Page 559 - Environment
Spanish taxi drivers continue strike, block cities' main thoroughfares
A taxi strike over how licences are granted to cabs using ride-sharing apps like Uber and Cabify that has blocked roads and paralyzed traffic in Spain's major cities, including Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, continued on Wednesday despite attempts by the government to solve the industrial action.
Made in Fukushima: Japan farmers struggle to win trust
The pumpkin is diced, the chicken carved and the eggs beaten into an omelette, but the people preparing the food are not chefs -- they are scientists testing produce from Japan's Fukushima region. Seven years after the March 2011 nuclear disaster caused by a devastating tsunami, rigorous testing shows no radioactive threat from Fukushima's produce, officials and experts say. But local producers say they still face crippling suspicion from consumers. More than 205,000 food items have been tested at the Fukushima Agricultural Technology Centre since March 2011, with Japan setting a standard of no more than 100 becquerels of radioactivity per kilogramme (Bq/kg). The European Union, by comparison, sets that level at 1,250 Bq/kg and the US at 1,200. In the last year, the centre says no cultivated produce or farm-reared livestock has exceeded the government's limit. In all just nine samples out of tens of thousands were over the limit: eight from fish bred in inland ponds, and one a sample .
Tata Power's Generation increases 5.5% to 13,113 MUs in Q1FY19
In line with its commitment to generate 30% to 40% power from non- fossil fuel sources by 2025, the Company is progressively increasing its renewable energy installations in India. With the commissioning of 100 MW renewable project in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, Tata Power has significantly increased its presence in the renewable energy space with a gross installed capacity of 2,449 MW and non fossil fuel capacity of 3,517 MW.
Did Maha govt notify any silence zone after amended rules?: HC
The Bombay High Court today sought to know from the Maharashtra government if it has notified any area in the state as silence zone pursuant to an amendment in the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000 by which all silence zones in the state stood denotified. The court also said that it proposes to pass an order putting all municipal corporations and district councils on notice to ensure that the rules are implemented during the upcoming festival season. As per the amended rules issued by the Union government on August 10, 2017 any area/zone cannot be considered a silence area/zone until and unless specific declaration to that effect is made or issued by the state government. The state government had in August last year told the high court that pursuant to the amendment to the Rules, a 2016 order of the HC declaring areas near hospitals, schools, colleges and courts as silence zones cannot be operated. The government had then said it would carry out an exercise to ...
SAIL spends Rs 18,832 cr on expansion, modernisation of Bhilai plant
Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) has spent Rs 18,832 crore on expansion and modernisation of its Bhilai plant in Chhattisgarh till June, 2018, Parliament was informed today. At present, BSP, a unit of SAIL, is one of the operational integrated steel plants in Chhattisgarh, Minister of State for Steel Vishnu Deo Sai said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. SAIL has undertaken the modernisation and expansion of Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) under which major facilities like coke oven battery, sinter machine, new blast furnace, steel melting shop etc have been installed, the minister said. "An expenditure of Rs 18,832 crore (on gross basis) has been incurred till June, 2018," Sai added.
Water has to be released from Idukki reservoir, says Kerala govt
The Kerala government today said water from the Idukki dam, where the level has nearly touched the maximum, has to be released but in phases as the state continued to be on alert following copious rains in the past few days. A cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took stock of the situation after the water level touched 2395.90 feet. The full level of the dam is 2,403 feet. The water level is related to the mean sea level and catchment area. Later talking to reporters, Power Minister M M Mani said the state government and the Kerala State Electricity Board are of the view that there was a need to open the shutters of the dam. But it would be done only in phases, he said. Mani and Water Resources Minister Mathew P Thomas had visited the dam site to take stock of the situation and had informed those at the meeting about the prevailing conditions there. With the state receiving heavy rains in the past two days, the government machinery is on alert. The water level ..
Three-year-old girl falls into borewell shaft in Bihar, rescue
Rescue operations are in full swing here for a three-year-old girl who slipped and fell into a borewell shaft, said to be more than 100 feet deep, last evening, officials said today. The child - Sanno -had come to her maternal grandparents' home in Murgiyachak locality of the town. Yesterday she was playing near the borewell shaft in the courtyard of the house and fell into it, Munger Superintendent of Police Gaurav Mangla told reporters. "Rescue operations have been on and we are confident that she will be rescued later in the day", the SP said. He also said "the girl is stuck inside the shaft at a depth of about 45 feet. A team of doctors has been pressed into service and adequate oxygen supply is being ensured with the help of cylinders and pipes". The SDRF has been here since yesterday and they will soon be joined by a team of the NDRF which is reaching here by a helicopter, the SP said adding that a horizontal access was being dug out to reach the spot. State ...
India, Germany sign pact for financial, technical collaboration in area of urban devp
India and Germany today signed an agreement on financial and technical cooperation, with a focus on sustainable urban development and renewable energy. The agreement was signed between German Ambassador to India Martin Ney and Joint Secretary, (Department of Economic Affairs), Finance Ministry, Sameer Kumar Khare. In December last year, Germany had pledged nearly Rs 8,500 crore (1,055 million Euros) for development cooperation with India during Indo-German inter-governmental negotiations. Speaking at the event, the German ambassador said the priority of the cooperation was in areas of renewable energy. This will also help reduce the greenhouse gases emission and help in achieving India's goal in curbing it, he said. He also said the focus of the cooperation was on sustainable urban development in areas of sanitation, solid waste management and promotion of urban mobility. This year marks 60 years of bilateral development cooperation between India and Germany.
'Superfood' craze makes big business of Africa's baobab
Mangoule, SENEGAL, (Reuters) - Taerou Dieuhiou has been shinning barefoot up baobab trees in Senegal's southern Casamance region to collect the oblong fruit since he was 15.
Yamuna flowing 1cm below danger mark
The water level in the Yamuna river, which was flowing over the danger mark of 204.83 metres since Saturday, reached 204.82 metres on Wednesday afternoon in Delhi -- 1 cm below the red sign.
Bhitarkanika National Park reopens for tourists today
After remaining closed for three months, the Bhitarkanika National Park here reopened for tourists today, a senior forest official said. The national park was closed for visitors from May 1 to July 31 in view of the annual nesting of estuarine crocodiles, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) Forest Division, Bimal Prasanna Acharya said. The crocodiles often turn violent and attack intruders during their breeding period and the objective behind the three-month-long prohibition on the entry of tourists to the national park was to ensure the safety of the visitors and provide a congenial environment to the crocodiles for breeding, the DFO said. "We receive about 50,000 tourists in a year. Our emphasis is to ensure a safe and comfortable sojourn of visitors, who throng here in large numbers to savour the warmth of the eco-system and unique environs of its wetlands," he said. The park authorities have improved the accommodation facilities for ...
LS member urges govt to start work on coach factory in Kerala
A member from Kerala today urged the government to start work on setting up of a rail coach factory in Palakkad, saying the announcement on it was made back in 2008. In the Lok Sabha, M B Rajesh (CPI-M) said that even land was acquired for the project in 2012 but no work has started in the last six years. Rajesh, who has been elected from Palakkad in Kerala, also said that recently he received a communication from the Railway Ministry saying that there is no immediate need for new coaches and hence the work for the coach factory would not be started soon. Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, he said both UPA and the NDA governments have not kept their promise in terms of setting up of the coach factory. Congress leader K C Venugopal raised the issue of people in coastal areas of Kerala, who have been severely affected by heavy rains, and also asked the government to consider bringing sea erosion under the natural calamities list. In response, Parliamentary Affairs ...
Energy-intensive Bitcoin transactions pose environmental threat
Bitcoin and similar blockchain technologies consume more electricity than entire nations, and may prevent the world from achieving the climate change mitigation targets under the Paris Agreement, a study has warned. The study, published in the journal Energy Research & Social Science, evaluates the financial and legal options available to lawmakers to moderate blockchain-related energy consumption and foster a sustainable and innovative technology sector. Researchers recommend an approach that imposes new taxes, charges, or restrictions to reduce demand by users, miners, and miner manufacturers who employ polluting technologies, and offers incentives that encourage developers to create less energy-intensive/carbon-neutral blockchain. "Digital currency mining is the first major industry developed from blockchain, because its transactions alone consume more electricity than entire nations," said Jon Truby, an assistant professor at Qatar University. "It needs to be directed towards .
India's monsoon rain forecast cut, farm output seen at risk
MUMBAI (Reuters) - India is likely to receive below-normal monsoon rains in 2018, a private weather forecaster said on Wednesday, raising concerns over farm output and economic growth in Asia's third-biggest economy, where half the farmland lacks irrigation.
India's Cotton Consumption Estimated At 315.50 Lakh Bales In 2017-18
The total domestic consumption of cotton in the country during 2017-18, as estimated by Cotton Advisory Board (CAB) in its meeting held on 16.6.2018, is 315.50 lakh bales. The Government has been implementing Cotton Development Programme with a focus on cropping system approach under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) in major cotton growing states since 2014-15 to enhance production and productivity. Thrust has been given on transfer of technology through frontline demonstrations and training in order to extend benefits to farmers. In addition, States can support Cotton Development Programme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna.
Heatwave deaths to rise steadily by 2080: Study
Deaths caused by severe heatwaves will increase dramatically by 2080, particularly in countries located near the equator such as India, if we fail to counter climate change, a global study has found. The study, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, is the first to predict future heatwave-related deaths and aims to help decision makers in planning adaptation and mitigation strategies for climate change. Researchers at Monash University in Australia developed a model to estimate the number of deaths related to heatwaves in 412 communities across 20 countries for the period of 2031 to 2080. The study projected excess mortality in relation to heatwaves in the future under different scenarios characterised by levels of greenhouse gas emissions, preparedness and adaption strategies and population density across these regions. "Future heatwaves in particular will be more frequent, more intense and will last much longer," said Yuming Guo, an associate professor at Monash University. "If we .
Sundarbans threatened by 'heedless industrialisation': UN expert
The Sundarbans forest, which is the largest contiguous mangrove forest in the world and home to several endangered species, is being threatened by "heedless industrialisation, according to a UN rights expert who called on the Government of Bangladesh to halt the process. Stretching along the Bay of Bengal, the Sundarbans is considered one of the natural wonders of the world. However, despite objections from the World Heritage Committee of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the Government of Bangladesh has approved more than 320 industrial projects in the area, including a massive coal-fired power plant. The process bypassed requirements for public participation and an environmental impact assessment. "The accelerating industrialisation of the Sundarbans threatens not only this unique ecosystem which hosts Bengal tigers, Ganges river dolphins and other endangered species but also poses serious .
Australia's King penguin population shrinks by 90%: Study
The world's largest colony of King penguins in the southern Indian Ocean has shrunk by nearly 90 per cent in the last three decades, yielding the territory to encroaching vegetation, an alarming research has found.
World's first intertidal art gallery opens in Maldives
An intertidal art gallery, filled with around 30 sculptures acting as a habitat for coral and other marine species, was opened in the Maldives, national media reported.
Man gets 10-yr RI for grabbing government land
A CBI court has sentenced an associate of land mafia kingpin Moti Goel to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment for grabbing government land in a village in the Sahibabad area here. Special CBI Judge Rajesh Chaudhary held Sanjiv Tiwari guilty of grabbing 52 hectares of government land in Arthla village and sentenced him to 10 years' RI, public prosecutor Kuldeep Pushkar said The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on Tiwari, who is an associate of land mafia kingpin Moti Goel, who was shot dead in Noida in April. Pushkar said Goel and his accomplices had connived with some officials to grab the piece of land. In 2005, administration officials had valued it at Rs 520 crore. At present, the land is worth Rs 2,000 crore,he added.