Page 419 - Environment
Dharavi redevelopment: Maha to set up SPV, invite global bids
The Maharashtra cabinet Tuesday approved setting up of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to fast-track the long-pending development of Asia's largest slum Dharavi, located in Mumbai. The government has also decided to invite global tenders for the purpose. As per rough estimates, thousands of residents of Dharavi are eligible for new houses after redevelopment. The decision assumes significance in the view of Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections slated next year, as Dharavi, spread over 200 hectares, is a major vote bank in the city. Dharavi is one of the ten assembly segments located in the Mumbai City district. It is a part of the Mumbai South Central Lok Sabha constituency, currently represented by Rahul Shewale of the Shiv Sena. Congress MLA Varsha Gaikwad has been representing the assembly segment since the last three terms. The project to redevelop the slum cluster, located in central Mumbai, was first conceived in 2003 but is yet to see the light of the ...
Will take up Chini Tunnel project with Centre: HP CM
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur Tuesday said the state government will soon approach the Centre for construction of Chini Tunnel in Killar area of Chamba district. Addressing a gathering during the district-level Fulyatra Utsav of Pangi in Killar, Thakur said, "The construction of Chini Tunnel will provide all-weather road connectivity to the area, which remains isolated from rest of the world for about six months (in a year)." The detailed project report (DPR) for construction of Chini Tunnel would be included in the overall DPR for Dharaman-Killar National Highway. The CM said the overall survey must be taken up at the earliest so as to expedite the project. Thakur said small solar power plants would be set up in the area to provide uninterrupted power supply during winter season. Further, four additional Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) buses will be provided for the benefit of commuters in Killar, the CM said. On the occasion, Thakur announced opening of a
India asks WTO to play key role in enabling people to seize benefits of economic globalisation
India on Tuesday pressed the WTO to play an important role in sharing the benefits of a free and fair international trade by bringing stability and predictability to the multilateral trading system. Harivansh Singh, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha who is currently here to attend the 139th Assembly of the Inter Parliamentary Union, underlined the need for sharing the benefits of international free and fair trade and investment to enable the people to seize the opportunities and benefits of economic globalisation. "In this direction, the WTO should play an important role by bringing stability and predictability to the multilateral trading system. He called upon the WTO member countries to work for preserving rule-based, multilateral trading system to achieve the goal of free and fair trade," Singh was quoted as saying by a statement issued by Rajya Sabha Secretariat. The international trade being a powerful source of both economic and social transformation, the need was to invest more in .
SJVN pays total dividend of Rs 864.56 cr for 2017-18
State-run power producer SJVN Ltd said Tuesday it has paid a total dividend of Rs 864.56 crore to its shareholders for 2017-18. The company has already paid an interim dividend of Rs 504.76 crore in March 2018 to the Government of India which is holding 63.79 per cent equity in the company, a power ministry statement said. According to statement the final dividend cheque for 2017-18 of Rs 50.13 crore was handed over to Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh by Nand Lal Sharma, the Chairman & Managing Director of SJVN Ltd. The company is generating around 2,003.2 MW of electricity from its operational projects i.e. 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station, 412 MW Rampur Hydro Power Station, 53.2 MW Khirvire Wind Power Project and 5.6 MW Charanka Solar Power Station.
Adequate steps taken to check H1N1 flu, Zika outbreak: Nadda
Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to discuss the issue of H1N1 flu and Zika virus outbreak.After the meeting, Nadda asserted that adequate measures have been put in place to deal with the outbreak of both H1N1 flu and Zika virus.He said, "We understand the need to adopt some preventive measures and for that Government of India along with the states are prepared for it. Adequate medicines are there with states and Centre. For this, we are providing adequate medicines and testing kits. Immunization has been done of those who are working in the hospital. All testing kits are there in reasonable number and laboratories have been tuned and trained accordingly."The health minister further stated that he will hold a press conference with all the vulnerable states on Wednesday and added that at places where presence of Zika virus was detected adequate quarantined and complete fogging have been done to ensure that breeding does not take place.He
Frame policy to regulate burning of Ravan effigies during Dussehra: HC to Centre
The Delhi High Court Tuesday directed the Centre and the AAP government to hold consultations to frame a policy to regulate the burning of Ravan effigies during Dussehra. A bench of justices S Ravindra Bhat and A K Chawla issued the direction on a fresh PIL by an auto driver seeking directions to the authorities to prevent large-scale burning of effigies in the national capital. "You (the Centre and the Delhi government) don't want the people to breath in the Ravan as well. You must regulate it (burning of effigies). Else why 10,000 effigies, you can have as many Ravans as there are in society. "Come up with a regulation that you can have it only in a certain designated area of a specified size. There has to be some regulation," the court said. The observation came after the petitioner, K K Rai, told the court that in his district, having an area larger than Delhi, only one Ravan effigy was burnt, but here in the national capital more than 10,000 are set on fire every year. Agreeing ..
Delhi's air quality nosedives towards 'very poor' category
Delhi's air quality nosedived towards very poor category on Tuesday even as authorities put several key measures in place to combat air pollution. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi was recorded at 293, just eight points below the "very poor" category, according to the Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting And Research. 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 that between 401 and 500 is categorised as "severe". A senior Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) official said several factors like vehicular pollution, construction activities and meteorological factors like wind speed were responsible for continuing pollution in the city despite measures being taken up. Several measures are in force in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) like mechanised sweeping of roads, ban on garbage burning, pollution control measures at brick kilns and deployment of police to ..
Big Agriculture eyeing genetic tool for pest control
A controversial and unproven gene-editing technology touted as a silver bullet against malaria-bearing mosquitos could wind up being deployed first in commercial agriculture, according to experts and an NGO report published Tuesday. So-called "gene drives" force evolution's hand, ensuring that an engineered trait is passed down to all or most offspring, and from one generation to the next. If that trait is being male or female, for example, genetically altered specimens released into the wild could lead to the local extinction of a targeted species within a dozen generations. For health campaigners battling malaria, which kills nearly half-a-million people -- mostly in Africa -- every year, and conservationists desperate to save island birds decimated by avian malaria and invasive rodents, gene drive seems almost too good to be true. It just may be, say some scientists. "The use of CRISPR-based gene drive could lead to an ecological cacophony," said Virginie Courtier-Orgogozo, a ...
Punjab for tie-up with Israel on agriculture, dairying
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said his government is keen to make use of Israel's technological advancements in various fiels, including agriculture and internal security.
PAU scientists to experiment natural farming
Farm scientists of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) gained firsthand experience of natural farming at Gurukul farms in Haryana's Kurukshetra district and said they would also experiment the "pesticide-free" farming method in Punjab. A team of farm scientists led by Ludhiana-based PAU Vice Chancellor B S Dhillon visited the Gurukul farms at Kurukshetra on Monday and described it as a "learning experience". "We liked natural farming at Gurukul and we will also start experimenting in Punjab," said Dhillon on Tuesday. PAU delegation was also impressed with the increase in organic carbon and micro nutrients with the use of natural farming, said Dhillon. "There is no use of pesticides and fertilizers in natural farming and therefore the proportion of earth worm increase in the soil, he said adding that the yield of basmati paddy crop was also good. Spread over 180 acres of land, Gurukul farms use indigenous cow urine, cow dung, jaggery, water and a few other items as manure for the ...
Workshop on Chinese art and craft held at Indian Museum
The Indian Museum and the Chinese Consulate here on Tuesday jointly organised a workshop, showcasing the art and craft of the neighbouring country. A 30-member cultural team from China is on a visit to Kolkata to showcase the country's art and culture during Bengal's biggest festival, Durga Puja. Chinese artists and craftsmen guided participants of the workshop, organised inside the museum, in paper cutting, dough modelling, pyrography, sugar painting, micro carving, fan painting, engraving and embroidery. "This workshop is a part of bilateral exchange. We have brought a team from China during the Durga Puja in Kolkata, and later we will also take artists from here to China to promote Indian art and craft," Chinese Consul-General in Kolkata Ma Zhanwu said. Zhanwu added that in June, a group of idol artists from Kumartoli in the city visited China, and such exchanges would continue.
Advisory panel set up for rebuilding flood-hit Kerala
An advisory committee headed by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has been set up for implementation of various projects for rebuilding the flood-ravaged state. Announcing this at a press conference here, Vijayan said the committee, comprising Union Tourism Minister Alphons Kannamthanam, would give advice for implementing the projects. Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala, T K A Nair, who served as advisor to former prime minister, and former state chief secretary K M Chandrasekhar are among the other members of the committee, he said. The first meeting of the committee would be held on October 22, the chief minister said. Besides this, a high-powered committee would monitor the implementation of the projects approved by the state cabinet, he said. The chief minister also launched a portal for crowd funding as part of the government's efforts to mobilise funds for rebuilding and rehabilitating the people affected by the flood in the state. Vijayan is ...
German carmakers have 50:50 chance of facing Detroit's fate, Volkswagen CEO says
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German carmakers only have a 50 percent chance of surviving as leading players in the auto industry unless they transform their businesses to meet new regulations and adapt supply chains, Volkswagen's chief executive said on Tuesday.
Centre, states must cooperate in improving coal production, supply: Goyal
Union minister Piyush Goyal has said the central and state government agencies must work in tandem to improve coal output and supply. Goyal, who holds railways and coal portfolios, made this statement while reviewing issues of production and evacuation of the dry fuel in a joint meeting with officials from ministries of coal and railways, as well as East Coast Railway (ECoR), Mahanadi Coalfields (MCL) and the Odisha government here on Monday, an ECoR release said. To improve the production and supply of coal, Goyal stressed on cooperation and mutual understanding of various agencies from the central and state governments, it said. This would give a strong message to potential investors and business interests regarding a positive industrial and investment climate in the state, he said. While officials of MCL listed issues pending with the railways and state government, ECoR gave a presentation on road map for achieving more than 55 rakes per day at Talcher collieries and actionable ...
Higher temperatures may help protect coral reefs: Study
Higher water temperature, which increases the aggressiveness of some fish, may lead to better protection of some coral reefs, a study claims. It is well established that higher water temperatures lead many corals to die, according to the study published in the journal Behavioural Ecology. Over the past century, global temperature has increased by one degree, said researchers from McMaster University in Canada. Meanwhile, research has shown that coral recovery can be significantly influenced by the behaviour of species living around coral reefs, they said. Researchers evaluated the relationship between fish behaviour and coral performance using a farmerfish-coral system. Farmerfish are aggressive damselfish found around coral reefs in tropical climates that defend gardens of algae from intrusion by other fish. The study tested the relationship between coral recovery rates and the level of aggression exhibited by farmerfish groups when defending their gardens. The researchers did so by .
NGT terms condition of water supply, waste disposal in Agra as shocking, seeks report
The National Green Tribunal has termed as "shocking" the condition of drinking water supply, sewerage, drainage system and solid waste disposal in Agra and sought a report on the issue within two months. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel constituted a committee comprising Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board, a nominee of National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and the Agra District Magistrate, Agra to ascertain the factual position with regard these issues. The green panel said the CPCB will act as nodal agency and will inform other members and a report may be furnished within two months by e-mail. "We are satisfied that since earlier report of the NEERI was 20 years back, much water has drawn under the bridges in the last 20 years. An updated report on the matter is necessary to deal with the current scenario," the bench said. It said that although, a regional committee has been constituted by the tribunal to oversee compliance of
UN rights chief calls to lift Saudi officials' 'immunity' in Khashoggi case
The UN human rights chief called Tuesday for the lifting of the immunity of officials who might be involved in the disappearance of a Saudi Arabian journalist at the kingdom's consulate in Turkey. "In view of the seriousness of the situation surrounding the disappearance of Mr (Jamal) Khashoggi, I believe the inviolability or immunity of the relevant premises and officials bestowed by treaties such as the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations should be waived immediately," rights chief Michelle Bachelet said in a statement.
World's beer supply threatened by climate change: Study
Severe climate events could cause shortages in the global beer supply, which may result in "dramatic" falls in the consumption and rise in prices of the most popular alcoholic drink in the world, according to a study. The finding, published in the journal Nature Plants, warns that increasingly widespread and severe drought and heat may cause substantial decreases in barley yields worldwide, affecting the supply used to make beer. Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in the world by volume consumed, said researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the UK. Although the frequency and severity of drought and heat extremes increase substantially in a range of future climate scenarios, the vulnerability of beer supply to such extremes has never been assessed, they said. In recent years, the beer sector has consumed around 17 per cent of global barley production, but this share varies drastically across major beer-producing countries, for example from 83 per cent in Brazil to ..
WB govt extends food security to 8.5 cr people: Mamata
The West Bengal government has ensured food security to more than 8.5 crore people of the state under the 'Khadya Sathi' scheme, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Tuesday. Special assistance is also being given to the people of Jangalmahal and Hill areas besides Aila-affected areas and farmers of Singur, tea garden workers as well as the Toto tribe, she said on the World Food Day. Under the scheme, launched in 2016, the beneficiaries get rice and wheat at Rs two per kg. "Today is #WorldFoodDay. We have ensured the food security of more than 8.5 crore people of #Bangla through Khadya Sathi Scheme," Banerjee wrote on her Twitter handle. "Special assistance is also provided to the people of Jangalmahal and Hill areas, Aila-affected areas, farmers of Singur, tea garden workers & Toto tribe," she added. The World Food Day is celebrated worldwide on this day to celebrate founding of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations in 1945. It is a day of action
Climate change will worsen disparities, may increase support for Naxals: Report
Bengaluru, Oct 16 (IndiaSpend/IANS) As the effects of climate change on livelihoods become more pronounced, especially for people involved in agriculture and fishing in South and South-East Asia, support for rebel groups and the Naxalite movement is likely to shoot up, according to a new report.
