Page 642 - Environment
Farmers essential for our survival, says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday credited farmers for their hard work in ensuring the country's food security, saying that farmers were essential for the survival of the population.Interacting with farmers via the Narendra Modi App (NaMo App) Prime Minister Modi expressed optimism about using a digital platform to address farmers from over 600 districts in India.Adding that the farmers are always left on their own, and not much is done to ensure their development, Prime Minister Modi said, "There is a need for technological innovation in order to help the farmers. Keeping this in mind, our government has been trying to ensure their development. In order to ensure that the farmers receive right price for their products, the government has tried to remove the middlemen from the system and bring the produce directly to the consumers."The Prime Minister reiterated his government's commitment of striving to double farmer's income by 2022, adding that assistance was being provided .
World's first known manta ray nursery discovered
Scientists have discovered the world's first known natural manta ray nursery, which could allow them to observe the juvenile marine creatures in their habitat and learn more about them. Located in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Texas at US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, the juvenile manta ray habitat is the first of its kind to be described in a scientific study. Joshua Stewart, a PhD candidate at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego in the US, observed the juvenile mantas while conducting research on manta population structure at Flower Garden Banks. "The juvenile life stage for oceanic mantas has been a bit of a black box for us, since we're so rarely able to observe them," said Stewart, lead author of the study published in the journal Marine Biology. "Identifying this area as a nursery highlights its importance for conservation and management, but it also gives us
Government declares national targets for off-shore wind power
Offshore wind power would add a new element to the already existing basket of renewable energy for the country.
One dead in factory blast
A worker was killed in a blast at a factory in Kondhali village in Nagpur district today, police said. "A pipe blast took place in the explosive department of the factory (Solar Industries) around 9 PM in which one worker was killed," said Police Inspector Sanjay Purandere. Solar Industries senior executive JF Salve did not respond to the calls. Solar industries is into manufacturing explosives and explosive accessories for industrial and defence purposes.
Local bodies should take initiatives on priority basis to combat pollution: LG
The deteriorating air quality in the national capital is a matter of serious concern and local bodies should take initiatives on a "priority basis" to combat pollution with sustained efforts to enhance green belt here, Lt Governor Anil Baijal said today. Baijal made the remarks after inaugurating a high-tech nursery at the Lodhi Gardens in the heart of the city. "The deteriorating condition of air quality in the capital city is a matter of serious concern and local bodies should take initiatives on a priority basis to combat pollution with sustained efforts to enhance the green belt of Delhi, which might be one of the best ways in this regard," Baijal was quoted as saying in a statement by the NDMC. Over 80-year-old Lodhi Gardens which falls under the jurisdiction of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is a horticultural delight. "Delhi is globally known as a garden city and famous for its green paradise. In order to improve its green cover, people from all walks of life should ...
A solution to limit Asia's growing water shortage
Experts have found a way to reduce the risk of severe water-access problems in Asia, a new study has claimed.According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology-study, even 'modest' action to limit climate change could help prevent the most extreme water-shortage scenarios facing Asia by the year 2050.The study took an inventive approach to model the effects of both climate change and economic growth on the world's most heavily populated continent.Roughly 60 percent of the global population lives in Asia, often with limited access to water: There is less than half the amount of freshwater available per inhabitant in Asia, compared to the global average.To examine the risk of water shortages on the continent, the researchers conducted detailed simulations of many plausible economic and climate pathways for Asia in the future, evaluating the relative effects of both pathways on water supply and demand.The MIT-based team found that with no constraints on economic growth and climate ...
Need to encourage farmers to use modern technology: Raje
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje today said that a pilot project to encourage farmers to use modern innovations and farming technology should be initiated in Baran district. She directed officials to connect with specialists in the field of agricultural marketing, animal husbandry, horticulture, warehousing, cold chain and food processing to work on the pilot project for the farmers' welfare. The chief minister said that there was a need to encourage farmers to start cash crop cultivation using modern methods of farming.Cropping pattern of cash crops and other options related to agriculture should be studied and work should be done in this direction, she said during a public meeting in Baran-Atru assembly area today. Baran-Atru falls in Hadoti region of Rajasthan and opposition has been targeting the state government for neglecting farmers issues and has blamed it for not taking plight of rising farmers suicides in the region. Raje said that there was immense potential for ...
Acid evacuation on says TN govt; Sterlite moves HC suspecting
Tuticorin District Collector Sandeep Nanduri today said evacuation of sulphuric acid from the Sterlite copper plant was on, even as the unit approached the High Court saying it suspected sabotage as the reason for acid leak. The unit said it was taking steps to challenge its closure. Days after sulphuric acid leak at the sterlite unit was detected, the collector said evacuation of the chemical which started last evening continued to be on, while the copper unit sought the court's approval to remove hazardous chemicals. Nanduri said four tanker loads of the liquid has been removed from the premises. Temporary lighting arrangements have been made and process of filling 11 tankers with the acid from the copper plant was on. Tankers were being mobilised continuously for evacuation of the acid, he added. On June 17, authorities had said leak of sulphuric acid was detected at the Sterlite's copper plant in Tuticorin. Sterlite copper plant, meanwhile, filed a petition in the ..
Infosys sustains its eco-friendly mission
Global software major Infosys has reduced its electricity consumption per head by 53 per cent over the last decade, the company said in its 11th Annual Sustainability Report on Tuesday.
Farmers to get regular power supply during paddy plantation season: Kangar
Allaying the fears regarding shortage of power in Punjab, State Power Minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar today said the farmers will get regular power supply during the upcoming paddy plantation season. Assuring the farmers, the minister said the department is fully aware about the paddy season requirement and adequate arrangements have been made for the same. Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) is prepared to meet the requirement and ensure an eight-hour uninterrupted power supply to the farmers every day, he said after a meeting held to review the arrangements made to meet the escalated demand in view of paddy plantation commencing on June 20. Kangar said that Punjab is an agrarian state wherein the power load during peak summer and the paddy season comes to an all time high. "The maximum demand recorded last year was 11,705 MW in July, which was a challenge to meet, but has been successfully met by arranging power from all the available sources optimally. In the year 2018, ...
Sugar poised for two surplus years after 'enormous' output from India, Thailand
LONDON (Reuters) - The world sugar market is poised for two consecutive years of surplus production, following a surge in output from Thailand and India, Rabobank said on Tuesday.
Environment Min allows import of second hand machinery for electronics plant
Environment Ministry has allowed import of second hand machines with residual life of at least 5 years for use in electrical and electronics manufacturing unit. "In schedule III in part D...following entries shall be inserted..used plant and machinery having a residual life of at least 5 years for manufacturing of electrical and electronic items by the electronic industry," a notification from the ministry said. The part D under schedule III of Hazardous And Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules talks about list of wastes allowed for import and export without permission from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. "This is a very positive step to improve ease of doing business. Our industry's vigorous capital investment cycle is beginning and we are greatly encouraging capacities shifting to India. The decision clearly shows the GOI intent of Reform, Perform and Transform," Indian Cellular Association National President Pankaj Mohindroo said in a ...
Bids for Madhya Pradesh 26 MWp rooftop solar project by July
Bids for 26 MWp (mega watt peak) rooftop solar programme being implemented by Madhya Pradesh are to be submitted in July, the state government said on Tuesday.
Red Sanders wood worth about Rs 4 cr. seized in Tirupati
Red sanders wood logs worth about Rs 4 crore were today seized in different areas in the forests of Seshahalam hills near here, officials said. As many as 215 logs of the precious wood, weighing around 20 tons, were seized in the early hours at two different places close to Karambadi road by two separate forest combing squads-Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force team and a team of Forest officials, they told PTI. After noticing the movement of police and forest officials, over 200 woodcutters, suspected to be from Tamil Nadu and allegedly engaged in the smuggling of the wood, escaped under the cover of darkness, leaving behind the logs, the officials said. A total of 145 logs were seized by the police task force while 70 logs were recovered by the department of forest officials, they said. A man, suspected to be from Salem in Tamil Naidu, was arrested and a lorry seized from a location close to the forests, they added.
Two Indian hedgehogs rescued from train in Delhi
Two Indian hedgehogs, found abandoned in a bag, were rescued from a train compartment at a railway station here, officials said today. The spiny mammals are currently under the care of a wildlife NGO and they will be released back into the wild after veterinarians deem the mother and the baby fit, they said. "The animals were found yesterday inside an unclaimed bag in a train compartment at the Sarai Rohilla railway station," Wildlife SOS said in a statement. "A passenger informed the railway officials and then we were alerted," it added. This was clearly a case of poaching wherein the animals were being smuggled across state borders, CEO and co-founder of Wildlife SOS Kartick Satyanarayan said. In India, hedgehogs are hunted locally for their meat as well as for medicinal purposes because of various superstitions and myths attached to them, he said. They are also kept as exotic pets in most countries, Satyanarayan added. The Indian hedgehog is a nocturnal species native to India and .
Karnataka should have say in Cauvery water release: CM
Karnataka should have a say implementing the decisions of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), especially on releasing water when it is low in its reservoirs across the river basin, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said on Tuesday.
Punjab forest officer critically injured by sand mafia
A forest officer in Punjab was left critically injured on Tuesday after he and other officials were attacked by people from the state's illegal sand mafia.
Emergency pollution in Delhi caused due to high abundance of bigger dust particles: SAFAR
Delhi's pollution level that peaked to approximately three times the severe limit prolonged for nearly a week due to abundance of bigger dust particles in air that reduced the wind speed and prevented its clearance, according to a new government report. The report, titled 'Pollution Emergency of Summer in Delhi', by the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) explained the unusual summer-time pollution which rose to 'severe plus' level in the past seven days. The reason behind the rise in pollution was due to a spike in PM10 particles (presence of particles with diameter less than 10 mm). "Because high abundance of bigger particles of dust (much bigger than even PM10) tends to reduce the wind speed towards stagnation and opposes the flush out which aggravated the situation further and made to hang five-six days before getting flushed out," the report said. The PM10 level had climbed to 778 in Delhi-NCR area and 824 in Delhi on Wednesday. The PM10 .
India assures support to Nepal in farm sector
Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today met his Nepalese counterpart Chakra Pani Khanal and assured full support for the growth of agriculture sector in the neighbouring country. Khanal, the minister for agriculture, land management and cooperatives in Nepal government, met Singh in the national capital, an official statement said. Singh assured his Nepalese counterpart of "India's support to further Nepal's agriculture sector". The minister said that both countries are largely agrarian and agriculture has been identified by the two sides as an important area of bilateral cooperation. In the inaugural ministerial meeting of India-Nepal 'New Partnership in Agriculture', the two ministers discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in the agriculture sector. The co-operation would be in the areas like farm research and education, supply of fertilisers, mutual recognition of inspection, testing and certification system, trade facilitation measures, strengthening livestock services, ...
CMs' sub-group constituted for convergence of agriculture, MGNREGS
The Centre on Tuesday set up a Chief Ministers' sub-group to coordinate policy approaches for agriculture and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).The group will be headed by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and will constitute the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Sikkim, along with Ramesh Chand of the NITI Aayog.The idea was proposed by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in the fourth Governing Council meeting of the NITI Aayog held on June 17.In the meeting, it was suggested to come out with approaches with special emphasis on pre-sowing and post-harvest interventions using the MGNREGS, for creating durable assets that double income of farmers and reduce agrarian distress.Prime Minister Narendra Modi nominated Chouhan to convene a sub-group of seven Chief Ministers for a coordinated policy approach on the agriculture sector and MGNREGS.The sub-group, which will be .
