Page 346 - Environment
CPCB for ban on construction activities in pollution 'hotspot' if air quality turns severe
A task force led by a CPCB official on Thursday recommended a ban on industrial and construction activities in major pollution "hotspots" here if the air quality turns severe and stricter implementation of actions already in force. The task force, also comprising members from the India Meteorological Department the Delhi Pollution Control Board and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, met here to review the status of ambient air quality of the national capital. In the meeting, the task force members were apprised about the level of air pollution in Delhi-NCR. The IMD has forecast that the air quality here is expected to remain under 'poor' or 'very poor' category for the next few days and under these circumstances, the task force has made two recommendations. First: Stricter implementation of actions already in force by public agencies, municipal bodies, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, traffic police and other agencies responsible under the Graded Response Action Plan, ...
Demarcation of ridge: NGT directs Delhi govt's revenue secretary to appear before it
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Delhi government's Revenue Secretary to appear before it on December 19 to apprise it of the details of land in Southern Ridge here. A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore noted inconsistencies in details being given to it about the total area in the ridge ie. the area specifically demarcated by erection of pillars and the area which is being handed over to the Forest Department. "Even the affidavits filed by different departments, from time to time, do not fully reconcile. Therefore, it is necessary to summon Secretary, Department of Revenue and the Secretary Department of Forest, Government of Delhi on the next date of hearing. "They are directed to come fully prepared in respect of the present case, along with all the relevant documents in respect of the total area, the measurements done, demarcation by way of erection of pillars and the possession of land actually handed over," the bench said. The NGT directed that a copy of ...
Gas has reached 174 districts, will reach 400 in next 2-3 years: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the number of districts covered under City Gas Distribution has risen to 174 districts at present from 66 till 2014. He further added that in the next 2-3 years the reach will spread to 400 districts, which will cover 70 per cent of the country's population.Prime Minister addressed the gathering at the foundation stone laying of City Gas Distribution (CGD) projects in 65 geographical areas in 129 districts under the 9th CGD bidding round recently awarded by Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board and also launched 10th CGD bidding round in 50 geographical areas spread over 124 districts in 14 states."The government is paying attention to all aspects of gas based economy. To strengthen the gas infrastructure of the country, work is being done simultaneously to increase the number of liquefied natural gas terminals and work on the network of Nationwide Gas Grid and City Gas Distribution," said Prime Minister Modi.Targeting the ...
Farm technology to be focus of CII event in Chandigarh
Unmanned aerial camera and plant protection system from China, electronic smart watering system and environmentally safe disinfectants from Britain and environment-friendly technology to collect straw from Germany will be part of focus on agri-technology that will be showcased at the 13th edition of the CII Agro Tech starting here on Dec 1.
Saudis eye world's second largest phosphate fertilizer maker spot - energy minister
TURAIF, SAUDI ARABIA (Reuters) - The completion of Saudi Arabia's Waad Al-Shamaal mining project will lift the kingdom's phosphate fertilizer production to 9 million tonnes annually, Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said on Thursday.
Power Minister reviews Buxar thermal power project
Union Minister R K Singh Thursday reviewed the progress for the 1,302 MW Buxar thermal power project and directed officials to expedite its investment approval. The project, being executed by Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam(SJVN), is estimated to cost over Rs 10,000 crore, the power ministry said in a statement. As per the statement, the power minister directed the officials concerned to expedite the investment approval for the project so that its foundation laying ceremony can take place by January next year. All tie-ups are in place for the project, it said. Singh was chairing a review meeting of the Buxar project here Thursday. The meeting was attended by representatives from SJVN, Niti Aayog, Department of Expenditure, Central Electricity Authority and Bihar government. SJVN chairman informed that the company has all the required clearances and the project can go ahead in plug and play mode. Principal Secretary (Energy), Bihar said that Bihar will take not less than 85 per cent power ...
American killed in Andamans: NCST seeks report from MHA, islands' administration
The National Commission of Scheduled Tribes (NCST) Thursday termed as "unfortunate" the killing of a US national allegedly by members of a protected and reclusive tribe in the North Sentinel Island and sought a report from the Home Ministry and the Andaman and Nicobar administration on it. "The NCST expresses serious concern on the report regarding one US national feared killed by a protected tribe in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands," an official statement read. The commission sought immediate report from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Andaman and Nicobar administration. John Allen Chau, 27, was killed by members of the Sentinelese Tribes, possibly with arrows, when he tried to enter the North Sentinel Island, on November 17, police had said on Wednesday. A case of culpable homicide has been registered, and the fishermen who took to the island have been arrested. The fishermen told police that he had visited the Andaman and Nicobar Islands five times earlier. He had expressed a .
Compensate Tamil Nadu farmers, says AIKS
Mourning the lost of 69 lives in the cyclone that battered Tamil Nadu, the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) on Thursday asked the Central and state governments to to fully compensate the losses suffered by the farmers in the state.
HC summons PWD officials over clogged Kushak drain
Irked by non-compliance of its order to clean up the Kushak drain under the Barapullah flyover, the Delhi High Court on Thursday directed all concerned PWD officials of AAP government to appear before it and explain why action be not taken against them. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao directed that all the Public Works Department (PWD) officials who were responsible for ensuring compliance of its September 27 order, to clean up the drain, be present in court on November 27 morning. "The officials of the authorities responsible be present before us on November 27 to explain why action be not taken against them for non-compliance of court orders," the bench said. The direction came after a resident of the area adjoining the Kushak nullah showed to the court photographs of construction debris heaped inside the drain. Initially, Delhi government's additional standing counsel Naushad Ahmed Khan disputed the correctness of the photographs and showed the court ...
Cabinet approves continuation of scheme to improve weather forecast
The Cabinet on Thursday approved continuation of nine sub-schemes under the ACROSS programme, aimed at providing improved weather, climate and ocean forecast and services, during 2017-2020 at an estimated cost of Rs 1,450 crore, a statement said. The scheme approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will ensure transfer of benefits to various services like public weather service, disaster management, agro-meteorological services, aviation services, environmental monitoring services, hydro-meteorological services, climate services, tourism, pilgrimage, power generation, water management, sports and adventure, it said. The scheme, Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services (ACROSS), will be implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences through its institutes namely India Meteorological Department (IMD), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), National Centre for Medium Range Weather ...
IAEA calls on North Korea to re-admit nuclear inspectors
The head of the UN's atomic watchdog is calling on North Korea to allow inspectors back in to monitor its nuclear program. Director General Yukiya Amano told the International Atomic Energy Agency on Thursday that Pyongyang had in September talked about denuclearisation measures including the "permanent dismantlement of the nuclear facilities in Yongbyon" -- a reactor where it produces plutonium. Amano says there has been activity observed at Yongbyon, but "without access the agency cannot confirm the nature and purpose of these activities." He called on North Korea to comply with UN Security Council resolutions and cooperate with the IAEA, whose inspectors were expelled in 2009. He says the IAEA is continuing preparations to verify North Korea's nuclear program "if a political agreement is reached among countries concerned.
Huhtamaki PPL gets closure directives for its Thane Plant from MPCB
On 20 November 2018
Global carbon dioxide levels hit a new record in 2017, U.N. says
GENEVA (Reuters) - The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere hit a new record last year with emissions showing no sign of slowing down, the U.N. World Meteorological Organization said on Thursday.
TRAPPIST-1 system likely hosts Earth-like ocean world
At least one of the seven rocky planets orbiting the dwarf star TRAPPIST-1 could be an Earth-like ocean world, say scientists who created updated climate models for the exoplanets. Researchers from University of Washington in the US said that due to an extremely hot, bright early stellar phase, all seven of the star's worlds may have evolved like Venus. Any early oceans the planets may have had evaporated, leaving behind dense, uninhabitable atmospheres. "We are modeling unfamiliar atmospheres, not just assuming that the things we see in the solar system will look the same way around another star," said Andrew Lincowski, a doctoral student at University of Washington. "We conducted this research to show what these different types of atmospheres could look like," said Lincowski, lead author of the study published in Astrophysical Journal. TRAPPIST-1, located 39 light-years away, has about nine per cent the mass of the Sun and about 12 per cent its radius. The relatively cool "M dwarf" .
Paper industry objects to linking paper usage with environmental concerns
Paper industry represented by Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA) has come out strongly against the perception being created by telecom providers linking paper to environmental concerns.Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has received representations from telecom service providers requesting a review of the provision of the printed copy of the bill to post-paid subscribers and make Mobile Bill (M-Bill) or E-Bill as the default option.Telecom service providers and their associations have referred to "Environmental concerns relating to cutting of trees for papers used in printing of bills" as the main rationale for their demand.TRAI has released a Consultation Paper on 'Review of extant provision for sending the printed bills to consumers of landline and post paid mobile subscribers' soliciting views of all concerned.In a communication to TRAI, IPMA has stated that Paper is one of the most sustainable products and its usage is helping the cause of environment ...
Cabinet extends scheme on improving weather forecasting
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Thursday approved the continuation of its scheme "Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services (ACROSS)" which will provide improved weather, climate and ocean forecasts and services.
Cyclone impact on agricultural holdings being assessed: TNAU
: The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) is involved in assessing the damage caused by cyclone Gaja to agricultural holdings of about one lakh hectare and develop a suitable plan for their restoration, Vice-Chancellor of the varsity Dr N Kumar said Thursday. A three-member team has been deputed for firsthand assessment of the destruction caused to plantations and a report on it would be submitted to Tamil Nadu secretary to agriculture, Kumar who assumed office as the Vice-Chancellor a couple of days ago told reporters here. Based on the report, a strategy would be worked out along with the state department of agriculture to take relief measures, he said. Referring to large-scale devastation of coconut trees in the cyclone, Kumar said the uprooted trees can be replanted and revived provided they were below three years old. For this purpose, he said, the cost would be high. He said the university has 10,000 saplings of coconut trees which would be supplied free of ..
Climate warming greenhouse gases at record levels: UN
The main greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change have all reached record levels, a UN report said on Thursday.
Cabinet approves MoU with Mauritius on consumer protection, legal metrology
The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved an MoU between India and Mauritius on consumer protection and legal metrology.
Greenhouse gas levels in atmosphere hit new high: UN
The levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the main driver of climate change, have hit a new record high, the UN said Thursday, warning that the time to act was running out. "Without rapid cuts in CO2 and other greenhouse gases, climate change will have increasingly destructive and irreversible impacts on life on Earth," the head of the World Meteorological Organization Petteri Taalas said in a statement. "The window of opportunity for action is almost closed.
