Page 508 - Environment
Australia's east coast drought to intensify as dry weather persists
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's east coast will experience dry weather for at least the next three months, the country's meteorological bureau said on Thursday, intensifying a drought that has wilted crops and left farmers struggling to stay in business.
France's ban on bee-killing pesticides begins Saturday
A ban on five neonicotinoid pesticides enters into force in France on Saturday, placing the country at the forefront of a campaign against chemicals blamed for decimating critical populations of crop-pollinating bees. The move has been hailed by beekeepers and environmental activists, but lamented by cereal and sugar beet farmers who claim there are no effective alternatives for protecting their valuable crops against insects. With its ban, France has gone further than the European Union, which voted to outlaw the use of three neonicotinoids -- clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam -- in crop fields. Heavily agriculture-reliant France banned these three neonicotinoids plus thiacloprid and acetamiprid, not only outdoors but in greenhouses too. These are the only five neonicotinoid pesticides hitherto authorised for use in Europe. Introduced in the mid-1990s, lab-synthesised neonicotinoids are based on the chemical structure of nicotine, and attack the central nervous system of ...
Australian PM leaves for Indonesia to conclude free trade deal
New Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison departed on his first official overseas visit to Indonesia on Thursday to finalise a free-trade agreement (FTA) between the two nations.
Andhra CM invited to address UN forum
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been invited by the United Nations (UN) to deliver a keynote address at an event, titled 'Financing Sustainable AgricultureIn a letter, the United Nations Environment Programme Executive Director Erik Solheim praised the Andhra Pradesh government for "delivering transformative environmental, social and economic impact through its pioneering Zero Budget Natural Farming Programme.""UN Environment is privileged to support your ambitious efforts to scale-out zero chemical farming to 6 million farmers across the state by 2024," Solheim said in the letter.
300 endangered turtles found dead on Mexico beach
More than 300 sea turtles from an endangered species were found dead on a beach in southern Mexico, trapped in a banned type of fishing net, environmental authorities said. In Mexico's second mass turtle death in as many weeks, the Pacific Ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) were found floating just off the beach of Puerto Escondido in the state of Oaxaca, their shells forming a bleak mini-island. "They had drowned at sea about eight days earlier, trapped in banned 120-metre fishing nets and six-inch nylon fishing line," Mexico's prosecution unit for environmental crimes said. On August 17, authorities said they had found 122 sea turtles dead on a beach in the neighbouring state of Chiapas, mostly from the same species. In that case, some of the turtles had wounds to the head or shell. Mexico banned the capture of sea turtles in 1990, but there is still a lucrative black market for their eggs.
Kerala floods exceptional, Centre should allow foreign aid: Pawar
NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said although the UPA government rejected foreign donations during its tenure, the BJP government should allow foreign donations for flood-ravaged Kerala as the situation there is "exceptional".
Plantation drive at upcoming biodiversity park in Noida
Around 600 trees were planted at the city's upcoming 75-acre biodiversity park in Sector 91, amid opposition by some people who have raised concern over the felling of eucalyptus trees in the area for the project. This project, besides another 'Medicinal and Herbal Park', is being prepared in the same sector which will be opened for public in October, officials said. "Today varieties such as neem, jamun, imli, pilkhan, kachnaar, ashok, gulmohar, amla, harad, baheda, banyan and guava were planted in the park. Around 600 such plantations were done with many trees measuring a height of 10 to 15 feet," Noida Authority officials said. Around 5,000 varieties of native trees and 1,00,000 species of miniature plants will be planted in the sprawling biodiversity park which is scheduled to be completed in next six months at a cost of Rs 50 crore, they said. The officials of the horticulture department, local citizens and representatives from various Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) ...
India to host space expo in Bengaluru on September 6-8
India will be hosting the 6th edition of Bengaluru Space Expo in this tech capital from September 6 to 8, a top official said on Wednesday.
HC imposes rupees one lakh penalty on UP electricity department
The Allahabad High Court today imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Department for making a vague explanation of delay in filing its reply to a plea against it by a consumer. After imposing the fine, a bench of justices Shashi Kant Gupta and Ajit Kumar ordered remitting the sum to the Kerala Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund. "The vague explanation offered by the deponent (UP Electricity Department) of the affidavit for the delay is not acceptable," the court said, while imposing the cost. The court had earlier summoned the Garhmukteshwar executive engineer of the state's electricity distribution wing, the Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited, Hapur, who too was was present before the court. Petitioner Gaurav Sharma had challenged the recovery order of the Electricity Department on which the court earlier had asked the department to file its reply. The court ordered that a draft of Rs 1 lakh made in the favour of court's registrar general, who would ..
ADB okays $620 mn loan for Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved USD 620 million loan to boost irrigation projects in Madhya Pradesh and supply clean water in West Bengal. ADB inked USD 375 million loan agreement with the Madhya Pradesh government that will be used to contribute to double farming income by expanding irrigation networks and system efficiency, the multi-lateral funding agency said in a release. Separately, the board of directors of ADB approved a financing package of USD 245 million to provide safe, sustainable, and inclusive drinking water service in West Bengal. This is expected to benefit about 1.65 million people in three districts of West Bengal affected by arsenic, fluoride and salinity. The Madhya Pradesh Irrigation Efficiency Improvement Project will develop 1,25,000 hectares (ha) of new, highly efficient and climate resilient irrigation networks, and improve water use efficiency in more than 400 villages, benefiting over 8 lakh people in the state, ADB said. Sameer Kumar Khare, Joint
Will discuss Mahanadi water discharge with Chhattisgarh: Meghwal
Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal today assured the Odisha government that he will take up with Chhattisgarh authorities the alleged sudden discharge of water without informing the downstream state, which has led to a flood-like situation in some areas. "Yes, the Odisha government has drawn my attention towards the sudden release of flood water allegedly by Chhattisgarh. I will talk to the Chhattisgarh government in this regard," the Minister of State for Water Resources told reporters here in reply to a question. He said he would soon take up the matter as he underlined the "duty" of the Centre to play the role of a catalyst to resolve disputes between states. The issue was also raised at a high-level meeting here when Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took stock of the flood situation in the state. Patnaik was told the Hirakud Dam authorities had no option but to open more sluice gates as huge volume of water came from Chhattisgarh. Twenty-five sluice gates have been opened at the ...
Nearly 2,500 died in Rajasthan in transformer explosions or electrocution, claims Pilot
Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot said today targeted the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government claiming nearly 2,500 people had lost their lives due to electrocution or transformer explosions alone in recent years in the state. The government has burdened the people by increasing power tariff from 37 per cent to 70 per cent and power distribution work has been given to private companies, Pilot said in a statement. Attacking Chief Minister Raje for taking out a 'Gaurav Yartra', Pilot said there was no reason for her to feel proud and undertake such a journey as nearly 2,500 people lost their lives due to electrocution or transformer explosions in the state. People died in electricity related accidents even when government spent lakhs in repair and maintenance work, he said.
Harsh Vardhan meets EU Ambassador to India
Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan today met EU Ambassador to India Tomasz Kozlowski and expressed his keenness to work with all stakeholders to make the Paris climate change agreement a real success. Kozlowski briefed Vardhan about the forthcoming visit of European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella along with 80 business leaders to New Delhi. "Had a fruitful meeting with a delegation led by @EU_Amb_India Tomasz Kozlowski. Kozlowski proposed certain action plans to achieve results on #ParisAgreement on #ClimateChange. India & EU had made a Joint Statement on #CleanEnergy & #ClimateChange last year. @PMOIndia, @moefcc," the minister tweeted. "Reiterated to EU delegation, India's pledge to the #ParisSummit, where PM @narendramodi played a decisive role on global action on #ClimateChange & #MissionInnovation. Expressed keenness to work with all stakeholders to make the agreement a real success. @moefcc, @EU_Amb_India," he said in
In Chilean desert, global thirst for lithium is fueling a 'water war'
SANTIAGO (Reuters) - On Chilean water regulator Oscar Cristi's desk, a small white espresso cup teeters atop piles of documents and loose folders that appear on the point of collapse, perhaps an apt metaphor for the growing water crisis in parts of the Andean country.
Centre sanctions Rs 730 cr for Narmada project
The Centre has sanctioned Rs 730 crore for the Gujarat's Sardar Sarovar Dam project on the Narmada river for the current year and also committed soft loan of Rs 1,500 crore for the state's other irrigation projects, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said on Wednesday.
Centre clears Rs 2219 cr in grant and loan for Sardar Sarovar
The Centre has sanctioned Rs 730 crore in grant and a long-term loan of Rs 1484.39 crore for building the canal network for the Sardar Sarovar dam in Gujarat, deputy Chief Minister Saurabh Patel said today. Though the construction of one of the biggest dams in the country on the Narmada river had already been completed, the work on its canal network for distribution of water is still pending. "The Centre has sanctioned a grant of Rs 730 crore for building the canal network for the Sardar Sarovar dam for year 2018-19 under an irrigation scheme," Patel told reporters in Gandhinagar. He said the Centre had also sanctioned a long-term loan of Rs 1484.39 crore at the rate of six per cent from the Long Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF), which has been created to finance 99 priority irrigation schemes in the country. "This will help in early completion of building the canal network for the dam," Patel said. Besides irrigation, the water will be used for drinking purpose, he said. The
Indian spaceflight's duration not yet decided: ISRO chief
The duration of India's proposed maiden manned space mission in 2021-2022 and the number of astronauts who will be on board are yet to be decided, an ISRO official said on Wednesday.
Fadnavis approves Bandra-Versova sea link
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today approved the construction of projects including Bandra-Versova sea link, a new lane on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and third bridge on Thane creek at Vashi. Chairing a meeting of infrastructure projects committee of his cabinet, the CM asked them to undertake the construction work within a month. The Bandra-Versova sea link will be thrice the length of the present Bandra-Worli sea link, a release issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said. A route from Bandra Bus Terminus connecting the sea link at Versova Nana Nani Park from the Western Express Highway (Parle Junction) will also be developed, it added. Construction of third bridge on the Thane creek at Vashi was also approved, the release said. This work includes extension and modernisation of the toll booth at Vashi and smoothing of the traffic movement. Also, construction of a new lane (missing link) in the ghat section between Khopoli and Khandala will be ...
Separate account for flood relief contributions desirable: Kerala HC
The Kerala High Court on Wednesday said it would be better if the contributions coming in response to the call given by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to rebuild Kerala are kept in a separate account. A final verdict in the matter is, however, yet to come.
NMCG approves projects worth Rs.150cr
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) approved projects worth nearly Rs 150 crores in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal under the Namami Gange programme during its fifth Executive Committee meeting held in New Delhi.These projects include Interception and Diversion (I&D) works where small rivers, rivulets, and drains are intercepted before they empty into the main river, and are diverted to Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) so that the water that finally drains into the main river is clean. The projects also include STPs and development of Ghats.In Uttarakhand, I&D projects were approved for Rispana and Bindal Rivers in Dehradun at an estimated cost of Rs 60 crores. The wastewater from these rivers ultimately meets Ganga between Haridwar and Rishikesh through River Song. Once executed, this project will tap 117 drains now carrying untreated wastewater. It is proposed to build an STP with one million liters per day (MLD) capacity to treat some of this ...
