Page 629 - Environment

All Swachh Iconic Places, 10 new heritage sites to become plastic-free

All the 30 Swachh Iconic Places (SIP) and the 10 new heritage sites would become plastic-free and action plans have been firmed up for raising their sanitation standards to "exemplary level", the Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation said in a statement today. The plans were formulated at a two-day consultation meet in Hyderabad, attended by Central and state government agencies, local administrations and the trusts or boards of the iconic places. The Swachh Iconic Places initiative, under the Swachh Bharat Mission, aims to achieve a distinctly higher level of sanitation at these places, especially in the peripheries and approach areas. "Ten new heritage sites of the country today firmed up action plans for raising their sanitation standards to exemplary levels. Over 100 delegates from across the country attended the consultation. All Swachh Iconic Places selected so far under the initiative resolved to make their sites completely free of plastic at the event," the statement

France's EDF, GE to co-build reactors for Jaitapur nuclear plant

French utility EDF and GE will jointly build six reactors for the Jaitapur nuclear power plants in Maharashtra, the two firms said today. Once fully commissioned, the Jaitapur project will be the largest nuclear power plant in the world, with a cumulative capacity to produce 9,900 megawatt of electricity. "Xavier Ursat, Group senior executive vice president of EDF in charge of new nuclear projects and engineering, and Andreas Lusch, President and CEO of GE's Steam Power business on Tuesday announced signing of a strategic cooperation agreement between GE and EDF for the planned construction of 6 EPR reactors at Jaitapur site, Maharashtra, India," the two firms said in a joint statement. The pact is an important step in implementing the March 10 agreement between India and France to expedite the Jaitapur nuclear power plant project. EDF is to supply EPR technology for the plant. Jaitapur is among the projects India plans to build to raise its nuclear power generation capacity to 22,480

States should be consulted before agreements are signed: CM

The union government should consult states before signing international agriculture trade agreement and free trade agreements, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said today. "Agriculture is a state subject and when entering into international agriculture trade agreements, discussions should be held with states that will be affected," he said. Prior to signing of such agreeemnts, Parliament must be taken into confidence, he said The chief minister was speaking after inaugurating a seminar on 'International Agriculture trade agreement and safety of farmers' here. To drive home the point that states should be consulted, he said discussions are now on regarding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, but the state's views on the matter had not been sought so far. "When this (RCEP) agreement comes into force, it will adversely affect agriculture, fisheries and diary sectors', he said. Stating that the Kerala government has initiated various steps

Create SoPs to avoid power cuts in Goa: Parrikar to power dept

With the Goa government drawing flak over frequent power cuts in the state, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today asked the state electricity department to come up with standard operating procedures (SOP) to prevent power outages, especially during the monsoon. Parrikar is currently helming the state Electricity department as Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar has been hospitalised in Mumbai. The chief minister chaired the high level meeting of department officials along with the district administration. "The chief minister held the meeting with the officials of the electricity department. He asked the officials to create SOPs for annual maintenance and trimming of trees so that untoward power outages are prevented during monsoons," the CMO said in a statement released after the meeting. "During the meeting, it was decided that division-wise meetings will be held from July, along with the MLAs concerned to understand and resolve local power supply issues. Other issues ..

Delhi Environment Minister directs action against tree cutting

Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain on Tuesday directed the Forest Department to lodge an FIR against cutting of trees despite a stay from the Delhi High Court after receiving a complaint from an environmentalist.

Palm oil ban likely to displace, not halt, biodiversity losses - study

PARIS (Reuters) - A ban on palm oil due to fears it may cause deforestation could displace rather than halt global biodiversity losses as it would likely increase output of other oil crops to meet rising vegetable oil demand, an international survey showed on Tuesday.

France's EDF, GE to co-build reactors for huge nuclear plant in Maharashtra

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - GE and French utility EDF have agreed to team to build six reactors for a nuclear power project in Maharashtra state, which is due to be the world's biggest when finished.

Raj opposes plastic ban, says it's "tool" to raise funds

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray today alleged that plastic ban is a "tool" to raise funds ahead of elections, and demanded its withdrawal. A ban on single-use plastic items came into effect in Maharashtra on June 23. Speaking to reporters here, Thackeray also objected to exemption for certain plastic items such as packing material for ready-to-eat food items. "The ban is a tool, being used to raise funds ahead of elections. Why exemption is given for certain plastic items such as packing material for ready-to-eat foods?" he asked. "That chief minister is silent over the issue is enough to raise doubt whether the decision to impose the ban was taken by one department or by the government," Thackeray said, without naming any minister. The ban was pushed by environment minister Ramdas Kadam, who belongs to the Shiv Sena, Raj Thackeray's former party. "The ban is not advisable as all kinds of plastic materials are not hazardous. There are no enough alternatives

'Only 400 of estimated 1900 HA for green corridor expressway

Facing resistance from a section of farmers and landowners over parting with their land for the eight lane Salem-Chennai Green Corridor expressway, Tamil Nadu government today said only 400 hectares of the estimated 1,900 hectares meant for the project were arable land. Chief Minister K Palaniswami told the state Assembly that "a few persons" who could be affected from the project were staging protests and it should not be made into a big issue. "Of the estimated 1,900 hectares to be acquired for this road, 400 hectares is government poramboke land.Of the balance of 1500 hectares, 1100 hectares is being acquired in dry areas and only 400 hecatres is being acquired from arable parts." The Rs 10,000 crore Salem-Chennai expressway has been facing opposition from a section of locals, including farmers over fears of losing their land, besides environmentalists,who are opposed to felling of trees for the project. "Many have supported the green corridor. A few have opposed it. ..

Annual marine fish landings in 2017 up by 5.6 per cent

India's marine fish production shows a sign of revival with the annual marine fish landings in 2017 registering 5.6 per cent increase compared to the previous year. According to a release by Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), the total marine fish landings in India (excluding Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands) in 2017 was 3.83 million tonnes. Gujarat remained at the top position for the fifth consecutive year contributing 7.86 lakh tonnes (20.5 per cent of total landings) followed by Tamil Nadu and Kerala, it said. This is the highest catch after a record-high landings in 2012. Marine fish landings improved in all maritime states other than Tamil Nadu and a palpable dip in the Union Territories of Puducherry and Daman and Diu. Revival of oil sardine in the western coastal states especially in Kerala played a major role in improving the country's marine fish production this time. However, the east coast witnessed a decline in the oil sardine ...

Emergency was imposed to save Indira Gandhi: BJP

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday said that Emergency was imposed to save the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and was planned six-months in advance."The country witnessed a phase of cruelty at the time of Emergency in 1975 to save the then Prime Minister of the country, Indira Gandhi. It was pre-planned six months before the imposition," said Prasad.He further recalled Dev Kant Barooha's slogan during Emergency, "Indira tere naam ki jai, tere kaam ki jai, Indira tere subah ki jai, tere shaam ki jai."Prasad also called emergency an 'unconstitutional act' adding that the image, identity and footprints of the Congress party continue to be influenced by the emergency.He said, "Nobody knew about the imposition of emergency. It was a completely unconstitutional act because in the maintenance of the internal security act you have to give grounds of public order disturbance.""Emergency constituted an attack on all platforms of democracy. Firstly on Indians, because thousands

HRD ministry will include truth of Emergency period in textbooks: Javadekar

Emergency was a blot on democracy in the country and the HRD ministry would work to include the truth about this dark chapter in school and college textbooks, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said today. "People should know the complete truth about the Emergency phase that the country witnessed. We will make required changes in textbooks to spread awareness among the new generation," he said. The Union minister said that one should not forget the 'black chapter' that Emergency, imposed by Congress in 1975, was. There was no public purpose, but Congress made the move to remain in power, the HRD minister said. Emergency was a blot on democracy and it was an attempt to restrict people's freedom, he said at a press conference here. Responding to a question, Javadekar said it would be wrong to say there was undeclared emergency in the country for the last four years. He said the allegations levelled by rebel BJP leader Ghanshyam Tiwari in this regard were false. Tiwari had yesterday ...

'Green gold': Pakistan plants hundreds of millions of trees

The change is drastic: around the region of Heroshah, previously arid hills are now covered with forest as far as the horizon. In northwestern Pakistan, hundreds of millions of trees have been planted to fight deforestation. In 2015 and 2016 some 16,000 labourers planted more than 900,000 fast-growing eucalyptus trees at regular, geometric intervals in Heroshah - and the titanic task is just a fraction of the effort across the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. "Before it was completely burnt land. Now they have green gold in their hands," commented forest manager Pervaiz Manan as he displayed pictures of the site previously, when only sparse blades of tall grass interrupted the monotonous landscape. The new trees will reinvigorate the area's scenic beauty, act as a control against erosion, help mitigate climate change, decrease the chances of floods and increase the chances of precipitation, says Manan, who oversaw the revegetation of Heroshah. Residents also see them as an economic ...

Traders unhappy with plastic ban; BMC collects Rs 2.95L fine

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has collected Rs 2.95 lakh fine for violation of plastic ban in the last three days even as the trader community said the government's move has hit them hard. The BMC inspected over 8,000 shops in the city since the statewide ban on the use of plastic items, including carry-bags and thermocol, came into effect on June 23. Deputy municipal commissioner Nidhi Choudhari said the city civic body inspected 8,061 shops and found banned items in 59 outlets. The corporation collected a total fine of Rs 2.95 lakh, she said, adding that during the inspection they found that most shops have switched over to alternatives of plastic. However, Rajiv Singal, the trustee of Bharat Merchant Chamber, an organisation of textile manufactures, claimed that garment shops were the worst hit by the ban. "We understand the ecological significance and therefore we support the ban on plastics, but not the way it is being implemented," he said. It should .

US must acquire latest N-tech for atomic power cooperation with India: Perry

The US must acquire the latest technology and efficient methods to produce nuclear power to be a major player in the sector and assure countries like India that America is committed to bilateral atomic energy cooperation, Energy Secretary Rick Perry has said. Perry, who visited India in April this year as part of the Trump administration's move to enhance bilateral energy cooperation, told reporters during a media round table yesterday that he had "very good conversations" with Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on nuclear energy, clean coal and carbon capture utilisation. Appreciating India's effort to partner with the US on nucleal power, Perry said the US needs to take steps to have the latest technology and efficient methods to produce nuclear power otherwise it will be conveyed to countries like India and Saudi Arabia that America is not committed to nuclear power. "If we don't keep our ability to be a player in a technological sense, whether it's building ...

Maha govt forms study committee for floating solar power plant

The Maharashtra government has set up a committee to study issues related to the development of a 1,000-MW floating solar power plant at Ujani dam in Solapur district, officials said today. Among other things, the committee will study the environmental impact of the project and monitor the month-wise water level of the dam. Ujani, located in Madha taluka of Solapur, around 300 kms from Mumbai, is among the largest dams in Maharashtra. "In order to set up solar plants large flat lands are required. But it is getting difficult to find so much empty land. Therefore, we decided to explore the possibility of using the waterbed of Ujani dam to set up a floating solar power plant," the official said. "The government has constituted a committee that will study the water levels of Ujani dam every month, total fluctuation in its water levels and obtain necessary permissions required for the project," he said. Director (Commercial) of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution ...

Ban single-use plastic everywhere: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Industrialist Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has called for a universal ban on single-use plastic to rid the communities of the "malaise". But industry body ASSOCHAM said there must be a road map for phasing out plastic goods, and a healthier and environmentally-friendly alternative found and promoted. "For instance, jute, textiles etc (such alternatives) for bags etc", ASSOCHAM Secretary General D S Rawat said. Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson and Managing Director of Biocon Ltd, said single-use plastic -- or disposable plastic used only once before they are thrown away or recycled -- is an environmental polluter that needs to be banned to save our planet. "Every State and every country ought to ban this modern day inconvenience that is now known to be an irresponsible habit", she told PTI. "I think there is now a sense of urgency to rid our communities of this malaise". She welcomed the state-wide plastic ban in Maharashtra and hoped other States would follow. "I hope it doesn't remain

Advisory Forecast for Rapid Rise in Water Levels of Rivers Following Heavy Rainfall

Due to this warning, there is likelihood of rise in water levels in various river basins. The likely impact of these rains as inferred from rainfall runoff model run for 3 days advisory forecast is detailed as under:

UK Government unveils ambitious global oceans strategy

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has unveiled an ambitious plan to bring together all of the government's international oceans work under a single strategy for the first time.The government will agree and implement a new oceans strategy, under the aegis of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), which will cover work from departments, including Defra, BEIS, DfT and DIT.The strategy will be developed over the coming months. Responding to the recommendation from the Government Chief Scientific Adviser to develop a more strategic approach to marine and maritime policy, it will provide a blueprint for international action by HMG towards the oceans that supports the long-term prosperity of the UK and the long-term health of the marine environment.Speaking on a visit to the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), the Foreign Secretary said: "Britain has a proud and ancient maritime history, but our commitment to the oceans must be enshrined in our future. Today in Southampton I've ...

Kerala's climate refugees increase as sea eats into coast (Special to IANS)

Thiruvananthapuram, June 26 (IANS/Mongabay) Sixty five-year-old Maria sits at the doorstep of her demolished house. The only thing that remains is a wall attached to the door. Every morning, she comes "home" and sits there till the evening, ruminating over her memories from the time when she and her family had started to build their new house.