said. According to the data, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Noida recorded 'severe' air quality. 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 343 while the PM10 level was at 522, 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 that between 401 and 500 is 'severe'. Wind speed is likely to remain "highly unfavourable" for .
To meet peak demand in Delhi, BSES to buy 200 MW wind power from SECI
The BSES power discoms will purchase 200 MW of wind power at economical rates that will help them support the peak demand in Delhi at night, said a spokesperson of the company. Under a 25-year agreement, the BSES Yamuna Power Limited(BYPL) and the BSES Rajdhani Power Limited(BRPL) will buy wind power at the rate of Rs 2.84 per unit, he said. The discoms have inked power sale agreements with SECI (Solar Energy Corporation of India) to buy 200 MW (100-MW each) of wind-power. "The power is expected to be available to the discoms from 2020-21 for a period of 25 years," he said. With this, the two discoms will be getting a total of 600 MW of wind power. Earlier, BRPL and BYPL had signed agreements to procure 250 MW and 150 MW of wind-power, respectively. 50 MW of this wind power has already started flowing from October 2018 and another 50 MW is expected to be available over the next couple of months and the remaining portion will be available gradually from November 2019, he said.
Annual bird census starts in Odisha
The annual bird census in different forest divisions in Odisha started on Thursday, officials said. The bird counting started with 26 teams including five experts, three ACFs and 70 forest officials engaged in the exercise in Brahmagiri, Nandankanan, Similipal and other forest divisions, they said. Each team has been provided with binoculars, two-way radio (walkie-talkie), GPS scale and other equipments. Five boats have been engaged for the movement of teams in Brahmagiri forest division. Three units consisted of 10 officials each, have been formed for the Brahmagiri wildlife range, the official said adding that there could be a rise in the number of avian species this time in comparison to last year. Similar exercise has also begun in forest divisions of Mayurbhanj district, including Simlipal, Baripada, Rairangpur and Karanjia. Officials said that the bird counting will be conducted in Chilika Lake which included Nalabana Bird Sanctuary on January 4. The counting of ..
Leh, Kargil districts to have solar power projects
Leh and Kargil districts of the Ladakh region will soon have solar power projects under the state-run Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), officials said Thursday. As a part of its ambitious plan to build 23 GW solar power projects in Ladakh, SECI Wednesday issued tenders for construction of 7.5 GW solar power projects in the first phase, they added. As per the tender document, two solar power projects will be built in Phase-1 -- a 2.5 GW capacity project in the Zangla region of Kargil and a 5 GW project in the Pang region of Leh. The drawl point for the 2.5GW project is tentatively planned to be New Wanpoh, while for the 5GW project, it will be Hisar in Punjab. SECI will sign a 35-year power purchase agreement with the project developers, who will get a maximum of 54 months to get the projects running, they added. India will soon call bids to set up 23,000 mega watt (MW) solar power projects in Ladakh. The high-altitude Himalayan region has huge potential for solar power ...
Entry of trucks into Delhi may be banned if pollution continues to be severe on Friday: CPCB
Entry of trucks in the national capital may be banned if the pollution level does not reduce by Friday morning, the Central Pollution Control Board-led task force recommended on Thursday. Noting that "combustion sources require priority attention", the CPCB-led taskforce called for intensification of measures already in force. "The task force opines that measures already in force must continue with intensified action by implementing agencies particularly with regard to traffic congestion, open burning of waste, industrial emissions," the taskforce said. "In case the situation does not improve by tomorrow morning (Friday), entry of truck traffic into Delhi (except essential commodities) may be stopped," it said. The taskforce also urged people to minimise use of personal vehicles and avoid prolonged exposure to the outdoor air. "The severe condition has continued for 31 hrs consecutively exceeding 300 g/m3 for PM2.5. It is observed that while PM10 levels are marginally exceeding 500 ...
India-France making 'satisfactory progress' on nuclear power plant pact: Govt
India and France have made "satisfactory progress" on an agreement to develop six reactors of a 10,000 MW nuclear power plant project in Maharashtra, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) told the Parliament on Thursday. The Industrial Way Forward Agreement was signed between the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), which comes under the DAE, and the Electricite de France (EDF) on March 10 last year for the "implementation" of the reactors at Jaitapur in Maharashtra. Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh told the Rajya Sabha that "both the governments noted that satisfactory progress had been made in pursuance of the Industrial Way Forward Agreement in 2018 between NPCIL and EDF and adopted the status of progress for implementation." He said this in a written reply to a question in the Upper House. Singh handles the DAE, which comes under the PMO. The agreement was exchanged on March 10 last year by the then DAE secretary Sekhar Basu and EDF ...
PM to lay foundation stone for Rs 3,318 cr highway projects in Odisha on Saturday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for Rs 3,318 crore highway projects in Odisha on January 5, the government said on Thursday. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi will do Bhoomi Pujan for three national highway projects of nearly 200 kilometres worth Rs 3,318 crore in Baripada in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha this Saturday," Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in a statement. The projects include four laning of Rimuli-Koida section of NH-215 (new NH-520), Koida-Rajamunda section of NH-215 (new NH-520) and Singara-Binjabahal section of NH-6 (new NH-49). The works include construction of four bypasses, three flyovers, 11 vehicular underpasses, 12 major bridges, 50 minor bridges and 34 kilometres of service road. "The projects will improve inter-state connectivity between Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha, as also the connectivity of mineral rich districts with other parts and ports of the state," the statement said. The projects are likely to contribute ...