Page 31 - Environment
Corbett administration recommends closure of night facility at Dhikala zone
The Corbett Tiger Reserve administration has recommended closure of night stay facility at its Dhikala zone as it posed a threat to wildlife especially tigers. Officiating Director of the reserve Sanjiv Chaturvedi made the recommendation in a letter to forest authorities here on Saturday. The CTR is the only tiger reserve in the country to offer night stay facility to visitors in its core area, Chaturvedi said in the letter. Dhikala falls into the core zone of the reserve. "Due to the sensitive nature of the core area and security of wildlife, especially tigers, no tiger reserve in the country allows night stay in its core area except Corbett," the letter read. It is not good for the wildlife inhabiting the reserve as the staff are busy looking after visitors rather than focusing on their main responsibility of wildlife conservation and habitat development,it said. The loss in terms of revenue to be caused by the closure of the facility can be offset by increasing the number of ...
Major drive to revive wetlands, ponds in Noida
The Noida Authority is planning revival of at least six wetlands lost due to unregulated human activities before the monsoon season, according to officials. The action comes close on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi writing to all village heads across the country, stressing on the idea of conserving water during rains, the officials said. Now, the Noida Authority aims to mobilise public support for conversation of water during monsoon and revive wetlands in Sector 91, Sector 85, Gejha and Bakhtawarpur villages besides the two at the upcoming biodiversity park, a senior official said. "At Sector-91, there is a wetland area spread across 12 acres which has remained neglected for a long time. Now the rubble and other kinds of waste surrounding the area has been removed while channels are being widened for harvesting and storage of rainwater during monsoons,"Noida Authority's General Manager Rajeev Tyagi said. He said native grass varieties and trees are being planted to ...
Walkathon organised to promote 'greener and safer Bengaluru'
A walkathon was organised on Sunday as part of a campaign for "greener and safer Bengaluru".With an aim to spread awareness about climate change and depleting water levels in the state, people marched across the city in the morning. The walkathon started from CV Raman General Hospital in Indira Nagar area."Climate conditions have changed drastically over the years. Water levels have also gone down. Our motive is to spread awareness among people to plant more trees," said Kamal, a participant in the Walkathon.Another participant echoed similar sentiments."Even though I am not from the city, I care for the future of our generation. The water level has come down in the state and trees are being cut. This is alarming," said Rahul.
Agriculture operation picks up in Ganjam district
Agriculture operation has picked up in Odisha's Ganjam district following widespread rainfall in last three days, officials said. "The much awaited rains will help the farmers to start agriculture operation, particularly sowing and transplantation of paddy," said Deputy Director Agriculture (DDA) of Ganjam district, Manoj Kumar Behera. Though the arrival of rains was delayed, it is not too late for sowing operation, he said. The agriculture operation, which generally starts just before Raja festival in the district was not taking place due to delay in the arrival of the southwest monsoon. "We will start seed sowing and in some places transplantation with rains lashing all areas in the district," said Ashok Nayak, a farmer in Mathura in Polasara block. The district administration has set a target to cultivate around 2.10 lakh hectares of paddy cultivation during this kharif season as against the last year's achievement of 2.08 lakh hectares, said an official. The ...
Mangaluru: 40 admitted to hospital over suspicion of dengue; one confirmed
About 40 people have been admitted to a hospital here in Gujjarakere in the last three weeks over suspicion of dengue. However, only one case of dengue has been confirmed so far."There has been a rise in fever cases in Gujjarakere in the last three weeks. There are around 40 cases of dengue but only one has been confirmed so far. The problem is water stagnation, which is causing mosquitoes to breed in this area. We are taking preventive measures and will surely control the situation," Dr Arun, District Vector Borne Disease Control Officer, Mangaluru, said while speaking to ANI.In Karnataka, there has been a 26.5 per cent rise in the number of positive dengue cases from January to May this year in comparison to last year, as per Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by dengue virus. Its symptoms include high fever, skin rash, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains.
20 turtles seized from Mumbai's Crawford Market, one held
As many as 20 Indian roofed turtles and a parrot were seized from Crawford Market (Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market) here on Saturday, police said.The raid was conducted by the state forest department, Wildlife Mumbai and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau with the help of an animal welfare NGO. One person has been arrested.A case has been registered and further investigation is underway.
Union minister launches activities for water conservation in Jodhpur
Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Saturday kicked off the 'Shramdaan'--activities involving measures to conserve water-- in Rajasthan's Jodhpur, a statement said. The minister also launched the Swachh Bharat Summer Internship (SBSI)-2019 in the state. To promote water conservation across the country ahead of the monsoon season, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had written to village sarpanches, urging them to undertake rainwater harvesting and water conservation activities. Gram sabhas were convened across the country on Saturday and the prime minister's letter was read out publicly to villagers. The sitting of the gram sabhas was followed by the Shramdaan. Activities included building and cleaning of small ponds for storing rainwater, tree plantation drives, constructing, installing storage tanks for rainwater harvesting and afforestation. The Ministry of Jal Shakti, in association with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and the National Cadet Corps (NCC) had ...
Nepal, Bangladesh agree for joint investment in hydropower projects
Nepal and Bangladesh have agreed to make joint investments in hydropower projects.The decision was taken at the Energy Secretary level meeting between the two nations on Friday which included the projects covered by the whitepaper issued by the previous meeting a year back."The Energy Ministry had included the projects ensuring at least one in each State. Energy Secretary, Dinesh Kumar Ghimire, informed that the recent meeting agreed for the joint investment on hydropower, collaboration, and cooperation on alternative energy and electricity export to Bangladesh," report from Nepal's state news agency -- Rashtriya Samachar Samiti -- said.The whitepaper issued by Nepal's Finance Ministry a year back had included 962 MW capacity holding Tamor reservoir, 800 MW Dudhkoshi project which has a reservoir, 725 MW Upper Arun, 450 MW Kimathanka Arun, 679 MW Lower Arun.Likewise, Sunkoshi-II 1,110 MW, Sunkoshi-III 536 MW, Tamakoshi-V 101 MW, Khimti Shiwalaya 500 MW and Kokhajor Reservoir 111 MW ...
Rain water harvesting only solution to hard water problem: UP minister
Rain water harvesting is the only solution to the hard water problem afflicting villages in Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh Minister Chaudhary Bhupendra Singh said and sought people's cooperation to solve the problem. Use of submersible pumps should be minimised and rain water harvesting should be made a people's movement, said the Uttar Pradesh Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Panchayati Raj and PWD. At the inauguration of a rain water harvesting project in Junsuti village, Singh administered a pledge to the villagers to make the programme a grand success in letter and spirit.
Deaths due to open defecation down by two-third: Union minister
Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat here Saturday said deaths due vector-borne diseases caused by open defecation in the country had come down by two-third after the introduction of the Swachh Bharat Mission. He said five years ago, the figure stood at three lakh deaths annually, which come down to one lakh per year now. The Jal Shakti minister was on a day's visit to his constituency, Jodhpur. Inaugurating a model toilet at Narwan Khinchiyan village here, the minister said per household expenditure on the treatment of vector-borne diseases was Rs 50,000 annually. "Now, around 32 crore families with toilets have got rid of this expenditure," Shekhawat said. The minister said efforts were being made to cover left-out families. "Around nine crore toilets have been built in the country in the past five years under the Swachh Bharat Mission and this has led to a huge behavioural change," the minister claimed. Shekhawat also stressed the need for rainwater conservation. "India has 17 ..
T'gana govt seeks national status for Kaleswaram project
The Telangana government has sought national status and full funding from the Centre to its Rs 80,000 crore Kaleswaram Lift Irrigation Project. The demand was raised by the state government at the pre-budget meeting held by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Delhi Friday, official sources said. State Principal Finance Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao, who represented the state at the meeting, read out the speech of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who could not participate due to the inauguration of the mega project Friday. "The cost of the project has been mostly met from borrowings by the Kaleswaram Corporation. As the debt servicing burden is huge, we have requested the Government of India to declare it as a national project and fund the entire cost of the project," the state government said. It also said the request may be considered and adequate provision be made in the Union Budget 2019-20. The state said the project, which seeks to provide irrigation ...
Environmentalists warn: Balloons provide no joy for wildlife
Environmental advocates are raising awareness about the dangers of balloons for wildlife in the Great Lakes and elsewhere. Volunteers for the Alliance for the Great Lakes picked up more than 18,000 balloons, balloon pieces or balloon strings along Great Lakes shorelines from 2016 to 2018, the Detroit Free Press reported . Lara O'Brien, who studies at the University of Michigan's School for Environment and Sustainability, said that an Australian study published in March found balloons are the highest-risk plastic debris for seabirds. "I've seen a lot of people come together, gather and celebrate graduations, weddings, other celebrations, and they release balloons and don't really consider the consequences when the balloons come down," she said. During an annual cleanup program, the Alliance for the Great Lakes found between 4,400 and 7,200 balloons or pieces of balloon debris on Great Lakes beaches each of the last three years. The variation in the numbers can most likely be ...
Doll marriage brings villagers together in face of drought, financial crisis in Maharashtra
A doll marriage brought the people of Shivanfal together to pray for rain when drought and the acute financial crisis have hit the village.Not a single marriage has taken place in the village this year, while festivities have been put on hold. So, the villagers decided to contribute money and marry two dolls instead. It was a huge celebration, with music, revelries and a feast."The entire village is struggling with an acute financial crisis but the doll marriage brought us together. We resolved that we will contribute money and marry our kids if the same situation ever reoccurs," said Babban Khonde, a villager.Several parts of Maharashtra are in the grip of drought due to delayed monsoon rains. While the state government has promised support, many are yet to benefit from the schemes."22 people were supposed to marry this year but due to drought, nobody has any money. We are struggling here. This marriage comes as an opportunity and a lesson. We will help each other in the same manner .
Paid record sugarcane dues after assuming office: Yogi Adityanath
Accusing previous SP and BSP governments of having an "apathetic" attitude towards farmers, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said his government had accorded top priority to them, giving record sugarcane dues after assuming office. "During the SP, BSP regimes, the attitude of the government was apathetic and farmers could barely get Rs 900 per quintal for wheat but our government is giving Rs 1,860 per quintal, an official release quoting him said. "For the first time after the Independence, over Rs 70,000 crore outstanding payment was made to sugarcane farmers," he claimed. The chief minister alleged that the previous SP government had "ruined" the milk production while his government had been making efforts to promote the dairy industry and its products. "Over 14 dairies will be started soon in the state. Arrangements are being made to purchase milk from farmers so that more of them could get into the dairy industry," he said at an innovative farmers' meet, organised .
BJP MP critisises K'taka Govt's proposal of providing water to Bengaluru from Linganamakki reservoir
BJP MP from Shivamogga, BY Raghavendra on Saturday criticised the proposed project by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, through which the state government aims to provide drinking water to the citizens of Bengaluru from Linganamakki reservoir.Speaking to ANI, Raghavendra said, "Instead of developing only Bengaluru, the state government should focus on the development of the entire state. Lots of lakes and traditional water bodies have disappeared from Bengaluru due to encroachments. Instead of filling Bengaluru's traditional water bodies, the government is eying on this region ( Shivamogga).""This project will be a failure as lifting water and pumping it 430 km away from the reservoir is unscientific. I am extending support to the people of Shivamogga to save our rivers for use in our region," he added.Earlier on June 20, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister had directed officials to prepare a DPR (detailed project report) on bringing water from Linganamakki reservoir.
Constructed wetlands to help filter sewage waste flowing into Ganga
Located a few miles away from the Kanpur city, Bithoor is a historical town situated on the bank of holy river Ganga.It is the centre of Hindu pilgrimage as it is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram's sons "Luv" and "Kush".The town's population is estimated a few thousands, but it witnesses a huge rush of pilgrims during festivals.The National Mission for Clean Ganga under Namami Gange program has initiated several projects to keep the holy river clean at this historical town.To stop the discharge of sewage into the river, a project to treat 0.2 million litres per day through constructed wetland technology has been initiated.There are total 7 sewage lines flowing into the river and the work is in full swing on 5 drains to treat them through Constructed Wetland technology.Krishan Kant Khare, an engineer at Ganga Pollution Control Unit of Jal Nigam in Kanpur said, "Constructed wetland is suitable for places where sewage discharge is less. Here the discharge is only 600 KLD. At ...
Thousands join climate protests in western Germany
Thousands have joined climate protests in the western German village of Hochneukirch near one of the country's biggest lignite coal mines. Saturday's rally comes two days after European Union leaders failed to agree upon a plan to make the bloc's economy carbon neutral by 2050. German police have mobilised hundreds of officers to prevent the vast, open-cast mine and adjacent power plants from being blocked by protesters. Protester Selma Schubert said, "It's important to increase the pressure on the government." Following months of protests by students and a sharp rise in the polls for Germany's Green party, Chancellor Angela Merkel recently threw her weight behind the idea of making the entire German economy climate neutral by 2050 meaning no more man-made greenhouse gases would be added to the atmosphere.
Navy personnel don role of eco warriors to clean channel
Naval personnel here Saturday turned eco warriors by cleaning up the 2.5-km-long 'Backbay' channel to rid it of plastic and other nonbiodegradable waste. A team of 300-400 naval personnel of the INS Venduruthy Base under Southern Naval Command (SNC) led by Vice-Admiral A K Chawla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-inC), launched the drive at the channel, also known as 'Venduruthy' channel. A considerable amount of plastic waste had accumulated in the channel over the years thereby depleting mangroves and affecting the local flora and fauna, a Defence release said. The channel connects the Kollam-Kottapuram channel, and runs along the western side of the naval residential enclave of Katari Bagh. Local councillor Shakritha Suresh Babu was also present at the clean-up programme during which four truckloads of non-biodegradable waste were removed from the channel, it said. The anti-plastic endeavour coincides with the platinum jubilee year of INS Venduruthy, which is also
Bengaluru: Car crushed under a tree at Cubbon Park
A parked car was found damaged after a tree fell on it in Cubbon park here on Saturday.After the incident, part of the tree trunk whose weighed down on the Karnataka registered royal blue SUV, was sawed off. The windshield, roof and the hood of the vehicle were found to be damaged.The over 100-year-old historical Cubbon Park acts as the lung of the urban city of Bangalore and a popular visiting spot by the city's residents for its fresh ambience and varied horticulture.The southwest monsoon advanced in parts of Karnataka on Thursday and is expected to bring rains across the state including in Bengaluru this weekend according to the weather department.
Woman killed by wild elephant in C'garh
A woman was killed by a wild elephant in Raigarh district of Chhattisrgah, a forest official said Saturday. This is the fifth such death reported from the area in a month, the official said. The incident occurred Friday night in Kauhajoba village when the woman, Mangli Bai Manjhwar (55), was sleeping outside her house, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Dharamjaigarh Division, Pranay Mishra, said. "The jumbo caught hold of the woman, lifted her with its trunk and slammed her on the ground, killing her on the spot," he said. After being alerted about the incident, the forest and police personnel rushed to the spot and sent the body for post-mortem, he said. The family of the deceased was given immediate relief of Rs 25,000, while the remaining compensation will be given on the completion of all formalities, he said. With this, total five persons have lost their lives in separate elephant attacks in Raigarh district in last one month, he added. The forest personnel have ...