Page 490 - Environment
Pro- and anti- whaling nations brace for battle in Brazil
Pro-and anti-whaling nations are set for a showdown when the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meets in Brazil from Monday as Japan leads an assault on a three-decade old moratorium on commercial whale hunting. Tokyo heads into the biennial meeting as chair of the 88-nation body determined to shake-up what it says is a dysfunctional organisation mired in dispute and unable to make key decisions. But Japan's package of proposals, entitled "The Way Forward," has left conservationists seething even before delegates have taken their seats at the 67th IWC meeting in the Brazilian surfing resort of Florianapolis. They say it's a blatant attempt to overturn the 1986 moratorium and restore commercial whaling. "This meeting is critical," said Patrick Ramage of the International Fund for Animal Welfare. "Member countries must stand together and push progress towards whale protection, not let this commission be pulled back into the bygone era of commercial whaling." Brazil as host country ..
Thousands march ahead of climate summit in San Francisco
Thousands of people took to the streets of San Francisco to demand "real leadership" in the fight against climate change, four days ahead of the Global Climate Action Summit taking place in the city.
Australia drought extends despite 'widespread, significant rain'
A devastating drought that has left Australian farmers struggling to stay afloat is set to persist despite widespread and significant rain last month, authorities have said. Graziers in eastern Australia have been battling a long-period of severe conditions that have turned green pastures brown and forced some to sell down or shoot their stock. There was some welcome relief last month when "widespread (and)... significant rainfall" was recorded in parts of New South Wales, the state government said in its seasonal update late Friday. "While the rain has been welcomed and has provided a more positive outlook for field conditions in some regions, the drought is far from over," NSW Department of Primary Industries' agriculture climate specialist Anthony Clark said in a statement. "We need more significant widespread rainfall in the coming weeks and months for agricultural recovery to commence and farmland to return to a productive state." Clark warned that if dry conditions continued ...
Global climate protests peak in US as UN talks falter
Tens of thousands of people across the globe, including India, took to the streets Saturday to demand that governments step up action on global warming, even as United Nations climate talks tasked with breathing life into the Paris Agreement faltered. Nearly 1,000 events in more than 90 countries delivered a two-pronged message: speed up the shift to a world powered by renewable energy rather than planet-warming gas, oil and coal; and protect the people most vulnerable to rising seas and climate-enhanced extreme weather. The rolling, 24-hour protest peaked in San Francisco, where thousands snaked through the city chanting and carrying handmade signs and banners. Many slogans were barbs from the heart of Blue America pointed at Washington. "Alternative Energy, not Alternative Facts," read one, while another -- more blunt -- said: "More Science, Less Bullshit." "Defend democracy: impeach Putin's poodle," read a third, taking aim squarely at US President Donald Trump, who opted out of ...
Study: Pluto should be reclassified as a planet
The latest research has presented a case for reclassifying Pluto as a planet.According to new research, the reason because of which Pluto lost its planet status is not valid. In 2006, the International Astronomical Union, a global group of astronomy experts, established a definition of a planet that required it to "clear" its orbit, or in other words, be the largest gravitational force in its orbit.Since Neptune's gravity influences its neighbouring planet Pluto, and Pluto shares its orbit with frozen gases and objects in the Kuiper belt, that meant Pluto was out of planet status.However, in a new study reported that this standard for classifying planets is not supported in the research literature.Metzger, lead author of the study, reviewed scientific literature from the past 200 years and found only one publication - from 1802 - that used the clearing-orbit requirement to classify planets, and it was based on since-disproven reasoning.He also added that moons such as Saturn's Titan ..
Flood threat looms over Patna dist after MP water release
Flood threat loomed large over Patna district Saturday after the Madhya Pradesh government released 3.55 lakh cusecs of water from Bansagar dam in Sone river that would increase the Ganga water level which is already flowing above the danger mark in Patna. "Due to heavy rains, Bansagar dam is completely full to its capacity. Our Water Resources Department's Principal Secretary talked to the concerned officials of Madhya Pradesh government over phone requesting them to release the water from Bansagar dam slowly into the river Sone so that Ganga does not witness sudden surge in its water level," WRD Public Relations Officer Arvind Kumar Singh said. Madhya Pradesh released 3,55,572 cusecs of water at 5.40 am Saturday in Sone river, Singh said adding that the water level of Ganga would rise further. As per earlier information, the Madhya Pradesh government was supposed to release 5.25 lakh to 7.0 lakh cusecs of water from Bansagar into Sone river around 10 pm of September ..
Kolkata bridge collapse: Traffic movement improving
The Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) on Saturday said vehicular movement from its docks in the city has been improving after the initial hiccup due to traffic control following the partial collapse of the 54-year-old Majerhat bridge.
Post floods, Kerala set to welcome tourists from Oct: Official
Kerala, which was ravaged by floods in August, is ready to welcome tourists from October, a senior official from the southern state said here Saturday. The Kerala Disaster Management Control Room Tuesday had stated that, since May 29, a total of 491 people had died there due to the rains, the maximum number of deaths occurring after August 8. "Kerala tourism is quickly bouncing back from the flood-related damage which has not affected most of the tourist spots, hotels and resorts in the state," P Bala Kiran, director, Kerala's Department of Tourism, told reporters. Addressing a press conference here on the sidelines of the Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF), Bala Kiran said priority was being accorded to the restoration of road links in the state. He also said that that the arrival of tourists had started picking up from August 29. "Airports, road and rail networks are operational. The fourth airport at Kannur in north Kerala will be opened soon," he said, adding that the ...
Man killed by wild elephant in Chhattisgarh'sKorba
A 55-year-old man was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Chhattisgarh'sKorba district, police said Saturday. The incident took place in a forest in Jaam Pahad area where the victim, Shivlal Sarthi (55), had gone to graze his cattle, Divisional Forest Officer S Jagdishan said. Sarthi, hailing from nearby Bania village, faced a herd of elephants and apparently when he tried to flee, one of the animals lifted him with its trunk and slammed him on the ground, killing him on the spot, he said. Police and forest officials retrieved the body later, he added. The kin of the victim get a compensation of Rs 4 lakh in these cases. Sarthi's family was given immediate aid of Rs 15,000, and the balance will be given upon completion of formalities, the official added. According to forest officials, 13 people have been killed by wildelephants inKorba district in 2018-19 so far. In neighbouring Korea district, a forest Deputy Ranger was trampled to death by a wildelephant on August ..
Odisha to spend Rs 10,000 crore in irrigation projects: CM
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Saturday said his government will spend Rs 10,000 crore for extending irrigation facilities in the state in next five years. Inaugurating 41 units under the Parvati Giri Mega Lift Irrigation projects which would provide irrigation facilities to 50,000 hectare of land in nine districts, Patnaik said his government has set a target to provide to irrigation facility in additional 10 lakh hectares of cultivated land. The 41 units of the mega lift irrigation project has been developed at an investment of Rs 1,171 crore. Patnaik inaugurated the units through a video conference from the state secretariat here. The nine districts which would benefit from the project are - Gajapati, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Bargarh, Sonepur, Bolangir, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur and Boudh. While Bolangir and Sambalpur districts will have 13 and eight units respectively, five units each will be in Jharsuguda and Kalahandi districts. Nayagarh and Boudh will have three
Pb, J&K agree to resume work on Shahpur Kandi dam project
The governments of Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir Saturday signed an agreement to resume work on the Rs 2,793 crore Shahpur Kandi dam project. The two states have decided to complete the project within three years, according to an official spokesperson, who pointed out that the Punjab chief minister had been pursuing the matter aggressively with the central government over the past several months. He had, in a recent meeting with Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, sought early resolution of all issues relating to this project. A delegation from Punjab, comprising Minister for Water Resources Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh and Principal Secretary Water Resources Jaspal Sibgh, held talks with officials of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir and signed the agreement. The agreement was signed in the presence of Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik at the Raj Bhawan in Srinagar, the ...
Kejriwal launches massive plantation drive
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday inaugurated a mega-plantation drive at the Yamuna floodplain in Usmanpur village, with the initiative seeing thousands of others joining him. The government has decided to plant 5 lakh trees to increase the green cover in the national capital."I am happy to see so many students here who took part in this initiative. Besides, I want every one of you to plant more trees near your house and take care of them. We will take care of the plants we planted here today," Kejriwal said while addressing school students.Kejriwal said that studies have shown that 70 per cent of pollution in New Delhi originates beyond its borders and planting of trees should be done on a massive scale to curb the pollution."70 per cent of Delhi's pollution comes from outside. But, we are the ones who pay for it. Therefore, we need to plant a lot more trees which will be a solution in tackling the pollution. We need to reduce the pollution," he added.Delhi ministers ..
Taiwan seeks collaboration with India in outer space
Taiwan's space agency NSPO has sought collaboration with the ISRO, especially in the areas of the outer space and tracking extreme weather events, its officials have said. Chen-Joe-Fong, the system lead of FORMOSAT-7 programme of the National Space Organisation (NSPO), said they are seeking a collaboration in tracking extreme weather events like cyclones. On the sidelines of Bengaluru Space Expo 2018, a meeting was also held between the officials of the NSPO and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in which the Taiwanese side pitched for greater cooperation. "Taiwan is prone to typhoons while India faces cyclones. We have Formosat-5 earth observation satellite. We are looking to collaborate with Antrix (the space arm of the ISRO) on this," Chen said. Formosat-5, a 450-kg Earth observation satellite was launched in August last year. Plans are on to launch Formosat-7 an advance version, Chen said. Chen said Taiwan was also looking to collaborate with India in the area of outer .
Couple, two cattle dead in house collapse
A couple and two animals were killed after a house collapsed following heavy rain in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district, police said. The incident took place Friday night at Mahloi village under Tamnar police station limits. The deceased were identified as Arjun Rathiya (55) and his wife Ram Pyari Rathiya (50). The couple lived in a kuccha (mud-walled) house in a paddy field and kept an ox and a calf under the same roof, a local police official said. The structure collapsed last night, possibly because of heavy rain, trapping the couple and the animals under debris, he said. It has been raining heavily in Raigarh district for the last two days.
Over 10,000 saplings planted by NDMC; geo-tagging, block chain tech to be used for monitoring
In a mass plantation drive undertaken by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), over 10,000 saplings were planted on Saturday, with the civic body using geo-tagging and block chain technology to ensure their proper maintenance. NDMC staff planted over 10,000 saplings, 33,895 shrubs, 3,77,650 ground cover plants and 23 palm tress in 14 circles of the civic body, a statement stated. The tree species planted along various roads as well as Central Park in Connaught Place include neem, pipal, ashok, jamun, arjun and tamarind. The NDMC has decided to geo-tag on block chain each of the 10,000 saplings to monitor their growth. "It would be an innovative idea, initiated by the NDMC first time in the world that would provide an opportunity to monitor the growth of the trees through geo mapping and block chain technology," NDMC chairman Naresh Kumar said. Geo-tagging of the saplings planted Saturday would be completed by end of the month, he said. Block chain technology would help the the civic
Developed countries urged to honour Paris Agreement
A joint platform of developing countries on Saturday called on the developed nations to make a greater commitment towards honouring the Paris Agreement during the Climate Change Conference being held in the Thai capital.
Pluto was erroneously rejected as a planet: Scientists
The reason Pluto lost its planet status is not valid and is erroneous, scientists argued challenging previously held theories.
Majerhat bridge collapse: KoPT booster for exim trade
Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) Saturday held a meeting with trade stakeholders and offered relaxations to mitigate the impact on exim trade following the collapse of Majerhat bridge earlier this week, officials said. Most of the trucks which plies in the Kolkata port are of 18 wheelers or less, so the ban on trucks imposed by the state government will not have a major impact on port cargo, they said. Following Tuesday's collapse of the 50-year-old Majerhat bridge that killed three people and left several injured, the state government has imposed a ban from September 10 on entry and exit of 20-wheeler and above heavy vehicles in the city. "Today, we held a meeting with the trade stakeholders to understand their demand in the wake of the bridge collapse crisis. Based on their demands, we have decided to offer a few relaxations and trying to build an ecosystem that will help overcome the crisis and minimise the impact on trade," KoPT Chairman Vinit Kumar told PTI. The ...
MP CM lays foundation stone of Rs 2,050 cr irrigation project
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan laid the foundation stone of the Rs 2,050 crore Narmada-Jhabua-Petalwad Micro Lift Irrigation Project. The project will irrigate 57,422 hectare agriculture land in 202 villages of Jhabua and Dhar districts, Chouhan said Friday at the stone-laying ceremony at Petalwad, 60 kilometres from the district headquarters here. As part of the project, water from Narmada River will be lifted from a spot near Malvadi village and stored at Jali village, both in Dhar district. This water will then be pumped and transported from Jali to Jhabua by pipelines. "My resolve has been accomplished. Water from Narmada would be pumped to Jhabua - something which could not be achieved by canals. Farmers will reap a rich harvest like those in Punjab," Chouhan claimed. The MP CM said that irrigation facilities had been expanded to 40 lakh hectares of land in the last 10-12 years in the state. He assured the gathering that MP farmers would get ...
Odisha to spend Rs 10,000 crore for lift irrigation projects
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday inaugurated 41 Parvati Giri mega lift irrigation projects, while the government has decided to spend Rs 10,000 crore under the scheme in the next five years.
