Page 496 - Environment
India ranks 19 in 'Theft Ranking' for countries with weapons usable nuclear materials
India has improved its ranking by one spot from 2016 and now stands 19th in the 'Theft Ranking' for countries with weapons usable nuclear materials, according to the Nuclear Security Index released Wednesday. The index was released by the US-based Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), which is co-chaired by Sam Nunn and Ernest Moni. The biennial NTI index finds that despite these growing risks, progress to secure, minimise and eliminate the world's deadliest materials as well as to ensure the security of nuclear facilities has accelerated since 2016. According to the report, India's nuclear security conditions could be improved by strengthening on-site physical protection, control and accounting, insider threat prevention, security during transport and cybersecurity by hosting an international security review and by establishing an independent regulatory agency. "India's nuclear security conditions are adversely affected by the continued increase of weapons-usable nuclear materials, the ...
Central scheme for integrated development of wildlife habitats to continue beyond 12th plan
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved continuation of the Centrally sponsored umbrella scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-IDWH) beyond the 12th Plan period from 2017-18 to 2019-20.
Govt approves extension of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats scheme
With an aim to boost tiger and elephant conservation efforts, the government Wednesday approved the continuation of the centrally-sponsored umbrella scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-IDWH) till 2019-20. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved extension of the scheme beyond the 12th Plan period ending in 2017-18. The scheme consists of centrally sponsored schemes of Project Tiger (CSS-PT), Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-DWH) and Project Elephant (CSS-PE). "The total outlay is Rs 1,731.72 crore as central share (Rs 1,143 crore for Project Tiger, Rs 496.50 crore for Development of Wildlife Habitats and Rs 92.22 crore for Project Elephant) from 2017-18 to 2019-20," an official statement said. A total of 18 tiger range states, distributed in five landscapes of the country, would benefit under the Project Tiger. The coverage is entire country in case of Development of Wildlife Habitats (DWH) and 23 elephant
600 locations identified for Saturday's mega plantation drive
About 600 locations have been identified across Delhi where the mega plantation drive would take place this Saturday under which about five lakh trees would be planted. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will launch the drive, touted as the biggest ever in the city. Citizens will plant five lakh trees and shrubs at 600 locations spread across the national capital. The unprecedented drive aims to effectively enhance the green cover of Delhi which will have a long-lasting effect on air pollution control, according to an official statement. More than 1.25 lakh school children will also participate in the plantation drive on Saturday, during which the participants will be made aware of the harmful effects of air pollution and the importance of greening in countering this growing menace, the statement said. The aim of planting more than five lakh saplings in a day is unprecedented in Delhi as not more than 50,000 saplings in a day have ever been planted in the city in the ...
Olectra-BYD deploys electric buses in Hyderabad
Olectra-BYD, a leading player in electric public transport system, on Wednesday announced that its eBuzz K9 electric buses have just begun commercial operations under the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC).
Fourth cement terminal at Cochin Port starts operations
To ensure transportation of cement through coastal shipping, the fourth cement terminal started operations at Cochin Port Wednesday, the government said. "The arrival of first vessel 'Penna Suraksha' carrying 25,000 tonnes of cement from Krishnapatnam marks the beginning of operations of the 4th cement terminal at Cochin Port," the Ministry of Shipping said in a statement. This modal shift in transport of cement from road/rail to sea is another step towards promoting coastal shipping as cost-effective and environment-friendly means of transportation as envisaged under the Sagarmala programme of the Ministry of Shipping, the statement said. Cement being a high-volume low-value product, lower-cost sea transport is very important as a game changer in logistics, it added. "With huge destruction that has occurred in the recent floods, the requirement of cement in re-building the state of Kerala is expected to increase. "Coastal shipping of building material like cement is economic and will
Climate change a big challenge in J-K: Forest official
Climate change is a "big challenge" in Jammu and Kashmir, and serious efforts are required to mitigate its effects, a senior forest official said here Wednesday. Addressing a meeting convened to review the working of the Forest Department in Jammu region, state Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Suresh Chugh said protection and conservation of forests were the department's top priorities. Removal of encroachment and reduction in forest damage were issues that need to be addressed in a time-bound manner, he said. "Climate change is a big challenge that the state of Jammu and Kashmir is facing, and mitigating the effect of climate change is another area where the efforts are required," Chugh said. Chugh asked all officers of the department to work with dedication and zeal, while warning them against any laxity. "The Forest Department is 200 years old and has a legacy of disciplined working for management of forests on scientific lines, and that legacy and discipline has to be
TN fishermen chased away by Lankan navy
A group of fishermen from Tamil Nadu were Wednesday chased away by Sri Lankan Navy personnel for allegedly straying into the island nation's waters, a state fisheries department official said here. The fishermen from Nagapattinam district, who had put out to the sea in five boats, were fishing off Kodiyakarai in the district when the Lankan Navy personnel threatened them at knifepoint and chased them away, Assistant Director of Fisheries Jayakumar said. The Lanka navy men also snapped the nets of the fishermen and warned them not to poach fish in their territorial waters, he said.
Farmers' rally hits traffic in Delhi
Traffic was hit in the national capital on Wednesday due to a farmers' rally, which saw thousands of people converging at Ramlila Maidan via major arterial roads in central and Lutyens' Delhi, police said. Organised by Left-wing farmers' and workers' outfits, the Mazdoor Kishan Sangharsh Rally, began from Ramlila Maidan and culminated on Parliament Street. The organisers claimed nearly 1.5 lakh people from at least 23 states participated in the march, preparation for which had started several months ago. The protest threw traffic out of gear in parts of Delhi. Sansad Marg, Janpath and KG Marg were closed for movement of vehicles, leading to congestion on alternate routes taken by motorists, a senior police officer said. The rally started around 9.30 am, when it was raining and ended at 4 pm, which meant that traffic was affected on roads in the national capital through the day. Traffic was affected on Ashoka Road and Baba Kharag Singh Marg, the officer said. Traffic diversions were ...
Crocodile enters village
A crocodile Wednesday entered a village in Sahibganj district, a Forest official said here. The crocodile entered Madan Sahi village situated near the river Ganga, the official said. "Around 6 am the villagers called and informed that the crocodile entered their Madan Sahi village. Immediately a team was sent and caught the reptile," Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Manish Tiwari said. The DFO said the crocodile, which did not harm anybody, was released in the river.
Mamata calls meeting to assess health of Bengal bridges
Following the partial collapse of a south Kolkata bridge, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday called a meeting with the state Public Works Department and the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority officials and sought a detailed health report of the bridges here, a state government official said.
4 bovine smugglers held, 71 cattle rescued in Rajouri, Sambha
With the arrest of four persons, police on Wednesday claimed to have foiled five major bovine smuggling bids in Rajouri and Sambha districts and rescued 71 cattle. Acting on a specific information, police parties conducted search operations in Mathyani Gala and nearby forest areas on Tuesday night, a police officer said. They rescued 57 bovine animals from the smugglers, he said, adding that the arrested accused have been identified as Mohd Qasim, Talib Hussain, Mohd Iqbal and Mohd Bashir. The smugglers were arrested from forest areas of Mathyani Gala, Hari Chuma and Dahergalla, he said. In this connection, 3 different FIRs have been registered at Police Station Dharamsal, he said. During routine checking at a highway at Tapyal area, 14 bovine animals were also rescued from a vehicle, he said. The vehicle was seized on the spot and a case has been registered, he added.
Karnataka govt to convene all-party meet on Mahadayi river water sharing issue
The Karnataka government Wednesday said it will soon call an all-party meeting to discuss whether to challenge a tribunal's verdict on sharing Mahadayi river water with neighbouring states. The Mahadayi River Water Tribunal (MRWT) on August 14 ruled that Karnataka will get 13.4 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water from the river, while Goa and Maharashtra will be allowed to use 24 TMC and 1.33 TMC of water respectively. "We are not satisfied with the verdict. We will call an all-party meeting soon to take a call whether to challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court or Tribunal," Karnataka Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar told reporters here. The state has got less water against the demand of 36.558 TMC water from Mahadayi. "This is grave injustice meted to us. We will fight legally," he said. According to the tribunal's verdict, of the 13.4 TMC of water, Karnataka has been permitted to divert 2.18 TMC at proposed Bhandura dam and 1.72 TMC at proposed Kalasa dam subject to
Karnataka doesn't need to seek consent of TN for Mekedatu reservoir: Shivakumar
The Karnataka government on Wednesday disagreed with the contention of Tamil Nadu that it had resorted to "unilateral action" in seeking the Central Water Commission's clearance to a feasibility report on a Rs 5,912-crore reservoir in Mekedatu on the Cauvery river. Outlining the stand of the Karnataka government, Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar said his state did not have to seek the consent of the neighbouring state on the matter. However, he asserted that Karnataka wanted to have friendly relationship with Tamil Nadu and was ready for discussion on the points raised by it. "We don't want to fight with the neighbouring state and build the project. We are ready to resolve their concerns. Our chief minister today called up the Tamil Nadu chief minister. I also called up the water resources minister of Tamil Nadu and sought a meeting on the issue," Shivakumar told reporters here. He said the state has not violated any order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme .
NLFT extortion notices in 3 Tripura villages
Banned militant outfit National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) has sent extortion notices to three village committee chairman in Dhalai district, police said Wednesday. Extortion notices were sent to the chairmen of Purba Potacherra, Raima and Boalkhali villages in Dhalai district Tuesday, Officer-in-charge of Raisyabari police station, Soleman Reang told reporters. Assistant Inspector General (Law and Order), Smriti Ranjan Das said police has received complaints from villagers and investigation is on. "We would alert BSF because those villages are near the Chittagong Hill Tract of Bangladesh and we are also keeping a close vigil on the situation and patrolling by state police force was intensified in the area," Das told PTI. The AIG said a small splinter group of NLFT still has makeshift camps inside the Chittagong Hill Tract. "We are cautious, but do not consider the incident as very serious. When poor tribal shifting cultivators go to collect forest produces, the
India to be biggest passenger car market by 2030: NITI Aayog
India will emerge as the biggest passenger car market by 2030, with a car sold every second in the country, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said on Wednesday.
IIT-Guwahati sign MoU with Aaranyak to address development
The IIT-Guwahati, and Aaranyak, a scientific and industrial research organisation, has signed an MoU to facilitate coordination in addressing development challenges of the country, particularly in the Northeastern region. The MoU was signed by IIT-G Director Prof Gautam Biswas and Aaranyak Secretary General Bibhab Talukdar, a statement issued by Aaranyak said on Wednesday. The two organisations would also work together on projects such as promotion of rural entrepreneurship, technology input to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, and application of rural technology in disaster risk reduction, the statement said. Specific joint efforts may also include areas of handlooms (silk and eri), Agriculture and allied sectors especially on turmeric, ginger, chillies and banana, it said.
Gadkari pitches for alternate fuels; says govt not against petrol, diesel
Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari Wednesday pitched for alternative fuels such as ethanol and methanol along with electric vehicles, reiterating that the government's policy is to reduce import, enhance exports and curb pollution. The minister, who had last year threatened to "bulldoze" the auto industry to adopt electric vehicles, struck a conciliatory note and said the government was not against petrol and diesel fuels. "Our policy is very clear. We want to reduce imports, increase exports and finish pollution," he said at the annual convention of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) here. Stating that India is facing two major issues -- pollution and rising imports of fuels -- Gadkari said, "Import bill is increasing due to the rise in automobile sector. This is the biggest challenge facing our economy and for that we have come out with a programme.." He said a policy for import substitution would be prepared. "Alternative fuels is necessary for us," he
CIL raises coal supply to NTPC's Kahalgaon, Farakka power plants
State-owned CIL Wednesday said it has increased the coal supply to NTPC's Kahalgaon and Farakka power plants as the units were operating at higher than the targeted level, resulting in additional consumption of fuel. Both the plants, put together, have generated 9.795 billion units (BU) against the target of 9.191 billion units during April-July 2018. "Coal India Limited (CIL) is increasing its coal supplies...to the thermal power plants (Kahalgaon and Farakka) of NTPC," it said in a statement. Both Kahalgaon and Farakka power plants, it said, were operating at higher than the targeted level of generation during the current year, resulting in higher consumption of coal. "Though, CIL is already supplying more than the contracted quantity of coal to these plants, efforts are being made to fulfil their increased requirement as well," the company said. Meanwhile, the company has taken up the demand of Farakka and Kahalgaon on priority and efforts are on to maximise supplies to these ...
Countries under-estimating climate-smart growth benefits: Global Commission
A report released by the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate on Wednesday found that the countries are significantly under-estimating the benefits of a cleaner, climate-smart growth.
