Page 279 - Environment
Coast Guard to check uninhabited areas along K'taka, Goa coast to find missing trawler
With the search operation launched by the Coast Guard to trace the missing trawler 'Suvarna Tribhuja' off Karnataka and Goa waters yielding little success, the maritime agency is now looking at uninhabited areas along the coasts of these two states, a senior official said. The Coast Guard has also approached the Maharashtra government to check whether the ship had ventured in its waters. The ship, carrying seven crew members, belonged to one Nityanand Kotian. The last contact established with the ship was on December 16, the official said. The Coast Guard had launched an operation to trace the fishing trawler on December 22 with its multiple ships and aircraft. "We have not been able to trace the ship despite the search and rescue efforts over the last few days. The ship owner had given a location off the Goa coast, but there was no trace of any ship at that location," the official said. He said there were chances of engine failure of the trawler and in such cases, they take time to ..
Nepal's capital Kathmandu experiences year's lowest temperature
Nepal's capital Kathmandu experienced the coldest day of the year on Wednesday with minimum temperature dipping to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the Met department said. The minimum temperature on Tuesday was recorded at 2.6 degrees Celsius. The extreme minimum temperature ever recorded for Kathmandu was -2 degrees Celsius on December 31 in 1977. The dip in temperature has been mainly attributed to westerly winds from the Mediterranean Sea, Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD) said. It said the rising pollution level was also responsible for the lowering of temperature in Kathmandu. "The radiations from the sun cannot reach the land surface in adequate amount as it is blocked by the blanket of pollutants over the skies," said Meen Kumar Aryal, a meteorologist at MFD. The temperature is likely to drop further in the coming days, the MFD said, adding that there is less chance of rain.
One-horned rhino killed in Bengal, 3 arrested
A one-horned rhino was found dead with its horn chopped off at Gorumara National Park in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district and three people were arrested, an official said on Wednesday.
BJP didn't provide funds for loan waiver of Andhra farmers: Naidu
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday trained his guns at the BJP-led central government, accusing them of not providing adequate funds for loan waiver of the farmers in the state despite repeated requests.Speaking after the release of a white paper on 'farmer welfare' here, Naidu said: "After we came to power in 2014, we took up initiatives for the welfare of the farmers. I thought to give a loan waiver. I appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce it publicly in our joint public meeting. But he denied claiming that he would be compelled to announce the loan waiver across the country. The Centre denied providing funds for loan waiver. The state has no funds in hand. But we are committed to waive loans for the farmers."Talking about the agriculture sector which was in a bad shape after he took office, Naidu said that when agriculture is developed, purchasing power will increase and other sectors will also witness a similar growth."While coastal ...
Government Reorienting Agriculture Sector By Focusing On Income-centeredness
The Government has been reorienting the agriculture sector by focusing on an income-centeredness which goes beyond achieving merely the targeted production, noted a latest update from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. The income approach focuses on achieving high productivity, reduced cost of cultivation and remunerative price on the produce, with a view to earn higher profits from farming.
Small changes in oxygen levels have big implications for ocean life: Study
Even slight levels of ocean oxygen loss, or deoxygenation, have big consequences for tiny marine organisms called zooplankton, according to a study. Zooplankton are important components of the food web in the expanse of deep, open ocean called the midwater, said researchers from the University of Rhode Island in the US. Within this slice of ocean below the surface and above the seafloor are oxygen minimum zones (OMZs), large regions of very low oxygen, according to the study published in the journal Science Advances. Unlike coastal "dead zones" where oxygen levels can suddenly plummet and kill marine life not acclimated to the conditions, zooplankton in OMZs are specially adapted to live where other organisms -- especially predators -- cannot. However, OMZs are expanding due to climate change, and even slight changes to the low oxygen levels can push zooplankton beyond their extraordinary physiological limits. "Although the animals in the ocean's oxygen minimum zone have adapted over .
Taiwan searches for 152 missing Vietnamese tourists
A search was underway for 152 Vietnamese who arrived in Taiwan on tourist visas, authorities said Wednesday, as local media reported they may have come to the island to work illegally. The tourists were issued visas under an initiative launched three years ago to attract more visitors to Taiwan from south and southeast Asia. A total of 153 Vietnamese nationals arrived in southern Kaohsiung city over the weekend - and only one has been tracked down, according to Taiwan's National Immigration Agency. "The agency has set up a taskforce and worked with the police to investigate the tourists who are unaccounted for and the group behind them," it said in a statement, without elaborating. Local media speculated that the Vietnamese may have come to Taiwan to work illegally. They face deportation and a three- to five-year ban from the island, the immigration agency said. About 150 tourists had previously gone missing under the programme, according to the Tourism Bureau, though it is not clear .
Japan to resume commercial whaling from July 2019
Japan on Wednesday announced its withdrawal from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) conservation body and said it will resume commercial whale hunting from July 2019, a move that is likely to draw international criticism.
Delhi's air quality very poor, MeT conditions slightly favourable for pollutant dispersion
The air quality of the national capital was recorded in the 'very poor' category as slightly improved meteorological conditions marginally favoured dispersion of pollutants, authorities said. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed the overall air quality index (AQI) at 'very poor' level of 396, while the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) showed an AQI of 369 which too falls in the 'very poor' category. According to the CPCB data, 21 areas recorded severe pollution, while 13 areas witnessed 'very poor' air quality. In NCR, Ghaziabad recorded 'severe' air quality while Faridabad, Gurgaon and Noida recorded 'very poor' air quality. The overall PM2.5 level -- fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometer -- was recorded at 249 and the PM10 level at 378 here, the CPCB said. The national capital recorded its second highest pollution level of the year on Sunday with an AQI of 450. The air quality remained ...
Government To Make All Meters Smart Prepaid In 3 Years
Ministry of Power, Government of India has decided to make all meters smart prepaid in 3 years from 1st April, 2019. This step is likely to bring revolution in power sector by way of reduction in AT&C losses, better health of DISCOMs, incentivisation of energy conservation, ease of bill payments and doing away with the paper bills.
Japan to restart commercial whaling from July 2019
Japan on Wednesday announced its withdrawal from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) conservation body and that it will restart commercial whaling from July, 2019.
GM plants can remove cancer-causing pollutants from home
Scientists have genetically modified a common houseplant to remove cancer-causing pollutants from our homes. While a variety of air filters in our homes can keep allergens and dust particles at bay, some hazardous compounds are too small to be trapped in these filters. Small molecules like chloroform, which is present in small amounts in chlorinated water, or benzene, which is a component of gasoline, build up in our homes when we shower or boil water, or when we store cars or lawn mowers in attached garages. Both benzene and chloroform exposure have been linked to cancer. Researchers at the University of Washington in the US have genetically modified a common houseplant pothos ivy to remove chloroform and benzene from the air around it. The modified plants express a protein, called 2E1, that transforms these compounds into molecules that the plants can then use to support their own growth, according to the study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. "People
Goodyear India announces plant closure
In Faridabad
At 3.6, Delhi records lowest temperature so far
It was a bitter cold morning in the national capital on Wednesday as the mercury dipped to 3.6 degrees Celsius, four notches below the season's average -- the lowest so far this season, the Met said.
Japan: Commercial whaling to be resumed
Japan has decided to withdraw from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) next year onwards, and will resume commercial whaling in its territorial waters from July."In its long history, Japan has used whales not only as a source of protein but also for a variety of other purposes," CNN reported while quoting an official statement."Engagement in whaling has been supporting local communities, and thereby developed the life and culture of using whales," the release further mentioned.Meanwhile, Japan will stop whaling activities in the Antarctic Ocean and hunt those whale species that have a "healthy" population.Conservation and pro-animal groups have slammed the decision with Greenpeace Japan calling on the Japanese government for the conservation of marine ecosystem."The declaration today is out of step with the international community, let alone the protection needed to safeguard the future of our oceans and these majestic creatures. The government of Japan must urgently act to ...
Malaysia reviewing palm oil export taxes amid bulging stockpiles
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia, the world's second-largest palm oil producer, is reviewing the duty structure for its exports of the edible oil, according to its minister in charge of agriculture produced for export, to boost demand and reduce burgeoning stockpiles.
Japan announces IWC withdrawal, will resume commercial whaling
Japan said Wednesday it is withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission and will resume commercial whaling next year, in a move expected to spark international criticism. The announcement had been widely expected and comes after Japan failed in a bid earlier this year to convince the IWC to allow it to resume commercial whaling. "We have decided to withdraw from the International Whaling Commission in order to resume commercial whaling in July next year," top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga told reporters. "Commercial whaling... will be limited to Japan's territorial waters and exclusive economic zones. We will not hunt in the Antarctic waters or in the southern hemisphere," Suga added. Tokyo has repeatedly threatened to pull out of the body, and has been regularly criticised for catching hundreds of whales a year for "scientific research" despite being a signatory to a moratorium on hunting the animals. Suga said Japan would officially inform the IWC of its decision by ..
Land acquired for Tata project to be returned to farmers: Chhattisgarh Govt
Hours after being inducted into the Cabinet, Chhattisgarh minister Ravindra Choubey on Tuesday announced that the land that was acquired for the Tata steel project in Bastar region will be returned to the farmers."More than 1700 hectares of land that was acquired for the now-abandoned Tata Steel project in Bastar region has been taken back for not fulfilling the conditions of lease deed. The land will be returned to the farmers," said Ravindra Choubey.The announcement came after Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel ordered officials to bring a proposal in the cabinet to return farmers' land acquired for a Tata Steel project in tribal-dominated Lohandiguda area of Bastar in 2008.According to an official statement, Baghel has issued directions to the concerned officials to bring the proposal in the next cabinet meeting.On the lines of the promises made in the election manifesto, Baghel has ordered officials to immediately initiate the process of returning the land to farmers of 10
Rupani completes 1 year in office; gifts Rs 666-crore projects
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani Tuesday inaugurated or laid foundation stones for projects worth Rs 666 crore across the state to mark the completion of one year in office. As many as 5,538 projects related to the education sector were launched by Rupani from Gandhinagar, said a government release. Rupani had taken oath as the Chief Minister of Gujarat for a second time on December 26 last year after the ruling BJP retained power in the elections held that month. The CM either inaugurated or laid foundation stones for projects worth Rs 666 through remote control from a function held at the Gandhinagar Civil Hospital. These projects included 5,179 newly-built classrooms of schools and colleges, nine polytechnic college buildings and 350 anganwadi centres, the release said. During the event, Rupani also interacted with beneficiaries, students, parents and anganwadi workers of 21 district through video conferencing facility. December 25, the birthday of former Prime ...
J-K admin notifies new Compensatory Afforestation Fund Rules
The governor's administration has approved the new Jammu and Kashmir Compensatory Afforestation Fund Rules, 2018 for the state, officials said Tuesday. The new rules will further streamline working of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) and institutionalise concurrent monitoring of works executed under the CAMPA funds, the officials said. Commissioner Secretary Forest, Ecology and Environment, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi said the transfer of forest land for non-forestry purposes is governed by the Jammu and Kashmir Forest Conservation Act, 1997. "User agencies are required to pay compensation for trees and cost of compensatory afforestation in lieu of the forest land diverted for non-forestry purposes. Besides, the value of ecosystem goods and services of forests, termed 'Net Present Value' (NPV) is charged from user agencies," he said. Dwivedi said the Supreme Court in its order directed that a Compensatory Afforestation Fund be created in which all .