Page 740 - Environment
Over 10,000 endangered tortoises are rescued in Madagascar
International conservationists in Madagascar have been treating more than 10,000 critically endangered radiated tortoises that were seized from traffickers who had crammed them into a home with no access to food or water. The Turtle Survival Alliance and other groups are caring for the tortoises at a wildlife facility in the Ifaty region of the Indian Ocean nation, though hundreds have died from illness and dehydration. The alliance says the radiated tortoises were found by police at a home in Toliara on April 10 and that they likely had been collected for the illegal pet trade, possibly in Asia. Radiated tortoises are coveted for the star pattern on their shells. Susie Bartlett, a veterinarian with the US-based Wildlife Conservation Society, says most of the surviving tortoises appear "fairly healthy.
Bullet train: Patel raises questions over land acquisition
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel has expressed his reservations over the way farmers' land was being acquired for the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project and written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention. Stating that farmers' constitutional rights were being "bulldozed", the Rajya Sabha MP said the land must be acquired under the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 and not under its modified version cleared by the Gujarat government. "For long, the rights of farmers and farm labourers over agriculture land were being trampled upon by large and powerful interests," Patel said in the letter sent yesterday. The National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRC) and the district officials are in the process of acquiring agricultural land from farmers in several districts of South Gujarat for the bullet train project, the letter added. "Farmers representatives have complained that rules and procedures laid down under the ...
Holistic Strategy with equal centre states efforts answer to reduce PM levels: PHDCCI
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday asked the Centre Government in consultation with all states and UTs to form a Holistic Strategy with sufficient funds to evolve quicker solutions for drastic curtailment of PM Levels in the air of its large cities including metros on lines what the Chinese do to make its air breathable with almost a yearly road map and a firm will to implement it.In a press release issued here today, President PHDCCI Anil Khaitan lamented that the recent measures adopted by the governments both at centre and states to counter the increasing menace of rising air pollution have been casual in approach as a result very little happened in reduction of PM Levels in India air particularly those of its large cities and metros.Therefore what is called for is a formation of holistic strategy in which Centre and States including UTs should have equitable involvement with same sense of commitment and accountability so that PL Levels are brought down with ...
Vedanta considers building zinc smelter in South Africa
(Reuters) - Vedanta Resources' Zinc International unit said it was exploring the feasibility of developing and constructing a smelter to process zinc mined from its flagship Gamsberg project in South Africa.
Waste, emissions, dust cause air pollution in Indian cities: Experts
A cocktail of toxic factors -- ranging from industrial waste to vehicular emissions and road dust -- has put 14 Indian cities on the dubious map of the most polluted places in the world, experts said. A new WHO report said today that 14 Indian cities were on its 2016 list of 15 with the highest levels of PM2.5 or particulate matter (PM) with a diametre of less than 2.5 micrometres. Fine particles stay longer in the air than heavier ones, leading to greater chances of toxic matters being inhaled by human beings and animals. Here are some possible reasons cited by the experts on what makes the air so dangerous in four hotbeds of pollution. KANPUR: The World Health Organization report states that the Uttar Pradesh city is the most polluted in the world with an annual PM2.5 average of 173 micrograms per cubic metre (g/m3) and an annual PM10 (particulate matter of 10 micrometres or less in diametre) average of 319 (g/m3). Among the sources of pollution are industrial point sources, defined
Rice basmati falls on muted demand
In restricted activity, rice basmati prices drifted down by Rs 100 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today on subdued demand against adequate stocks position. However, other grains remained flat in thin trade. Traders said sluggish demand against ample stocks positions, mainly led to decline in rice basmati prices. In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa-1121 variety fell by Rs 100 each to Rs 7,200-7,300 and Rs 6,500-6600 per quintal respectively. Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal): Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,060-2,260, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,720-1,725 Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,725-1,730, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 230-260, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Roller flour mill Rs 930-940 (50 kg), Maida Rs 960-970 (50 kg)and Sooji Rs 1,040-1,050 (50 kg). Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,800, Basmati common new Rs 7,200-7,300, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 6,500-6,600, Permal raw Rs 2,375-2400, Permal wand .
Macron warns over China dominance in Indo-Pacific
No country can be allowed to dominate the Indo-Pacific, the leaders of France and Australia said today, as regional capitals fret over the rise of an increasingly assertive China. French President Emmanuel Macron said the two nations -- alongside fellow democracy India -- had a responsibility to protect the region from "hegemony" -- a veiled reference to Beijing's growing might. "What's important is to preserve rules-based development in the region... and to preserve necessary balances in the region. "It's important with this new context not to have any hegemony," he added through an interpreter. France has a number of island territories in the Pacific Ocean. Australia has become increasingly alarmed at China's push into the Pacific, which could potentially upset the strategic balance in the region. Neighbour New Zealand has also voiced concerns about "strategic anxiety" -- diplomatic code for Beijing's influence among the region's island nations. Reports last month -- which were ...
'Traffic-related pollution may increase asthma risk in kids'
Long-term exposure to traffic-related pollution may significantly increase the risk of asthma in early childhood, a study warns. The study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, analysed data from 1,522 Boston-area children born between 1999 and 2002. "Our previous research demonstrated that living close to a major roadway and lifetime exposure to air pollutants were associated with lower lung function in seven- to ten- year-old children," said Mary B Rice from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in the US. "We suspected that these exposures would also be associated with pediatric asthma," said Rice. Researchers used mapping technologies to determine the distance between each child's home address and the nearest major roadway. They also linked home addresses to census data and satellite-derived atmospheric data to calculate each participant's daily exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) - tiny particles suspended in the air that when inhaled deposit ..
Modi slams Ktk govt over slipshod implementation of crop insurance scheme
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today came down hard on the Siddaramaiah government in poll-bound Karnataka for being "indifferent" to farm distress and not implementing the crop insurance scheme effectively and stressed that welfare of farmers was his government's top priority. With his own government under attack over agrarian distress in several states, including Karnataka, Modi sought to assuage the concerns of the farming community. "As part of our holistic approach to agriculture, from purchase of seeds to reaching the farm produce to markets (beej se bazaar tak) we are working towards making farmers strong," he told BJP Kisan Morcha workers in an interaction with them through the 'Narendra Modi' app. He assailed Karnataka's Congress government over its alleged indifference towards implementing the crop insurance scheme to insulate them against crop loss. "I keep getting complaints regarding Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana from Karnataka, but one of our MPs has done a great work ..
Nine out of 10 people globally breathe toxic air: WHO
Air pollution levels remain dangerously high in many parts of the world with nine out of 10 people breathing air containing high levels of pollutants, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday.
Traffic-related pollution may increase asthma risk in kids
Long-term exposure to traffic-related pollution may significantly increase the risk of asthma in early childhood, a study has warned.
Alarming rise in deaths of people, elephants in human-animal conflict in Odisha
The ever-increasing deaths of elephants as well as people in human-animal conflicts in Odisha has alarmed environmentalists and wildlife enthusiasts who blame the state Forest Department's "callous approach" for the problem and have sought an urgent action plan to prevent loss of lives.
Here is why your home should be away from roads
Turns out, traffic-related pollution is linked to the risk of asthma in children.According to a research conducted by the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, children living within a football field's length of major roadways had nearly three times the odds of pediatric asthma compared to children who lived four times farther away.While physicians have long known that smog and pollution can bring on an asthma attack among children and adults suffering from asthma, researchers have remained uncertain about what role long-term exposure to certain pollutants might play in the development of the disease in children.New research suggested that long-term exposure to traffic-related pollution significantly increases the risk of pediatric asthma, especially in early childhood."Our previous research demonstrated that living close to a major roadway and lifetime exposure to air pollutants were associated with lower lung function in seven- to ten-year-old children," said corresponding author ...
PM Modi accuses Siddaramaiah Govt. for farmers' apathy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday trained guns at the ruling Siddaramaiah Government in Karnataka and accused them of not letting the benefits of 'Fasal Bima Yojna' reach the farmers.Prime Minister Modi, while addressing Kisan Morcha Karyakartas of Karnataka through Narendra Modi (NaMo) App, said that a change in the government is needed to bring changes in the farmer's condition."Due to the apathy of Karnataka Government, farmers in the state have not got the benefit of 'Fasal Bima Yojna'. A sensitive government, which works for the development of farmers, is needed in the state," Prime Minister Modi said.He said, when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief ministerial candidate B. S. Yeddyurappa comes to power, he will work with renewed vigour to double farmer's income.The Prime Minister further pitched for coordination among nature, farmer and government.He said that the Centre has increased Minimum Support Price (MSP) for notified crops to at least 1.5 times that of the ...
Australian wheat farmers plant in dust bowl and pray for rain
SINGAPORE/SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian farmers are planting wheat in some of the driest soils in years, following on from a severe drought that cut 2017/18 output in the world's fourth-largest wheat exporter to the lowest in a decade.
India must save itself from the plastic peril (Comment)
At the recently concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London, the joint communique focused on the challenges of evolving sustainable development policies for almost 2.5 billion citizens who are part of this 53-member grouping. India accounts for more than half the demography of the Commonwealth and is seen as the emerging leader of this large cluster of disparate nations which were once part of the British empire.
Gujarat govt launches 'save the water' project
The Gujarat government initiated a month-long state-wide water conservation campaign, on the occasion of the state's Foundation Day.The project, named 'Sujalam Sufalam Water Conservation Campaign', was officially launched by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Tuesday by desalting a pond at Kosamdi village in Anklesvar tehsil of Bharuch district.In Rajkot, food and civil supply minister Jayesh Radadiya launched the scheme and thanked people who supported the cause."Water is the foundation of development. If there is no water, development will be automatically stalled. Drought in one year halts development for five years. If water is conserved, the water table will rise. Along with water conservation, this scheme also aims at desalination and focuses on the environment too. Thus on a whole, to better the happy living index of Gujarat in the coming years," Radadiya told media.The massive campaign aims at conserving 11,000 lakh cubic feet of rainwater by desalting nearly 13,000 ponds, 200 ...
Macron urges Australia to intensify climate change efforts
Visiting French President Emmanuel Macron has urged the Australian government to intensify its efforts in the fight against climate change and expressed his concern for the future of the countries in the Pacific.
90% of world's population breathes badly polluted air: WHO
Nine out of every 10 people on the planet breathe air that contains high levels of pollutants and kills seven million people each year, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) study released on Wednesday.
