Page 773 - Environment
UP to set up Tiger Conservation Foundation at Dudhwa
In a bid to boost eco-tourism in the state, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal for setting up the Tiger Conservation Foundation at the Dudhwa wildlife reserve, an official spokesman said.
Telangana CM wants comprehensive plan for infra development at Singareni Mining areas
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has instructed officials concerned to prepare a comprehensive plan for developing infrastructure at the Singareni Mining areas.He wanted infrastructure including lying of roads should be done with the District Mineral Fund Trust (DMFT) accrued from the coal mining and other funds.The Chief Minister held a review meeting here on Tuesday at Pragati Bhavan on development works in Singareni areas.Legislative Assembly speaker Madhusudhanachary, Chief Whip Koppula Eswar, Government Whip Nallala Odelu, and others were present in the meeting."Through Singareni mines, precious natural resources are mined and this is of great help to the country. At the same time, the places where the mines are situated are being destroyed. Roads are damaged and people are suffering a lot with the dust pollution. Roads have been severely damaged not only at the mining areas but also roads used for transporting the coal. Hence, it is necessary to create better road ..
Assam-Mizoram jt team to free encroached forest land
A joint team of Assam and Mizoram governments have decided that encroached border forest land between the two states will be freed, Conservator of Forest, Silchar, Binay Gupta, said today. The decision was taken at a meeting at Dholai in Cachar district of Assam yesterday. The verification of illegal structures constructed within the 509 sq km Inner Line Reserved Forest would commence from April 12, a senior home department official of the Mizoram government said in Aizawl. A joint team comprising officials of the two state governments, and representatives of civil societies of both the states would launch the verification and eviction drive. The meeting decided that the verification would start from Zophai near Bairabi along the districts of Kolasib in Mizoram and of Hailakandi in Assam, the flash point of the border tension since March 8, the official said. The areas will be from Kachurtol in Cachar district to Jesai in Mizoram, Dholchora, Dolaikhal and Lailapur along ..
Guj govt wants more Narmada water, seeks Centre's intervention
Amid looming water crisis and and drying up Narmada river in Gujarat, the state government has sought the Centre's intervention in persuading the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) to release more water from Madhya Pradesh to save the downstream ecology of the river. While the opposition Congress claimed that Madhya Pradesh has already refused to provide additional water to Gujarat, the state government maintained that no such decision has been taken so far. Sardar Sarovar dam built on the Narmada river receives water from the reservoirs located in Madhya Pradesh. M S Dagur, Additional Chief Secretary of Narmada Department, had written a letter to the Secretary of the Environment Ministry a few months back, stating that the allotted quota of 600 cusecs to maintain the river eco-system will not be enough to preserve the bio-diversity of Narmada river downstream. In the letter, Dagur urged the ministry to direct the NCA to release at least 1,500 cusecs during the current ...
World's largest solar park to come up in Guj: CM
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today approved setting up a 5000 MW capacity solar park at the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR), which would be the largest such entity in the world after its completion. The proposed solar power generation project would be set up in 11,000 hectares of land with an investment of Rs 25,000 crore, said an official release. The project will contribute significantly in achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi's target of producing 175 gigawatt of electricity through renewable energy sources by 2022, said Rupani. The chief minister exuded confidence that the solar park would not only provide employment to over 20,000 people, but also open new manufacturing avenues for the entire supply chain in and around the Dholera International City.
HC seeks report on proposed cattle colony on Varanasi outskirts
The Allahabad High Court today directed district and civic body officials of Varanasi to apprise it of the steps taken to set up a 'cattle colony' on the outskirts of the city for stray animals and for shifting dairies. A bench comprising Chief Justice DB Bhosale and Justice Suneet Kumar asked the Divisional Commissioner of Varanasi, the Vice chairman of Varanasi Development Authority (VDA), the municipal commissioner and other officers concerned to provide a detailed report in this regard. The court asked them to file an affidavit within four weeks regarding progress made in shifting of dairies and other stray animals to the outskirts of the city where the district committee had identified the land for setting up the cattle colony. Additional chief standing counsel Ramanand Pandey, appearing for state government, informed the court that 9.6 acres of land has been identified in Chittupur area on the outskirts of the city and approval for construction of the cattle colony has been ..
RBI clears Rs 18,124 cr for Punjab wheat procurement
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday cleared a sum of Rs 18,124.85 crore towards Cash Credit Limit (CCL) for Punjab for the purchase of wheat in the ongoing Rabi marketing season.
Telangana CM asks officials to prepare plan on developing
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today asked officials to to prepare a comprehensive plan for developing infrastructure in the areas under state-run miner Singareni Collieries. "Through Singareni mines, precious natural resources are mined and this is of great help to the country," a release from Rao's office quoted him as saying in a meeting with several MLAs and officials. "At the same time the places where the mines are situated are being destroyed. Roads are damaged and people are suffering a lot with the dust pollution," he said. New districts of Kothagudem, Bhoopalpally, Asifabad, Peddapally and Mancherial have been created to ensure faster development, he said. "Development works should take place in the district headquarters.Create infrastructure facilities. Rs 1500 crore is available under the DMFT funds from Singareni." Besides this, funds are available under Left Wing Extremist (LWE) affected area funds, NREGA, Irrigation funds, State Finance ...
Meghalaya to bring resolution on lifting coal mining ban
Meghalaya Power Minister James K Sangma today said the state government is hopeful to bring about a resolution to lift the ban on coal mining in the state to ensure that the two thermal power projects, with an installed capacity of 740 MW, will not face difficulty. The two thermal projects are at Nongalbibra in South Garo Hills and at Darugiri in East Garo Hills, he said, adding that the detailed project report (DPR) for the project at Nongalbibra has been completed and the application for environmental clearance was submitted to Ministry of Environment and Forest. "We are hopeful of a resolution to lift the ban on coal mining soon so that these projects will not face any difficulty," Sangma said, while replying to a supplementary question during question hour in the House. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had imposed a blanket ban on unscientific coal mining in the state since April, 2014 affecting its economy and livelihood of a large number of people. He also ...
Shifting of dhalao in Shahdara: NGT directs AAP MLA Ram Niwas Goel to assist EDMC
The National Green Tribunal today asked Shahdara MLA Ram Niwas Goel to assist the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) officials in identifying a suitable site for shifting an existing 'dhalao' (garbage dump) near a school. A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra Rathore asked the AAP leader to participate in the process and make serious efforts to find out a solution to the problem. The tribunal's order came on a letter written by Goel to the NGT against the increasing number of auto workshops in Jhilmil Colony in East Delhi resulting in enormous traffic congestion and air pollution in the area. The AAP MLA had also sought shifting of the 'dhalao' located near Babu Ram school in Shahdara as heaps of garbage had accumulated at the dumping site posing a threat to the health of residents in the area. "Heard the counsel for the parties. In respect of the question for dumping of garbage and a place for 'dhalao', counsel for EDMC along with officer present in court have informed us that ..
Sri Lanka plans to introduce E-motoring for vehicle registration
The Sri Lankan Motor Traffic Department is planning to introduce E-motoring system for the registration of vehicles through an online system by 2020, an official said on Tuesday.
India's solid waste disposal capacity to increase: Minister
India's capacity to dispose solid waste in a scientific manner will be increased in the near future, a Union minister said here today. "Currently, 25 per cent of the solid waste is disposed in a scientific manner, while the rest 75 per cent is disposed in a traditional way," Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri said. "According to an estimate, Indian cities generate 1.7 lakh tonnes of solid waste on a daily basis," he added. Puri was speaking at the inaugural session of 8th Regional 3 R (reduce, recycle and reuse) Forum meet in Asia and the Pacific. He said the possibility of taking Japan's assistance for the scientific disposal of solid waste will be considered. "I know that in Tokyo, solid waste is disposed in a very systematic manner. I will encourage my ministry officials to explore the possibilities of taking the help of Japanese government or private companies there for the disposal of solid waste," Puri said. He expressed confidence that .
Pollution: Considering nationwide ban on pet coke use, Govt tells SC
Government is considering a nationwide ban on the use of pet coke by various industries and a decision is likely to be taken within a month, the Supreme Court was informed today. Stating this, the Environment Ministry also told the top court that several key issues relating to steps to curb air pollution were under its "active consideration" and details have been sought from all states and union territories in this regard. The ministry told a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta that on the issue relating to import of pet coke, they have received responses from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). "MoPNG has said we should consult the DGFT. We have communicated to the DGFT and they have also responded. The MoEF has to take a view. Ban (on pet coke), if done, will be for the whole country," Additional Solicitor General A N S Nadkarni, representing the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change ...
Centre to monitor climate change effects on public health comes up in Pune
A group of medical colleges here have launched a "Centre for Climate Change and Health" to address the immediate and long term impacts of climate change on people's health, especially the poor and vulnerable in society, it was announced on Tuesday.
Germany's Merkel seeks to assure Ukraine on Russian gas link
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is promising to consider the impact of a new Russian-German gas pipeline on Ukraine as plans progress. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline would pump Russian gas to Germany beneath the Baltic Sea. It is viewed suspiciously in some eastern European countries which fear losing transit revenue if Russian gas supplies no longer cross their territory once the pipeline is built. Merkel said she listened carefully to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's concerns at a meeting today. She said Ukraine must retain a role in gas transit, adding: "A Nord Stream 2 project without having clarity about how things continue with the Ukrainian transit role is not possible." She acknowledged that "it is not just a business project; of course political factors have to be taken into account.
Cotton output estimate revised at 360 lakh bales for 2017-18
The Cotton Association of India today revised estimates of cotton production for the ongoing 2017-18 season at 360 lakh bales of 170 kgs each, 2 lakh lower than its previous estimate of 362 lakh bales made in March. The decline was due to lower production of one lakh bales each in the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka in the current cotton season (October 2017-September 2018), according to a statement issued here. The projected balance sheet drawn by the CAI has estimated total cotton supply for the season at 410 lakh bales of 170 kgs each, which includes the opening stock of 30 lakh bales at the beginning of the season and the imports which the CAI has retained at 20 lakh bales as in the previous month. The association has estimated domestic consumption at 324 lakh bales, while the exports for the season are estimated at 65 lakh bales, which is higher by 5 lakh bales than the its estimate of the previous month as the country is now witnessing a good export demand. The
62 cows die after consuming poisonous sprouts
About 62 cows have died after consuming poisonous sprouts in a maize field in a village bordering Telangana in the last two days, officials said here today. Thirty other cows fell ill and were being given medical care, the Animal Husbandry Department officials said. The owner of the cattle, Gundala Lakshmaiah had set the animals loose to graze on Sunday evening when they consumed the sprouts and took water in a stream nearby, the officials said. Then, one after the other, the cows began to collapse, with 56 of them found dead in the wee hours of Monday. Six of the bovines died on Tuesday, said Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry Department E Madan Mohan. The cattle died of poisoning caused by hydrochloric acid, he told PTI. Local veterinary doctor M Hanumantha Rao, who treated the sick cows, said: After crop-cutting, the maize sprouts become poisonous. Without knowing this, the farmers let the cattle graze.
Paswan asks states to ensure mills clear cane arrears to farmers
States should issue strict directions to sugar mills to clear their dues to sugarcane farmers and consider taking action against defaulting factory owners, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said today while expressing concern over rising arrears which have reached Rs 15,000 crore. Paswan has written a letter to the chief ministers of all sugar producing states on this issue. "...the arrears for the current sugar season (2017-18) for all the sugar mills have risen considerably. This is a matter of serious concern for all of us. "I, therefore, seek your intervention to issue strict directions to all sugar mills for immediately clearing of cane price arrears of sugar season 2017-18 and those of earlier years. You may also consider taking necessary action against the defaulter sugar mills where warranted," he said in the letter. Paswan has written to chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Gujarat, Puducherry, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, ...
CM urges farmers to motivate youths to take up agriculture
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today emphasised the need to create peer groups in the agriculture sector by promoting progressive farmers to motivate youths to take up farming as a profession. The economy of the state will make headway only when the agriculture sector is properly strengthened, Sonowal said while inaugurating a hatchery of the Assam Livestock and Poultry Corporation (ALPCO) here. "Introducing progressive farmers as peer group in the society would inspire the youth to take up farming in a significant way and this will propel growth in agriculture sector in the state", he added. "Livestock farming, an integral part of our agriculture sector, has huge market both within the state and outside", the chief minister said. The abundant resources available in the state in this sector must be capitalised using latest technology to provide opportunities for a dignified source of earning for the youth, Sonowal said. Opportunities in the livestock market of ..
Forest dept staff ferry ailing leopardess on motorcycle
In a bid to save the life of an ailing leopardess, forest department staff in neighbouring Maharajganj district covered a distance of 2 km carrying the big cat on a motorcycle. Forest department officials during patrolling at around 11 AM on Sunday, noticed a leopardess lying unconscious near Potha Nulla in Dakshini Chowk range and informed forest ranger Daya Shankar Tiwari. Tiwari, along with his assistants, D P Kushwaha, Virendra and Mobin Ali, reached the spot and informed DFO Manish Singh and requested for a cage to take the animal to hospital. As there was a delay in getting cage and the condition of the feline was deteriorating, they decided to carry the carnivore on the two-wheeler to save its life without worrying for their own lives, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) said. Within a few minutes, they reached the forest department office and from there the wildcat was sent to a hospital in a cage. The animal is responding well to treatment and will be under observation for ...
