Page 748 - Environment
Rainwater harvesting system unavailable at 9 metro stns: DMRC
Rainwater harvesting systems at nine metro stations in Delhi and Noida cannot be installed because the minimum land required for constructing it is not available, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has told the National Green Tribunal. The submission came in response the query by the tribunal which had asked the DMRC to explain why rainwater harvesting system was not possible on certain stretches. In January, the tribunal had issued a bailable warrant issued against DMRC Managing Director Mangu Singh for the failure of its officials to appear before it to apprise it about the installation of rainwater harvesting systems. An areas of 36 square metres is required for installation of rain water harvesting system, DMRC told the NGT. In its reply to the tribunal, the DMRC told a bench headed by acting NGT Chairperson Justice Jawad Rahim that nine stations in the Phase I and Phase II of the project do not have the required land for installation. "Out of 107 elevated stations of Phase I
99 pc population won't travel in 'elitist' bullet train: Chidambaram
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram today slammed the Narendra Modi government for reportedly approving the diversion of 77 hectares of forest land for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project and said 99 per cent of India's population would not travel in the "elitist" train. Referring to 13 children being killed when their van was hit by a train at an unmanned crossing in Uttar Pradesh yesterday, Chidambaram said in a series of tweets that the decision to divert forest land reflected the priorities of the NDA government. "On the day when 77 hectares of forest land are diverted for Rs 1,08,000 crore bullet train, 13 children are killed at an unmanned crossing. Bullet train scores over supervised level crossings! Shows priorities of Modi government. "77 hectares of forest land lost. Lives of 13 children lost. What is the gain? An elitist train in which 99 per cent of the population will never travel," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly given in-principle approval ..
Olive Ridley hatchlings born with mothers nowhere in sight
Olive Ridley hatchlings are emerging from eggshells at the Gahirmatha nesting ground in Odisha's Kendrapara district and started crawling towards the sea, a senior forest official said. Since Tuesday, the hatchlings are emerging from the eggshells with mother turtles nowhere in sight, forest officials said. The entire Nasi-2 island is teeming with baby turtles and the wildlife officials of Bhitarkanika national park stationed at these nesting grounds were sole witness to this unique natural phenomenon involving the birth of babies sans mothers, the forest oficials said. While females of most species are known to guard their eggs, the Olive Ridleys dig a pit in the sand and lay their eggs. They cover up the pit in which the eggs are laid before heading back to the sea. The phenomenon of the birth of babies sans mothers marks the culmination of the annual visit of the turtles along Odisha coast, billed as the world"s largest nesting ground of these aquatic animals at the .
Food bank for stray cows of Dhanbad
A youth brigade in Dhanbad has set up a unique 'Vegetable Peel Bank' for feeding stray cows that roam the interstate Grand Trunk road, on the border of West Bengal. The bovines, rescued from the clutches of cattle smugglers by the police, are usually left to fend on their own as shelter houses in the area lack space and provision for food, a district official said. The activists of Marwari Youth Brigade here have recently taken up a one-of-a kind initiative of feeding the starving cows on the roads and the gaushalas (shelters) in the region, he said. Around 125 to 150 cows are rescued along the interstate border every month, he added. The members of the brigade collect vegetable peels and unused food in the morning from the apartments and houses in the coal belt to cater to the fodder requirement of the stray bovines. "The activists have put up two buckets - one for dried items and another for wet food - on each floor of selected apartment complexes in the city. They ...
Strong winds in Atlantic create high waves off Indian coasts over 10K km away
Strong winds in the Atlantic Ocean, more than 10,000 kms from the Indian coasts, have given rise to high energy waves in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal prompting the government to issue alerts for several states over last one week. Though, these high energy waves, which may rise up to 2-3 metres and are perilous, experts say, because of their capacity to breach the coast, did not cause any death, property and houses were destroyed, officials said. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), a unit of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, issued 'swells' alerts to states including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, besides Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep archipelago. Alerts were also issued to the coasts of Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat, officials said. In southern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, relief camps were set up for people who left their dwellings fearing these waves could crash against their houses. In Kerala,
IFAD to host rural inequality conference
Rome, April 27 (IANS/AKI) United Nations officials, ministers researchers and civil society organisation representatives from over 15 countries will attend a rural inequality summit on May 2-3 at the UN agricultural development fund IFAD's headquarters here, the agency said on Thursday.
Arunachal Wildlife Board approves Red Panda conservation plan
The Arunachal Pradesh State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) today approved the proposal for a comprehensive Red Panda Conservation Plan in the state. The Board in a meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pema Khandu also approved to celebrate the Pakke-Paga Hornbill Festival at Seijosa in East Kameng district, in the vicinity of the Pakke Tiger Reserve, as an annual event. The state boasts of the largest amount of potential Red Panda habitat in India and therefore a conservation plan is being pushed by World Wide Fun (WWF) India to preserve the endangered species, an official release said. WWF (India) has proposed to develop a state-level management plan for Red Panda based on advanced habitat analysis and stakeholder consultation and ensure its implementation through the state Environment and Forest department. The plan will be first of its kind in the country and shall set a benchmark for all future conservation efforts for securing Red Pandas on a long term ...
Comprehensive strategy to implement BharatNet in NE: Sinha
Union Minister Manoj Sinha today said considering the strategic importance of the north east, the Telecom Commission has approved a comprehensive strategy to implement BharatNet in the region. "Under this strategy all the uncovered gram panchayats in the region especially in " Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura will be linked through broadband connectivity on satellite media by December 2018 at an estimated cost of Rs 733 crore," the Communication minister. Sinha said that under the Comprehensive Telecom Development Project for North East, 6994 towers would be set up to provide connectivity to 8621 villages and along the national highways at a cost of Rs 5336 crore. "MoU has already been signed between BSNL and USO Fund to set up 2817 towers in Arunachal Pradesh and two districts of Assam, while the work of setting up of 2004 towers in six states has been initiated by Bharti Airtel since December last year, which is to be completed in ..
Telangana will extend full support to KTK for conduct of free
The Telangana government would extend full cooperation and support to the Karnataka government in the successful conduct of free and fair polls in that state on May 12, a senior official said today. Telangana Chief Secretary S K Joshi informed his Karnataka counterpart about this during a video conference, according to an official release. Joshi said 800 police personnel from Telangana would be deputed to Karnataka state as per the request of the state government. Increased vigil across the borders including strengthening of the check posts would be taken up by the state government in view of the polls in Karnataka, he said. Joshi also instructed the General Administration Department officials of the state to issue necessary instructions to the Collectors and SPs of the five neighbouring districts-- Mahaboobnagar, Gadwal, Sangareddy, Kamareddy and Vikarabad (in Telangana) in this regard. " He said liquor shops in all these districts in a five km radius from Karnataka ...
Agri Min launches portal to help export of seeds
Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today launched a portal to facilitate export-import of seeds and planting material. A seed import-export portal has been developed for making the trade process easy, an official statement said. Singh said all prohibitions imposed on the export of seeds of different varieties have been removed so as to encourage export of seeds. With the launch of this portal, he said all organisations importing-exporting seeds will not be required to submit their applications in 20 copies. The employees of the department will also execute the process related to import-export applications in a smooth way. Through this portal, the remarks from the different departments will be achieved expeditiously resulting in a timely disposal of the applications, the statement said.
Coastal security exercise in Kerala concludes
A three-day coastal security exercise 'Sagar Kavach' was conducted off the coast of Kerala, Mahe and Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands to assess the preparedness of all agencies towards dealing with an asymmetric threat emanating from the sea. The Headquarters Coast Guard District No 4 (Kerala) and the Headquarters Coast Guard District No 12 (Lakshadweep & Minicoy) conducted the exercise from April 24 to 26. The exercise is aimed at enhancing synergy between various stake-holders through sharing of information and resources of various agencies involved in the field of coastal security. It helped in validating the standard operating procedures to strengthen the coastal security mechanism, a Defence release said here today. Four ships and three Fast Interceptor Craft (FICs) of Indian Navy, five ships of Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and also Dornier aircraft were deployed off Kerala and L&M coast. Boats and personnel from Coastal Police, Marine Enforcement Wing (MEW), ...
China plans to use AI, drones to protect Great Wall
China plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) and drones to protect the Great Wall.
'Amritsar BRTS to run full throttle by Sep'
The Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) project of Amritsar city would be operating "full throttle" by September this year, it was informed in a meeting here today. The trial run will begin by June end. The decision was taken in a high-level meeting held here which was presided over by Local Government minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and Finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal. All senior officers of the Local Government, Transport, Punjab Infrastructure Development Board, Public Works Department and Amritsar District Administration were also present in the meeting, an official statement said. Sidhu said that approximately 1.25 lakh devotees come to pay obeisance daily at the Golden Temple, Amritsar. Keeping this aspect in mind, the prestigious project of the holy city would be run at all costs, he said in the meeting. He further said that it was decided that this project would be initiated full throttle by September, 2018 and all the buses would be run. To ensure the running of the project on
U'khand Cabinet gives nod to use of dry pine leaves for generating power
The Uttarakhand Cabinet today gave its nod to a policy, permitting commercial use of dry pine leaves, considered the main factor behind forest fires in the state, for generating electricity. The cabinet's clearance to the policy will pave the way for generation of 100 MW of electricity from dry pine leaves, besides setting up ofbriquetting and bio-oil plants, Urban Development minister Madan Kaushik, who is also the state government's spokesperson said after the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat. Apart from boosting alternative energy production in the state, it will also generate large scale employment opportunities at the local level, Kaushik said, adding that it will also reduce frequency of forest fires which cause great damage to wildlife and forest wealth. Under this policy, 10 and 25 KVA power generating units will be set up in Uttarakhand through state-based voluntary organisations, firms, industrial units co-operative societies and ...
Delhi govt orders action plan to undertake vertical plantation activites
Delhi Environment and Forest minister Imran Hussain today directed his department's top officer to convene meetings with all the concerned agencies to formulate a time-bound action plan to undertake vertical plantation activities across the city. He also directed Environment and Forest Secretary Anil Kumar Singh to submit the action taken report to him within a week. The move came two days after Hussain had written to different agencies, urging them to take up vertical gardening in a big way for reducing pollution in the national capital. Hussain directed the environment and forest secretary to coordinate with all the concerned agencies on the issue. "You (secretary) are directed to convene meetings with all the concerned agencies at your level to formulate a time-bound action plan and subsequently monitor the progress in the matter. A review meeting at my level may also be convened soon," the minister said in his directive to Singh. Earlier this week, Hussain had written to the Delhi
Amritsar metro bus project to be operational by September
A trial run of the Metro Bus Project in Amritsar will be carried out in June to assess its viability and the service made operational from September, officials said on Thursday.
ABB eyes India"as a potential market for microgrid solutions
Switzerland-based power and automation technology group ABB is looking at India as a potential location"for its microgrid solutions"given the country's huge requirement"for electrification, and the government's push for renewable energy, a top executive said. "We see India as a growth market as far as microgrid is concerned," Claudio Facchin, president of ABB's power grids division and member of the group executive committee told reporters today while inaugurating a microgrid solution at its Vadodara facility that will harness solar power and reduce its carbon footprint. "In emerging markets, it's firstly about the access to electricity, and reducing certain fuel cost because today from India so many people are not electrified and they run on diesel," he added. The company today also inaugurated a PowerTEC institute, a digital technology and knowledge"centre that will impart training and learning for current and future power technologies. Facchin said the solar ...
Green cover along highways: NGT issues show cause notice to NHAI
The National Green Tribunal has issued showcause notice to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) asking why action should not be initiated against it for not maintaining the mandatory green cover along national and state highways. A bench headed by acting NGT Chairperson Justice Jawad Rahim sought responses from the NHAI, Ministry of Road Transport, Environment Ministry, besides the governments of Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan. "Issue notice in the nature of show cause to NHAI and the other to show cause why action should not be initiated in the nature of coercive action under the provisions of the NGT Act and the rules made thereunder for the non-compliance of the direction contained in the order dated September 5, 2017. "If any steps have been taken,they are permitted to file status report supported with sufficient material in the nature of photographs as also work orders if any. This shall be done within a period of 15 days," the bench said. The matter is posted for next ..
Arunachal gets less attention due to marginal presence of
Arunachal Pradesh and its problems get less attention at the national level due to "marginal presence of media" in the state, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said here today. The incidents in Arunachal often go unreported as the certain areas are not easily accessible, the CM said, adding that the Information and Public Relations Department has formulated policies to encourage the growth of media houses in the state. "I have instructed the ministers, MLAs and even officers to utilize social media like Facebook and Twitter to highlight the development works of the state," Khandu said here after launching an English Daily and a cable TV network, owned by former MLA Kipa Babu. He exhorted journalists to cover areas that are largely ignored by the mainstream media and ensure the development of those places at par with the state capital. Around hundred hamlets in the state would be converted into smart villages soon in partnership with private investors, the CM said. "Poor ...
Forest guard trampled to death by herd of elephants in K'taka
A 47-year-old forest guard was today trampled to death by a herd of wild elephants in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandya district, forest officials said. Mahadevu, along with some other foresters, had gone to Solaba village in that district to drive away a herd of elephants, which had entered the village and wrecked havoc. As the elephants were being driven away, some of the jumbos turned violent and ran amok towards the foresters. While three others managed to escape, the tuskers caught Mahadevu and trampled him to death, the officials said.
