Page 399 - Environment
Microsite on ecotourism unveiled in Kerala
A microsite on ecotourism throwing light on features of major destinations across Kerala was unveiled here by state tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran Saturday. The website has details of about 47 popular ecotourism spots, 75 videos, 200 photographs, 10 e-brochures and information on 100 ecotourism programmes, a release said. The site has also information on packages for tourists who love to explore nature, it said. Some of the ecotourism spots are Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (north Kerala), Silent Valley National Park (Palakkad), Parambikulam Tiger Reserve (Palakkad), Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary (Idukki), Periyar Tiger Reserve (Idukki), Shenduruney Ecotourism (Kollam), Eravikulam National Park (Munnar) and Chembra Peak (Wayanad), it said. Director of ecotourism (Kerala) P P Pramod was also present during the launch of the microsite, it added.
Uniform pricing of power ruled out
Union Power Minister R K Singh Saturday ruled out uniform pricing of power in the country, saying that rates will differ because of various factors. The electricity rates are decided by central and the state electricity regulatory commissions, he said in reply to questions by reporters here. Besides, coal transportation costs are different for different plants. Also, various state governments have different agreements with power plants across the country, he said. Bihar, which has insufficient power, has been making vociferous demands for uniform power tariff. Singh said the new power tariff policy, which is being considered, will be implemented only after consulting all the state governments. Certain amendments to the Electricity Act will also be implemented after taking the states into confidence, he said. Singh also asked state governments to give subsidy directly to consumers under the direct benefit transfer scheme. On the handing over of Bihar's power plants to NTPC, the ...
Cases of trespassing into Rajaji Reserve Forest on the rise in recent weeks: Officials
The number of people entering without permission the leopard-infested Motichur range of Rajaji Tiger Reserve has significantly gone up in the last few weeks, becoming a major cause of concern for the forest department, officials said Saturday. Everyday four to six persons, mostly drug addicts or the mentally unstable, get caught in the Motichur area of the jungle, said Range Officer Pramod Dhyani. "It is very dangerous as Motichur range is full of leopards. Straying into the big cat's habitat means inviting trouble," he said. As many as 22 people have been killed by man-eater leopards in the range in the past three years, he stated. While mentally unstable people enter the range unknowingly, drug addicts go there in search of 'bhang' (type of marijuana) leaves, he said. Forty solar energy street lights have been installed in Gauri Mafi and Khand villages of the range, to keep the area well lit and prevent incidents of animals attacking humans, he said. Further patrolling has been ...
Jharkhand to send another batch of farmers to Israel on Sunday
The Jharkhand government will be sending a second batch of farmers to Israel on Sunday to acquaint them with the latest farm techniques adopted by the middle eastern country. According to Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations Department, Ajaynath Jha, the second batch of 21 farmers will be leaving on October 28 and return on November 1. Addressing the farmers before their departure, Chief Minister Raghubar Das said Israel has excelled in adopting cost effective farm techniques and the purpose of the tour was to learn about the modern methods and replicate them in Jharkhand. He said the farmers touring Israel will also train other farmers in the state. In August this year, the Jharkhand government had sent 26 farmers to Israel to learn new farming techniques. During the four day trip, the farmers visited dairy farms, production units of fruits and vegetables and learnt about functioning of drip irrigation. Das said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set 2022 .
Maha agri taskforce chief pulls up firm for load-shedding
Farm activist Kishor Tiwari Saturday lashed out at state-run Maharashtra State Electricity Board's power distribution arm for "undeclared load-shedding" here which he claimed was causing immense loss to farmers. Tiwari is the chairman of the Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swavalamban Mission, a special taskforce set up by the state government to look into agricultural issues and curb farmers' suicides in 14 districts in Maharashtra. Speaking to reporters, Tiwari said that power-cuts, which last for over 10 hours daily, were depriving farmers of benefits of state-run schemes like Jalyukt Shivar, a water conservation project that involves deepening and widening of streams, construction of cement and earthen stop dams and digging of farm ponds. "The MSEDCL (Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited) officials are indifferent to the problems of farmers despite the state government's promise of uninterrupted electricity supply for 12 hours a day for agricultural ...
Keep windows shut, minimise use of pvt vehicles: Govt-run bodies issue advisories for Delhites
Keep windows shut, wear masks, prefer short walks, minimise use of private vehicles are among the recommendations of government bodies for Delhites who are battling dangerous pollution levels in the city. Delhi's air quality continues to remain 'very poor' for the fourth consecutive day Saturday, prompting the Central Pollution Control Board and the Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research to issue separate advisories for people. In the NCR region, Ghaziabad recorded severe pollution level, while Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida and Greater Noida all recorded 'very poor' air quality, according to a data by the Central Pollution Control Board data Saturday. The eight areas in Delhi that recorded severe air quality Saturday are Anand Vihar, Dwarka Sector 8, Narela, Punjabi Bagh, Bawana, Mundaka, Vivek Vihar and Rohini. The CPCB-led task force recommended public to avoid strenuous outdoor activities and minimise the use of private vehicles to reduce exposure to toxic air. The ..
Def min nod for state-of-the-art tech upgrade of Coast Guard's 17 Dornier aircraft
The Defence Ministry on Saturday approved mid-life upgrade of 17 Dornier aircraft of the Indian Coast Guard at a cost of Rs 950 crore, officials said. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the ministry's highest decision-making body on procurement. "The DAC, chaired by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman here today accorded approval for the mid-life upgrade of 17 Dornier aircraft of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) at an approximate cost of Rs 950 crore," a senior official said. The upgrades will be carried out by state-run aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), officials said. The ICG is responsible for protecting the national interests in maritime zones of the country which entails surveillance of sea areas of approximately 2.01 million square km of India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), according to the defence ministry. The ICG is also the nodal agency in India for maritime pollution response. The Coast Guard has a fleet of ..
Delhi continues to choke with 'very poor' air quality, 8 areas record severe pollution: Authorities
Delhi's air quality remained 'very poor' for the fourth day Saturday with eight areas of the national capital recording severe pollution levels, as authorities warned the situation may deteriorate further next week due to localised emissions during festival and stubble burning. The Central Pollution Control Board recorded the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi at 350. The highest AQI of this season was recorded Friday at 361. In the NCR region, Ghaziabad recorded severe pollution level, while Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida and Greater Noida all recorded 'very poor' air quality, according to data by the Central Pollution Control Board data on Saturday. The eight areas that recorded 'severe' air quality Saturday are Anand Vihar, Dwarka Sector 8, Narela, Punjabi Bagh, Bawana, Mundaka, Vivek Vihar and Rohini. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'. The CPCB-led .
Stubble burning from Pb, Hry contributed to 32% of pollution in Delhi on Saturday: SAFAR
Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana contributed to 32 per cent of Delhi's overall pollution on Saturday, according to a report by the Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). The report, which analyses the impact of pollutant PM2.5, showed that the highest contribution since October 11 by stubble burning was seen on Friday at 36 per cent. On Saturday, about 32 per cent of pollution by PM2.5 was caused by stubble burning by farmers in Punjab and Haryana, it said. The report said that the stubble burning contribution to pollution will significantly reduce in the next two days. "Only 19 per cent pollution of PM2.5 would be caused by stubble burning on Sunday. Stubble burning would contribute to 15 per cent PM2.5 per cent pollution on Monday," an official with the SAFAR said. PM2.5 is the presence of particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres, while PM10 is the presence of particles in the air with, and both are considered the major ...
CPCB to initiate criminal prosecution for non-compliance of anti-pollution directives: Harsh Vardhan
As the average air quality in the national capital region inched towards severe levels, Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said Saturday the government has decided to initiate criminal prosecution against agencies which do not comply with the directives to check air pollution. The environment ministry's decision comes after a review meeting with 41 teams of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) deployed in Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida, Gurgaon and Faridabad, which found the compliance rate of the agencies concerned in following the directives was "very poor". "It is disheartening to know that the agencies are not following up on the complaints received on air pollution and the feedback that we have received from the teams is that the compliance rate is very poor. So we have decided to initiate criminal prosecution against such agencies or polluters. The modalities of the entire procedure will be worked out by the CPCB in the next couple of days," Harsh Vardhan said. "It doesn't .
Rain in Odisha for three days from Sunday: IMD
The Meteorological Centre here Saturday forecast heavy rain in coastal Odisha from Sunday night till Tuesday. Rain is predicted in view of the formation of a cyclonic circulation over north Bangladesh and neighbourhood, which is likely to take shape of a low pressure soon, a special bulletin of the IMD said. The cyclonic circulation now lies over the southwest Bay of Bengal off Sri Lanka coast with a trough extending from this circulation to the eastcentral Bay of Bengal, it said. The IMD forecast rain and thundershower in many places in north coastal part of the state, south coastal region and isolated areas in the interior part of the state on Sunday. "Heavy rainfall in isolated places is likely to occur in the districts of Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara on Sunday," it said. On Monday, heavy rainfall is likely in isolated areas in the districts of Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore. On Tuesday, heavy rainfall is likely in .
Punjab, Haryana witness decline in stubble-burning
There is a decline in the paddy stubble-burning in Punjab this Kharif season, said Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) on Saturday.The data from the PPCB reflects that 7503 cases of stubble-burning have been reported until Friday this year.During the last two years' corresponding period, there were 13,364 and 19,879 cases of farm burning.The report by the pollution control board shows Amritsar witnessed a slight dip in stubble-burning cases. A little more than 700 incidents have been recorded this year as compared to 785 last year and little lesser than 1000 in 2016.Fatehgarh Sahib town, the second least populous district of Punjab after Barnala, has shown a sharp decline in the cases of farm residue burning this year- just 226. Last year this figure was 589 and more than 1100 two years ago.The decline can be attributed to various factors, including awareness and farmers adhering to governmental policies in mitigating the farm fires.Patiala, for example, marked quite a drastic ...
Avoid outdoor activities, minimize use of pvt vehicles: CPCB warns
Avoiding outdoor exercises and minimal use of private vehicles are some of the measures the CPCB-led task force has suggested for implementation in Delhi-NCR during the first 10 days of November as the air quality is likely to deteriorate further owing to localised emissions around festivals and stubble burning in neighbouring states. The Central Pollution Control Board's task force also recommended closure of all construction activities that generate dust pollution between November 1 and 10. In a meeting with representatives from Environment Ministry, IMD, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, Haryana Pollution Control Board and Delhi Pollution Control Board Friday, the task force apprised the members on the levels of air pollution in Delhi-NCR showing an upward trend. Siddharth Singh, a representative from the India Meteorological Department, said Delhi's air quality, which has deteriorated to the very poor level, would continue to remain in that category for a few days. The task ..
7 elephants electrocuted in Odisha
At least seven elephants died of electrocution after coming in contact with a live wire near Kamalanga village in Odisha's Dhenkanal district, a forest official said on Saturday.
Seven elephants electrocuted in Odisha
Seven elephants were electrocuted after coming in contact with a live wire near Kamalanga village in Dhenkanal district Saturday, forest officials said. A herd of 13 jumbos was passing through the village in Sadar Forest Range and seven of them came in contact with an 11-KV line, Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Jitendranath Das said. The carcasses of seven pachyderms, including a tusker and five females, were spotted in the morning by villagers who informed forest officials. The mishap happened apparently because of sagging electric wire, he said. While three carcasses were lying on a road, four others were inside a canal. The incident took place when the herd was moving toward a canal road from a nearby paddy field. Senior forest officials including Divisional Forest Officer of Dhenkanal Sudarsan Patra and ACF Das rushed to the spot and arrangements were made for shifting the carcasses, said an official. Another official said the forest department had told the energy department
Delhi continues to choke with very poor air quality, 5 areas record severe pollution: authorities
Delhi's air quality remained very poor for the fourth day Saturday with five areas of the national capital recording severe pollution levels, as authorities warned the situation may deteriorate further next week due to localised emissions during festival and stubble burning. The Central Pollution Control Board recorded the overall Air Quality Index of Delhi at 341. The highest AQI of this season was recorded on Friday at 361. On Saturday, five areas in Delhi recorded severe pollution levels. They are Anand Vihar, Dwarka Sector 8, Narela, Punjabi Bagh and Rohini. Punjabi Bagh recorded the highest pollution level in the national capital at 434. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe". According to the data by the Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research, the overall air quality index of Delhi would deteriorate in a few days, remaining just ...
Jolywood was Invited to participate in the first Belt and Road Energy Ministerial Conference
/ -- Jolywood (Suzhou) Sunwatt Co. Ltd. (SZ: 300393) (Jolywood), the world's leading supplier of N-type high efficiency bifacial solar cells and modules, was a key participant in the 2018 Belt and Road Energy Ministerial Conference and International Forum on Energy Transition ("the Conference") to discuss energy cooperation and the future of new energy. Mr. Lin Jianwei, Chairman of Jolywood, was invited as a special guest to participate, along with the heads of projects that are part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and high-level managers of corporations in the energy industry. Drawing a large number of high-level guests, the success of the Conference shows the ability of the BRI to help participating countries reach a new consensus on global energy cooperation. China has accumulated rich,valuable experience in research and development, production and application in the field of new energy technology and products. Combining the current situation of countries, China is realizing .
GM wants Trump administration to back national electric vehicle programme
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - General Motors Co said on Friday it wants the Trump administration to back a nationwide program to boost sales of zero emission vehicles like electric cars, even as the government has proposed ending California's ability to require more clean vehicles.
Punjab claims stubble-burning down this season
Punjab has witnessed a steep decline in stubble burning this kharif season, a senior official said on Friday.
Vice President urges citizens to make Swachh Bharat a mass movement
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Friday urged citizens to make the Swachh Bharat Mission a mass movement and be clean not only in body and mind but also in financial matters. Swachh Bharat Mission is not just a government programme or a political motive, he said, adding that every Indian should make it a mass movement. Naidu, who was speaking at the RBS Earth Heroes award ceremony here, also said it is the duty of every Indian to take care of mother earth, nurture it and leave a clean environment for the coming generations. While keeping oneself clean in body and mind is important, it is also important that one does not amass wealth thorough illegal means, evade taxes and run away from the country, he said. "'Tan' - body should be clean, 'mann' - mind should also be sound and clean....Accumulating black money, waiting for the income tax people to come and raid you, avoiding tax and evading arrest and running away from the country are all the forms of an ill mind," the Vice President ...