Page 403 - Environment
Union minister lauds Arunachal for pro-farmer initiatives
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Radha Mohan Singh has lauded the Arunachal Pradesh government for its pro-farmer initiatives and assured it of all required support from the Centre. Singh, during a meeting with Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Minister Mohesh Chai in New Delhi on Wednesday, urged the state to submit utilisation certificates for early disbursal of pending funds, an official release said on Thursday. Chai told the Union minister that agriculture and allied departments are undertaking various activities of state funded and centrally sponsored schemes on war footing for the welfare of the farming community of Arunachal Pradesh, the release added.
Indian rice rates dive on low demand and bumper crop outlook
BENGALURU (Reuters) - Rice export prices in top producer India fell this week to their lowest in 21 months, pressured by tepid demand and an expected bumper crop, while hopes of deals with Philippines propped up rates in Vietnam.
First Pak astronaut will go into space in 2022 with China's help: minister
Pakistan would send a human to space for the first time in 2022 with China's help, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry announced Thursday, ahead of Prime Minister Imran Khan's maiden visit to Beijing to further cement the all weather strategic cooperative partnership. Pakistan's first space mission has been planned for 2022 and the federal Cabinet meeting chaired by Khan approved the plan on Thursday, he was quoted as saying by The News. An agreement between Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and a Chinese company has already been signed, the report said. Pakistan and China already have robust defence ties and Islamabad is one of the top buyers of Chinese military hardware. Earlier this year, Pakistan launched two indigenously built satellites into orbit, using a Chinese launch vehicle. The satellites were launched onboard a Chinese Long March (LM-2C) rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre located at the Gobi desert, China. One of the satellites
MP to send experts to capture tigress Sundari in Odisha
The Madhya Pradesh government has agreed to send an experts team to capture Royal Bengal Tigress 'Sundari' in the Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha's Angul district, an official said on Thursday.
Another paraglider killed in Himachal
One more paraglider was killed in Himachal Pradesh, the second this week, police said on Thursday.
Manned space exploration to take two decades: Russian cosmonaut
The eagerly-awaited manned travel for conducting scientific research in space will take at least another 15-20 years, Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko said here on Thursday.
Farmers' income can be doubled focusing on allied farm activities: Agri Min
Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh Thursday said farmers' income can be doubled by focusing on allied farm activities, better marketing and input and output management. The government has taken several measures like electronic national agriculture market (eNAM) and soil testing labs in the last four-and-a-half years, he said. "It is possible to increase farmers' income by focusing on allied farm activities like poultry and fishery," the minister said at an event there. Post harvesting management and better marketing is key for ensuring better income to farmers, he added. It may be noted that the government is examining recommendations made by the Ashok Dalwai-headed panel on doubling farmers income by 2022.
Forest dept officials raid shop in Jammu, seize body parts of tigers
Officials of the Forest Department raided a shop here on Thursday and seized tiger claws, body parts of monitor lizards, musk deer pods among other things, a senior official said Thursday. Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of the Forest Department and Forest Protection Force raided the shop at Kanak Mandi in the city, he said. "The seized items consisted of genitals of monitor lizards, leopards, tiger claws, musk deer pods, antlers, nardostachys grandiflora (Jatamansi), pistacia integerrima (Kakad singi), White kuth, Sea shells," the officer said. The seized items will be sent to the Wildlife institute of India (WII) in Dehradun and The Forest Research Institute for further identification of the seized items, he said. Meanwhile, a case was registered under relevant sections of the J&K Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1978 and J&K Forest Act, 1987, he said, adding that a probe into the matter was underway.
HC asks MoEF to explain action taken against zoo officer for tampering with documents
The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Ministry of Environment and Forest to clarify as to what action has been taken against a veterinary officer, who has been accused by Delhi Zoo director of tampering with official documents. The court was hearing a plea seeking direction to the National Zoological Park to preserve the records relating to activities and inventory of zoo here following allegations that the veterinary officer (VO) was tampering with evidence and involved in destruction of official documents after a petition had been filed earlier alleging rampant irregularities in the administration there. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao, perused the response of the ministry, which was placed before it by the counsel but was yet to be filed with the registry, and said it was not "specific and clear" and does not indicate what action has been taken against the VO. The court was informed by the ministry's counsel that a high level committee was ...
'Saturn's moon Dione covered by mysterious stripes'
Mysterious straight bright stripes have been discovered on Saturn's moon Dione, scientists said Thursday. The origins of these linear virgae or stripes are most likely caused by the draping of surface materials like material from Saturn's rings, passing comets, or co-orbital moons Helene and Polydeuces, according to the study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. "The evidence preserved in the linear virgae has implications for the orbital evolution and impact processes within the Saturnian system," said Alex Patthoff from the Planetary Science Institute in the US. "The interaction of Dione's surface and exogenic material has implications for its habitability and provides evidence for the delivery of ingredients that may contribute the habitably of ocean worlds in general," Patthoff said. Patthoff and Emily S Martin from the National Air and Space Museum, studied images from NASA's Cassini spacecraft, which also revealed similar features on Saturn's moon Rhea. Dione's
NGT forms special task force to tackle illegal scrap business in Mayapuri
The illegal scrap business, which amounts to Rs 6,000 crore per annum, at Mayapuri here has come under the radar of the National Green Tribunal which has constituted a seven-member Special Task Force (STF) to take action against the units involved in dismantling of heavy vehicles. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said the STF will comprise representatives of Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (DSIIDC), South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), District Magistrate and DCP. The green panel said that DM of West zone will be the nodal officer to coordinate and initiate steps. "Proceedings have been initiated in view of the news item to the effect that there is scrap business at Mayapuri, Delhi, worth Rs 6,000 crores per annum. The activities of the said business spew toxic fumes and chemicals and oils are also emitted. .
India coffee exports to drop as floods dent output - trade body
MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's coffee exports could drop 8 percent to 230,000 tonnes in 2019 as production is expected to fall to its lowest in five years after plantations were hit by floods in key producing southern states, the head of an industry body said.
China cutting rare earth output, unnerving global manufacturers
LONDON/HOUSTON (Reuters) - The Chinese government is limiting domestic production of rare earth minerals in the second half of the year, a move likely to crimp international exports and send prices for the critical materials higher, according to data from Adamas Intelligence.
'India can treble pigeonpea production with disease resistant crops'
India, the world's largest producer of pigeonpea or 'arhar dal', could increase the production of the grain by three times, say scientists who are working on creating varieties resistant to diseases and climate change. The pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) is a major source of protein for the population of the Indian subcontinent. Pre-breeding scientists at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) are exploring possible solutions sourced from the wild species of Cajanus. A project funded by the Global Crop Diversity Trust (GCDT), will evaluate promising pre-breeding lines in India and Myanmar, bringing them one step closer to cultivation. "It is critical to bring in beneficial traits that are not present in domesticated pigeonpea, and the pre-breeding work at ICRISAT holds great promise," said Benjamin Kilian, Plant Genetic Resources Scientist from the GCDT. "Our goal of increasing the livelihood and nutrition security of smallholder farmers moves ...
Odisha requests MP to send teams to capture tigress
The Odisha government has requested Madhya Pradesh to send expert teams too capture the Royal Bengal Tigress 'Sundari' in Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary as the state forest department staff are unable to tranquilise the big cat in the wild, officials said Thursday. Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Sudarshan Panda said the state government has already deployed three teams to tranquilise the tigress but no positive results have been made so far, so request sent to Madhya Pradesh government to capture 'Sundari'. "The Madhya Pradesh government has agreed to send two specialist teams from the Kanha National Park and Pench Tiger Reserve for the purpose. The two teams are expected to arrive at the Satkosia in 2-3 days and start their operation to capture Sundari," Panda told reporters. The forest department staff are unable to tranquilise 'Sundari' since two days in the Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary in Angul district as the tigress slips from the target, ...
India-UK to collaborate on research on Ganga delta, Bay of Bengal
India and the United Kingdom will collaborate on research on different aspects of the Ganga delta region and the Bay of Bengal, a top official of the Ministry of Earth Sciences said Thursday. M Rajeevan, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, said deliberations in this regard were on between the two sides. "The Ganga delta is eco-sensitive. It is necessary to study it, as an impact on it will have a cascading effect on population, which is in high density in the region, agriculture and environment," he said. The Bay of Bengal, Rajeevan said, is also critical to India in terms of resources and also has an impact on the Southwest Monsoon, the lifeline of the country. He was speaking on the sidelines of a programme launched by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Rajeevan added that the two sides will finalise the partnering agencies for the project soon. The two countries are also collaborating in several areas of earth sciences and weather, like the monsoon. Speaking at the event, ...
Former Navy officer to conduct bathymetric survey of Dal-Nageen lake: J-K admin
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has appointed former Navy officer S K Jha as a consultant for conducting a comprehensive bathymetric survey of the Dal-Nageen lake. "Sanction is hereby accorded to the engagement of Vice Admiral S K Jha (retired), PVSM, AVSM, NM as consultant for carrying a bathymetric survey of Dal-Nageen lake," the Financial Commissioner of Housing and Urban Development Department, K B Ahartwal, said in an order. The Nageen lake in Srinagar is a deep blue water offshoot of the Dal lake that is interconnected by a thin causeway. The lake is located to the east of the city of Srinagar, at the foothill of the Zabarwan Mountain. Jha, who will have a two-year tenure, will provide hydrographic technical advice by regularly appraising, supervising, reviewing and monitoring the works being undertaken by agencies and organisations as approved by the government of Jammu and Kashmir, the order said. The officer will review the technical feasibility study (TFS) and detailed .
Need to celebrate festivals without impacting environment: Kovind
President Ram Nath Kovind Thursday said the rising pollution levels in Delhi have led to difficulties in breathing and urged social organisations to create awareness about celebrating all festivals in such a way that it does not affect the environment. Kovind made the remarks at the launch of a four-day global convention of the Arya Samaj where he praised the organisation for contributing towards finding a solution to various issues facing the country. "In India, the time for winter festivals has arrived. At present, people in Delhi are having trouble breathing due to the increasing pollution levels in the city. Such a situation greatly impacts the elderly and children," he said. "Social organisations need to create awareness among people about celebrating all festivals in such a way that it does not affect the environment, and peace and brotherhood," he said. He hoped that the Arya Samaj will find alternatives to non-renewable energy and contribute toward protecting the ...
Trump picks Indian-American Neil as chairman of key federal energy agency
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday designated Indian-American Neil Chatterjee as chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), an agency charged with overseeing America's power grid and deciding on multibillion-dollar energy projects. Chatterjee, who is FERC Commissioner, would replace Kevin McIntyre as chairman of the prestigious agency. McIntyre resigned on October 22, citing health reasons. He was confirmed by the US Senate as FERC Commissioner in August 2017. "Trump designates Neil Chatterjee to be Chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission," the White House said in a statement. Chatterjee is currently one of the three commissioners of FERC. This is for the second time that Chatterjee has been designated as FERC chairman. He served briefly as FERC chairman from August 10, 2017 to December 7, when McIntyre became its head. Chatterjee, who was energy policy advisor to US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, has played an integral role in the passage of ..
NASA's Parker Solar Probe snaps Earth from space
NASA's Parker Solar Probe, mankind's first mission to 'touch' the Sun, has captured images of the Earth from about 27 million miles away, the US space agency said. Parker captured a view of Earth on September 25, as it sped towards the first Venus gravity assist of the mission, NASA said in a statement. Earth is the bright, round object visible in the right side of the image, it said. The image was captured by the WISPR (Wide-field Imager for Solar Probe) instrument, which is the only imaging instrument on board Parker Solar Probe. During science phases, WISPR sees structures within the Sun's atmosphere, the corona, before they pass over the spacecraft. The two panels of WISPR's image come from the instrument's two telescopes, which point in slightly different directions and have different fields of view. The inner telescope produced one image, while the outer telescope produced another, NASA said. "Zooming in on Earth reveals a slight bulge on the right side: that is the Moon, just ..