Page 596 - Environment

Centre proposes major port at Vadarevu in Andhra Pradesh

Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari said today that the Centre plans to build a port at Vadarevu in Andhra Pradesh's Praksam district, even as the state government insists that the port be developed in Nellore district. "I am writing a letter to the chief minister seeking allotment of 3,000 acres of land for the proposed port at Vadarevu. Under the Sagarmala project, this will also contribute to port-led industrial development in the region," Gadkari told reporters at a press conference here. He mooted the idea of forming a special purpose vehicle with the state government to build the new port. The Centre had virtually ruled out developing a port in Dugarajapatnam in Nellore in accordance with the provisions of AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. Following this, the TDP government had hit out at the Centre, alleging that people of the state were betrayed. The Centre had said it was ready to build a new port at an alternative location but the state government insisted that it be developed .

PIL seeks delimitation of TN fishing villages

The Madras High Court today issued notice to the authorities, including the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission, on a PIL seeking delimitation proceedings in respect to fishing villages in the 13 coastal districts of the state. Also, the public interest litigation sought the declaration of the villages, which meet the criteria for the delimitation, as separate village panchayats before the elections to local bodies. The PIL filed by president of "Fishermen Care", an NGO, L T A Peter Rayan came up for hearing before a division bench, comprising Justices T S Sivagnanam and Bhavani Subbaroyan. The bench issued notice, returnable by August 17, to the SEC, the secretaries of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj departments and chairman of the Delimitation Commission among others. The petitioner said there are 13 coastal districts in the state consisting of 608 fishing villages with a population of 9.24 lakhs. He said the Mandal Commission had, in 1980, recommended the ...

Congress gave slogans to poor, Modi gave resources: Jaitley

Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday accused the Congress of only giving slogans to the poor and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given them resources which will ensure faster growth and faster depletion of poverty.

47-million-year-old fossils of marine life found in deserts of Jaisalmer district

In the deserts of Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district, palaeontologists have stumbled upon nearly 47 million-year-old fossils of primitive whale, shark teeth, crocodilian teeth and turtle bones, which according to experts suggest that the area was under sea in the pre-historic age. The western region of Geological Survey of India (GSI) had been conducting research on fossils in different parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan for over a year. A number of fossils of vertebrates such as whale, shark teeth, crocodilian teeth and bones of turtle belonging of middle Eocene Age were unearthed from Bandah village in Jaisalmer. The research was carried out by senior geologists Krishna Kumar and Pragya Pandey under the supervision of Debasish Bhattacharya, the director of Palaeontology Division. Kumar said the most important aspect in this finding is a fragmented jaw and vertebrae, which have been identified as that of a primitive whale. The presence of the marine fossils of Middle Eocene period indicates .

No formalin found in imported fish in Aizawl markets

Forensic experts of Mizoram did not find trace of formalin, a cancer causing chemical used to preserve dead bodies in mortuaries, in fish imported from outside the state, officials said today. The state government ordered testing of imported fish for formalin following rumours spread through social media that the chemical is being injected in fishes imported from outside the state, especially Andhra Pradesh. Three fishes collected from markets of Aizawl were tested at the Forensic Science Laboratory here and no trace of formalin was found in them, the officials said. Formalin, a toxic and carcinogenic chemical commonly used to preserve dead bodies in mortuaries, is used to prevent fish from deteriorating during transportation.

Leopard, injured in attack by cows, dies

A leopard, which had suffered critical injuries in an attack by cows in Gautala wildlife sanctuary in Aurangabad recently, died this morning, a forest official said. The feline was being treated at Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre near Junnar in Pune district, where it succumbed to the injuries, the official said. "After the leopard killed a calf at Bhambarwadi Shivar in Gautala on Monday morning, a herd of cows had charged at it. One of the cows lifted the leopard on the horns and flung it in the air," forest officer Raosaheb Kale said. The leopard suffered fractures on the backbone and internal injuries in the attack, following which it was shifted to the rescue centre. Dr Ajay Deshmukh of Manikdoh rescue center said, "The leopard was old and weak. Its vertebra had suffered fractures in the attack. The animal was responding to the treatment.

Odisha fisheries dept find formalin in fish in city market

Odisha fisheries department today found traces of 'formalin' chemical in fish available in the city's market, officials said. Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Secretary Vishal Gagan told reporters here that traces of the chemical was found in a pomfret fish sample collected from Unit-IV fish market in Bhubaneswar. "Our officials had collected nine samples of which one tested positive for formalin," he said adding officials will ascertain from where the seller had procured the stock and destroy the whole of it if more fish test postive. The secretary said the fish samples were collected from the market and examined on the orders of the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Pradeep Maharathy. Department sources said special kits for fish sample testing have been sent to several districts where huge quantities of fish are bought from neighbouring states including Andhra Pradesh. Earlier, Assam government had banned import of fishes from outside the ..

Seven rhinos die after move to a new park in Kenya

Seven out of 14 critically endangered black rhinos died after being moved to a new reserve in southern Kenya, wildlife officials admitted today. Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has refused to comment on the rhinoceros deaths but, speaking on condition of anonymity, one official said, "Seven of the rhinos died but it has not been established as to why." A second KWS officer also confirmed the deaths but said an investigation had to be carried out before the information was made public. The relocation of endangered animals -- known as translocation -- involves putting them to sleep for the journey and then reviving them in a process which carries risks. But the loss of half of them is highly unusual. The black rhinos were moved from Nairobi and Lake Nakuru national parks to Tsavo East last month in an operation trumpeted by Tourism Minister Najib Balala. He has yet to comment on the tragic outcome. Prominent Kenyan conservationist Paula Kahumbu said officials must take responsibility and ..

11 mineral blocks to start production by year-end: Tomar

As many as 11 mineral blocks of the total 43 auctioned will start production by the year-end, Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said today. The work was being carried out in around 102 mineral blocks and the auction of these mines will happen soon, the minister said. He was speaking during National Conclave on Mines and Minerals here. The states, he said, will earn a revenue of Rs 1.55 lakh crore over the lease period from 43 auctioned mines, Tomar said. The mineral block rules were amended in order to give a push to auction. A total of 11 PSUs have been notified so that they could take up exploration, the minister informed. The mines ministry, Tomar said, was working on allowing private miners for exploration. At present, the exploration of mines is carried out by Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL). On the mining leases which are expiring in 2020, Tomar said: "There is a need to speed up work in this direction. MoEF, Niti Aayog and .

Cancer-causing chemical formalin found in Odisha fish sample

Cancer-causing chemical formalin was found in fish stocks available in the markets here, an official said on Friday.

Farmers should take up agro-allied activities: Union minister

Farmers should take up agro-allied activities like poultry, dairy and bee-keeping to increase their income, Union minister Gajendra Singh has said. He suggested that to double their income, farmers should spend 40 per cent on agriculture and 60 per cent on allied activities "Income of farmers would never double if they depend on agriculture alone, since the production is more than its demand," the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said. He was speaking at an event at the Central Institute of Research on Goats, Makhadoom, here yesterday. In order to facilitate farmers to take up dairying, the prime minister has extended the KCC card facility so that they can take loans for purchasing milk and yielding cattle, he said. The minister said farmers can go for fisheries, bee-keeping or goat-keeping. Singh also suggested small and marginal farmers to take up collective farming. The minister accepted that owing to several factors new technologies have not reached ...

'Real-time issue of deforestation demands immediate solution'

One doesn't have to be an activist or an environmentalist to make a difference about deforestation, "The Trees Told Me So" author and journalist Purva Grover said during an "adda session" on "missing trees and vanishing forests" on Thursday.

Rare double asteroid discovered: NASA

An asteroid discovered last year is actually two objects, each about 900 metres in size and orbiting each other, new observations by three of the world's largest radio telescopes have revealed. Near-Earth asteroid 2017 YE5 was discovered with observations provided by the Morocco Oukaimeden Sky Survey in December last year, but no details about the asteroid's physical properties were known until the end of June, NASA said in a statement. This is only the fourth "equal mass" binary near-Earth asteroid ever detected, consisting of two objects nearly identical in size, orbiting each other. The new observations provide the most detailed images ever obtained of this type of binary asteroid, according to the US space agency. On June 21, the asteroid 2017 YE5 made its closest approach to Earth for at least the next 170 years, coming to within six million kilometers of Earth, or about 16 times the distance between Earth and the Moon. On June 21 and 22, observations by NASA's Goldstone Solar ...

Global sugar output to hit record 187.6 mln tonnes this yr: FAO

World sugar production is likely to hit a record 187.6 million tonnes this year on account of increase in output in India, the EU, Thailand and China, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Global sugar trade is expected to contract by 4.10 per cent to 55.5 million tonnes in the 2017-18 marketing year (October-September), from 57.9 million tonnes last year because of surplus availability, it said. In its latest report, the UN body has forecast world sugar output to hit a record high at 187.6 million tonnes in 2017-18 and surpass consumption, with the anticipated surplus likely to be the largest in history. Sugar output across the world stood at 168.9 million tonnes during 2016-17 marketing year. "Decreases in sugar output in Brazil and Australia are predicted to be offset by expansions in India, the EU, Thailand, and China," the UN body said. With regard to global sugar consumption, it is likely to increase to 170.6 million tonnes in 2017-18 from 166.8 million ...

HC declines to relax ban on thermocol for Ganesh festival

The Bombay High Court today declined to relax the ban on sale of decoration items made of thermocol for use in the forthcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Maharashtra. A division bench of Justices A S Oka and Riyaz Chagla dismissed a petition filed by the Thermocol Fabricator and Decoration Association, seeking relaxation of the ban only for this year's Ganesh festival to be celebrated in September. Manufacture and use of a large number of plastic and thermocol items have been banned in Maharashtra. The petition claimed the association's members would suffer huge financial losses if decoration material made of thermocol is not permitted to be sold in the market. The association also submitted an undertaking stating they will themselves dispose of the material. The state government opposed the petition and said the last day to dispose of the banned items was June 23. Despite this, the petitioner (the association) did not dispose of their material and instead kept it as it is .

Heavy rains bring down electricity demand in Gujarat

Incessant rains in a large part of Gujarat over the last two days have reduced the demand for electricity by 3,000 mw, an official said today. Over the last couple of days, heavy to very heavy rainslashed Dangs, Navsari, Valsad and Tapi districtsin South Gujarat, Gir Somnath, Amreli and Dwarkadistricts in Saurashtra and Narmada, Vadodara and Panchmahal districts in Central Gujarat. The downpour hasreduced the demand for electricity by 3,000 mw in the state, said the official of the Gujarat Energy Transmission Company Ltd (GETCO), promoted by the state government. The demand for power from the agriculture sector in the districts that received heavy rains has come down to almost nil, he said. "The demand for power has dropped to 13,000 mw from the peak of 16,000 mw in May and June when Gujaratwas reeling under severe heatwave conditions," he told PTI. The heavy rains have reduced the demand for power for cooling as well as for operating pumps to draw groundwater for ...

Astronomers discover rare double asteroid

An asteroid that made a close approach to Earth last month is actually two objects orbiting each other, reveal new observations by three of the world's largest radio telescopes.

Drones to help Australians track, locate crocodiles

Drones will be used to track and report the movement of crocodiles in Australia, authorities announced on Friday.

Climate change wreaking havoc with Colombia's glaciers: government

Climate change has helped melt nearly a fifth of Colombia's mountaintop glacier cover in just seven years, the government has said. The surface area of its six glaciers has shrunk from 45 square kilometers in 2010 to 37 square kilometers in 2017, for a decline of 18 percent, the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies said. It blamed the glacier loss on "extreme events associated with natural phenomena and climate change." If things go on like this the snow and ice covering atop Santa Isabel, a volcano in the Cordillera Central mountains, could vanish over the next 10 years, said Omar Franco, the head of the institute. In the last two years alone, Colombia has lost six percent of its glacier mass, the institute said. Environment Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo said Colombia has much to lose in global warming because in the whole world it is ranked second only to Brazil in terms of biodiversity. "We call on countries that are big emitters of greenhouse gases to ...

Mumbai: Parel flyover closed for repair work

The south-bound arm of the Parel flyover in central Mumbai was closed for traffic on Friday due to repair work of a water pipeline near the flyover.Closing down of the flyover slowed down traffic around that area causing massive traffic congestion.The water pipeline burst at the entrance of the flyover on Babasaheb Ambedkar Road.According to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials, the repairing work which started on July 12 is expected to be completed today.Meanwhile, the repair work has affected water supply to many areas in Mumbai and surrounding suburbs like Ghatkopar, Chembur, Sion, etc.With the maintenance work going on, the traffic is snarled-up on the Eastern Express Highway. The vehicles are diverted to at least two places on the Eastern Express Highway for alternative roads in an effort to clear the congestion. However, many parts of Mumbai are still experiencing heavy traffic jam.