Page 778 - Environment
'Hry govt plans relief for biz places built without their maps being approved'
The Haryana government is working on a one-time settlement scheme for regularisation of commercial places built without getting their maps approved, and also those constructed in the residential parts of urban areas, by giving them relaxations. A proposal to this effect has been approved by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Urban Local Bodies Minister Kavita Jain said here today. She said that due lack of awareness, a large number of people had constructed commercial places without getting their maps approved. While some of these places have been constructed using Floor Area Ratio in excess of what is permitted under the building code, others have been constructed in residential areas, which is totally unauthorised, she stated. The minister said a delegation of representatives from across the state had met her and requested for a solution to get their constructions regularised. On this, she directed the officers to consider the matter seriously and prepare a proposal. A scheme for ..
Draft proposal discussed for 450 km coastal highway
The Odisha government today held discussion with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for the development of a proposed 450 kilometre coastal highway along the state's coast. Anand Kumar Singh, Member, NHAI, presented the draft proposal of the highway at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary A P Padhi. The chief secretary suggested the NHAI to preserve the coastal character while developing the highway. "Around 450 km of coastal highway would be constructed in Odisha. Today, we discussed about alignment of the roads. The issues relating to Puri-Konark marine drive road, alignment at Astanarag Port, Jambu forest area, Bhitarkanika reserve forest, proposed ports, alignment of road at Satapada, bridge over the lake Chilika and other issues were discussed and resolved," Padhi told reporters after the meeting. NHAI Member Singh said, Coastal NH is an ambitious programme of the Government of India and it will be developed as an economic and tourism corridor. NHAI has
Himachal HC seeks report on illegal felling of trees
Shimla, April 7 (IANS The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Saturday asked amicus curiae Deven Khanna to file a report on illegal felling of trees in the Nachan forest division after visiting the spot and getting the entire area videographed .
Haryana to offer one-time settlement for commercial places
The Haryana government will offer a one-time settlement scheme for regularization of commercial places built without getting building plans approved and also those constructed in the residential areas by giving them relaxations, a minister said on Saturday.
New India's dream can be visualised with new ideas: Naidu
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said the dream of New India could only be visualised with new ideas and it would be a scientific and technological India.
India, Nepal agree to develop inland waterways
India and Nepal recognised the untapped potential of inland waterways, in order to contribute towards the overall economic development of the region.The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a statement said, "Taking cognizance of their geographies and noting the development of inland waterways in both countries, Prime Minister Oli and Prime Minister of Nepal, K.P. Sharma Oli took the landmark decision to develop the inland waterways for the movement of cargo, within the framework of trade and transit arrangements and providing additional access to sea for Nepal."The new initiative would enable cost-effective and efficient movement of cargo. Prime Minister Oli noted the enormous impact the additional connectivity would have on the growth of business and economy of Nepal.To facilitate the movement of traffic-in-transit, the two leaders directed their respective officials to formulate and mutually agree upon the requisite procedures and modalities for including inland waterways as an ..
Will achieve 100GW solar target ahead of 2022: Harsh Vardhan
The country's 100GW solar mission target will be achieved ahead of its target in 2022, Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan said here today. "The government has set a target of 175GW of renewable power by 2022 and out of it 100GW should be in solar. It will not be a problem," he said. He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a seminar on solar technologies organised jointly by NB Institute for Rural Technology (NBIRT) and Vikram Solar. The Union minister, however, did not mention how much of the solar mission has been achieved so far. In West Bengal, roof-top solar project has not picked up fast enough owing to regulatory hurdles, a senior solar power expert said. According to the present regulation, net metering is not allowed for single phase roof-top solar projects below 5KW. "West Bengal is the only state in the country where net metering is not allowed for roof-top solar below 5KW as against 1KW in other states. Moreover, the same is not allowed
Sikkim lifts ban on supply of carrot, tomato and green chilly
The Sikkim government today lifted the ban on supply of non-organically grown carrot, tomato and green chilly from outside due to acute shortage of these commodities in the domestic market, officials said. The notification lifting the ban with immediate effect was issued by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) S C Gupta. The Pawan Kumar Chamling government had banned the sale and consumption of 27 non-organically grown agricultural and horticultural commodities comprising vegetables, fruits, spices with effect from April 1 so that people consume only organic food items. Opposition parties and vegetable vendors have slammed the state government's ban on non-organic food from outside without ensuring availability of organic vegetables and allied items. Sikkim Agriculture and Cash Crops Development Minister Somnath Poudyal has urged the people and vegetable sellers to cooperate with the state in making the drive for consumption of organic food a success.
India to meet its clean energy target before time: Union Minister
Emphasising on the need to transform the ongoing solar energy progress in India into a social movement, Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday said the country would meet its renewable target of 175 GW, including 100 GW of solar, before the stipulated time frame of 2022.
4 TN fishermen injured in 'attack' by Lankan pirates
Four Tamil Nadu fishermen were attacked allegedly by Sri Lankan pirates while they were fishing off Vedaranyam coast here, a fisheries department official said today. The fishermen belonging to Seruthur near here were attacked when they were fishing off the Thopputhurai coast last night, assistant director of fisheries department, Nagappattinam, K Gangadharan, said. Four boats, believed to be from the island nation had approached the fishermen and attacked them with iron rods and snatched away their catch, fishing nets, GPS equipment, at knife-point before fleeing, the official said. The injured fishermen returned to the shore early today and all the four have been admitted to government hospital here.
GoI, Government of Maharashtra and the World Bank sign New Project to benefit over 25 Million Small and Marginal Farmers in Maharashtra
The aforesaid project is expected to benefit over 7 million people spread over an area of 3.0 million ha and cover 5,142 villages across 15 most climate vulnerable districts of the region. The $420 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), has a 6-year grace period, and a maturity of 24 years.
Shimla gets its first grid-connected solar plant
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur recently inaugurated the first grid-connected solar power plant in Shimla having a capacity of 35 KW, installed on the rooftop of the Department of Environment, Science and Technology.The power generated by the solar plant would be consumed by the building and remaining power would be sold to the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited.The project was completed by spending around Rs 20 lakh and the Department of Science and Technology would save Rs 2.6 lakh per annum. The project has sustainability of 25 years.Chief Minister Thakur said that the Himachal Pradesh government would encourage setting up of such power plants not only in the government establishments but also in private houses."Solar plants not only save energy but also help in environmental conservation. The plant will recover its installation and other expenditure within four to five years. Each one of us should adopt solar-based energy technologies. We all can ...
Saon canal embankment breaches at Pondripali village
The embankment of the Saon canal under the Hirakud reservoir has been breached at Pondripali village flooding land under Rengali block of Sambalpur district, officials said. The 15-feet breach developed yesterday while 630 cusec water was released from the canal, they said. "The earthen embankment has become old and it was weak at Paandripali. However, we have stopped release of water. The repair work has begun," said assistant engineer of the water resource department J K Bariha. The Sub-Collector Pradeep Sahu, who visited the spot, said "the farm land has not been affected due to the breach. The water flowed through forest land. The restoration work has already begun. The breach will be repaired soon." Earlier on February 11, a 40-feet breach had developed in the embankment of Sason canal at Khejurbandh village under the Kilasama Gram Panchayat in the district, damaging standing crop over a large tract of land, officials said.
As China ties up global lithium, Asian rivals must bet big on South America
SANTIAGO/VANCOUVER (Reuters) - South America's lithium triangle is the lowest-cost place to produce the vital battery ingredient, but political hurdles will require Japanese and South Korean companies to make big investments to crack into the region as they chase Chinese rivals who have tied up resources in other parts of the world.
Trump administration mulls stiffer rules for auto imports - WSJ
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration is considering ways to require imported automobiles to meet stricter environmental standards in order to protect U.S. carmakers, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.
Trump administration mulls stiffer rules for auto imports: WSJ
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration is considering ways to require imported automobiles to meet stricter environmental standards in order to protect U.S. carmakers, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.
Trade war or not, U.S. cotton exports set for banner year
(Reuters) - The escalating U.S.-China trade dispute is unlikely to derail the stellar run for U.S. cotton exports this year due to robust demand, crop issues in India and lower synthetic fibre output from China, traders and analysts said this week.
Analysis: As China ties up global lithium, Asian rivals must bet big on South America
SANTIAGO/VANCOUVER (Reuters) - South America's lithium triangle is the lowest-cost place to produce the vital battery ingredient, but political hurdles will require Japanese and South Korean companies to make big investments to crack into the region as they chase Chinese rivals who have tied up resources in other parts of the world.
BBMB sets up climate change cell
The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) today said it had set up a climate change cell which would conduct studies to know the long-term availability of water from its reservoir. "The climate change cell will conduct studies that can be beneficial in ascertaining long-term availability of water from BBMB reservoir," BBMB Chairman D K Sharma said here today. He said it would also help policy makers plan future land use and cropping patterns. The BBMB chairman said the cell would carry out studies of climate changes in Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana in the coming years. The BBMB had conducted a study in Himachal Pradesh to observe climate changes till 2080, which showed that there would be increase in rainfall and snow in the hilly state, Sharma said. He added that the BBMB was working on a system to operate a remote-controlled power generating unit at the Bhakra Nangal dam from its headquarters in Chandigarh. He said it would soon have its first remote-operated sub stations and a 22kV ..
Govt aims to eradicate TB by 2025: Nadda
Inaugurating the 69th Foundation Day celebrations of the Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute (VPCI), Union Health Minister J P Nadda today said the government has rolled out a new 'National Strategic Plan' (NSP) to eradicate tuberculosis from the country by 2025. He said the VPCI and the health ministry should work together towards achieving this target. "The target of eliminating TB by 2025 is quite ambitious. We are aiming to reach 3 million TB patients, which means we would reach out to additional 1.1 million missing patients," Nadda was quoted as saying in a statement by the health ministry. "I expect a major role to be played by the institute in achieving success in this ambitious goal of ending TB by 2025, as they have rich experience in the field of chest infections," he said. On the occasion, he released a compendium on the list of research publications of VPCI from 1949 to 2017 and unveiled the 'Daily Digital Pollen Count Information for Public'. On the government's Ayushman ...
