Page 52 - Environment

India slips 5 places to 141 on Global Peace Index 2019; Iceland again tops

India's rank has slipped five places to 141 among 163 countries on the Global Peace Index 2019, while Iceland remains the most peaceful country and Afghanistan the least peaceful nation, says a report. Australian think tank Institute for Economics & Peace ranks countries according to their level of peacefulness based on three thematic domains -- the level of societal safety and security, the extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict and the degree of militarisation. Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world, a position it has held since 2008. It is joined at the top of the Global Peace Index (GPI) by New Zealand, Austria, Portugal, and Denmark. Afghanistan is now the least peaceful country in the world, replacing Syria, which is now the second least peaceful. South Sudan, Yemen, and Iraq comprise the remaining five least peaceful countries. In South Asia, Bhutan topped the index with 15th rank, followed by Sri Lanka 72, Nepal 76 and Bangladesh 101. The ...

Baghel requests PM to extend benefits of PM-Kisan to tribals, forest-dwellers in Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to extend the benefit of Rs 6,000 annual grant under the Centre's PM-Kisan scheme to tribals and forest-dwellers in his state. In a letter, Baghel said over four lakh families in Chhattisgarh have been given land on lease under the Forest Rights Act 2006, who all use them for agriculture purpose. He said that these farmers live Below Poverty Line and they need all possible help and support from the government. Baghel pointed out that these leaseholders under the Forest Rights Act 2006 were excluded from the 'PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna' (PM-Kisan), that was launched in February this year to help small and marginalised farmers. He requested the prime minister to include these leaseholder farmers in the beneficiary list of the scheme. Baghel requested the PM that the amount given to beneficiaries under the PM scheme be doubled to Rs 12,000 per year from Rs 6,000. He asked Modi to direct

Humans swallowing plastic equivalent to one credit card per week: Study

The study, commissioned by World Wildlife Fund (WWF), is the first to combine data from over 50 studies on the ingestion of microplastic by people

Kaleshwaram project launch on June 21; Jagan to be chief guest

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao Wednesday announced his decision to inaugurate the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project on June 21. He has also decided to invite Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy as the chief guest of the event, an official press release said here. Rao would go to Vijayawada soon to personally invite Reddy, the release said. "Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has decided to inaugurate the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation project on JUne 21," it said. The Kaleshwaram project on Godavari river aims to supply water to meet requirements of drinking water (about 80 per cent of the districts in the state), farm sector and industries.

Mizoram would request Centre & Bangladesh to expedite border

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga Wednesday said the state government would request the Centre and the Bangladesh government to expedite opening of Indo-Bangladesh border trade at the proposed Kawrpuichhuah border trade centre. Intervening in the discussion on border trade with Bangladesh and Myanmar during Question Hour in the Assembly, Zoramthanga said he has raised the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce as well as with Bangladesh Prime Minister and the ball is in the hands of the leaders of the two neighbouring countries. "I would again personally take up the matter with the new government at the Centre soon," the chief minister said. Talking about the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) to provide road link to Sittwe port in Myanmar, he said that no works have been executed so far on Myanmar side despite financial aid given by the Indian government, which would definitely delay the project. At least 85.50 per .

Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals restarts Ammonia IV plant at Baroda

Ammonia-IV plant would be initially started at lower loads which would be gradually increased. Subsequently, Urea-II plant would also resume on availability of CO2 gas from Ammonia-IV plant.

Gehlot writes to Punjab CM for relining of Ferozepur feeder

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has written to his Punjab counterpart Amarinder Singh, urging to start the relining of the Ferozepur feeder at the earliest. Farmers dependent on the Gangnahar and Bhakra canal systems will be benefitted by it. Gehlot wrote in a letter to the Punjab chief minister that the Ferozepur feeder, constructed in 1960s, has damaged at many places, resulting in reduction in its water-carrying capacity. "Relining work was urgently required to restore the capacity of this canal and thus improve the supply of water. This would benefit farmers of Western Rajasthan," Gehlot wrote. He further stated that the Rajasthan government was committed to provide adequate water supply to farmers. Gehlot added that the relining of a 23-km-long stretch of the Indira Gandhi canal was completed recently and more such repair works would be undertaken so that the farmers' demand of adequate water for irrigation purposes could be met without any interruption.

Chandrayaan-2 mission launch on July 15: ISRO

India's second mission to the moon, Chandrayaan-2, would be launched on July 15, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Sivan announced on Wednesday. The landing on the moon near the South Pole, an uncharted territory so far, would be on September 6 or 7, Sivan told reporters here, as the Indian space agency is all set to embark on its most complex mission. The launch would take place at 2.51 am on board the GSLV MK-III vehicle from the spaceport of Sriharikota. The ISRO had earlier kept the launch window for the mission from July 9 to July 16. The spacecraft, with a mass of 3.8 tonne, has three modules -- Orbiter, Lander (Vikram) and Rover (Pragyan). Sivan said Orbiter would have eight payloads, Lander three and Rover two. The mission cost of Chandrayaan-2 with regard to the satellite was Rs 603 crore, he noted. The cost of GSLV MK III is Rs 375 crore. According to the ISRO, Orbiter, with scientific payloads, would orbit around the moon. Lander would soft land on the ...

Britain sets deadline for carbon neutrality by 2050

The British government on Wednesday presented draft legislation to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 in what it said would be a first for a major economy. The new target was broadly welcomed across the political spectrum but environmental groups said it would require radical action to decarbonise the entire economy. The deadline is far more ambitious than Britain's current policy of cutting emissions by 80 per cent over the same period and Finance Minister Philip Hammond has reportedly warned it could cost more than 1.0 trillion pounds. The 2050 date will be introduced in existing climate change laws through a piece of legislation known as a statutory instrument that parliament is expected to approve. "As the first country to legislate for long-term climate targets, we can be truly proud of our record in tackling climate change," Prime Minister Theresa May said. In one of her final acts before she steps down next month, she said Britain "must lead the world to a cleaner, ...

Rijiju directs SAI campuses to increase green cover

Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju has directed all Sports Authority of India (SAI) campuses to increase green cover. In a circular issued to the 12 regional SAI centres, the ministry has asked that saplings of trees and bushes indigenous to the region be planted.

Environmentalist raises concerns over wedding of tycoons' son in Auli

A Ghaziabad-based environmentalist has written to Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar expressing concern over the upcoming wedding of the sons of two South Africa-based controversial tycoon brothers in the ski destination of Auli in Uttarakhand.

Britain to intensify fight against climate change

Britain's outgoing prime minister on Wednesday announced plans to eliminate the country's net contribution to climate change by 2050. Theresa May said the plan will be put before Parliament later in the day. The amendment to the 2008 Climate Change Act will intensify Britain's push to drastically reduce carbon emissions. "Standing by is not an option," she said in a statement. "Reaching net zero by 2050 is an ambitious target, but it is crucial that we achieve it to ensure we protect our planet for future generations." She added that Britain was already taking a leading role in fighting climate change. The government's Committee on Climate Change says the change will help public health by reducing air and noise pollution and also help biodiversity. It had urged an urgent upgrade of the government's approach. Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry, said the business community backs the government's commitment. "This legislation is the right ...

C'garh: Panel set up to probe tree cutting at Bailadila hill

The Chhattisgarh forest department has set up a three-member committee to probe the alleged illegal deforestation for proposed iron ore mining at deposit no.13 in Bailadila hill range in Dantewada district, an official said Wednesday. Notably, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday directed immediate halt of cutting of trees at the iron ore deposit no.13 in Bailadila hill range, located in Kirandul area of Dantewada, and other works related to the project amid protests by tribals. "On Baghel's direction, principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF) Rakesh Chaturvedi issued an order to constitute a three-member committee to probe the alleged cutting of trees in the iron ore deposit-13 of the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC)," a public relations official here said. The panel will be headed by additional PCCF (land management) Atul Shukla and will have chief conservator of forest, Jagdalpur Circle, and divisional forest officer, Dantewada division, as its .

Japan sets carbon-neutral goal as UK plans climate laws

Japan has joined Britain in pledging to become carbon neutral later this century, as the world races to prevent catastrophic climate change, but critics blasted Tokyo's plan as unambitious. While Britain on Wednesday outlined plans for fast-track legislation that would reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, Japan's policy only pledges to meet the goal sometime after the middle of the century. Both countries are among the nearly 200 nations that have signed up to the Paris climate agreement, which commits signatories to efforts to cap global warming at "well below" two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit). Japan's policy, adopted by the cabinet on Tuesday, is expected to be submitted to the United Nations before the country hosts the G20 summit in Osaka later this month. It sets "a carbon-neutral society as the final goal, and seeks to realise it at the earliest possible time in the latter half of this century." But while it says renewable energy -- such as solar and wind -- will ...

Rijiju pushes for 'Clean and Green' SAI campuses

Newly-appointed Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has directed all Sports Authority of India (SAI) regional centers to plant saplings of trees specific to their areas inside their campuses as part of a 'Clean and Green' campaign. A circular has been issued to all 12 SAI regional centers for holistic development of a 'Clean and Green' sports campus, the body said in a statement. "The result of the plantation drive is expected to be two-pronged - that of increasing the green cover in the campuses, as also nurturing local plants that are shade-giving and fruit-bearing," the SAI stated. "Environment-friendly methods like rainwater harvesting will be used for the upkeep of the green cover," it added. Special awareness workshops will also be organised for athletes training and living at the regional centers to "align them with the 'Clean and Green' mission".

Pondy govt machinery geared up to tackle Nipah: Health

The Puducherry government Wednesday said it was fully geared up to tackle Nipah in the wake of a person from neighbouring Tamil Nadu being admitted with symptoms of the virus here. A 50-year-old man hailing from Cuddalore district in that state, has been admitted to state-run JIPMER with symptoms of fever and encephalitis, health officials said. He had recently returned to his native from Guruvayoor in Kerala, where a case of Nipah has been reported. Director of Health and Family Welfare Services of Puducherry K V Raman told PTI that an emergency review meeting was held by the 'Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP)' on Tuesday. The official also said the fluids collected from the patient have since been sent to the Virology Research Institute in Pune and the test report was awaited. Isolation wards have been set up in the Government Hospital for Chest Diseases, with the help of the Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital and Research Institute to prevent the ..

World's 100 big cities represent 10% global emissions: Study

Consumption-based emissions from nearly 100 of the world's big cities already represent 10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, a new study said on Wednesday.

Auckland City declares climate emergency

Auckland city council voted to recognize the urgency for action on climate change by declaring a climate emergency on Wednesday.

North Korea says it's fighting swine fever with quarantine

North Korea said Wednesday it is actively fighting the spread of the highly contagious African swine fever weeks after it reported an outbreak near its border with China. The North's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said workers around the country were proceeding with "airtight" quarantine efforts to prevent the spread of the disease and ensure safety in livestock production. African swine fever has decimated pig herds in China and other Asian countries. It's harmless to people but is fatal to pigs and has no known cure. There's concern in South Korea that the outbreak in the North could spread across the border. Lee Sang-min, a spokesman for Seoul's Unification Ministry, which deals with inter-Korean affairs, said the North has yet to respond to calls for joint quarantine efforts. The North Korean newspaper said quarantine efforts were focused on disinfecting farms and transport vehicles, restricting visitors, and banning the distribution of food products containing pork. The ...

Will provide clean drinking water to every household by 2024: Gajendra Shekhwat

Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Tuesday asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is committed to providing clean drinking water to every household by the year 2024.Addressing reporters at an interaction in Delhi, Shekhawat said, "We are working with the commitment to provide clean drinking water to every household, by 2024. This is our priority."He also outlined that the availability of water is a concern for the whole world and India."We have the largest human population and livestock population and per capita availability of water is less. The per capita availability of water that we had in 1950 has reduced considerably and is about one-third of that amount whereas the population has become three times. From 5000 litre per capita water availability that we had then, it is nearly 1400 per capita now", Shekhawat added.The Minister also underscored that providing water for every household was one of BJP's poll promises and added that the party will work