Page 700 - Environment
Molasses leakage: Environmentalist Seechewal demands action against those polluting river
Noted environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal today sought appropriate action against a sugar mill for the alleged spillage of molasses into the Beas river in Punjab that killed a large number of fish besides damaging the aquatic ecosystem. Seechewal made the demand a day after a probe committee found violation of norms related to the storage of molasses by the sugar mill. The 56-year-old environmentalist also sought legal and penal action against factories in Ludhiana and Jalandhar for discharging industrial effluents in the Sutlej river. Seechewal, who is also known as Eco Baba, was accredited with the rejuvenation of Kali Bein, a 160-km rivulet located in Doaba region, which had turned into to a "filthy drain" because of effluents. "Action should be taken against the sugar mill for the violation and compensation should be sought from the mill for the death of large number of fish in Beas," Seechewal told PTI today. If the stipulated parameters were not followed by the sugar mill, ..
Dutch PM hails Modi for Clean Ganga goals
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 for its social, cultural and environmental importance. The government's Namami Gange initiave, 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. Rutte, who is a member of the United Nations-World Bank high-level panel on water, also stressed on the need to value water not only as an economic asset, but also for its social, cultural and religious knowledge. All of these, he said, were relevant when working on cleaning the Ganges. I have a great respect for the goals that have been set by Prime Minister Mr Modi under the Namami Gange programme, the Netherlands premier said, while speaking ..
NGT asks CPCB to inspect polluting industries near U'khand village
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to inspect and take samples from industries located in the vicinity of an Uttarakhand village so that the polluting units can be shut. A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore asked the CPCB to give the list of polluting industries, after conducting the inspection within within three weeks in the village in Udham Singh Nagar district, to the the State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Ltd (SIDCUL). "As we have been told that there are certain industries which are polluting, we direct the officers of CPCB to first inspect such industries and take samples(water/air). On confirmation about they being polluting, give a list of such industry to SIDCUL. "Upon receipts of such list SIDCUL and Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board shall immediately stop the functioning of such industries. CPCB shall inspect all the industries expeditiously and in any case within three ..
New tool can identify Zika-infected mosquitoes
Scientists have developed a low-cost tool that can effectively identify and target mosquitoes infected with Zika virus, potentially helping health authorities save lives. The study, published in the journal Science Advances, found Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) was 18-times faster and 110-times cheaper than the current detection method. "We can quickly identify mosquitoes that are infected with Zika virus so public health authorities can treat affected areas before disease spreads to humans," said Maggy Sikulu-Lord from University of Queensland in Australia. "This is definitely going to be a game-changer in disease surveillance, especially in the prediction of disease outbreaks," said Sikulu-Lord. "It only involves shining a beam of light onto mosquitoes and using that information to determine if the mosquito is infected," she said. Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause abnormalities in unborn babies and is linked to the rare paralysing condition called Guillain-Barre ...
Earth may become 4 degrees warmer by 2084: Study
The Earth's average temperature may increase by four degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels, before the end of 21st century, a study claims. This increase translates to more annual and seasonal warming over land than over the ocean, with significant warming in the Arctic, researchers said. "A great many record-breaking heat events, heavy floods, and extreme droughts would occur if global warming crosses the four degrees celsius level, with respect to the preindustrial period," said Dabang Jiang, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. "The temperature increase would cause severe threats to ecosystems, human systems, and associated societies and economies," Jiang said. In the study published in the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, researchers used the parameters of scenario in which there was no mitigation of rising greenhouse gas emissions. They compared 39 coordinated climate model experiments from the fifth phase of the Coupled Model ...
Punjab: Work on treating hazardous ravine going on at slow pace
The water of Buddha Nullah (ravine), a seasonal stream that runs through Ludhiana, has turned black due to industrial and chemical wastes.Several deaths caused by hepatitis and other diseases have been reported in surrounding villages in the past four years, raising widespread fear among the locals living in the region.Though one plant is ready, it is yet to get operational, and the works on the other three have not been completed yet."The Pollution Control Board (PCB) is working on installing four, Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP) in the area. But, only one has been made till now and even that has not become operational," said Ludhiana Municipal Corporation Commissioner Jaskiran Singh.Buddha Nullah runs through various districts in Punjab and drains in Sutlej, is one of most polluted water bodies of the state. The highly populated and industrialised Ludhiana city is one of the main sources of the pollution of the stream. The water gets polluted as it enters Ludhiana city. The .
Families from 8 countries sue EU over climate change
Ten families from Europe, Kenya, and Fiji have filed suit against the European Union over global warming threats to their homes and livelihoods, their lawyers said today. They insist the bloc must do more to limit climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions, and point to drought, glacier melt, sea level rise and flooding that will worsen as temperatures rise. The plaintiffs before the European Court of Justice are "families living near the coast, families owning forests in Portugal, families in the mountains that see the glaciers melting, families in the north that are affected by permafrost melting," their lawer Roda Verheyen told AFP. They "are already being impacted by climate change, already incurring damage... and they are saying: 'EU, you have to do what you can to protect us because otherwise our damage will be catastrophical'," Verheyen said. The claim, nicknamed the "People's Climate Case", is the first of its kind brought against the EU, the group's lawyers ...
Nipah Virus not an epidemic: Centre
Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Ashwini Kumar Choubey on Thursday, said that the rare Nipah Virus (NiV) is not an epidemic.He told ANI, "Government of India is keeping a close watch on the situation, our team of doctors is present at the spot. It is localised and not an epidemic, all kinds of precautions are being taken. People should not panic".So far, the rare and deadly virus has claimed 11 lives in Kerala. The state's health department has issued an advisory for people traveling to the state. It has urged travelers to be extra cautious while visiting Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur districts.
New tool to rapidly, noninvasively detect Zika virus in mosquitoes
Researchers have developed a cheap and effective tool that could rapidly as well as noninvasively save lives by helping health authorities target mosquitoes infected with Zika virus.
Nipah scare: Odisha health dept issues alert to hospitals
The Odisha government has issued an alert to five medical colleges and 30 district headquarters hospitals in the wake of Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala. The rare virus, mainly transmitted through fruit bats, reportedly claimed 11 lives in the southern state. In a letter to the medical authorities, the director of Health Services), Braja Kishore Brahma, underscored the need to take preventive measures against the deadly virus as treatment options were limited. Although no such case was reported from any part of the state so far, the health department has asked the hospitals to prepare themselves for contingencies. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, has already set up an isolated ward to admit patients afflicted with the virus, its dean, Bikas Bhatia, said. The health department also advised people to avoid consuming fruits that are half-eaten by bats or birds. It said that a detailed advisory, with preventive measures and common signs, ...
Submit percentage-wise compliance report on Ganga: NGT to Uttarakhand
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Uttarakhand government to submit within four weeks percentage-wise compliance report on steps taken by it to clean the River Ganga in the stretch between Gomukh and Haridwar. A bench headed by acting NGT Chairperson Justice Jawad Rahim asked the state government to make a categoric statement about the stage of compliance rather than indicating what work was under progress. The green panel has directed the state government to file the report of compliance by July 19. "On behalf of State of Uttarakhand it is submitted that the compliance report filed by them indicates substantial compliance, however it is pointed out by the counsel Vijay Hansaria that various directions of the Tribunal are yet to be complied with in totality. "The counsel on behalf of State of Uttarakhand, submits they require four weeks time to compile all the information and file to the satisfactory of the Tribunal. We accept his request and grant them time till July 19, ...
Rice becomes less nutritious as CO2 levels rise: Study
Increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere will reduce the nutritional value of rice, a study has found. In rice grown under higher carbon dioxide concentrations expected in the second half of this century - 568 to 590 parts per million - levels of iron, zinc, protein, and vitamins B1, B2, B5, and B9 were found to be reduced. "Rice is not just a major source of calories, but also proteins and vitamins for many people in developing countries and for poorer communities within developed countries," said Kazuhiko Kobayashi of the University of Tokyo. Populations in countries with both the highest rice consumption and lowest gross domestic product may experience more malnutrition as the nutritional value of low-cost staple foods like rice declines. Not all varieties of rice responded in the same way, so future research projects may examine the possibility of finding varieties of rice that can remain nutritious despite the change in the atmosphere. The rice was grown at research ...
Russian Government run atomic energy corporation 'ROSATOM'
World's First Floating Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP) 'Akademik Lomonosov' has been developed by ROSATOM, the Russian State run Atomic Energy Corporation.The FNPP was designed to make it possible to supply electricity to hard-to-reach areas, regardless of transport infrastructure, landscape, and cost of fuel delivery. The reactor have the potential to work particularly well in regions with extended coastlines, power supply shortages, and limited access to electrical grids.Up to 40 percent of the cost of fossil fuel-based electricity generation is attributed to the price of coal, oil or gas, as well as to the cost of their delivery. This figure is even higher for especially remote locations. The small size, light weight, and fixed cost of the FNPP eliminate many such challenges. The small nuclear reactor can operate non-stop without the need for refueling for three to five years, thereby considerably reducing the cost of electricity generation.The nuclear floating unit is equipped with two
India cuts power to smelter after deadly anti-pollution protests
THOOTHUKUDI, India (Reuters) - Indian authorities on Thursday cut the power to a large copper smelter run by London-listed Vedanta Resources after police shot and killed 13 people in protests against what they say is pollution generated by the plant.
Argentina recommends vaccination before going to Russia
Argentina's Ministry of Health recommended that those traveling to Russia for the World Cup get vaccinated against measles before departing, according to a statement from the Football Association of Argentina (AFA).
India, Netherlands to firm up cooperation in farm sector
India and the Netherlands are keen to further cooperate in the field of agriculture and allied sectors, an official statement said today. Dutch deputy prime minister and farm minister Carola Schouten today called on India's agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field. In the meeting, the two ministers discussed the work accomplished so far under the Indo-Dutch collaboration and expressed their desire to strengthen it further, it said. Singh said India is keen to have further cooperation in crop residue management, bovine breeding, dairy development, animal health and porcine development, among others. He also emphasised on the need for infusing modern technology in India's agriculture as the Netherlands is a global leader in cultivation of flowers, plants and vegetables, and well known for the diversification of agriculture sector. Singh informed that a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for vegetables has been commissioned at ...
Nipah outbreak: Death toll rises to 11, health advisory issued
As one more person has died in Kerala's Kozhikode due to Nipah virus, taking the death toll to 11, the state's health department on Thursday issued an advisory for people travelling to the state.Though the state's department of health and family welfare is claiming that Kerala is safe and the situation is under control, it has urged travelers to be extra cautious while visiting Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur districts."The infection remains highly localised, all cases being linked to one family... the Health Department is taking effective steps for management of reported cases and surveillance through tracing of the contact of these persons. The situation remains under control," said the department in the advisory.Earlier, Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam had appealed to the people of the state not to panic over the rumours being circulated about the spread of the virus and requested everyone to follow the advisories issued by the health department.Also, chief minister ...
AP govt inaugurates RO plants in kidney disease-affected areas
In a move to provide safe drinking water to the kidney disease-affected habitations, Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday inaugurated seven reverse osmosis (RO) plants in as many mandals of Uddanam area.The initiative was taken in order to provide safe drinking water to the kidney affected habitations in Uddanam area by providing RO plants.Seven RO plants (hub and spoke model) of 10,000 LPH capacity covering 128 habitations and 14 wards of Palasa municipality in seven mandals of Kidney-affected Uddanam area were sanctioned by the government last year.The estimated cost of the project was around Rs.16 crore, which would benefit a total population of 1.8 lakh peope.Total expenditure as on today is Rs.7.8 crore and Rs.1.4 crore bill is in processing.Out of 135, actual proposed dispensing units, 109 units have been completed.One unit in Mandasa, one in Ichapram and 21 units in Kaviti is still in progress and will be completed by the end of this month.
China fines Japanese retailer for listing Taiwan as country
China has fined Japanese retail chain Muji 200,000 yuan ($31,300) for listing Taiwan as a "country of origin" on some of its packaging, the media reported on Thursday.
Three bears rescued from well
Three bears, including two cubs, were rescued by forest personnel after the animals were trapped in a well at Padalguda in Nabarangpur district, forest officials said today. The animals were rescued safely from the dry well after a three-hour operation carried out by forest personnel yesterday, they said. The bears had entered a mango orchard on Tuesday apparently in search of food and accidentally fell into the well, they said. The orchard owner spotted them and informed the forest staff. The animals were brought to the forest department nursery here. They would be taken to the forest and released after a few days, they said.
