Page 545 - Environment
Heavy rains in Ker; red alert sounded at Idamalayar dam
: Heavy rains lashed several parts of Kerala today, leading to copious inflows into reservoirs and sounding of a red alert at Idamalayar dam in Ernakulam district. The rapid rise in water levels at the dam led the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) to prepone opening of the shutters to 6 AM tomorrow from 8 AM. The KSDMA took the decision at its meeting here today. It asked the public not to panic and said that if the water level rises to 170 meters before 6 AM tomorrow, only one shutter would be opened and 82 cusecs released. "The increase in water level downstream due to this limited discharge is estimated to be contained within the river banks," it said in a release. KSDMA said that a decision on having a trial run to open the shutters of Idukki dam at 2,398 feet would be taken after assessing the situation on a concurrent basis and be announced subsequently, if necessary. The water level in the Idukki reservoir touched 2396.96 feet this afternoon ...
Nepal's protected areas attract 7 lakh tourists
Nepal's national parks and conservation areas witnessed a whopping 700,000 tourists in the last 12 months, authorities said today. Nepal, which has 12 national parks, is home to dozens of rare and endangered species including one-horned rhino, royal bengal tiger, snow leopard and red panda. The Himalayan nation is known for its rich bio-diversity and genetic resources. Sagarmatha National Park and Chitawan National Park are the most popular protected areas of the country. Of the 700,000 tourists, 325,856 were foreigners, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation said in a statement. These conservation areas collected Rs 646 million in revenue in the year 2017/18, officials said. "At least 60 per cent of all foreign tourists in Nepal explore parks and conservation areas," said the Ministry of Forests and Environment.
AIPMA urges govt to waive of Rs 1,000cr loan of plastic makers
All India Plastics Manufacturers' Association (AIPMA) today urged the government to waive off Rs 1,000 crore of loan of plastic manufacturers following the ban imposed in the state. "Following sudden change in government policy, ban on single use plastic products such as disposables and carry bags across 20 states across India, thousands of entrepreneurs had to shut down their factories. These entrepreneurs are not able to service loans worth Rs 1,000 crore taken and run a risk of losing their mortgaged factories and house, apart from losing livelihood," All India Plastics Manufacturers' Association (AIPMA) president Hiten Bheda said in a statement here. Over 50,000 employees who lost their jobs due to plastic ban need to be offered a gratuity, which is estimated to be over Rs 1,000 crore, Bheda said. The association met with the joint secretary of department of chemical and petrochemicals, Aparna Sharma who has assured that the government and the plastic industry will .
Khangchendzonga biosphere reserve added to UNESCO list
The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, one of the highest ecosystems in the world, has been added to UNESCO's list of World Network of Biosphere Reserve (WNBR). The Khangchendzonga reserve will be the 11th internationally designated WNBR. The reserve includes a range of ecoclines varying from subtropical to arctic, as well as vast natural forests in different biomes that support an immensely rich diversity of forest types and habitats resulting in high species diversity and endemism. "International coordinating Council (ICC) of Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme, UNESCO, in its 30th session (23-27 July, 2018) at Palembang, Indonesia, designated Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve for inclusion in the World Network of Biosphere Reserve," a document uploaded on the Environment Ministry's website said. Khangchendzonga joins the list of other biospheres such as Nandadevi, Simlipal Biosphere reserve, Nilgiri and others. The document said India has 18 biosphere reserves and now, with the ...
Farmers file police complaint against IMD for 'wrong' forecast
Farmers from a village in Marathwada region have filed a police complaint against the India Meteorological Department, accusing it of colluding with seed and pesticide manufacturers and inflating the monsoon forecast figures. The complaint, filed at the Parbhani rural police station yesterday, said department officials in Pune and Mumbai "colluded" with the manufacturers and caused loss of lakhs of rupees to farmers, who undertook sowing operations based on the forecast. The complaint was filed by Manik Kadam, Marathwada region president of Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, led by Lok Sabha member Raju Shetti. Kadam said cases of cheating under section 420 of IPC should be filed against the IMD director. In June last year, a farmer from Beed district had also filed a similar police case against IMD officials. IMD officials misled farmers saying that there would be ample rain during the kharif season, they had said. "Farmers undertook sowing operations, based on the IMD ...
Dynastic politics of Cong, NC, PDP ruined Kargil: BJP
Asserting that no real development took place in Kargil due to the dynastic politics of the Congress, NC and PDP, the BJP today said had the district been under its rule, it would have developed on par with any other region of the country. Addressing the media here ahead of the elections to Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil, BJP spokesperson Priya Sethi said the residents of the crucial district in Jammu and Kashmir must throw the "promoters of dynastic politics" out of power. "Kargil would have developed on par with any other region of the country had political outfits like Congress, NC and PDP not encouraged and promoted dynastic rule in the state," the former minister said. Since the Congress, National Conference (NC) and People's Democratic Party (PDP) regimes continued to patronage their wards and kin, people were never empowered and were left to fend for themselves, she added. Sethi said development including better connectivity, harnessing solar hydro power, ...
Japan adopts new ways to beat the heat
Climate change is a global issue causing worry to many countries around the world in recent years. Japan, too, has observed a record heat wave this summer."This summer is very hot. The moment I open my house door I feel heat wave covering my body and I feel very uncomfortable," a citizen said.To face an unusually hot summer this year, Japan is incorporating several methods from the latest technology to old-fashioned ways to reduce the temperature in streets and give people a cool and comfortable feeling."Marunouchi" area is located in central Tokyo, close to Tokyo Station. It is the largest business area in the capital. Tall buildings with many offices are seen here. Along streets where businessmen and tourists walk, mist equipment has been installed for the purpose of improving comfort by reducing temperature while considering the environment."There was a lot of mist, and I thought that it was wonderful. But it is limited only in the city. I hope this initiative will expand to local .
Set up central agri varsity in Raichur: Ktaka to Centre
The Karnataka government today urged the Centre to set up a central agriculture university in Raichur, one of the most backwards districts in the state. The demand was made in a meeting with Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh by Animal Husbandry Minister Venkatrao Nadagowda here. "There is Government of India's land to the tune of 7,000 acres in Jawalagere village in Sindhanur taluk, Raichur district. We have requested the Union government to set up a central agriculture university on this land," Nadagouda told reporters after the meeting. Raichur district is one of the aspirational districts identified by the central government for development. Setting up of a agri varsity will enable to harness the potential of the human resource of the region to the maximum level, he said. This would also improve livelihood and employment opportunities in the most backward and arid region of the state, he added. If a varsity is not possible to establish, Nadagowda said the state ...
Talks on Massanjore Dam impasse in right direction: Official
Talks to end the impasse over painting the walls of the Massanjore Dam were heading towards the "best solution", Dumka Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Kumar said today. Kumar held a meeting here with officials from Birbhum district of neighbouring West Bengal in a bid to resolve the deadlock. "The talks went through a positive environment... We are heading towards the best solution and the officials who came (from Birbhum) have also made commitment for that," Kumar told reporters here. Stating that the talks were centred around three issues - law and order, painting and the writing on the welcome gate, Kumar said, "I have kept all the issues in front of the officials (from Birbhum) and they understood them. If necessary, I will talk to DM and other senior officials of Birbhum district." The controversy erupted on August 3 when Jharkhand's ruling dispensation objected to the West Bengal government's move to paint the interstate dam's walls in shades of white and blue. Media .
Delhi Assembly proceedings delayed as speaker gets stuck in traffic jam
The House proceedings of the Delhi Assembly were delayed by around 20 minutes as Speaker Ram Niwas Goel was stuck in traffic jams in the city. Goel was commuting to the Delhi Assembly from his Shahdara constituency to attend the House proceedings that were scheduled to begin at 2 pm, but it started at 2.20 pm. In the House, he said, "I got late due to traffic jam." Sources said that Goel's vehicle was stuck in traffic jams in Shastri Park, Seelam Pur and other places. According to police, there were traffic jams due to movement of Kanwarias. "Traffic will remain heavy until tomorrow. Over 350 traffic personnel have been deployed to avoid congestion caused due to Kanwariyas. "We have segregated the road for them as a precautionary measure to avoid congestion," a senior police official said. Few minutes after reaching the Delhi Assembly, Goel adjourned House proceedings for the day as a mark of respect to former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi who passed away yesterday. In March
Shock treatment as Sri Lanka battles wild elephants
Sri Lanka today announced plans to substantially extend electric fencing after marauding elephants killed 375 people in the past five years and villagers retaliated by slaughtering nearly 1,200 of the beasts. The government said the toll marked a clear escalation of the human-elephant conflict and urgent steps were needed to protect both people and wildlife. Government spokesman Gayantha Karunathilaka said authorities would begin constructing 2,651 kilometres (1,556 miles) of new electric fencing to keep elephants away from villages bordering wildlife reserves. The cabinet also approved a plan to upgrade the existing 4,349 kilometres of electric fences -- which repel elephants but do not seriously hurt them -- and ensure better maintenance. There was no immediate estimate of the costs. The announcement came two days after President Maithripala Sirisena called for urgent action, saying elephants were straying from national parks, raiding villages and destroying crops. Sirisena said ...
Indore police warns against 'Kiki' challenge
The Indore traffic police have warned people against performing dance stunts by accepting the "Kiki Challenge", the latest social media sensation. The "Kiki challenge" involves jumping out of a slowly moving vehicle and dancing by its side to the tune of the song 'In My Feeling' by Canadian rapper Drake. Traffic Police Additional Superintendent of Police Prashant Choube said, "Dancing on the road by accepting Kiki challenge is a violation of the traffic rules and regulations. This is an illegal act, which can endanger people's lives". The officer advised the youth to take a pledge to follow traffic rules instated of taking part in such illegal acts.
Maintaining nitrogen level is key to healthy sweet potato crops
Carefully managing nitrogen levels is the most important trick to obtain high yields from sweet potato crops. Too little nitrogen and the plants do not grow properly and too much of it, again, leads to low yield.A recent study focuses on how much nitrogen is needed to maximize yields of sweet potato crops. The researchers discovered that field history matters when trying to apply the optimal amount of nitrogen for sweet potato crops. Cover crops grown in the same plots prior to sweet potato crops affected how much nitrogen was needed. Cover crops are often grown cyclically with economic or cash crops. They may be incorporated into the soil as green manure.Sweet potato plants, grown in plots previously used to grow legume cover crops, needed 35% less nitrogen fertilizer. Growing sweet potatoes after a cereal cover crop, however, was no different than growing them in a plot that previously only had weeds.Different cover crops bring different benefits to the growth of crops. Legumes, for
8 Goa officials held in K'taka over Mahaday row, says Palyekar
Eight officials from Goa were detained by the Karnataka Police today when they visited a site there in connection with the Mahadayi river water dispute between the two states, Goa's Water Resources Minister Vinod Palyekar said. He said the eight officials of his department were released after being questioned by the Karnataka Police who, he claimed, also told them not to visit the site without proper permission from the district authorities concerned. "Eight officials from our team, which visited the site where Karnataka has blocked the Mahadayi river water, were detained by the Karnataka Police," Palyekar told PTI. "The action of detaining the government officers who were on duty is condemnable," the minister said. Palyekar said he has asked the Goa Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister P Krishnamurthy to speak to his counterpart in Karnataka in connection with the matter. Karnataka and Goa, the riparian states of the Mahadayi (known as Mandovi in Goa), have been locked in a ...
Changes in Environmental Performance Index not backed by scientific arguments: Sharma
The changes made in the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), which has ranked India among the bottom five countries, have not been explained or backed by scientific arguments, and seem to be "arbitrary", the government has said. A report, titled 'Environmental Performance Index 2018', ranking 180 nations has been produced by the Center for Environmental Law and Policy, Yale University, and Columbia University in collaboration with World Economic Forum and Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. According to it, India's ranking in Global Environment Performance Index (EPI) was 141 in 2016 and 177 in 2018. Minister of State for Environment Mahesh Sharma said that the report relied on data gathered by NASA satellite in place of actual monitored data and has not been peer reviewed. "An assessment indicates that the weightages given to the parameters at the three hierarchical levels (policy objectives, issue categories and indicators) are different in 2016 and 2018 ...
NGT defers proceedings on tree felling in south Delhi colonies
Noting that "simultaneous consideration" of the same issue at different legal forums was not appropriate, the National Green Tribunal today deferred proceedings on a plea seeking stay on the proposed tree felling in seven south Delhi colonies. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said the Delhi High Court was already seized of the issue and parallel proceedings should be avoided. The green panel said it would look into the issue once the high court decides the matter. "The order of Delhi High Court dated July 4, proceeded on the same issue... simultaneous consideration of same issue at different legal fora is not appropriate. Accordingly we defer proceedings," the bench, also comprising Jawad Rahim and S P Wangdi, said. The tribunal had earlier extended its order to maintain status quo on tree felling in seven south Delhi colonies by the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry and the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC). On the last date of hearing, ...
Oilmeals Export Gains 24% In April-July 2018
Powered by Capital Market - Live News
Central Railway plants 2.73 lakh saplings in two months
The Central Railway has planted 2.73 lakh saplings in its various divisions in the last two months as a part of its effort to increase the green cover, an official said. The sapling plantation drive was launched on June 5, the World Environment Day. More than 2.73 lakh saplings were planted till July-end in the rail divisions of Solapur, Bhusawal, Nagpur, Pune and Mumbai, Chief Railway's chief PRO Sunil Udasi said yesterday. "These plants will be maintained by the Maharashtra forest department for the next three years," Udasi said. In a bid to protect and improve the environment, the Central Railway signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the state forest department last year to plant trees on land available on the sides of railway tracks. These trees will not only add to the green cover but also help in reducing the air pollution and improve the ecological cycle, Udasi said. The campaign will continue till the end of this monsoon season to achieve the target of ...
Govt to bid out 25 GW solar capacities in Ladakh
The government will come out with a single bid for setting up 25 GW of solar capacity in Ladakh, Power Minister RK Singh said today, and asserted that renewable energy is a must for sustainable development. He also said that India will achieve the target of having 175 GW of renewable energy before 2022. "I am going to come out with the huge bid in Ladakh which is highest solar potential area. I have got a survey done," he said. "We have potential of 35 GW in Ladakh. So we will come out with single bid of 25 GW with storage and deliverable at Una," Singh said at CII's Government and Business Partnership Conclave here. He further said that the government will come out with renewable bids with storage component. "We have come out with 10GW solar bid with manufacturing component. We will come out with more such bids to make sure that manufacturing comes to India." About 16 GW of renenwables are at various stages of development and about 28 GW has been bid out. "It comes to 116 GW. We will
21 snakes seized ahead of Naag Panchmi
Ahead of the Naag Panchmi festival next week, Forest Department officials have seized 21 snakes from snake charmers in the Sri Krishna Janam Bhoomi area here in the past two days.
