Page 467 - Environment
Ocean acidification may reduce sea scallop fisheries
Turns out, each year, fishermen harvest more than USD 500 million worth of Atlantic sea scallops from the waters off the east coast which might be affected by ocean acidification.A new model created by scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), however, predicted that those fisheries may potentially be in danger.As levels of carbon dioxide increase in the Earth's atmosphere, the upper oceans become increasingly acidic--a condition that could reduce the sea scallop population by more than 50 per cent in the next 30 to 80 years, under a worst-case scenario. Strong fisheries management and efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, however, might slow or even stop that trend.The model combined the existing data and models of four major factors: future climate change scenarios, ocean acidification impacts, fisheries management policies, and fuel costs for fishermen."What's novel about our work is that it brings together models of changing ocean environments as well as human ...
Delhi's Jagatpur flyover now open for public
Delhi PWD Minister Satyendar Jain on Saturday inaugurated the Jagatpur flyover in north Delhi which will ensure smooth traffic movement to and from the outer Ring Road (NH-1).
Injured Indian sailor makes contact with race organisers
Indian naval officer Abhilash Tomy, badly injured after his yacht was hit by a vicious storm mid-way across the southern Indian Ocean while taking part in the Golden Globe Race, is in touch with race organisers in France through messages and has requested for a stretcher as he cannot move on his own, a defence spokesman said on Saturday. Commander Tomy, representing India in the Golden Globe Race 2018 (GGR) on an indigenously-built sailing vessel 'S V Thuraya', suffered a back injury on Friday after his yacht was dismasted in the severe storm with 14-metre-high waves. "Cdr Tomy is in communication with the Race Control at France through messages. Race control is relaying messages to JRCC Australia. He has requested for a stretcher as he is not able to move on his own," the defence spokesman quoted the Australian Joint Rescue Control Centre (JRCC) as saying in a release. Another contestant 'S V Hanley Energy Endurance' was also heading towards S V Thuraya though it had suffered damage .
Chhattisgarh self-help groups present PM Modi jacket made from stem of Banana tree
Two little-known self help groups Saturday presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi a jacket and a shawl made from Banana tree and Lin Seed (locally known Alsi) plant respectively. Modi wore the jacket while addressing a farmers rally at Janjgir, about 156 kms from the state capital Raipur. The prime minister in his speech praised the innovative efforts by the group in making the jacket and asked the farmers present in the rally to look for similar ways to increase their income. "The jacket is made after using stem of Banana tree and the shawl was made from the waste product of Lin Seed plant," Khema Das Mahant, senior scientist with Krishi Vigyan Kendra here, told PTI. Lin Seed or Alsi plant is used in making many things including oil and for medicinal use. He said these weavers, who made the two innovative jacket and shawl, are from neighbouring Behradih and Kosmandal villages. Revathi Yadav presented the jacket to Modi on behalf of her team and the shawl was offered to the prime ..
Kejriwal inaugurates sewer line work in Sainik Nagar
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Saturday inaugurated the work of laying sewer line in several colonies in Sainik Nagar of the Matiala Assembly constituency. In a statement, he said this is another step towards the government's constant endeavour to provide planned sewerage infrastructure and to keep pace with the growing demands of Delhi. The total length of the sewer line to be laid is 28.5 kms. The total cost of this project is Rs 36 crores and is expected to be completed in 36 months. After the completion of the project, the sewerage of these colonies will flow to the existing sewage pumping station, the statement said. "From the pumping station, it will again be pumped into the Sewerage Treatment Plant located in Dwarka, thereby, helping in reduction of pollution in Najafgarh drain caused due to untreated sewerage flow from this area," it stated.
Japan space robots start asteroid survey
A pair of robot rovers have landed on an asteroid and begun a survey, Japan's space agency said Saturday, as it conducts a mission aiming to shed light on the origins of the solar system. The rover mission marks the world's first moving, robotic observation of an asteroid surface, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The round, cookie tin-shaped robots successfully reached the Ryugu asteroid a day after they were released from the Hayabusa2 probe, the agency said. "Each of the rovers is operating normally and has started surveying Ryugu's surface," JAXA said in a statement. Taking advantage of the asteroid's low gravity, the rovers will jump around on the surface -- soaring as high as 15 metres (49 feet) and staying in the air for as long as 15 minutes -- to survey the asteroid's physical features. "I am so proud that we have established a new method of space exploration for small celestial bodies," said JAXA project manager Yuichi Tsuda. The agency tried but ...
Haryana CM gives NOC for dam's construction
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has given no objection certificate (NOC) for construction of the Kishau dam on Tons river, a tributary of Yamuna along the border of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. With the construction of this dam, Haryana would get an additional 709 cusecs of water for drinking and irrigation purposes, an official spokesperson said Saturday As per a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between six states in 1994, Haryana's share in the Kishau dam is 709 cusec water out of the live storage capacity of 1,324 MCM. MCM is an abbreviation for thousands of circular mils, an old measurement of wire gauge.
Rohtang Pass receives snowfall
Rohtang Pass, the gateway to Lahaul Valley, received more than four inches of snowfall Saturday following which the Kunzum Pass has been closed. Manali-Spiti valley has been cut off for vehicular traffic whereas traffic on Manali-Lahaul was running smooth. The valley was already experiencing a prolonged monsoon and now this early snowfall has raised problems for orchardists. The surrounding areas of Manali received heavy rainfall since morning.
Statehood agitator Shamsher Singh passes away
Noted statehood agitator of Uttarakhand Shamsher Singh Bisht died at his Almora residence early on Saturday after prolonged illness. He was 71. He was suffering from kidney ailment. Apart from being actively involved in the Uttarakhand statehood movement,he struggled all his life to save the forests and rivers of the state. Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat condoled Bisht's death and said he will always be remembered for his social and environmental concerns.
West Bengal to commission floating solar plants next year
The West Bengal government is the process of comissioning floating solar power plants by next year, state Minister for Power and Non-renewable Energy Sobhandev Chattterjee said. The two plants would come up at Sagardighi and Mukutmanipur with generating capacities of five MW and 100 MW respectively. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a seminar organised by MCCI and WBSEB Officers Assoctaion here on Saturday, Chatterjee said detailed project report (DPR) of the projects has been already prepared. Cost for constructing the Sagardighi plant would be Rs five crore, he said adding that the cost of installation reduces with the increase in generating capacity. Chatterjee said that in the last seven years, industrial demand had increased 27.22 per cent. "We are prepared meet the demand of heavy industries as and when required. We are at present surplus in power and exporting to other states". Commenting on the ATC (accumulated technical and commercial) losses of the ...
Delhi's air quality turns 'good' for second time this year: CPCB data
Delhi's air quality turned 'good' Saturday, for the second time this year due to persistent monsoon that washed away pollutants from the air, according to authorities. he overall Air Quality Index of New Delhi was recorded at 48 which falls under the "good" category, as per the data of the Central Pollution Control Board. he improvement in air quality is due to incessant rains that have washed away pollutants from the air, a CPCB official said. 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'. The PM10 level (presence of particles with diameter less than 10mm) was recorded as 'good' at 46 in Delhi-NCR and Delhi. The PM2.5 level (presence of particles with diameter less than 2.5 mm) was 23 in Delhi-NCR and 22 in Delhi on Friday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board data. This is the second time this year that the quality of air fell in the 'good' category. Earlier on July ...
Community kitchen in Delhi Gurdwaras to switch to biogas
Delhi's Gurdwara management committee has planned to switch from piped natural gas to biogas to run its langar kitchen in ten shrines here, including Bangla Sahib and Rakab Ganj Gurdwara. The move is aimed at reducing carbon footprint, cut fuel cost and making the shrines environment friendly, said Manjeet Singh GK, the president of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC). Initially, the bio gas plants would be set up at Rakab Ganj and Bangla Sahib that generate largest quantity of biodegradable waste, Singh said. The community kitchen in these Gurdwaras serves food to around 30,000 visiting devotees every day. Each plant would have the capacity to manage four quintal of kitchen waste per day, he said. "The biogas plant would be set up in collaboration with an internationally reputed organic waste convertor company and is likely to be funded by a multinational corporation under its corporate social responsibility," Singh said. The community kitchens of remaining eight ...
PM lays foundation stone for Rs 13k cr Talcher fertiliser project
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday laid the foundation stone for a Rs 13,000 crore-project to revive the Talcher fertiliser plant and exuded confidence that it will begin production in the stipulated 36 months. The fertiliser plant will for the first time see coal being converted into gas for use as feedstock and for producing neem-coated urea. "They have told me production will start in 36 months. I assure you that I will come again after 36 months here with you. I will inaugurate this project," Modi said at a function organised here to mark the commencement of work on the project. Noting that the project will help cut import of natural gas and fertiliser and make India self-reliant, he said, "Our aim is to take India to new heights of growth." Projects like the fertiliser plant here are central to India's growth story, the prime minister said. "This plant will use latest technology as well." The beginning of work on the plant would fulfil the dreams that should have been ...
Prices end flat in thin trade in grains market
Steady conditions prevailed at the wholesale grains market Saturday as prices moved in a narrow range in scattered deals and pegged at last levels. Traders said adequate stocks position against restricted buying activity, kept grain prices unaltered. Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal): Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,350-2,450, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 2,015-2,020, Atta Chakki(delivery) Rs 2,020-2,025, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 250-280, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 275-310, Roller flour mill Rs 1,080-1,100 (50 kg), Maida Rs 1,180-1,190 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs 1,240-1,250 (50 kg). Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati rice Rs 9,900, Basmati common new Rs 7,800-7,900, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 6,750-6,850, Permal raw Rs 2,375-2,400, Permal wand Rs 2,500-2,550, Sela Rs 3,000-3,100 and rice IR-8 Rs 2,000-2,050. Bajra Rs 1,360-1,365, Jowar yellow Rs 1,600-1,650, white Rs 2,800-2,850, Maize Rs 1,420-1,425, Barley Rs 1,660-1,670.
Golden Globe Race: INS Satpura, Australian forces rush to find injured Abhilash Tomy
The rescue efforts have been stepped up in the south Indian Ocean to locate Golden Globe Race (GGR) skipper and Indian Naval officer, Commander Abhilash Tomy KC, who got dismasted and suffered a back injury.According to Indian Navy, Commander Tomy is representing India in the GGR 2018 on an indigenously built sailing vessel 'Thuriya'. The yacht is in the south Indian Ocean.The GGR is a race to sail around the globe.He suffered a back injury on Friday after the yacht was dismasted due to extremely rough weather and sea condition in the Indian Ocean."Commander Abhilash Tomy KC of the Indian Navy, representing India in the Golden Globe Race 2018 (GGR) on an indigenously built sailing vessel 'Thuriya' was dismasted and suffered a back injury yesterday. He is in the south Indian Ocean, approximately 1900 nautical miles from Perth, Australia and 2700 nm (approx 5020 km on the ground) from Cape Comorin (Kanyakumari)," Navy spokesperson Captain DK Sharma confirmed.Captain Sharma further ...
New battery may help cut Co2 emissions
Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a new battery made partly from carbon dioxide captured from power plants.
NASA to conduct contest to name next Mars rover in 2019
NASA is on the look out for a partner to conduct a contest among students to name the agency's next rover to the Red Planet -- the Mars 2020 mission -- in the 2019 academic year.
Modi launches revival of Talcher fertiliser plant
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the revival of the Talcher fertiliser plant in Odisha will create huge job opportunities while making the country self-sufficient in fertiliser production.
Widespread rainfall in Punjab, Haryana may damage paddy crop
Widespread rainfall across Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh on Saturday brought miseries to farmers as untimely showers have affected the standing paddy crop in the agrarian states.
S Africa rhino poaching drops by a quarter
The number of rhino killed for their horns by poachers in South Africa dipped by 26 per cent in the first eight months of the year, officials said on Friday. But the rate of elephant poaching climbed nearly 60 per cent, they said. The Department of Environmental Affairs said that 508 rhino were poached since the start of the year until August, down from 691 over the same period last year. "This decline comes despite a dramatic escalation in poacher activity" inside the Kruger National Park, said the department in a statement. South Africa's iconic Kruger has long borne the brunt of rhino poaching, fuelled by demand for their horns in Asia where they are believed to have medicinal properties. The country lost 1,028 rhino to poaching in 2017. South Africa, which has long been spared elephant killings compared to its neighbours, reported that since January this year it has lost 58 elephants to poachers -- up from 39 last over the same period last year. All the killings took place in the .