Page 522 - Environment
Jalandhar residents give Rs 30 lakh for Kerala flood relief
The residents of Jalandhar in Punjab have contributed around Rs 30 lakh for the flood-affected people of Kerala, after Chief Minister Amarinder Singh made an appeal for help. Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma called a meeting of social workers and entrepreneurs to seek their help. President of Gurdwara Singh Sabha Model Town Ajit Singh Sethi announced that they would provide more than 10,000 blankets for the people of the flood-affected state. CBSE-affiliated schools management association announced cash aid of Rs one lakh, besides one-day salary of all employees of schools and two trucks of essential commodities. Director of Savi International Mukul Verma also announced an assistance of Rs 2 lakh and clothes for babies worth Rs 50,000. Several businessmen also contributed wholeheartedly for the people of Kerala. The Deputy Commissioner said that the state government as already sent relief worth Rs 10 crore to Kerala.
Sidhu's village to be developed as model one
The Punjab government will develop Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu's village Kakarwal in Sangrur district as a model village, a minister said here today. Rural Development Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa said it after handing over a cheque of Rs 55 lakh to Sidhu for laying a sewerage system in his village, falling in Dhuri assembly constituency. The government will lay sewerage system and set up water treatment plants in villages to end the problem of sewage and water logging, the minister said. He said the first installment of Rs 55 lakh of the total cost of Rs 1.5 crore for the project to develop Kakarwal as a model village has been handed over to Sidhu. Sidhu had submitted a detailed project report for laying the sewerage system and water treatment plant in his native village. Bajwa assured that this project would be completed by the end of this year. He said the Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Department has decided to go for the all-round development of the ...
J&K remembers 2014 floods, reaches out to Kerala
Remembering the inundation of Srinagar when heavy rains lashed the Valley in 2014, some people here have decided to reach out to the victims of the floods in Kerala. "We have collected donations from local people, including businessmen, and are dispatching food packets to Kerala for the flood victims," said Zubair Ahmad, who has organising a fund-raising drive. Similarly, the staff at J&K Bank will contribute Rs 11 crore to help Kerala, a spokesperson said. The BJP's Jammu and Kashmir unit today said all its 41 lawmakers from the state, including four MPs, will donate a month's salary to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund to help the flood victims in Kerala. Zubair Ahmad's group is sending food packets to Kerala. Its volunteers have so far focused on raising funds in Srinagar city but would expand their efforts to other parts of the Valley in the coming days, he said. "These food packets will suffice for 2,000 people. We will be doing more in the coming days," he said. At J&K ...
Sprng Energy quotes lowest wind tariff of Rs 2.77/unit, Mytrah follows at Rs 2.79/unit
Sprng Vayu Vidyut Private Ltd emerged as the lowest bidder at Rs 2.77 per unit followed by Mytrah Energy at Rs 2.79 and Srijan Energy at Rs 2.80 in a wind energy auction conducted by state-run power giant NTPC today. "Sprng Vayu Vidyut Private Ltd, Mytrah Energy and Srijan Energy bagged wind energy capacities of 200 MW, 300 MW and 50 MW, at a tariff of Rs 2.77, Rs 2.79 and Rs 2.80 per unit, respectively," a source said. The auction was conducted for 1200 MW of wind energy capacities by NTPC for which tender was floated in March this year. ReNew Wind Energy quoted also bagged 300 MW capacity at a tariff of Rs 2.81 per unit and Hero Wind Energy Private Limited got 300 MW at Rs 2.82 per unit. Fasten Power quoted Rs 2.83 per unit and got 50 MW capacities. The auction evoked good response as the tariff remained below Rs 3 per unit. The NTPC had initially floated the tender for 2000 MW but later reduced the capacities to 1200 MW after pre-bid meeting with bidders. Commenting on this, Vikram
Uttarakhand HC bans slaughter in the open during Bakr-Eid, animal sacrifice in Hindu temples
The Uttarakhand High Court today imposed a ban on slaughter of goats, sheep or buffaloes in the open or in public on the occasion of Eid-ul-Juha directing authorities to ensure it is done only in abattoirs. Making it clear that the order applied to one and all irrespective of religion, the court also imposed a ban on animal sacrifice inside Hindu temples. Taking 'suo motu' cognisance of large-scale slaughter of goats and other animals as part of Eid-ul-Juha celebrations, the division bench of Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Manoj Tiwari ordered that the slaughter of goats, sheep or buffaloes not take place in the open or in public and must be done in slaughter houses only. The court also directed that the blood and offal should not flow into open drains and nullahs. The order is directed towards one and all irrespective of any religion, the court said. "It is directed that on the day of Eid-ul-Juha (Bakr- Eid) no animals including goat/sheep/buffalo shall be sacrificed in an open ...
Chandrayaan-1 helps scientists confirm water ice on Moon
Using data from a NASA instrument aboard the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, a team of scientists has confirmed there is water ice on the surface of the Moon.
GE Power bags Rs 220-cr order for HPCL's Vizag refinery
US multinational GE Power on Tuesday said it has won a Rs 220-crore order to supply a gas turbine and generator for the proposed captive power plant at state-run Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL)'s refinery at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
Centre to provide additional 89,540 tonnes of food grains to Kerala
The central government has decided to send an additional 89,540 tonnes of food grains to the flood-battered Kerala, Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said on Tuesday.
Remove permanent structures from meadows, grasslands: HC to U'khand govt
The Uttarakhand High Court today directed the state government to remove all permanent structures from the alpine meadows, sub-alpine meadows and grasslands of the state within three months. Quoting a verse from a revered Sikh scripture according to which air, water, earth and sky are the God's abode, the division bench of Justices Rajiv Sharma and Lokpal Singh ordered the state government to remove all permanent structures from alpine meadows, sub-alpine meadows and grasslands of the state including Aali-Bedini-Bagzi Bugyals (grasslands) within a period of three months. The state government was also asked by the high court to constitute eco-development committees within six weeks in eco-sensitive zones to protect and preserve nature, environment and ecology. Quoting the Guru Granth Saheb which says, "Pavan paani dharati aakas ghar mandar har bani", (Air, water, earth and sky are God's home and temple), the bench put a cap of a maximum of 200 tourists visiting the alpine meadows, ...
No indication of N.Korea abandoning nuclear programme: IAEA
North Korea seemingly hasn't abandoned its nuclear programme despite its pledge to denuclearize, according to a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency released on Tuesday.
Rlys to reschedule exams after situation normalises in flood-hit Kerala
Railways said today it will reschedule its exams for the posts of assistant loco pilots and technician for candidates from Kerala who have been unable to appear in the tests due to the raging floods in the state. Nearly 48 lakh candidates are scheduled to take the exam for 66,502 vacancies of assistant loco-pilots and technicians. The exams are being conducted in a phased manner till August 31. The exams began on August 9 and the tests were then held on August 13, 14, 17, 20, and 21. The next phases are to be held on August 29, 30 and 31. While centres allotted in Kerala were shifted out of the state as rain waters wrecked havoc there, thousands set to appear for the exam were unable to do so. Railways said today that as and when the condition normalises in Kerala, it will announce fresh exam dates for candidates from the state. About 27,000 candidates were scheduled to appear in the RRB exam in Kerala on August 20. At least 223 people have lost their lives since August 8 in Kerala's .
Officials asked to expedite repair work on roads
Telangana Roads and Buildings Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao today asked officials to take up works to repair roads, which suffered damage due to the recent rains, on a "war-footing". Rao, who held a meeting with officials, said many roads in the state suffered damage due to the rains, an offical release said. The minister directed the officials to submit a report for the purpose after estimating the losses immediately, it said. The release also said the Centre has agreed in principle to convert a regional ring road proposed to be developed by the state government in Hyderabad as an "Express Highway". Rao told the officials to prepare proposals on the matter on a war-footing for sending them to the Centre.
More land to be provided soon for setting up AIIMS in Bilaspur: HP CM
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said today more land would be provided soon for construction of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) buildings in Bilaspur district of the state. As much as 681 bighas were already transferred for construction of the AIIMS at Kothipura in Bilaspur district, he said while presiding over a meeting to review centrally sponsored welfare schemes in the state. In addition to that, 666 bighas land would be provided soon, the chief minister said adding this institute would provide world-class health services to the people of the state. Thakur said as many as 6,101 electricity connections were provided to BPL and poor households under the Saubhagya Yojana in the state. The chief minister said 1,800 houses had been constructed and assistance has been provided for repair of houses to poor families under the Gramin-Saheri Aawas Yojna. A target has been fixed to construct 7,385 houses for the rural poor, out of which 4,522 houses had been ..
Decks cleared for construction of elevated rail line in Kurukshetra
Decks have been cleared for the construction of an elevated railway line in Kurukshetra city to decongest the traffic, an official spokesperson said here today. The proposal was cleared after Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar gave in-principle approval to the project recently, he said. Construction of this elevated track on Kurukshetra-Narwana Railway Line would be undertaken by the Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (HRIDC) at a cost of Rs 224.58 crore. Out of the total cost, Rs 100 crore is to be provided by the Ministry of Railways. The elevated track would do away with five level crossings in Kurukshetra city, reducing traffic jams, the spokesperson said. He said there would be no acquisition of land and the whole work would be carried out on the existing railway land. The total length of the project would be 5.18 kilometers with 4.511 kilometers of elevated track length. The spokesman said this would be the second elevated railway line in the state ...
Leopard spotted in Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary
A leopard was spotted at the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary today, prompting authorities to issue a cautionary notice to the people from entering the premises without permission, a forest official said. The forest department is putting up cautionary notices across the sanctuary, the official said. The leopard may have come from the forest area in Haryana, he said, adding that the department is on the lookout for the animal. The official warned that legal action will be taken against people entering the premises without permission. The Asola Bhatti Sanctuary is situated on the Delhi-Haryana border. The Haryana government recently claimed that no leopard was cited in the sanctuary in months.
Civic bodies should implement NEERI suggestions on noise pollution: HC
The Bombay High Court asked the Maharashtra government today to direct the municipal corporations to implement the recommendations of the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) on noise pollution. A division bench of justices A S Oka and M S Sonak was hearing a bunch of petitions seeking strict implementation of the Noise Pollution Rules and action against illegal pandals which mushroom during festivals. In 2016, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) had suggested to the court that there should be a statewide noise-mapping (survey of noise levels). The HC had agreed to the proposal and NEERI was assigned the task. In June this year, NEERI submitted its report to the court with recommendations on the implementation of noise pollution rules. The court noted today that, on July 6, the MPCB sent copies of the report to municipal commissioners across the state and sought a periodical compliance report on its implementation. "The Urban Development Department .
Kerala rain fury: HC stays for 3 weeks declaration of ICAR entrance exam results
The Kerala High Court today stayed for three weeks the declaration of results of all India entrance exam conducted by the Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR), as aspirants from the state could not sit for the test due to monsoon fury. Justice Muhammed Mustaque also issued notice to ICAR and the Union government. Amal C T and Adarsh K C, in their petition, submitted that many aspirants could not attend the entrance exam held on August 18 and 19, when Kerala was experiencing heavy rain and unprecedented floods. They contended that they were denied equality before law among other candidates who took the examination held across the country. The petitioners submitted before the high court that the ICAR even ignored the appeal by the state government and went ahead with the decision to hold the exam for courses in various institutes including Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) and ..
India may resume export of 5 lakh tonne rapeseed meal to China
India is expected to resume 4-5 lakh tonnes of rapeseed meal exports to China after a gap of nearly six years, a senior industry official said. "Following the meeting of commerce ministry officials, Indian ambassador to China and industry members, we expect the rapeseed meal exports to China is expected to resume soon. The export of rapeseed to China was banned in 2012. We have enough stocks and industry can export 4-5 lakh tonnes of rapeseed meal to China," the Solvent Extractors' Association (SEA) executive director B V Mehta told reporters here. India's exports of rapeseed meal to China was suspended by the Chinese government in 2012 over quality issues. The trade war between US and China has opened the avenues for export and China is looking at India for rapeseed meal supply that will fulfil Chinese standards. Before 2012, India exported 4 lakh tonnes of oilmeals (1 lakh tonnes soymeal and 3 lakh tonnes rapeseed meal) to China worth about Rs 600-700 crore, Mehta ...
Venomous snakes greet Keralites returning to flooded homes
People marooned by the fierce monsoon rains in Kerala have been returning home to the frightening sights of deadly cobras and venomous Russell vipers slithering around in their bathrooms, and coiling in cupboards and washbasins. Incidents of snake bites have been reported from various parts of the state in the last five days, prompting authorities to seek the assistance of wildlife conservationist and snake expert Vava Suresh. Authorities of a private hospital at nearby Angamaly said doctors had attended to 53 cases of snake bites from August 15 to August 20. A doctor at the Angamaly Little Flower Hospital said cobras, the Indian krait and Russell's viper have found their way into abandoned, marooned houses from the forests, along with the floodwaters. "These reptiles have entered flooded homes and other structures. So those who step into their houses for cleaning after receding of floodwaters should be very careful," the doctor said. The public relations wing of the state government .
89,540 tonne foodgrains, 100 tonne pulses to be supplied to flood-hit Kerala: Paswan
Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today said 89,540 tonne of foodgrains and 100 tonne of pulses will be supplied for free to flood-hit Kerala for distribution among those who are not covered under the food security act. The Centre allocates 1.18 lakh tonne of foodgrains monthly to the state. About 52 per cent of the state population is already covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) under which highly subsidised grains are distribution via the Public Distribution System (PDS). "We have taken a decision to provide 89,540 tonne of foodgrains to the state for distribution to those who are not covered under NFSA. The allocation will help the state to cover most of its population," Paswan told reporters here. That apart, 100 tonne of pulses (dals) have been allocated to the state. The ministry has also decided to provide to the state 80 tonne of pulses on a daily basis to ensure adequate supply and check price rise, he said. The foodgrains and pulses are being provided free of ...
