Page 680 - Environment
Minister urges children to end plastic pollution
Urging school children to protect the environment, Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan on Sunday sought their help to end the menace of plastic pollution.
Sustainable fashion: Young designers show the way this Environment Day
Weaving environmental concerns and fashion into fabrics of sustainability, young designers are looking beyond profit margins to tailor a new sensibility with collections that reduce the carbon footprint of textiles and reduce waste. Like budding designer Ashita Singhal, who describes her journey in design as an "awakening". "The clothing industry is the second largest polluter in the world, second only to oil. It becomes a nasty business when the manufacturers are only concerned with the profit margin and not the environment," the Delhi-based Singhal told PTI. As another World Environment Day comes around on June 5, the numbers tell the textile pollution story. Surveys show that nearly five per cent of all landfill spaces consist of textile waste. Besides, 20 per cent of all freshwater pollution is caused by textile treatment and dyeing. Over 80 billion garments are produced annually, worldwide, and it is estimated that 13.1 million tonnes of textile scrap go to the waste stream. Once
2 STF personnel injured in encounter with Naxals in C'garh
Two Special Task Force (STF) personnel, including a platoon commander, were injured in a fierce gunbattle with Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, a police official said today. The encounter took place last evening between the ultras and a joint team of security forces at a forest in Kistaram village, Sukma Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena told PTI. Separate joint squads of the STF and the District Reserve Guard (DRG) had yesterday launched an anti-Maoist operation in the forest areas of Kistaram and Chintagufa villages, located around 500 km from the state capital Raipur, following a tip-off about the presence of Naxals, he said. When the patrolling teams were cordoning-off the forest areas near Sakler, Salatong and Tondamarka villages, multiple encounters took place between the security forces and the ultras, Meena said. The longest gunbattle that lasted for about an hour took place in the evening in which platoon commander Milap Sori and constable Sodhi Hidma, ...
Delhi govt wants adequate drinking water arrangements for birds, animals this summer
In view of the unbearable heat, the environment department of Delhi government has decided to communicate to various civic and greening agencies on making adequate drinking water arrangements for birds and animals, officials said. In a note issued by Environment Minister Imran Hussain, the emphasis has been laid on preservation of biodiversiy in the city. "During summer months in the midst of scorching heat an high temperatures, availability of drinking water for birds and animals is a serious challenge. "Various species of birds and animals enrich the biodiversity of the area. There have been cases in the past where birds have died due to thirst, scarcity of water," the note said. The minister said that the environment department should request various greening agencies like the forest department of Delhi government, the three municipal corporations, New Delhi Municipal Council, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi Cantonment Board, to make adequate drinking water arrangements ...
Polavaram: Andhra's lifeline caught in bureaucratic wrangles
The Polavaram Irrigation Project, billed as the lifeline of resource-starved Andhra Pradesh, is apparently bearing the brunt of a long-drawn slanging match between the Centre and the state government. Officially known as the Indira Sagar Multipurpose Project, it is expected to irrigate 2.91 lakh hectares, generate 960 MW of power, and fulfil the water needs of industries and 540 villages in Andhra. But bureaucratic wrangles between the Centre and the state have dealt heavy blows to the project. Though the project had been under contemplation since 1941, the works started in 2005. Efforts to complete it gained momentum in 2015, following the bifurcation of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, says Ramesh Babu, the superintending engineer of the project. He says 54 per cent of the works have been completed and the rest will be finished by December 2019. But he does not sound very assuring. The reason - a large number of the affected families have not been rehabilitated yet. "That's the main ...
RSP sets new performance bench marks in May 2018
Continuing the streak of success, several major departments of the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) have set new benchmark in May 2018, improving upon their previous best performances. The total Hot Metal production from the blast furnaces in the month was all time best at 336822 tonnes, the RSP said in a statement. Similarly the total crude steel production was the highest ever for any month at 312498 tonnes. The Steel Melting Shop-II made a major contribution here by making 280688 tonnes of crude steel which is its highest ever performance. The three Sinter Plants produced 566462 tonnes of sinter which is the best figure since inception. The Ore Bedding and Blending Plant registered the highest base mix stacking of 633151 tonnes, which is again its best ever performance, it said. On the techno-economic front too RSP set new benchmark by recording the best ever coke rate of 416 kg per tonne of Hot Metal. In the first two months of the current fiscal - April-May 2018 - the ...
100 buildings declared dangerous in Mumbai
In its annual pre-monsoon survey, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) has declared seven buildings in the city as extremely dangerous.These seven buildings which come under the repair board of Mhada are said to be more than 50 years old.Prakash Mehta, state housing minister said that the Mhada officials have managed to vacate 286 families from these seven buildings. He also said that the officials have sent notices to the remaining 117 families to vacate."Our survey has found that there are seven buildings in the most dangerous category. We are requesting the occupants to vacate the premises for their own safety," Mehta said.There are 93 dilapidated buildings which fall under the jurisdiction of the BMC and the state housing minister said that these dilapidated buildings fall in C1 (dangerous) category of the municipal corporation and the BMC will be getting them vacated too.
Virulent Newcastle Disease kills 21 peacocks
The authorities have confirmed the outbreak of Virulent Newcastle Disease (VND) among peacocks in the city after it claimed the lives of 21 peacocks in Bhondsi over the past 15 days.Indian Veterinary Research Institute released a test report on Friday showing the presence of the virus in the infected birds.Reportedly, a temporary medical facility has been set up by the district forest department (wildlife) for the infected peacocks in Bhondsi.Shyam Sunder, district forest officer (wildlife), Gurugram said, "It is difficult to save the birds that are in the wild but we will treat and vaccinate all 43 peacocks that were brought to us."Virulent Newcastle Disease is a highly contagious and fatal viral disease that can affect birds and poultry. It is a virus found in respiratory discharges of the infected birds and causes severe sickness and deaths among them.
Stakeholders deliberate pathways to shift consumption patterns towards sustainable alternatives
As part of the ongoing World Environment Day celebrations, stakeholders today deliberated the pathways for shifting consumption patterns and lifestyles towards sustainable alternatives during a thematic session. The thematic session on "Sustainable lifestyle towards Enhancing Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy" was organised jointly by the Environment Ministry and Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). "The session brought together policy-makers, regulators, international organisations, businesses, civil society and academia for a discussion on the pathways and key elements for shifting consumption patterns and lifestyles towards sustainable alternatives," an official statement said. It said that different policy options for achieving a resource-efficient society with low ecological footprint and better governance mechanisms were discussed during the session. During the session, the role of technology, success stories from Indian experiences and inclusive .
Mahesh Sharma launches drive for plastic-free Agra on Sunday
Ahead of the World Environment Day on June 5, Union Minister for Culture and Environment Mahesh Sharma will on Sunday launch a campaign for plastic-free Agra, officials said on Saturday.
India has set example by committing to beat plastic pollution: UN
India has set an example on the world stage by committing to beat plastic pollution and showcased best practices and innovations to overcome the challenge, a senior United Nations official said today. Speaking ahead of the World Environment Day on June 5, to which India is the global host, Naysan Sahba, director of the UN Environment Programme's Division of Communications and Public Information, said India is "very active" in tackling issues related to environmental pollution. He commended India's commitment in overcoming the challenge of plastic pollution. India has set an example in beating plastic pollution at the world stage by showcasing best practices and innovations, he told PTI. "India is a very vocal, very proactive member of the UN Environment Assembly that governs the UN environment programme. India is very active in tackling issues related to environmental pollution and its initiative to be the global host for the World Environment Day shows India's commitment to (beat) ...
Environment ministry to have resource efficiency cell, signs MoU with TERI
The Environment Ministry today signed an MoU with TERI for setting up a resource efficiency cell. In the run up to the World Environment Day, a number of initiatives were launched by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) to help the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) focus on waste management and resource efficiency. The initiatives were unveiled by K Mishra, Environment secretary and Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General, TERI, at an event here. The MoU to set up the cell at the ministry aims to provide mainstream resource efficiency in public policy besides serving as a platform for various ministries and agencies to promote resource efficiency in the use of materials in the country, said a statement from TERI. An industry consortium on 'Waste-Proofing the Future' to identify the institutional and policy interventions needed to sustainably manage waste was also launched at the event. The consortium has been launched with eight members comprising Aditya Birla
Farmers' strike a media gimmick: Agriculture Minister
Union Minister for Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh on Saturday said the 10-day farmer strike which started on Friday was a mere media gimmick.Speaking at a press conference in Patna, Singh said, "Desh mein 12-14 Crore kisaan hain. Kisi bhi sangathan mein 1000-2000 kisaan svabhavik hain aur media mein aane ke liye anokha kaam karna hi padta hai (There are around 12 to 14 crore farmers in the country. It is normal for any farmer's organisation to have 1000-2000 farmers and they have to do something extraordinary to get the media's attention)."Yesterday, thousands of farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana began a 10-day nationwide strike demanding waiver of loans, right price for their crops and implementation of recommendations of Swaminathan Commission.The protests were called to mark the first anniversary of the Mandsaur demonstration in Madhya Pradesh, in which six farmers were killed in police firing. The farmers have shut down ...
Karna govt issues notice to Ola, Uber cabs
Karnataka government today issued showcause notices to Ola and Uber cabs for introducing dynamic pricing in peak hours and sought an explanation on why they charge fares on time base and not kilometre base,as per rules. The transport department issued the notices, asking them to explain within seven days why they violated the 'Karnataka On-demand Transportation Technology Rules, 2016', promulgated for web based taxi services. One of the rules said no fare shall be collected on the basis of time and only kilometre based fare should be levied to the commuters. However, the two major cab aggregators violated the rules, compelling the government to serve notices to them, it said in a press note. Dynamic pricing, also referred to as surge pricing, is a strategy where businesses set flexible prices for products or service based on current market demands.
Farmers protesting for media attention: agriculture minister
Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said today that the protest by farmers in various parts of the country were attempts to get media attention, triggering demands by opposition parties for his removal. Singh said the farmers opted for "unusual deeds" to draw media attention as they belong to organisations with only a few thousand members. The farmers have launched a 10-day agitation to press their demands, including loan waiver and right price for crops. They dumped vegetables, milk and other farm produce on roads and blocked supplies to cities in several states yesterday. "It requires some unusual deeds to appear in the media. The country has about 12-14 crore farmers. There will always be organisations with a following of a few thousand," Singh told reporters at a press conference when asked about the agitation. The minister's remarks drew sharp reaction from opposition parties in Bihar, which accused him of being "insensitive" to the farmers' plight and demanded his ...
Framers' strike fails to evoke much response in UP
The 10-day agitation launched by farmer organisations in several northern states to press for their demands, including loan waiver and right price for their produce, witnessed no visible impact in Uttar Pradesh today. The protesters have called boycott of mandis or wholesale markets in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, triggering fears of shortage of food products, and price rise. The Rashtriya Kisan Manch, an organisation working for the welfare of farmers in the state, has distanced itself from the bandh call. "There was no response of the bandh call in Lucknow and adjoining districts. We are of the view that there is no point in telling the farmers to throw their agriculture produce on the streets, as they had put in their labour and hard work to produce the crops," President of the Rashtriya Kisan Manch Shekhar Dixit said. He added: "If the farmers' condition are to be improved, then I would request the farmers not to sow seeds of any grain or crop. This will ...
Banned plastic items being smuggled from Gujarat: Kadam
A Shiv Sena minister in Maharashtra today said that banned plastic items are being smuggled into the state from Gujarat, and asked why the Prime Minister can not ensure a ban on plastic in his own state. The BJP-led Maharashtra government recently banned one-time-use plastic bags, bottles and several other items. Speaking to reporters here, environment minister Ramdas Kadam said the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) seized five vehicles carrying plastic bags from Gujarat near Dahanu on May 31. "Prime minister Narendra Modi talks about environment protection in his monthly 'Man ki baat'. Why can't he stop (production of) plastic which is harmful for environment in his home state," Kadam, a Sena leader, said. MPCB officials had got a tip-off that plastic bags were being brought into the state from Gujarat, and kept watch on Charoti toll naka on Maharashtra-Gujarat border, he said. They seized five vehicles which were carrying plastic bags meant for shops in Malad .
Fruit bat samples tested negative for Nipah Virus
Samples of fruit bats that were sent from Kozhikode to Bhopal's National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) on May 30 were tested negative for Nipah Virus.Earlier, samples of cattle, goats, pigs, and insect bats that were sent were also tested negative.Nipah Virus has claimed 16 lives in Kerala since traces of the virus were first reported from Kozhikode towards the end of May.Earlier, the Kerala state health department had issued an advisory for people travelling to the state, urging them to be extra cautious while visiting Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur districts.A similar note of caution was also issued by the Himachal Pradesh health ministry after more than 18 dead bats were discovered in the premises of a government school in Nahan.For those unversed, the World Health Organisation (WHO) defines Nipah virus as one that is spread by fruit bats which cause communicable disease and is fatal for both animals and humans.The symptoms of the disease include ...
Centre releases Rs 8,000 crore for power sector in JK
The Centre has released Rs 8,000 crore to boost power sector in the state, power minister Sunil Sharma said today, assuring improvement in the electricity supply in coming months. "The Central Government has shown keen interest in augmentation of power sector of the state and has released Rs 8000 Crore for the same, Sharma told reporters here. He said the government is committed to improve power scenario in the state and therefore augmentation of the infrastructure will be intensified in the coming days. Power infra augmentation work is being stepped up from this month as tender process for pending works has been completed, he added. "The cumbersome tendering process caused delay but now the pending works will be speeded up, starting with Udhampur district from June 6, 2018," the minister said. He expects cooperation and patience from the public and expressed hope that augmentation work will be completed in a stipulated time. "Due to increase in temperature in Jammu region the common .
Farmers protesting for media attention: Agriculture Minister
Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Saturday said some farmers have been staging protests just for the sake of media attention.
