Page 871 - Environment
Saudi ACWA Power sees $4.5 billion in local project tenders
RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabian utility developer ACWA Power expects to submit tenders for projects this year worth $4.5 billion in Saudi Arabia and will also target projects in Morocco and the United Arab Emirates, its chief executive said.
Vegan diets maybe good for environment: study
Vegan diets, which are rich in plant-based organic foods, may be better for the the planet than one high in animal products, a study has found. The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, is the first to investigate the environmental impacts of both dietary patterns and farm production systems. It is also the first to investigate the environmental impact of organic food consumption using observed diets rather than models, researchers said. Many organisations, including the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, advocate the urgent adoption of more sustainable diets at a global level. Such diets include reduced consumption of animal products, which have a higher environmental impact than plant-based products. This is mainly due to the high energy requirements of livestock farming as well as the very large contribution of livestock to greenhouse gas emissions. Intensive livestock production is also responsible for significant biodiversity loss due to ...
Being vegan good for environment: Study
Are you planning to go vegan very soon? That's good news for our home planet as a new study claims that a diet high in fruit and vegetables is better for the environment than one rich in animal products.
Petronet, Japanese co to set up $300 mn LNG terminal in Sri
Petronet LNG Ltd, Indias biggest importer of gas, and its Japanese partners will invest USD 300 million to set up Sri Lanka's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal near Colombo, its CEO Prabhat Singh said. The Indo-Japanese partnership will set up a 2.6-2.7 million tonnes a year floating LNG receipt facility off the island's western coast, bigger than the previously envisaged 1.5-2 million tonnes a year facility. Petronet will hold 47.5 per cent stake in the project while Japan's Mitsubishi and Sojitz Corp will take 37.5 per cent stake. The remaining 15 per cent will be held by a Sri Lankan entity, he said. "We are in the process of signing MoU with the Sri Lankan government for setting up of the LNG terminal," Singh said. "Once the MoU is signed this month, some project related studies will be done before beginning work on the terminal." Explaining the reasons for setting up a bigger capacity LNG terminal, he said Sri Lanka requires 2.5-3 million tonnes of liquid .
Govt to soon come up with landfill management policy
The government will soon come up with a policy on management of landfill sites in the country, a top official of the environment ministry has said. The development assumes significance after the cave-in incident at the Ghazipur landfill site in east Delhi in which two persons were killed, triggering a debate on safety concerns and waste management. "We are working on guidelines for management of landfill site and very soon, we will come up with a policy on that," Environment Secretary C K Mishra said. He said the policy will address the concerns raised after the Ghazipur incident. A part of the massive dump had caved in September, prompting the Lt Governor to order the site for waste dumping to shut. The Ghazipur landfill is the oldest of its kind in the national capital. It was started in 1984 and is spread over 29 acres. According to officials, the permissible height for a garbage dump is 20 metres. Every day, 2,500 metric tonnes of garbage are disposed at the ...
H-Energy for shore-based regasification in Haldia LNG project
Hiranandani Group-promoted H-Energy, which is executing a Rs 3,500-crore project to import and distribute LNG in West Bengal, has decided upon the shore-based regasification terminal model to expedite work. The company expects to complete the liquefied natural gas project at Haldia within the next 18-24 months. "We have decided a model that will have an off-shore LNG Floating Storage Unit (FSU) and a regasification terminal at shore near Digha for faster execution," H-Energy CEO Darshan Hiranandani told PTI. Transportation major 'K' Line has a 26 per cent stake in a joint venture with H-Energy to execute and manage the storage and literage part (FSU) of the imported LNG project valued at USD 300 million, Hiranandani said. 'K' Line is estimated to supply 155,000 m3 LNG FSU. However, the regasification terminal at the shore near Digha will require about USD 250 million, which will be executed solely by the Hiranandani Group, he said. "We are very excited to bring natural gas
Jawan killed in IED blast triggered by Naxals in C'garh
A jawan of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) was killed when a pressure bomb planted by Naxals went off in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district this morning, police said. The DRG team was out on an area domination operation in a forest near Tippapuram, about 500 kms from here, when the blast occurred, a senior police official told PTI. While cordoning off a nearby forest bordering Telangana, an assistant constable of the DRG inadvertently stepped on the pressure improvised explosive device (IED) connection following which it exploded, he said. The security personnel, identified as Sondhar Hemla, died on the spot, he said. Efforts were on to retrieve the body from the forest, the official said, adding that a combing operation was underway in the region.
CBI books 4 traffic personnel for extortion
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked four traffic police officers and one man on charges of illegal gratification and extortion.The man along with the four traffic police officers, allegedly recorded a video of a traffic personnel accepting bribe from traffic defaulters and blackmailed him for money.Investigation is underway.
Green bodies laud launch of 'clean air campaign' in Delhi
Green bodies today lauded the launch of the 'clean air campaign' - a joint effort by the Centre and the Delhi government - and said it should be taken as a pilot for other regions to address "rising national health emergency". Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today launched the 'clean air campaign' to curb air pollution in Delhi-NCR. Under the campaign, 70 teams comprising officials from various government agencies will fan out and monitor causes of pollution and initiate remedial measures, including on-the- spot penal action against serious polluters. Terming the campaign a "much-needed step", the Greenpeace India said it was a welcome step considering severity of air pollution in Delhi-NCR. "As a country we are well past the stage of discussing what may have caused this nation-wide airpocalypse," it said. "Air pollution is not a problem that afflicts just Delhi-NCR but also all states across India and specifically ...
Farmer protesting in Mandola village dies, JD(U) leader
The protest by farmers in Mandola village over compensation for their lands acquired for an affordable housing project took a new turn today with the death of a farmer and JD(U) spokesman K C Tyagi blaming the authorities for it. The farmers have been demanding higher compensation for land that was acquired from them by the Avas Vikas Parishad for its residential scheme since December 2, 2016. The protesters were demanding compensation as per the declared acquisition policy of 2013. Since December 6, 2017, the farmers have been protesting half-naked. Mangoo Khan (80) was among them as his 5.5 bigha land was also acquired. Ten days ago, Khan experienced trouble breathing, following which he was sent home from the protest spot, the protesters said. Two days ago, he was admitted to Jai Prakash Narayan hospital in Delhi where he died during treatment yesterday. Reacting to the incident, Tyagi said Khan's death showed the cruel and insensitive behaviour of the officials. The .
Piecemeal efforts can't bring down airpollution: Kejriwal
A 14-day campaign launched today to curb air pollution in the city is "not a permanent" solution, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, suggesting that sustained joint efforts were needed to deal with the problem. Piecemeal efforts cannot bring down airpollution in Delhi and a "round-the-year study" onpollution levels is needed, he said. The city government is mulling procuring international machines that accurately tell the cause of highpollution on a particular day, Kejriwal added. Launching the "Clean Air Campaign" along with the Delhi chief minister, Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan hoped it would not be a "symbolic" one. He said it would be continued throughout the year and the experience gained from it would be used across the country. The leaders rolled out a mobile application at the launch of the campaign, which will continue tillFebruary 23. "We welcomed the initiative when the Union minister approached us. Though the campaign is a good thing and ...
Rajasthan sits over 11.82 crore tonne gold deposits: Experts
Nearly 11.48 crore tonnes of gold deposits have been confirmed by scientists and geologists in Rajasthan, with experts claiming that the deposits are mostly located in the cities of Banswara and Udaipur.
Piecemeal efforts won't bring down pollution levels: Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said "piecemeal" efforts to bring down air pollution in Delhi were not a solution. At the inauguration of a two-week "Clean Air Campaign" in the national capital, Kejriwal said like the odd-even scheme, this campaign too was not a permanent solution to the problem of air pollution. "Pollution is not a subject of the environment department, it just handles the symptoms. Until there is participation of all departments, particularly those contributing to air pollution, piecemeal efforts will take us nowhere," Kejriwal said. "When we implemented the odd-even road rationing scheme, pollution levels came down. This campaign is also not a permanent measure," he added. Calling the campaign, a joint initiative of the BJP-led Centre and the Delhi government, an effort beyond politics, Kejriwal said the move sent a big political message. "This campaign is an effort beyond politics and it should have happened long back for the welfare of ...
Duterte slams top Philippine tourist island as 'cesspool'
The Philippines' famous white-sand island destination Boracay is drowning in faeces and may need to be shut down to protect the health of millions of visitors, President Rodrigo Duterte has warned. The fiery leader gave his brutal assessment of the country's top tourist draw as he told hotels, restaurants and other businesses on the tiny central island to clean up or he would ban tourism there. "I will close Boracay. Boracay is a cesspool," Duterte told a business forum in his southern home city of Davao late yesterday, according to an official transcript released by the presidential palace today. "You go into the water, it's smelly. Smell of what? Shit. Because it all comes out in Boracay," he said. Red-faced tourism department officials affirmed Duterte's assessment today, saying it reflected worsening sewage conditions on an island known globally for its pristine white sands and crystal clear waters. "It's a shame that Boracay, which has repeatedly been recognised by .
Tata Trusts invites applications for innovations in energy
Tata Trusts today said it has launched a nationwide search for entrepreneurs and innovators in the field of energy and has invited applications for 'social alpha energy challenge', to find high impact innovations. The 'social alpha energy challenge' aims to discover technology innovations with solutions to India's energy challenges or make existing energy networks cleaner and more affordable, Tata Trusts said in a statement. The entries are invited from innovators across various stages of the energy lifecycle -- generation, transmission and distribution, storage, and consumption -- in multiple sectors such as households, farm, industry, and utility, among others. The winners will be assessed on parameters such as innovation, business viability, environmental sustainability, social impact, and scalability potential, the statement said. "The winners of the energy challenge will form the first cohort of enterprises for Tata Smart Energy Incubation Centre (TSEIC) - an ...
Odd-even not permanent solution to Delhi pollution: Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said that the odd-even traffic regulation system is not a permanent solution to the menace of air pollution in NCR-Delhi, and neither is the 15-day clean-air campaign launched here during the day.
Samuday, a new initiative to improve the environment
A pollution-free clean India would be the best tribute to the nation.Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is a cleanliness mass movement organized by the government of India and takes into action by Prime Minister Narender Modi.This is the most valuable expedition which everyone must be aware of for the bright future of India.Following the footprints of this compaign not directly but linked to it Samuday, a unique initiative of HCL Foundation for integrated and sustainable community development in rural areas has started in Uttar Pradesh, aims to build model villages in partnership with the Central and state governments, local communities, NGOs, knowledge institutions and allied partners.A significant role in the conceptualisation and creation of Project Samuday in 2014 and now oversees the strategy and working of the project by Navpreet Kaur, Director of Samuday.With a team of over 500 people, Samuday is focused on development in six sectors, including education, health, water and sanitation, ...
Carcass of wild elephant found in Assam
The carcass of a wild elephant with its tusk chopped off, allegedly killed by miscreants, has been recovered from Behali reserve forest in Assam's Biswanath district, a Forest official said today. The carcass was found yesterday evening along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border, Divisional Forest Officer Rajen Choudhury said. The miscreants allegedly killed the wild elephant and chopped off its tusk, nail and tongue. A team of Aranya Surakhya samiti personnel found the carcass and informed the forest office. Choudhury said investigations are on and efforts are being made to nab the miscreants. A team of doctor will conduct the postmortem, he added.
14-day-long campaign to reduce air pollution in Delhi launched
A two-week-long intense exercise to address all sources of pollution in Delhi was launched on Saturday. The campaign will last from February 10 to February 23.Both the Centre and the Government of Delhi have created 70 joint teams comprising of officials of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi Government, DPCC, Municipal Corporations and the New Delhi Municipal Corporation to monitor the causes of pollution and initiate remedial measures, including penal actions against serious polluters on the spot."It is not just a symbolic exercise, but a serious effort to drastically bring down pollution levels in the national capital. A strong message has to go down that pollution is a serious economic and health issue and it is linked to our national image too," said Dr Harsh Vardhan, Environment, Forest & Climate Change Minister, last week.The minister said, Delhi generates 131 tonnes of dust every day, and controlling it itself ...
Mexico to increase efforts to save rare harbour porpoise
Mexico will increase its efforts to save the Gulf of California harbour porpoise -- an endemic Mexican species in danger of extinction -- with a strategy that includes three courses of action, the Environment and Natural Resources Secretariat (Semarnat) has said.
