Page 699 - Environment
Procurement of mustard seed to continue till May 31: Khattar
The procurement of mustard seed under price support scheme of the central government will continue till May 31, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said here today. He stated that some farmers were left out from the procurement of mustard seed due to reasons including rain and immaturity of the crop. "Therefore, in the interest of the farmers the state government has decided to procure mustard seed from all left out farmers who could not sell their mustard crop between March 15 to April 1 due to these reasons," Khattar said. The procurement of mustard seed will continue from the existing 46 purchase centres in the 14 districts of the state. The procurement will immediately start from Rewari, Charkhi Dadri, Bhiwani and Jhajjar and all other districts will also be covered by end of the week, he said. The chief minister stated that all the concerned deputy commissioners have been directed to prepare the village-wise roaster of left out villages and for the wider publicity in this ...
Panel formed to suggest measures for cleaning of rivers
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today constituted a high-powered committee under the chairmanship of Environment Minister O P Soni to suggest measures for cleaning of the state's rivers. The committee, which has been also tasked with suggesting ways to ensure supply of clean potable water, has been asked to submit its report within 10 days, said an official spokesperson. He said the chief secretary has been directed by the chief minister to work out modalities for making funds available for this gigantic project. The chief minister also asked the Managing Director, Water Supply and Sewerage Board, to give a detailed presentation on the cleaning of Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana, besides focusing on the causes of water pollution due to excessive discharge of industrial waste and effluents. Singh also underlined the need to study the reasons for water pollution due to reckless flow of effluents from leather tanneries into Kala Sangian drain in Jalandhar district. On a request by Soni, .
NIWE extends EoI deadline for 1 GW offhshore wind energy
National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) has extended the deadline for submission of expression of interest to June 8 from May 25 and also relaxed eligibility norms for 1GW offshore wind capacities to be set up off the Gujarat coast. The NIWE, which is an autonomous body under Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, had invited expression of interest (EoI) last month for 1GW offshore wind capacities to be set up off the Gujarat coast. In corrigendum issued today, the NIWE said the interested bidder can submit their EoI proposal by 1700hrs on June 8, 2018 instead of May 25, 2018. Relaxing the eligibility criteria, the corrigendum stated that the global entities having experience of installing offshore wind projects of more than 250 MW will be eligible. Initially, the NIWE had said the global entities having experience of installing offshore wind projects of more than 500 MW will be eligible. The EoI notice provided that the final selection of developer of the first offshore wind farm ...
Beas pollution: Punjab imposes Rs 5 crore penalty on erring mill
Facing opposition flak over discharge of molasses in the Beas river that led to the death of a large number of marine life, the Punjab government on Thursday imposed a penalty of Rs 5 crore on the erring Chadha Sugar Mill.
Use plastic waste to make roads: Tripura CM to civic officials
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has asked the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) to construct at least 500 metres of road by using plastic waste. The chief minister made the suggestion during a review meeting held recently, officials at the chief minister's office today said. According to them, Deb said such an initiative would help reduce pollution as small plastic bags pollute waterbodies and clog drains. Deb also suggested that plastic wastes could be collected from households. He also asked the AMC to start door-to-door garbage collection in all parts of the municipal area. "If necessary, an expert agency may be consulted for this purpose," a state government official said quoting the chief minister. The chief minister, during the meeting, also said that Agartala city should become open defecation free (ODF) by August 15 this year. He asked the officials to use funds provided under Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) for the purpose, another state government ...
Arunachal CM for legalising harvest, trade of medicinal plants
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu today stressed the need to legalise harvesting and trade of medicinal plants in the state to save the crops from over-exploitation, an official release said. Chairing a review meeting of the state forest department here, Khandu said, "Hundreds of medicinal plants face threats of extinction because of over-harvesting and destructive collection techniques." A mechanism should be devised to facilitate farmers to grow endangered medicinal plants for sustainable income, the chief minister said. "The forest department should bring out a policy to legalise trade of therapeutic herbs, which in turn would also enable the state government to earn revenue," Khandu asserted. Responding to the department's grievances, the chief minister sanctioned Rs 15 crore for forest regeneration works in the state and announced the creation of 200 forest guard posts. He also said that a minister would be appointed by tomorrow for effective ...
Tourists in Goa warned against venturing into sea
The lifeguard agency manning Goa's beaches has advised people not to venture into sea for 72 hours from today due to the cyclonic storm 'Mekunu'. "The cyclonic storm Mekunu brewing in the south-west Arabian Sea is expected to impact sea conditions," said a statement from Drishti Marine, the agency appointed by the state government for life guard duties. Rough seas and high-speed winds are expected over the next three days, it said, adding there is a possibility of surge of waves during high tide in the low-lying areas.
North Korea demolishes nuclear test site
North Korea destroyed its only known nuclear test site with a series of explosions over several hours on Thursday, taking an initial step towards denuclearization, according to journalists visiting the area.
Dutch institutions, biz can help India deal with air pollution: Rutte
The Netherlands government, institutions and businesses can help India deal with air pollution caused by stubble burning around the national capital, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said today. "It (stubble burning) is happening at two places bordering Delhi. It is creating lot of pollution in winters. I have mentioned in the CEOs forum that we are partnering with Dutch institutions and companies and players here...to see how we can do this," he said here. He was speaking at an agriculture seminar on 'doubling farmers income and the Dutch contribution', organised by industry body CII. Citing certain examples, he said there are practical solutions to resolve the problem. "Agriculture minister, her team and other departments and business community are partnering here to make this work... But it will not be a one push button. But we want to help (India) fight the air pollution," the prime minister said. This is Rutte's second visit to India as prime minister and he is accompanied by a ...
Tamil Nadu seeks permanent closure of Vendanta's copper smelter - officials
THOOTHUKUDI, India (Reuters) - The Tamil Nadu government said on Thursday that it was seeking a permanent closure of a big copper smelter run by London-listed Vedanta Resources after 13 people died in protests demanding the closure of the plant on environmental grounds.
Dutch PM hails Modi for Clean Ganga goals, stresses need to value water
Lauding the goals set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for cleaning the Ganga, Dutch Premier Mark Rutte today said worldwide there was a need to value water, not only as an economic asset, but also for its social, cultural and environmental importance. The NDA government's Namami Gange initiative, aimed at cleaning the 2525 km-long river, was undertaken and approved as its flagship programme in June 2014. It has a budget outlay of Rs 20,000 crore to accomplish the objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of the river. All of these, he said, were relevant when working on cleaning the Ganga. I have a great respect for the goals that have been set by Prime Minister Modi under the Namami Gange programme, the Netherlands premier said. He made the remarks while speaking at an event organised by Indo-Dutch Ganga forum here to take forward the memorandum of understanding signed between the Water Resources Ministry and Netherlands' Ministry of Infrastructure
Molasses leakage: Rs 5 cr fine imposed on sugar mill
The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB)today imposed a fine of Rs five crore on the Chadha sugar mill from where molasses leaked into Beas river, causing massive damage to aquatic life. The mill would also remain sealed unless all the pollution control measures are taken. PPCB Chairman K S Pannu found the management of the mill was "negligent". He ordered prosecution against the mill and filing of criminal complaint against the persons responsible for the offence. The order came after the board heard the reply of sugar mill representatives in Patiala in response to the notice issued for the alleged violation found by a probe committee. A large number of fish were found dead in Beas river on May 17 after molasses from the sugar factory leaked into the river in Punjab's Beas town, about 40 km from the Amritsar. In the order, PPCB Chairman K S Pannu said, "After hearing, the matter in detail, it is held that an environment catastrophe of a very high level has occurred due to the ...
UN chief: Experts should have witnessed N Korea test site closure
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today welcomed the reported closure of North Korea's nuclear test site but said international experts should have been there to witness the dismantling. "It is regrettable that international experts were not invited to witness the site closing," Guterres said in a statement. Foreign journalists invited at the Pungyye-ri test facility in North Hamgyong province described a series of explosions throughout the day, three of them in entry tunnels to the underground facility, followed by blasts that demolished a nearby barracks and other structures. Guterres expressed hope that "this confidence-building measure will contribute to ongoing efforts towards sustainable peace and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." The Pungyye-ri site has been the staging ground for all six of the North's nuclear tests, including its latest and by far most powerful one in September last year, which Pyongyang said was a hydrogen bomb.
Congress denies sanctioning of Tuticorin Sterlite project during UPA
The Congress party on Thursday denied reports of sanctioning the expansion of controversial Sterlite project in Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) tenure.Addressing the media here, the Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi accused the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government for abolishing the rules made during the UPA government in 2013, which prohibited the expansion of the project in the region.Singhvi said the chaos in the district is for diverting and confusing the public."We made a rule in 2013 that for a project like this either the project or the including zone in which it is located must have environmental clearance. Environmental clearance must be preceded by public consultation. In case the public raises an objection, the issue needs to be addressed," he said.He said all the rules of made during the UPA rule was overlooked because of the "ease of doing business zumla" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi."The NDA government .
Maha govt procures 80% land for Samruddhi corridor: Official
The Maharashtra government has procured 80.3 per cent land so far for the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Corridor project, a top official said today. The government has received 66 technical and financial bids from 18 bidders for the expressway project, PWD Principal secretary Ashish Kumar Singh told PTI. He said the bids will be opened on Monday. "Total land procured so far for the Samruddhi corridor project has been 80.3 per cent. As of now, there are 9,708 sale deeds by 18,547 farmers," he said. The proposed 700-km long expressway is a pet project of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that requires 9330.04 hectares land. The total cost of the project is Rs 46,000 crore, out of which Rs 10,000 crore are required for land procurement, officials said.
China tests 1st drone-carried meteorological data monitor to gauge atmosphere
China has successfully tested its first drone-carried meteorological data monitor to undertake atmospheric observations. The unmanned aircraft vehicle will carry the dropsonde, also known as the meteorological data monitor, and drop it at an altitude of 6,000 metres to measure atmospheric profiles as the device falls to the ground. Launched using a parachute, the dropsonde can descend at a stabilised speed and cut the atmosphere column like a scalpel to gather data such as temperature, humidity, and wind direction and transmit them to ground receiving devices in real time. The dropsonde carried by the Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle (UAV) was produced by the Second Institute of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Limited (CASIC) and the test was run and monitored by the Meteorological Sounding Centre of China Meteorological Administration (CMA) in May. The drone-carried dropsonde is an essential payload for aircraft meteorological sounding, which is more targeted than weather ..
PM in Jharkhand, West Bengal tomorrow
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the convocation of Visva Bharati University at Shantiniketan tomorrow in the presence of his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina. He will also inaugurate the Bangladesh Bhavan a symbol of cultural ties between India and Bangladesh at Shantiniketan. Hasina will also be present at the event, an official statement said here. Later in the day, Modi will travel to Jharkhand where he will lay the foundation stone of various projects of central and state governments at an event in Sindri. These include revival of Sindri Fertilizer Project of Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Ltd, Ranchi City Gas Distribution Project by GAIL, AIIMS, Deoghar, Development of Deoghar airport and Patratu super thermal power project of 3x800 MW capacity, the statement said. He will also witness the exchange of MoUs for 'jan aushadhi kendras' and later address the gathering. In Ranchi, the prime minister will interact with the district collectors of 'aspirational' districts
Pollution in Beas, Satluj: NGT issues notice to Centre on plea of AAP
Heeding the plea by Punjab MLAs from AAP alleging pollution in Beas and Satluj rivers, where dead fish and other aquatic animals have been found floating, the National Green Tribunal today sought response from the Centre and the Punjab government on the issue and ordered inspection of the areas. While ordering joint inspection by Central Pollution Control Board and the state pollution control board, a bench headed by acting Chairperson Justice Jawad Rahim issued notices to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Ministry of Water Resources, Central Ground Water Authority, Punjab and Rajasthan governments, Punjab Pollution Control Board and others. The green panel directed the inspection team to visit the affected areas and submit a report on the reported death of aquatic animals after identifying the source of pollution. "We direct CPCB and state pollution control board to conduct joint inspections of the areas indicated in the application, collect samples from both the rivers
Indian rice prices ease to lowest in a year as rupee slides
BENGALURU (Reuters) - Rice prices in India fell for the third straight week to their lowest level in a year as the rupee slipped to a 16-month low, while markets in other top exporters remained relatively muted.
Anti-Sterlite protest: Authorities mull ways to combat crisis
In the wake of the ongoing anti-Sterlite protest, a meeting is being held here to mull on the measures to combat the current situation.The officials from various departments are present in the meeting, which is being chaired by monitoring officers, Davidhar and Gagandeep Singh Bedi.The Ministry of Home Affairs, earlier in the day, took cognisance of the situation and has sought a report from the Tamil Nadu government.Home Minister Rajnath Singh has also appealed to the people to remain calm and maintain peace and tranquillity in the region.At least 13 people have died in the protest until now, and over 60 have been injured.The people in the city have been contending that the plant would further pollute the water and pose environmental hazards.Police have been deployed in large numbers in the sensitive coastal areas.Till now, 67 people have been arrested for indulging in violence and will be produced in front of the magistrate for causing damage to public property and indulging in ...
