Page 659 - Environment

3 BBMP officials booked for botched sterilisation of stray

A case has been registered against three officials of the city civic body BBMP for allegedly botching up the sterilisation procedure of stray dogs in the city. Based on a complaint from NGO Civil and Green Warriors, the Cottonpet police registered the case on June 6 against Joint Director of Animal Husbandry department Anand, Assistant Director Basavaraj and Animal Birth Control Centre in charge Abhilash Maddur. They have been booked under section 11 (1) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act-1960 (mutilate or kill any animal in a cruel manner) and Section 428 (committing mischief of killing animal) and 34 (criminal act by several people) of the IPC. In her complaint to the commissioner of Bengaluru, animal rights activist Geetha Mishra stated that there were irregularities in the log sheet entries with regard to dogs picked up from the streets. There were botched up surgeries, dirty kennels and substandard food for the strays, she alleged. Misra accused officers of

Union minister blames Chhattisgarh govt on Mahanadi water row

Senior BJP leader and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan today said Odisha was not receiving sufficient water from the Mahanadi river during non-monsoon period due to Chhattisgarh blocking its flow. The inflow of Mahanadi water into the Hirakud reservoir in Odisha has been hit due to construction of barrages by the Chhattisgarh government in the upper catchment areas of the river, Pradhan told reporters at Sambalpur. "Chhattisgarh has stopped Mahanadi water in the upper catchment areas. It is providing water to industries. As a result, lower catchments in Odisha are getting reduced water in non-monsoon period," Pradhan said. The interest of Odisha can never be compromised, Pradhan said urging Chief Mimister Naveen Patnaik to take steps in this regard. Mahanadi has been a bone of contention between Odisha and Chhattisgarh with the former opposing construction work on upstream of Mahanadi by the latter, thereby blocking the flow of water to downstream. Stating that Odisha also provides .

Flood alert sounded on Bhavani river banks

A flood alert has been sounded along river Bhavani in the district, as surplus water is being released from Pilloor dam, official sources said today. People living on the banks of the river have been asked to move to safer places, they said. With the onset of the southwest monsoon, Coimbatore and neighbouring districts, particularly Nilgiris district, have been experiencing heavy rain in the catchment areas for the last two days. Besides, 12,000 cusecs of water are being released to Pilloor from Kunda dam in Nilgiris district, which is full, district collector T N Hariharan said in a press release here. In view of this, 6,000 cusecs of water are being released from Pilloor through each of the two sluice gates, due to which there is a possibility of Bhavani to be in spate. Considering the situation, the collector asked the people living on the banks and low-lying areas to move to safer places. The water-level in Pilloor dam, which has 100 feet capacity, touched 94 feet ...

Environment Day should be observed round the year: J'khand guv

Stressing the need for environment protection all throughout the year, Jharkhand Governor Droupadi Murmu today urged people to "save water resources and forests". Environment Day should be observed all 365 days, not just on June 5, Murmu said while addressing people here on the concluding day of Environment Awareness Week. Lauding the Swachch Bharat Mission of the NDA government, the governor also requested people to refrain from polluting water bodies and land with non-biodegradable products. Jharkhand Urban Development Minister C P Singh, who was present at the programme, said one crore saplings had been planted last year by the state government. He praised NGO Vikash Bharati for organizing the Environment Awareness Week. Ashok Bhagat, the secretary of Vikash Bharati, said the NGO has been taking measures to save forests in the state for over three decades. The organization would continue its efforts to keep the environment "clean and green", he added.

TRCF demands compact tribal policy in J-K to rehabilitate nomadic, migratory tribes

An organisation representing Gujjars and Bakerwals in Jammu and Kashmir today demanded a compact tribal policy to rehabilitate the nomadic and migratory tribes. Stressing upon the state government to settle the issues facing the nomadic communities to enable them to get education, health and other facilities, The Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation (TRCF) said the tribal population in the state are facing a number of hardships and issues like dispossession of land, violence, poverty and loss of identity. "Only a well-defined tribal policy can help in eradicating illiteracy, economic instability and cultural shyness in nomads," it said in a statement. Asserting that the tribal communities must be developed without disturbing their own way of life, the TRCF said such policy, if formulated, can pave the way for grant of rights on forest and other ancestral lands on prototype of other tribes residing in different states of the country. Due to non-existence of a tribal policy for ...

PM Modi invites Kazakhstan to join ISA

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met with Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev on the sidelines of the 18th summit of the eight-nation Shanghai cooperation Organisation (SCO) in China's Qingdao city and invited the Central Asian country to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA), confirmed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)."Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Kazakhstan to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the President of Kazakhstan responded positively," MEA Secretary (West) Ruchi Ghanashyam said while briefing media in Qingdao.The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an alliance of more than 121 countries.The initiative was launched by Prime Minister Modi at the India Africa Summit, and a meeting of member countries ahead of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris in November 2015.As per official website of The International Solar Alliance, it is to provide a dedicated platform for cooperation among solar resource rich ...

Remains of prehistoric rhinos, horses unearthed in Greece

Paleontologists have discovered the remains of prehistoric mammals that once roamed the region some 7.2 million years ago, images released on Sunday revealed.

Maha mulls Swiss challenge method for floating solar projects

Maharashtra government is mulling adoption of Swiss challenge method to finalise a bidder to set up floating solar plants across various reservoirs and water bodies in the state. The Swiss challenge system, is one whereby any person with suitable credentials can submit a development proposal to the government for a public project. The proposal will be then put online and a second party can give suggestions to improve and challenge that proposal. A committee comprising officials of the water resource and energy departments along with the representatives of the Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA), Mahagenco and state-run power utility MSEDCL has been set up to examine various models for floating solar, including the Swiss challenge system and tariff-based bidding. "We have a large number of reservoirs across the state where floating solar projects can be developed. We are hopeful to receive the committee report in the next two months," a state official told PTI .

Nine killed in Kerala in rain-related incidents

At least nine persons were killed in the last two days in Kerala in rain-related incidents even as the downpour continued in parts of the state, officials said. One person died today after he came in contact with a power line that snapped in gusty winds at nearby Neyyatinkara while another drowned in a river in Alappuzha, officials at the State Control room for disaster management said here. According to revenue authorities, seven deaths, including two each in Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha, were reported in rain-related calamities in the last two days. Most of the deaths occurred due to drowning in swollen rivers and uprooting of trees, they said. The rain also damaged crops and property in Idukki, Kozhikode, and Kannur districts, the officials said, adding the loss to agriculture and property was being assessed. Traffic was disrupted in the high range Idukki district following landslips and after trees fell on the road, officials said. Sea erosion was also reported from ...

Solar auctions to delay further amid concerns over duty, ISTS issues

Solar auctions would be "dragged further" amid uncertainty about imposition of 70 per cent safeguard duty on solar equipment and concerns among developers over grant of inter-state transmission system (ISTS), according to industry sources. Last month, state-run power giant NTPC had deferred auction of 2,000 MW of solar capacity to the first week of June from May 21. The company, however, did not go ahead with this auction even in the first week of this month. "The issue related to grant of connectivity through inter-state transmission system has not been resolved so far and discussion with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is still on. Besides, there is uncertainty over 70 per cent safeguard duty under consideration of the government. Therefore, solar auctions would be dragged further," an industry source said. The source said, "Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has conducted auction for 125 MW of solar capacities for solar parks in Uttar Pradesh last week where ..

Solar-powered system can harvest fresh water from air

Scientists have developed a system that can harvest water out of the air using just solar power, an advance ideal for people living in arid areas of the world. The prototype, developed by researchers at University of California, Berkeley in the US, can extract drinkable water every day/night cycle at very low humidity and at low cost. "It operates at ambient temperature with ambient sunlight, and with no additional energy input you can collect water in the desert. This laboratory-to-desert journey allowed us to really turn water harvesting from an interesting phenomenon into a science," said Omar Yaghi, who invented the technology underlying the harvester. The trial in Scottsdale, where the relative humidity drops from a high of 40 per cent at night to as low as 8 per cent during the day, demonstrated that the harvester should be easy to scale up by simply adding more of the water absorber, a highly porous material called a metal-organic framework (MOF). Metal-organic frameworks are ..

'China begins sharing data on Brahmaputra, Sutlej rivers'

After a year's gap, China has resumed sharing hydrological data on the Brahmaputra and Sutlej rivers with India, an official of the Water Resources Ministry said. For the Brahmaputra river, data was shared by China from May 15, while it started sharing data for the Sutlej from June 1. The move comes after the two sides held talks over the issue in March. Data will be shared twice daily until October. Last year, China stopped the exercise citing that the hydrological gathering sites were washed away due to floods. It also coincided with the 73-day Doklam stand-off that took place during the peak monsoon period. The sharing of hydrological data also coincides with the two sides agreeing to resume the annual exercise between their armies. The exercise did not take place last due to the Doklam stand-off. The Brahmaputra originates from Tibet and flows into Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and later drains into the Bay of Bengal through Bangladesh. "Sharing hydrological data is very important ..

Hold big corporations accountable for plastic waste they produce: Greenpeace to govt

Days after the government pledged to eliminate single-use plastic from the country by 2022, a green body said there should be stricter implementation of laws and big corporations should be held accountable for the plastic waste they produce. "The Indian government has pledged to eradicate single- use plastic by 2022. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, we need to wait and how well the government is implementing it," Greenpeace India said. "We need to remember that protecting the environment is not about grand announcement or a one-day celebration, it's about better regulations, stricter implementation of laws and about being a conscious citizen throughout the year," Nandikesh Sivalingam, senior climate and energy campaigner at Greenpeace India, told PTI. During an event to celebrate World Environment Day on June 5, Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had pledged to eliminate single-use plastic by 2022. "The government must .

Four fishermen struggling in sea for over 2 hrs rescued

Four fishermen struggling to stay afloat in rough seas for over two hours after their boat capsized off Kodiakarai coast in the district were rescued by other fishermen and brought ashore. Fisheries department officials said the four men, hailing from Seruthur hamlet, had set out to sea yesterday. Due to rough seas their boat capsized and they fell into the sea and were struggling for over two hours, they said. Some other fishermen passing through saw their plight, rescued them and brought them ashore last night, they said All of them were taken to the General hospital here. While three fishermen were treated as outpatients, the other was hospitalised, they said.

Nipah virus contained: MoS Health

Union Minister of State for Health, Ashwini Choubey on Saturday said no new case of Nipah virus has been reported from anywhere in the country.Choubey, while interacting with media, said the virus is not epidemic and people should not be scared of it."There has been no new case of Nipah virus reported from anywhere in the country. The virus has been contained. This is a good sign. Nipah is not epidemic and there is nothing to be scared of," Choubey said.As many as 16 people lost their lives in Kerala due to the outbreak of the virus in May.As a precautionary measure, colleges and other educational institutions in Kozhikode have been asked to remain closed till June 12.Furthermore, the Kerala state health department issued an advisory for people travelling to the state, urging them to be extra cautious while visiting Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur districts.As per the World Health Organisation, Nipah virus, spread by fruit bats, causes communicable disease and is fatal for ..

'NAFTA talks could lead to trilateral deal or two separate agreements'

Renegotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) could lead to a new trilateral trade deal with substantial changes or two separate trade agreements, US President Donald Trump said on Saturday.

Goa farmers to get subsidy for machinery bought from outside

Goa farmers will get subsidy on farm equipment even if it is bought from outside the state, Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai said today. "Goan farmers have long been complaining that even though the government provides subsidy for farm machinery, its benefits dont reach them due to overpriced inputs supplied by Goan farm machinery dealers," he said. He said the new move will help farmers but also cautioned them that subsidy once availed cannot be sought again for another six years. The government was contemplating the creation of farmers' societies under the Societies Act to service farm machinery, he said. He informed that the government was all set to provide 90 per cent subsidy for major infrastructure under its community farming plan. The plan intends to bring fallow land under cultivation. "In this, the government would accord priority to areas affected by the mining ban," he said. The minister assured farmers that the annual distribution of free fertiliser would

Power car of Sampoorna Kranti Superfast Express derails at Ghaziabad

The power car of the Sampoorna Kranti Superfast Express derailed at Ghaziabad today, but no passenger was injured, officials said. The Patna-bound train went off track at Kotgaon area in Ghaziabad at around 6:40 pm. Rail traffic towards Moradabad has been held up, a northern railway spokesperson said. "Restoration work is underway," he added.

India, China ink 2 MoUs on sharing of Brahmaputra river data and supply of non-Basmati rice

In a significant move, China today agreed to provide India hydrological data of the Brahmaputra River in flood season, months after Beijing stopped the practice, crucial to predict floods. The two countries also signed an agreement under which China has agreed to import non-Basmati rice from India which is likely to bridge the ballooning trade deficit to a certain extent. The two Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) were signed after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held detailed discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping on bilateral and global issues which will add further vigour to the India-China friendship after their informal summit in Wuhan. Modi arrived in the picturesque coastal city of China's Shandong province on a two-day visit to attend the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Last year, China had stopped sharing data soon after the 73-day long stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops at Dokalam over Chinese military's plans to build a road close

Rhino falls prey to poachers in Assam

A partially decomposed carcass of a rhino with its horn missing was recovered by forest personnel at Kaziranga National Park in Assam's Sonitpur district, forest officials said. The rhino was found with bullet injuries on the forehead by the forest personnel inside Haregari Kathoni yesterday, Range Officer of Sixth Addition Kaziranga National Park Pranjal Baruah said. The officials said the rhino was suspected to have been killed on the night of May 29. Baruah said the forest staff had heard six rounds of firing but were unable to locate the place in the dense forest. An empty cartridge has been recovered from the spot and a case has been registered under Wildlife Protection Act and Arms Act, the official said. This is the fifth rhino poaching incident in Kaziranga National Park this year.