Page 516 - Environment
Haryana strengthening irrigation system: Khattar
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday said that until the state gets its rightful share in the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal, equitable water supply would be ensured right up to the tail-ends through canal water by strengthening the irrigation system.
Def ministry says Ktka minister's behaviour unfortunate; Cong slams Sitharaman
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today drew flak from Congress after she lashed out at a Karnataka Minister during a press meet on Friday, but her ministry blamed the state minister for the incident, terming his conduct as "unfortunate", and accused him of making personal remarks which were in "bad taste". Sitharaman, a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, visited flood-ravaged Kodagu district in the state to review relief operations by the defence forces. She reacted angrily when Karnataka Minister Sa Ra Mahesh suggested to her to wind up the press interaction as a number of government officials were waiting for a meeting with her. "I am following a minute-to-minute programme, minister. I do not violate that. If officials are important, my parivaar (family) is also equally important. I follow the minister-in-charge. Central minister follows the minister in-charge here. Unbelievable," she told Mahesh, who was sitting next to her. "You have a list of minute-to-minute programme for me
It is unfortunate the way Karnataka minister behaved: Nirmala
A day after defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's spat with Karnataka minister Sa Ra Mahesh in Kodagu, the Defence Ministry on Saturday said that it was unfortunate the way he behaved and described some of his subsequent personal remarks against her as in bad taste.
Good Samaritan saves rare owl
A chance discovery by a good Samaritan helped save an rare Indian Eagle Owl which narrowly missed being run over by a train.
Army lights up 200 more mud houses in higher reaches of JK
Continuing its efforts to extend a helping hand to the needy, the Army distributed 200 more solar lights among the nomadic communities living in the high altitude areas here in Jammu and Kashmir. The Army's Rashtriya Rifles unit based in Bhadarwah has so far distributed over 17,000 such lights among the Gujjars and Bakerwals under its 'Project Roshni'(light). In the latest initiative, the troops distributed 200 solar lights among the floating population residing in 'Dhoks' (mud houses) on high altitude meadows, including Naag lootan, Padri, Bhal Padri, Qatari, Machora, Satlad, Biddi, Qatari Gali, Chipli and Bashot of Bhaderwah Valley, an Army officer told PTI. He said troops of the four Rashtriya Rifles led by second-in-command Major Ambresh Mahanta after trekking nine Kilometres reached Satlad meadow, 49 km from Bhadarwah town, to distribute 90 solar lights among the people, followed by distribution of 110 lights at Bhal Padri meadow this week. Village head and imam of Jamia Masjid ..
Greatest mistake Bhutan can make is to live in isolation: Environmentalist
Conservation of the environment is one of the four pillars of Bhutan's Gross National Happiness philosophy but "the greatest mistake" the Himalayan nation can make is "to live in isolation", Daniel C. Taylor, who has been engaged in social change and environmental conservation for over four decades, said here on Saturday.
Delhi irrigation dept warns action against babus visiting foreign countries without permission
Concerned over some officials visiting foreign countries without prior approval, the irrigation and flood control department of the Delhi government has warned officials of strict action if they do not follow it directive. The department has clearly directed officials that they cannot proceed on leave to visit other places even within the country without prior approval from the authorities concerned. Joint Secretary Sakshi Mittal has issued a circular stating that any laxity on part of department's officials in following directions will be "viewed seriously". In the circular, Mittal said some officials are proceeding on leave and even visiting neighbouring countries without prior approval of the competent authority, which is "not a healthy practice" or a trend in administrative governance. "No officer/official shall proceed on leave and leave the headquarters i.e. Delhi either to visit within the territory of India or abroad including neighbouring countries, without the prior ...
NASA probe captures first images of asteroid Bennu
NASA's Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft has captured the first glimpse of its distant target -- asteroid Bennu -- after almost two years of journey.
Forbes Marshall Lanka wins Golden Flame Award for energy efficiency improvement
Forbes Marshall has announced receiving the Gold Flame Award in the energy efficiency improvement category in recognition of the contribution made to reduce energy use through energy management efforts.The Sri Lanka National Efficiency Awards 2018 are instituted by Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority. The ceremony took place under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena in Colombo on August 21st.Minister of Power and Renewable Energy Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Deputy Minister Ajith P Perera, Secretary of the Ministry Dr. B M S Batagoda, Chairman of SLSEA Keerthi Wickremarathne and Director - General Ranjith Sepala were also present at the event.This award ceremony is organised annually by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy and Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, with the objective of developing the efficiency of all the sectors related to power and energy, and advancing the usage of renewable energy sources.Organisations that present successful energy ..
Jammu-Srinagar highway closed due to landslides
The strategic Jammu-Srinagar highway was closed for traffic on Saturday due to landslides, police said.
8 jackals die of canine distemper disease in Assam Zoo
Eight jackals out of 18 have died of canine distemper disease at the Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden in Guwahati.The deaths, which occurred over the past two weeks following the spread of canine distemper virus, sent the officials into a tizzy and prompted the authorities to put in place precautionary measures.It may be mentioned that the canine distemper disease has been detected for the first time in the zoo."8 jackals have died in the last 10 days. Disinfection's being done twice a day now. The situation is under control. It hasn't spread to others as yet," Divisional Forest Officer told ANI.The disease, also known as Hardpad disease, is a viral disease that affects a wide species of animals, including domestic and wild dogs, coyotes, foxes, wolves, ferrets, skunks, some primates and a variety of other species.The remaining jackals have been vaccinated and shifted to an isolated enclosure.
Major parks, green belt areas wouldn't be allowed to use ground water for horticulture needs: DJB
All major parks and green belt areas would not be allowed to use groundwater anymore for horticulture needs and they would instead have to use water from decentralised waste water treatment system, the Delhi Jal Board today said. In a meeting chaired by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, it was decided that all major parks and green belt areas would make arrangements for decentralised waste water treatment system near to the feeding point provided by DJB, from where they would lift raw sewerage from the sewer line, treat it and use for their horticulture needs, a statement by DJB said. "Delhi has limited sources of raw water and to meet the increasing demand of water for drinking, commercial and industrial use and environmentally sustainable manner, the board has been developing plans to implement the recycle and reuse of treated effluent as source of raw water," it said. To facilitate development of additional sources of water recycling of treated waste water is being ...
Army to build 2 Bailey bridges across Pamba river soon
The Army will build two Bailey bridges across the Pampa river to restore connectivity between two paths to the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa at Sabiramala,damaged in the floods, a body governing it said. The Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the temple, at its review meeting here today to take stock of the post flood situation in areas of Pamba, decided to hand over work on constructing the uphill and downhill paths, to the Army. One bridge would be used for the movement of emergency vehicles like ambulances and the other for devotees to cross the river, an official press release said here. The bridge would connect the Pamba hill-top and the Ganapathy temple across the river, it said. The TDB also decided to take steps to remove the mounds silt which had accumulated in the riverbed, it added. Co-operation, Tourism and Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran and Devaswom president A Padmakumar were among those who attended the meeting. The board had asked devotees to .
Army chief reviews situation in Kashmir
Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Friday reviewed the security situation in the Kashmir Valley with senior officers, official sources said.
Chennai to operate battery-run buses on select routes
Chennai will join the global network of cities in tackling climate change with the Tamil Nadu government deciding to introduce low-maintenance, battery-operated buses on select routes here. Transport Minister M R Vijayabhaskar told reporters after chairing a meeting of a delegation from C40 Cities Finance Facility, UK, which undertook a feasibility study,that issues faced by other nations in operating such buses were discussed. The state government then decided to take steps to operate the battery operated buses on select routes, he said. The minister said the cost of each bus was high, but they were low on maintenance unlike diesel operated buses. "Once the batteries are charged, these buses can run upto 240 km. They can carry 54 passengers and can be operated in peak hours, reducing travelling time. This is not the case with diseel run buses", he said. The UK team was led by head of C40 Cities Finance Facility, James Alexander and capacity development and municipal ...
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas: Panellists of session on renewable energy meet PM
Panellists of a session on solar energy during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi here today. The panellists on the session on the 'role of Indian diaspora in capacity building for affordable solar power' included renowned experts, academicians, innovators, industrialists and entrepreneurs from Indian diaspora and India. They presented the outcomes of their discussions over the past two days in areas such as utility scale solar, off-grid and microgrid solutions, solar storage, next generation solar technologies and innovative financing options for the renewable sector, a statement from the prime minister's office (PMO) said. Modi welcomed the practical recommendations and directed the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to take forward these expert interactions and factor relevant outcomes in policy-making.
Ganga more polluted under Modi: Congress
The Congress on Friday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "betraying the people of Varanasi" by failing to clean Ganga as promised, saying that pollution level in the river has increased after 2014.
Cong targets Modi over Clean Ganga Mission
The Congress today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of betraying the people of Varanasi by failing to fulfil his promises of cleaning the Ganga river, as pollution level was found to be more than that in 2014. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi alleged that the 'Namami Gange' projects have "miserably faltered" as only one-fourth of them have been completed till date with a few months left for the Modi government's tenure to end. He said the people of Varanasi and other cities along the Ganga river will never forgive the prime minister and his government for betraying them through unfulfilled promises. "Cleaning the Ganga was one of the major poll promises of the BJP ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha election...Going by the government's own status report, it looks very unlikely that it will be able to fulfil its promise. "A fresh RTI has revealed that the pollution levels in the Ganga river are higher than the levels recorded back in 2014 when the Modi government launched its most ...
Delhi government clears projects to improve waste-water services
Delhi government on Friday approved a number of key projects to improve the water and wastewater services provided by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) in the city.
HC seeks Centre stand on PIL against fixed usage charge calculation by discoms in Delhi
The Delhi High Court today sought response of the Centre, AAP government and electricity regulator DERC on a PIL against the manner in which the power load and fixed usage charges were being calculated by discoms in the national capital. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice Pratibha Rani issued notice to the Power Ministry, Delhi government and the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) and sought their stand on the plea by September 11. The plea by Sanjana Gahlot and Hargyan Singh Gahlot has challenged a DERC regulation of August last year which allows power distribution companies (discoms) to revise the electricity load. The petitioners have contended that under the regulation, the discoms were calculating the electricity load by taking four months average instead of the entire year and based on that the fixed usage charges were being increased leading to rise in power tariffs in the national capital. "In Delhi electricity load/consumption varies considerably .
