Page 761 - Environment
Increasing acreage of wet crops helps sarus cranes breed in spite of monsoon failure
Increasing the acreage of wet crops like rice -- and also increasing the watering structures in areas that already have wet crops -- appear to be helping the sarus crane's unseasonal nesting and also their multiplication.
Two tigers found dead at Ranthambore
Two tigers were found dead at the Ranthambore National Park, with forest officials suspecting that they were killed in a territorial fight with another tiger. Postmortem of the tigers will be conducted today to find the exact cause of the death. The tigers aged year-and-a-half were litter of tigress T-79 and were found dead at Aanwad-ki-Khad of Swai Man Singh Sanctuary in the park yesterday. Apparently, they were killed by another male tiger, Field Director of the RNP, Y.K Sahu said. Forest department officials said the carcasses have been kept at Kundal Naka near Rajbagh Choki of RNP. Territorial disputes have been rising in the park due to increase in tiger population. The population of tigers is nearly 70, including cubs and sub-adults. The population is almost double the capacity of a national park, forest officials said. A tiger demarcates 10-12 sq km area as its territory where it does not allow a rival to enter, they said. The two sub-adults were born to T-79 and were ...
Rajasthan aims 3,780 mw solar capacity by April next
With 20 projects of 1,500 MW capacity in pipeline, Rajasthan is targeting to increase its solar power generation to 3,780 MW by April next year in order to achieve the goal of 7,000 MW clean energy capacity in the next four years. The current solar power generation is contributing 10 per cent to the total power consumption in the state and we are targeting to increase it to 17 per cent by 2021, Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Managing Director B K Doshi told PTI. He said that solar power installation capacity in the state has reached to 2,280 MW by March this year and 20 projects of total 1500 MW are under pipeline and will be commissioned and start generating power by April next year. Work on various projects is in full swing. The second phase of Bhadla solar park near Jodhpur has been commissioned (680 MW) and its third phase (1000 MW) is under progress. Of the 1000 MW capacity under the third phase of Bhadla park, 500 MW will be commissioned in September this year and 500 MW
Diamonds from fallen meteorite hint to a lost planet?
Diamonds found inside a fallen meteorite, have hinted at the existence of a lost planet, according to a new research.The study conducted by a team of researchers, particles found from a meteorite that entered the Earth's atmosphere about a decade ago, has provided compelling evidence that a lost planet used to roam around our solar system.The team of researchers from France, Germany, and Switzerland examined the diamond particles, extracted from the Almahata Sitta meteorite and concluded that they were most like formed by a proto-planet, around 4.55 billion years ago.The meteorite which crashed in the Nubian Desert in Sudan in October 2008 is reported to be full of tiny crystals. According to the study co-author, Philippe Gillet, these crystals would have required great pressure to form.Gillete further said that these findings suggest a mystery planet somewhere between the sizes of Mercury and Mars."We are probably looking at an object that was one of the first planets to circle the ..
The Major Ports at Paradip, Ennore and Tuticorinto Pioneer recycling & Desalination of sea water
During the meeting the idea was mooted for use of new technology based containerized RO (Reverse Osmosis) based plants which can reduce the cost of producing desalinated water and would be cheaper than current water procurement cost at certain ports. Shri Gadkari directed all ports to install desalination plants immediately.
Lucky for some: Chinese city launches wind power lottery to ease grid strains
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - The city of Yanan, a major wind power base in northwest China's Shaanxi province, has introduced a lottery system to decide which wind projects will go ahead this year, a sign that grid constraints are forcing local governments to restrict capacity.
First phase of cheque distribution under Rythu Bandhu from May 10
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao said that the first phase of Cheque distribution program under Rythu Bandhu Scheme for farmers would be launched from May 10.An amount of Rs 8,000 per acre would be provided under the scheme.The Chief Minister said that along with cheques the week long Pattaadar Pass Books distribution to farmers program will also commence from the same day."As part of this, the pass books and cheques will be provided to all the farmers in all the villages," the Chief Minister said.The Chief Minister recalled the Rythu Bandhu scheme of distributing Rs 4000 for the monsoon crop and Rs 4000 for the summer crop in this context.He said that the first batch of cheques of Rs 4000 per acre towards investment support scheme for agriculture for the monsoon crop will be distributed now."To ensure availability of enough cash reserves in the banks for the farmers to withdraw, adequate cash will be deposited in the banks concerned," he added.The Chief Minister will also convene
U.S. Commerce Department finds aluminium sheet imports from China subsidized - U.S. trade group
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Commerce Department on Tuesday made a preliminary determination that aluminium sheet imports from China benefit from unfair subsidies, the Aluminum Association said.
U.S. Commerce Dept finds aluminium sheet imports from China subsidized -U.S. trade group
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Commerce Department on Tuesday made a preliminary determination that aluminium sheet imports from China benefit from unfair subsidies, the Aluminum Association said.
Britain's Costa promises to recycle half a billion coffee cups by 2020
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Costa Coffee pledged on Wednesday to recycling half a billion coffee cups a year by 2020 and said it seeks to become the first chain to guarantee it recycles the same number of cups as it puts onto the market.
Exclusive: Study for EU questions jumbo France-Spain gas pipe plan - sources
PARIS (Reuters) - A report prepared for the European Commission has questioned the economic viability of plans to build a gas pipeline connecting Spain and France, designed in part to help reduce Europe's reliance on Russian piped gas, five sources told Reuters.
SAARC regional summit kicks off
Agricultural experts from SAARC nations will present a position paper on ways to address impact of climate change on agriculture at the SAARC regional summit, which kicked off today. More than 80 senior officers and agricultural experts from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka attended the inaugural session of the three-day conference in Hyderabad. The experts will also discuss adaptation measures for climate resilient agrarian systems. "The consultation will not only strengthen partnership among SAARC countries on climate resilient agricultural systems, but also cover research, economics and innovative policy towards climate smart agriculture in South Asia. "A discussion on the UNFCCC decision on agriculture will also be held during the conference," an official statement said. The conference on "Climate Resilient Agricultural Policies, Strategies and Programmes" was inaugurated by Telengana Chief Secretary Shailendra Kumar Joshi, at ...
50 ships deployed in India's area of responsibility: Navy
Around 50 Indian Navy vessels are currently deployed in sea lanes, including in areas of India's maritime interest and in anti-piracy operations, the Navy said today. The Indian Navy has wider presence in the backyard, the Indian Ocean region, which is also witnessing an increasing presence of the Chinese navy. It also has mission based deployments from the Persian Gulf to the Malacca Straits and from northern Bay of Bengal to the east coast of Africa and southern Indian ocean. "#MissionBasedDeployments From Persian Gulf to Malacca Straits & from Northern Bay of Bengal to Southern Indian Ocean to East coast of Africa @indiannavy with 50 ships on vigil 24X7 keep our Area of Responsibility (AOR) safe. @indiannavy Anytime, Anywhere Everytime @nsitharaman," the Indian Navy spokesperson tweeted. These are also the areas that have some of the vital Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCs), which are of strategic interest to India. China, too, has deployed its ships in the Indian Ocean to ...
Environment ministry comes out with draft of NCAP
The Environment Ministry today came out with a draft national action plan proposing multiple strategies to reduce air pollution. However, a green body claimed that the draft lacked its earlier set target of bringing down air pollution by 50 per cent in five years. The ministry today put up the draft of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) on its website and invited comments from various stakeholders by May 17. The ministry in the draft said the objective of the NCAP is to augment and evolve an effective and a proficient ambient air quality monitoring network across the country to ensure comprehensive and reliable database. The objective is also to have efficient data dissemination and a public outreach mechanism for timely measures for prevention and mitigation of air pollution, it said in the draft. Its objectives also include having a feasible management plan for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution. Under the NCAP, the ministry plans to take a host of measures to ..
Nabard approves Rs 14,690 cr funding to Rajasthan
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has extended total credit support of Rs 14,690 crore to Rajasthan for 2017-18, an official said. Rajasthan has been one of the biggest beneficiaries under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) of NABARD, under which NABARD disbursed concessional loan ofRs 1,851.29 crore to the state government during 2017-18, NABARDs chief general manager A K Singh said here. He informed that among major infrastructure projects, bank sanctioned 10 irrigation projects, construction of 1614 roads and two rural drinking water supply projects. Singh said that NABARD is playing a crucial role as an important stakeholder in infra financing sector in rural parts of the country through its various funds.
Global Agritech Meet to be held in Jodhpur from May 23
Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Prabhulal Saini today said that the three-day Global Agritech Meet will be organised in Jodhpur from May 23. In first Global Agritech Meet held in Jaipur, 38 MoUs were signed which attracted investment of Rs 4,400 crore. In the second meet, 22 MoUs were done and 50 per cent of the work is completed, Saini said at a press conference here today. He said that this kharif season, 1.59 lakh hectares of land will be cultivated and arrangement for 8 lakh tonnes of seeds has been made along with 3 lakh tonnes DAP and 8 lakh tonnes urea. Saini said that a road map was prepared by his department for innovation and conventional farming in western Rajasthan to cultivate date palm in the region.
Punjab orders special girdawari for crop loss
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today ordered a special 'girdawari' for the assessment of crop loss due to the recent rain and hailstorm in the state. The chief minister issued a directive to this effect, asking the concerned officials to conduct the special girdawari in the case of damage due to the weather disruptions, according to an official spokesperson. The official said the chief minister had also asked all deputy commissioners to get a valuation done of the crop damage caused by fire due to short circuit. The DCs have been ordered to get a joint assessment done by the respective SDMs and PSPCL officers to identify cases of such damage and submit a detailed report for further action by the government. The directives followed inputs received by Singh regarding losses suffered by farmers as a result of the unseasonal rains, accompanied by hail, and also on account of electrical short circuits. Expressing concern over these losses, the chief minister directed the ...
HC irked by North MCD over removal of tree at Chandni Chowk
The North Delhi Municipal Corporation's (NDMC) inaction regarding relocation of a tree near the Sis Ganj Sahib gurdwara in the walled city as part of the Chandni Chowk redevelopment plan has drawn the ire of the Delhi High Court which said the project has been sent into a "tailspin" because of the civic body's attitude. A bench of justices S Muralidhar and I S Mehta noted that after it had directed removal or relocation of the 'peepal' tree, "at the whim" of an additional commissioner of the corporation, the civic body changed its stance and said that the tree, which was in the middle of a road, was not obstructing free flow of traffic. "It appears instead of proceeding with removal or relocation of the tree, an Additional Commissioner of the zone said the tree was not an obstruction and sent everything into a tailspin as another committee was set up again to look into the issue. "Entire exercise us unfortunate as a lot of time was wasted as NDMC, at the whim of an Additional ...
Major ports to desalinate sea water: Gadkari
To meet potable water demand, three major ports - Paradip, Ennore and Chidambarnar - will install plants to recycle and desalinate sea water, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said today. The decision in this regard was taken in a meeting with chairpersons of major ports. "Paradip Port, Kamarajar Port & VO Chidambarnar Port under the Ministry of Shipping are all set to pioneer water recycling and desalination of sea water in the port premises," the Shipping, Road Transport & Highways Minister said. The minister has convened a meeting of port chairmen to discuss desalination technologies and their application at major ports, and directed that desalination plants should be installed with immediate effect, Ministry of Shipping said in a statement. While addressing the meeting, Gadkari said the desalination plant should be used for meeting the potable water needs of ports as well as the neighbouring community. He also said that efforts should be made to extract methane, carbon dioxide .
Punjab orders special survey for crop losses
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday ordered a special 'girdawari' (revenue survey) to assess crop losses due to rain and hailstorm in the state.
