Page 483 - Environment
Cabinet approves two MoUs signed with South Africa, Brunei
The Union cabinet Wednesday approved a memorandum of understanding between India and South Africa on cooperation for exploration and uses of the outer space for peaceful purposes, an official statement said. The MoU is one of the three pacts signed between India and South Africa in Johannesburg on July 26 during the 10th BRICS Summit. The cooperation under this MoU encompasses areas like remote-sensing of the Earth, satellite communication and satellite-based navigation, space science and planetary exploration, use of spacecraft, launch vehicles, space systems and ground systems. This MoU envisages to plan and implement joint space projects of mutual benefit and interest, establishment, operation and maintenance of ground stations for supporting space activities, sharing of satellite data, results of experiments, and scientific and technological information. The cabinet also approved another MoU between India and Brunei on cooperation in the operation of telemetry tracking and ...
18-day power cut ends for Ghaziabad village
Eighteen days after electric supply to their homes snapped, residents of Kanawani Pustapur in this district finally heaved a sigh of relief Wednesday as power was again restored, officials said. The electricity department has replaced one defunct transformer, installed a new transformer of 100 KV and supply has been restored, District Magistrate Ritu Maheshwari said. One more transformer will start functioning from tomorrow, she said. The electricity department was also planning to enhance the capacity of the transformers, Maheshwari said. Kanawani village is situated in the flood-plain area of the Hindon River. Earlier, the village was registered under the land revenue records of district Gautam Buddh Nagar but a few years ago it was included in the Ghaziabad district. Locals were upset that even after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath declared Ghaziabad as a 'no power cut zone', officers of Pashimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited) paid no heed to their complaints for several ...
Temple gold can help rebuild flood-hit Kerala: BJP MP
BJP MP Udit Raj has suggested that the "gold and wealth" of three prominent temples in Kerala could be used for helping the people of the state which was devastated by floods last month. "The Gold & Wealth of Padmanabha,Sabarimala,Guruvayur is more than 1 lakh crores & to compensate the losses of 21 thousand Crores is for less than temples wealth. What is use of such and wealth. When people are dying and crying (sic)," the Dalit leader said in a tweet. The North West Delhi MP has urged the public to make this demand. Over 400 people died in the deluge in Kerala last month and massive rebuilding efforts are underway at present. The centre has released Rs 600 crore to the flood-hit state. Various state governments have donated to help Kerala. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan earlier demanded Rs 2,000 crore on an immediate-basis from the Centre, while pegging losses at around Rs 20,000 crore.
Cabinet hikes ethanol prices by over Rs 5/litre to Rs 52.43
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday approved a hike in the price for procurement of ethanol by oil marketing companies (OMCs) by over Rs 3 increasing the rate for the clean fuel derived out of 'B' heavy molasses from the current Rs 47.13 per litre to Rs 52.43.
Fadnavis urges ADB to speed up financial aid for devt works
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Wednesday urged the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to speed up the financial assistance process for road development projects in the state. Fadnavis held a meeting here with the ADB officers regarding different projects in the state. Presentation on the projects for which the ADB is providing financial assistance was made during the meeting. The projects include those under Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), Mukhyamantri Gram Sadak Yojana and high voltage power distribution system for agriculture pumps in the state. Fadnavis appealed to the ADB officers to expedite the process and directed the departments concerned to start the works on these projects. Director of ADB in India Kenechi Yokoyama, Deputy Director Sabyascahi Mitra, Senior Village Development expert Li Ming Tai, Energy Department expert Lin George and others were present for the meeting. "Road development and power supply for agriculture pumps are most important projects ...
CCEA approves revision of ethanol prices
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved to fix the ex-mill price of ethanol derived out of B heavy molasses / partial sugarcane juice to Rs.52.43 per litre, from an earlier price of Rs. 47.13 per litre.In this decision, the cabinet committee has not only revised or fixed the price of ethanol derived from B heavy molasses/ partial sugarcane juice but also fixed a higher price for 100 per cent sugarcane juice ethanol for the forthcoming sugar season 2018-19 during ethanol supply year from December 1 2018 to November 30, 2019.It has also decided to fix the ex-mill price of ethanol derived from 100 per cent sugarcane juice at Rs.59.13 per litre (from prevailing price of Rs.47.13 per litre) for those mills who will divert 100 per cent sugarcane juice for production of ethanol thereby not producing any sugar.Additionally, Goods and Services Tax (GST) and transportation charges will also be payable. Oil Marketin Companies (OMCs) have been advised to fix realistic ...
18 Indian fishermen apprehended by Pakistan off Gujarat coast
Eighteen Indian fishermen have been apprehended and their three boats seized by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) off Gujarat coast, officials of the Porbandar-based National Fishworkers' Forum (NFF) said Wednesday. Two boats with 12 fishermen on board had sailed from the coastal town of Porbandar a week ago, while six others on the third boat belonged to Okha town of Devbhumi-Dwarka district. These fishermen were apprehended by the PMSA near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the Arabian sea Tuesday, NFF secretary Manish Lodhari told PTI. "Eighteen fishermen belonging to Porbandar and Okha in Gujarat sailing in three boats were apprehended by the PMSA near IMBL yesterday and taken to Karachi port," he said. According to Lodhari, this is the first incident of fishermen's apprehension since the resumption of fishing activities on August 15 after a three-month long mandatory ban during the monsoon season.
NGT directs closure of 5 UP tanneries for extracting Ganga water without permission
The National Green Tribunal has directed the closure of five Kanpur-based tanneries for discharging effluents in river Ganga after the Central Pollution Control Board informed it that the units lacked NOC from the Central Ground Water Authority. A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel passed the order after perusing a joint inspection team of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the state pollution control board. "The CPCB has filed a joint inspection report. Apart from other observations, common observation in all the joint inspections is that there is no No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). It is doubtful that CGWA can grant NOC in critical area of basin/catchment area of river Ganga and its tributaries where extraction of ground water adversely affects the flow of the river. "Even without going into this question, the fact remains that the CGWA has not granted any such permission and in absence thereof, no ...
Over 600 sugarcane farmers block rail, road traffic in Hoshiarpur
Over 600 sugarcane farmers Wednesday blocked vehicular and rail traffic at Bhangala, 70 kms from here, in protest against non-payment of their dues by various sugar mills. Under the banner of Pagri Sambhal Jatta Lehar, agitating farmers, led by Kamalpreet Singh Kakki, president of the outfit, blocked vehicular and rail traffic from 11 am to 4:45 pm. The traffic on Jalandhar-Pathankot rail section was diverted from Amritsar section and vehicular traffic on alternative routes. The protesters lifted the blockade after the SSP of Hoshiarpur and ADCs (General), Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur intervened in the matter. They assured farmers that they would arrange their meeting with the additional chief secretary regarding their demands.
AP donates Rs 35 crore to Kerala for rebuilding effort
The Andhra Pradesh government has donated Rs 35 crore to rain-battered Kerala for relief and rehabilitation work. Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister Nimmakayala Chinnarajappa Wednesday handed over a cheque for the amount to state Industries minister E P Jayarajan here. Chinnarajappa told reporters that Andhra Pradesh has also given 2,014 tons of rice and kits with essential food articles to Kerala. The state witnessed one of its worst calamities last month, he said, adding that Andhra Pradesh would support Kerala in its rebuilding efforts. Chinnarajappa asked the Centre to accord sanction for accepting assistance from foreign countries during the time of calamities. He also asked Kerala to utilise a portion of the relief amount given by his state for rebuilding Pamba, the foothills of the Lord Ayappa temple at Sabarimala, which suffered massive devastation in the deluge. Andhra Pradesh has a special connection with Sabarimala as lakhs of people from the state visit the
Cabinet approves MoU with S Africa on exploration, uses of outer space
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and South Africa on cooperation in the exploration and uses of outer space for peaceful purposes.The MoU was signed in Johannesburg on July 26, 2018.Under the MoU, the areas of cooperation include Remote sensing of the earth; Satellite communication and satellite-based navigation; Space science and planetary exploration; Use of spacecraft, launch vehicles, space systems and ground systems; Practical applications of space technology including geospatial tools and techniques; and other areas of cooperation which will be determined by the two parties.The cooperation will be carried out in the form of planning and implementation of joint space projects of mutual benefit and interest; establishment, operation and maintenance of ground stations for supporting space activities; sharing of satellite data, results of experiments, and scientific and ...
Hunger reached alarming' ten-year high in 2017, according to latest UN report
More people went hungry in 2017 than at any time in the previous decade as food deprivation on the rise due to conflict and climate change, according to the latest edition of the UN's annual multi-agency flagship report on the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World. The report estimates that the number of undernourished globally, increased to 821 million in 2017; meaning that one in every nine people, does not have enough to eat. It was published Tuesday by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO). The number of undernourished people has increased from 777 million to 821 million over the last two years, confirming a worrying reversal of positive trends seen earlier in the new millennium. "We now have three years of global hunger or chronic deprivation, Senior Economist at FAO Cindy Holleman said. Many governments
ASI discovers 254 copper coins dating to medieval era in Khirki Mosque premises in Delhi
Over 250 copper coins belonging to the reign of Sher Shah Suri (1540-1545) and his successors have been discovered by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on the premises of Khirki Mosque here during the course of conservation of the monument. ASI (Delhi Circle) had taken up the task of cleaning of the area to initiate conservation of Khirki Mosque and during the cleaning, 254 coins were discovered near entrance of the monument, the Ministry of Culture said in a statement Wednesday. The mosque lies on the southern periphery of the village Khirki. It was built by Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah, the Prime Minister of Firoz Shah Tughluq (1351-88), and is believed to be one of the seven mosques built by him. A team of archaeologist, consternation assistant and photographers took possession of the coins. "A few coins were cleaned by the ASI experts and on the basis of preliminary observation, it can be said that some of the coins belong to the reign of Shershah Suri and his successors," the ..
Jain Irrigation subsidiary acquires cloud-based platform ETwater
Jain Irrigation said Wednesday that its subsidiary in the US has acquired cloud-based platform the ETwater and its line of weather-adaptive smart controllers for an undisclosed amount. In a regulatory filing, the company said its a small acquisition and it will help fortify the US-based subsidiary's position in the American smart agriculture market with Internet of Things (loT) and also to scale up operations in the said geography. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, and the transaction will close shortly after certain customary conditions are fulfilled, it added. "Jain is an early leader in the 'Internet of Things' for agriculture. ETwater improves our position in agriculture and helps us make a bigger impact in reducing water waste in landscape irrigation," Jain Irrigation Inc USA President Aric Olson said. The cloud-based ETwater platform takes environmental data from multiple sources, including landscape specific information such as plant types, soil, slope conditions, and more .
Manipur to ban old vehicles
Manipur may ban auto-rickshaws and other vehicles which are 15 years old or more.
WB Cabinet okays hydel project, revises nurses' retirement age
The West Bengal Cabinet has given its nod for setting up a pump storage hydel project in Purulia and agreed to revise the retirement age of nurses in state-run hospitals from 60 to 62 years, senior state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said Wednesday. The Rs-6921-crore hydel project would help in generating more power in the state, Bhattacharya, the minister of state for health, told reporters at the state secretariat. The power project in Purulia is eyeing to utilise waters of Turga river in Ayodhya hills for peak power generation. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) had last year given a conditional clearance to the project. In another move, the Cabinet agreed to raise the retirement age of nurses working at state-run hospitals from 60 to 62 years from the current financial year, which started in April, she said. Admitting that the state currently has fewer nurses, Bhattacharya told reporters that the Cabinet has also given its nod for setting up 27 nursing schools
US almost halfway to meet Paris climate goals: America's Pledge
The US is already almost halfway to meeting its 2025 Paris Agreement goal. Existing commitments and policies will take the country two-thirds of the way towards those objectives despite the absence of federal support on climate action, a new report by America's Pledge said on Wednesday.
Leopard found dead in Seoni district of MP
The carcass of a two-year-old leopard was found in Aamagarh forest in Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh, an official said. "The mutilated carcass was found in Nanhi Kanhar forest circle Tuesday evening. It looks like it died about five days ago," Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Gaurav Choudhary said. No evidence suggesting that the animal was killed by poachers was found at the spot, he said. The viscera of the leopard was sent for examination and after getting the laboratory report, the exact cause of death would be ascertained, the DFO said.
CCEA approves electrification of pending broad gauge routes
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved the proposal for electrification of balance unelectrified broad gauge of the Indian Railways comprising of 108 sections covering 13,675 route kilometres (16,540 track kilometres) at a cost of Rs.12,134.50 crore.This electrification is likely to be completed by 2021-22.The proposed electrification, which is mainly for missing links and last-mile connectivity, will increase the operational efficiency, enhance the line capacity and improve the average speed of trains.The approved electrification will also reduce the use of imported fossil fuels, and thereby improve energy security to the nation. After the planned electrification, there would be a reduction in the consumption of high-speed diesel oil by about 2.83 billion litres per annum and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. This will also reduce the environmental impact of Railways.Currently, around two-thirds of freight and more than half of passenger traffic in ...
Govt raises ethanol price for blending in petrol by 25 pc
The government on Wednesday approved an over 25 per cent hike in the price of ethanol produced directly from sugarcane juice for blending in petrol in a bid to cut surplus sugar production and reduce oil imports. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs raised the procurement price of ethanol derived from 100 per cent sugarcane juice to Rs 59.13 per litre from the current rate of Rs 47.13, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told a news conference. The price for ethanol produced from B-heavy molasses (also called as intermediary molasses) was hiked to Rs 52.43 a litre from the current Rs 47.13 but that for ethanol produced from C-heavy molasses was reduced marginally to Rs 43.46 from Rs 43.70. Diverting sugarcane juice for directly making ethanol, which can be doped in petrol, is common across the major sugar producing nations. Brazil tops the list where all the ethanol produced is directly made from sugarcane juice. The move would help sugar mills quickly release arrears of cane ...
