Page 568 - Environment
Complete lunar eclipse begins, the longest of this century
Skywatchers around much of the world have begun watching a complete lunar eclipse that is the longest of this century. The so-called "blood moon," when it turns a deep red, is visible at different times in Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe and South America when the sun, Earth and moon line up perfectly, casting Earth's shadow on the moon. The total eclipse lasts 1 hour and 43 minutes, with the entire event lasting closer to four hours. Across Africa, people turned to the sky, watching the reddish shadow slide up the moon's surface. In Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, hundreds of people hurried to mosques for special prayers often observed during lunar eclipses while clerics on loudspeakers urged them along. In Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, people at an open-air restaurant admired a rare clear view during the rainy season, comparing a live NASA webcast to what they saw above. Then clouds rolled in. "Dem yelebesech chereka," some murmured Amharic for "blood moon." "The reason that the ..
GDA dismisses reports of Hindon Road rendered unfit for travel
The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) today dismissed the reports that the Hindon Elevated Road was rendered unfit for travel due to heavy rains. Chief Engineer, GDA, V N Singh said the soil on the footpath at the base of a pillar was washed away due to the rains, adding that however the pillar of the elevated road stood upon a pier that went 30 metres deep into the earth and was intact. The damaged footpath was immediately repaired, Singh said, adding that traffic was not disrupted. Throughout the day, television channels played footage of the pillar, showing that soil was washed off at its base and thus, it had become unfit for plying of vehicles.
Heavy rains lead to waterlogging, traffic woes in Delhi
Heavy rains for the second consecutive day today led to waterlogging and traffic congestion in the national capital, compounding problems for commuters. The Delhi Traffic Police on its Twitter account kept posting updates about the situation as people vented their ire on social media over waterlogged roads. There was waterlogging on the road between Nangloi and Najafgarh, specially near the Satyabhama hospital, where potholes compounded the problem, the traffic police said. Waterlogging was reported at Ali Gaon traffic signal, Mehrauli-Mahipalpur route to the Delhi Airport, near Zakir Hussain College, Ramlila Maidan, and civic centre in central Delhi. Other areas, including Gazipur Murga Mandi, Mayur Vihar phase II, Rajapuri Chowk, Sarita Vihar underpass, Badarpur railway underpass, under IP flyover, near Guru Nanak Chowk, Ramlila Maidan, Okhla Mandi, near Shani mandir on Rao Tularam Marg and Mundka were also waterlogged. Heavy traffic congestion was witnessed on the carriageway of ...
Delhi govt directs pvt developer to improve condition at transit camp
The Delhi government today directed a private developer to improve within seven days the living conditions at a transit camp at Anand Parbat here for dwellers of Kathputli Colony to prevent outbreak of any disease. The move came a day after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had visited the camp and had pulled up officials of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and a private builder over poor living conditions there. The chief minister had lashed out at the DDA executives and the builder who are redeveloping the colony of artisans at west Delhi, during a visit to the camp at Anand Parvat yesterday. An order today issued by sub-divisional magistrate (Patel Nagar) Jatin Goyal said it was found that living conditions at the transit camp were "extremely unhygienic" and it could lead to outbreak of diseases like malaria and dengue. The order also said that as per information received from the DDA, the maintenance of transit camp was the responsibility of the private builder developing the ...
Air pollution: NGT directs CPCB to strictly implement graded response action plan
The National Green Tribunal today directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to strictly implement the graded response action plan to combat different levels of air pollution. The green panel noted that a number of orders were passed by various courts on air pollution and there was a need of effective monitoring mechanism. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed the CPCB to monitor the ambient air quality samples regularly on monthly basis and take appropriate action. "We are of the view that there was a need of change in procedure laid down earlier to the effect that Graded Response Action Plan which has already been notified and further modification by the tribunal be fully implemented. The CPCB may take action in this regard and act accordingly," the bench said. Observing that air quality in the national capital was "severe" for most of the month, the tribunal had earlier directed implementation of a graded response action plan to combat ...
Odisha to plant five crore saplings this year: Naveen
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said that around five crore saplings would be planted across the state this year. Patnaik made the announcement while inaugurating the mega plantation drive-Aame Gadhiba, Sabuja Odisha at Kalinga stadium here. While two crore sapling would be planted under the Green Mahanadi Mission, the remaining three crore saplings would be planted under other programmes, he said. The chief minister also said members of Biju Yuva Vahini will plant over 30 lakh saplings across Odisha during the monsoon season this year. "The plantation drives will make our state more green. I request you all to create awareness regarding various campaigns of government pertaining to pollution...I repose my full faith and confidence it the Biju Yuva Vahini," Patnaik told the Biju Yuva Vahini volunteers. The chief minister also planted a sapling at the stadium premises to commence the plantation drive. About 2.5 lakh Biju Yuva Vahini volunteers will participate .
Fishermen rescued after boat overturns
Eleven fishermen were rescued after their boat overturned in a choppy sea off the Baina beach near Vasco today. "The incident happened around 3.15 PM when the fishermen were returning to the shore," said a spokesperson of Drishti Marine, which supplies lifeguards for beaches in the state. The boat overturned around 50 metres from the seashore and the fishermen were thrown into water. "Four of them were caught in a current and drifted further into the sea while seven others held onto the boat," the spokesperson said. Life guards Ramesh Lamani and Anand Madar alongwith some local people rescued them with the help of a jetski and rescue tubes.
Interview: Cheer for beer brewers as world hop harvest looks good
HAMBURG (Reuters) - Brewers will get a good supply of hops, a key beer ingredient, this year as the world hop harvest is likely to reach a reasonable size, although slightly smaller than last year, the head of German-U.S. global hops trader Barth-Haas Group said.
Plastic ban makes Ganpati Bappa dearer for Mumbaikars this year
The plastic ban in Maharashtra is impacting costs of almost everything directly or indirectly. Even the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated across Maharashtra will be no exception.Ganeshotsav is observed in second and third weeks of September, but workshops of idol makers and other festive decorations are already feeling the heat of plastic ban in the state that has been effective since June 23 this year.According to the idol makers and decorators, the costs of idols during the festival are bound to go up this year after the state environment department put a restriction on several plastic and thermocol items this year.Krunal Patil, an idol maker in Parel area of Mumbai, told ANI, "The prices of idols will surely go up as we have to find some alternatives for plastic and thermocol which will be costlier. But fortunately, the number of bookings for idols has not been affected much despite high costing because this is a matter of faith and people will bear the extra cost. They will .
Idukki dam in Kerala set to be opened after 26 years
The high range Idukki dam, one of the highest arch reservoirs in Asia, is set to be opened for the first time in 26 years, prompting a committee headed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to take stock of the situation today. Due to copious inflows following heavy monsoon rains, the water level in the dam today stood at 2,392 feet against its maximum of 2,403 feet, official sources said. The shutters of the dam, a double curvature arch reservoir constructed across the Periyar river, were likely to be opened once the water level touched 2,400 feet, officials of Kerala The dam's shutters were last opened in 1992. This is the first time that it will attain its full level during the South West Monsoon period. The arch reservoir comprises three dams -Idukki, Cheruthoni and Kulamavu, built for the Idukki Hydroelectric Project. Idukki dam is used to store the water while the latter two are meant to route it to the powerhouse. Besides the Chief Minister, Revenue Minister E ...
Nearly 60% Goa households overuse electricity, says Parrikar
Nearly 60 per cent of households overuse electricity in Goa, putting additional load on transformers, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told the assembly today and suggested hiking tariff for customers with higher power usage. Responding to the demands of grant of the electricity department, Parrikar said more than 50-60 per cent of the households exceed their electricity limits. "If a house has connection for five kilowatts, they install four air conditioners, geyser, cooking range, heater and other appliances so that the electricity consumption touches 20 KW. "And this is not done by single household, almost everyone does that because of which the transformer gets loaded and starts developing problems," he said. Parrikar said the state witnessed frequent power outages due to unseasonal rains and winds. "Unseasonal rains and winds have resulted in uprooting of 650 poles. Due to lightning, 45 transformer centres and three power transformers had conked off," he said. The ...
Heritage Cabinet nod for Odia varsity in Puri
The newly formed 'Heritage Cabinet' of the state government today approved the establishment of the "much-awaited" Odia University at Puri, a top official said. The meet, chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, also resolved to formulate a policy to preserve the state's indigenous culture, he said. "At the first Heritage Cabinet meeting today, it was decided that the Odia University will be established at Satyabadi in Puri district as the place has socio-cultural significance. The state government will provide 25-acre land for the proposed university," Chief Secretary A P Padhi told reporters. The 'Heritage Cabinet' was constituted earlier this month to promote and preserve the state's culture and traditions. "The cabinet meeting also decided to convert the Ananda Bhawan Museum and Learning Centre in Cuttack into a Trust. For the smooth functioning of all libraries in the state, a separate post of Director, Public Library, will be created," Padhi added.
NGT anguished over Ganga, orders installation of display boards indicating if water was fit for bathing
The National Green Tribunal today said the water of the Ganga, between Haridwar and Unnao in Uttar Pradesh, was unfit for drinking and bathing, and expressed anguish over the situation. The green panel said that innocent people drank and bathed in the river with reverence, without knowing that it may adversely affect their health. "Do people of this country know that Ganga water is unfit for drinking and bathing? They perform achamana (purification ritual) thinking that they will go to heaven. Can you imagine which heaven will they if they drink this polluted water," a bench, headed by NGT chairperson A K Goel, observed. The green panel directed National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) to install display boards at a gap of 100 kilometres, indicating whether the water was fit for bathing or drinking. The tribunal, however, said that where there was more habitation, display boards may be put at a shorter distance. The green panel said that innocent people drank and bathed in the river ...
India will succeed only when Uttar Pradesh develops: Puri
Union minister Hardeep Puri lauded today the works undertaken by the Yogi Adityanath government stressing that the country will succeed only when Uttar Pradesh develops. At a programme organised to mark the completion of three years of the Smart City Mission, AMRUT and Pradhan Mantri Avas Yojna (urban), the minister of state for housing and urban development claimed that massive works have been undertaken for urbanisation in the past four years. The three level strategy adopted by the country in this urbanisation sector has won praise all over the world, Puri said. Poverty alleviation, reasonable housing, cleanliness are three key issues of development in over 4,200 cities and towns added in the first level, while in 500 cities potable water and sewerage have been included in the next level, he said. In the third level, 100 smart cities are being developed in a manner so as to encourage smart urbanisation, the minister said. "The Yogi Adityanath government has done important work in ..
Delhi's air quality turns good for the first time this year: Authorities
Delhi's air quality turned "good" today for the first time this year due to continuous rains that have washed away the pollutants in the air, authorities said. The Air Quality Index of New Delhi was recorded at 43 which falls under the "good" category, Gufran Beig, a scientist at the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research institute (SAFAR), said. An AQI in the range of 0-50 is considered "Good", 51-100 "Satisfactory", 101-200 "Moderate", 201-300 "Poor", 301-400 "Very Poor" and 401-500 "Severe". The PM10 level (presence of particles with diameter less than 10mm) was recorded as "good" at 39 in Delhi-NCR and 32 in Delhi. The PM2.5 level (presence of particles with diameter less than 2.5 mm) was 39 in Delhi-NCR and 21 in Delhi today, according to the Central Pollution Control Board data. Beig said the monsoon had led to a flow of clean moisture-laden winds into the city that was cleansing the air. Delhiites breathed "good" quality air for the first time ...
BJP MLA backs statehood demand for N.Ktka but later retracts
Hours after backing those demanding separate statehood for North Karnataka leaving his party embarrassed, BJP MLA B Sriramulu today retracted his statement,saying he never supported division of the state. Much to the state BJPleadership's embarrassment, Sriramulu told reporters earlier that he would support those who gave a bandh call on August 2 demanding separate statehood for the region. "We will not keep quite if injustice is meted out to North Karnataka. We the MLAs from North Karnataka are holding discussions. Just wait and watch, what we will do next. Like separate Telangana, this (movement) will also become a big 'revolution'. The coalition government has ignored North Karnataka. Chief Minister Kumaraswamy is practising the politics of partiality," Sriramulu said at Ballari. As the party disapproved of his stand, he retracted, saying he actually meant that it was unfortunate that demand for separate statehood to northKarnataka has been made. "It is unfortunate ..
On October 2, 100,000 students in India to assemble solar lamps
As part of the upcoming 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and ongoing diamond jubilee of IIT-Bombay, a whopping 100,000 students from 100 schools across India will assemble solar lamps on October 2, an official said here on Friday.
UPNEDA annuls tender won by AGEL for solar projects
Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) has annulled a tender bagged by Adani Green Energy for setting up 250 MW solar generation projects. "Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL), through its wholly-owned subsidiary Mahoba Solar (UP) Pvt Ltd had won a tender for setting up 250 MWac solar generation projects floated by Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA)...The said tender has been annulled by UPNEDA," the company said in a BSE filing. With this, AGEL's portfolio of renewable generation capacity stands at 3.50 GW with 1.96 GW operational projects and balance 1.54 GW in development stage, the filing said.
NGT orders environment audit of IHBAS
The National Green Tribunal today ordered an environment audit of the premier Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) here within a month. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to inspect the institute and submit a report on management of waste at IHBAS. An environmental audit is the ability of a management system to manage waste or prevent, reduce, control, rectify or clean up pollution or environmental harm resulting from pollution. During the hearing, advocate Rajkumar, appearing for CPCB, told the bench that the capacity of the microwave waste treatment unit of the institute at Dilshad Garden in North East Delhi was enough to treat the laboratory waste generated by it. The submission was vehemently opposed by advocate Siddhartha Singh, appearing for the petitioner Balbir Singh, who said the capacity of unit was inadequate to deal with the waste, which includes the bio-medical waste ...
Python, cobra rescued in Gurugram
An Indian rock python and spectacled cobra were rescued by a wildlife activist from a luxury hotel and a private cricket academy respectively here in the foothills of Aravali mountain range on Friday.
