Page 503 - Environment
Dengue mosquito finds way to towns from jungles: Himachal minister
Himachal Pradesh Health Minister Vipin Parmar believes that the dengue spreading mosquito is finding its way to the towns from the jungles.
'Amma' govt will stand by farmers forever: TN CM
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami Saturday assured his government's support to farmers of the state, saying he himself was one. "I was born in a village. I was a farmer. I am still involved in farming. Therefore, I know how tough the problems of farmers are, and at the same time how difficult it is to practise agriculture," he said. The Chief Minister's remarks at a government event at Anuppur in this district comes in the backdrop of stiff resistance from a section of landowners, especially farmers and agriculturists, for the proposed eight-lane Expressway connecting this city with state capital Chennai. Earlier, The Madras High Court had restrained the Centre and Tamil Nadu government from dispossessing people of their lands to be acquired for the Rs 10,000 crore highway till further orders. At Salem today, Palaniswami said farmers worked hard in different climatic conditions and that the "Amma government will stand by them forever for their welfare." "The ...
New method to forecast geostorms developed
Scientists say they have developed a new method for analysing the Earth's magnetic field data that could provide better short-term forecasting of geomagnetic storms. The Earth's magnetic field extends from pole to pole and is strongly affected by solar wind from the Sun, according to the research published in the journal Chaos. This "wind" is a stream of charged particles constantly ejected from the Sun's surface. Occasional sudden flashes of brightness known as solar flares release even more particles into the wind, said researchers at Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany. Sometimes, the flares are followed by coronal mass ejections that send plasma into space. The resulting flux of charged particles travels millions of miles from the Sun to the Earth. The storms are serious and interfere with a number of important technologies, including GPS signalling and satellite communications. They can also cause damage to surface electrical grids. Solar activity appears ...
Ontario to include Tesla in rebate programme after court decision
(Reuters) - Ontario will include some Tesla Inc car owners under its rebate plan as the province winds down an incentive programme for electric cars, the ministry of transportation said on Friday.
Rainfall, landslides form 100m long lake in U'khand
As a consequence of the continuous rainfall and landslides in various parts of Uttarakhand, a 100 meter long and 50 meter deep lake has been formed near Tehri Garhwal-Dehradun border, forcing the people living in nearby houses to vacate the area, on the instructions of the authorities.Soon after the district administration got to know about the lake, they issued an alert in the area and people living near the lake are being asked to leave the place."If it gains an outlet, it will be dangerous for villages. The administration has warned us not to go near the lake. We are also shifting our base due to this," a local told ANI.Another one added that the famers in the area have "lost crops in the landslides"."We request the government to rehabilitate us," he said.This comes after at least three people died when their houses collapsed due to landslides in Uttarakhand's Kot village on Wednesday.The weather condition in the state is not expected to get better anytime soon as the India ...
Here's how Kerala floods broke the religious barriers
Amidst the devastation due to floods in Kerala, instances of unity have come forward wherein people together are giving their best to help bring life back to normal.One such example was seen at the Ayyappa Swamy Temple in Ernakulam's Chendamangalam, where a group of people, from different communities, took the initiative to clean the devotional place, which was earlier submerged in water and was not in a state for devotees to enter.Joseph, leader of the group told ANI that the team includes members from all communities and that they are working for humanity."We are going to all temples, churches and mosques around to clean them. We all have come together for the sake of humanity," Joseph said.Kerala was recently hit by the worst floods of nearly a century, which claimed lives of more than 400 people and caused damage to the tune of Rs. 20,000 crores.However, the state is now coming back to normalcy as most of the schools and working places have opened. Teachers of the Chennamangalam ..
Maharashtra plastic ban: BMC seizes 17,084 kg plastic
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has seized 17,084 kg plastic and collected Rs 97,75,000 as fine since the plastic ban was implemented in Maharashtra.The fine has been collected from 2,09,589 persons and places while 17,084 kg of plastic has been seized between June 23 and August 31.On March 23, the Maharashtra government had issued a notification, imposing a ban on the manufacture, use, sale and distribution of all plastic materials like plastic bags, spoons, plates, bottles and thermocol items. On April 13, the Bombay High Court had called the ban 'reasonable'.Later on June 23, the BMC had launched a drive against the plastic and formed various teams to conduct raids at various places. Anyone who was found using plastic was imposed with a fine.A complain authority has been formed at every ward for those who refused to pay the fine. And, a case will be registered against those who refused to pay the fine.
Special arrangement for stray cows, dogs, monkeys at every nagar nigams: Yogi
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today said special arrangement for upkeep of stray cows, dogs, monkeys and birds would be made at every Nagar Nigam of the state. "Upkeep of stray cows, monkeys, dogs, birds has started in Lucknow and gradually the scheme would start in other Nagar Nigams," he said, after inaugurating and laying foundation stone for various schemes worthRs 346.74 crore for development of Brijbhumi. He also stressed the need to not releasing the cows on the street. Speaking about developing Mathura, he said there would be no dearth of funds for the purpose. He also said that special lighting arrangements made on the entry points of Mathura on the occasion of Janmashtami, would become an regular feature and gradually Ayodhya, Varanasi, Allahabad would have similar arrangements. "We want to make Mathura, Ayodhya, Varanasi and Allahabad alluring in order to attract more pilgrims," he said. He said solid waste management system now would be introduced in the ...
BIMSTEC nations agree to tackle climate change, promote tourism
The member countries of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) have agreed to join hands in tackling the adverse impact of climate change by establishing a working group and promoting tourism in the region.In the Kathmandu Declaration adopted during the two-day summit here, the member states expressed their serious concerns over environmental degradation, adverse impact of climate change and global warming on the fragile Himalayan and mountain eco-systems and their inter-linkages with the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean and resolved to strengthen cooperation to protect and preserve the environment to address climate change on the lives and livelihoods of the people.They also agreed to explore the possibility to establish an inter-governmental expert group to develop a plan of action for collective response to climate change for the region, reaffirmed their commitments to operationalise the Paris Agreement, in accordance with the ...
Forest official killed in elephant attack in Chhattisgarh
A forest official was killed by a wild elephant in Chhattisgarh's Korea district today, an official said. Sitaram Tiwari (61), posted as Deputy Ranger in Manendragarh forest division, was killed in a forest near Shivpur village this evening, Chief Conservator of Forest (Surguja Circle) K K Bisen told PTI. As per the preliminary information, Tiwari along with three other forest personnel had gone to Shivpur, around 300 km from Raipur, to monitor the movement of elephants in the area, he said. They came face to face with a group of elephants, and when they tried to run away, one of the elephants lifted Tiwari up with the trunk and slammed him on the ground several times, killing him on the spot, the official said. A police team was sent to the spot and the body was evacuated, he said. The thickly forested northern Chhattisgarh, comprising Surguja, Korba, Raigarh, Jashpur and Korea districts, has witnessed several killings of tribals and damage to houses and crops by rogue
Yogi announces development projects for Mathura
: Ahead of Sri Krishan Janmashtmi, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday launched a slew of development projects aimed at giving Mathura-Vrindavan a new identity.
Wider consultations to bring state medicinal plant boards under AYUSH umbrella
The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) has decided to hold wider consultation in various states for bringing the State Medicinal Plants Board (SMPB) under the AYUSH umbrella. The seventh meeting of NMPB under the Ministry of AYUSH was chaired by Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Naik yesterday. During the meeting, the Minister said that the government will support the development of medicinal plants sector. An official statement said the Board also reviewed the achievements in the various sectors like cultivation, conservation, research and development among others. "It was decided to have wider consultation in respective states for bringing the State Medicinal Plants Board (SMPB) under the AYUSH umbrella and also the programme mode implementation of the activities related to the cultivation marketing initiatives etc," it said. AYUSH secretary Rajesh Kotecha and representatives from 14 ministries and departments and domain experts of various fields were also present in the ...
Singphan wildlife sanctuary declared 30th elephant reserve of the country
The Nagaland government has declared the Singphan Wildlife Sanctuary as an elephant reserve making it the 30th reserve for jumbos in the country. An important reserve in North Eastern States, Singphan Elephant Reserve has huge tracts of forest, strategically located in contiguity with the Abhaypur Reserve Forest of Assam which is frequented by the moving herds of elephants, an official statement said. "The Government of Nagaland has declared Singphan Wildlife Sanctuary as 'Singphan Elephant Reserve' with the approval of Government of India on 16th August 2018," it said. Elephant distribution habitat in Nagaland is a continuous stretch starting from Peren district running all along the foothills north westerly until Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh. "This stretch which is a traditional elephant bearing area got broken at various points as a result of which only few elephants are found isolated pockets without having permanent corridor. "The creation of reserve will give better ...
Discoms for e-mobility: Eight e-scooters inducted for work
A Delhi discom has inducted a fleet of eight e-scooters while another one is in the process of having 11 electric cars as part of a green initiative, the BSES today said. "The fleet of electric scooters is being deployed in east and Central Delhi, in congested areas, where because of narrow lanes, manoeuvrability is a big challenge. They are being pressed into service for attending to local faults and 'no supply complaints," the discom said in a statement. BSES in a statement said, "It is committed towards green and sustainable initiatives, which are beneficial both to our consumers, as well as to the society." Promoting e-mobility, a key to attain climate action goals, is one such endeavour, it said. "As part of this resolve, BSES discoms are inducting a fleet of electric cars and electric scooters. BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) has already inducted Eight electric scooters. BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) is inducting 11 electric cars and the order for the same has already been
Jewar Airport: CREDAI assures help to villagers with jobs, skill training, rehabilitation
The Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI) has pitched in to support the rehabilitation of land owners, farmers and villagers whose land is to be acquired for a proposed international airport in Jewar in Gautam Buddh Nagar. The Western Uttar Pradesh unit of the CREDAI, which represents more than 11,940 real estate developers spread across 23 states and 170 city chapters, has written to the district administration assuring help in the form of jobs, skill training and developing land for rehabilitating the affected persons. A total of 5,000 hectare of land is to be acquired for the proposed airport with an estimated cost of Rs 15,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore. Over 1,300 hectares of the land is to be acquired from five villages in the first phase of the project, affecting 2,250 families. The district administration had on August 22 held a meeting with industry bodies and other groups seeking their support in the rehabilitation. The meeting, according to ..
States, UTs should set up eco-tourism boarda: Harsh Vardhan
Union Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Friday that every state and Union Territory should establish an eco-tourism development board to advise on the methods of eco-tourism and policy implementation.
Mars dust storm clears, raising hope for stalled NASA rover
One of the biggest Martian dust storms on record is clearing up after nearly three months, raising hope that NASA's stranded, solar-powered robotic vehicle, Opportunity, will soon come back to life. The storm was first detected on May 30, and the US space agency's 15-year-old rover was last heard from on June 10, when it went into "sleep" mode as dust blocked out the Sun and darkness enveloped the Red Planet. A NASA statement issued late Thursday called the situation "critical," but added that "the rover team is cautiously optimistic, knowing that Opportunity has overcome significant challenges during its 14-plus years on Mars." If no successful contact can be made, NASA says it will give up active efforts in mid-October. "If we do not hear back after 45 days, the team will be forced to conclude that the Sun-blocking dust and the Martian cold have conspired to cause some type of fault from which the rover will more than likely not recover," said John Callas, Opportunity project ...
Need to boost livestock farming for future: Vice President
Cautioning against food insecurity which may rise in the face of increasing population, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said that farmers, especially in a developing country like India, need to double their livestock production over the next 20 years to ensure "more and safe food".
Use electric vehicles: Assam Transport Minister
Assam Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary today said electric vehicles should be adopted for betterment of our future generation and to maintain the ecological balance. Addressing the Assam Electric Mobility Conclave here Patowary said "additionally, this will also help improve Indias energy security by reducing the import dependency for energy." . "Electric vehicles also adhere to the governments slogan of pollution-free Assam," he said. The Transport minister informed that the Ministry of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping would give 10 new buses to the Assam Government which would be run by methanol as a pilot project for public transportation creating a methanol economy as an alternative to high cost petroleum products like diesel and petrol. "Once the gas pipeline to Assam is completed, methanol production in the state will increase. Further, Assam Petrochemicals Limited is implementing a project for enhancing production of methanol from 125 tonne per day .
Nearly 100 village development projects of Delhi govt sanctioned in 2 days: Minister
Around 100 village development projects of the Delhi government were sanctioned during a two-day special drive, Development Minister Gopal Rai said today. Talking to reporters here, the minister said that these projects will be executed at a cost of Rs 79 crore, which had been approved by Village Development Board. He said the development projects will be implemented within two months, adding that such drive is required to speed up development works in villages. On the first day of the drive yesterday, projects related to 35 Assembly constituencies were approved while those of the remaining were sanctioned today. "If there is delay in clearing files on part of officials in future, such drive will be held again to clear projects related to village developments," Rai told reporters here. The minister alleged the Delhi government was in process of making villages smart but officers were not clearing files that's why this drive was called to clear projects. According to the development ...
