Page 670 - Environment
DGTR to hold public hearing on safeguard duty probe of solar cells on June 26
The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), under the commerce ministry, will hold a public hearing on June 26 here on safeguard duty investigation of solar cells. The meeting assumes significance as domestic solar manufacturers are demanding imposition of safeguard duty on imports of solar cells and modules. Additional Secretary in the ministry Sunil Kumar will preside over meeting. Kumar "will hold a public hearing on June 26", the DGTR said in a notice. Earlier the Directorate General of Safeguards, which is now subsumed in DGTR, had recommended imposition of duty on imports of solar cells for a period of 200 days. The directorate is mandated to investigate the existence of serious injury or threat of serious injury to the domestic industry as a consequence of increased import of an article into India. India is targeting to 100 gigawatt (GW) solar capacity by 2022. Solar cells, electrical devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity, are imported primarily from ...
Delhi Minister urges people to minimise plastic use
Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain on Tuesday urged the people to minimise the use of plastic and not use single-use plastic material at all.
NITI Aayog working on road map for full-scale methanol economy
As part of its initiative to promote clean energy and environment, government think-tank NITI Aayog today said it is preparing a road map for a full-scale implementation of methanol economy in the near future. Methanol economy, if adopted by India, can be one of the best ways to mitigate the environmental hazards of a growing nation, it said in a release today. The Aayog has drawn out a comprehensive plan to replace 20 per cent of crude imports with methanol alone. "Adopting methanol in this scale would bring down pollution in the country by more than 40 per cent and not to forget the benefits from import substitution. Over a period of time, diesel can completely be done away with," it said. The Indian Railways alone burns 3 billion litres of diesel every year and plans are in place to convert 6,000 diesel railway engines to work on 100 per cent methanol and make railways a carbon neutral organisation. In marine sector also, the government is planning to make methanol as a fuel of ...
CBI officials plant 121 trees on Environment Day
The CBI officials, led by Director Alok Verma, today planted 121 trees in the CBI academy to celebrate the World Environment Day. "The function was presided over by the Director, CBI Shri Alok Kumar Verma, who planted a sapling of olive oak.121 plants, comprising of mango, guava, neem, ashoka, palmandamlawere also planted," CBI spokesperson R K Gaur said in a statement. He said the director motivated the staff of the academy to plant more trees to make the surroundings green. The function was attended by officials of the CBI and the Uttar Pradesh Police (Ghaziabad), he said.
Russia's Gazprom, Austria's OMV sign gas supply deal until 2040
VIENNA (Reuters) - Kremlin-controlled gas producer Gazprom and Austrian energy company OMV signed a new deal on Tuesday on Russian gas supplies to Austria through to 2040, a Reuters correspondent reported from the signing ceremony in Vienna.
Quest for material prosperity should not compromise environment: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today stressed the need to ensure that the quest for material prosperity does not compromise the environment and said India's experience shows that development may not come at the cost of its green assets. Chairing the plenary session of an event to celebrate the World Environment Day 2018, being hosted by India, he said India's traditions have for long underlined the importance of living in harmony with nature. "We are committed to raising the standards of living of our people and do it in a way that is sustainable and green," he said. With the theme of the WED 2018 being 'Beat Plastic Pollution', Modi noted that the menace was already having a deadly impact on India's marine ecosystem and marine litter, especially micro-plastic, was a major trans-boundary problem. "India is preparing to join the 'Clean Seas Campaign' and make its contribution towards saving our oceans," he said. Modi said while much of the world focuses on the "inconvenient truth", India
Stop dumping waste into rivers, Amarinder tells industry
Asking industry to stop dumping waste into rivers, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday called upon them to take appropriate steps to check the pollution caused by their factories.
MP govt to plant 1.65 crore Banyan saplings
In a bid to expand green cover in Madhya Pradesh, the state government today said it would plant 1.65 crore saplings of environmentally crucial Bargad (Banyan) and other tress till 2020. "As part of a campaign to save Bargad trees and other trees of ficus family, we will plant 15 lakh saplings after the onset of monsoon in the region," Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Research, Extension and Social Forestry) PC Dube told reporters on the occasion of World Environment Day. While 50 lakh saplings will be planted in 2019, one crore saplings will be planted across the entire state in 2020, Dube said. From environmental point of view, Bargad trees are very important as many animals, birds and micro species get food and shelter under it, he said. He said an amount of Rs five lakh would be given to a forest department nursery in Badgonda village in Indore district towards development of "Ficus Van" in two hectare area.
Patanjali to shift mega food park from UP after denied permission
Patanjali Ayurved Limited will shift its planned mega food park from Uttar Pradesh after the state government denied permission for it.Acharya Balkrishna, Managing Director of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd and co-founder of Patanjali Yogpeeth took to his Twitter handle and informed that they have to shift the food park due to state government's disappointing attitude.He further said their initiative to improve the lives of farmers in the region would not be achieved after this decision.According to reports, around 455 acres of land was allocated for the Patanjali Food and Herbal Park in Greater Noida.The project was worth around Rs 2,000 crore.It was the largest project set up by Patanjali after the one in Haridwar, which is spread over 150 acres.In 2016, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had laid the foundation of this park.
Empty ammunition of various kinds found in Pokharan Field
The Indian Army has recovered empty ammunition of various kinds found in Pokharan Field which appear to be blinds recovered from impact area of the range.In a statement, the Army said that none of them were live ammunition.The Army added that all explosives from the shells and rounds were taken out for further disposal through scrap route.Pictures from the location indicate that the shells, rounds were un-fuzed and all explosives from the shells and rounds have been taken out.The process of taking out the propellant is a specialist process undertaken in an authorised commercial plant, the Army further said.The Army continued that investigation by local authorities is underway and the empty ammunition have been handled in an authorised manner by the scrap dealers.Such investigations have been undertaken routinely to ensure due security and safety.
Choices made today will define collective future: PM on Environment Day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday emphasised on refraining from the use of plastic products, to make the planet a better place to live in.On the occasion of World Environment Day, Prime Minister Modi said the choices made at present will define the collective future."Plastic pollution is already having a deadly impact on our ecosystem," the prime minister said while addressing the plenary session of the World Environment Day at Vigyan Bhawan here."Let's join together to 'Beat Plastic Pollution' and make this planet a better place to live. The choice that we make today will define our collective future," he added.He praised the Indian economy and said the nation is committed to raise the standards of living of the people.He added that the National mission on cleanliness and sanitation 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' has a special focus on plastic waste management.Underlining the initiative taken by the Centre to reduce the percentage of harm caused to the environment, Prime Minister Modi
World Environment Day marked with slew of programmes in Bengal
West Bengal marked World Environment Day on Tuesday with a slew of programmes including colourful parades, distribution of environment-friendly bags to replace plastic, planting of trees and holding of awareness programmes.
EU member-nations pledge to eliminate plastic use in embassies
The European Union member-countries on Tuesday adopted a 'Green Pledge' to eliminate use of single-use plastic products like bottle straws, stirrers, cups, and water bottles at their respective embassies here and switching to eco-friendly material.
Modi acknowledges water crisis a major challenge
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday acknowledged that water crisis is a major challenge across India and assured that the Namami Gange initiative to clean the river will soon show results.
Telangana committed to facilitating healthy environment:CM
The Telangana government isworking with commitment towards facilitating and providing healthy environment for the present and future generations, chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao said today. As part of this, the state has been implementing the prestigious "Telangana ku Haritaharam" programme to increase the green cover in the state, he said. Highlighting the significance of healthy environment, the chief minister conveyed his greetings to all lovers of environment and environmental activists on the occasion of World Environment Day, an official release said. The chief minister has also re-emphasised the initiatives taken by his government for environmental conservation. "The impacts of environmental changes around the world will be on us and everyone should be alert on this and put an end to use pollutants," he said. "This year on the occasion of Environment day, the United Nations is propagating against the use of plastic. Plastic may make life better, but people need .
NACL Industries' Srikakulam technical plant bags 'Greentech Environment Award'
The New Delhi based Greentech Foundation presented this Award at a function held in Guwahati, Assam. Greentech Foundation had chosen NACL's Srikakulam plant for this Award in recognition of its efforts for environmental protection and conservation.
Delhi judge asks students to plant trees, shun plastic
Delhi High Court's Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal on Tuesday asked students to plant more trees and stop use plastic products including glasses, bottles and plates.
Situation set to ease as farmers in Pb to end their protest
The ongoing protest by farmers continued at isolated places in Punjab and Haryana for the fifth day today but the situation was set to ease as farmers of Punjab have decided to call off their stir tomorrow. Farmers continued to hold protests at few places in Punjab and Haryana today. However, very few incidents were reported of farmers dumping their produce on roads, as was witnessed during first few days of the stir. The decision to end the stir from tomorrow was taken at a meeting of leaders of different farmers' organisations in Ludhiana yesterday. Farmers had begun their agitation from June 1, as part of a nationwide stir, and had stopped supply of vegetables, fruits, milk and other items to various cities protesting the alleged anti-farmer policies of the Centre. Due to the dwindling supplies of farm produce in many mandis, prices had gone up, but these have begun to stabilise now, traders said. The decision to stop supplies from June 1 till June 10 was taken by farmers under ...
HP CM launches Pollution Abating Plants Abhiyan on World Environment Day
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today launched an initiative to protect the environment by growing pollution reducing plants in the state on the occasion of World Environment Day. Launching the Pollution Abating Plants Abhiyan (PAPA), the chief minister said the World Environment Day was the "people's day" for doing something for mother Earth and it should not end up as a ceremonial occasion, but produce some concrete results. Talking about the ongoing water crisis in Shimla, he said pollution and degradation of water catchment areas were the main reasons behind the problem. Urging students to come forward for environmental conservation, he said 67.5 per cent area of the state was covered with forests, but still a lot more needed to be done. He said Himachal Pradesh was the first state in the country to ban use of polythene bags. "Tourists visiting the state must be sensitized to use jute or paper bags instead of polythene bags," Thakur said. The chief minister said the government would
Without viable alternatives, blanket ban on plastics bound to fail: Experts
On the occasion of World Environment Day today, experts laid stress on having viable alternatives to plastics and argued that without it, a blanket ban on all consumer plastics was bound to fail. They also maintained that there was a need for beating plastic pollution by establishing proper waste management and recycling ecosystem in the country. India was the global host of this year's World Environment Day celebrations, the largest UN-led celebration on environment. The theme for this edition is 'Beat Plastic Pollution'. The experts said that there was a lack of waste management infrastructure in rural or semi-urban areas. In many villages or small towns, even if people within the household collect their waste in a bin, where do they dispose of that waste? We need better, more sustainable collection and management of such non-biodegradable waste, especially outside the big cities. Prohibiting single-use plastics, such as bags and straws, is a very welcome and much-needed step, said .
