Page 636 - Environment
150-million-year-old turtle fossil discovered in China: report
A turtle fossil dating back 150 million years to the Jurassic period has been found in southwest China's Chongqing municipality. Farmer Liu Changyu found a turtle-shell-shaped "rock" while in Qijiang district earlier this month. Liu's daughter uploaded photos to 'WeChat', which were spread and spotted by the district's land resources and housing management bureau, said Xie Xianming, director of the geopark management department of the bureau. Invited by the department, paleontologists from the municipal exploration bureau confirmed it was a fossil of a snake-necked turtle from the Jurassic period, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The fossil will be displayed at the geological museum of Qijiang district. Qijiang is rich in geological resources, including a cluster of dinosaur and primitive fish fossils. Jurassic turtle fossils were previously found in Chongqing and in the neighbouring Sichuan province, but it is the first time for a snake-necked turtle fossil to be found in ...
150-mln-yr-old turtle fossil discovered in China
A turtle fossil dating back 150 million years to the Jurassic Period has been found in southwest China's Chongqing municipality.
Modi launches Mohanpura Irrigation project in MP
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched the Mohanpura Irrigation Project in Rajgarh district in Madhya Pradesh. The Rs 3,866-crore project includes a dam and a canal system. It will benefit 727 villages in the state. The prime minister gave credit to the labourers "who worked hard with tools and machines, sweating it out day and night". "I have just done the formality of launching the project by pressing the button, but it's actual launch was done when they toiled hard for it," he said. Over 700 villages would directly benefit from the project. It would irrigate 1.25 lakh hectares of land, he said, adding that it would also provide drinking water to over 400 villages. "It is a great service to women and sisters who face lots of difficulties in fetching water from long distances," he said. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Water Resources Minister Narottam Mishra were also present at the launch event.
Maharashtra environment minister hails plastic ban in state
Maharashtra environment minister Ramdas Kadam on Saturday lauded the decision of the state government of imposing a ban on the use of plastic in the state.Speaking to ANI, the minister said that the decision was taken for the betterment of the state."It is good that plastic is getting banned in the state. Maharashtra has become the 18th state to ban plastic.. Plastic is a problem for everyone," Kadam told ANI.He added that the production and use of one-time-use plastic items such as plates, spoons, straws and glasses would be stopped as per the new law.Kadam further said that the move would not cause any inconvenience to the people in the state."We were discussing on the plastic ban for the last eight to nine months. During Gudi Padwa, I had even mentioned what all things would be banned. The court gave a three-month relief to the people. I am very happy that the court took a good decision," he added.Describing plastic as a "dangerous thing", Kadam explained that the problem was not ..
'No selfie' zones identified in Goa to curb drowning incidents
In the wake of several incidents of drowning while clicking selfies at the beaches in Goa, the state-appointed lifeguard agency has identified 24 'no selfie' points along the coast. The agency has already put up red flags on all the beaches marking them as 'no-swim' zones to prevent cases of drowning. Areas like Baga River, Dona Paula Jetty, Sinquerim Fort, Anjuna, Vagator, Morjim, Ashwem, Arambol, Kerim, area between Bambolim and Siridao in North Goa have been identified as 'no selfie' zones, said Ravi Shankar, chief executive of Drishti Marine, the government-appointed private lifeguard agency. In South Goa, places including Agonda, Bogmalo, Hollant, Baina, Japanese Garden, Betul, Canaguinim, Palolem, Khola, Cabo De Rama, Polem, Galgibagh, Talpona and Rajbagh will be 'no selfie' zones, he added. "These points will have 'No Selfie' signages. The existing signage boards are being upgraded with pictorial instructions on flags, an emergency toll-free number and dos and ..
Plastic ban comes into force in Maha from today
The Maharashtra government's state-wide ban on the use of plastic items, including carry-bags and thermocol, came into effect from today. For the first time offenders, the fine will be Rs 5,000. For second time offenders, the fine will be Rs 10,000. Those who violate it for the third time will face a fine of Rs 25,000, along with imprisonment of three months. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told PTI that the plastic ban can succeed only if all the stake-holders support the move. "We want to promote responsible use of plastic. Therefore, we have banned the kind of plastic that cannot be collected, regulated and recycled," he said. The chief minister said that the ban puts the onus on the polluters, but at the same time some exceptions have been made so that businesses are not hampered till alternatives have a strong presence in the market. "The ban will succeed only with the participation of all the stake-holders and that the government has made a committee to ensure trouble-shooting .
Birds of vibrant feathers: A photographer's abiding romance with the avian world
Till about seven years ago, birds for photographer Prerna Jain came in various shades of black and grey -- and generally created a lot of noise and a mess. It all changed when she started viewing the avian world through her camera lens and discovered a vast spectrum of colours.
Monsoon likely to enter Bihar next week
The much awaited monsoon is likely to enter Bihar by next week, ushering in good news for millions who have been reeling under a heatwave like condition, an official on Saturday said.
Beer was brewed in Sweden since the Iron Age: Study
Malt was produced for beer brewing as early as the Iron Age in Sweden, say scientists who have found possible evidence indicating a large-scale production of beer, possibly for feasting and trade in the region. Archaeologists have found carbonised germinated grains in Uppakra in southern Sweden. "We found carbonised malt in an area with low-temperature ovens located in a separate part of the settlement. The findings are from the 400-600s, making them one of the earliest evidence of beer brewing in Sweden," said Mikael Larsson, from Lund University in Sweden. Archaeologists have long known that beer was an important product in ancient societies in many parts of the world. Through legal documents and images, it has been found, for example, that beer was produced in Mesopotamia as early as 4000 BCE. However, as written sources in the Nordic region are absent prior to the Middle Ages (before ca 1200 CE), knowledge of earlier beer production is dependent on botanical evidence. "We often ...
9,000 barrels of bourbon fall in US distillery collapse
About 9,000 stacked bourbon barrels plummeted to the ground at a distillery building in the US state of Kentucky when part of the structure collapsed.
Modi to unveil several development projects in MP today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive here today on a one-day visit during which he will launch several development projects. Modi will dedicate the Mohanpura Irrigation Project in Rajgarh district to the people of the state and also inaugurate several other projects, including an urban transport scheme named 'Sutra Seva" in Indore, a government public relations officer (PRO) said. The prime minister will land at Bhopal's Raja Bhoj Airport around 12 pm and then leave for Mohanpura. He will then visit Indore to take part in various programmes, the official said. "The prime minister will dedicate the Mohanpura irrigation project worth Rs 3,866 crore to the people of the state. This project, which includes a dam and a canal system, will benefit 727 villages in Madhya Pradesh," he said. Thereafter, Modi will head to Indore to dedicate the development works worth Rs 4,713.75 crore at a programme. He will also felicitate the winners of cleanliness survey - Swachh Survekshan 2018. He will
PM Modi to visit MP today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Madhya Pradesh on Saturday to attend various programmes in Indore and Rajgarh districts.During his visit to the state ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, the Prime Minister will attend the Shehari Vikas Mahotsav in Indore."Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate, remotely, several urban development projects worth over Rs 4000 crore, at various locations across the State," read a statement.These include houses under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana, urban drinking water supply schemes, urban solid waste management, urban sanitation, urban transportation and urban landscape projects.Besides this, the Prime Minister will also give away the Cleanliness Survey-2018 Awards to the cleanest cities and best performing States. A report and a film made on the survey will also be displayed on the occasion.Apart from all that, Prime Minister Modi will also visit Rajgarh district where he will dedicate the Mohanpura Dam Project to the nation.This project will ...
Aligarh: 'Eco-friendly' bricks made with waste makes waves
The Aligarh Municipal Corporation in collaboration with a waste management company is making 'eco-friendly' bricks.These bricks are made using garbage, concrete and cement.The idea of the 'eco-friendly' bricks was given to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath last year by A2Z Waste Management Private Limited."Bricks prepared in our plant in Meerut have been used in Lucknow and Gurgaon, with the recent passing of the proposal in the municipal board, this magic bricks will be used in more areas now. A single brick weighs 17 kilogram and is worth Rs 35," project head Sam Singh told ANI.The authorities are even looking forward to decrease the weight of the bricks for better results."These bricks are eco-friendly. Through this we are 100 percent utilizing the waste. We will be awarded at Swachh Survekshan-2018 Awards in Indore for our efforts," Municipal Commissioner Satya Prakash Patel said.
Power Ministry asks AC manufacturers to regulate default settings
The Ministry of Power on Friday advised companies to regulate default air conditioner (AC) settings in order to promote energy efficiency.While holding a meeting with major air-conditioner manufacturers in the national capital, Power Minister R K Singh asked to maintain default temperature setting at 24 degrees Celsius, which may also be made mandatory at a later stage."Every one degree increase in the air-conditioner temperature setting results in saving of six percent of electricity consumed," Singh said."Normal human body temperature is approximately 36 to 37 degree Celsius, but large number of commercial establishments, hotels and offices maintain temperature around 18 to 21 degree Celsius, which is not only uncomfortable but is actually unhealthy," he added.During the meeting, the minister also pointed out that some countries like Japan have put in place regulation to keep the temperature at 28 degree Celsius.The power ministry also launched an awareness campaign around air ...
Without food security, there is no national security: VP
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said making agriculture sustainable and profitable should be the top agenda of both Centre and state governments."I feel that this should be at the top on the agenda of the government, at the centre, at the states - making agriculture viable and sustainable. This is concerned with the national security. Without food security there is no national security," Naidu said on Friday.The Vice President was speaking at the concluding session of the two-day national consultation on 'Making Agriculture Sustainable and Profitable' under the Swarajya to Surajya series at the Vaikunth Mehta National Cooperative Institute of Management here.Naidu said the time has come for a sharper focus on positive bias towards farmers."One of the new challenges in the agricultural sector is the problem of plenty. We have become self-sufficient in food grains. However, this has not translated into higher income for farmers. Unless agriculture is made profitable, we cannot attract .
Delhi: Locals protest against massive tree felling
In order to save cutting of over "14000 trees" under the south Delhi redevelopment project, a protest was carried out by locals in the national capital on Friday night.This comes at a time when the current average pollution level of Delhi is already at 300 Air Quality Index which falls in the category that risks life and limb of people.Held under the "Delhi Trees SOS" campaign, the protest was called to aware people about the redevelopment project and urge government to avoid cutting trees for the same."We are citizens of Delhi, who have formed this Delhi SOS initiative. We want to tell that it's so stupid on half of the authorities to cut trees at a time when the weather of Delhi has been severe since last two years. Trees are very important to us. The government is saying that they will compensate by putting plants near Wazirabad bridge. We don't think it's a good idea," Juhi Saklani, a member of the campaign, told ANI.The protest kicked off at the Sarojini Nagar area.On similar ...
60 firms at MP 28 MW rooftop solar pre-bid meet
Over 60 prospective bidders from across the country attended the second pre-bid meeting here on Friday convened by the Madhya Pradesh government for its 28 mega watt peak (MWp) rooftop solar project, according to a Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (MPUVNL) statement.
India, EU discuss counter-terrorism, maritime security
India and the European Union (EU) discussed counter-terrorism and maritime security among other issues in a meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini in Brussels.
Big Oil eyes U.S. minority groups to build offshore drilling support
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The largest U.S. oil and gas lobby group is seeking to convince Hispanic and black communities to support the Trump administration's proposed expansion of offshore drilling, arguing it would create high paying jobs, including for storm-displaced Puerto Ricans.
Baramati role model for agri research: Venkaiah Naidu
Hailing Baramati as a role model for agriculture research centres in the country, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today said Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) must act as a bridge between scientists and farmers in providing knowledge and latest techniques. Speaking after visiting the KVK in Baramati, Naidu said it is helping empower rural youth. Naidu also lauded efforts of former Union agriculture minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar who was present on the occasion, for transforming Baramati under his leadership. Naidu asked KVKs to play an active role in making agriculture remunerative by training farmers in allied sectors like sericulture, dairy, poultry, fisheries, seed processing and others. "Improving the livelihood of people dependent on agriculture must be made top priority. People living in rural areas must be part of the development and there is a need to establish a regular dialogue between farmers, policymakers and scientists, he added. "Krishi Vigyan Kendras must ..
