Page 33 - Environment
Palaniswami welcomes Kerala's water offer, says daily supply
: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Friday urged his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan to extend cooperation to store water to the full level in the Mullaperiyar dam as the state was reeling under a severe water shortage. Welcoming Kerala's gesture to supply water to Tamil Nadu, the chief minister said the neighbouring state had only offered two MLD (Million Litres per Day) for a day, whereas every day supply would help. "I thank the Kerala Chief Minister, but 2 MLD water will not be sufficient. We are everyday supplying 525 MLD water (in Chennai) and if 2 MLD water could be given everyday, it will be useful for the people," he said, addressing a press conference at the Secretariat here. A letter will be written to Kerala in this regard, he said. Earlier, he chaired a meet of top officials and Ministers to review the steps taken for proper drinking water distribution to the people in view of the scarcity situation in the state. On the Mullaperiyar dam issue, .
Rs 80,000 cr Kaleshwaram irrigation project inaugurated in
The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) worth Rs 80,000 crore, touted as the world's largest multi-stage multi-purpose scheme, was inaugurated by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao Friday. The project, considered a boon to the southern state, will provide irrigation facility for two crops in a year to 45 lakh acres, the state government said, adding it will supply 40 TMC of water to the ambitious Mission Bhagiratha drinking water supply project. It will also help in supplying drinking water to one crore population in Greater Hyderabad on a daily basis, as also 16 TMC of water to thousands of industries in the state, it said. The KLIP also throws open opportunity for hydel power generation in the state. Governor of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh E S L Narasimhan, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy were present when the barrage was opened at Medigadda in Jayashankar-Bhupalpally district. The ...
SC stays road construction in Rajaji National Park
The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the construction of a road in the reserve forest area of the Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand.A vacation bench comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Surya Kant also issued notice to the state government on a plea by an NGO.The NGO, who is working for the betterment of the environment, submitted that the authorities did not take proper legal sanction for the construction of the Laldhang-Chillarkhal road. On May 3, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had directed the Ministry of Environment and Forests, National Board for Wildlife and National Tiger Conservation Authority to provide a report by August 31 on the alleged illegal road construction in a part of the tiger reserve.Spread over an area of 820 sq. km, the park, in addition to tigers, is home to elephants, leopards, jackals, hyenas, jungle cats, bears, deers and a variety of other animals and birds.
MSRTC to recruit from 12 drought-affected Maha districts
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) will recruit 4,416 drivers and conductors directly from 12 drought-affected districts of the state as well as from the kin of farmers who have committed suicide, state Transport Minister Diwakar Raote told the state legislature Friday. The 12 districts are Aurangabad, Jalna, Parbhani, Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, Yavatmal, Dhule, Jalgaon, Nashik, Pune and Solapur, the minister said. He said out of the 4,416 posts, 504 will be reserved for socially and educationally backward category (SEBC). If this reservation cannot be implemented, then the candidates would be hired on contract basis with fixed income of Rs 15,000, he said. Speaking on the MSRTC's tree plantation driver, Raote said it has planted 27,000 saplings last year and the target for this year is 50,000 saplings.
Tamil Nadu seeks special package of Rs 1,000 cr to address water crisis
Amid a severe drinking water crisis in Tamil Nadu, state deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam Friday sought from the Centre a special package of Rs 1,000 crore to augment irrigation structures in drought-hit areas. Participating in the pre-budget consultation meeting with state finance ministers chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi, Panneerselvam requested the Centre to release funds under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. The special package assistance would be used to augment irrigation structures in drought-prone areas to address the agrarian distress and drinking water crisis, similar to the allocation made to Maharashtra, Panneerselvam said in the speech, a copy of which was shared with the media here. Referring to the comments made by Chief Minister K Palaniswami at the NITI Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, Panneerselvam said he endorsed his (Palaniswami's) views and expressed hope that the budget would spell .
Climate activists march to occupy huge German coal mine
Thousands of climate activists Friday started marching toward a huge German coal mine they plan to blockade in a protest against global warming, an issue that has shot to the top of the European political agenda. The "Ende Gelaende" (EG) movement's activists were seeking to slip through police lines and launch non-violent acts of civil disobedience to halt operations at the massive Garzweiler lignite mining operation of energy giant RWE near Cologne. "We are unstoppable, another world is possible," they chanted as they walked toward the 48 square kilometre open-pit mine where building-sized excavators churn through what resembles a moonscape. The German phrase "Ende Gelaende" means something is irrevocably finished, similar to "end of story", which is how the protesters feel about the fossil fuel age. "Today we set out with thousands of people towards a future without fossil fuels, without exploitation and without this destructive quest for infinite economic growth," said EG ...
Monsoon hits Odisha, heavy rain lashes coastal region
The much awaited southwest monsoon finally hit Odisha on Friday and covered all the coastal districts, MeT office said. Heavy rain lashed the coastal districts of the state on Friday, it said. "The southwest monsoon has hit Odisha coast today. The entire state will experience rainfall within the next 72- hours," said IMD Director General designate Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, who is on a visit to Odisha. He said the monsoon will first cover the southern parts of the state and spread to the rest of Odisha subsequently. The districts which were lashed by monsoon rain on the first day were: Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jatatsinghpur, Cuttack, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh, a MeT official said. The monsoon also advanced into the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Dhenkanal, Mayurbhanj and parts of Nawarangpur, Kandahandi, Kandhamal, Boudh, Angul and Keonjhar. "Conditions are becoming favourable for further advancement of southwest monsoon into rest
132 MT fly ash utilised in infra projects out of 196 MT generated in 2017-18: Govt
Utilisation of fly ash, a byproduct of burning pulverized coal in power plants, in infrastructure projects across the country has increased from 66.6 million tonnes (MT) in 2008-09 to 132 MT in 2017-18, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javdekar told Lok Sabha on Friday. "As per the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) report, fly ash generation and utilization was 196 MT and 132 MT, respectively, from 167 coal/lignite based thermal power plants in the country during 2017-18," Javedkar said in written response to a question put forth by a Member of Parliament. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF&CC) issued the first fly ash notification on September 14, 1999, which has subsequently been amended in 2003, 2009 and 2016 in order to enhance the fly ash utilisation in various infrastructure development projects. The notification, which was issued in 1999 first, mandates the use of fly ash and fly ash-based products in construction projects, construction of ...
ACB conducts surprise check of soil and water conservation dept officials in J-K's Doda
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Friday conducted a surprise check at soil and water conservation department in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir and seized records for scrutiny, officials said. The searches were carried out at various locations including the office of project officer of soil conservation at Bagliar-Batote following complaints about embezzlement of huge amount of money against unexecuted and non-existent works under catchment area treatment (CAT) plan during 2014-2018 in Kuntwara range, a spokesman of the ACB said. He said various records and documents were seized for scrutiny to find out the role and responsibility of the officers in the alleged scam. During the surprise check, he said the sleuths also conducted spot inspection at various locations in association with the officials of the department. "After completion of the scrutiny of record further course of action into the matter shall be taken accordingly," the spokesman said.
Jal Shakti Minister inspects Namami Gange projects in Varanasi
Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat reviewed the ongoing projects under Namami Gange scheme here during his visit to the holy city recently.According to an official statement of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMGC), Shekhawat, who was accompanied by the Director-General for NMCG, on Tuesday inspected the 140 million litres day (MLD) Dinapur sewage treatment plant (STP) in detail.During the inspection, the minister also instructed the officials of Dinapur STP to conduct periodic chemical checks to ensure that the sewage does not have any industrial or other toxic discharge.Under the Namami Gange scheme, two STPs at Dinapur and Goitha (120 MLD) were recently completed here, of which Dinapur STP was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November last year.Furthermore, the 50 MLD STP being constructed in Ramana will bolster the existing sewage treatment capacity of the city and take it to 412 MLD, which is adequate to meet the sewage treatment demand ...
Only one case of Nipah reported this year from Kerala, no fatality: Vardhan
Only one case of Nipah virus has been reported so far this year from Ernakulum district of Kerala and the patient has been discharged, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan informed the Lok Sabha Friday. The case was reported in the first week of June, he said. Vardhan said a total of 50 suspects were identified and all of them tested negative for Nipah. A total of 330 contacts are being followed up on a daily basis and no new case has been reported, he said. Immediately after the outbreak, the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune deputed special teams to collect samples from Pteropus or fruit bats, which are the main reservoir for the Nipah virus disease, the minister told the Lower House of Parliament. "Out of 36 Pteropus species bats tested for Nipah, 12 (33 per cent) were found to be positive for anti-Nipah bat IgG antibodies," he said. The health minister said during the 2018 Nipah outbreak in Kerala, 52 Pteropus giganteus bats were collected and 10 samples (19 per cent) were
Farmers can now form cooperatives
Farmers in the country can now practise cooperative farming by forming groups and the Center has made a law that promotes such type of farming, the government Friday informed the Rajya Sabha. Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Purshottam Rupala said the law has been sent to states and farmers can now form cooperatives or sign MoUs to practise cooperative farming. "Farmers can now officially get together and form MoUs and Farmer Producer Organisation (FPOs) to do cooperative farming as per the new law," he told members during Question Hour. The minister was responding to a question on what steps the government is initiating to promote cooperative farming. Rupala said the state and central governments will also offer all kind of help to such farmers for doing cooperative farming as per the new law. Earlier in a written reply on whether the area under cultivation is decreasing in the country, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar replied in the ...
Germany's Lufthansa restricts Iran-area flights
German airline Lufthansa says it is no longer flying planes over the Strait of Hormuz or the Gulf of Oman after the shooting down by Iran of an American reconnaissance drone. The carrier says that the flights were suspended over the two bodies of water on Thursday, and that the zone was expanded on Friday to include surrounding areas of land. For the meantime, the airline, Germany's largest, says its flights to Tehran will continue. Lufthansa says the decision was based upon its own assessment of the situation.
Kaleshwaram project is a gift from Maharashtra people to Telangana: Devendra Fadnavis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis affirmed that Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project is a gift from the people of Maharashtra to the people of Telangana."Telangana completed this project at record speed. This project will change the face of Telangana," Fadnavis said.Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday inaugurated the Kaleshwaram Project at Medigadda Barrage in Kaleshwaram.Medigadda Barrage is the starting point of the irrigation project which envisages construction of three barrages between Yellampally and Medigadda.Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy was also present during the inaugural function.The Telangana Chief Minister along with his wife also participated in the yagam being performed at Medigadda barrage.
L&T completes Medigadda Barrage construction; delivers proj in 24 mths
Engineering major Larsen & Toubro said Friday said it has completed construction of Medigadda barrage under Kaleshwaram project in Telengana in just 24 months. The largest barrage in the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project was inaugurated Friday by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao in the presence of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan. Besides, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy of Andhra Pradesh were also present on the occasion when the Medigadda barrage was opened. The estimated Rs 80,000 crore project was built on Godavari river, which originates in Maharashtra, flows through Telangana before merging with the sea in Andhra Pradesh. The project has set several records in terms of use of voluminous material like concrete and steel. Magnitude of the project can be gauged from from the fact that 1.8 crores cubic meters of earthwork excavation, 18.5 lakh cubic meters of concreting work (equivalent to 7 times that of
SC issues notice to U'khand govt, seeks stay on construction of roads connecting Rajaji National Park
The Supreme Court on Friday issued a notice to Uttarakhand government on hearing a petition filed by an NGO, seeking a stay on the construction of roads which connects it to the Rajaji National Park in the state.A vacation bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Deepak Gupta and also comprising Justice Surya Kant also stayed the construction of the road which connects with the Rajaji National Park in the state.On May 3, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the Ministry of Environment and Forests, National Board for Wildlife and National Tiger Conservation Authority to provide a report by August 31, on alleged illegal road construction in part of the buffer area of Rajaji Tiger Reserve in Haridwar.The tribunal observed that the construction of a minor road in Laldang-Chillarkhal road is in the buffer area of the aforementioned tiger reserve.
Telangana CM KCR innagurates Kaleswaram irrigation project
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday inaugurated the Kaleshwaram Project at Medigadda Barrage in Kaleshwaram.Medigadda Barrage is the starting point of the irrigation project which envisages construction of three barrages between Yellampally and Medigadda.Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy was also present during the inaugural function.The Telangana Chief Minister along with his wife also participated in the yagam being performed at Medigadda barrage.
Jagan, Fadnavis by his side, KCR inaugurates Rs 80,000 crore mega irrigation project
The Kaleshwaram project, touted as the world's largest multi-stage lift irrigation scheme and boon to Telangana, was inaugurated by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao at Medigadda in Jayashankar-Bhupalpally district Friday. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy of Andhra Pradesh were present on the occasion when the Medigadda barrage was opened. The estimated Rs 80,000 crore project was built on Godavari river, which originates in Maharashtra, flows through Telangana before merging with the sea in Andhra Pradesh. Rao and his wife participated in 'Jala Sankalpa Mahotsava Yagam' at the Medigadda barrage earlier. The scheme would provide irrigation facility to 45 lakh acres for two crops, according to the state government, which said that it would also provide water to the ambitious Mission Bhagiratha drinking water supply project. The project would also help in supplying drinking water to one crore .
Indian, Pak officials hold discussion over locust outbreak
Indian and Pakistani officials have held a discussion over an outbreak of locusts, believed to be the worst since 1993, and possible joint action to tackle it.The officials, including scientists, met on Wednesday at the border village of Munabao for more than four hours and deliberated on the issue of joint action to deal with the menace, according to Indian officials.They said an alert has been issued in all districts adjacent to the Pakistan border and surveys are being conducted to tackle the situation.After sightings of locusts in villages around Jaisalmer near the border with Pakistan late last month, the Jodhpur-headquartered Locust Warning Organisation (LWO) had started gearing up to tackle any major attack by the tropical grasshopper.Locust attacks were reported in the region after a gap of 26 years, according to LWO officials."Locusts have been seen in Jaisalmer. These have come from Pakistan and may spread to places such as Barmer, Jaisalmer, Phalodi, Bikaner and Suratgarh. .
India's forest cover up in one year
India's green cover has gone up by one per cent in the last one year, the Lok Sabha was informed on Friday. Responding to supplementaries during Question Hour, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said for one tree chopped for development work, three to four are planted either in the same area or elsewhere. According to a latest report, over 24.39 per cent of the country's geographical area now constitutes of green cover. Former union minister Maneka Gandhi (BJP) cautioned that at times satellite pictures include sugarcane crop as trees, hence presenting a misleading picture. Javadekar said satellite pictures are taken at regular intervals and, therefore, such inconsistencies are ruled out. He also said that 125 crore trees would be planted along highways to increase green cover.