Page 441 - Environment
India, Russia sign pact to implement new civil nuclear projects
India and Russia on Friday signed a document for cooperation to implement new nuclear power project (NPP). The document was signed following the discussions between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the 19th India-Russia Annual Bilateral Summit in New Delhi.The document called an 'Action Plan for Prioritisation and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field', was signed by Director General of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation Alexey Likhachev and Secretary of Department of Atomic Energy and Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Kamlesh Vyas.The two countries plan to implement the project of six nuclear power units of Russian design at a new site in India, as well as further cooperation in third countries in new promising areas of nuclear technology, apart from the construction of nuclear power plants. At present India and Russia are jointly involved in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project in Bangladesh. This is the ...
Shopkeepers in Kishtwar fined for littering
Several shopkeepers in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district have been fined for littering, even after repeated instructions to not throw waste material and garbage on roads, officials said. Civic officials collected Rs 32,000 in fine from the erring traders during a market inspection by Deputy Commissioner Angrez Singh Rana on Thursday, they said. A team of officials accompanied Rana who took a round of the market area and interacted with shopkeepers, officials said. According to the district administration, repeated appeals have been made to shopkeepers to cooperate with them in maintaining cleanliness in the town. While interacting with shopkeepers, Rana asked them to keep their surroundings clean, not to throw any kind of waste material on roads and cooperate with administration in maintaining the roads.
NGT directs DFO to inquire into alleged tree felling by Reliance Jio in Kurnool
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh to inquire about alleged tree felling by Reliance Jio while laying optical fibre cable. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel asked the DFO to verify the facts and submit a report by e-mail within a month. The tribunal has posted the matter for consideration of the report on January 9 next year. The order came on a letter written by Andhra Pradesh native C Janardana Reddy alleging that Reliance Jio while laying underground fibre-optic cable from Nannur to Veldurthi village up-rooted fully grown trees using heavy machinery. "In view of above, we direct the Divisional Forest Officer, Kurnool District to verify the facts and send a report to this Tribunal by e-mail at filing.ngt@gmail.com within one month... "A copy of this order be sent to the Divisional Forest Officer, Kurnool District by e-mail through the Collector, Kurnool District, Andhra ...
Confident of getting CWC nod for Mekedatu project: HDK
Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Friday expressed confidence that the state will soon get clearance from the Central Water Commission for the proposed Rs 5,912-crore Mekedatu project on the Cauvery river. The chief minister met Union Water Resources and Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in the national capital and raised several issues including Mekedatu project, Mahadayi river as well as funds to repair national highways passing through the state. "On the Mekedatu project, he (Gadkari) responded positively. ...After today's talks, I am confident of getting approval any time soon," Kumaraswamy told reporters after the meeting. After getting the CWC approval to the project, the state will have to take forest and environment clearances from the central government, he said. Expressing concern over delay in construction of the Mekedatu dam project, Kumaraswamy said a lot of time has been wasted and there is an urgent need to minimise the spillage of surplus ...
Nuclear experts to test water, fish around Japan power plant
The International Atomic Energy Agency says it will test seawater, marine sediment and fish around Japan's wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant this month. The Vienna-based agency said Friday that the tests aim to "support the quality assurance of radioactivity data collection and analysis by the Japanese laboratories." IAEA experts will perform the tests October 9-19. It will be the eighth time the agency has performed such tests since 2014. Last month, the operator of the power plant, Tokyo Electric Power Co., said much of the radioactive water stored at the site isn't clean enough and needs further treatment if it is to be released into the ocean. A massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 destroyed three reactors at the plant.
NGT directs IHBAS to ensure efficient operation of microwave waste treatment unit
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) to ensure efficient functioning of the microwave waste treatment unit on its premises and take steps for water conservation. The green panel had earlier this year directed IBHAS to install and commission the unit. The direction, on a plea filed by a city resident seeking proper waste management by IHBAS, came after the tribunal perused an environment audit report by the apex pollution monitoring body CPCB. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel asked IHBAS to comply with the recommendations of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) which said that the hospital has to phase out mercury and procure some blood pressure apparatus without mercury content. "We do not find any reason not to accept the report. Accordingly, the report is accepted and the IHBAS is directed to comply with the deficiencies found. "Report of compliance be filed before the CPCB within six ..
3 astronauts land safely on Earth after 6 months in space
Two astronauts from NASA and one from the Russian Space agency Roscosmos have returned safely to Earth after 197 days of scientific research on the International Space Station.
E-vehicles likely to run for tiger safari in Tadoba reserve
In a bid to promote use of green energy, electric tourist vehicles are likely to be introduced in the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) of Maharashtra, a senior forest official has said. The proposal to introduce electric tourist vehicles in TATR was in the pipeline since the last one year and it is expected to be implemented later this month on a trial basis, the official told PTI on Thursday. TATR, located in Chandrapur district, will be first to introduce such vehicles for animal safari in the state, he claimed. These e-vehicles would be first tested on difficult forest terrains before being allowed to run in TATR, he added. The state has six tiger reserves which cover an area of around 9,116 sq km. Pench, Melghat, Sahyadri and Tadoba-Andhari are some of the popular tiger reserves that attract a large number of wildlife enthusiasts every year. There are nearly 165 tigers inhabiting the state's reserves where eco-tourism generated a collective revenue of around Rs ...
Toyota announces new recall of 2.4 million hybrid cars
Japanese car giant Toyota said Friday it is recalling more than 2.4 million hybrid cars over a fault that could cause crashes, just a month after an another recall affecting hybrids. The firm in September said it was recalling more than one million hybrid cars globally after uncovering a technical problem that could cause fires. The latest recall affects several models of Toyota's Prius and its Auris hybrid vehicles produced between October 2008 and November 2014, with more than a million of the affected cars in Japan. Another 830,000 are in North America, 290,000 in Europe, 3,000 in China, and the rest in other parts of the world. In a statement, Toyota said the cars involved in the recall had already been involved in previous recalls in 2014 and 2015, but "the remedy conducted then did not anticipate the new condition identified in this recall." The problem identified arises when the cars fail to enter "failsafe driving mode as intended." "If this occurs, the vehicle could lose ...
London, Shanghai may face flood-hit future: UK charity
As an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report next week is expected to call for urgent cuts limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, a study on Friday said world's biggest coastal cities like London, Shanghai and Bangkok may face a flood-hit future.
Briton dies after sea snake bite in Australia
A young British man has died after being bitten by a sea snake while working aboard a fishing trawler off Australia's northern coast, authorities said Friday, in a rare case despite the marine creature's deadly venom. The 23-year-old was bitten as he pulled up a net around noon on Thursday when the vessel was some 70 nautical miles south of Groote Eylandt, an island in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Northern Territory Police said. St John Ambulance operations manager Craig Garraway told the Northern Territory News paramedics went out to the trawler "but unfortunately by the time they got out there he had passed away". The boat eventually docked at the small township of Borroloola where the man, reportedly a backpacker, was declared dead. Police said the British embassy was notified of his death and a post-mortem examination would be conducted. Some 30 of the 70 known species of sea snake -- marine reptiles found in tropical waters -- are found in Australia. Sea snakes are venomous but ...
Kerala : IMD predicts heavy rainfall for next 5 days
The state of Kerala is expected to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall for the next five days and a district wise warning has been issued in this regard informed Director of Kerala Meteorological Department on Thursday.K Santosh, Director of India Meteorological Department, Thiruvananthapuram told ANI, "Under the influence of cyclone circulation which is live over South-east Arabian Sea, a low-pressure area is expected to form near Lakshadweep during next 24 hours. It is likely to intensify further into a depression in subsequent 36 hours and then move North-westwards and develop into a cyclonic storm. Under its influence, Kerala is expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall for the next five days. Fishermen have been advised to not venture into the sea for the next three-four days."He also informed that Southern part of the state will be more impacted."Heavy rainfall is expected till 9th of this month and heavy to very heavy is expected for the next five days. As much as 21 ...
CII and UN Environment sign MoU
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the UN Environment has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development. Erik Solheim, Executive Director at UN Environment, and Chandrajit Banerji, Director-General, Confederation of Indian Industry, Thursday signed the MoU at CII's headquarters in Delhi. "Leadership from India is critical where plastics are concerned, but private sector initiatives are even more significant: solutions lie there," said Solheim. Chandrajit Banerjee said, "The CII will work towards voluntary codes in Indian industry on the issue of plastics, for which there is already a precedent with benefits to firms in terms of credit and shareholder value. Outside of India, CII will engage with industry forums it is linked to in different countries, and especially in Africa via its annual CII-Africa Conclave." Covering all the major areas of interest common to both organisations, the MoU ...
21 IORA countries adopt the Delhi Declaration on Renewable Energy; to tie up with ISA members
As many as 21 countries in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Thursday adopted the Delhi Declaration on Renewable Energy, the New and Renewable Energy Ministry said. These nations in the Indian Ocean Region adopted Delhi Declaration post the 2nd IORA Renewable Energy Ministerial Meeting held at the 2nd Global Re-Invest India-ISA Partnership Renewable Energy Investors' Meet & Expo at Greater Noida, the ministry said in a statement. The Delhi Declaration on Renewable Energy in the Indian Ocean Region calls for collaboration among IORA member states in meeting the growing demand for renewable energy in the Indian Ocean Littoral, development of a common renewable energy agenda for the Indian Ocean region and promote regional capacity building. The declaration also calls for promotion of technology development and transfer, strengthening of public private partnerships in renewable energy and collaboration among IORA member states and the member nations of the International Solar .
Heavy rains likely in Kerala, TN, Karnataka, Pondy
Kerala, ravaged by the south west monsoon in August, is bracing for more rains with a low pressure area likely to form over the Southeast Arabian sea, as the state government stepped up disaster preparedness Thursday. Kerala's neighbour Tamil Nadu initiated preventive measures following an IMD forecast that parts of the state may receive heavy to very heavy rainfall in most places and extremely heavy rainfall in some areas on October 7, officials said. Karnataka government sounded an alert in 12 districts as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said heavy rains were likely in South interior parts of the southern state. An IMD bulletin said the low pressure area could intensify into a cyclonic storm, triggering heavy to very heavy rainfall in several parts of Kerala. In view of the IMD forecast, a red alert has been sounded in Idukki and Malappuram districts with heavy rains expected on Sunday. According to the bulletin, a cyclonic circulation over southeast Arabian
'Forest Man of India' described wrongly in text book, Assam CM to write to Maha govt
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday said he would write to the Maharashtra government over "erroneous" description of 'Forest Man of India' Jadav Payeng, who is from Assam, in school text books of the western state. Payeng, a forest department worker of Assam, planted and tendered trees on a sandbar of the Brahmaputra river turning it into a forest over the years. An environment text book of Maharashtra State Board of Secondary Education reportedly "wrongly" mentioned Payeng, who was awarded Padma Shri in 2015, as a member of a nomadic tribe. Meeting a delegation of the ethnic Mising community, the chief minister assured them that he would write to the Maharashtra government to register Assam's reservation. Payeng belongs to the Mising tribe. The meeting also discussed fund allocation to the Mising Autonomous Council areas.
Wild animal attacks: Karna govt to provide Rs 2,000 per month
The Karnataka government Thursday decided to grant an assistance of Rs 2,000 per month for a period of five years to the kin of those who die in attack by wild animals. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Krishna Byre Gowda told reporters here. This was in addition to existing one-time compensation of Rs 5 lakh given to the families of those killed by wild animals, he said. The cabinet among other decisions approved setting up of centres of excellence for skill training at the Government Tool Room Training Centre (GTTC) in Yadgir, Humnabad, Lingasugur and Hospet, which come under the backward Hyderabad Karnataka region. The centres would be set up at a cost of over Rs 220 crore with the help of Dassault Systmes India Pvt. Ltd, Gowday said. Training would be imparted on automotive, aerospace and industrial equipment, Gowda said adding the governments share will be Rs 20.7 crore, and remaining about Rs 203 crore will be ...
Guj plans 2 safari parks to accommodate growing number of Gir
In the wake of the death of 23 Asiatic lions in Gujarat's Gir forest in the last 20 days, the state government Thursday announced setting up two safari parks near here and in Narmada district to accommodate growing population of big cats. The government would also shift some of the lions in the upcoming parks, as their population in the Gir sanctuary has gone up to 600, a minister said. "One such park would come up near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's upcoming 'Statue of Unity' near Rajpipla town of Narmada district and another one near Ahmedabad," Minister of State for Forest Raman Patkar said at Vapi in Valsad district. The lion population in Gujarat is 523, as per a 2015 Census. However, during the recent screening drive being conducted by Forest personnel, a total of 600 big cats were found in the Gir forest in Saurashtra region. "Lion population is increasing. As per the last Census, there were 523 lions. But now, its more than 600. Thus, we have to provide them new
U'khand lowers petrol, diesel prices by Rs 2.50 a litre
Joining other BJP-ruled states,Uttarakhandalso announced a cut of Rs 2.50 a litre in the prices of diesel and petrol in the state, terming it as a relief to the common man. "The decision to lower the prices of petrol and diesel which will take effect from the midnight of October 4 has been taken in public interest and involvean additionalexpenditure of Rs 325 crore out of the state exchequer," Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat told reporters here soon after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced the Rs 2.50 cut in prices of petrol and diesel. The total reduction of Rs 5 on each litre of petrol and diesel will help reduce the expenditure on transportation and the common man will be benefitted, he said.
Kaushal seeks scrapping of notification declaring 4,180 sq km of Uttarakhand 'eco-sensitive'
Social activist Avdhash Kaushal Thursday demanded scrapping of a Centre's notification declaring nearly 4,180 square km of area from Gomukh to Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand "eco sensitive", saying the step would revive the stalled hydel power projects in the state andboost investment here. A 2011 notification by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest has declared a total area of 4179.59 square kilometers, covering the entire watershed of about 100 km stretch of the river Bhagirathi from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi, an eco-sensitive zone. Kaushal sought junking of the notification two days before a major investment summit being organised by the state government on October 7 and 8 here. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to inaugurate it. A Padmashree awardee, Kaushal demanded revocation of the notification, saying it has stalled16 hydro-electricity projects with a total capacity of 1,743 MW in the notified zone from Gomukh to Uttarkashi, a development which is not conducive to the ...
