Page 456 - Environment
UN award not for individual but for Indian value system: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that the United Nations environmental award conferred on him is not for an individual but for the Indian value system of living in harmony with nature and protecting the environment. Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron have been jointly awarded the UN's highest environmental honour for their pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance and promoting new areas of cooperation on environmental action. "I accept, with all humility, the Champions of the Earth Award and thank the @UN for conferring this honour. This Award is not for an individual but for the Indian tradition and value systems of living in harmony with nature and protecting the environment," Modi said in a series of tweets. He also congratulated Macron on getting the award. "The honour is a fitting recognition for his work towards creating a cleaner and greener tomorrow. His role in strengthening the International Solar Alliance is also extremely ...
CSL, Andaman and Nicobar admin sign MoU for O & M of marine
Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) has entered into an agreement with the Andaman and Nicobar administration to spruce up the operational efficiency of the marine dockyard in Port Blair and ensure faster turnaround of vessels for seamless operations. As part of the MoU, CSL shall take up the 'Operation and Maintenance of the Marine Dry-Dock' at Port Blair. Under the ambit of this Memorandum of Unuderstanding (MoU) signed on September 25, CSL shall assist the administration to set up Ship repair eco-system at A&N slands, for augmentation and modernization of marine dockyard and skill development and training schemes for the islands, a CSL release here said Thursday. The MoU was signed in New Delhi by Madhu Nair, CMD CSL and Ankita Mishra Bundela, IAS, Commissioner Cum Secretary (Shipping), A and N Administration, in the presence of Gopal Krishna, IAS, Secretary to Ministry of Shipping and other officials. CSL has also signed an MoU with Andaman and Nicobar administration in ..
Punjab CM urges Modi to compensate farmers for straw management
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce Rs 100 per quintal to farmers to manage paddy straw instead of burning it.
States asked to ensure distribution of farm implements to tackle stubble burning in 10 days
The Environment Ministry Thursday asked Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to complete distribution of agricultural implements among farmers within 10 days so as to tackle stubble burning, one of the key reasons for air pollution in Delhi in the winter. Ahead of the critical months of November-December, when the air pollution peaks in the national capital, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under the ministry has deployed 41 teams in Delhi-NCR for ground-level inspection of activities that cause pollution from September 15 this year. An official statement said the number of 'Good', 'Satisfactory' and 'Moderate' days increased from 144 in 2017 to 149 in 2018, while the number of 'Poor', 'Very Poor' and 'Severe' days decreased from 125 in 2017 to 120 in 2018 till date. Air Quality Index (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'. Chairing a meeting of environment ministers ...
Body of farmer swept to Pakistan handed over to BSF
The Pakistan Rangers on Thursday handed over the body of a 53-year-old Indian farmer, who was swept away in the gushing waters of Ravi river to Pakistan, to the Border Security Force (BSF) here, officials said. The body of Balwinder Singh was received by his family members at the Attari-Wagah joint check post, they said. Singh fell into the river on Tuesday while working in a field in Ajnala sector and was swept towards Pakistan by the turbulent waters, they said. He was found dead by the Pakistan Rangers. The BSF was informed about Singh during a flag meeting with Pakistan at the international border.
Over 600 TN fishermen chased away by Lankan Navy
Over 600 Tamil Nadu fishermen were chased away and fishing nets of nearly 10 boats cut by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing in their waters, a fishermen association leader said here Thursday. The fishermen from here had put out to the sea in 100 mechanised boats late Wednesday and were fishing near Katchatheevu, when the naval personnel reached the spot and chased them away, president of Tamil Nadu Mechanised Boat Fishermen Association P Sesuraja alleged. The navy warned the fishermen against the alleged poaching in the island nation waters and snapped the nets of around 10 boats, he said, adding the navy personnel took away the catch of the fishermen, too. Meanwhile, five fishermen from Nagapattinam district were injured in a mid-sea attack by the Lankan pirates off Kodiakarai coast early this morning. The fishermen alleged that they were attacked using iron rods at knifepoint by the pirates who snatched their valuables, fish catch, fishing nets, before fleeing
Goa, Portugal to sign MoU on water supply operation: Minister
The Goa government and Portugal's Ministry of Environment will sign an MoU Saturday on technical partnership for water supply, waste water management and sanitation in the coastal state, Public Works Department Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said. He informed that the agreement would be signed when Portugal Environment Minister Joao Pedro Matos Fernandes arrives here on September 29. "The main points are water supply operation, energy efficiency and resource valorisation, waste water and sewerage planning, management and technological solutions, asset management procedure and standards, energy management operational work flow, operational data, and information management," Dhavalikar explained. Dhavalikar said that teams from both sides would meet every year to review the works agreed upon in the Memorandum of Understanding. He said that the agreement between Portugal and Goa was the first step towards providing water round the clock to the people of Goa.
Closure notices served to illegal limestone quarries: CM
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma Thursday told the state Assembly that closure notices have been served to illegal limestone quarries in West Jaintia Hills district. He said technological improved challans will be introduced to control illegal mining in the state. "Action has been taken against 11 such illegal quarries identified by the department and GPS coordinates of these locations have been also identified," he said while replying to a call attention moved by Opposition Congress legislator George B Lyngdoh on the last day of the 5-day Assembly session. The chief minister admitted that illegal mining of limestone were going on along the Indo-Bangladesh border and that the government has taken steps to check. The Divisional Forest Officer has also written to the district authorities to invoke Section 144 CrPC in areas vulnerable to illegal mining under West Jaintia Hills district. He said the state government will continue to take action against all such ...
Govt withdraws sops to conventional battery vehicles under FAME
The government Thursday extended the first phase of the FAME-India scheme for promoting electric and hybrid vehicles by another six months till March 31, 2019 but has withdrawn benefits available to conventional battery vehicles. As per a notification by Heavy Industries Ministry, the incentives under the extended scheme from October 1 will be available only for registered vehicles. Until now, electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers powered by conventional lead-acid batteries were eligible for incentives under FAME-I. However, these vehicles will no longer be able to avail sops from October 1. According to sources, the launch of FAME II, which was to take place on September 7, has been delayed as the prime minister's office (PMO) has sought reworking of the proposal to offer incentives of around Rs 5,500 crore. Officials said the PMO is in favour of utilising most of the funds to encourage local manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries, which form the core of electric vehicles, as ...
Japan to continue to push resumption of commercial whaling
A senior Japanese whaling negotiator said Thursday that Tokyo will continue to push for a resumption of commercial whaling despite the recent defeat of its proposal by the International Whaling Commission. Fisheries negotiator Hideki Moronuki said the IWC should represent both conservation interests and backers of sustainable use of resources, and not act as if it were an anti-whaling group. IWC imposed a ban on commercial whaling in the 1980s because of dwindling stocks. Japan has instead conducted what it calls research whaling, and says stocks have recovered enough that commercial hunts should resume. Its proposal to do so was defeated at an IWC meeting in Brazil on Sept. 14. Japan has long depended on fisheries resources and made efforts for their sustainable use, Moronuki said. "If we give up achieving the sustainable use of marine life resources, including whales, Japan will encounter serious difficulties in food security," he said at a news conference in Tokyo. Moronuki said ...
HC summons TN power secy, TANGEDCO chief to explain power
The Madras High Court Thursday took serious note of the allegations of backing down power generated through windmills by TANGEDCO and directed the Tamil Nadu power secretary and the corporation's chairman to appear before it and explain the power position in the state. Justice Kirubakaran passed the order on a petition by Tamil Nadu Spinning Mills Association based in Dindigul alleging that Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) was backing down wind energy deliberately. Secretary of Energy Department Mohamed Nasimuddin and Chairman of TANGEDCO, Vikram Kapur were directed to appear before the court on September 28 and explain as to whether there was any shortage of electricity, shortage of coal in thermal power stations in the state. The court also sought to know the steps taken to improve the storage of coal and why wind energy was not fully put to use by the state power utility. "Electricity has become very essential and without power supply, ...
HC dismisses petitions against Maha acquiring land under forest law
The Bombay High Court Thursday dismissed 176 petitions challenging the Maharashtra government's action of taking over land after declaring it as reserved forests, observing that its anxiety is to maintain forest cover in the state. A division bench of justices S C Dharmadhikari and P D Naik dismissed the petitions challenging the government's decision of mutating the names of the petitioners as owners from revenue records under the Maharashtra Private Forest (Acquisition) Act, 1975. Mutation of a property refers to the transfer or change of title entry in revenue records maintained by local civic bodies. "The anxiety of this court is to maintain the forest cover in the state. It would be improper to rely on the one sided version of the petitioners who are but builders and developers," the judgement said. The petitioners had claimed that the government had, in June 1956, issued show cause notices on the predecessors of the petitioners under the Indian Forests Act. "The show cause ...
Haryana: Swaraj India threatens to launch stir over bajra procurement
Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav on Thursday threatened to launch an agitation against the BJP-led Haryana government next month if it fails to procure "each grain of bajra" at minimum support price (MSP). Besides, Yadav also demanded that the government fully compensates the paddy, cotton and bajra farmers whose crops was damaged in the recent heavy rains in the state. "Bajra crop has started arriving in mandis but no guidelines have yet been issued by the state government with regard to procurement of the crop. Farmers are still unaware on what conditions their crop will be purchased," Yadav told reporters here. The state's agriculture minister had said in Haryana Vidhan Sabha that each grain of bajra crop will be bought, he said. "But now the government has announced to buy only one lakh metric tonne of the crop at MSP of Rs 1,950 per quintal out of the expected output of 6.20 lakh MT and rest of the crop will purchased under Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojana, which is a failed ...
Odisha allocates land acquired for Posco to JSW for mega steel plant
The Odisha government has allocated the land, earlier acquired for South Korean steel major Posco, to JSW Steel to set up its mega steel plant of 10 million tonne capacity in Paradip town.
Haryana govt inks pact with IOC to set up bio-CNG plants
The Haryana government Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding with Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) for setting up bio-CNG plants based on paddy straw and other agri-waste in the state. The first such compressed biogas plant (CBP) is likely to be set up in Kurukshetra. The MoU, which was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar here, will open opportunities for setting up of 200 CBPs in the state by 2023, with total capacity of about 1,000 tonnes per day of compressed biogas, an official statement said. This will result in annual production of about four lakh tonnes of compressed biogas per annum, it said. Chairman, Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (HAREDA) Shailendra Shukla signed the MoU on behalf of the state government, while Executive Director Subodh Kumar signed on behalf of IOCL. Subodh Kumar also requested the chief minister to lay foundation stone of the first compressed biogas plant in Kurukshetra in November this year. He said that with ...
Hooda demands special package for farmers whose crops damaged due to rains
Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has demanded the state government give a special package to farmers whose crops were damaged due to heavy rains in the last few days. Hooda said paddy, bajra and cotton crop were damaged due to heavy rains which lashed the state between September 22 and 24. "Ordering special 'girdwari' (revenue survey to assess crop damage) alone will not help. The government must give special package to the farmers who have suffered crop damage and compensate them with at least Rs 20,000 per acre," Hooda, who visited the affected areas in Hisar and Fatehabad districts, told reporters here on Thursday. He said that the condition that farmers must submit their claims under the crop insurance scheme within 48 hours should be relaxed and more time be given to them. "Farmers have said that they have to submit their claims within 48 hours under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna. Time constraint of two or three days should not be there. A farmer who has .
Man injured in tiger attack in UP
A man was injured after being mauled by a tiger near the Devipur beat jungles of Mohammadi range under the South Kheri division on Thursday, police said. The victim, Rampal (30), a resident of Ayodhyapur village, was rescued by locals and rushed to a local hospital where he is undergoing treatment, they said. Irate villagers held a demonstration outside the Maheshpur Range Office after the incident, officials said. The protesters alleged that the Forest department was doing nothing to contain the tiger terror in the area. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO buffer zone) Anil Kumar Patel, presently holding the additional charge of south Kheri, said the villagers forced their way into the range office and vandalised the place. He told PTI that the mob also manhandled an employee. Heavy police force has been deployed in the area to avert any untoward incident, officials added.
Spot power tariff climbs to 9-year high of Rs 15.37 at IEX
Spot power price touched over nine-year high of Rs 15.37 per unit in the day ahead market (DAM) on Indian Energy Exchange for supply on Friday, mainly on account of higher demand. "Spot power price for supply on Friday touched over 9-year high of Rs 15.37 per unit in trading at Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) on Thursday," a source said. According to the IEX data, the previous high was recorded at Rs 17 per unit in August 2009. Experts believe that spot power price soared mainly due to higher demand and lower supplies as there were buy bids for 357 million units (MU) and sell bids for 328 MU in the trading held Thursday. A total of 293 MU were sold for supply on Friday, which is highest ever volume of power sold on the exchange since it came into existence in 2007. The spot power price touched Rs 14.25 per unit in the DAM trading at the IEX held Wednesday for supply on Thursday. There were buy bids for 386 MU against sell bids of 309 MU. As much as 290 MU were sold for supply on ...
Vikram Solar commissions rooftop solar project for city firm
Vikram Solar, a rooftop solar and EPC solutions provider Thursday announced the installation of 1056 kW rooftop solar project for the Chennai unit of Century Plyboard Ltd. The Century Plyboards' Chennai unit, is spread over 11,000 square metres and has 3,300 modules in operations with a cumulative annual energy yield of 1.536 million units, a company statement said. Similar to the Chennai unit, Vikram Solar said it recently commissioned a 405 kw Rooftop Solar photo-voltaic system for Century Plyboards in Gujarat. "The plant is expected to produce an annual yield of nearly six lakh units which would reduce around 500 metric tonne of carbon di-oxide emissions per year," it said. "Century Plyboards Ltd is a leader in the industry and it was a privilege for us to make their vision a reality in their first step towards the green energy drive..," Vikram Solar MD and CEO, Gyanesh Chaudhary said. "We are proud to have showcased a strategic and technological advantage in ...
Cong leader seeks status of a project announced by BJP govt
Senior Congress leader Debabrata Saikia Thursday alleged that the Brahmaputra dredging and express highway project, announced with great fanfare by the BJP-led central and state governments, has now turned into a mirage. Saikia said that he had posed a question Wednesday to Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta about the project, but his answer showed that the state government had no clue about its present status. Apparently, only the Water and Power Consultancy Service Ltd (WAPCOS) and the relevant central government departments are aware of the present status of the project, Saikia alleged in a statement here. "The Brahmaputra dredging and express highway project is another false promise made by the BJP to the people of Assam because the expert committee constituted by the state government had pronounced the project as unfeasible for flood and erosion control in September nine last year," the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly said. Among other things, ..