Page 690 - Environment
Polavaram project used up max funds, no money left for other flagship schemes: AP irrigation minister
The Andhra Pradesh government today claimed it had no money left to spend on its flagship schemes as maximum funds had been squandered on the Polavaram irrigation project and held the Centre's non-cooperative attitude responsible for the situation. Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Minister D Uma Maheswara Rao told PTI that the Centre had declared Polavaram a national project and had promised to bear the construction cost for the period starting from April 1, 2014. Around Rs 13,460 crore has been spent on the project since its inception. The Andhra Pradesh government had already incurred an expenditure of Rs 5,135 crore before Polavaram was declared a national project in 2014. The state spent additional Rs 8,330 crore on it up to April 2018. The Centre has so far released Rs 5,342 crore to the AP government. It is yet to reimburse Rs 2,988 crore (calculated since 2014), he said. The state government is providing the maximum share of funds for the payments of the Polavaram irrigation project. .
CBI arrests wildlife contraband dealer with 7 kg of tiger bones
The CBI has arrested an alleged wildlife contraband dealer who was intercepted with over seven kilograms of tiger bones in his possession, officials said. The CBI acted after receiving information that Mangal Lama from Nepal was allegedly indulging in illegal trafficking of wildlife material especially skins, bones, body parts, and their derivatives and was looking for customers for tiger bones, they said. After verifying the information, a team under Vijay Kumar Singh, Inspector, the Economic Offences in the CBI, was constituted to take further action. Further inputs were received that Lama will be going to Indian Oil Petrol Pump, Libaspur, New Delhi, near the service lane of NH-1 to sell body parts of tiger to an unidentified person. The team swooped down at the location and laid a trap for Lama who arrived allegedly carrying the parts in a big trolly bag for its delivery. It was observed that he started to move from the location, when the agency officials intercepted him. After due
Agriculturists exempt from GST: FinMin
The finance ministry today clarified that renting or leasing of land by farmers for agriculture, forestry, fishing or animal husbandry is exempt from the GST. Clarifying on the applicability of GST on farmers, the ministry said support services to agriculture, forestry, fishing or animal husbandry are exempt from the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Exempted support services to agriculture include renting or leasing of vacant land with or without a structure incidental to its use. "Thus, renting or leasing of land by farmers for agriculture, forestry, fishing or animal husbandry on batai (share cropping) or otherwise is ?also ?exempt from GST," the ministry said in a statement. It said agriculturists are exempted from GST registration. Agriculturist has been defined to mean an individual or an HUF (Hindu Undivided Family) who undertakes cultivation of land- by own labour or by the labour of family or by servants or wages payable in cash or kind or by hired labour under personal ...
Tarantula spotted in Howrah, handed over to forest department
Villagers in Murgaberia area of Howrah district today spotted a tarantula spider in a banana plantation and handed it over to the forest department in a jar, an official said today. Personnel from the Howrah Forest Division reached the spot, which falls under Baghnan Police Station and handed the jar with the spider to a veterinary doctor in Garchumuk, the official said. "The spider appears to be a tarantula. We have sent it for further observation and analysis," Range Officer of Howrah Forest Division, Utpal Sarkar said. Tarantulas are known for its poisonous venom, and are found mainly across forests of Africa and South Asia. In recent weeks, there have been reports of tarantula findings in several districts of West Bengal.
Coal India plans JV with NTPC for MCL's pithead power plant
Coal India subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) is planning to form a joint venture with power producer NTPC Ltd to develop the 1,600-MW pithead plant at Sundergarh, Odhisa, a top CIL official said today. MCL has proposed to form a partnership with NTPC to run the plant, and is open to offer up to 49 per cent stake in the Rs 13,000-crore thermal power plant, newly-appointed Coal India Chairman A K Jha said at an interaction with the media on his first day in office. "We had initial discussions with NTPC and they have shown interest. Unless we retain 51 per cent stake, there will legal problem as all the licenses are in MCL's name," Jha said. The chairman said another pithead power plant is also planned at North Karanpura under Central Coalfields Ltd in Jharkhand. The mining major said the capex for the current fiscal was pegged at Rs 9,500 crore, but if the MCL pithead power plant gathers steam, the expenditure plan could go up by another Rs 1,000-2,000 crore. The ..
Coal India subsidiary looks at JV with NTPC for 1600 mw power plant
Coal India's subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) is in discussion for forming a joint venture (JV) with state-run NTPC Ltd to run the proposed 1,600 megawatt pit-head power plant in Odisha's Sundergarh district, an official said on Monday.
Bihar farmers protest against low pulse, wheat prices
Hundreds of Bihar farmers on Monday protested against falling pulses and wheat prices and failure of the BJP-led Central government to provide them Minimum Support Price (MSP) as promised four years ago.
Ensure sufficient supply of coal to power plants in Karnataka: Kumaraswamy to PM
Newly-elected Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here today and flagged the issue of shortage of coal for the state's thermal power plants. He said he had sought cooperation of the Centre for the development of the state. "I discussed current problems especially shortage of coal for three thermal plants at Raichur, Yaramaras and Bellari in the state. I requested him to ensure sufficient coal supply to these thermal power plants. The current availability of coal in the state is sufficient to operate the plants for 15 days," he told reporters after the meeting. He said, besides coal, several other matters were also discussed. "The Prime Minister gave suggestions from his political experience as CM and PM on how to run the government," Kumaraswamy said. The Prime Minister's Office tweeted a picture of the meeting.
Goa fishermen wind up operations due to inclement weather
Almost 90 per cent of fishermen in Goa have wound up their operations owing to cyclonic winds a few days before the annual ban on fishing in the state comes into effect on June 1, a senior fishermen's cooperative official said today. The Indian Meteorological Observatory had issued an advisory warning fishermen against venturing into the sea due to inclement weather. The advisory, for the states of Kerala, Karnataka and Goa, had said that "fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea along and off Kerala, Karnataka, Goa coasts, Lakshadweep and Comorin area between May 26-30." "Almost 90 per cent of the fishing activities has stopped. There are a few trawlers out in the sea but they have also begun their return journey because of cyclonic winds," said Menino Afonso, former chairman, Mandovi Fishermen Marketing Co-operative Society Limited. He informed that Mandovi Fishermen Marketing Cooperative Society Limited had 325 trawlers registered with it, while Goa has ...
Horticulture output up 2.2 pc at 307.2 MT in 2017-18
Horticulture production is estimated to have risen by 2.2 per cent to 307.2 million tonnes (MT) during 2017-18, according to agriculture ministry. Fruits output is estimated to be 2 per cent higher at 94.4 million tonnes, while the production of vegetables is up 2.2 per cent at about 182 million tonnes in 2017-18 as against the previous year, an official statement said today. "The total horticulture production of the country is estimated to be 307.2 million tonnes during 2017-18, which is 2.2 per cent higher than the previous year and 8.6 per cent higher than the past 5 year's average production," it said. According to the data, onion production is estimated to have fallen at 21.8 million tonnes from 22.4 million tonnes in the previous year. Potato output is estimated to have increased to 50.3 million tonnes in the 2017-18 as against 48.6 million tonnes in the previous year. The production of tomatoes is likely to be around 22 million tonnes as against 20.7 million tonnes in 2016-17, .
Hryana constitutes state Animal Welfare Board
The Haryana government has constituted the state Animal Welfare Board. The Board has been constituted under the chairmanship of additional chief secretary, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. A spokesperson of the Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department said here today that the official members of the Board would include director, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, director, Urban Local Bodies Department, chief Wildlife Warden and representative of the Animal Welfare Board of India. The DG, Animal Husbandry and Dairying would be the member secretary. The spokesperson said that the functions of the state Animal Welfare Board, Haryana would be to ensure proper implementation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, the Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter (Haryana Amendment) Act, 1980 and the Cattle Trespass Act, 1871 and other Acts or Regulations for animal welfare applicable to Haryana. The Board may give directions to the concerned departments/agencies and review ...
Maneka seeks action against people using national emblem on visiting cards without authorisation
Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi has written to Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan, flagging the issue of some people associated with the Animal Welfare Board of India using the national emblem on their visiting cards to gain personal favours. The Women and Child Development Minister has urged Vardhan to initiate action to prevent the misuse of the power granted to the nominated members of the board and initiate necessary legal action against the persons concerned under the State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use ) Act, 2005. In her letter, Gandhi said that it has been brought to her attention that some people associated with the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) were openly using the emblem on their letterheads and visiting cards to influence state governments and extort personal favours from the public. This is a case of misrepresentation and fraud, she said. The Emblem of India can only be used as per the provisions of the State Emblem of India ...
Germany grills Daimler boss over extent of Vito van emissions fix
BERLIN/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany's Transport Ministry quizzed Daimler Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche on Monday over how many Mercedes-Benz vans and cars need to be fixed after a regulator said it had found illegal software in one of its models.
L&T Construction bags orders worth Rs 5,704 cr
Industrial conglomerate Larsen and Toubro (L&T) on Monday said its construction arm has bagged contracts worth Rs 5,704 crore for water and effluent treatment works in Madhya Pradesh.
Saudi Arabia 'ready' to allow women to drive as lifting of ban nears
The Saudi Interior Ministry has confirmed its readiness to allow women to drive vehicles in the kingdom, starting from June 24 after decades of a ban.
EU Commission's new proposal to reduce single-use plastics
The European Commission (EC) on Monday announced a new proposal for tackling marine litter that would target the 10 types of single-use plastics most found in the sea.
World Environment Day an attempt to reach out to people: Official
World Environment Day being hosted by India this year is not a token celebration, but an attempt to reach out to a large number of people, a top environment ministry official said today. Union Environment secretary C K Mishra emphasised on the need for building a movement to connect people and getting them on a single platform in the run-up to World Environment Day celebrations. The United Nations has entrusted India with the responsibility of hosting World Environment Day on June 5 with focus on finding alternative to plastic in different parts of the globe. The celebrations will be held from June 1 to 5 in the national capital and across the country with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to chair the plenary session on June 5, where all the state environment ministers will also be present. "World Environment Day is an attempt is to reach out to a large number of people and is not merely a token celebration," Mishra said while emphasising on the need for building a movement to ..
UPPCL officials harassing women in menfolk's absence: Ghaziabad villagers
Residents of Rahispur village in Ghaziabad on Monday accused UPPCL officials of harassing their womenfolk on the pretext of power thefts and other irregularities when the men were out at work.
India, Pak address maritime boundary violations by fishermen
A high-level meeting was held between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) at the Coast Guard Headquarters on Monday.Rajendra Singh, PTM, TM, Director General ICG, Rear Admiral Zaka Ur Rehman SI (M) Director General PMSA, and officials from Ministry of Defence and Ministry of External Affairs from both countries attended the meeting.The meeting was held under the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two agencies in 2005, the Directors Generals of ICG and PMSA meet periodically.This annual meeting is a significant link between the two maritime agencies for addressing issues pertaining to maritime boundary violations by fishermen and enhancing cooperation in the domain of maritime search and rescue and marine environment pollution.The two service heads from ICG and PMSA also have a hotline link between them for regular exchange of information on non-military maritime issues as per the MoU between the two ...
Edu institutions in Kozhikode, Malappuram to reopen on June 5
Educational institutions in Malappuram and Kozhikode, including professional colleges, will reopen on June 5 after summer vacation in the wake of the outbreak of Nipah virus in these districts. A decision in this regard has been taken at a meeting chaired by Health minister K K Shylaja and attended by Kozhikode and Malappuram district collectors and top officials of the health department here. "It has been decided to postpone the reopening of the educational institutions in the districts to June 5 as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of Nipah virus," Shylaja told reporters. District Collectors will take decisions and make announcements accordingly, she said. The decision was taken in view of the request made by the parents-teachers associations and various local bodies. Schools and educational institutions in other districts of Kerala will open on June one after the summer vacation, the minister added. The toll due to Nipah has risen to 13 in Kerala with one .
