Page 574 - Environment

China's negotiator is global climate summit Co-Chair

The Global Climate Action Summit, taking place in September in San Francisco, has announced inclusion of China's Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs Xie Zhenhua as its fifth Co-Chair. Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd Chairman Anand Mahindra is among the panel of summit Co-Chairs.

Malaysia to be firmer in row over South China Sea

Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said today that Malaysia's new government will adopt a firmer stand in tackling a decades-old territorial row in the South China Sea amid China's aggressive expansion in the disputed area. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who won a stunning electoral victory in May, has said warships should be removed from the South China Sea. Saifuddin said that Mahathir was "sending a signal that we want to be more firm, more serious" in handling the maritime dispute. The 2002 declaration of conduct by claimants in the South China Sea that set loose guidelines for behavior in the disputed waters has "no fangs," and China's continued militarization of the area has raised concern and could potentially escalate regional tensions, he told Parliament. China has sent big coast guard vessels that resemble warships to the potentially energy rich territory and has caused uneasiness among its neighbors, he said. Malaysia's previous government rarely criticizes China, even .

Factors linked to chikungunya, dengue outbreaks discovered

In one of the largest studies of its kind, researchers analyzed chikungunya and dengue outbreak data from 76 countries over a period of 50 years.They mainly focused on regions across the Indian Ocean that are hard hit by these and other mosquito-borne infectious diseases.The data revealed that population density and proximity to a country already experiencing an outbreak were the factors most closely associated with a country's own likelihood of experiencing an outbreak.Lead researcher, Marilyn O'Hara Ruiz, said," As a geographer, I was glad to see that the first law of geography held true, which is that things that are near each other tend to be more alike.""In general, when we look across time, these things are quite localized in that countries that are near each other are more likely to have the same outbreak," Ruiz said. "We also found that outbreaks are more likely to co-occur in densely populated areas."The new study found no significant association between local temperature or .

Mars making closest approach to Earth in 15 years

Now's the time to catch Mars in the night sky. Next week, the red planet is making its closest approach to Earth in 15 years. The two planets will be just 57.6 million kilometres apart next Tuesday. And on Friday, Mars will be in opposition. That means Mars and the sun will be on exact opposite sides of Earth. That same day, parts of the world will see a total lunar eclipse. Mars is already brighter than usual and will shine even more and appear bigger as Tuesday nears. Astronomers expect good viewing through early August. A massive dust storm presently engulfing Mars, however, is obscuring surface details normally visible through telescopes. The Martian atmosphere is so full of dust that NASA's Opportunity rover can't recharge not enough sunlight can reach its solar panels and so it's been silent since June 10. Flight controllers don't expect to hear from 14-year-old Opportunity until the storm subsides, and maybe not even then. The good news about all the Martian dust is that it

To protect Taj Mahal, UP files draft vision document in SC

The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday submitted its draft vision document to the Supreme Court on the restoration of Taj Mahal. The state government assured the Apex Court that it will take several steps for the conservation of the heritage structure.The proposed draft vision envisages declaring entire area near Taj Mahal a plastic-free zone including ban on bottled water, impose a complete ban on construction activities on the riverbed of the Yamuna and have better traffic management with more space for pedestrians.The state government also said that it will soon develop a design to rehabilitate and relocate slums nears Taj Mahal and added that no permission will be given for construction in the reserved forest areas."Slums located in the precinct must be retained and different development model must be designed on the case to case basis. Citizens led incremental upgradation should be prioritized over rehabilitation or relocation. Any future development in the reserved forest area .

Indonesia wary of forest fires during Asiad

Indonesian military commander Marshall Hadi Tjahjanto said on Tuesday that more troops would be deployed to ensure that forest fires do not take place in South Sumatra province during next month's Asian Games to be held in the province's capital of Palembang.

Claims of Rs 9,628 cr paid under PM crop insurance scheme

Farmers have been paid claims of Rs 9,628 crore for kharif season 2017 under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Parliament was told on Tuesday.

Odisha CM launches 'Green Mahanadi Mission'

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday launched the 'Green Mahanadi Mission', a plantation drive under which 2 crore saplings will be planted along the Mahanadi river and its tributaries.

'Railways installs solar panels to operate fans, lights in passenger coaches'

For the first time, coaches on the Indian Railways would be powered by solar energy, with the national transporter retrofitting its passenger trains with flexible solar panels. This will operate fans, light and mobile charging slots on the coaches, a railway official said. Developed by the Indian Railway Organization for Alternate Fuels (IROAF), such solar panels were earlier fitted in DEMU trains last year. After the success onthese coaches, it was felt that solar energy can also be harnessed in railway's main line coaches for the comforts of common man, the official said. "With this target in mind, Member Rolling Stock (MRS)/ Railway board has directed IROAF to fit Solar PV Panels on rooftop of four passenger trains which face the problem of run down of batteries due to slow running of trains," he said. Such fitment of solar panels has started to operate in Sitapur-Delhi Riwari Passenger train. These panels are light weight and easy to fit and most of these panels have been ...

Taj Mahal area should be no-plastic zone, polluting industries shut: UP to SC

The Uttar Pradesh government, in its first draft report of its 'Vision Document' on protection and preservation of the Taj Mahal submitted on Tuesday before the Supreme Court, suggested that the entire Taj Mahal precinct should be declared a no-plastic zone and all polluting industries in the region closed.

Polluting vehicles be restricted in TTZ: UP Govt tells SC

The Uttar Pradesh government today told the Supreme Court that plying of "polluting and private vehicles" in the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) and traffic movement along entry and exit points in cities of tourist attractions such as Agra, Mathura, Vrindavan and Govardhan should be "restricted". In its first draft report of a vision document on the protection and preservation of the iconic Taj Mahal filed in the apex court, the state said the unprecedented increase in the number of private vehicles, particularly two wheelers, needed to be curtailed with the objective of improving environmental quality. TTZ is an area of about 10,400 sq km spread over the districts of Agra, Firozabad, Mathura, Hathras and Etah in Uttar Pradesh and Bharatpur district of Rajasthan. The draft report suggested that a comprehensive traffic management plan, responsive to the large quantum of heritage dispersed all over Agra city, was needed to be prepared promoting pedestrian visitor movement in the heritage ...

Odisha CM launches 'Green Mahanadi Mission'

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today launched the 'Green Mahanadi Mission', a plantation drive under which five crore saplings will be planted in the Mahanadi river basin. Patnaik launched the Mission at Boudh during his visit to western Odisha. The chief minister himself planted a tree on the bank of river Mahanadi and called upon people to go for plantation drive during this monsoon. Under the mission, more than five crore saplings will be planted over an area of 41,000 hectares. The plantation will be done on either side of major rivers of Odisha as well along roadside length of about 5,000 km over a period of five years at an expenditure of around Rs 5,000 crore. The objective of the mission is to stop soil erosion on river banks and recharge the groundwater reserve. The volunteers will plant fruit-bearing trees like mango, jackfruit and jamun within one km radius of the river bank. This will provide livelihood opportunities for the local communities, said an ..

Man working at under construction bridge swept away into Chambal river

A 20-year-old contract labour from Jharkhand working at an under construction bridge here swept away into Chambal river, police said today. Raju Binha, a resident of Jamshedpur, was taking bath at the river yesterday when strong waves swept him away, they said. "The body has not been traced so far, however, the rescue operation is underway," the police said.

Cabotage relaxations positive for Indian ports: Icra

The Government's move to relax cabotage restrictions which will create a level-playing field for foreign-flagged ships is a long-term positive for ports, domestic ratings agency Icra said today. The relaxations are positive from a transhipment perspective for the Indian ports, it said. "The move to relax cabotage law will improve Indian ports potential to be a transhipment hub," it said in a note. In May, the shipping ministry announced relaxation in the cabotage law, which restricts operations of foreign-flagged vessels to operate domestically within the coasts of India. Under the relaxations, they will be able to transport agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and animal husbandry commodities between Indian ports without a license, Icra said. "The change will have a positive impact on the competitiveness of the Indian traders and manufacturers by reducing the supply-chain lag time and transhipment cost at a foreign port," Icra's senior vice-president and group head K ...

Taj Mahal precinct should be made no-plastic zone: UP govt tells SC

The entire precinct of Taj Mahal should be declared a no-plastic zone and use of bottled water be also prohibited there, the Uttar Pradesh government today suggested to the Supreme Court in its first draft report of a vision document on protection and preservation of the 17th century monument. The state government has also said that all polluting and sick industries from the area be removed and focus should be on having a comprehensive traffic management system in which pedestrian movement should be encouraged. In its draft report, covering the assessment undertaken at Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) level, Agra level and Taj Mahal precinct, the state government has suggested a slew of measures to restore the pristine glory of the iconic monument. TTZ is an area of about 10,400 sq km spread over the districts of Agra, Firozabad, Mathura, Hathras and Etah in Uttar Pradesh and Bharatpur district of Rajasthan. "The entire precinct should be declared as a no-plastic zone, including the use of ...

Take expert opinion on metro impact on 2 Parsi temples: HC

The Bombay High Court today suggested the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) to seek the opinion of an independent, expert body, on the possible damage that could be caused to two Parsi temples in the city due to the ongoing work on the third corridor of the metro project. A bench of Justices A S Oka and R I Chagla advised the MMRC to consult independent experts to check whether the tunnelling work for the Metro III line would cause any structural damage to the two heritage temples or to any other structures within their precincts. The bench was hearing a plea filed by the Parsi community in the city opposing the drilling work for two tunnels for the Metro III line. The petitioners told the high court the MMRC was making two tunnels near Azad Maidan, South Mumbai, as part of the work on the Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro III corridor. As per the petition, these tunnels will pass directly under the two fire temples and Atash Behrams (sacred fires), one at the junction of Princess Street, .

Delhi launches solar scheme to increase farmers' income

The Delhi Cabinet on Tuesday approved a scheme under which farmers in the national capital can lease out part of their agricultural land for setting up solar panels for additional income.

HC asks if Badrinath can be declared a national heritage site

The Uttarakhand High Court has asked the central government if the famous temple of Badrinath can be declared a national heritage site. A division bench of justices V K Bisht and Manoj Kumar Tiwari posed the query to the Centre yesterday while hearing a public interest lawsuit for shifting of a sewage treatment plant at Badrinath from its current location at the mouth of Alaknanda and Rishi Ganga rivers to prevent the sullying of rivers due to disposal of sewage into them. The bench asked the Centre to spell out its stand on the issue of declaring Badrinath temple a national heritage site in an affidavit by August 27. It also directed the Uttarakhand advocate general to discuss with the Urban Development secretary the prospect of developing the region in a special way. The court also directed the Jal Nigam to inspect the region and present a report to it by August 27 when the matter will be heard next.

Thousands of fish found dead in pond

Thousands of dead fish were found floating in a pond here today, police said. Residents nearby informed the Corporation about the fish in the Valankulam pond and officials of the civic body arrived to find the reason for the death, they said. Release of medical waste from hospitals and effluents from dyeing units might have killed the fish, said the officials from the civic body.

Moon may have harboured life 4 bn years ago

While the Moon is presently unsuitable for habitation, there could have been life on its surface about four billion years ago, researchers have suggested.