Page 341 - Environment
Rabi Acreage Down More Than 7%
As per the latest release by Ministry of Agriculture, the total rabi sowing acreage as on 23rd November was reported at 288.91 (lh) lakh hectares against 311.69 lakh hectares in the previous year in same period due to less cultivation of coarse cereals and pulses. This reflects a drop of around 7.3%. The data suggested that the total area under pulses remained at 88.67 lh (99 lh). Gram, which is a major pulses crop during the season, has been sown only on 62.65 lh, down 13% (71.98 lh). The acreage under coarse cereals stood at 24.19 lh (35.13 lh), down 31%. Jowar sowing is down nearly 36% to 15.97 lh so far. There is also a 19% drop in the cultivation of maize at 4.84 lh and 11% drop in barley sowing at 3.16 lh. However, the total wheat sown area for the week stood marginally higher at 111.96 lh against 110.69 lh of the last year in the same period.
Sun-dimming chemicals may curb global warming
Scientists are proposing an innovative way to tackle climate changeThe research published in Environmental Research Letters and led by the scientists at Harvard and Yale universities, used a technique known as a stratospheric aerosol injection, which they say could cut the rate of global warming to half.The technique involves spraying large amounts of sulfate particles into the Earth's lower stratosphere at altitudes as high as 12 miles. The scientists proposed delivering these sulfates with specially designed high-altitude aircraft, balloons or large naval-style guns.Despite the technology being undeveloped, the researchers said that developing a new, purpose-built tanker with substantial payload capabilities would neither be technologically difficult nor prohibitively expensive, reported CNN.However, the report does acknowledge the fact that the technique is purely hypothetical."We simply show that a hypothetical deployment program commencing 15 years hence, while both highly ...
Artistes express solidarity with farmers' march
Several prominent writers, intellectuals and artists, including Nayantara Sahgal, K. Satchidanandan, Ganesh Devy and Damodar Mauzo, have expressed solidarity with farmers who will lead a Kisan Mukti March here on November 29-30.
Dengue cases in Delhi mount to 2,406
At least 260 fresh cases of dengue have been reported over the last one week in the national capital, taking the total number of people diagnosed with the vector-borne disease this season to 2,406, according to a municipal report released Monday. Of the total number of cases, 811 were reported this month till November 24. As many as 1,114 cases were reported in October, the report said. Also, 466 cases of malaria and 154 of chikungunya have been reported this season, it said. Of the 2,406 dengue cases this year, 374 were recorded in September, 58 in August, 19 in July, eight in June, 10 in May, two in April, one in March, three in February and six in January. Two malaria cases were reported in February, one each in April and March, 17 in May, 25 in June, 42 in July, 82 in August, 138 in September and 130 in October, according to the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), which tabulates data on vector-borne diseases in the city. Doctors have advised people to take precautions to ...
China says work far from complete on national CO2 scheme
BEIJING (Reuters) - China still needs to do a lot of work before it can fully launch its long-awaited nationwide carbon emissions trading scheme and will gradually phase in the system that is already running behind schedule, a senior government official said on Monday.
Analysis: Buy green palm oil or forests will suffer, industry warns
KUALA LUMPUR (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - New rules to stop deforestation caused by palm oil production can only succeed if brands and consumers buy larger amounts of oil certified as green and ethical, industry officials and environmental activists said.
New Zealand: 145 pilot whales dead in latest stranding
Around 145 pilot whales have died in New Zealand in the latest stranding on a beach on Stewart Island.The stranded whales were found by a hiker in the remote island, who immediately informed concerned authorities.Conservation officers found half the whales dead when they reached the spot and decided to put down the rest as the chances of returning them to the water were very bleak due to the terrible condition they were in."It's always a heart-breaking decision to make," Department of Conservation (DOC)'s Rakiura Operations Manager Ren Leppens stated while referring to their decision, according to Al Jazeera.The DOC stated that they handle at least 85 incidents of strandings a year which are caused by sickness, navigational error or a chasing predator, amongst other reasons.Last year, New Zealand reported its largest incident of whale strandings when 300 whales died on a beach in South Island.
Cleaning of Dal Lake begins prior to onset of winter
The Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) has initiated a massive mission to clean the Dal Lake ahead of the onset of peak winter in Jammu and Kashmir.Unbridled growth of weeds, particularly in the Hazratbal Basin of the lake, is taking a heavy toll on the fragile ecosystem of the water body. The thick growth of lily weeds also hampers the movement of shikaras, which are light, flat-bottomed boats, and affects the overall aesthetic beauty of the lake.The mission, therefore, aims to clear weeds like lily pads, creepers, algae, water plants and other waste material present in the water body.Being one of the most noteworthy tourist destinations, Dal Lake attracts a large number of tourists from across the world every year.After multiple drives by using machines in cleaning Dal Lake, LAWDA has now started relying on human power to clear the lily pads within the lake.LAWDA has deployed 1500 skilled labourers for the task, although the authority has acquired weed harvesters and .
Malaysia bets on durian as China goes bananas for world's smelliest fruit
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - The stinky, spiky durian is set to become Malaysia's next major export as the Southeast Asian nation rushes to develop thousands of acres to cash in on unprecedented demand for the fruit from China.
145 pilot whales die in stranding on New Zealand beach
All of the 145 pilot whales that stranded themselves on a remote New Zealand beach have died. However, conservation workers are hoping to save some of the eight pygmy killer whales that remained stranded Monday at the other end of the country in an unrelated event. A hiker discovered the pilot whales in two pods about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) apart late Saturday on Stewart Island. About 75 were already dead and conservation workers decided to euthanise the others due to their poor condition and remote location. Only about 375 people live on Stewart Island, which is also called Rakiura. The whales were found at Mason's Bay about 35 kilometres (22 miles) from the main township of Oban. "You feel for the animals, it's just a really sad event," said Ren Leppens, the Rakiura operations manager for the Department of Conservation. "It's the kind of thing you don't want to see. You wish you could understand the reasoning why the whales strand better, so you could intervene." Leppens said the .
145 stranded pilot whales die in New Zealand
About 145 pilot whales died in New Zealand after being stranded during the weekend on Stewart Island in the extreme south of the country, officials said on Monday.
Hyderabad: 113 booked for drunk driving, 54 cars seized
To curb the menace of drunken driving, Hyderabad traffic police booked 113 people for drunk and drive and seized 54 cars and 59 bikes during a checking drive.The checking drive was conducted on the intervening night of 25-26 November by Hyderabad traffic police at various places in the city.During the checking traffic police booked 113 persons for drunk and driving offense after they were found driving vehicles under the influence of alcohol. Traffic cops also seized 54 cars and 59 bikes during the weekend night checking drive.Charge sheets will be filed against all the 133 persons and the offenders will be produced before the court.In the past two months, more than 1000 drunk and drive cases have been registered in the city.
Blackbuck found dead in Greater Noida
A male blackbuck was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Gautam Buddh Nagar's Greater Noida Sunday, Forest department officials said. The carcass of the blackbuck, which finds a place in the International Union for Conservation of Nature's list of threatened species, was found in the agricultural fields in the Rabupura area in the morning, they added. "It may have died after getting entangled in the metal wires set up by farmers in their fields to keep off Nilgais (an Antelope species), but we are awaiting the autopsy report for a confirmation of the cause of the death," Divisional Forest Officer P K Shrivastava said. He added that the Forest department would be probing the role of humans in the incidents involving blackbucks, which were present in "huge numbers" in the area. "A special squad has been formed under a range officer to ascertain if the locals or outsiders are targeting the species," Shrivastava said.
UN selects Noida to participate in Global Sustainable Cities 2025 initiative
The United Nations Sunday officially invited Uttar Pradesh's Noida and Greater Noida to become a member of its initiative which aims to create 25 model cities across the world that will be fully compliant with the sustainable development goals by 2025, officials said. The twin-cities in Gautam Buddh Nagar district, adjoining the national capital, have been selected in the "University City" category ahead of Mumbai and Bengaluru, which were also under UN consideration for the initiative, as the only invitee from India, a senior UN official said. "Noida (along with Greater Noida) has been formally invited to participate in this showcase 'Race to Sustainability' among 25 global cities to become fully compliant with the Sustainable Development Goals by 2025 under the UN Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) cities initiative," Senior UN Advisor and CEO UN Global Sustainability Index Institute (UNGSII) Roland Schatz told reporters here. Schatz formally extended the invitation Sunday ..
Kejriwal lays foundation stone for development work in 14 colonies
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday laid the foundation stone for development work in 14-unauthorised colonies in northwest Delhi. Under the project in Kirari area, roads and drains will be constructed in these unauthorised colonies at an expense of around Rs 53 crore. The number of streets to be covered under the project are 432, totalling 49 km. The construction work in all these 14-colonies will start from December and is likely to be completed by next August. Over one lakh people residing in the area will benefit from the project. Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Satyendar Jain and Kirari MLA Rituraj Jha accompanied Kejriwal on the occasion. The colonies which would benefit from the project are Prem Nagar, Shani Bazar Road, Agar Nagar, Inder Enclave, Gaurav Nagar, Karan Vihar, Adarsh Laxmi Nagar, Sharma Enclave, Prem Nagar 2, Block A to D Prem Nagar 3, Janki Vihar, F block Agar Nagar and Vikas Vihar.
Rising pollution: Nihar DMs asked to keep tabs on air quality
The Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) has asked all the 38 district magistrates to take steps in curbing air pollution levels, especially in Patna, Muzaffarpur and Gaya, where air quality has worsened alarmingly of late. The three Bihar cities figured among the "very poor" air quality index (AQI) (300-400) or severe (400-500) category in the past one week. The state pollution control board has written letters to all the DMs on November 24 (2018) asking them to implement "city specific action plan" to combat rising air pollution. "You (DMs) are directed to implement city specific action plan for prevention and control of air pollution in your city. Hold monthly review meeting and submit compliance report regarding the same...Sensitize the general public regarding harmful effects of air pollution and elicit their support to control it," BSPCB chairman Ashok Kumar Ghosh said in the letter addressed to the DMs. As per the AQI chart prepared by Central Pollution ...
Satluj Jal Vidyut building 1,572 MW hydro projects: CMD
State-run Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVNL) on Sunday said it's currently building hydro power projects totalling 1,572 megawatts (MW).
Guj: 2 lion cubs found dead in Gir, infighting suspected
Two lion cubs were Sunday found dead in different parts of Gir forest in Gujarat's Amreli district, a forest department official said. Chief Conservator of Forests (Junagadh Wildlife Circle) D T Vasavada said both the cubs, found in Paniya and Savarkundla ranges of Gir forest, possibly died of infighting and the carcasses had been sent for post mortem. In the case of the cub found dead in Paniya range, he said a male lion had been spotted by forest staff in the vicinity and it appeared to be an intruder. Gujarat, in September, saw the deaths of 23 lions in the Gir forest area, 17 of them dying of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) and bacterial fever. Following the deaths, 36 lions were shifted to three rescue centres and administered vaccine.
Cloud-seeding not a long-term solution to air pollution in Delhi: Experts
Environment experts have said inducing artificial rain by cloud-seeding to wash away pollutants in Delhi may bring relief but only for a short duration, and the government should take systematic and coordinated actions to reduce air pollution at source. They said measures to bring down air pollution levels should be undertaken without having a second thought, but there is also a need for a long-term and focused approach to address this problem. With air pollution levels in Delhi often reaching alarming levels during winters, authorities have said they might induce artificial rain by cloud-seeding to wash away pollutants in the air. They, however, did not say when do they plan to do that. Environment experts said policymakers should pay attention to an aggressive shift away from polluting fuels and also focus on strict implementation of rules and regulations to control air pollution in Delhi. "Cloud-seeding might give relief for a short span of time from air pollution by virtue of ...
NASA Mars InSight lander mission to teach us more about Earth
US-based space agency NASA's Mars InSight lander, due to arrive on the Red planet's surface on Monday night, may teach us more about Earth.
