Page 682 - Environment

Maharashtra minister directs cleaning of rivers in 6 months

Maharashtra Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam today instructed officials to clean and beautify rivers and nullahs in the state in the next six months. "Rivers and nullahs should be cleaned, beautified and made pollution-free in the next six months, especially Mumbai's three rivers, Mithi, Dahisar and Boisar," he said. Kadam was speaking while presiding over a review meeting on river pollution in the state, especially Mumbai, held at Mantralaya (secretariat). Additional Chief Secretary (Environment) Satish Gavai was also present. "Drain and widen the rivers by removing mud and ensure there was no waste or sewage disposal in them," Kadam told the officials. He also directed the officials to takestern action against companies that release chemical-filled water in rivers. "There must be plantation of trees on the river banks. Also, basic facilities and chairs must be made available near river fronts so that they could attract tourists," he said. The minister also reviewed the

Take voluntary measures to tackle plastic pollution: Sharma to Indian industry

Minister of state for environment Mahesh Sharma today asked the Indian industry to take voluntary measures to tackle plastic pollution, calling for collective efforts to effectively deal with the menace. A thematic knowledge conference on "Plastic Pollution and Management" was held today to mark the beginning of five-day celebration of World Environment Day, 2018 (WED-2018). It was also announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also take part in the WED-2018 event on June 5. Speaking at the event today, Sharma stressed that collective efforts were needed to effectively and efficiently deal with the global problem of plastic pollution while emphasising the role of the Indian industry in combating the menace. He also appealed to the industry to come forward and take voluntary measures to tackle plastic pollution and create awareness for the issue. Twenty three cities in India have achieved 100 per cent segregation of waste, people attending the session were informed. Environment

Punjab CM for speedy shifting out food stocks

Stressing the need to create sufficient space for storage of food grains, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today directed the food and supplies department to take up with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) the issue of expediting shifting out of food stocks from the state's warehouses and mandis. The chief minister said the FCI must increase the monthly quantum of food grain delivery from Punjab from the current 13 LMT to 20 LMT so that adequate storage capacity could be created in the warehouses and mandis for both wheat and rice. He also suggested that in addition to efforts towards increasing covered storage facilities, FCI should be asked to further augment their storage capacity in Punjab to minimise the state's burden to preserve the food grains. Amarinder also asked the department to raise with FCI the issue of providing guarantee for creation of 17 lakh tonnes silo capacity at 31 locations, for which agreements had already been executed by PUNGRAIN, failing which the

NTPC adopts Charminar

NTPC Ltd has adopted the iconic Charminar in Hyderabad under the Swachh Iconic Places Projects of India, a special drive under the Centre's Swachh Bharat Mission. NTPC Ltd and Greater HyderabadMunicipal Corporation (GHMC) today signed a MoU for implementation of development and beautification works under 'Charminar Pedestrianization Project' inHyderabad, a release by NTPC said. D.K.Dubey, Regional Executive Director (South), NTPC and B JanardhanReddy, Commissioner, GHMC, signed the MoU in the presence of Bonthu Rammohan, city Mayor and others today, it said. NTPCinpartnershipwithGHMC would take up development and beautification works at Charminar which includeproviding battery operated vehicles for visitors and bollards to prevent traffic, the release added.

Japan navy spots NKorea tanker suspected of illegal transfer

Japan's Foreign Ministry said today that a Japanese warship has spotted a North Korean tanker and another ship with a Korean name apparently transferring fuel on the open seas in violation of UN sanctions. The ministry said in a statement that the two vessels were suspected of conducting offshore ship-to-ship transfers banned under UN Security Council resolutions. It said Japan has informed the Security Council of the May 24 sighting of North Korean tanker Sam Jong 2 alongside a ship of unknown nationality with a Korean name. A Japanese destroyer spotted the two east of Shanghai. The UN has blacklisted Sam Jong 2. Japan reported earlier this week a similar sighting of another blacklisted North Korean tanker and a suspected Chinese-flagged ship in the East China Sea. UN sanctions on North Korea limit energy trade and ban offshore transfers of goods to North Korean ships.

Infosys pledges to reduce plastic waste by 2020

IT giant Infosys today took a pledge to reduce its per capita generation of plastic waste by 50 per cent by 2020 as it re-affirmed its commitment to environmental conservation. The pledge was taken during the celebrations of the World Environment Day at the company's Hyderabad SEZ campus in Pocharam here, focusing on the 2018 themeBeat Plastic Pollution. Telangana IT Minister K T Rama Rao, Erik Solheim, Head of UN Environment, Atul Bagai, Head, UN Environment, Country Office, India office, and other dignitaries were among those present on the occasion. The company took a pledge to reduce the per capita generation of plastic waste by 50 per cent by 2020, a release said. As a responsible global corporation that is passionate about sustainable development, we take this opportunity to align with global sustainability efforts in combatting the issue of excessive use of non-recyclable plastic products. "On this World Environment Day, we pledge to make our campuses a ...

Maharashtra govt issues guidelines for construction of bridges

The Maharashtra government has come out with guidelines to avoid delay in construction of bridges due to lengthy land acquisition process. According to a recently issued Government Resolution (GR), the Public Works Department (PWD) will take action and slap a penalty on those not following the norms. "Construction work of several bridges in the state has remained incomplete because of the delay in acquisition of land for the approach road to bridges. This should be avoided as pointed out by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) many a time," the GR stated. "Therefore, the department engineers should first start the process of land acquisition for the approach road. Unless the department gets possession of the land, tenders should not be called for construction of bridges," it added. An official from the PWD department said construction of about 75-80 bridges in the state has been stalled due to the delay in land acquisition. The department has also sought information .

Delhi's peak power demand hits all-time high

The peak power demand of Delhi broke all previous records to hit an all-time high of 6651 MW on Friday, said discom BSES.

Germany threatens Daimler with 3.75 billion euro fine over emissions - Spiegel

BERLIN/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer has threatened to fine carmaker Daimler 3.75 billion euros ($4.4 billion) over a diesel emissions scandal, Spiegel magazine reported on Friday.

Bloomberg announces $70m climate challenge to help cities reduce emissions

Former New York Mayor and billionaire philanthropist Michael Bloomberg on Friday announced a $70 million American Cities Climate Challenge, a major new effort to expedite progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Gujarat: Lion, blue bulls found dead in well

Carcasses of a lion and ten blue bulls (nilgai) were found in a well in Amerili district of Gujarat today, a forest official said. The well is located in a field in Likhana village, close to the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary which is home to the Asiatic lions, said district conservator of forest Sakkia Begum. "We have sent the carcasses for autopsy. The animals may have been killed by poachers and thrown into the well," she said, adding that further probe was on. Poachers may have dumped the carcasses after removal of internal organs, it is suspected. As per a 2015 survey, there were 523 Asiatic lions in Gir. While Asiatic lions are considered to be an endangered species, the nilgai is also protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

'Recycling plastic waste can create more jobs in India'

Plastic waste management in India may create jobs in the country which produces over 15,000 tonnes of plastic waste per day out of which only 60 percent is recycled, said a TERI expert at a conference hosted by the European Union (EU) here today. Speaking at a conference on 'Plastic Pollution and Management', The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) expert Saurabh Manuja said that recycling plastic waste can create six times more jobs than simply dumping the plastic. As per 2017 figures, India produces 15,722 tonnes of plastic per day, he said. The conference marking the World Environment on June 5, was hosted by the EU Delegation (EUD) and missions of European Union Member states in New Delhi with the support of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. Addressing the conference session themed 'Beat Plastic Pollution', Henriette Faergemann, Head for Environment, Energy and Climate Change at the EUD, presented the EU's Plastic Strategy adopted on January 16 this .

Power demand in Delhi soars to record 6651 MW

The power demand in the national capital soared to a record 6,651 MW in the afternoon with scorching heat sweeping across the city. The peak power demand broke all previous records at 3.36 PM today touching 6,651 MW. Last year, the highest peak power demand was recorded at 6,526 MW on June 6, said a spokesperson of power discom BSES. The Power department and distribution companies of the Delhi government have expected the peak demand to breach 7,000 MW mark in June this year. Power Minister Satyendar Jain had earlier predicted 7,000 MW power demand saying enough electricity was available to meet the rising demand. Announcing the action plan for electricity supply arrangements in summer months, Jain had said in March earlier "we have enough backhand arrangements to meet the power demand that is expected to soar up to a historic 7,000 MW level in June this year." In 2018, the peak power demand crossed the 6,000 MW mark eight times, the BSES spokesperson said. The power demand had ...

Reducing single-use plastic need of the hour: MoS Mahesh Sharma at WED-2018 celebrations

Minister of State for Environment Mahesh Sharma today stressed on the need to create awareness, especially among the youth, on reducing single-use plastic and its reuse. The menace of plastic cannot be tackled till a win-win situation is reached for all stakeholders, the minister said in a special address on the inaugural day of the global celebrations of World Environment Day (WED) 2018. The event is being hosted by India from June 1 to June 5. "The need of the hour is to create social awareness, particularly among the youth, on reducing single-use of plastic and its reuse. The menace of plastic cannot be tackled till a win-win situation is created for all stakeholders with regard to the use of plastic," he said. Emphasising the importance of Extended Producer Responsibility in reducing use of plastic, Sharma said the organised sector should be roped in to retrieve, recycle and reuse plastic. Speaking on the occasion, Union Environment Secretary C K Mishra highlighted the need to ...

Telangana to replace about 4k transport vehicles with electric

The Telangana government plans to replace about 4,000 state-run public transport vehicles in Hyderabad, run on diesel, with electric vehicles in a phased manner, state Municipal Administration Minister K T Rama Rao said today. "As an environment-friendly measure, we are also introducing, we have nearly 3,800 Road Transport Corporation (RTC) vehicles, public transport system, in Hyderabad. We are phasing them out," he said. "We are changing the diesel locomotives. We are bringing in electric vehicles. 500 in the first phase and eventually all 4,000 vehicles will be replaced with electric vehicles," he said. The minister was speaking at the World Environment Week celebrations organised here today. UN Environment Executive Director Erik Solheim was present. The government would also introduce electric vehicles for garbage collection from residential colonies, Rao said. Presently, 2,500 auto trolleys are being used for garbage collection. The state government would bring out

Several farmers in UP begin 10-day strike as part of nationwide protest

Several farmers in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district today stopped the supply of vegetables, milk and other items as part of the 10-day nationwide protest to press for their demands, including waiver of loans and the right price for crops. "The farmers will not be selling milk, vegetables and grains in the urban areas from June 1 to June 10 as milk and tomato are being sold at very low rates," Sanjiv Tyagi from the Bharatiya Kisan Union said while addressing a panchayat in Bhadraula village. "They are also not getting proper price for sugarcane. We also demand that the farmers should get 50 per cent profit on the cost incurred on crops by them," he said. Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Kisan Manch (a farmers' outfit) 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 ...

Farmers' stir begins in several states

Protesting farmers dumped vegetables, milk and other farm produce on roads and blocked supplies to cities in several states today as they launched a 10-day agitation to press their demands, including loan waiver and right price for crops. Farmer organisations also called for boycott of mandis or wholesale markets in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, leading to fears of shortage and price rise. Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh (RKMM) convenor Shivkumar Sharma told reporters in Bhopal that the "Gaon Band' stir is being held across 22 states. Police have kept a close vigil in Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh, where six farmers were killed in police firing during the farmers' agitation on June 6 last year. "The cultivators have been asked not to come to the markets in urban areas to sell their farm produce, including milk," Sharma added. On the last day of the protest on June 10, the farmers' bodies will orgainse 'Bharat Bandh', he said. Markets were also shut in adjoining ...

Kerala Tourism rolls out 'ComeOutAndPlay' monsoon campaign

With the monsoon season beginning in Kerala, the state Tourism Department has rolled out 'ComeOutAndPlay' monsoon campaign to promote the nearly two-month long rainy season.

Forest personnel to get specialised training to rescue people

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami today said specialised training and equipment would be given to forest department personnel to rescue people and curb fires such as the Kurangani Hills wildfire which killed 20 people, who had gone trekking in March last. The training and equipment would be provided at a cost of Rs two crore, Palaniswami told the assembly in a suo moto statement. "Majority of wildfire happens because of human error," he said, adding the forest department was taking steps to rein in such incidents in Tamil Nadu and the new initiative will see personnel getting hands-on training. For this purpose, a 70,000-sq-ft headquarters would be built at Velachery here for the Forest department, as the existing facility is inadequate, he said. Also, 125 new jeeps would be bought at a cost of Rs 12.50 crore to be provided to the forest rangers. In March this year, 20 people died in the fire at Kurangani hills of Theni district, 520km away from Chennai. A total of .

Special training for TN forest officials

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Friday said special training will be given to the forest officials to control forest fires and saving people caught in them.