Page 573 - Environment
BJP MP takes on JD(S)-Cong combine in K'taka
A BJP MP today pilloried the JD (S)-Congress combine in Karnataka, saying Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy was "consuming poison" to remain in power while the Congress was feeding him venom to extract more control and authority in the state. Participating in a debate in the Lok Sabha on drought and floods in different parts of the country, Pratap Simha, a first-time MP from Mysore, said "the Karnataka chief minister has said he is consuming poison, but he is doing that to stay in power. The Congress is feeding him more venom to get more authority and control over power (in the state)." His jibe was aimed at Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who had reportedly said earlier this month that he was like Lord Shiva who drank poison. The Congress and Janta Dal (Secular) had entered into an alliance to keep the BJP at bay. Simha's statement evoked sharp reactions from the Congress, especially from the MPs belonging to Karnataka. Defending Simha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth
Yamuna cleaning project: No 'meaningful progress' at ground level, says NGT
The National Green Tribunal today rapped the Delhi Jal Board over cleaning of the Yamuna river and said there has been no "meaningful progress" on the ground in the last three years. The green panel noted that work on 14 sewage treatment plants (STPs) has not even begun. These were supposed to be completed by March 2017 as per the court's January 13, 2015, judgment. The STPs would treat the effluents and ensure no pollutants enter the river. "In spite of proceedings in the case in the last three years, there is no meaningful progress at the ground level. It does appear that the present in-charge may not be competent enough to handle the issue. "Today, we are in a failure situation. We don't want useless and incompetent people, who have failed us, the people and the country," a bench, headed by National Green Tribunal (NGT) Chairperson A K Goel, said. Expressing dissatisfaction over the situation, the tribunal directed the CEO of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to put in place a suitable ...
Nemo's bright colours protect it from predators: Study
The colourful stripes of coral reef-dwelling clownfish, made famous by the 2003 animated film Finding Nemo, may serve to warn predators about their poisonous anemone hosts, according to a study. The research, published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology, set out to discover whether there was a link between the distinctive orange-and-white stripes of clown-fish and their anemone hosts. Clownfish were named for their bright, flamboyant colouring but the function of the colour patterns had not been investigated before. "They have a unique symbiotic relationship with their anemone hosts, which use stinging tentacles to catch prey, while the clownfish remain unharmed and protected by the anemone," said Jennifer Kelley from the University of Western Australia. The researchers collected data from 27 species of clownfish and the 10 known species of host anemone. They then tested for an association between fish colour pattern traits and the protective properties of their anemone hosts, ...
Karna diverting Mahadayi water to Malaprabha basin: Goa govt
The Goa government today said that Karnataka has been "diverting" water of the Mahadayi river from the Kalsa basin to the Malaprabha basin by constructing conduits. Goa Water Resources Department Minister Vinod Palyekar told the Legislative Assembly that this act of the Karnataka government amounted to violation of the order of the Water Dispute Tribunal (WDT) and that the issue has been taken up "very seriously". "Two teams of Water Resources Departmentof Goa had visited the site of the Kalsa (a river feeding water to Mahadayi) diversion after reading newspaper reports in this regard," the minister said. He was responding to the Calling Attention motion moved by Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco about diversion of the Mahadayi river water by the Karnataka government which has impacted the flow of water downstream. "It is seen that waters from the part of the catchment of the (Kalsa) nullah is getting divertedthrough conduits. The water was flowing through two of ..
Goa HC issues notices on PIL for closure of coal operations at Mormugao port
The Bombay High Court has issued notices to the state government, the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) and three private firms on a PIL seeking an order for closure of coal operations at the port in Vasco city. The notices were issued yesterday by the high court's Goa bench, comprising Justices Nitin Jamdar and Prithviraj Chavan. The bench has fixed the next date of hearing as August 20. The PIL was filed by NGO Goa Foundation and five others last week. It stated that the handling of "dirty cargo" of coal at the port in Vasco is leading to permanent impairment of health of fellow citizens and continuously affecting the right to clean and planned environment guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. "The respondents -- the MPT, importers of the coal South West Port Limited, Adani Mormugao Port Terminal Private Limited and Vedanta--- will have to submit their replies to the notice before August 20," advocate Claud Alvares, representing the NGO, said today. The Goa State Pollution ...
J-K govt orders probe into construction of commercial complex on banks of Jhelum
The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered a probe into the construction of a massive commercial complex on the banks of river Jhelum in the summer capital of the state following a vigourous campaign launched by environmental activists. "Sanction is hereby accorded to the constitution of a committee to conduct an in-depth enquiry into the grant of building permission for construction of commercial complex by one Sheikh Gulzar Ahmad at Rajbagh," an order issued by the General Administration Department last week reads. The committee will be headed by deputy commissioner Srinagar with special secretary Housing and urban Development, vice chairman of the Srinagar Development Authority and director Floriculture as members. It shall also include members from the irrigation and flood control, public health engineering and public works departments, says the order. The committee has been asked to establish the ownership of the land, as the state land cannot be sold as per the provisions of ..
Ethanol-blended petrol saved forex, lowered emission: Govt
Almost 67 crore litres of ethanol was blended with petrol in 2016-17 which had resulted in foreign exchange saving of about Rs 1,750 crore and lowered while carbon emission, the government said today. Replying to queries during the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said surplus and damaged foodgrains would be used to produce ethanol, which will increase its availability for ethanol blended petrol. "In the year 2016-17, as much as 66.5 crore litres of ethanol were blended in petrol which resulted in foreign exchange impact of Rs 1,749 crore while carbon emission was reduced to the extent of 13.23 lakh tonnes," he said. Responding to concerns expressed by members, Pradhan said the steps taken would in no way create any scarcity. "We will not allow any scarcity of food grains," he said. Explaining the government's perspective, he said the sugar industry was stressed while on the other hand there was a huge import bill. The intent was to ...
EU carmakers 'inflating' emissions to skew carbon targets
European Union carmakers may be submitting "inflated" figures for their vehicles' carbon dioxide emissions to soften future targets for reducing the greenhouse gas, European Commission documents showed today. Authorities are currently switching over from an older emissions testing procedure known as NEDC to a new one called WLTP. During the changeover, "emission values officially declared by manufacturers may be inflated," Commission officials wrote to senior members of the European Parliament's environment committee and EU Council president Austria. Declaring higher emissions values now "would cause an increase of the 2021 WLTP targets... the targets for 2025 and 2030 would also be weakened," the officials explained. The new allegations differ in important details from the "dieselgate" scandal that has rocked the car industry since 2015. In that case, Volkswagen admitted to manipulating millions of cars to appear to emit less harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) in lab tests than they were .
HC asks tech institute to assess if Metro work could affect Parsi temples
The Bombay High Court today appointed a city-based technological institute to ascertain if tunnelling work for the Metro III line could cause any structural damage to two Parsi temples here. A bench of Justices A S Oka and R I Chagla directed the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, appointed as an independent expert body, to submit its report to the court in 10 days. The bench was hearing a plea filed by the Parsi community in the city opposing the drilling work for two tunnels of the Metro III line. The petitioners told the high court that the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) was making two tunnels near the Azad Maidan area in south Mumbai as part of its work on the Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro III corridor. As per the present plan of the MMRC, the tunnels will pass directly under two fire temples and Atash Behrams (sacred fires), one at the junction of Princess Street, and another at Kalbadevi in south Mumbai, both heritage sites. The petitioners said the proposed work, in ...
Raw silk output may touch 38,500 tonnes by 2019-20: Govt
India's raw silk production is expected to reach 38,500 tonnes by 2019-20, Parliament was informed today. However, despite several schemes and programmes for increasing silk production in the country, India still imports silk products from China, Japan and Korea, Minister of State for Textiles Ajay Tamta said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. "The import of raw silk has consistently reduced from 5,683 tonnes during 2011-12 to 3,712 tonnes in 2017-18 due to the thrust given for the production of import-substitute Bivoltine raw silk within the country," he said. Tamta added that the government has taken several steps for increasing production of import substitute quality bivoltine silk. The steps include focus on R&D to evolve productive bivoltine hybrids, and package of practices for production of high quality silk in the country.
Bihar to be declared drought-hit if rains less than avg: Min
The Bihar government today said it would declare the state "drought hit" if it receives less than average rainfall in the next two to three days. "If the state receives less than average rainfall in next two-three days, then the state government will not be lagging behind in declaring the state drought hit. "The CM has convened a meeting of the crisis management group on July 31 to assess the situation and if need arises, the CM would declare the state a drought hit the same day," Agriculture Minister Prem Kumar said. The minister was speaking at a two-hour special debate in the state Assembly on a possible drought-like situation in Bihar. Enumerating the steps taken by the state government, he said it has increased diesel subsidy to Rs 50 a litre from last year's Rs 35 per litre for farmers, and slashed power tariff rate from 96 to 75 paisa per unit in rural areas. Bihar has earmarked Rs 60 crore for diesel subsidy and Rs 15 crore for alternative crops, Kumar said. Not ..
Bengal spends Rs 1372 crore towards green city project
The urban development department of West Bengal government has spent Rs 1372 crore towards the green city project undertaken by various urban local bodies of the state, the assembly was informed today. Replying during the question hour, Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim said the state government was making budgetary provisions for this and the Centre was not extending any support. He said all the municipalities had submitted their green city plans to the department and accordingly funds were given. Mayor of Siliguri Municipal Corporation and CPI(M) MLA Ashok Bhattacharya said no funds were given to the urban local body of the north Bengal town and urged Hakim to release them as per its eligibility. In the green city project, Hakim said, all the existing street lamps would be replaced by LED bulbs and battery-run vehicles would be plied.
TN govt urges Centre to release Rs 3558 cr for local bodies
The Tamil Nadu government today urged the Centre to release funds to the tune of Rs 3558 crore for urban and rural local bodies in the state. Minister for Municipal Administration, SP Velumani, presented a memorandum to Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi today in this regard, a state government release here said. Velumani demanded the release of Basic Grant of Rs1390.04 crore and Performance Grant of Rs 560.15 Crore to the urban and rural local bodies for the Financial Year 2017-18 and the first instalment of the Basic Grant of Rs 1608.02 crore for 2018-19, it said. Velumani met Goyal along with senior Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai and state Electricity Minister P Thangamani.
PFC forays into financing of sewage treatment plants, funds Nagpur waste water project
State-owned Power Finance Corporation (PFC) has forayed into sewage treatment finance segment by extending Rs 192.79 crore assistance to Nagpur Waste Water Management, a Vishvaraj Group firm. The funds will be used for establishment of sewage treatment plant in Nagpur, which will sell 150MLD treated sewage water to PFC-funded Khaperkheda & Koradi Thermal Power Stations of Maharashtra State Power Generation (MahaGenco), a first of its kind project in India being executed in compliance of the National Tariff Policy 2016, under PPP (Public Private Partnership) mode, a PFC statement said. According to the statement, the plant is expected to be commissioned by 2020. The aim of this project is to reduce the stress on fresh sources of water for power generation, by supplying the treated sewage water to power plants for specific secondary uses like ash handling and cooling. Nagpur Municipal Corporation will also get revenue share from the sale of such treated sewage water to Mahagenco, ..
NGT raps DJB over cleaning of Yamuna, says no progress at ground level
The NGT today rapped the Delhi Jal Board over cleaning of the Yamuna river and said there has been no "meaningful progress" on the ground in the last three years. The green panel noted that work on 14 sewage treatment plants (STPs) has not even begun despite its January 13, 2015, judgment on the river's rejuvenation. "In spite of proceedings in the case in the last three years, there is no meaningful progress at the ground level. It does appear that the present in-charge may not be competent enough to handle the issue. "Today, we are in a failure situation. We don't want useless and incompetent people, who have failed us, the people and the country," a bench headed by National Green Tribunal (NGT) Chairperson A K Goel said. Expressing dissatisfaction over the situation, the tribunal directed the CEO of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to put in place a suitable officer who can ensure that the work on the 14 STPs starts within a month and asked him to file an affidavit in this regard within ..
Kovind on two-day visit to Bastar
President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday was in Jagdalpur as part of his two-day visit to the Bastar region.
Karnataka has removed Mhadei conduit blockages: Goa Minister
Two of the three blockades, built on water diversion conduits by the Karnataka government along the Mhadei river, have been removed and water is already being diverted from the Mhadei river to the Malaprabha river basin in the Southern State, Water Resources Minister Vinod Palienkar said on Wednesday.
Jharkhand's tribal marriage and harvest art on display
Prototypes of Jharkhands traditional Khovar and Sohrai art, along with live demonstrations of art-making by tribal women artists, adorn the walls of India International Centre (IIC) here.
Infrastructure ecosystem crucial to maximising economic value (Column: Behind Infra Lines)
While different infrastructure sectors such as renewable energy generation, energy transmission and transportation have their unique features, the importance of developing different infrastructure assets in tandem, to maximise both financial and social value creation for India, cannot be overemphasised.
TN govt unveils draft forest policy
The Tamil Nadu government has rolled out the draft state Forest Policy aimed at preserving forests and wildlife, conservation of ecosystems, and climate change mitigation among others in the state. According to the Vision Tamil Nadu 2023 document released by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in 2014, preserving the ecology was one of the themes of the document which aims at increasing forest cover, protection of wetlands and other waterbodies in the state. The draft forest policy rolled out by Chief Minister K Palaniswami would work on the objectives which include conservation of biodiversity, wildlife, rehabiliation and restoration of degraded forests, coastal ecosystem conservation among others. The policy seeks the involvement of local tribal communities in protection, conservation and wildlife management. Tamil Nadu has about 30.92 per cent of the forest declared as 'protected areas' and has 15 wildlife sanctuaries, five National parks, 15 bird sanctuaries, three
