Page 475 - Environment
Govt eyes record 285.2 MT foodgrain output in 2018-19
The government has set a target of record 285.2 million tonne (MT) foodgrain production in the 2018-19 crop year despite deficit rains so far this monsoon. India harvested a record 284.83 MT of foodgrain in the 2017-18 crop year (July-June). The target for 2018-19 crop year was set at a conference called today for preparing strategies for Rabi (winter-sown) crop. "Despite patchy monsoon rains, we are expecting higher production in Kharif season," Minister of State for Agriculture Parshottam Rupala said at the conference here. Harvesting of Kharif (summer-sown) crops will begin from end of this month and sowing of Rabi crops will start thereafter. As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), rain deficit in the current monsoon season beginning June is 9 per cent below the normal. According to a senior agriculture ministry official, the target for rice has been set at 113 MT in 2018-19 crop year as against record 112.91 MT last year. Wheat output target has been set at 100 MT from .
Output to fall almost 15% because of Kerala floods: Rubber Board chief
Production and cultivation of natural rubber will bear the brunt of the recent devastating floods in Kerala reducing production by a staggering one lakh tonnes, a top Rubber Board official has said.
NASA planet hunting probe shares first image
NASA's latest planet hunting probe has beamed back its first science image, which captures a wealth of stars and other cosmic objects in the southern sky. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) sent back part of the data from its initial science orbit. The images were captured using all four of the spacecraft's wide-field cameras during a 30-minute period on August 7. "In a sea of stars brimming with new worlds, TESS is casting a wide net and will haul in a bounty of promising planets for further study," said Paul Hertz, astrophysics division director at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "This first light science image shows the capabilities of TESS' cameras, and shows that the mission will realise its incredible potential in our search for another Earth," said Hertz. The black lines in the image are gaps between the camera detectors. The images include parts of a dozen constellations, from Capricornus to Pictor, and both the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, the galaxies ...
Sembcorp to supply solar power to Facebook's Singapore operations
Sembcorp Industries (Sembcorp) said Tuesday it has signed a long-term solar energy deal with US-based social media company Facebook. Under this deal, Sembcorp will provide renewable power to support Facebook's recently announced 1,70,000 square metre Singapore data centre, as well as its other Singapore operations, over the next 20 years, a company statement said. Sembcorp will serve Facebook's renewable energy needs through offsite solar panels totalling 50 MWp in capacity. These panels will be installed on close to 900 rooftops in the island state, between the end of this year and 2020, it said. "Our deal with Facebook is an example of how Sembcorp is aligning its business to the future. As our world moves towards renewables and lower-carbon energy, there is an increasing demand for solutions that enable businesses to achieve growth while managing their impact on the environment. "Sembcorp is actively working with companies in this, and supporting their efforts towards this dual ...
Sea turtles killed from plastic wraps in Thailand
Thai authorities have said that in less than two months, more than 20 sea turtles had been killed from plastic or fish net wraps.
Odisha CM launches star-rating system for industries to reduce air pollution
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has launched a 'Star Rating program' for industries to strengthen State Pollution Control Board's (SPCB) regulatory efforts to reduce pollution.It is a first-of-its-kind transparency initiative to categorise industries from one to five stars compliant to pollution standards.The emerging pollution is a serious concern today and industrial pollution is the biggest contributor to that. Keeping all this in mind, the initiative was launched. It will also help citizens to identify the sources of pollution in their neighbourhood and city.At the launch event, the Chief Minister said, "The Star- Rating Program is an excellent example of the 3T framework Teamwork, Transparency and Technology. This programme will help the public to find out whether industries in their vicinity are fair in their environmental compliance and empower them to strengthen regulations through public participation."He added, "The Star Rating Programme also recognizes the efforts of ..
Trade to play major role in fighting hunger: FAO
Rome, Sep 17 (IANS/AKI) Trade in agricultural products will make an increasingly key contribution to feeding the planet and responding to famines as climate change is set to significantly alter the ability of many world regions to produce food, according to a new report by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Harsh Vardhan releases draft plan which lists out actions to reduce cooling demand
Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan Monday released a draft India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) which lists out actions which can help reduce the cooling demand, thus helping in reducing emissions. India is the first country in world to develop such a document - ICAP, which also gives thrust towards looking for synergies in actions for securing both environmental and socio-economic benefits, a senior official said. The Minister said the World Ozone Day, which was on Sunday, offers an opportunity to focus global attention and action on the vital environmental issue of protection of the ozone layer, while stressing the need to strengthen active collaboration between the government, industries and all other stakeholders. Harsh Vardhan pointed out that the ministry has already undertaken an important initiative for upskilling of 1,00,000 refrigeration and air-conditioning servicing technicians in collaboration with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) under the .
Four snakes rescued from various parts of Delhi-NCR
Four snakes, including a four-feet-long cobra, were rescued from various parts of Delhi and NCR over the weekend, a wildlife conservation said. A five-feet-long python, which was coiled up on the exhaust fan in the washroom of a house was rescued in Faridabad, a wildlife conservation NGO said. The Wildlife SOS said they rushed two rescuers to the spot. One of them climbed up a ledge to extricate the python from the exhaust fan. A rat snake, which had taken shelter inside a house in Greater Kailash, was rescued by the NGO after the residents alerted them about its presence in their storage room. The NGO said they rushed to the aid of a four-feet-long cobra that had fallen into a deep uncovered water tank inside a farmhouse in Deramandi. After ensuring the occupants were at a safe distance from the tank, the Wildlife SOS rescuers extricated the cobra and transferred it into a safe transport container. In the latest incident, the team rescued a wolf snake from the roof of a house in DLF .
'World Ozone Day an opportunity to focus on ozone layer protection'
Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday said the World Ozone Day was an opportunity to focus global attention on protecting the ozone layer.
SC notice to Centre on plea to ban 85 pesticides
The Supreme Court on Monday sought a response from Centre on a plea for a ban on 85 pesticides since these were banned in other countries but were allowed in India, posing a serious health hazards to farmers.
Royal Bengal tigress will stay in Satkosia Wildlife sanctuary:
Experts of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) Monday said the Royal Bengal tigress 'Sundari' will continue to stay in Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha's Angul district. The local people are demanding that the tigress be shifted from Satkosia Wildlife sanctuary alleging that it killed a woman. The death of the woman of Haribari village on September 12 had triggered protests by local people, who torched the Hatibari Forest beat office and Tikarpara forest range office. WII researcher Dr Ramesh, after monitoring the situation at Satkosia, said the incident (death of the woman) was unfortunate. "The tigress cannot be relocated. However, the authorities will ensure that such incidents do not occur again," Ramesh told a local news channel adding that the relocation project is a larger vision. He said the decision to relocate the tigress from Madhya Pradesh to Odisha was done after a long planning to repopulate Satkosia. Meanwhile, the Superintendent of Police, Angul,
NGT directs panel to look into discharge of effluent by Insecticides India in Alwar
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board to look into the issue of discharge of effluent by agro-chemical firm Insecticides India in Rajasthan's Alwar district. A bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel constituted a joint committee comprising officials from the CPCB and the state pollution control board to jointly look into the matter within a month after a plea alleged that 20 villages in the district were affected due to the release of harmful chemicals. "Counsel for the applicant has referred to order of this tribunal which relates to the area in question. The tribunal directed control of discharge by installing CETP. Direction was also issued for inspection, apart from the direction to clear drains in the area. Upgradation of common effluent treatment plant was also directed. "In view of the above, it appears to be necessary to direct the CPCB and the Rajasthan State Pollution ...
Poachers kill elephant, make away with tusks in U'khand
Suspected poachers allegedly killed a male elephant in the Shivalik forests of Uttarakhand and made away with its twin tusks, officials said Monday. Acting District Forest Officer Dharma Singh Meena said the 45-year-old tusker's body, which does not bear any external injury mark, is being sent for a post-mortem to ascertain how it was killed. However, the removal of its tusks makes it look like a case of illegal poaching, the DFO said. It appears poachers killed the tusker not far from the forest checkpost in the Thano range of Dehradun forest division late Sunday evening and made away with its twin tusks, he said. Forest and Special Task Force personnel have stepped up vigilance in the wake of the incident, he said.
HC prohibits construction on or exploitation of Maha mangroves
The Bombay High Court Monday prohibited any construction on or commercial exploitation of mangrove land across Maharashtra. In its judgement passed on a bunch of petitions that the court had been hearing since 2005, the HC ruled that destruction of mangroves was in breach of the citizens' fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. A bench of Justices A S Oka and R I Chagla Monday said that the state was duty-bound to protect and preserve all mangrove-rich land across Maharashtra. The bench said that any ongoing construction work on mangrove land and its surrounding buffer zone must be stopped immediately, and that henceforth, no construction on such area will be permitted unless in a rare case meant for public good. Such permission, though, will be granted only through an order of the high court, the bench said. It directed the state to identify all private mangrove land parcels as protected or reserved forest area in accordance with the Indian Forests Act, ...
SC notice to Centre on plea seeking ban on 85 pesticides
The Supreme Court Monday agreed to examine a plea seeking ban on nearly 85 pesticides that are being used in India on the grounds that they pose health hazard. A bench of Justices Arun Misra and Vineet Saran issued notices to the Centre and other authorities concerned on the plea which also sought empowering state governments to take decisions at their level for prohibition and restriction related to pesticides. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioners, said that these pesticides have been banned in other countries but in India they are being allowed to be used which could pose serious health hazards to farmers. "The continued use of deadly pesticides is a major threat to the Right to Life of farm workers and farmers. Just in terms of acute poisoning, without even getting into chronic health impacts, the situation is alarming and needs urgent action to remove deadly poisons from the scene," the plea said. The petition filed by Kavita Kuruganti said that deadly ...
IMF says 'important progress' made toward new deal with Argentina
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund has held productive meetings with Argentine officials in Buenos Aires aimed at revamping the country's standby loan agreement, the Fund said in a statement on Monday.
Germany rolls out world's first hydrogen train
Germany on Monday rolled out the world's first hydrogen-powered train, signalling the start of a push to challenge the might of polluting diesel trains with costlier but more eco-friendly technology. Two bright blue Coradia iLint trains, built by French TGV-maker Alstom, began running a 100-kilometre route between the towns and cities of Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervoerde and Buxtehude in northern Germany -- a stretch normally plied by diesel trains. "The world's first hydrogen train is entering into commercial service and is ready for serial production," Alstom CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge said at an unveiling ceremony in Bremervoerde, the station where the trains will be refuelled with hydrogen. Alstom has said it plans to deliver another 14 of the zero-emissions trains to Lower Saxony state by 2021, with other German states also expressing an interest. Hydrogen trains are equipped with fuel cells that produce electricity through a combination of hydrogen and oxygen, a process that ...
NASA's Juno probe captures elusive 'brown barge' on Jupiter
NASA's Juno spacecraft has beamed back an image of a long, brown oval known as a "brown barge" -- an elusive atmospheric feature in Jupiter's South Equatorial Belt. Brown barges are cyclonic regions that usually lie within Jupiter's dark North Equatorial Belt, although they are sometimes found in the similarly dark South Equatorial Belt as well. They can often be difficult to detect visually because their colour blends in with the dark surroundings. At other times, the dark belt material recedes, creating a lighter-coloured background against which the brown barge is more conspicuous. Brown barges usually dissipate after the entire cloud belt undergoes an upheaval and reorganises itself. Juno is giving us the first glimpses of the detailed structure within such a barge, NASA said in a statement. The image was taken earlier this month as the spacecraft performed its 15th close flyby of Jupiter. At the time, Juno was 11,950 kilometers from the planet's cloud tops, above a southern ...
Ashoka Buildcon SPVs achieve financial closure for three projects
Ashoka Mallasandra Karadi Road - Four laning of Tumkur Shivamogga section from Km 12+310 (Design km 12+300) to Km 66+540 (Design Km 65+195) from Mallasandra to Karadi Village of NH-206 on Hybrid Annuity Mode under NHDP Phase-IV in the state of Karnataka. Bid Project cost - Rs 917 crore.