Page 582 - Environment
NGT takes note of 'river of plastic' video, seeks report on Ashwani Khud in HP
Taking cognisance of a video that purportedly shows heaps of plastic waste flowing into the Ashwani Khud river in Himachal Pradesh, the National Green Tribunal has directed the state pollution control board to verify the facts and submit a detailed report within a week. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed its registry to register the matter on its own as a regular case after NGT's expert member Dr S S Garbyal received a video from one Pankaj Khullar, a former principal chief conservator of forest in Himachal Pradesh. The 1.2-minute video on a "river of plastic" went viral on the social media, showing it was of the Ashwani Khud, near Seri, in Solan district. It showed that Ashwani Khud, which had supplied drinking water to the city of Shimla till last year, was turned into a "river of plastic", with enormous quantity of plastic waste seen flowing into the river. "In view of the alarming situation seen from the video in respect of the plastic waste, the .
Enerparc India commissions rooftop solar project for Bharat Fritz Werner
Enerparc India, a subsidiary of global solar solution provider Enerparc AG is glad to announce the commissioning of 980 kWp solar project at Bharat Fritz Werner Ltd. (BFW) located at Bengaluru, Karnataka.The project has been financed, constructed and executed by Enerparc through its investment special purpose vehicle, which would sell the solar power to BFW on a long term. The project is second of Enerparc's growing solar rooftop portfolio in India, it is one of the benchmarks for the company as innovative non-penetrative mounting methods are used coupled with Enerparc's priority on quality and safety."We are very glad to be associated as a sustainability partner with a prestigious company like BFW. This project will help Enerparc to add another leading brand in its portfolio of 1.2 GW as an Independent Power Producer across the world," said MD Enerparc India, Santosh Khatelsal.The rooftop solar project at BFW will generate approx. 15 lacs of units annually thus helping BFW to meet a .
South Korea says sanctions shrank North Korean economy at sharpest rate in 20 years
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea's economy contracted at the sharpest rate in two decades in 2017, South Korea's central bank estimated on Friday, as international sanctions and drought hit growth hard, with signs living conditions were beginning to deteriorate.
Afforestation campaign organised in 5 Ganga basin states
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) launched the "Ganga Vriksharopan Abhiyan" campaign in five main stem Ganga basin states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, said Ministry of Water Resources on Thursday.The week-long tree plantation initiative, launched on July 9 and continued till July 15, is observed as 'Shubharambh Saptah'.The State Forest Departments of the five states were made responsible for the smooth and effective execution of the campaign. Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) were been designated as the district level nodal officer and Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) at the state level for organizing the events.Apart from that, various organisations like Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), Ganga Vichar Manch (GVM), NGOs and educational institutions participated in the event."The campaign which has been initiated as part of the Forest Interventions in Ganga (FIG), component of Namami Gange programme, is of immense importance and aims to ..
Japan's Kansai region a major battleground for gas and electric utilities
OSAKA, Japan (Reuters) - Retail power and gas heavyweights Kansai Electric Power and Osaka Gas are locked in a struggle for dominance in the Kansai region, whose economy is nearly the size of South Korea's and includes Osaka, the second-biggest city in Japan.
Jain Irrigation bags Rs 975-cr order from MP govt
Jain Irrigation today said it has received an order worth Rs 975 crore from Madhya Pradesh government to execute the Mohanpura Major Project. The project Mohanpura is located in Rajgarh district- one of the under developed districts of the state. In a regulatory filing, the company said it has received the 'Letter of Intent' from the state government to bring 2,28,475 acres of cultivable command area under micro irrigation. "The value of the project is Rs 975 crore and the project is to be completed in 36 months," the filing said. The project involves survey, design, engineering, planning and execution of various components. The company has to operate and maintain the project for three years after completion, it added. "This pressurised piped irrigation project is to be designed in such a way that every farmer will be able to attach their micro irrigation systems at a later stage to the outlets provided at every one hectare level. This will ensure Har Khet Ko Pani," the company ...
Cloud brightening, 'sun shields' to save Barrier Reef
Australia announced plans today to explore concepts such as firing salt into clouds and covering swathes of water with a thin layer of film in a bid to save the embattled Great Barrier Reef. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed reef, about the size of Japan or Italy, is reeling from two straight years of bleaching as sea temperatures rise because of climate change. Experts have warned that the 2,300-kilometre long area could have suffered irreparable damage. While the government has pledged to tackle climate change -- the greatest threat to the world's largest living structure -- there has also been a push to explore shorter-term measures to buy the reef some time. Canberra in January offered Aus$2.0 million (US$1.5 million) to attract innovative ideas to protect the site, which is also under pressure from farming runoff, development and the predatory crown-of-thorns starfish. Six schemes selected out of a total of 69 submissions will be tested to see if they are feasible. One selected ...
Heat wave has Tokyo residents concerned about Olympics
A deadly heat wave in Japan this week has many residents in the Japanese capital questioning the wisdom of staging the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in July and August. Rescuers in Tokyo responded to more than 3,000 emergency calls on Wednesday as the heat wave continued to grip Japan. The 2020 Olympics will run from July 24 to Aug. 9 when temperatures in central Tokyo can exceed 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit). A total of 317 people were rushed to hospitals in the capital on Wednesday. The number of emergency calls broke the previous record of 2,900 set the previous day. Tokyo's Application File to host the 2020 Games reads: "The pleasant weather conditions at this time of year will be ideal for athletes." But anyone who has spent a summer in Tokyo knows that's not necessarily the case. Experts have warned the risk of heat stroke in Tokyo has escalated in recent years, while noting the Olympics are expected to take place in conditions when sports activities should normally be halted. "If ...
India pushing ahead on Sustainable Devolvement Goals: Akbaruddin
India is "pushing ahead" on its national efforts to meet Sustainable Devolvement Goals by undertaking one of the highest rates of renewable energy expansion and building 11 million homes under the world's largest affordable housing programme, India's top envoy to the UN Syed Akbaruddin has said. Speaking at the 'High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development' yesterday, India's Permanent Representative to the UN said India was looking forward to engaging constructively in global efforts for the achievement of the goals encapsulated in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. "Our rapidly transforming world is pluralist and diverse but all our people have common aspirations for better lives," Akbaruddin said. He said the country was "pushing ahead" on the Sustainable Devolvement Goals (SDGs) with strong political commitment and execution by all stakeholders. Highlighting the efforts underway in India in pursuit of SDGs, Akbaruddin said under the Clean India Mission (Swachh .
Jain Irrigation Systems bags micro irrigation project worth Rs 975 crore
From Govt. of Madhya Pradesh
No move to sell land of loan-defaulter farmers: Punjab Minister
Punjab Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Thursday said that there is no move or intention to sell the land of farmers to recover dues by the State Agriculture Cooperative Bank.
Haryana bans new pyrolysis plants
The Haryana State Pollution Control Board has imposed prohibition on establishing new pyrolysis plants (for extraction of fuel oil from waste rubber tyres) in the state till the study in the local effects caused on health and environment by them is completed, a spokesperson said on Thursday.
No move by Pb Agri Bank to sell farmers' land for recovering
Punjab's Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa today said that there is no move or intention on the part of the Punjab State Agriculture Bank (PADB) to sell the land of farmers to recover its dues. In a press statement here today, the minister said that "there is no move or intention on the part of the PADB to sell the land of the farmers to recover its dues." The minister hit out at opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which had asked its party's rank and file "to vehemently oppose any attempt by the Congress government to sell off land of thousands of indebted farmers.." He said when SAD, which claims to be the champion of the farmers' cause and were "shedding crocodile tears just for political mileage", legal notices to sell land and arbitration proceedings were initiated against defaulters. "As on 31.01.2016, before this (Congress) government took over, sale action was already underway against 30794 defaulter farmers and arbitration proceedings to secure arrest warrants
Par panel picks holes in management of defence land
A parliamentary panel has slammed the Defence Ministry over management of its land and recommended a comprehensive survey of all such lands in ten years, while taking strict action against erring officials whose inaction led to losses worth crores. The Public Accounts Committee in its report on 'Improper Management of Defence Land', which was tabled before the Lok Sabha today, said despite having repeatedly pointed out by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its report in 2007-2008, 2008-2009 and twice in 2010-11, no effort was made by the Ministry of Defence to streamline the management of defence lands. The ministry owns huge tracts of land across the country. This is managed by the Directorate General of Defence Estate. The committee said the Defence Estate Officers (DEOs) failed to take advance action of renewal and/ termination of lease in utter disregard of the guidelines, resulting in outstanding rentals of approximately Rs 838.34 crore for a period ranging from four to
Russia, China delay US bid at UN to cut off oil to N.Korea
Russia and China today asked for more time to consider a request from the United States to the UN Security Council to halt all deliveries of refined oil products to North Korea, diplomats said. The United States asked a UN sanctions committee last week to ban further shipments after accusing North Korea of exceeding a UN cap on the fuel deliveries through illegal imports.
Delhi sanctions budget for roads, drains in unauthorised colonies
The Delhi government has sanctioned the budget for construction of roads and drains in unauthorised colonies of the national capital at an estimated cost of Rs 1,200 crore, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday.
Formalin found in fish samples in Sambalpur: Official
Formalin was suspected to be present in fish samples collected from the western Odisha city of Sambalpur today, a senior Fishery department official said. Formalin is a toxic chemical which is used to preserve bodies. A joint team of Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Fisheries Department found signs of presence of the cancer inducing chemical in two fish samples during spot checking at Charbhati area in the city, Deputy Director, Fisheries, Sambalpur Zone, Pabitra Kumar Behera said. During the preliminary spot tests conducted with the help of a special kit, the colour of the chemically treated paper changed slightly, Behera said. "Therefore, presence of formalin in the fish samples is suspected. It was a preliminary test and the samples will be sent to the laboratory in Bhubaneswar for detailed examination," he said. Fisheries officials said the fishes were brought from a neighbouring state. The samples which are being sent to Bhubaneswar laboratory for detailed
Ker CM urges Centre not to shift proposed Coast Guard Academy
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today requested the Centre to abandon its move to shift the proposed Indian Coast Guard Academy from Kannur district of the state. Vijayan, who called on Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi, apprised her about the state's concern in this regard, a release from the chief minister's office said here. During the meeting, Vijayan informed the union minister that adequate land was handed over for the project at Irinavu near the Ezhimala Naval Academy at Kannur in 2011. The then Defence minister had also laid the foundation stone for the coast guard academy, he said. However, the Environment Ministry is yet to give clearance to the much-awaited project citing Coastal Regulation Zone notification. The chief minister said as per the recent amendments to the CRZ notification, defence projects of national importance can be given permission. In this backdrop, the defence minister should intervene to review the environment ...
NGT extends till July 27 status quo order on tree felling in south Delhi colonies
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) today extended till July 27 its order to maintain status quo on tree felling in seven south Delhi colonies by the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry and the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC). A bench comprising Justice R S Rathore and Expert Member S S Gabrayal granted more time to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Department of Forests of AAP government, Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and others in the case. During the hearing, the NBCC sought clarification of the July 2 order passed by the NGT, directing that there shall be no cutting or destruction of the trees till further order by this tribunal. The counsel for the NBCC said the order only related to felling of trees and not on civil construction going on at the project site in Nauroji Nagar here. He argued that work has completely halted on the site and a loss of Rs 25 lakh per day was being caused due to the NGT's order. The bench, however, refused to pass any .
Lexus India launches all-new Lexus ES 300h sedan priced at Rs 59.13 lakh
Japanese car maker Toyota's luxury vehicle arm, Lexus today launched the all-new version of its Lexus ES 300h hybrid sedan in India priced at Rs 59.13 lakh (ex-showroom pan India). The seventh-generation Lexus ES is powered by a 2.5-litre petrol engine combined with the new, fourth-generation Lexus Hybrid Drive System, Lexus India said in a statement. "The launch of the all new Lexus ES 300h is a reiteration of our commitment to crafting vehicles with enhanced excitement, passion and innovation," Lexus India Chairman N Raja said. The Euro 6 compliant, new hybrid electric system coupled with the four-cylinder petrol engine, delivers a combined 160 kW of total power, and a mileage of 22.37 km/litre, the company said. The car is equipped with the ES safety features such as ten airbags, hill start assist, vehicle stability control, and anti-theft system, with break-in and tilt sensors, it added.
