Page 420 - Environment

Qatar Petroleum signs five-year LPG supply deal with China

DUBAI (Reuters) - State energy giant Qatar Petroleum said on Tuesday it had signed a five-year agreement to supply China with 600,000 tonnes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) per year.

Piyush Goyal to receive top energy policy prize from US university

It said Goyal has been instrumental in reforming India's power markets and expanding renewable energy

Air quality continues to remain poor in Delhi-NCR

The air quality in New Delhi and its surrounding areas continued to remain poor on Tuesday, according to the data released by the National Air Quality Index (AQI). The condition is likely to remain the same and may even worsen in the next 24 to 48 hours.The latest data, on Tuesday, shows major pollutants at PM 2.5 and PM 10 at 214 and 255 in the national capital's Lodhi Road area, which is considered to be poor. The carbon monoxide level, on the other hand, was moderate as per the data.Anand Vihar (average AQI of 592), NSIT Dwarka (221), and Jahangirpuri (251) are the other areas in the national capital that are experiencing high deterioration in air quality.The AQI between the range of 51 to 100 is considered as satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 comes under the poor category, whereas 401-500 range is severe.Compared to Monday's AQI level which was PM 2.5 and PM 10 at 168 and 224 (hazardous), the air quality did not show any significant improvement. Continual exposure to such

Floating pipe to start collecting plastic in Pacific Ocean

A 2,000 foot-long floating pipe nicknamed "Wilson" is slated to begin its mission to collect all the plastic in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Chamling receives FAO award for Sikkim becoming world's first organic state

Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling received the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) Future Policy Gold Award from its Deputy Director Maria Helena Semedo, who commended the Himalayan state for setting an example to the world by becoming first totally organic state.

Punjab: Stubble burning continues, farmers say they 'have no option'

Despite a prohibition on the burning of farm residue, farmers in Punjab's Bhatinda city are holding protests and continuing to burn stubble.Speaking to ANI, one of the farmers said that since the government has provided no relief to farmers, they have no option but to resort to stubble burning. "We are nature lovers. But we have no other option. The government has not found any solution for us. They have not provided us with any relief. So we are still burning stubble," the farmer said.However, a new technique is being used in Ludhiana to curb the problem of paddy stubble burning. A farmer said, "Before this, we had no solution but to burn stubble. Now, all the stubble has been cleared in six villages. It is very beneficial. We are happy. It's a permanent solution."Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had, on October 15, extended his sympathies to the farmers of the state over the prohibition on stubble burning. However, he asserted that the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) ...

Kovind urges engineers to build sustainable structures

President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday advised engineers to build sustainable structures in view of the changing climate and also to ensure that they look beautiful.

Rane presses for another ban on import of fish in Goa

Goa Food and Drugs Administration Minister Vishwajit Rane said Monday that he has asked the secretary of health department to move a note to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, seeking a ban on the import of fish. During a recent meeting with FDA officials there was a discussion on dealing with the fear that the fish coming from outside the state may have been preserved by using formalin, he said. "I have requested the secretary of Health department to move a note to the chief minister regarding imposing ban on the import of fish for a period of 30 days," Rane said. Import of fish from outside had been banned earlier during July-August this year for fear of presence of formalin, which is toxic, in the fish. Until a state-of-the-art facility to check quality of fish is not set up in Goa, a ban on import is necessitated, the minister said.

Russian, Iranian energy ministers discuss oil output cut deal

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's energy minister Alexander Novak discussed the oil output cap agreed between OPEC and non-OPEC countries with his Iranian counterpart Bijan Zanganeh at a meeting in Moscow on Monday, the Russian energy ministry said in a statement.

Sikkim CM calls for global effort to make agriculture organic by 2050, gets UN award

Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling on Monday called for global cooperation to make agriculture totally organic the world over by 2050, citing the achievement of his Himalayan state in north-east India.

MCL would achieve coal output target of 162.6 mt: Goyal

Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) has the potential to achieve its target of 162.5 million tonne coal for this fiscal, Coal Minister Piyush Goyal said Monday while stressing on long-term mining planning to raise output and ensure supply to power plants. The minister visited Odisha's coal belt to inspect mining operations in both the Ib Valley and Talcher coalfields of MCL. Goyal first inspected Samleshwari Open Cast Project in Ib Valley Coalfields where officers briefed him on coal mining and supply operations, MCL said in a release. Emphasising the need for preparing long-term project planning, the minister favoured mines-wise detailed plan to be prepared for at least 20 years of operations to overcome bottlenecks and ensure adequate supplies to consumers. "We need to conduct mine-wise review regarding their coal dispatch capability," he said while stressing on ensuring adequate coal supply to power plants. Taking note of mines low performance following delay in shifting of a siding, the

ICFRE signs two pacts to spread awareness on forests and environment

The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), an autonomous council under the Environment Ministry, signed two pacts Monday to spread awareness about forests, and environment among the youths of the country, a government statement said. The first pact was signed between ICFRE, Dehradun, and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), and the second with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS). "The MoUs have been signed to launch the 'Prakriti' programme, which aims to promote awareness about forests and environment, and to stimulate interest among the students of NVS and KVS in maintaining a balanced environment and for acquiring skills that reflect care and protection towards forests, environment and society," an official statement said. It added that another objective of the programme is to provide a platform to school children to learn practical skills for judicious use of resources and to mobilise a cadre of youths for raising a peoples' movement committed to conserve forests ...

System to forewarn about air pollution in NCR launched

Amid rising air pollution ahead of winter, Union Earth Sciences Minister Harsh Vardhan launched a system on Monday that will help in forewarning any large-scale air pollution events over the national capital region (NCR), a statement said. The 'Air Quality Early Warning System' is designed to predict extreme air pollution events and give alerts to take necessary steps as per Centre's Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The air pollution system has been developed jointly by the scientists at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, India Meteorological Department and the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF). The warning system consists of a real time observations of air quality over Delhi region and details about natural aerosols like dust (from dust storms) and particulate matter using different satellite data sets, predictions of air pollutants from two different air quality prediction systems based on state-of-the-art atmospheric chemistry .

GRAP comes into force in Delhi-NCR, air quality remains poor

The emergency plan to combat air pollution came into force Monday in the Delhi-NCR where air quality remained poor, even as the Centre claimed that bad air quality days in the city have come down considerably this year. The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which has come into effect for the second year, ensures stringent actions are taken based on the air quality. Under the plan, measures like mechanised sweeping of roads, ban on garbage burning, pollution control measures at brick kilns and deployment of police to ensure smooth passage of traffic at vulnerable areas are in force in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) as the air quality lies in the poor category. Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan, who launched an air quality early warning system for Delhi, said the Badarpur Thermal Power Plant will be closed from October 15. He also said the number of mechanised road sweeping machines in the national capital will increase from 52 to 64 by November-end. With farmers already burning

Minister urges people to join fight against pollution

Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday launched an air quality early warning system for the capital and urged the people to participate in the fight against pollution.

72 Zika cases detected in Jaipur; Centre asks states to intensify vector ctrl steps

As the number of people infected with Zika virus rose to 72 in Rajasthan, the Union Health Ministry Monday asked states to check mosquito breeding and intensify vector control strategies to contain the spread of the disease. Sanjeeva Kumar, Additional Secretary (Health), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare held a meeting with various state representatives through video conferencing. He asked them to implement the guidelines as prescribed under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme for effective control of Zika. "States have been asked to intensify vector control strategies which include anti-larvae activities and fogging, and also follow the guidelines as prescribed under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme for effective control of Zika virus disease," a health ministry official said. States have also been asked to strengthen their surveillance systems. Zika is caused by aedes aegypti mosquito which also transmits dengue and chikungunya and breeds in .

100 per cent organic world possible: Chamling

A 100 per cent organic world is possible, Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said Monday as he called for making organic agriculture more fashionable and exciting as done in his remote Himalayan state. Addressing a news conference at the Chamber of Deputies in the Italian Parliament, Chamling said it took Sikkim over a decade to transform from a state which used chemical fertilizers to one which is now a fully organic. "I am indeed very grateful to be here. I am not a scientist or researcher. I am simply a politician who experienced and led the transformation of a State of India, Sikkim, from one which used chemical fertilizers to one which is now a fully organic state," he said. "Based on my long experience and association with the Organic initiative, I can tell you in all good faith and confidence that a 100 per cent organic world is possible. If we could do it in Sikkim, there is no reason why policy makers, farmers and community leaders cannot do the same elsewhere in the ...

Zika virus cases reach 72 in Jaipur

The number of people infected with the Zika virus rose to 72 in Jaipur, officials from the health department said on Monday.

Environmentalists promise to take forward GD Agarwal's fight to save Ganga

Environmental activists Monday said they would take the message of 'Save Ganga' crusader G D Agarwal to every nook and corner of the country. Agarwal died at a Rishikesh hospital on October 11, 111 days after he began a fast for a pollution-free Ganga. He was 86. Agarwal had begun his hunger strike on June 22 demanding government measures to save the Ganga. Sanjay Singh, national convenor, Jal Jan Jodo Abhiyan, said as a first step they would organise a march from Delhi to Banaras to carry the message of 'Save Ganga'. "We will also talk about the dreams of Agarwal in every capital city of the country so that his message reaches each and every person," he said. Another activist Rajendra Singh said they would also carry the message of cleaning Ganga to those attending the Kumbh festival next year. Meanwhile, he contradicted the Centre's claims that most of the demands of Agarwal were agreed upon. "None of the demands made by us were met. The government's claims are false," Singh hit ...

Lion deaths: Let experts decide on vaccination, says Guj HC

The Gujarat High Court on Monday said that experts should decide whether all lions in the state's Gir forest need to be vaccinated to prevent the outbreak of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV). The state government had told HC during the last hearing that out of the 23 lions which were found dead in Gir forest in September, 17 had succumbed to CDV and bacterial infection. These lions had died in the Dalkhaniya range of Gir (east) division of Amreli district. A bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi is hearing two PILs, one filed by wildlife activist Biren Pandya and a suo motu PIL on the unnatural deaths of lions due to electrocution and falling into open wells. The issue of deaths of lions in September due to infections was added at a later stage. The HC on Monday also asked the Union government as to why it has allocated an upkeep fund of Rs 95,000 for a lion when the same is Rs 15 lakh in the case of a tiger. The issue was raised by Hemang Shah, the lawyer ...