Page 464 - Environment
NGRI,AMD-DAE sign MoU for geophysical exploration of uranium
: City-based National Geophysical Research Institute Monday signed an MoU with Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Department of Atomic Energy, for high resolution heliborne geophysical imaging of earth's shallow subsurface for uranium exploration in India. The project has been approved by the Department of Atomic Energy for acquiring 1.25 Lakh Line Kilometers low altitude heliborne transient electromagnetic, magnetic and gamma ray spectrometric data, a release from NGRI said. NGRI, in association with AMD-DAE, will carry out survey, analysis and modelling of data for the identification of potential target zones, it said. Heliborne transient electromagnetic technique is a highly specialised tool utilised globally for mineral and groundwater exploration as well as for mega geotechnical projects. In India, NGRI and AMD-DAE have the expertise to carry out such sophisticated geophysical surveys and have been collaborating for heliborne surveys in ...
Phase-II of Coastal Surveillance Network to be completed on time: Sitharaman
The second phase of the Coastal Surveillance Network (CSN) - that was conceived to ensure attacks like Mumbai 26/11 does not happen in future - would be completed in a time-bound manner, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday.
Man trampled to death by herd of elephants in Jharkhand
A villager has been trampled to death by a herd of elephants in Jharkhand's Gumla district, a forest official said Monday. Divisional Forest Officer Srikant said the man had ventured out Sunday evening when the elephants attacked him. "A herd of 18 elephants have reached Bandhudipa village area in the district two days ago. Local people have been asked to stay indoors after dusk and crackers were distributed among them to scare the pachyderms away," he said. Despite the precautionary measures, one of the villagers was crushed to death by the herd, Srikant said, adding that said nine forest personnel have been deployed in the area to keep a watch on the movement of the elephants. Agitated villagers jammed the Bharno Chowk, near Bandhudipa village, for two-and-a-half hours Monday morning, demanding Rs 15000 for the kin of the deceased villagers. The DFO said the victim's kin would be compensated as per rules within the next 21 days.
Funding from JICA unlikely to stop for Maha projects: Official
The Maharashtra government Monday said that the state's infrastructure projects funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency would not be affected against the backdrop of the agency reportedly stopping fund release for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor. The JICA has reportedly stopped the release of funds for the high speed rail project citing objections raised by farmers in Gujarat on its land acquisition process. Several of these farmers have approached Gujarat High Court. Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) U P S Madan said Monday that land acquisition for Maharashtra projects funded by JICA have been "almost completed" and, therefore, it was "unlikely" that funding would stop for them. "The land acquisition for projects such as Nagpur Mumbai Samruddhi corridor, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), the Navi Mumbai greenfield airport is almost complete," Madan said. "The Maharashtra government has not faced any staunch opposition for these projects and ..
Oil major Total makes major offshore UK gas discovery
PARIS (Reuters) - French oil and energy group Total said on Monday it had made a major gas discovery on the Glendronach prospect, located off the coast of the Shetland islands in the North Sea.
Stranded bird halts DMRC's Magenta Line briefly
Services on Delhi Metro's Magenta Line, which connects Noida to Janakpuri, were halted briefly at Kalindi Kunj station on Monday after a bird was spotted on the tracks.
Ratnagiri refinery: Indian Oil, others set up panel to settle land acquisition issues
With the Rs 3-lakh-crore west coast refinery project facing land acquisition issues, a high-level committee of experts has been set up to draw a roadmap for settlement of land acquisition issues, state-run Indian Oil Corp (IOC) said Monday. The panel will be headed by former Maharashtra chief secretary D M Sukthankar, will look at "satisfactory resettlement and rehabilitation of the project affected people" and submit its recommendations within the next six months to the project promoters and the Maharashtra government for further action," IOC said in a statement here. It will "recommend a roadmap for the settlement of issues related to the acquisition of land in a fair manner and satisfactory resettlement and rehabilitation of the project affected people, for the proposed integrated refinery and petrochemicals project in Konkan region of Maharashtra," it said. Other members of the committee include former finance secretary Vijay L Kelkar, Prof.Abhay Pethe (former Chair Professor ...
'Land acquisition, environmental clearances major reasons for NE road projects delay'
Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said land acquisition and environmental clearances were the two major hurdles delaying the road infrastructure projects in the northeastern states.
Shade-grown coffee plantations serves as imp commuting routes for bats: Study
Shade-grown coffee serves as an important commuting route for bats and if properly managed, these coffee plantations can have significant ecological value for bats, a new study has said. The study, published in the journal PLoS One, looked at shade-grown coffee farms in India that blend tree cover with agricultural crops. Since agricultural landscapes occupy almost 40 per cent of the planet's ice-free land area, they hold immense potential for biodiversity conservation - if properly managed, it said. The study, authored by Shasank Ongole and Mahesh Sankaran from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (India) in collaboration with Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS) scientist Krithi K Karanth, finds that shade-grown coffee has some new fans - bats. It said shade-grown coffee plantations are particularly important in this regard due to their structural similarity to forests and significant vegetation diversity. "In India, surprisingly little is known about how insectivorous bats ...
Gadkari expresses regret over delay in road projects in NE
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday expressed regret over the delay in road construction projects in the north-east, due to land acquisition and forest clearance issues. The Minister for Road Transport and Highways, who dedicated to the nation the renovated and upgraded NH-44 earlier in the day, will review problems and issues faced in the execution of National Highway projects in the north-east here, over the next two days. "Land acquisition is a big problem and since it is a state subject, state governments have to ensure that this issue is resolved," Gadkari said. "Give us land acquisition certificates and we will make quick approvals of the projects and start work on them as soon as possible. Forest environment clearance is also important...," he said. The minister urged state governments in the region to regularly review the progress of such projects. "My request is to have reviews by state ministers once every month to make things easier for the National ...
Rains: BBMB issues advisory to Punjab to release 'excess' water from Pong dam
The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) issued an advisory to Punjab for releasing "excess" water from the Pong dam in the wake of incessant rains in catchment areas of the Beas river. The BBMB authorities said they have been constantly monitoring the water-level situation. "Due to high pattern inflow in the Pong reservoir and considering forecast of heavy rains in the Beas catchment area, excess water from the Pong dam can be released. All necessary steps be taken by all concerned to avoid any damage or loss of life and property in the downstream areas," as per the advisory issued by BBMB. BBMB Chairman D K Sharma apprised Chief Minister Amarinder Singh about water-level situation in Bhakra and Pong dams on Monday. The chief minister Monday called an emergency meeting to review arrangements in the wake of incessant rains. However, the BBMB authorities asserted that its effort would be to store and use excess inflows as much as it can. The water-level in the Pong dam was 1,385.12 feet
Ease of Living Index: Andhra, Odisha, MP best performing states
Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh were awarded the best performing states in terms of "Ease of Living Index" under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) at the National Dissemination Workshop on Ease of Living Index, 2018, here, the Union Housing and Urban Affairs ministry said on Monday.Kakinada, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, and Vijayawada cities of Andhra Pradesh; Indore, Bhopal, Ujjain, Satna, Sagar, Jabalpur and Gwalior of Madhya Pradesh and Bhubaneswar and Rourkela from Odisha were covered under the Ease of Living Index."The Ease of Living Index is a transformative initiative of the Ministry to help the cities assess their liveability vis-a-vis national and global benchmarks," stated Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, while presenting the awards to the states.Addressing the participants, Puri exuded confidence that the Ease of Living Index will encourage all cities to move towards an 'outcome-based' approach to
Dilip Buildcon wins 'Navnera Barrage (Dam) under Phase 1/A' project
To be implemented in State of Rajasthan
Nearly 600 arrests in 11 days for snatching, robbery and auto-lifting in Gautam Buddh Nagar: Data
As many as 598 people have been arrested in a period of 11 days an average 54 a day for chain snatching, loot, robbery and auto-lifting in Gautam Buddh Nagar, according to police data. Between 6 pm of September 10 and 6 pm of September 21, 267 such arrests were made in the city area including Noida, while 331 in the rural region including Greater Noida, showed the data, accessed by PTI. Amid a spurt in cases of chain snatching, robbery, auto-lifting in the district adjoining national capital Delhi, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Pal Sharma launched concerted efforts to crackdown on the criminals, officials said. Operation 'Black Eye' targeted chain snatchers, thieves and dacoits, while operation 'Chakravyuh' was launched to nab auto-lifters and recover stolen/robbed vehicles and operation 'X' for traffic violators, they said. The district is divided into 22 police station areas including one dedicated women police station. Eight police stations including Sector 20, 24, ..
Purana Qila lake revival being done as per IIT-Roorkee suggestions: NBCC tells NGT
State-owned construction firm NBCC (India) Monday told the National Green Tribunal that development work of the iconic Purana Qila lake here was being done as per the suggestions of the IIT-Roorkee and rainwater harvesting structures were being built for ground water recharge. The NBCC, which submitted a 38-page report in pursuance to NGT's order, said that drawings for development works at Purana Qila lake were approved by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and it was directed to seek expert advice from a reputed institute such as IIT for laying of the ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM) membrane in the lake and send the same to ASI. "Accordingly, a detailed study report was sought by NBCC from IIT Roorkee on proposal to lay impermeable membrane beneath the Purana Qila lake. It is stated that Dr Bhanu Prakash Vellanki from the Deaprtment of Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee submitted a report on the same which was duly forwarded by NBCC to ASI," it said. The NBCC told the ..
ADB to suggest ways to add value to mango, guava potato farming
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will undertake an exhaustive study in Uttar Pradesh to add value to mango growing, guava, potato and pulse farming, and submit a report to the state government, an official said on Monday.
Metro services on Magenta line temporarily halted to rescue bird
The Delhi Metro services on the Magenta Line were temporarily halted to rescue a bird which collapsed on the tracks at the Kalindi Kunj metro station, a Wildlife Conservation NGO said Monday. The Indian cormorant is under mandated medical observation to ensure it recuperates safely from the ordeal, Wasim Akram, Manager, Wildlife SOS Special Projects said. The NGO said the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) alerted them about the bird on Sunday after one of its train operators spotted the bird on the tracks as it was struggling to fly. They feared that the bird would be run over by the train. A team of two rescuers were sent to the spot with necessary equipment. They shifted the bird to a transport container and rushed to a recovery facility, the NGO said. The Indian cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) is found mainly along the inland waters of the Indian subcontinent, extending to Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. They inhabit ponds, lakes, streams, mangroves and wetlands, ..
Monsoon rainfall drops further, endangering summer crops
MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's monsoon has produced 9 percent less rain than usual, raising concerns over production of the country's summer-sown crops as rainfall in many key grains producing states has been nearly a quarter lower than normal levels.
India's monsoon rainfall drops further, endangering summer crops
MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's monsoon has produced 9 percent less rain than usual, raising concerns over production of the country's summer-sown crops as rainfall in many key grains producing states has been nearly a quarter lower than normal levels.
Air pollution: NGT refuses to review order directing CPCB to monitor action plan
The National Green Tribunal has refused to review its order that directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to monitor the implementation of graded response action plan to combat different levels of air pollution. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said the tribunal did not intend to supersede or replace the procedure laid down in the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) Notification. It said the directions were meant to supplement the graded response action plan (GRAP) as an effective additional mechanism for compliance of its directions. "Review has been sought on the ground that... the order is contrary to the Policy of the GRAP notified by the Environment Ministry by Notification dated January 12, 2017 whereby task of implementation of GRAP for Delhi-NCR, has been vested in the EPCA. This policy, as per the applicant, was also approved by the Supreme Court," the bench said. "The tribunal had clearly expressed that the direction for ...