Page 494 - Environment
Sub-committee to examine demand for shifting offices:Cabinet
The Karnataka cabinet today decided to set up a cabinet sub-committee to look into the demand for shifting some important government offices to other parts of the state, especially north Karnataka. People have been raising the demand to avoid travelling to Bengaluru and get work done in their region itself. "The cabinet has agreed in principle to shift Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Limited, Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited, Karnataka Sugarcane Development Directorate, Karnataka Powerloom Directorate, Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board to north Karnataka," rural development and panchyatraj minister Krishna Byregowda. The cabinet also decided to transfer a Karnataka Information Commissioner and a member of the Karnataka Human Rights Commission to north Karnataka. "Though these topics were not in the agenda of the cabinet, the decision was taken after the chief secretary moved the proposal," Byregowda told reporters after a cabinet meeting. It was also decided in .
Vehicles run on alternate fuels will not require a permit: Minister
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said that vehicles such as buses, taxis and rickshaws powered by alternate fuels such as "Ethanol, Methanol, Bio-diesel and CNG" will be exempted from the requirement of a permit.
Lot Mandals to be transferred for better land record
The Assam Government has decided to transfer Lot Mandals and Kanongos (revenue land administration staff) in the state for better land records management, officials said Thursday. A meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sarbanadna Sonowal here Thursday it was decided to ask the Director of Land Records to prepare a proposal to be submitted to Revenue and Disaster Management to draft a notification to give shape to transfer of Lot Mandals and Kanongos across the state, they said. The meeting was of the opinion that the move has been necessitated to facilitate share of knowledge and better management of land records throughout the state. Since lot Mandals and Kanongos hold the key at the bottom level revenue administration, its efficiency, transparency and accountability, the meeting decided the move would help the state government essentially to facilitate transfer of knowledge and authentic land records management. Science and Technology Minister Keshab ..
Over 15 snakes rescued in flood-hit Kerala: Wildlife SOS
More than 15 snakes, including cobras and pythons, have been rescued in flood-affected Kerala by an NGO in the past three days, Wildlife SOS said Thursday. NGO Mahindra Wildlife Foundation worked in collaboration with Wildlife SOS and forest department to rescue the snakes. "Some of them have sustained injuries and we are carrying out necessary treatment," Mavish Kumar of Mahindra Wildlife Foundation said. Wildlife SOS said they have deployed its team in remote villages of Eramallikkara, Vanavathikkara, Thiruvanvandoor, Chengannur, Kuttanad,Edanadu, Edathua, Kalarcode, Nedumudi and Chempumpuram where the situation continues to remain grim. "Due to lack of adequate food, the livestock in these areas are starving and are prone to contracting diseases. It is crucial to give them good nutrition and help boost their immunity level," Arun Asha, director (research and veterinary operations), Wildlife SOS, said. Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, said it is "always ...
CDA opposes seaplane operation in Chilika Lagoon in Odisha
The Chilika Development Authority (CDA) has opposed the operation of seaplane and water aerodrome in the Chilika Lagoon in Odisha, saying it is likely to cause irrevocable damage to the ecosystem and livelihood of the population dependent on it.
Mullaperiyar: Court can't do much if Kerala, TN, Centre do not rise to occasion: SC
The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed helplessness in dealing with the aspect of water level in the Mullaperiyar Dam, wondering what can it do if Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the Centre "cannot rise to the occasion". A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, meanwhile, said it would not deal with the aspect as to what should be water level to be maintained at the Mullaperiyar Dam. It said the sub-committee constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the National Crises Management Committee (NCMC) and the panel, set up in pursuance of the apex court's verdict, would deal with maintenance of water level in the reservoir. "If states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Centre cannot rise to the occasion then what can we do," the bench asked. It was hearing a plea filed by Kerala resident Russel Joy who is seeking a study by international experts to ascertain the age of the 120-year-old dam. The plea has also sought that water level in the
Droughts, floods should be taken as forewarning of future: Harsh Vardhan
The deteriorating air quality is not just an environmental issue but also impacts the health of citizens, Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said Thursday, asserting that droughts and floods should be taken as a "forewarning of future". Saying that the government's focus remains the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), he said all stakeholders in India have joined hands to combat climate change. The minister said economy and ecology must go together for India's sustainable development. Highlighting India's affirmative action in embracing a sustainable lifestyle by aligning "5Ps" - People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership, he said, "As a nation, we are progressing towards a sustainable India." "We have launched a national clear air action plan for it. We need to realise that protection of environment is not a technical issue but a responsibility that we have towards our children," he said at an event of the Confederation of Indian Industry. Acknowledging that the deteriorating
Dadupur-Nalvi canal: Surjewala dubs Hry govt's decision on compensation 'Tughlaqi farman'
Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Thursday dubbed the Haryana government's decision to ask farmers, whose lands were acquired for the now-scrapped Dadupur-Nalvi canal project, to return the compensation amount with interest to get them back a "Tughlaqi farman" (autocratic decision). He said justice will be done to the affected farmers if the Congress comes to power in the state after assembly elections next year. "The Supreme Court bench of Justice V Gopala Gowda and Justice Arun Mishra had decided that the Singur farmers who have taken the compensation in lieu of the acquisition need not return it as they had been deprived of their lands and its fruits for last 10 years and the same conditions are applicable in case of the affected farmers in Dadupur-Nalvi canal project," Surjewala said. But the BJP-led Haryana government has decided that the original land owners, or their legal heirs, will have to deposit the compensation received, along with interest due for the ...
France offers space medicine to India's manned mission
France has offered India its expertise in space medicine, astronaut health monitoring, life support and radiation protection
Nepal govt tells Pashupatinath temple to remove concrete pavement
Nepal's archaeology department has asked the authorities of the centuries-old Pashupatinath temple to remove the concrete pavement that passes through a forest area enlisted as UNESCO heritage site. Located on the banks of the Bagmati river, the famed Pashupatinath temple is regarded as the most sacred and oldest temple of Shiva (Pashupati) in Nepal. The Department of Archaeology (DoA) on Wednesday issued a letter to the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), the body responsible for managing the temple affairs, to remove the concrete pavement from the Sleshmantak Forest corridor, following widespread criticism from the public and cultural experts. The PADT had blatantly used PCC (commonly Portland Cement) binding construction material composed of cement on the 170-metre pavement that leads to the Bishworup temple from the main promenade through the forest, it said. The area falls under the UNESCO Cultural World Heritage site enlisted in 1997. "We were now aware about the use of ...
Setting up bridge inspection, monitoring cells: Bengal CM
Two days after a portion of a bridge collapsed here, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said bridge inspection and monitoring cells under different departments will be set up to expedite their check-up.
Order prohibiting tree-felling restricted to only 7 colonies: HC
The Delhi High Court on Thursday clarified that its order prohibiting felling of trees was restricted to the redevelopment of seven south Delhi colonies and would not affect any other project in the national capital. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao gave the order after applications were filed by the Delhi government, South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), seeking to know whether the July 4 direction applied to the entire national capital or just the seven colonies. They contended that several projects were held up as the forest department was not giving permission to fell trees due to the order. The high court said since the petitions were regarding the redevelopment work in the seven colonies, its orders would be restricted to that project alone and if anyone was aggrieved by any other work, resulting in felling of trees, a plea can be moved in the National Green Tribunal. It also said some of the ...
Pvt firm bags door-to-door waste collection contract for Noida
A Mumbai-based private firm bagged Thursday a contract worth Rs 360 crore for door-to-door, solid waste collection in Noida for 10 years. A Noida administration official said the contract has been awarded to the AG Enviro Infra Project Private Limited of Mumbai through a global tender and the service is likely to begin by December this year. For Rs 360 crore, i.e., approximately 30 crore per annum, this firm will carry out door-to-door waste collection in entire Noida for a period of 10 years, Officer on Special Duty Rajesh Kumar Singh said in a statement. He said the authority had estimated a cost of Rs 400 crore for the project when the tender was floated to hire a private agency in January this year. This was a much pressing task for the Authority. The firm which has been awarded the contract will use its own resources, including men and machines, to do the work, with the allocated funds by the authority, he said. The OSD said the waste collection service would be provided in both .
Reducing air pollution biggest reason to buy electric vehicles, not rising fuel cost: Survey
About 87 per cent people believe reducing air pollution is the biggest reason for them to purchase an electric vehicle and not rising fuel prices, according to a new survey that comes amid an increase in government's efforts to promote eco-friendly vehicles. The survey commissioned by Climate Trends and carried out by FourthLion Technologies was conducted online between August 21-24 among 2,178 Indian drivers, vehicle owners and those who plan to purchase, own or drive a vehicle in the next 10 years, the survey said. "Transportation accounts for about 24 per cent of India's carbon emissions and is a major source of air pollution in several cities across the country. According to a recent WHO report, 14 of the top 20 most polluted cities of the world are in India," the study said. The survey also revealed that most drivers and vehicle owners are personally affected by poor air quality. Nearly 87 per cent of the people surveyed said for them, the rising air pollution is the biggest ...
WB govt asks Metro railway to temporarily stop work near Majerhat bridge
The Metro Railways has been asked to stop work near Majerhat bridge till a committee probing its collapse gives its report, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Thursday. The PWD chief engineer has given a report which said that Metro railway construction work has created many problems at the place, she said. "The state government has asked Metro Railways to stop its work near Majerhat bridge temporarily till the high-powered committee headed by Chief Secretary Moloy Dey submits its report on the collapse. The committee has been asked to submit its report within a week," she told a press conference after a review meeting at the state secretariat. Noting that Metro Railways had been working there for the last nine years, she said, "The piling work caused big vibration. It might have affected the bridge. The high-powered committee will look into it." Soon after a portion of the bridge collapsed on Tuesday, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), executing the construction of the ...
India wants EVs to be 15 percent of all vehicle sales in five years
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India expects electric vehicles to make up 15 percent of all vehicles sales in five years, its transport minister said on Thursday, as the country tries to curb greenhouse gas emissions and dependency on fossil fuels.
India wants EVs to be 15 percent of all vehicle sales five years
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India expects electric vehicles to make up 15 percent of all vehicles sales in five years, its transport minister said on Thursday, as the country tries to curb greenhouse gas emissions and dependency on fossil fuels.
Kejriwal should look at Delhi transport system lacking 7,000 buses: Puri
Taking a dig at Arvind Kejriwal for stating that Delhi metro has become out of reach of common man, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri Thursday said the chief minister should instead look at the state of public transport system under his government which lacks 7,000 buses. Addressing the 13th Sustainability Summit organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Puri said the national capital has the fourth largest metro system in the world, He said it was a first class asset and most affordable metro anywhere in the world. "My good friend - the chief minister of Delhi - was expressing sadness that so many people have moved away from the metro. The report has been produced by people who are reasonably credible but they have an agenda where they are not comparing an orange with an orange. What they end up doing was completely falsifying the facts," Puri said. "If somebody wants to be sad, they should be sad about the fact that
All set for country's largest tourism conclave at Kochi
Sending out a strong message that tourism in the flood-battered Kerala will be back on the rails, Kerala Travel Mart (KTM), the country's largest tourism sector conclave of stake-holders from across the world, will be held here from September 27 to 30.
Bhamre reviews operational prepraredness of Coast Guard
Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre Thursday reviewed the operational preparedness of Coast Guard, during at visit to the Regional Headquarters (West) here. The minister was briefed on the infrastructure development and coastal security mechanism of the Coast Guard Region (West), an official said. Bhamre reviewed the preparedness of the Coast Guard to tackle maritime emergencies like marine oil pollution, grounding of ships and cyclones, the official said in a statement. Measures taken by the Coast Guard to safeguard the interests of the fishing community, progress on the second phase of chain of static sensors were reviewed. "An insight into the operational infrastructural developments was also presented to the minister. Special initiatives like making fishermen the "eyes and ears" of Coast Guard and helping children from fishing hamlets join the Coast Guard through community interactions were also discussed," he said. Bhamre expressed satisfaction at the ...
