Page 34 - Environment
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.
Minor girl killed in leopard attack in J-K's Reasi
A 10-year-old girl was mauled to death by a leopard in a remote village in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Friday. The girl, Ruksana Bano, was feeding cattle near her 'dhok' (mud-house) at Neeram village in Mahore area when she was attacked and taken away by the wild beast Thursday evening, a police official said. He said the body of the girl was later recovered by a joint search party of police, wildlife employees and locals from the nearby forest area and handed over to her family for last rites after completion of legal formalities. Efforts are on to track down the leopard which had caused panic among the local residents by frequently venturing into human habitat from the nearby forest, the official said.
UN General Assembly reverberates with chants of 'Om' to mark International Yoga Day
In a first of its kind yoga celebration, the iconic UN General Assembly hall reverberated with chants of 'Om', 'Shanti' as UN officials and diplomats joined hundreds others to commemorate the International Yoga Day with the underlying message of yoga's valuable contribution in addressing climate change and promoting tolerance and peace. The General Assembly hall, where world leaders come together every year for the high-level UN session, was packed with UN diplomats, officials, yoga gurus and practitioners, children and people from various backgrounds as India's Permanent Mission to the UN organised the commemoration of the 5th International Day of Yoga Thursday. It was the first time a grand yoga event was held inside the iconic UNGA hall, five years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi first proposed to mark June 21 as International Yoga Day in his 2014 address to the annual General Debate from the famed General Assembly podium. The event 'Yoga with the Gurus', with the theme of Yoga .
Disproportionate assets: ACB raids public servants across Karnataka
Karnataka Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials on Friday carried out searches at properties of public servants in the state who alleged to have disproportionate assets.The searches in the state are currently underway, the ACB said.The ACB is conducting searches at premises of Joint Commissioner Tax Narayanaswami M B, Manager at BAMUL Dr Shivashankar, Junior engineer at Panchayath Raj engineering subdivision Arshad Pasha and Assistance Engineer Special subdivision in PWD Channegowda H S.More details are awaited.
With a message of 'No littering', 'Wall of Hope' constructed using 15,000 discarded plastic bottles near Mussoorie
In order to encourage the tourists towards better practice of 'No littering', a 1,500 feet long and 12 feet wide 'Wall of Hope' with a message of 'litter free hills' was constructed using 15,000 discarded bottles in Mussoorie's Bungalow ki Kandi village.The installation was unveiled by the Gram Pradhan of the village Reena Rangal.The design of the wall was suggested by the founder of the Museum of Goa Subodh Kerkar."In order to construct the wall, around 50 volunteers from schools and colleges came forward. Locals of the village also took part in the initiative. They all worked effortlessly to make this project a success," said Arvind Shukla, project manager of Hildaari group, the main team behind this installation.Hilldaari project aims to spread awareness about plastic waste management and the need for creating a plastic-waste free environment.While the Hildaari team thanked waste-collectors, locals and restaurant owners for assisting them in the project, the Pradhan appreciated the
Must shift rail tracks, shutdown quarries to save Gir lions: Guj HC told
Shifting rail tracks out of the Gir forest and shutting down all stone quarries located around it are some of the steps suggested to save lions in a report submitted to the Gujarat High Court Thursday. The Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, part of the forest spread across several Gujarat districts, is the last abode of Asiatic lions in the world. The steps were suggested in the report submitted to the division bench of Justices S R Brahmbhatt and A P Thaker by senior advocate Hemang Shah, who was appointed amicus curiae in the matter by the HC last year when it admitted a PIL over the issue of death of Gir lions. After taking into consideration the findings of the report, the bench asked the state government to file its reply and posted the matter for further hearing on July 11. In his report, Shah pointed out that lions are being run over by trains which ply through the forest area. He said at least 20 goods trains pass through the forest area and most of them run during night, a time when ...
Srei Equipment gets USD 30 million from Netherland bank
Srei Equipment Finance Ltd on Thursday said it has received credit approval worth USD 30 million from FMO, a Netherlands-based development finance bank. "The loan will be fully dedicated to re-financing of green activities of Srei Equipment, primarily through the financing or leasing of equipment used for solar and wind projects," the company said in a release. Srei Equipment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Srei Infrastructure Finance Ltd, has an environmental and social management system in place for over a decade, and this debt investment by FMO will further help the company amplify its ongoing efforts towards responsible financing, it said. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has set an ambitious target to install renewable energy capacities to the tune of 225 GW by 2022.
K'taka: Sadanand Gowda writes to Jalashakti Minister, asks him to release water for Mandya
Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda on Thursday wrote a letter to Union Minister for Jalashakti, Gajendra Shekhawat to release 2 TMC water from KRS dam in Karnataka's Mandya district.Shekhawat was asked by Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambareesh to help in releasing water immediately "to overcome the loss of standing crop and mitigate the problems of farmers."The Union Minister further said that agriculture is the predominant occupation and the single largest contributor to Mandya's economy."The main crops grown are paddy, sugarcane, jowar, maize, cotton, banana, ragi, coconut, pulses, and vegetables. Moreover, cultivation depends upon the water which is being stored and released through canals from KRS dam," the letter read."Nowadays there is a deficit of natural rain the entire district and the farmers are facing acute shortage of water," it said.Shekhawat has also written a letter to Chairman of Cauvery Water Management Authority, Masood Hussain in this regard.