Page 575 - Environment
Transmission project near completion, to boost power supply to J-K: Sterlite
In a major boost to power scenario in Kashmir, the Northern Region System Strengthening (NRSS) project, which would enable transfer of 1,000 MW electricity to the valley, is ready to be commissioned, a top official of developer Sterlite Power said. "NRSS-29, which connects the northern grid to Jammu and Kashmir, is ready to be commissioned. The project would enable power transfer of 1,000 MW to the valley, thus increasing the grid capacity by 70 per cent," Sterlite Power CEO Ved Tiwari told reporters here. The project has been completed except for a 600-metre minor section in the Khansahib area. Tiwari said the project was conceived in 2012 and approved by the Centre in February 2013. The project - NRSS-29 -- was transferred to the company on August 4, 2014, and the firm had targetted to complete the transmission line by its fourth anniversary on August 4, 2018, Tiwari said. Only about 600 metres of the nearly 850-km line remains to be completed, he added. "We faced some difficulties
'Largest dinosaur foot to date discovered'
Scientists today said they have discovered the largest dinosaur foot ever - nearly a metre wide - belonging to a brachiosaur, which was among the biggest land animals on Earth. The study, published in the journal PeerJ, is based on fossils excavated in Wyoming, US, and confirms that 150 million years ago brachiosaurs called a huge swath of North America home. "This beast was clearly one of the biggest that ever walked in North America," said Emanuel Tschopp, a postdoctoral fellow at the American Museum of Natural History. "There are tracks and other incomplete skeletons from Australia and Argentina that seem to be from even bigger animals, but those gigantic skeletons were found without the feet," Tschopp said. The foot was excavated in 1998 by an expedition team from the University of Kansas, which included Anthony Maltese. "It was immediately apparent that the foot, nearly a metre wide, was from an extremely large animal, so the specimen was nicknamed Bigfoot," said Maltese, lead ...
Ensure storm water drains in Gurgaon are kept clean: NGT
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Haryana government to ensure that storm water drains in Gurgaon are not covered and kept clean to avoid flooding in the city during Monsoon. The green panel also asked the state government to prepare an appropriate action plan within six weeks to provide for recovery of fine or penalty from those found polluting the drains. A storm water drain flushes excess rain and ground water from impermeable surfaces such as those of streets, footpaths and sidewalks. The tribunal said the action plan may be put up on websites of authorities concerned for suggestions and feedback from the people, which, it said, must be taken into account in the monitoring process. "We have no hesitation in directing the principal secretary of the Town and Country Planning Department of the State of Haryana in consultation with the State Pollution Control Board and the Municipal Corporation, Gurgaon, to take steps so that storm water drains are not covered, but are ...
Delhi CM announces solar energy scheme aimed at raising farmers income by 3-5 times
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today announced the 'Mukhyanmantri Kisan Aaye Badhotri Solar Yojna' which aims to increase the income of farmers by three to five times in the national capital. As per the scheme approved today by the Delhi Cabinet, maximum of one-third surface area of the agriculture land can be used for installation of solar panels in such a way that agriculture activity is not affected. Talking to reporters here after the Cabinet meeting, Kejriwal said the present estimated annual income of farmers is Rs 20,000 to 30,000 per acre per year. "With the introduction of this scheme, farmers' income will be increased by three to five times per acre," the chief minister said. He also said the minimum height for installing solar panels will be 3.5 metres to ensure that agriculture activity is not affected. "Farmers will not have to invest anything in this scheme. Around five companies have so far shown interest in it," Kejriwal said. The chief minister also said the ...
8 people fell ill after consuming sweets at religious gathering in Mathura
At least eight people were today taken ill after consuming sweets, distributed as 'prasad' during a religious congregation in Radha Kund area, an official said. The people complained of nausea and vomiting after consuming rasgulla and were rushed to a community health centre in Govardhan, District Magistrate Sarvagyaram said. Samples of the sweets have been sent to laboratory for further investigation, he said.
Scores feared dead, many missing as Laos dam collapses
Scores of people are feared dead and hundreds missing after a dam in Laos' south-eastern province of Attapeu collapsed, releasing billions of cubic meters of water into the region.According to South China Morning Post, who cited a report from Laos News Agency, a hydropower dam in Attapeu's Sanamxay district collapsed which led to the release of five billion cubic feet of water. As a result many villages got submerged. Scores are feared dead and many missing. It reported there were "several human lives claimed, and several hundreds of people missing".A video uploaded by state-run ABC Laos News shows entire villages submerged following the accident.With a vast network of rivers in the nation, several hydroelectric dams are built across Laos, which mostly exports the energy it generates from these dams to neighbouring countries.The dam is a project of the Vientiane based joint venture, the Xe Pian Xe Namnoy Power Company (PNPC) costing around USD 1.2 billion. The joint venture was ...
Thirumalai Chemicals provides update on various projects
A: Status of Previous Announcements:
Mhadei water already diverted towards Malaprabha: Minister
The Karnataka government has already diverted the flow of the Mhadei river at Kalsa-Bhandura and the Goa government will file a contempt petition before the central tribunal, appointed to resolve the inter-state dispute, as a counter-measure, Water Resources Minister Vinod Palienkar said on Tuesday.
Issue guidelines to check pollution by education institutions: NGT to MoEF
Taking note of violation of environmental norms by educational institutions across the country, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to issue guidelines in this regard. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel expressed concern over air and noise pollution caused by schools and other such institutions in contravention to green laws and asked the ministry to look into it. "We consider it appropriate to direct the Secretary, MoEF, to have an interaction by way of video-conferencing or otherwise with the education departments of all the states in association with the pollution control boards concerned or the Central Pollution Control Board to issue appropriate guidelines to take care of the violation of environment norms by different education institutions in the country," the bench said. The green panel directed the MoEF to file a compliance report by email at filing.ngt@gmail.com within eight weeks. The ...
Taj Mahal: UP submits vision document to SC
The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday submitted to the Supreme Court the first draft of a vision document on restoration of Taj Mahal, and assured that the state government would impose a complete ban on construction activities on the river bed Yamuna, better traffic management and more space for pedestrians.The move comes following the top court's observations on July 11on the depleting conditions of the 17th iconic monument.One of the lawyers of the Yogi Adityanath-led UP government, Aishwarya Bhati said that there would be a complete ban on construction activities, traffic would be managed in a better way, and efforts would be made to promote better pedestrian movement. All these steps would be taken to protect the Mughal mausoleum.
4 lakh tonne sugar in process for exports: Govt
Nearly 4,00,000 tonnes of sugar is in the process of being exported from India to countries in the Middle East as also Sri Lanka, a senior government official said today. Mills are required to export 20 lakh tonnes of sugar in the current 2017-18 marketing year (October-September) to avail of a subsidy of Rs 55 per tonne offered by the government. "Out of 20 lakh tonnes, 4,00,000 tonnes of sugar has been moved out of the factories for the export purpose," the official, who did asked not be identified, told PTI. Much of the shipment is being undertaken from states like Maharasthra and Karnataka which are close to ports, the official added. The government is in talks with southeast Asian countries for export of sugar, the official said. Sugar production of India, the world's second largest producer, is estimated to touch a record 32.25 million tonnes in the current marketing year as against 20.3 million tonnes in the previous year, as per the industry data. Domestic demand is pegged at .
17 dams' water level low despite rains in MP
Despite heavy rains across Madhya Pradesh, there are still 17 dams that have not reached their maximum water level capacity, officials said on Tueday.
Climbing the Everest: An uphill task that leaves environment gasping for air
One peak, one month, 700 climbers. Touching the Himalayan skies, the Mount Everest has long called out to the brave of heart and will and this climbing season was no different with an average of more than 23 people summiting the world's tallest mountain each day. But this rush to conquer has extracted a toll on the fragile Himalayan ecosystem with mountaineers leaving behind a garbage footprint and the microclimate of the region being impacted, say experts. What is needed is a balance between the economics of the region and its ecology, they say, calling for a restriction in numbers. Many thousands have climbed the 8,848 metre high mountain since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first reached the peak in 1953. According to Alan Arnette, eminent mountaineer and speaker, over 640 people made it to the Everest last May and this year it was over 700. While May is the spring climbing season, the autumn season, which is longer and stretches over two months in September and October, sees ...
Ocean acidification may hit unprecedented levels: Study
Ocean acidification is likely to hit the levels not seen in the past 14 million years, under a 'business-as-usual' scenario of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, according to a study. Ocean acidification occurs when CO2 from the atmosphere is absorbed by seawater, resulting in more acidic water with a lower pH, said researchers from the Cardiff University in the UK. The rapid influx of CO2 in to the oceans is severely threatening marine life, with the shells of some animals already dissolving in the more acidic seawater. "Our new geological record of ocean acidification shows us that on our current 'business as usual' emission trajectory, oceanic conditions will be unlike marine ecosystems have experienced for the last 14 million years," said Sindia Sosdian from Cardiff University. Around a third of the CO2 released by burning coal, oil and gas gets dissolved into the oceans. Since the beginning of the industrial era, the ocean has absorbed around 525 billion tonnes of CO2, equivalent to
50 lakh household toilets constructed under Swachh Bharat:govt
As many as 50 lakh individual household toilets (IHHT) have been constructed and another 7.62 lakh toilets are under construction under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U), Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said today. Puri said in Lok Sabha that the SBM-U mainly aims at making urban India free from open defecation and achieving 100 per cent scientific management of municipal solid waste in all 4,041 statutory towns of the country. "Under SBM-U, 50,04,098 units of individual household toilets have been constructed and another 7,62,556 units are under construction," he said during Question Hour. The minister said the number of community and public toilets constructed was 3,78,444 seats while another 35,599 such seats were under construction. He said most of the beneficiaries of the IHHT and nearly 100 per cent beneficiaries of community toilets were residents of slum area.
San Francisco to consider outlawing plastic straws, stirrers
In a bid to further cut down on waste, eco-conscious San Francisco is expected to join Seattle in outlawing plastic straws used to suck down Mai Tais and slurp up bubble tea. The proposal, to be taken up by the Board of Supervisors today, also would make the novel move to ban vendors from using takeout containers made with fluorinated chemicals. Washington's governor recently signed legislation approving a possible ban to go into effect in 2022, but San Francisco's January 2020 deadline would be earlier. The legislation prohibits eateries from using plastic anti-splashers, stirrers and other plastic items that environmentalists say are too small to be recycled properly. Retailers would no longer be able to sell the items starting July 2019. In addition, food and drink vendors would be allowed to dispense cutlery, napkins, condiments and lids only on request or through self-serve stations. People with disabilities have spoken out against the plastic straw ban, saying customers with ...
Report says Indonesia 'land swap' plan puts forests at risk
Researchers say a plan by the Indonesian government to give plantation companies new lands in exchange for restoring areas they destroyed could result in more tropical forests being cut down. Spatial analysis released Tuesday by civil society groups shows 40 percent of the 921,000 hectares (3,556 square miles) designated for land swaps is natural forest. Indonesia is second only to Brazil in the amount of forest cut down in the past decade. The Ministry of Forestry and Environment's plan is part of Indonesia's attempts to avoid a repeat of disastrous 2015 fires that swept through vast acreages of swampland that were cleared and drained by pulp and paper companies for industrial plantations. In exchange for "re-wetting" the so-called peatlands, making them unsuitable for plantations, conglomerates such as Sinarmas and April would be given lands elsewhere. The land swap plan has raised concerns among conservation groups because of the potential for new conflicts with communities and ...
Rs 1,750 cr sanctioned under National Dairy Plan: govt
More than Rs 1,750 crore has been sanctioned by the government under the National Dairy Plan (NDP) to enhance productivity of milch animals, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said today. Singh said in Lok Sabha under the NDP, 530 sub-projects have been approved in 18 states for implementation by 169 state and district level cooperatives, producer companies and livestock development boards with a total grant of Rs 1,754.14 crore till May 2018. This comprises 62 sub-projects for animal breeding, 167 sub-projects for animal nutrition and 231 sub-projects for Village Based Milk Procurement Systems (VBMPS), he said during Question Hour. The minister said significant achievements under the plan include 378.98 million high quality semen doses produced, 29.94 lakh milch animals in 32,578 villages have been covered under the nutrition balancing programme, 2,593 bulk milk coolers and 21,711 automated milk collection unit installed and 13.24 lakh additional farmers have
Moon may have been habitable in distant past: Study
Conditions on the Moon were favourable to support life shortly after the lunar body formed 4 billion years ago, and again during a peak in volcanic activity around 3.5 billion years ago, according to a study. The study, published in the journal Astrobiology, suggests that there may have been two early windows of habitability for the Moon. During both periods, planetary scientists think the Moon was spewing out large quantities of superheated volatile gases, including water vapour, from its interior. According to the researchers at the Washington State University in the US, this outgassing could have formed pools of liquid water on the lunar surface and an atmosphere dense enough to keep it there for millions of years. "If liquid water and a significant atmosphere were present on the early Moon for long periods of time, we think the lunar surface would have been at least transiently habitable," said Dirk Schulze-Makuch, an astrobiologist at Washington State University. The research ...
Sky's no limit: Japan firm to fly wedding plaques into space
The sky is no longer the limit for lovers looking for unusual ways to commemorate their nuptials, with a Japanese company now offering to blast commemorative wedding plaques into space. Warpspace, a start-up based in Tsukuba City outside Tokyo, is introducing the new service in partnership with a local hotel popular for wedding banquets. For about 30,000 yen ($270), newly-weds marrying at the hotel will be able to emboss their names and design elements on 16-by-eight-millimetre (one-fifth of a square inch) titanium plates that will be loaded onto a tiny satellite. The satellite will be taken up to the International Space Station on a supply ship, and then released by astronauts. Customers will receive photos of the craft carrying their plaques as it swirls among the stars, Warpspace chief executive Toshihiro Kameda told AFP. "Space trips are not common yet but couples can send up plaques that carry their affections," Kameda said. "I want them to spread their happiness across the sky."
