Page 730 - Environment
Adani decision on Carmichael mine in limbo: Aus Consul General
According to the Consul General of Australia Tony Huber, who is visiting Vadodara, Adani Group still has to take a decision on starting work on Carmichael mine, the country's largest coal mine. The company did not comply with its March deadline for securing financing for the first stage of the mine, in Queensland, Australia. "The needed approvals for the project have already been granted to Adani in this regard," Huber told PTI in an interview yesterday. The Adani Group has already reached an agreement with Queensland government on the mine of royalties, he added. The Carmichael coal mine is a proposed thermal coal mine in the north of theGalilee basin in Central Queensland, Australia. The project has been delayed for years due to numerous court challenges from green groups concerned about climate change and potential damage to the Great Barrier Reef. Mining is planned to be conducted by both open-cut and underground methods. The development by Adani Mining, a ...
Transport subsidy, other incentives to Sikkim organic farmers
The Sikkim government will provide transport subsidy and other incentives to organic farmers of the state over the next five years, Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling has said. Chamling also urged landowners not to keep any cultivable land barren, and grow multiple crops which will fetch good returns for them and meet the growing demand for organic produces in the domestic market and outside. "Over the next five years, the state government will be providing transport subsidy, goods compensation, crop insurance and price support in order to encourage organic farmers and to ensure success of the organic mission," he said at a mass contact programme in West Sikkim yesterday. The chief minister said it has been decided to allot shops in a Gangtok market only to organic growers and similar markets would be set up in all other district headquarters so that farmers get a ready place to sell their produces. "The demand for organic products is growing globally. With Sikkim being
Woman forced to give birth in culvert in Odisha
In an unfortunate turn of events, a woman in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha was forced to give birth in a culvert after her house was destroyed by an elephant six months ago.Pramila Tiria, wife of Manglu Tiria, a resident of Surubil village in Odisha lost a roof over her head when her home was destroyed by an elephant six months ago, and she also did not receive any assistance from Government authorities.A homeless and helpless Pramila was then forced to deliver her baby under most unfavourable conditions, in a culvert. Pramila did not avail any of the schemes such as the Anganwadi or the Asha Didi.This incident reflects of the indifferent approach of the Forest Officials and the Government authorities in the district who failed to offer any help to Pramila over the last six months.Speaking to ANI, the Additional District Magistrate of Mayurbanj admitted to the incident and said that action should be taken against the guilty."Let me examine the situation. I came to know about the ..
Himachal makes hydro policy investor-friendly
The Himachal Pradesh cabinet on Tuesday approved major amendments to the state's hydropower policy to speed up the upcoming projects. It decided to defer 12 per cent free power for the first 12 years in the allotted projects.
Haryana CM invites investment from Israeli agri firms
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal today invited Israeli companies to invest and collaborate in the fields of waste water treatment, micro irrigation, precision farming and crop innovation to help increase income of farmers in the state, an official release said. In his address at the global agricultural technology exhibition Agritech Israel 2018 in Tel Aviv, Khattar sought collaborations in the fields of waste water treatment, micro irrigation, precision farming, crop innovation, and sprinkler system to assist and enable the farmers of his state to produce more and increase their income. The Chief Minister invited potential partners, companies, and research institutions from Israel to come forward and be a part of the growth story of Haryana, a Haryana government release said here. Agritech Israel 2018, being held from May 8-10, is one of the worlds most important exhibitions in the field of agricultural technologies. Stressing the need for family and integrated farming, he said ...
Solar leads India's electricity generation transition: IEEFA
India installed a record 10 gigawatts (GW) of solar electricity capacity in 2017-2018, twice the rate logged in the previous year and nearly double the country's entire solar base, the US-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis said.
Ban toxic insecticides: Maharashtra farm body to Centre
A prominent farm body on Tuesday urged the Centre to immediately accept the Maharashtra government's plea to ban poisonous insecticides which have killed more than 60 farmers here so far.
First integrated smart cities control centre launched in MP
In a major step towards realising the Centre's smart city mission (SCM), the Madhya Pradesh government today launched the country's first Integrated Control and Command Centre (ICCC) for all seven smart cities of the state in Bhopal. The ICCC, installed in a building in Barkheda area of the state capital, would enable the authorities to monitor the status of various smart civic amenities in real-time through the sensors connected to it. Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Satna, and Sagar are the seven smart cities under SCM in Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated the integrated command centre of the Bhopal Smart City Development Corporation Limited (BSCDCL). They also inaugurated the first "Apex Conference for the CEOs" of smart cities. The seminar is being attended by 77 CEOs. "Madhya Pradesh has now come out from the category of BIMARU states. The ...
World tourism behind 8 per cent of global CO2 emissions
The world's domestic and international tourism industry contributes to eight per cent of the global greenhouse gas emissions - about four times greater than previously estimated - scientists, including one of Indian origin, have found. Small islands attract a disproportionate share of carbon emissions, considering their small populations, through international arrivals, while the US is responsible for the majority of tourism-generated emissions overall, the study found. The team led by researchers at the University of Sydney in Australia found the global comprehensive tourism footprint of tourism-related greenhouse gas emissions is about four times greater than previous estimates, is growing faster than international trade and is already responsible for almost a tenth of global GHGs. The researchers recommend financial and technical assistance could help share burdens such as global warming on winter sports, sea-level rise on low-lying islands and pollution impacts on exotic and ...
Delhi Police personnel bury peacock wrapped in tri-colour, activists say procedure not followed
A dead peacock buried by the Delhi Police personnel after wrapping it in a tricolour has raised several questions of 'protocol' and safety of the national bird, with activists claiming the forest department should have played a pro-active role in the proper disposal of the carcass. The police was informed on Friday about the bird being found injured outside the High Court. An officer from the Tilak Marg police station said, "The assistant sub-inspector did everything he could to save the bird. He rushed the bird to a hospital in Chandni Chowk where the bird was declared dead." The bird was then taken to Jaunapur in south Delhi, where a post-mortem was carried out. The police personnel were in touch with the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) officers to ensure that they did not go wrong in handling the national bird, the police official said. After the post-mortem, the police personnel consulted the doctor who had carried it out and the NDMC officials, both of whom suggested that the .
Sri Lanka's Central Bank calls for cheaper transport
Sri Lanka's Central Bank said on Tuesday that the government must explore cheaper and faster options to tackle traffic jams in the island country such as establishing a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and a Light Rail Transit (LRT).
China develops battery to store renewable energy
Chinese scientists have developed a lead carbon battery for storing power generated from solar panels and windmills and claimed that with such devices, the electricity supply is stable for use.
Renovated botanical gallery of Indian Museum to open on Wednesday
The renovated botanical gallery of the Indian Museum will throw its doors open to the public on Wednesday, according to an official release.
Astronomers find exoplanet with cloud-free atmosphere
Astronomers have found that a planet outside our solar system, which is similar to Saturn in mass and exceeds the size of Jupiter by 20 per cent, has an atmosphere free of clouds.
Norway keen to invest in Himachal: Ambassador
Norway's Ambassador to India Nils Ragnar Kamsvag on Tuesday called on Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and expressed his country's keenness to invest in the state's hydroelectricity and tourism sectors.
'Renewable industry created 500,000 plus jobs in 2017 globally'
The renewable energy industry created more than 500,000 new jobs globally in 2017, a 5.3 per cent increase from the previous year, with India and China among the largest employers, an International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) report said on Tuesday.
Over 84 lakh MT wheat purchased in Haryana
Over 84 lakh tonnes of wheat has been procured in Haryana in the ongoing Rabi marketing season, surpassing 74.25 lakh tonnes procured in the corresponding period last year. "Wheat procurement in the Haryana has surpassed last year's level. A total of 84.39 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of wheat has been procured by the state agencies till now against 74.25 lakh MT last year," a spokesman of Haryana Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department said. State agencies have procured over 84.39 lakh metric tonnes, the traders have just procured 884 metric tonnes. Giving details of the wheat procured by government agencies, he said 33.77 lakh metric tonnes has been procured by Haryana State Co-operative Supply and Marketing Federation (HAFED), whereas Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has purchased 25.33 lakh metric tonnes. He said Centre's procurement agency Food Corporation of India has purchased 10.32 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and Haryana Warehousing Corporation ...
Ailing elephant dies in TN
A 55-year-old ailing elephant that returned to the jungle after treatment, was today found dead in a forest area near here, forest officials said. The female elephant found lying at a farm few days ago was treated for intestinal ailment and diarrhoea by veterinarians, they said. After showing signs of improvement the pachyderm returned to the forest last evening. The department officials who went to the forest area this morning noticed the elephant lying dead, they said adding the animal died after its health condition deteriorated.
NGT seeks Centre, UP govt response on petition alleging Illegal sand mining in Ken, Betwa rivers
The National Green Tribunal today sought responses from the Centre and the state government over a plea alleging illegal sand mining in Ken and Betwa rivers in four districts of Uttar Pradesh. A bench, headed by acting NGT Chairperson Justice Jawad Rahim, issued notices to the Union Environment Ministry, UP government, state pollution control board, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority and others while seeking their replies in two weeks. The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Hamirpur resident Prem Singh Yadav alleging large scale unscientific sand mining in Ken and Betwa rivers in the districts of Banda, Hamirpur, Jalaun and Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh in violation of the conditions prescribed in the environmental clearance (EC) as well as the mining lease deed. The plea contended that although the people involved in sand mining have started obtaining permissions, the situation on the ground has not changed, as the project proponents are not complying with the conditions of ...
Exoplanet atmosphere free of clouds discovered
Scientists have detected an exoplanet atmosphere that is free of clouds, a finding that may improve our understanding of the planets beyond our solar system. Using 8.2m Very Large Telescope in Chile, researchers from the University of Exeter in the UK studied the atmosphere of WASP-96b when the planet passed in front of its host-star. This enabled the team to measure the decrease of starlight caused by the planet and its atmosphere, and thereby determine the planet's atmospheric composition. Just like an individual's fingerprints are unique, atoms and molecules have a unique spectral characteristic that can be used to detect their presence in celestial objects. The spectrum of WASP-96b shows the complete fingerprint of sodium, which can only be observed for an atmosphere free of clouds. WASP-96b is a typical hot gas giant similar to Saturn in mass and exceeding the size of Jupiter by 20 per cent. The planet periodically transits a Sun-like star 980 light years away in the southern ...
