Page 457 - Environment
Spot power tariff climbs to 9-year high of Rs 14.25 at IEX
Spot power price touched over nine-year high of Rs 14.25 per unit in the day ahead market (DAM) on Indian Energy Exchange for supply on Thursday, mainly on account of higher demand. "Spot power price for supply on Thursday touched over 9-year high of Rs 14.25 per unit in trading at Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) on Wednesday," 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 386 million units (MU) against sell bids of 309 MU in the trading held on Wednesday at IEX. As much are 290 MU were sold for supply on Thursday, which is highest ever volume of power sold on the exchange since it came into existence in 2007. They said lower wind and hydro power output coupled with persistent coal shortages at power plants led to spike in the spot price. After the shortage of coal at independent power plants(IPPs) and captive .
Goa PWD, Portuguese Environment Ministry to sign water management deal
The Goa Public Works Department (PWD) and the Portuguese Environment Ministry will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on water management on Friday, a Minister announced here on Thursday.
12 foreign nationals detained for trekking in Tiruvannamalai
Twelve Lithuanian nationals were detained for violating a ban on trekking inthe hills in the famous temple town Thursday, and later let off, police said. The foreigners, who had come to Indiaon a pilgrimage had climbed the Deepam hills from Skandashramam near Ramanashramam, they said. On receiving information, the forest department officials rushed to the spot and detained the group members, who told the officials that they wanted to visit the sacred hill and were not aware of the banon trekking. However, they were let off after a warning. Forest officials had issued a ban on trekking and also imposed restrictions on the number of people climbing the hill even during Karthigai Deepam festival following reports offoreigners going missing. Twenty-two people of a 36-member team on a trekking expedition were killed in a forest fire in Kurangani hills in Theni district in March last.
California almonds bloom after going 'nuts' due to drought
California almonds, which cater to about 80 per cent of the global demand, have fully recovered from a four-year drought that ended in 2016, with the harvest returning to record levels this year, according to growers and promoters of the resilient crop. Almonds are becoming more important to California and to consumers worldwide, who are eating more of the tree nut per capita than ever, amidst criticism for the crop's extensive water usage. Fuelling the boom is robust foreign demand, particularly from markets like India and China, where the industry has been promoting almonds as a healthful snack. The state harvested an estimated 1.85 billion pounds of shelled almonds in 2013-14, which was slightly less than the 1.88 billion pounds in 2012-13, according to the Almond Board of California (ABC). However, after dropping during the drought, the 2017 almond crop rebounded to a record 2.14 billion pounds of shelled nuts, the board said. "California almond orchards spread over 1.33 million ..
India to export first consignment of non-basmati rice to China tmrw: Comm Min
China has allowed imports of non-basmati rice from India and the first consignment of 100 tonnes will be shipped tomorrow from Nagpur, the commerce ministry said Thursday. The consignment will be received by China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO) which is a state-owned firm of the neighbouring country, the ministry said in a statement. "After concerted efforts of the government, 19 rice mills and processing units have been registered for export of non-basmati rice from India to China," it added. In June, both the sides inked a protocol on phyto-sanitary (related with plants) requirements for exporting rice from India to China. A major rice market in the world, China so far allowed import of only basmati rice from India. Under the protocol, the shipments will have to comply with the Chinese plant quarantine laws and regulations. India will also have to ensure that processing and storage houses of the rice to be exported to China is free from pests - Trogoderma .
PM Modi, French Prez Macron get UN's highest environmental honour
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron have been jointly awarded with 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. Modi and Macron are among the six of the world's most outstanding environmental changemakers recognised with the Champions of the Earth Award. "This years' laureates are recognised for a combination of bold, innovative and tireless efforts to tackle some of the most urgent environmental issues of our times," the UN Environment Programme said. Modi and Macron have been jointly recognised in the Policy Leadership category for their pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance and promoting new areas of levels of cooperation on environmental action, including the French president's work on the Global Pact for the Environment and Modi's "unprecedented" pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in ...
Cauvery Water Management Authority needs professional diversity: Experts
Questioning the composition and structure of the Cauvery Water Management Authority, experts say the recently-constituted river basin organisation, dominated by engineers, could fall short in properly governing the basin.
India to ship first consignment of common grade rice to China
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India will send its first consignment of common grade rice to China on Friday, the government said, following intense lobbying by New Delhi after relations thawed between the two countries.
Southeast Asian palm stocks set for record highs
MUMBAI (Reuters) - Southeast Asia's palm oil stocks are set to scale record highs in October or November, according to planters, traders and analysts surveyed by Reuters, as storage tanks at ports and mills pile up with supplies.
L&T's power business bags orders worth Rs 1,400 cr
Infrastructure major Larsen and Toubro (L&T) Thursday said its power business has bagged orders worth Rs 1,400 crore in the domestic market. The two orders are for setting up flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) systems from NTPC at its Vindhyachal super thermal power plant in Madhya Pradesh and Darlipali super thermal power project in Odisha. "Installation of FGD systems in existing and upcoming thermal power plants has been made mandatory by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)...," it said. L&T is a multinational company engaged in technology, engineering, construction, manufacturing and financial services with over USD 18 billion in revenue. It operates in over 30 countries worldwide. Shares of the company were trading 0.98 per cent down at Rs 1,319.65 apiece on BSE.
Yamuna in Delhi crosses danger mark
The water level in the Yamuna river on Thursday rose above the danger mark after 18,295 cusecs of water was released into it from the neighbouring Haryana's Hathini Kund Barrage.The river is currently flowing at 205.49 meters, which is above the danger mark of 204 meters.The swelling Yamuna has created a panic like situation in the nearby areas.In the wake of the emergency, Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash on Tuesday called a meeting to discuss the situation.As a precautionary measure, boats along with divers have been stationed in low lying areas and the Sub-Divisional Magistrates have been instructed to closely monitor the situation.Apart from this, all the officers have been asked to follow instructions on "Delhi Flood 2018".
171 species of butterfly recorded in Lower Subansiri district
As many as 171 species of butterfly have been catalogued in Yazali area of Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh during the fifth Ziro Butterfly meet. Some of the rare species spotted during the two-day meet, organised by an NGO NgunuZiro, include White Dragontail, Veined Jay, Bispot, Black Prince, Large Yeoman, Tiger Hopper, Red Base, Jezebel, Grey Pansy and Chocolate Tiger, the NGO said in a press statement. The meet's recommendations include submission of proposals to the government for declaration of 'Kaiser-e-Hind' as a state butterfly and the Talle Wildlife Sanctuary as a butterfly sanctuary, the statement said. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Koj Rinya said that the Lower Subansiri district could be developed as a butterfly hub. She welcomed all to visit the Talle Wildlife Sanctuary where rare butterflies were found. NgunuZiro has been organising Ziro Butterfly Meet every year to spread awareness about the importance of all creatures and to promote ...
India ready to take lead on climate action: Sushma Swaraj
India has declared that as a firm believer in multi-lateralism, it was ready to take the lead on climate action.
Wetlands disappearing three times faster than forests: study
Wetlands, among the world's most valuable and biodiverse ecosystems, are disappearing at alarming speed amid urbanisation and agriculture shifts, conservationists said Thursday, calling for urgent action to halt the erosion. "We are in a crisis," Martha Rojas Urrego, head of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, told reporters in Geneva, warning of the potential devastating impact of wetland loss, including on climate change. The convention, adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar nearly a half-century ago, on Thursday issued its first-ever global report on the state of the world's wetlands. The 88-page report found that around 35 percent of wetlands - which include lakes, rivers, marshes and peatlands, as well as coastal and marine areas like lagoons, mangroves and coral reefs - were lost between 1970 and 2015. Today, wetlands cover more than 12 million square kilometres (4.6 million square miles), the report said, warning that the annual rates of loss had accelerated since 2000. "We are .
Climate change is absolute priority: UN chief
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said climate change is an absolute priority and the world is not doing enough.
India's solar alliance gets major push with EIB funds
In a major push to India's International Solar Alliance (ISA), European Investment Bank (EIB) President Werner Hoyer on Wednesday announced a major progress on tackling climate change globally at the One Planet Summit here.
Bloomberg to mobilise climate finance for UN
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday tapped UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and philanthropist Michael R. Bloomberg to lead an initiative that will support a global mobilisation of private capital in response to the challenge of climate change.
NCP demands declaration of drought in Marathwada
The NCP Wednesday demanded that a drought be declared in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra which has received below average rainfall till September end. Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde, along with NCP leaders Amarsinh Pandit and Jaywant Jadhav called on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis here and submitted a memorandum of the demand. He said cotton, soyabean, corn and jowar crops have been damaged due to scanty rainfall and that the government thus needs to immediately start relief work. "The situation in the state, especially Marathwada is grim. Drinking water is becoming scarce and demands for tankers has increased. However, the government is not taking the existing drought like conditions seriously," Munde told reporters here.
PM Modi gets UN's highest environmental honour
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been awarded with the UN's highest environmental honour, bestowed upon five other individuals and organisations, for his leadership of the International Solar Alliance and pledge to eliminate single use plastic in india by 2022. Six of the world's most outstanding environmental changemakers have been recognised with the Champions of the Earth Award, the UN's highest environmental honour. "This years' laureates are recognised for a combination of bold, innovative, and tireless efforts to tackle some of the most urgent environmental issues of our times," the UN Environment Programme said. French President Emmanuel Macron, President of France and Modi have been jointly recognised in the Policy Leadership category for their pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance and promoting new areas of levels of cooperation on environmental action, including Macron's work on the Global Pact for the Environment and Modi's unprecedented pledge to .
Essar Power commissions 337-km Mahan-Sipat transmission line
The Ruia brothers-led Essar Power said it has commissioned the 337-km long Mahan-Sipat transmission line, allowing the company to add capacity to the national electricity grid.