Page 452 - Environment
Pollution level again increases in Delhi due to local factors
After few days of 'good' air quality in the national capital, the pollution level has gone up due to local factors, officials said Sunday. The Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 159, over four times more than last Tuesday, according to the Centre's System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research Institute (SAFAR). An AQI in the range of 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe'. A Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) official said the rise in pollution level is due to local factors especially the vehicular pollution. "After the monsoon subsided, the local reasons resulted in increase of pollution in the city," the official said. According to the data from the CPCB, the PM10 level (presence of particles with diameter less than 10 mm) was recorded as 'moderate' at 171 in Delhi-NCR and 167 in Delhi. The PM2.5 level (presence of particles with diameter less than 2.5 mm) was 81 in ...
Paucity of energy does not let any nation come out of poverty: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday energy is essential for financial development and its paucity does not let any nation come out of poverty. Claiming that the day is not far when India will overtake Britain's economy, he said while 13 crore families received gas connections in the country in 60 years, his government gave connections to 10 crore families in the last four years. Modi was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Mundra LNG Terminal, Anjar-Mundra and the Palanpur-Pali-Barmer gas transmission projects at Anjar in Kutch district of Gujarat. "Energy is essential for development. Paucity of energy does not let any nation come out of poverty. If one needs freedom from poverty, wants financial development and a self-sufficient country, energy is necessary. Without it, even a mobile phone cannot be charged," he said. Modi said several prime ministers and chief ministers came and went, but he was fortunate to get the opportunity to inaugurate the third LNG (liquefied
Gas-based power plants seek more gas from ONGC's Deepwater
Expressing concern over the dropping of plant load factor (PLF) of gas-based power plants, the Association of Power Producers sought more allocation of gas from the ONGC's deepwater wells'production. In a letter to the Ministry of Power on September 28, the APP said India has about 25 GW installed capacity of Gas-based plants, which are either stranded or not operating at the economic levels due to short supply of Natural Gas from domestic sources or because of prohibitive prices from international sources. "PLF of Gas based plants has dropped by 43per cent during last 7 years (66per centin FY11to 23per centin FY 18). As the ONGC production from Deepwater Gas increases, and same can be allocated to power sector,(so that)the share of RLNG(Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas)will reduce thereby making the tariff more competitive. The proposed mechanism shall serve dual purpose of reviving entire Gas based Power sector and also assist further addition of renewable energy ...
'Martian dirt' may unveil how to grow space food
Scientists have created experimental Martian dirt -- a simulant that closely resembles the soil on Mars and could help find ways to grow food on the red planet for future human colonies. Researchers from University of Central Florida (UCF) in the US developed a scientifically based, standardised method for creating Martian and asteroid soil known as simulants. "The simulant is useful for research as we look to go to Mars. If we are going to go, we'll need food, water and other essentials. As we are developing solutions, we need a way to test how these ideas will fare," said Dan Britt, from UCF. Scientists looking for ways to grow food on Mars need to test their techniques on soil that most closely resembles the stuff on Mars. The researchers' formula is based on the chemical signature of the soils on Mars collected by the Curiosity rover. Researchers believe that there is a market for the simulant. At USD 20 a kilogram, plus shipping, it may be easier to send UCF an order, than to try
Know how chemical pollution affects whales
Chemical pollutants, banned more than 40 years ago, are still having a devastating effect on marine life and could lead to the disappearance of half the world's killer whale population before the end of the century.According to a new study, killer whales, or orcas, are most at risk from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which were once widely used as coolants and in the production of carbonless copy paper before they were found to be highly toxic and carcinogenic.Production of PCBs were banned in the US in 1979, but they are still in use in many parts of the world and not due to be completely phased out until 2025.This has led to PCBs seeping into the oceans, where they present a particular risk to marine mammals at the top of the food chain like orcas. Because the chemicals do not readily break down, the concentration of them builds up in the bodies of predators as they eat more and more fish contaminated with PCBs.For mammals, PCB contamination is inter-generational, with mothers ...
Cooperative eco model a viable alternative to capitalism, socialism: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday the cooperative model is a viable economic alternative to the capitalist and socialist models. He hailed India's first home minister Vallabhbhai Patel, who was also founder of the Amul dairy cooperative movement in Gujarat, as the leader who showed people the importance of the cooperative movement as an economic model. "It fills me with pride that it is the result of farmers' cooperative movement of over seven decades that Amul has become an identify, inspiration and necessity in the country," Modi said. Terming it a huge achievement, he said it is not just an industry or a milk processing plant, but is also "an alternative economic model". On one hand, there is the socialist economic model, and on the other is the capitalistic model. The world has been inspired by these two models, he said. "Sardar saheb sowed the seed for a third economic model -- controlled neither by government nor capitalists. Instead, it was created with the cooperation ..
S African lion cubs conceived artificially in world first
Watching the two little lion cubs boisterously play with each other at a conservation centre outside of South Africa's capital Pretoria, it's hard to see anything out of the ordinary. But these cubs are unique. "These are the first ever lion cubs to be born by means of artificial insemination -- the first such pair anywhere in the world," announced the University of Pretoria, whose scientists are researching the reproductive system of female African lions. The two cubs, a male and female, born on August 25 are healthy and normal, said Andre Ganswindt, the director of the University of Pretoria's mammal research institute. His team's breakthrough came after 18 months of intensive trials. "We collected sperm from a healthy lion," Ganswindt told AFP. Then when the lioness' hormone levels were found to be viable, she was inseminated artificially. "And luckily it was successful," said Ganswindt, adding that "there were several attempts, but surprisingly it didn't take too much effort". He .
UN body's crucial report on global warming impacts in October
Experts from around the world will gather in South Korea from Monday for the 48th session of UN body Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to consider a special report on global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius.
UN chief concerned over J&K, welcomes India's greater role in addressing peace, security challenges
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has voiced concern over the situation in Jammu and Kashmir while encouraging "positive dialogue" to resolve the disagreements peacefully. He also said the UN welcomes a greater role for India in addressing regional peace and security challenges. "On the development front, India already is, and can become an even greater regional development force, helping other countries of the region forge a better future," Guterres told PTI in an email interview here ahead of his visit to India beginning Monday. He said the UN welcomed a greater role for India in addressing regional peace and security challenges. "I remain concerned by the situation in Jammu and Kashmir I encourage positive dialogue for disagreements to be resolved peacefully," he said. The UN chief will be in India October 1 to 3 during when he will meet with President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj. His visit coincides with the beginning of ...
1,500 TN fishermen driven away by Lankan Navy: Ass'n leader
Around 1,500 fishermen from here returned to the shores without fish catch Sunday after they were allegedly driven away by Sri Lankan Navay near Katchatheevu, a fishermen association leader said. The fishermen, who had put out to sea Saturday in over 275 mechanised boats, were fishing near Katchatheevu when the Lankan Naval personnel in four patrol vessels allegedly snapped the fishing nets of 10 boats, Mechanised Boats Fishermen Association President P Sesuraja told reporters here. The Naval personnel also drove away the other fishermen, following which they returned here Sunday morning, he claimed. On Friday, over 600 fishermen from Rameswaram region were chased away and fishing nets of nearly 10 boats allegedly snapped by the Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing in their waters.
Royal Bengal Tigers spotted in three new locations in Odisha:
The Odisha government has said that Royal Bengal Tigers (RBTs) have been spotted in three new locations in the state. Forest and Environment minister, Bijayshree Routray said on Saturday that RBTs "presence have been reported" from Hemagiri forest in Sundargarh, Debrigad Wildlife Century in Hirakud and Munigada in Rayagada district. The minister said the presence of the RBTs have been confirmed from pictures captured in cameras installed in the forests. "There should be around 60 RBTs in Odisha. However, they were not earlier sighted at these three places. Tiger being found in Muniguda of Rayagada district is definitely a good news," said Routray. The official count as per the 2014 census is 40 tigers in Odisha, said Sandip Tripathy, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wild Life) adding that the current census by NTCA (national tiger conservation authority), Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and Odisha Forest Department is underway. "Ther result of the current ..
Kanpur: Smuggler arrested with 750 turtles
The Government Railway Police (GRP) on Saturday arrested a smuggler carrying 750 turtles at Kanpur railway station.The GRP team received an information regarding Mohammad Waseem, a resident of Unnao, carrying turtles in two bags. During the security check at the railway station, the GRP team took Waseem into custody and seized all the turtles.A case has been registered against the smuggler and the turtles have been released in Ganga river.
'One Sun, One Grid' could help tackle climate change: Swaraj
Acknowledging the potential threat caused by climate change worldwide, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'One Sun, One Grid' vision as a potential solution to the challenge posed by the global woe.Swaraj, while delivering a statement at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), asserted that India has risen to meet the challenge of climate change, a testament of which was the honour conferred upon Prime Minister Modi by the United Nations on September 26."Prime Minister Modi in partnership with France launched the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The United Nations has recognised their contributions and conferred on Prime Minister Modi and (French) President Macron the honour of UN Champions of the Earth. I am happy to inform you that 68 nations are now members of ISA. In March this year, India and France chaired the Founding Conference of ISA in which 120 countries participated. Our Prime Minister has described his vision of ...
Juvenile cobra spotted near Rashtrapathi Bhavan gate
A juvenile cobra was spotted near one of the gates of the Rashtrapathi Bhavan Saturday and was rescued by a team of wildlife body. A Rashtrapathi Bhavan staffer had spotted the juvenile cobra in a rain-gutter downpipe and informed the the rapid response team of Wildlife SOS, which rushed to the spot. The two-member team of the wildlife body transferred the cobra into a safe transport container. The common cobra (naja naja) is one of the four venomous snake species to be found in the Indian subcontinent. They are revered in Indian mythology and culture and are listed under Schedule II of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Kartick Satyanarayan, the co-founder and CEO, the Wildlife SOS said, "Cobras seldom bite, but will give out a warning sign by displaying their hood." "The snake uses its venom primarily to hunt prey like rats, mice and frogs. People get accidentally bitten only when they step on the snake or an untrained person attempts to catch or handle these snakes," he ...
New bridge on strategic inaugurated in Arunachal
A bridge connecting two sides of Dau river on a strategic road in the remote Anjaw district bordering China was inaugurated on Saturday, officials said. The steel bridge, which replaced a bailey bridge at Hayuliang-Changwanti road, will facilitate uninterrupted movement of defence personnel and civilians, the officials said. The bridge was dedicated to the nation by Additional Director General (East) of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) U C Mehta at Hayuliang. More bridges built by the BRO would also come up across the state, the officials said. "Four steel bridges have been completed and one is under construction. We have planned 16 more bridges from Tidding to Kibithu to ensure smooth connectivity in the interior pockets of this border district," Mehta said. Colonel Rajeev Dhingra, Commandant of 48 Border Road Task Force (BRTF), spoke on various innumerable odds being faced to complete these bridges and roads. "Working under tough weather conditions and landscapes, our ..
Alternate fuel solution to spiralling petroleum issues: Gadkari
Union Road Transport, Shipping and Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said alternative fuel, like ethanol, methanol, bio-diesel, bio-CNG and electric vehicles will be the solution to the current spiral in the prices of petroleum products.
Tigers sighted in 3 new territories in Odisha: Minister
Odisha Forest and Environment Minister Bijayshree Routray on Saturday said Royal Bengal Tigers have been sighted at three new forest divisions of the state.
Pvt sector has significant role in creating awareness on sanitation: Parekh
Private sector has a significant role to play in building sanitation infrastructure as well as creating awareness and bringing behavioural change among people, HDFC Chairman Deepak Parekh said. Speaking on the Swachh Bharat Mission, he said the government has a five-year target from October 2014 to make India open defecation free. "While it is a much-needed and mammoth task, we feel the private sector has a significant role to play, not just in building sanitation infrastructure, but also in creating awareness and behavioural change amongst people," he said. "We have partnered with experienced sanitation organisations working in the water and sanitation sector who are deeply connected with the communities they work with," he said. HDFC has supported community based, sanitation and solid waste management programmes with experienced partners including Shelter Associates (Maharashtra), Gramalaya (Tamil Nadu) and Waste Warriors Society (Himachal Pradesh) and MHT (NCR).
Stubble burning: Punjab to appoint nodal officers in 8,000 villages
With the paddy harvesting season starting and the fear of environment pollution looming due to stubble burning by farmers, the Punjab government has decided to appoint nodal officers in 8,000 paddy growing villages in a move to check stubble burning.
Students to be taught to assemble solar lamps on Oct 2
Over one lakh students from 659 schools will be trained across the country to assemble solar lamps under the 'Solar Urja through Localisation for Sustainability' (SoULS) project of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) on October 2. Workshops will be held for this purpose at various places on Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary, said Chetan Singh Solanki of IIT-Bombay who heads the SoULS project. It is part of an initiative of the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), he said. The objective is to "sensitise our future generation" about importance of solar technology, he said. The initiative also reaffirms India's commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement and the MNRE's goal of installation of 100 GW of renewable energy by 2022, he said. IIT-B will observe October 2 as 'International Day of Non-Violence to Environment', Solanki said. The SoULS program has trained several people from rural areas to assemble solar study lamps, he said. The ...