Page 569 - Environment
Goa to serve notice to K'taka over Mahadayi water diversion:
The Goa government will serve notice to Karnataka for 'diverting' the water of Mahadayi River to Malaprabha basin even as the two states are locked in a dispute over sharing the river's waters, minister Vinod Palyekar told the Legislative Assembly today. The minister told the House that, following the serving of this notice, the Goa government would file an interlocutory application (application moved in the main petition for urgent relief or to bring new facts to the knowledge of the court) in the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal. He said that he was making this statement as a correction to the assurance he had made in the House on Wednesday. "I had said (on Wednesday) that we will be filing interlocutory application before the tribunal in next two days. But now I would like to clarify that it would be done after serving notice to Karnataka," Palyekar told the House today. The minister on Wednesday had told the House that Karnataka had diverted the water of Mahadayi ..
New Ebola virus found in Sierra Leone
A new Ebola virus has been found in bats in Sierra Leone, two years after the end of an outbreak that killed over 11,000 across West Africa, the government has said. It is not yet known whether the new Bombali species of the virus -- which researchers say could be transmitted to humans -- can develop into the deadly Ebola disease. "At this time, it is not yet known if the Bombali Ebola virus has been transmitted to people or if it causes disease in people but it has the potential to infect human cells," Amara Jambai, a senior ministry of health official, told AFP yesterday. "This is early stages of the findings," Jambai added, calling on the public to remain calm while awaiting further research. A health ministry spokesman and a researcher who worked on the discovery confirmed the findings to AFP. Researchers who found the new virus in the northern Bombali region are now working with the Sierra Leone government to determine whether any humans were infected. "As precautionary measures,
Yamuna waters to touch warning mark
The Yamuna river's water level in Delhi is expected to touch the warning mark of 204 metres by 10 a.m. Saturday, rising from 203.88 metres at 4 p.m, a Flood Control Department told IANS on Friday.
Karnataka braces to watch longest lunar eclipse on Friday
Hundreds of enthusiastic skywatchers in Karnataka brace to witness the longest lunar eclipse of the century which begins on Friday night and ends early Saturday.
India must recognise water crisis early: NITI Aayog
Terming Yamuna a "dead river", NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar on Friday said the "enormity of the water crisis" was not being recognized in India, and that 10 large cities would completely go dry by 2030.
BJP MLA demands separate statehood for N.Karnataka
In an embarrassment to the BJP in Karnataka, its party Molkalmoru MLA B Sriramulu today batted for separate statehood for North Karnataka, alleging injustice to the region. BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa had earlier flayed those demanding separate statehood, saying such a demand will not lead to any solution. Party MP Shobha Karandlaje too dismissed the demand for separate statehood. Sriramulu said he would support the bandh call given by some organisations on August 2 demanding separate statehood for the region. Some leaders, including Congress leader H K Patil, from the region have accused the state government of having done injustice to North Karnataka in its state budget. Organisations like Uttara Karnataka Horata Samiti and Uttara Karnataka Vikasa Vedike have also accused the state government of ignoring the region's interests. "We will not keep quite if injustice is meted out to North Karnataka. We the MLAs from North Karnataka are holding discussions. Just ...
Not having sewerage connection may become offence in Goa
To check pollution of water bodies, the Goa government is mulling to enact a law to make not having sewerage connection to the house an offence. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar made this announcement in the Legislative Assembly today. He was responding to a private member's resolution moved by Congress MLAs Pratapsinh Rane and Luizinho Faleiro demanding an ordinance to stop construction activity along the river banks. Constructions along the banks are the main source of pollution of rivers, they said. Parrikar said the government will consider bringing a law, under which not having one's house connected with sewerage line would be a cognisable offence. Release of untreated waste in rivers and other water bodies is the main reason for pollution, he said. To a question about pollution of the river Sal, he said the construction of sewerage treatment plants at Navelim, Davorlin, Dicarpale, Talaulim, Aquem and Rawanfond is in progress, and once these plants start operating, it
Perception being created that Goa BJP govt is against 'meat
A perception was being created that the state's BJP-led government is against "meat eaters", Goa Animal Husbandry Minister Mauvin Godinho told the Legislative Assembly today. He was replying to a question raised by BJP MLA Glenn Ticlo who wanted to know why the state-run slaughterhouse Goa Meat Complex Limited (GMCL) was non-functional. Godinho said that a perception was being created that since the state has a BJP-led government, it was against "meat eaters" and, therefore, was not allowing the GMCL to operate. Speaking in the House, Godinho said, "This (perception) is totally false. The GMCL's operations halved in October last year when animals were not allowed to be brought there due to an NGO." "An NGO, which was not even from Goa, tried to project that we were subjecting animals to cruelty. Lot of pressure was mounted on us," he told the House. The minister said that by the time these issues at GMCL were sorted out, permissions from agencies like the Food Safety and
World's marine wilderness rapidly dwindling: Study
The first comprehensive map of ocean wilderness has revealed that just 13 per cent of the world's oceans remain untouched by the damaging impacts of human activities, scientists said today. The researchers from the University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia and international colleagues identified marine areas devoid of intense human impacts by analysing 19 stressors including commercial shipping, sediment runoff and several types of fishing. They said most of the remaining marine wilderness was unprotected, leaving it vulnerable to being lost. "Marine areas that can be considered pristine are becoming increasingly rare as fishing and shipping fleets expand their reach across almost all of the world's oceans, and sediment runoff smothers many coastal areas," said Kendall Jones, a PhD candidate at UQ. "Improvements in shipping technology mean that even the most remote wilderness areas may come under threat in the future, including once ice-covered places that are now accessible because .
Red planet and 'blood moon' pair up to dazzle skygazers
The longest "blood moon" eclipse this century will coincide with Mars' closest approach in 15 years today to offer skygazers a thrilling astronomical double bill. Viewers will need no protective eye gear to observe the spectacle -- unlike when watching solar eclipse. "All you have to do is... go outside!" the Royal Astronomical Society in London advises. For about half the world, the moon will be partly or fully in Earth's shadow from 1714 to 2328 GMT - six hours and 14 minutes in all. The period of complete eclipse -- known as "totality", when the moon appears darkest - will last from 1930 to 2113 GMT. "Totality will last for 103 minutes, making it the longest eclipse of the 21st century!" the Royal Astronomical Society said. At the same time, Mars will hover near the moon in the night sky, easily visible with the naked eye. Our neighbouring planet will appear unusually large and bright, a mere 57.7 million kilometres (35.9 million miles) from Earth on its elliptical orbit around the
Hundreds of wildlife species in Peru face extinction risk
Peru has 186 species of animals that are facing extinction, of which 64 are critically endangered species, according to the "Red Book of the Endangered Wildlife of Peru," launched by the National Forest Service and Wildlife (SERFOR) at the Lima International Book Fair (FIL).
NDMC to install 75 water ATMs
New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Vice Chairman Karan Singh Tanwar on Friday announced that the civic body will install 75 water ATMs in the city, as part of an ongoing project.
NITI Aayog in talks with water ministry to set-up authority for cleaning Yamuna
NITI Aayog said today that it is in discussions with the water resources ministry for establishing an authority to clean and rejuvenate the Yamuna river in the capital. Almost 60-70 per cent of the pollution in Yamuna comes from the Najafgarh drain alone and if that single drain could be handled, it is possible to enliven the river again, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar said. Speaking at the 3rd Kalam International Youth Conclave here, he said: "We at NITI Aayog have decided to formulate/ establish Yamuna Water Management Authority. It is almost a dead river now and that is why I have been talking with Nitin Gadkari (on this)." Gadkari, the Minister of Water Resources, is completely on-board with respect to establishing such an authority and project will start soon on this direction, Kumar said. Besides, he said, the government is planning to use the funds of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act scheme to desilt water bodies such as ponds in villages an in ...
People in Delhi face waterlogging, traffic woes due to rain
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 made 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. Heavy traffic congestion was reported on the carriageway of RTR Marg from Vasant Kunj towards the IGI airport, the traffic police said, adding waterlogging also led to congestion at Okhla Mandi, Badarpur railway underpass, under IP flyover, under Modi mill flyover, Jawaharlal Nehru Road and other areas. In Ghaziabad, many schools ...
Indians no longer require airport transit visa: France
France has announced that Indian passport holders will no longer require an airport transit visa while transiting through the country. "I'm pleased to announce that, with effect from 23rd July 2018, holders of Indian passports will no longer require an Airport Transit Visa (ATV) while transiting through the international zone of any airport in France #ChooseFrance," France's Ambassador to India Alexandre Ziegler said on Twitter last week. France forms part of the Schengen Area comprising 26 European states.
Need new tech, innovation in renewable energy for India's growth,
With thermal power generation creating environmental concerns, Senior AIADMK leader M Thambidurai today stressed on the need for innovation and new technologies in the renewable energy space to push India's economic development. "There is a resource shortage in hydro sector, while thermal creates pollution and environmental concerns. So, the innovations and new technologies in the renewable energy sector will usher a new era in the country's economic development," the Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker said. He was speaking at the inauguration of the first edition of Policies for Action (P4A), an initiative of Ashden India Collective (AIC). There is a commitment to increase the share of non-fossil fuel-based electricity to 40 per cent by 2030, he said, adding that the government is extending full support to make it happen. The encouraging sign is that India has been ranked among the top five countries for investment in renewable power projects after China, the US, Japan and the UK, he ...
Australia's Darwin seeks to shed frontier image to become world-class LNG export hub
MELBOURNE/TOKYO (Reuters) - Australia's tropical city of Darwin wants to establish itself as a world-scale energy export hub, building on its closeness to demand centres in Asia and abundant nearby natural gas resources.
Target to double tiger population in India: Vardhan
Union minister Harsh Vardhan today said the government has set a target of doubling the tiger population in the country. Speaking at an event here in the run-up to the 'International Tiger Day' on July 29, Vardhan said if tigers are conserved, the country will then also be able to protect environment and deal with environmental threats that exist in the world. "To conserve tiger, it is necessary to increase their population. We have a target of doubling the tiger population," the minister of Environment Forest and Climate Change said. He said that India has 70 per cent of the world's tiger population. The preliminary census data of the ongoing tiger census is showing rise in the population of the big cats in the country, which is a "big thing", he said. Vardhan said children should play a vital role in protecting tiger and environment. Earlier this week, the government had, while quoting preliminary census data, said that the population of tigers is on the rise. Vardhan had also ...
8 stranded in river rescued in HP
Eight people, who were stuck on an island in the middle of a river in Himachal Pradesh due to high water level, have been rescued, police said today. The eight had got stuck in the Giri river at Singh Pura area of Sirmaur district yesterday following heavy rainfall, Superintendent of Police (SP) Rohit Malpani told PTI. Five people, including two children, were rescued by the police with the help of divers last night. The three others, along with their cattle, buffaloes, calves and 15-20 goats, were rescued with the help of a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team this morning, the SP said. Local divers played an important part in rescue operation, he added.
Arnold Schwarzenegger praises Fiji's environment leadership
Actor, author and former professional body-builder Arnold Schwarzenegger applauded Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama's climate leadership and congratulated him on hosting a critical gathering of the region's leaders.
