Page 769 - Environment
Staff crunch mars Delhi forest department work
While the forest department is struggling to confirm the presence of a leopard in the national capital, officials on Thursday said such tasks are becoming increasing difficult given a massive staff crunch, with almost negligible frontline staff.
Finland approves Russian gas pipeline plans
Finland today granted its final approval for a pipeline dubbed Nord Stream 2, which will be used to pump Russian natural gas to Germany, to go through its waters in the Baltic Sea. The final green light for the Finnish stretch of the planned pipeline came from the Nordic country's environmental authorities, a week after the government in Helsinki gave its consent for a project that has sparked controversy in the European Union. "The Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland has granted the permit required under the Finnish Water Act for construction of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipelines between Russia and Germany within the Finnish Exclusive Economic Zone," the agency said in a statement. But the plan to bring more Russian gas to Western Europe is facing headwind elsewhere in the bloc. Although German authorities gave Nord Stream 2 their green light at the end of March, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday that the plan could not go forward "without clarity about
Punk, butt-breathing turtle joins unlucky club
Boasting a green, punk hairdo and the unusual ability to breathe through its backside, an Australian turtle has become famous overnight -- but not only for its eccentricity. Unfortunately, just as many of us are discovering the Mary River Turtle's tantalising traits, it has become the latest creature to join the "EDGE of Existence" list of endangered species compiled by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). A native of Queensland, Australia, the turtle was one of 100 reptiles added to the catalogue this week. It lives only in the Mary River from which it took its name. The inventory has no shortage of weird and wonderful creatures -- a limbless lizard, the world's largest sea turtle, a blind snake, and a chameleon named after Tarzan. But the Mary River Turtle might just be the strangest of them all. "The turtle is highly distinctive," states a ZSL description of the species known to scientists as Elusor macrurus. It can breathe underwater through specialised glands in butt organs .
More than 1 lack bio-toilets installed in railways since 2011: Ministry
Indian Railways has installed more than one Lakh bio-toilets in trains till March 2018, seven years since 57 were installed in the Gwalior Varanasi Bundelkhand Express in January 2011, a statement from the Railway Ministry said today. With 1,25,000 such toilets being installed, the ministry has now covered about 60 per cent of coaching fleet of the railways, the ministry said. During 2017-18, the railways installed highest ever bio-toilets in coaches which is 40 per cent higher than the set target of 40,000 bio-toilets and 64 per cent higher than the fitment of 34,134 bio-toilets in 2016-17. "Presently, railways has commissioned and operating 27 sections as Green Corridors. All the trains plying on these sections are running with coaches equipped with bio-toilets. Thus, there is no direct discharge of human waste from the trains running on these corridors," the statement said. Under the bio-toilet project of Indian Railways, the toilets are fitted underneath the lavatories and the ...
1,25,000 Bio-toilets installed in train coaches
The Indian Railways at present have commissioned and are operating 27 sections as Green Corridors. All the trains plying on these sections are running with all the coaches equipped with bio-toilets.Thus, there is no direct discharge of human waste from the trains running on these Green Corridors.Indian Railway has provided about 1,25,000 bio-toilets in its coaches till March 2018.The 'Bio-Toilet project' of Indian Railways is an innovative and indigenous development of technology. This technology is first of its kind being used by any railroad in the world for On-board accelerated digestion of human waste. These bio-toilets are fitted underneath the lavatories and the human waste discharged into them is acted upon by a colony of anaerobic bacteria that convert human waste mainly into water and small amounts of bio-gases.The gases escape into atmosphere and waste water is discharged after chlorination onto the track. Human waste, thus, does not fall on the railway tracks thus improving
Allies target BJP over Nanar project in Maharashtra
After the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP), the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party was targeted on Thursday by its allies, Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Swabhimana Party (MSP) over the upcoming Nanar refinery project coming up in coastal Ratnagiri.
Taps may dry up in India: Study
A new early warning satellite system has revealed that India along with Spain, Morocco and Iraq faces the risk of shrinking reservoirs that can lead to taps going dry.
CAI to set up farmers' training institute in Mumbai
The Cotton Association of India (CAI) plans to set up a full-fledged training institute for farmers in Mumbai, at a time when the country's cotton sector is experiencing a difficult phase, an official said here on Thursday.
Himachal to develop fossil park through ADB funding: CM
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday said the Suketi Fossil Park in Sirmaur district will be developed through Asian Development Bank (ADB) assistance.
India launches another navigation satellite as part of home grown GPS
India today successfully launched into space a navigation satellite for a constellation of spacecraft dubbed as its home-made Global Positioning System(GPS) that can serve both military and civilian needs. The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), also called NavIC--Navigation with Indian Constellation--is considered on par with US-based GPS, Russia's Glonass and Galileo developed by Europe. It will broadcast highly-accurate timing signals that a receiver can use to triangulate its location. In a pre-dawn launch, the IRNSS-1I navigation satellite, which is essentially a replacement satellite, was injected into the designated orbit by the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle(PSLV). It is the eighth navigation satellite launched by the ISRO. The PSLV-C41/IRNSS-1I Mission blasted off at 4.04 am from the first launchpad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, ISRO officials said, adding it was a ..
China to send seeds of flower, potato to Moon with lunar lander
China is planning to send seeds of potato, a flowering plant and silkworm eggs with its Chang'e-4 lunar probe later this year to conduct the first biological experiment on the lifeless Moon. The probe will carry a tin containing seeds of potato and arabidopsis, a small flowering plant related to cabbage and mustard, and probably some silkworm eggs to conduct the first biological experiment on the Moon, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today. The "lunar mini biosphere" experiment was designed by 28 Chinese universities, led by southwest China's Chongqing University, a conference on scientific and technological innovation of Chongqing Municipality has heard. The cylindrical tin, made from special aluminium alloy materials, is 18 cm tall, with a diameter of 16 cm, a net volume of 0.8 liters and a weight of 3 kilogrammes. The tin will also contain water, a nutrient solution, air and equipment such as a small camera and data transmission system. Researchers hope the seeds will grow to
MP to set up Rs 22 cr 'namkeen' snacks cluster in Ratlam
The Madhya Pradesh government has sanctioned Rs 22.75 crore to set up a "namkeen" (salty snacks) cluster in Ratlam, a city renowned for such savouries, an official said today. The cluster would come up on 18.15 hectare land on Ratlam-Jhabua road and a sum of Rs 15.41 crore would be spent on developing infrastructure in the first phase, an official of the state government's public relations department said. He said that 124 plots, with a total area of 87,629 square metres, had been set aside for such units and 24 of these plots had been alloted to those interested in establishing their businesses in the cluster. He said that the cluster was being developed to arrange the existing units in Ratlam in a planned manner. "Similarly, a "mishtan" (sweets) and namkeen cluster will be set up in Jabalpur for which a Rs 15 crore plan is being prepared," he added. The plan to create such clusters is part of the Union government's Micro and Small Enterprises Cluster Development ...
Has public also been given time to dispose PET bottles? HC asks govt
The Bombay High Court today questioned the Maharashtra government's decision of giving three months time to manufacturers to dispose of the PET bottles but not extending the same relief to the public using them. A division bench of Justices A S Oka and Riyaz Chagla sought to know from the state government if the three months time has been extended for the public too. "What if a common man is found with such a bottle? He or she will not know if the said bottle meets the criteria laid down by the government," Justice Oka said. "If the manufacturers have been given three months to dispose (of) their existing stock, has the same been extended to the public also?" he asked. Government counsel E P Bharucha then said the people found with plastic bottles which do not meet the criteria would be penalised. "The three months time granted to manufacturers is so that they can recycle or dispose of the existing stock of plastic bottles. The state has to start the ban somewhere," Bharucha said. The
Axalta, Sehgal Foundation partner for soil, water conservation
Global liquid and powder coatings supplier Axalta has formed a three-year partnership with Gurugram-based charitable trust Sehgal Foundation for a proposed soil and water conservation project in the the Alwar district of Rajasthan. Under the partnership, the US coatings major will develop three water ponds, each having a capacity of 10,000 kilo litre in the region for the storage of rainwater to support local farming, animal husbandry and eco-services, the company said in a release. The proposed pond development will engage the local community on water and soil conservation. Besides, the project will also provide water management training to ensure that the catchment area can sustain the local community with water available all year round. The first such pond will come up in a catchment area over of 0.6 sq km in the Bhuriyabas village in the Thanagazi block of the drought-prone district bordering Haryana, it said. In addition, the project will also carry out tree ...
HC asks DMF to visit mining affected areas in Goa
The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court today asked members of the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) to visit areas affected by mining activity in the state and find out what was needed to be done to improve the situation. A division bench of justices Prithviraj Chavan and N M Jamdar also granted two weeks time to the state mines and geology department to file a compliance report. The court had on March 28 observed that many mining affected villages and people were not aware about the DMF, which is mandated to take up works in these areas through funds collected from the mining companies. "The bench which heard the matter about disposal of DMF funds said that some members of the foundation can visit the affected areas," state Advocate General Dattaprasad Lawande told PTI. "The court ruled that let DMF members know the problems faced by the villagers," he said. They have been asked to visit villages, particularly Sonshi and Pissurlem in North Goa district, which were the worst affected,
IEF '18: Energy sector key to India's economic growth, says Swaraj
External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj on Thursday underscored that the energy sector was a key engine for an increment economic growth of the country.Delivering the valedictory speech at the 16th edition of International Energy Forum (IEF) Ministerial Meeting, Swaraj said, "Oil and gas are strategic commodities. Energy is a key engine of our economic growth. We are focusing on renewable energy. We are also focusing towards incremental growth in the area of energy."Swaraj also said that when India and France co-founded the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in 2016, both the countries wished to promote solar energy on a global scale."The ISA is now a reality today due to efforts by India and France. Energy is a key element of diplomatic engagement and outreach. Geopolitics is a complex and an evolving subject. But geopolitics of oil much more complex," she said.The EAM added that India was working to promote climate justice in order to protect the poor and vulnerable from ...
Guitar makers hit hard by new regulations on prized rosewood
An international crackdown on illegal logging in tropical forests has ensnared the makers of some guitars and other musical instruments, whose top-end products require small amounts of rosewood, a material prized for its rich, multicolored grain and resonant sound. Since new trade rules took effect in 2017, guitar makers have complained about long delays in getting permits to import rosewood and export finished instruments that contain it. Warehouses have filled with unsold instruments, and a bagpipe maker in New Hampshire went so far as to ask the governor to intervene after a permit application was lost. "I'm so annoyed. I'm so distraught by this," said Chris Martin, chairman and CEO of CF Martin and Co., which uses rosewood in 200 models of acoustic guitar, some played by Eric Clapton, Ed Sheeran, Sting and other stars. The company's logistics staff estimates it spends 40 percent of its time dealing with the new regulations. Fearful that Africa and Asia were losing rosewood ...
Inuka, first polar bear born in the tropics, may be put down
An elderly polar bear at Singapore zoo, one of the site's most beloved animals, may be put down after its health deteriorated markedly, the zoo operator said today. Inuka, the first polar bear born in the tropics, has reached the grand old age of 27 -- well into his 70s in human years and two years older than the average lifespan of the creatures in captivity. Zoo operator Wildlife Reserves Singapore said an April 3 examination revealed that the health of Inuka, who has been receiving treatment for arthritis for some time, had declined markedly. The bear's activity levels have fallen over the past three months and he now prefers resting over interacting with his keepers, a statement said. Inuka -- who was born at the zoo, and whose name means "Silent Stalker" in Inuit -- had been popular with visitors due to his playful antics in his pool enclosure. But he has now cut back on swimming, his walking is stiffer, and he is less interested in his daily playing sessions involving traffic ..
Ban on visitors and phones near hatching site of turtles
With hatchlings starting to emerge from the eggs laid by Olive Ridley sea turtles, the forest department has imposed a ban on carrying mobile phones and visitors to the site of hatching of the endangered species along the Rushikulya river mouth near Ganjam. "We have imposed a restriction on carrying mobile phones for taking selfies and even on visitors going right up to the hatchlings in a bid to protect them," said Ashish Kumar Behera, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Berhampur. He said legal action would be taken against the offenders under the Wildlife Protection Act. At least six flex boards bearing the legal provisions have been displayed near the mass nesting site, he added. "We have made an enclosure for the visitors near the hatching site. They can watch the hatchlings emerging from the eggs and crawling back to the sea to begin their homeward journey from the enclosure itself. The visitors enclosure is around half a km from the site of hatching," said the ...
PM congratulates ISRO for launch of navigation satellite IRNSS-1I
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today congratulated ISRO scientists for the successful launch of navigation satellite IRNSS-1I and said it will benefit the common man of the country. ISRO's navigation satellite INRSS-1I was today launched by PSLV-C41 from the spaceport at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh and was successfully placed in the designated orbit. "Congratulations to our scientists on the successful launch of navigation satellite IRNSS-1I by PSLV. This success will bring benefits of our space programme to the common man. Proud of team @isro!" the prime minister tweeted. The PSLV-C41/IRNSS-1I Mission blasted off at 4.04 am from the first launchpad at the Sathish Dhawan Space Centre. It was a normal lift-off, ISRO officials said. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)Chairman K Sivan described the mission as a success and congratulated the scientists. He said IRNSS-1I was successfully placed in the designated orbit. IRNSS-1I is expected to replace IRNSS-1A, the first of the seven .
