Page 70 - Environment
Prakash Javadekar urges everyone to grow a sapling this World Environment Day
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar has appealed everyone across the country to participate in the "Clean Air" program organised by the central government and plant a sapling or a tree on the occasion of World Environment Day tomorrow (June 5)."Through this program, we are appealing the people to plant a sapling and click selfies with that plant and then upload it on social media with the #selfiewithsapling. That would be great participation because Modi government believes that environmental protection is not only a government program but a people's program and we are ensuring people's participation not only in this program but every program we organise in future," Javadekar said."Tomorrow at Paryawaran Bhawan headquarters, Kapil Dev and Jackie Shroff will plant trees and there would be subsequent programs in the upcoming week. We appeal to people to participate in this program because ultimately this year's UN theme is "Clean Air", so we have already launched clean air mission and for .
Govt creating 50,000 tonne of onion buffer to curb price rise
The Centre has started creating a buffer stock of 50,000 tonne of onion to check prices in the coming months in view of drought conditions in producing states, a senior food ministry official said Tuesday. Wholesale prices at Lasalgaon in Maharashtra, Asia's largest wholesale market for onion, have shot up by over 29 per cent to Rs 11 per kg Tuesday when compared to Rs 8.50 per kg on the same day a year ago, as per official data. In the national capital, retail onion prices are ruling at Rs 20-25 per kg depending on the varieties, as per the trade data. "Due to drought conditions in producing region, the production of rabi onion is expected to be lower. The likely shortfall in production may put pressure on both availability and prices during the lean season," the official told PTI. Cooperative Nafed, which has been asked to undertake the procurement under the Price Stabilisation Fund, has so far purchased about 32,000 tonne of rabi (winter) onion, the only variety that can be stored .
Researchers turn plastic waste into jet fuel
Plastic trash may one day help people fly as researchers have found a way to turn daily plastic waste products into jet fuel.
India supports UN initiative to eliminate single-use plastic
India has joined efforts by the UN to eliminate single-use plastic in the world body's headquarters here and promote healthy lifestyle by marking the World Bicycle Day, weaving in Mahatma Gandhi's message of environmental sustainability and climate action in its support for the initiatives. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, joined by Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support Atul Khare, India's Deputy Permanent Representative to UN K Nagaraj Naidu and all diplomats from India's Permanent Mission to the UN, distributed free cloth bags to UN staff members in the premises of the UN headquarters. "India acts in support of @ UN efforts. No to Single Use Plastics @UN in New York," Akbaruddin tweeted. The blue bags were emblazoned with Gandhi's message of 'The Future Depends on What You Do Today' above his image and the logo of the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhi to be commemorated this year. It also had the line "Say No To Single Use Plastic ...
'Pop-up parks' may help city dwellers connect with nature
Pop-up parks -- small green spaces with permanent or temporary fixtures -- may help urban populations connect with nature in their neighbourhoods, a study has found. Large city parks and other undeveloped areas, commonly referred to as "greenspaces," are known to deliver numerous socioecological benefits to urban residents and wildlife. However, skyrocketing rates of urban growth are leaving little room for the inclusion of conventional greenspaces in urban landscapes worldwide. According to research published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, pop-up parks (PUPs) represent one possible means to help meet the demands of urbanites for more opportunities to connect with nature. PUPs serve important conservation functions by providing small-scale habitat refuges for a wide variety of threatened plants and animals in urban environments, and they deliver a suite of ecosystem services to urban residents and wildlife alike. The researchers from Royal Melbourne Institute
Centre assures help to Kerala for Nipah, rushes doctors, experts
After a 23-year-old college student was tested positive for Nipah virus in Kerala's Ernakulam, the centre has rushed a team of doctors to the state for investigation, said Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday, asserting that he is "very vigorously" following the situation."Today morning I called a meeting at my residence with all the important officers including health secretary. Yesterday itself we had dispatched a team of six officers, including doctors to Kerala to investigate," he told media."We are very vigorously following the case. We will provide every possible help to the state. Our officers are continuously in touch with the officials in the state," he added.Nipah virus, which killed 17 people in Kerala last year, is transmitted from animals to humans and then spreads through people to people contact, causing respiratory illness. Its symptoms include fever, muscle pain, headache, fever, dizziness and nausea.The government has also dispatched monoclonal ...
India in UN marks World Bicycle Day
India joined the United Nations initiative to acknowledge "uniqueness, longevity, and versatility" of the bicycle on the occasion of World Bicycle day.India Ambassador to UN, Syed Akbarrudin on Monday shared a video on his Twitter handle."Bicycles Breakthrough Barriers Team @IndiaUNNewYork is 1st to cycle together @UN to observe," he captioned the video.In the video, India officials including Ambassador Akbarrudin were seen bicycling outside the United Nations headquarters.Launched by the UN in 2018, this is the second year of the World Bicycle day celebration.UN Headquarters in New York marked the day with a special outdoor event, which General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa observed comes "at a crucial time" as there are only 11 years left "to avoid the worst impacts of climate change".While addressing a commemorative event, Garces said that bicycles can make a huge and crucial contribution, "from reducing transport emissions and road deaths to tackling obesity and ...
Nipah: Harsh Vardhan assures Kerala of Centre's support
The National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, on Tuesday confirmed that a Kerala youth being treated near Kochi has tested positive for Nipah virus (NIV). Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan immediately held an urgent meeting here and assured the state of Centre's support.
Waste management policy targets efficient management of waste
The Nagaland waste management policy targets efficient management and proper disposal of waste and educate the people to segregate bio-degradable, recyclable and inert waste at source, an official said. The Nagaland Integrated Waste Management Policy 2019 was enacted by the state government in February this year covers all urban and rural areas of the state, said deputy director in Urban Development department and Nodal Officer of Swachh Bharat Mission, Tarachu Fithu on Monday. He said the intention of the policy is to enable the community to reduce waste, reuse and recycle. As per the policy, waste management scenario in the state is still by and large rudimentary in the absence of proper policy or any regulatory mechanism. The urban areas comprising of 19 urban local bodies of the state, only Kohima has the scientific solid waste treatment plant located with 50 tonne per day (TDP) capacity. The rest of the urban local bodies have all landfill sites but they dump without
CAI maintains its cotton crop estimate at 315 lakh bales for 2018-19 season
No change in demand, supply and closing stock numbers
Young Americans' lawsuit on climate change faces big hurdle
A lawsuit by a group of young people who say US energy policies are causing climate change and hurting their future faces a major hurdle Tuesday as lawyers for the Trump administration argue to stop the case from moving forward. Three judges from the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals are hearing arguments from lawyers for 21 young people and the federal government in Portland but are not expected to rule right away. The Obama and Trump administrations have tried to get the lawsuit dismissed since it was filed in Oregon in 2015. The young people argue that government officials have known for more than 50 years that carbon pollution from fossil fuels was causing climate change and that policies promoting oil and gas deprive them of life, liberty and property. "It is the constitutional duty of the government to protect public trust resources on which we all depend and to protect us from any damages that it may inflict upon its citizens," said Aji Piper, one of the plaintiffs. The ...
Melting glaciers create new market for Alaska tour operators
The rapid melting of glaciers due to climate change has created a new market for Alaska's tour operators. The Anchorage Daily News reported Sunday that operators of several tour companies are experiencing an increase in customers booking trips to see the receding glaciers of the nation's only Arctic state before they lose access to them. A new review of glacier research data published in the Journal of Glaciology predicts Alaska's 25,000 glaciers will lose between 30% and 50% of their mass by the end of this century. One tour operator says there is "more awareness" of the receding glaciers among tourists. Operators say they have seen interest from places like Australia where glaciers do not exist, as well as visitors from emerging tourism markets like China and India.
Kerala youth tests positive for Nipah: Minister
Kerala Health Minister K.K.Shailaja on Tuesday confirmed that the youth being treated near Kochi has tested positive for Nipah virus (NiV). The test was confirmed by the Pune based National Institute of Virology.
First case of Nipah in Kerala confirmed
Kerala Health Minister K.K.Shailaja on Tuesday confirmed that the youth being treated near Kochi has tested positive for Nipah virus (NiV). The test was confirmed by the Pune based National Institute of Virology.
Green revolution good model for countries in fight against poverty, says UNFOA DG candidate
Development of rural areas is key to fighting global poverty and hunger, according to a former Georgian agriculture minister who is pitted in a four-cornered contest including one from India for UN Food and Agriculture Organising Director General. Elections for the UN FAO Director General for a four-year term beginning August 1 is slated to be held this month. The candidates running for this high-profile position are Qu Dongyu of China, Catherine Geslain-Lanelle of France, Davit Kirvalidze of Georgia and Ramesh Chand of India. "Establishing right conditions" in rural areas and rural development is "very important stuff" to ensure that when people are having "access to the market" and are getting engaged in trade on a free and fair basis" helps to achieve food security, which the world is currently looking so much, Kirvalidze told PTI in a recent interview. "India is doing a lot (in this fight against poverty and hunger)... Green Revolution... was a like a good model for many ...
Jagan Reddy directs officials to prioritise Polavaram project completion
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy directed officials to give top priority to the completion of the Polavaram project.At a review meeting held on Monday, Jagan enquired about the present status of the project and period of completion and said if there is any instance of awarding works on nomination quoting a high price, the state government will opt for reverse tendering to save money to the exchequer.Giving details of the projects, Principal secretary of irrigation Sasibushan Kumar said the state government has spent Rs 11,537 crore so far on the Polavaram project and the central government has to reimburse Rs 4,810 crore. The official said another Rs 12000 crore is necessary for the completion of civil works, and Rs 27000 crore towards R & R package, an official statement read.The Chief Minister made it clear that he would not tolerate corruption at any stage and appealed to the officials to furnish details of excess rates. He also said he would felicitate ...
MP: With Bhojtal on the verge of drying up, mayor demands all-party meet
With the water level in city's Bhojtal inching closer to dead storage level, city Mayor Anand Sharma has demanded an all-party meeting to be convened over the looming water crisis.Formerly known as Upper Lake, Bhojtal is a large lake which lies on the western side of the capital city and is said to be a major source of water for the region.Owing to less than normal rain and scorching heat, water levels at Bhojtal have rapidly dipped, raising concerns of water shortage in the areas of the city which depend on it for water supply.Speaking to ANI, Bhopal Mayor Alok Sharma said, "In the last few years, the blessings of rain gods haven't been much in the area. Hence Bhopal's 'bada talab', which is the city's lifeline, can only get filled to 50 per cent of its capacity. Now even with that depleting, a water crisis has emerged."Sharma said he has raised a demand of Rs 100 crore from the state government to deal with the crisis."I have met state minister Dr. Govind Singh ji today and demanded
Madhya Pradesh stares at grim drought
The peak summer is called 'Nautapa' -- nine days of intense heat -- in Madhya Pradesh. Though the period ended on Monday, the met office refuses to forecast any relief from the scorching heat in the next 48 hours.
Lakhs of devotees take holy dip in Ganga on 'Somvati Amavasya'
Lakhs of devotees took a holy dip in the Ganga at Har ki Pauri here on Monday on the occasion of 'Somvati Amavasya'. Devotees also offered prayers at temples. Women worshipped banyan trees to pray for the happiness and prosperity of their families on the occasion. Around 40 lakh devotees converged at Har ki Pauri for the ritual bath, SP in-charge of the area, Kamlesh Upadhyay, said. Devotees started thronging the bank of Ganga since the wee hours, causing a traffic jam on National Highway 58 as the stretch from Manglaur to Nepali Farm is under construction, he said.
Cauvery farmers keep their fingers crossed for good monsoon
There is 60:40 chance of good Kuruvai paddy crop this time and one can wait until July for the Southwest monsoon. However, the farmers are keeping their fingers crossed, according to a senior official of a farmers' association in Cauvery delta in Tamil Nadu.