Page 775 - Environment
PM to inaugurate 16th International Energy Forum on Wednesday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate on Wednesday the 16th International Energy Forum, the largest gathering of ministers from energy consuming, producing and transit countries, the oil ministry said. The 16th International Energy Forum Ministerial (IEF16) is being hosted by India and would focus on global energy security and transition, the ministry said in a statement. The IEF16 is the largest gathering of energy ministers from across the globe, industry leaders and heads of key international organisations who will debate the future of global energy. Prominent among those attending the ministerial meet this year are Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia, Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Industry, UAE, and Bijan Namdar Zangeneh, Minister of Petroleum, Iran. Besides, energy ministers and department representatives from Qatar, Nigeria, Japan, China, Russia and US are also taking part in ..
UN holds meeting on curbing greenhouse emissions from ships
The UN maritime agency is holding a weeklong meeting aimed at curbing emissions from ships. Environmental activists say that while shipping contributes only 2-3 per cent of global greenhouses gases, the industry's efforts are essential to combating climate change. Proposals at the International Maritime Organization meeting that began Monday in London include keeping emissions below 2008 levels, but some shipping nations oppose such a cap. European Union members and other countries want a 70 per cent to 100 per cent reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2050. They cite a study which found that alternative fuels, wind-assisted ships and electric engines could replace shipping fuels without endangering global trade. Proposals to cut sulfur oxide emissions and to extend to the Arctic a ban on heavy fuel oil that already covers the Antarctic also will be considered.
7 missing trekkers rescued in Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan police said on Monday they had rescued the seven people reportedly missing inside the Knuckles Mountain Range in the Central Highlands of the island nation after they went trekking on April 6.
BSES Rajdhani ties up with EESL to develop energy efficient technologies
Power distribution company BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) has tied up with EESL for developing rooftop solar plant, smart metres, electric vehicles charging stations, solar irrigation pumps and engery storage solution, said a BRPL spokesperson. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed by Amal Sinha, the CEO of BRPL, and Saurabh Kumar, the managing director of Energy Efficiency Services Limited, a joint venture of public sector undertakings under the Ministry of Power, the spokesperson said. The initial duration of the MoU is for three years. Under the MoU, BRPL and EESL will collaborate to explore the deployment of these emerging technologies to bring in energy efficiency, promote renewables and reduce the peak power demand in South and West Delhi supplied by the discom," the spokesperson said. "This association brings together two leaders in their respective domains and the resulting synergies are expected to benefit consumers in a more meaningful way, as ...
Modi to open International Energy Forum ministerial in Delhi
Signalling India's growing global importance as an energy consumer, the 16th International Energy Forum (IEF) ministerial will be inaugurated here on Wednesday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to an official announcement.
PM to lay foundation stone for NH-2 stretch in Bihar tomorrow
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for a Rs 882 crore highway project on NH 2 stretch in Bihar tomorrow. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for a National Highways project for six-laning of the 70 km long section of NH-2, extending from Aurangabad in Bihar to Chordahaon Bihar-Jharkhand border at a function in Motihari tomorrow," Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in a statement. The cost of the project will be Rs 882 crore, the statement said. This section of NH-2 is part of the Delhi- Kolkata section of the Golden Quadrilateral. After widening, it will be have one flyover, 15 underpass, 7 major bridges, 24 minor bridges, 174 culverts, 12 foot over bridges, 26 bus bays, 7 truck lay bays and 2 wayside amenities, the government said.
PM to launch sewage projects for Patna, attend Champaran event tomorrow
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stones of four sewerage projects, worth Rs 1,111.56 crore and aimed at creating a sewage-treatment capacity of 60 million litres daily (MLD) for Patna, at Motihari town of Bihar tomorrow. He is also scheduled to take part in an event to mark the conclusion of the centenary celebrations of the "Champaran Satyagrah" in Bihar. The projects in Patna include the laying of a 376.12-km sewer network in Saidpur and the Pahari sewerage zones, an official statement issued here said. Three more projects are scheduled to be commissioned soon in the Karmalichak, Digha and Kankarbagh sewerage zones of Patna, which will create a 150-MLD capacity sewage treatment plant (STP) and lay 534.54 kms of sewer network. The prime minister had, on October 14 last year, laid the foundation stones of four STPs and sewer network projects, worth Rs 738.04-crore, in Mokama town of Patna district. These projects are expected to create a 140-MLD capacity STP and ...
BSES, EESL deal for rooftop solar, EV charging in Delhi localities
In a move to promote energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in the capital, Delhi distribution company (discom) BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd (BRPL) has entered into a strategic partnership with state-run Energy Efficiency Serviced Ltd (EESL), the discom announced on Monday.
Iran's Rouhani says US will regret if it scraps n-deal
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday warned against probable pullout of the US from the 2015 landmark nuclear deal.
Gravita India starts commercial production of PPCP Granules
At its plant in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh
Crocodile attacks villager, released in Ganges
An 11-foot-long crocodile which had caused panic in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur district after attacking a villager has been caught and released into the Ganges, officials said on Monday.
Odisha will give befitting reply to Andhra on border dispute: Pradhan
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who hails from Odisha, on Monday said that the state will give a befitting reply to Andhra Pradesh over the border dispute through developmental works.
Yoga collection made from recycled ocean plastic
While many think of doing their bit for the nature conservation, not many are able to hatch it.However, there are a selected few who are able to keep their words and prove to the world that a little intention can start the chain. One such example is the sportswear giant, Adidas.Adidas has launched a yoga wear collection which is made up from recycled ocean plastic. The new collection is the third range of products that are infused with recycled materials.An estimated 80 percent of marine debris in the world's oceans is made up of plastic, according to The Independent.The German brand collaborated with Parley for the Oceans, an environmental initiative, and Wanderlust, a yoga lifestyle brand to launch the entire range.Collaborating with Wanderlust, a yoga lifestyle brand, and Parley for the Oceans, an environmental initiative, the German brand has launched an entire range infused with recycled materials.The 42-piece collection is inspired by graphic prints and pastel palette of muted ..
Pb to cut down 'reckless' energy consumption in govt buildings
The Punjab State Council of Science and Technology (PSCST) was today asked to undertake an energy audit of all government buildings and educational institutions in the state to cut down on "reckless" energy consumption and "hefty" expenditure. Orders in this regard were issued by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today while chairing the 13th meeting of the Pushpa Gujral Science City (PGSC) Society here, an official spokesperson said. The move is aimed at promoting energy conservation and at the same time, cutting down on the hefty expenditure on electricity, presently being incurred at these buildings. Expressing concern over the "reckless energy consumption in government buildings, institutions and offices, the chief minister said the audit would help in saving electricity in the larger public interest, thereby leading to conservation of the dwindling energy resources". The chief minister's directive came after PSCST Executive Director Jatinder Kaur Arora apprised the meeting of the ...
New source of global nitrogen discovered
Over a quarter of nitrogen on Earth comes from the planet's bedrock, according to a study that could greatly improve climate change projections. For centuries, the prevailing science has indicated that all of the nitrogen on Earth available to plants comes from the atmosphere. The study, published in the journal Science, found that up to 26 per cent of the nitrogen in natural ecosystems is sourced from rocks, with the remaining fraction from the atmosphere. Before this study by researchers at the University of California - Davis in the US, the input of this nitrogen to the global land system was unknown. The discovery could greatly improve climate change projections, which rely on understanding the carbon cycle. This newly identified source of nitrogen could also feed the carbon cycle on land, allowing ecosystems to pull more emissions out of the atmosphere, the researchers said. "Our study shows that nitrogen weathering is a globally significant source of nutrition to soils and ...
Water scarcity in Kashmir Valley, Govt advises farmers not to grow paddy
Though Kashmir gets a large part of its rain in the spring months and in early summer, a prolonged dry spell in the area in January and February has led to decreased water levels in streams that are vital for irrigation.Therefore, after the valley witnessed an unprecedented water crisis, authorities have advised farmers in many areas not to cultivate paddy - a water-intensive crop - and the agricultural department is preparing a contingency plan to deal with any eventuality.In the last week of March, Kashmir's Irrigation and Flood Control Department issued advisories, asking farmers in North Kashmir not to sow water-intensive paddy this season due to a water scarcity.Instead, the advisory urges them to sow pulses and other cash crops, which use less water.Kashmir Department of Agriculture Director, Altaf Aijaz Andrabi, said, " Water level is very low this year due to dry winter in Kashmir, but this is the initial stage of Paddy farming in Kashmir valley. This is a season of paddy ...
Guj farmers protest against bullet train land acquisition
A group of farmers today protested against the consultation meet organised here for acquisition of land for the Ahmedabad-Mumbai high speed rail project, alleging that it was called at a "very short notice". The National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRC), the special purpose vehicle executing the bullet train project, had informed affected farmers regarding today's meeting by publishing a notice in newspapers yesterday. The notice stated that a "second stakeholder consultation" meeting would be held to facilitate the process of land acquisition, but farmers objected to it, claiming that there was, infact, no first stakeholder meeting itself. Protesting farmers, who arrived at the venue of the consultation meeting at Mahatma Gandhi Nagar Gruh, a town hall here, demanded that NHSRC officials share with them details of the first round of the meeting. "The agenda and purpose of the meeting, which officials are calling the second round, is not clear. It was called at a very
Centre kicks off wheat procurement; buys 19.31 lk tn fresh grain so far
The government has kick started procurement of new wheat crop from farmers and has purchased 19.31 lakh tonnes of the grain in the current marketing year so far, according to the Food Ministry. The government has fixed wheat procurement target at 320 lakh tonnes for 2018-19 marketing year, as against 308 lakh tonnes purchased by state-owned FCI last year. Although wheat marketing year runs from April-March, the bulk of procurement is done in the first three months. FCI and state agencies undertake purchase at the minimum support price (MSP) on behalf of the government. Food Corporation of India (FCI) has bought 19.31 lakh tonnes of wheat so far this year, slightly lower than 20.79 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period, the ministry's data showed. Much of the procurement is happening in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh at present, as arrival of fresh wheat is in full swing in these states. The procurement is expected to pick up in Punjab in the coming months. From Punjab, the ...
Singrauli pollution: NGT issues notice for non-compliance of order
A plea alleging inaction by authorities to curb pollution in Singrauli and Sonebhadra districts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh respectively due to industrial and mining activities despite an order by National Green Tribunal today led the green panel to seek response from the Centre and others. A bench headed by acting NGT Chairperson Justice Jawad Rahim issued notices to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), UP and MP governments, supervisory committee of Environment Secretaries of both states and others. The tribunal directed the officials concerned to file their personal affidavits stating the reason for non-compliance of its order and posted the matter for hearing on May 11 . The petition filed by advocate Ashwani Dubey has claimed that despite December 6, 2017 order of the NGT, neither the industries, nor the authorities concerned have taken any step to improve the environment in the area and people were made to suffer due to pollution. The tribunal had earlier ...
India signs deals to export 200,000 bales of cotton to China - trade body
MUMBAI (Reuters) - India has signed contracts to export 200,000 bales of cotton to China in the past one week, the head of a trade body said, after Beijing last week sought to impose tariffs on cotton supplies from the United States.
