Page 485 - Environment
Gujarat plans to store solar energy for use at night: Patel
The Gujarat government is planing to start projects to store solar energy produced during the day and use it at night time, Energy Minister Saurabh Patel said Tuesday. He told this to a delegation from Colorado, a western US state, which is visiting Gujarat. Patel said the state is planning to have four to five solar parks with installed capacity of 5,000 MW, of which the state has already invited "expression of interest" for installations for 1000 MW solar power. "Gujarat is an ideal place for solar energy as it has wide track of unproductive land available with it," Patel told the delegation which consisted of representatives from the energy sector of Colorado. "The state government is planning to set up four to five solar parks with installed capacity of 5,000 MW," Patel said, adding this will be a great opportunity for the energy sector of Colorado to invest here. "Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA) has already invited expression of interest for installation of
Release of water from Mullaperiyar Dam not a reason behind Kerala floods: CWC
The release of water from the Mullaperiyar Dam was not one of the reasons behind Kerala floods as claimed by the state government, according to a report released by the Central Water Commission Tuesday. Built in 1895 on the Periyar River in Idukki district of Kerala, the Mullaperiyar Dam came under the spotlight after the Kerala government accused Tamil Nadu, which maintains the reservoir, of releasing the water without warning, when the state received extremely heavy rainfall from August 15 to 17 that led to the devastating floods in the state. "The sudden release from the Mullaperiyar dam, the third largest reservoir in Periyar Basin, forced us to release more water from the Idukki reservoir, downstream of Mullaperiyar, which is one of the causes of this deluge," an affidavit filed by the Kerala government in the Supreme Court last month said. According to the CWC report, the average release from the Idukki reservoir on August 15 was about 1,100 cumec (a cubic metre per second), ...
TN urges HC to quash Centre's report on groundwater contamination
The Tamil Nadu government has approached the Madras High Court seeking quashing of the Centre's 'Groundwater Quality Report' which claimed that Sterlite Copper Industry located in Tuticorin alone cannot be blamed for high pollution levels of groundwater in the area. Admitting the plea, a division bench headed by Justice R Subbiah on Tuesday ordered a notice to the Union water resources ministry and central groundwater board returnable by two weeks. "The report released by the board is incorrect and unwarranted at this stage. It shows clear malafide intention of the board in supporting the case of the Sterlite Industry," the principal secretary of state environment and forest department said. According to the petitioner, the board released a report titled 'Report on Short Term Investigation of Groundwater Quality in and Around SIPCOT Industrial Area, Tuticorin' which was communicated by the water resource ministry to the state through a memorandum dated August 28. It was claimed that ..
Pradhan writes to Odisha CM over NTPC project delay
Union Minister Petroleum and Natural Gas, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday wrote to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, seeking his intervention over the delay in the approval of the National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) 1320-MW project worth Rs 9,785 crore in the state.Pradhan also highlighted the state government's delay in giving its approval to investment projects being proposed for the state by oil PSUs, Nalco, and the NTPC.In the letter to Patnaik, Pradhan asserted that even though the NTPC Board approved an investment of Rs 9,785 crore for setting up additional state-of-the-art power stations at Talcher, approval from the High-Level Clearance Committee and single window clearance is yet to be granted.The Union Minister further said that the project had acquired land, water, environmental and other statutory clearances, but clearance by the High-Level Committee of the state government was necessary as it was a big project. He ..
Inherited 1.22L kilometers of potholed roads from past regime: Adityanath
Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samajwadi party governments left Uttar Pradesh with 1.22 lakh kilometers of roads full of potholes, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Tuesday.Speaking at the inauguration of an infrastructure project and foundation laying ceremony here, Adityanath said, "When we came to power about 16 months ago, there was around 1.22 lakh kilometer of roads having potholes, symbolising sins of the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samajwadi Party. These potholes of misdeeds created a hindrance for development. Now, under the leadership of Keshav Prasad Maurya, Public Works Department (PWD) has made 1.20 lakh kilometer roads pothole free."He also touched upon one of the major concerns of western Uttar Pradesh farmers- sugarcane production and payment- and said, "Uttar Pradesh is moving forward with complete dedication to reach newer heights of development. Previous governments were not providing electricity to Baghpat region. This year we have made payment of 26,000 crores ..
Haryana CM slashes power rates, oppn challenges his decision
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Tuesday announced a sharp reduction in electricity tariff, a decision ahead of the Lok Sabha election year that provoked a noisy exchange in the state assembly. "I am the chief minister of the state. I know what I can do, Khattar replied curtly to Leader of Opposition Abhay Singh Chautala later in the day when he challenged the CM's authority to fix power rates. Electricity will cost Rs 2.50 per unit, down from Rs 4 for households with a monthly consumption of up to 200 units. For poorer families, who consume up to 50 units per month, the rate would be Rs 2 per unit, Khattar announced in the Haryana Assembly. Khattar called the subsidies on power rates a historic decision that would benefit 41.53 lakh domestic consumers. He said that the reduced tariff would ensure a saving of Rs 437 per month to consumers. The chief minister said he has now fulfilled his promise to reduce power tariffs in the state. He also announced free electricity ...
'Redouble efforts for sustained growth of agriculture sector in JK: Ganai'
An advisor to Jammu and Kashmir governor Tuesday asked the agriculture department functionaries to introduce farming models that help increase farmers' income substantially. The department should double their efforts for sustained growth of agriculture sector in the state, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai said at a meeting to review the functioning of agriculture, horticulture and floriculture departments here. He also underscored the need for having dependable irrigation network. Ganai referred to the historic agreement signed recently between J&K and Punjab governments on the implementation of Shahpur Kandi Dam project and said it would immensely benefit the districts of Kathua and Samba and parts of Jammu district through the 79.5 km Ravi Canal and 493 km distribution network. It will irrigate 32,000 hectares of agricultural land in the Kandi areas, upstream and downstream along the Jammu-Pathankot national highway in Samba and Kathua districts, he said. The advisor stressed on the ...
Spl task forces to check discharge of effluents into river Ghaggar
TheHimachal government has constituted Special Task Forces (STFs) at the state and district levels to identify people responsible for discharging effluents into tributaries of river Ghaggar beyond permissible limits, read an official statement Tuesday. The STFs have been set up in compliance with the orders passed by the National Green Tribunal, it added. The officers included in the state-level special task force are chief secretary, additional chief secretary (environment, science and technology), additional chief secretary (urban development) and member secretary of state pollution control board. The officers in the district-level special task force for Solan and Sirmour will be the concerned deputy commissioners, nominee of the concerned district and sessions judge, concerned superintendent of police, executive officer of the local bodies of the concerned district and regional officer of HP State Pollution Control Board of concerned district. The district-level STF will identify ..
SC orders demolition of illegal constructions in forest area of Aravalli hills
The Supreme Court Tuesday termed as "frightening" the illegal constructions in the forest area of Aravalli hills and directed the Haryana government to demolish the unauthorised structures built there after August 18, 1992. Lashing out at the state government on the issue, a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said the construction activity carried out by R Kant and Company, a private realtor who is a party to the case, was clearly in violation of the August 18, 1992 notification and in blatant defiance of the court's orders. It said the "rule of law seems to have broken down in Haryana" and has become the "rule of men" only to favour the firm. The bench asked the company to deposit Rs 5 crore for rehabilitation of the damaged areas. The 1992 notification issued under the provisions of the Punjab Land Preservation (PLP) Act had prohibited clearing or breaking up of land not ordinarily under cultivation. Permission to break the land for cultivation could be permitted by ...
Punjab to supply pigs to Nagaland: Minister
Punjab will soon start supplying pigs to Nagaland which would earn around Rs 200 crore annually to pig rearers of the state, Animal Husbandry Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said Tuesday. "Punjab will supply 8,000 pigs per month, thus, earning Rs 200 crore annually for pig famers of the state," he said here. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard would be signed in the coming days, the minister said. People of Nagaland consider pork from Punjab to be hygienic, healthy and full of nutritious value as compared to the other parts of the country, Sidhu added. The decision followed a meeting of the minister with a delegation of Nagaland here.
Lifeguards to patrol Goa beaches in night during Ganesh fest
Night patrolling will be conducted by private lifeguards at 42 beaches in Goa during the ten-day Ganesh festival beginning September 13, a private agency stated Tuesday. The agency, Drishti Marine, said its focus would be to prevent deaths due to drowning during immersion of Ganesh idols in sea. "Teams of lifeguards will be stationed at 42 beaches for the entire night during the ongoing Ganesh festivities to help people in immersion of idols," the agency spokesman said. Drishti Marine is a government-appointed agency entrusted with the task of manning the beaches and help people in emergencies. Lifeguards will be deployed at identified locations from September 13 to 23. "In instances wherein sea is rough, the lifeguards will offer to carry the idols into deeper areas for immersion," he said. The agency has appealed to local people as well as tourists to desist from entering sea if drunk.
Tata Power to offer suite of services in rooftop solar drive
MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's Tata Power Company Ltd plans to offer a range of services from advice and financing to installation and maintenance as it strives to increase its share of the market for rooftop solar panels, a senior executive said on Tuesday.
Haryana CM announces cut in power tariffs
Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar Tuesday announced relief for power consumers in the state. Khattar announced to reduce the power tariff on monthly consumption of up to 200 units from Rs 4.50 per unit to Rs 2.50 per unit. Announcing further relaxation for the people belonging to poor families, Khattar while speaking in the State Assembly, said that in case a family limits its monthly electricity consumption up to 50 units, the electricity rate would then be applicable at the rate of Rs 2 per unit. He said that the reduced tariff would ensure saving of Rs 437 per month to consumers. The chief minister said that "it is a historic decision" and would benefit 41.53 lakh domestic consumers in the state. He said that with these announcements he had fulfilled his earlier promise to reduce power tariffs in the State. He also announced that free of cost electricity connections would be provided to those 'dhanis' (hamlets) in the state which are situated within one kilometer of 'Lal ..
Stern action against sugar mills failing to pay growers: UP CM
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Tuesday warned that a stern action will be taken against sugar mills which will fail to clear pending sugarcane payments of farmers by October 15. "Our aim is to bring the poor and farmers in the mainstream ... if sugar mills do not make payments by October 15, the mill owners will be taken to task," he said. Yogi was here along with Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to lay the foundation of the Delhi-Saharanpur National Highway. "We have given soft loans to the sugar mills for this work ... we will not tolerate any kind of laxity in the works concerning the poor and farmers," the chief minister said and exhorted cane farmers to also try cultivating other crops keeping in mind their proximity with Delhi market. "You need to try hands at growing crops other than sugarcane. Sugar makes people fall ill. Grow other crops. Delhi market is close by to sell your produce," he said. UP Cane Development Minister Suresh Rana said Monday the state
Crop Residue Management Brings Down Farmer's Manure Cost
The government is providing subsidy on crop residue management machinery to farmers. Crop residue management in the field helps soil become more fertile thereby resulting in savings of Rs 2000 per hectare from the farmer's manure cost, noted Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Radha Mohan Singh. He has said that hundreds of millions of waste produced in India comes from agriculture and agricultural enterprises. According to statistics, 70% of the waste is used in industrial sector and as domestic fuel. The remaining waste can be converted into bio-components and bio fuels and can also be used in the generation of energy.
SC orders demolition of constructions in Faridabad forest area
The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered Haryana to demolish concrete structures raised in Kant Enclave after August 18, 1992, as it is a forest land and no construction activity should have been allowed there.
Most EU countries miss air quality targets, some have worse air than India: ECA
Most EU countries fail to meet the bloc's air quality standards and more than 1,000 Europeans die prematurely each day, ten times more than those killed in road accidents, a watchdog said Tuesday. The European Court of Auditors (ECA), the European Union body which scrutinises how the bloc spends its budget, said pollution's toll on health in Bulgaria and other eastern European countries was even worse than in Asian giants China and India. It said the failures in the 28-nation bloc were all the more glaring as some EU guidelines were weaker than those suggested by the World Health Organisation. "Air pollution is the biggest environmental risk to health in the European Union," said Janusz Wojciechowski, the member of the Luxembourg-based ECA responsible for the report. "In recent decades, EU policies have contributed to emission reductions, but air quality has not improved at the same rate and there are still considerable impacts on public health," he added. The report blamed most of ...
'India, China driving global energy market transition'
Emerging markets India and China are driving growth in energy demand and choosing renewables over fossil fuels. Both are already choosing solar and wind over fossil fuels, a new report said on Tuesday.
India, Russia hold discussions on saving the tiger, water cooperation
India's Union Minister of Commerce and Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu held a meeting with Dmitry Kobylkin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Russian Federation on Tuesday during which they discussed issues of cooperation in areas of conservation of environment, saving the tiger, water cooperation and environmental sustainability.Suresh Prabhu is in Vladivostok, Russia, to attend the Far Eastern Economic Forum being held from September 11-13, 2018.During the meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Yury Trutnev, the Commerce Minister discussed issues of mutual cooperation in sectors like mining and geological exploration in gold and diamond, water cooperation, forestry, timber and agriculture.Prabhu met with the Governors, Vice Governors and representatives of regions of the Far-East: Primorye, Yakutia, Sakhalin, Amur, Magadan, Kamchatka, and Khabarovsk. According to information, discussions were held on possibilities of mutual co-operation in ...
Govt asks farmers to adopt new methods to tackle crop residue
Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today appealed to farmers not to burn crop residue and asked them to adopt new methods to manage it, including using the waste for biogas production. Highlighting the government's support to the farmers for addressing the crop residue, he said a provision of Rs 1,151.80 crore for two years has been made under a scheme for states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi-NCR. The central government is providing 50-80 per cent subsidy for crop residue management machineries, which help farmers in mixing crop residue with soil to make it more productive, the release said, quoting the minister as saying at an event here. Farmers groups are being provided financial assistance at 80 per cent of the project cost for establishing Farm Machinery Banks for custom hiring of crop residue management machinery. Under the sub mission on agricultural mechanization, 40 per cent subsidy is given on straw rake, straw baler, loader, etc. That apart, the ...
