Page 55 - Environment
'IED like' object defused, traffic restored on J&K road
Traffic on the Mendhar-Poonch road in Jammu and Kashmir was restored on Tuesday after the security forces said they had defused an improvised explosive device (IED)-like object.
Canada to ban single-use plastics by 2021
In an effort to curb pollution of oceans, the Canadian government on Monday announced that it will ban single-use plastics as early as 2021.Speaking to reporters, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the products expected to be banned include cotton swabs, cutlery, plates, straws, bags and drink stirrers.The goal is "zero plastic waste (from) coast to coast" that will be in effect "as early as 2021," Anadolu News Agency quoted him as saying.Underlining the harmful effects of using plastic, the Canadian Prime Minister said that the action should be implemented as soon as possible."As well, it is difficult to find areas at beaches that are not littered with plastics, he said. Dead whales have been found with all kinds of plastics in them too," he said.It is estimated that one million birds and over 100,000 marine mammals die or get injured when they get caught in plastic or ingest it.Making a request to his fellow citizens, Trudeau asked them to remember their outdoor trips, urging ..
Kerala: Coast Guard advise fishermen to return to harbour
In view of the deteriorating weather conditions in Kerala, local fishermen have been advised by Coast Guard here to return to the harbour.After a week's delay the Southwest monsoon hit Kerala coast on June 8.According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the strong wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is very likely to prevail over Kerala, Karnataka coasts and over Lakshadweep area for next few days.IMD has issued a yellow alert in the state till June 13 with an exception of June 12 when the state has been issued an orange alert once again.The Meteorological Department has warned that a cyclone may occur in the Arabian Sea near the West Coast of India between June 11 and 12. The department has asked the fishermen to avoid entering the sea during this period.
France welcomes Modi's proposal for global conference against terrorism
France on Monday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for a global conference to tackle terrorism which will discuss ways to end loopholes that are exploited by terrorists for their nefarious designs.
SC relief for residents of Kochi coastal apartments
In a relief for home-owners, the Supreme Court on Monday stayed for six weeks the demolition of 400 flats in five posh coastal apartment complexes in Maradu area of Kochi.
Canada to ban single-use plastics from 2021
Canada will ban single-use plastics from 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday, declaring it a "global challenge" to phase out the plastic bags, straws and cutlery clogging the world's oceans. "I am very pleased to announce that as early as 2021, Canada will ban harmful, single-use plastics from coast to coast," Trudeau said, arguing Canada has a unique chance to lead the fight against plastic pollution as the country with the world's longest coastlines. Less than 10 percent of plastics used in Canada are currently recycled, he said. Each year a million birds and more than 100,000 marine mammals worldwide suffer injury or death by becoming entangled in plastic or ingesting it through the food chain -- with single-use items representing some 70 percent of the plastic waste littering the marine environment. "You've all heard the stories and seen the photos. And to be honest, as a dad it is tough trying to explain this to my kids," Trudeau said. "How do you explain dead ...
Centres nod to construct bunds,embankments in 10 ha of forest
The Environment Ministry has cleared construction of bunds and embankments in 10 hectares of forest land at Medigadda barrage as part of the Kaleswaram project in Telangana, the state government said here Monday. "The Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change has accorded clearances to construct bunds and embankments in 10 Hectares of forest land towards Maharashtra state at Medigadda barrage as part of the Kaleswaram project," a release from the CM's office said. The first phase of the clearances were granted by the ministry a month ago, it said. The state government has already earmarked funds to acquire 10 hectares of the land, which would be alternatively developed as forest land, it added. The Kaleswaram project on the Godavari river aims at supplying water to the farm sector, industries and drinking water needs of about 80 per cent of the districts in the state, according to official sources.
Maha farmers protest GM crop ban, sow Bt cotton, brinjal
Several hundred farmers Monday sowed genetically modified Bt (bacillus thuringiensis) cotton and brinjal in Maharashtra's Akola district in protest against the Union government's ban on their use in agriculture, a farm outfit functionary said. The sowing of HT Bt cotton and Bt brinjal was done over a two-acre area in Akoli Jahangir village in the district, said Shetkari Sanghatana spokesperson Lalit Bahale said. The Shetkari Sanghatana had organised the protest as it was opposed to the ban on GM crops since they gave higher yields at lower costs and brought benfits to cultivators, Bahale said. "This satyagraha is a way to tell farmers to act against such restrictions in agriculture," Bahale said. Meanwhile, Akola Agricultural Officer Arun Waghmare said samples of seeds sowed by the protesting farmers have been sent for lab analysis and further action would taken once the reports come in. The use of GM crops in the country is tightly regulated as per "Rules for the ...
S African green groups sue government over air pollution
Two South African environmental groups are suing the government over air pollution in the northeastern province of Mpumalanga, where 83 percent of the country's coal is mined, their lawyer said Monday. GroundWork and the Vukani Environmental Justice Movement in Action say the government has violated the constitutional right to a healthy environment. According to an October report by Greenpeace, Mpumalanga's nitrogen dioxide emissions are the highest in the world. The province, which borders Mozambique, is also home to 12 coal-fired power plants run by South Africa's electricity provider Eskom. Papers were served on Friday to the South African president, the national air quality controller and the environmental minister, and they have 15 days to respond to the application, the NGOs' lawyer Robyn Hugo said. Activists say being exposed to toxic products from coal plants such as sulphur dioxide and heavy metals like mercury have led led to chronic diseases like asthma, bronchitis and lung
Goa to use mining pits for rain water harvesting: Sawant
Iron ore mining pits in Goa will be used as rain water harvesting sites and a suitable amendment to the mining act would be made for this, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said Monday. Sawant made the announcement after holding a meeting with the state's Public Works Department minister Deepak Pauskar and Water Resources minister Vinod Palyekar. He also said the government would build 60 checks dam each in the 12 talukas in the state, adding that the plan was to have at least 300-400 of these structures ready by next year.
Canada to ban single-use plastics in 2021: Trudeau
Canada will ban single-use plastics from 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday, declaring it a "global challenge" to phase out the bottles, straws and plastic bags clogging the world's oceans. "I am very pleased to announce that as early as 2021 Canada will ban harmful, single-use plastics from coast to coast," Trudeau said, arguing Canada has a unique chance to lead to fight against plastic pollution as the country with the world's longest coastline. Trudeau said that in Canada less than 10 percent of plastics are currently recycled. Each year a million birds and more than 100,000 marine mammals worldwide suffer injury or death by becoming entangled in plastic or ingesting it through the food chain. "You've all heard the stories and seen the photos. And to be honest as a dad it is tough trying to explain to my kids," Trudeau said. "How do you explain dead whales washing up on beaches across the world, their stomachs jam packed with plastic bags? How do I tell them ...
Petronet expands Dahej import terminal capacity
Petronet LNG Ltd, India's largest natural gas importer, Monday said it has expanded its Dahej import terminal capacity to 17.5 million tonnes per annum from current 15 million tonnes. Petronet had more than one-and-a-half decade ago started operations of India's maiden liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility at Dahej in Gujarat with a nameplate capacity of 5 million tonnes per annum. This was subsequently doubled and later the import capacity was raised to 15 million tonnes per annum. "We wish to inform that facilities related to expansion of Dahej LNG terminal from 15 to 17.5 million tonnes per annum i.e. addition of 2.5 million tonnes per annum LNG regasification facilities has been commissioned and under stabilisation," the company said in a regulatory filing. Petronet also has a 5 million tonnes facility at Kochi in Kerala. "As such the additional gas send-out from Dahej LNG terminal has commenced," it said. "The performance guarantee test shall be performed once the system is
Odisha to provide 1 kg ragi at Rs 1 via PDS shops
The Odisha government has decided to distribute one kg of ragi at Rs 1 as a pilot project through the public distribution system (PDS) to improve nutritional consumption in the state.
Goa wants to use abandoned mining pits for rain water harvesting
Facing a severe drop in reservoir water levels, with the water in two reservoirs in the state down to less than 20 days of consumption, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said that he would write to the Union Mines Ministry seeking permission to convert some of the unused mining pits for rainwater harvesting purposes.
3 killed as rains lash Kerala on day 3 of monsoon
Monsoon rains lashed parts of Kerala, claiming three lives while a depression in the Arabian sea intensified into a deep depression Monday, police and the weather department said. Two of the victims, including a woman, were electrocuted on a water-logged road here while a man died and two others were injured when a tree fell on them in Kochi, police said. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the depression in the Arabian Sea moved north-northwestwards with a speed of about 15 kmph in last six hours and intensified into a deep depression and is very likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm during next 24 hours. The system lay centred at about 250 km northwest of Amindivi in Lakshadweep as of 11.30 am Monday, it said forecasting widespread rainfall with heavy falls at isolated places in the next three days in the region. Wind speed reaching 35-45 kmph gustingto 55 kmph was very likely to prevail over along the coast of Kerala and Karnataka, it said in a .
Number of forest fires on decline in Uttarakhand
Forest fires in the hill state of Uttarakhand, which have claimed one life, are on decline, according to a forest officer here on Monday.
Innovation by 7th graders to save the ocean
Our oceans have long been used as an intentional dumping ground for all sorts of waste including plastic, sewage, industrial run-off and chemicals.Marine plastic pollution has impacted at least 267 species of marine life worldwide including 86 per cent of all sea turtle species, 44 per cent of all sea bird species and 43 per cent of all marine mammal species. Marine pollution remains a major problem and threatens life in the sea at all levels. Here is an inspiring instance of how our future generation have begun acknowledging these climatic breakdowns as an issue that needs urgent attention."January 20, 2019 was a day to remember, where Bhuvan and I finally pulled it off and actually won the Codefest 2019," said Anand.Codefest 2019 is a platform that provides an opportunity for aspiring developers to showcase their unique talents to the veterans of the industry. Winning the first prize in the Junior category, was a team comprising of two students in 7th grade from Oakridge ...
Retired forest guard killed by elephant
A 72-year old retired forest guard man was trampled to death by a wild elephant, forest official said Monday. Thavasiappan, living in Arepalayam forest area of Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, entered the forest Sunday to search for his cattle which had strayed and saw the lone elephant, the officials said. On seeing the elephant, the retired forest guard started running and the elephant chased him, and trampled him before escaping into the jungles, they said. Thavasiappan fell down and sustained serious injuries. Villagers saw him lying dead on Monday. They informed the forest officials who came to the spot, and declared he had been killed by the elephant. Police have registered a case and are investigating.
Tripura govt starts procuring paddy from farmers
Tripura government Monday started procuring paddy from farmers in the state as the Food Corporation of Indian which procured paddy last year has declined to do so this year. "We procured 10,000 metric tonne of paddy last year with support from Food Corporation of India (FCI). But FCI this year declined to buy paddy so we have decided to procure 10,000 MT paddy at Rs. 1,750 per quintal on our own," Tripura Food and Civil Supplies Minister Manoj Kanti Deb told reporters. The joint director of Food and Civil Supplies, Manik Lal Baidya said procurement started on Monday at Sabroo in South Tripura district, Sonmura in Sipahijala district, Teliamura in Khowai district and Udaipur in Gomati district and the whole state would be covered in a phased manner. "We sold paddy last year and also this year and could make profit. Some of the villagers, who did not sell paddy to the FCI last year sold paddy to the state government this year", said Aminul Islam, a farmer from Kulubari in
Maha: Shepherd killed in suspected tiger attack in Chandrapur
A shepherd was killed in what officials suspect was a tiger attack in the Brahmapuri forest division of Maharashtra's Chandrapur district. Sindewahi forest ranger officer Arun Gond said Murmadi village-resident Sadashiv Pendam had gone to the outskirts of the village to graze cattle Sunday evening when the attack took place. "The body was recovered near Uma river which flows through Navargaon round of Sindewahi forest range. We suspect he was killed by a tiger. The kin of the deceased has been given Rs 30,000 as immediate relief. The rest of the Rs 15 lakh compensation will be given after documentation procedures are completed," he said. Brahmapuri MLA Vijay Wadettiwar arrived in Pendam's village Monday morning and asked forest officials to clear the thicket in the area and translocate tigers and leopards.
