Page 877 - Environment
UNHCR to send team to Indonesia over 'rights abuses'
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights announced on Wednesday that his office will send a team to investigate reports of human rights violations in Indonesia's Papua province where a separatist conflict is underway.
Millions of viruses fall from sky daily: Study
Millions of viruses daily circle around the Earth's atmosphere as well as get deposited on the planet's surface, a team of international scientists have discovered.
Plastic export should rise along with consumption: Prabhu
Commerce minister Suresh Prabhu today urged the plastics industry to ensure that exports increases along with its domestic consumption. Prabhu also called for research and development in the area of environmental-friendly plastic to minimise its impact on the environment. "As the minister of commerce and industry, I will definitely make sure that we promote plastic and export it in a big way...Plastic consumption in India should be increased, but more importantly, plastic exports should increase," he said in a video message to the industry leaders at the inauguration of an international exhibition on plastic organised by Plastindia Foundation. Urging the industry to focus on bio-degradable plastic he said, "We should promote bio plastic because plastic is causing environmental issue as well. So we have to make sure that the society accepts plastic as necessary day-to-day utility but also at the same time do not suffer from the adverse effect of plastic on environment," .
Mining conference in Hyderabad from Feb 14
A host of issues related to mining will come up for a discussion at an international conference-cum-exhibition to be held here from February 14. Union Minister for Mines Narendra Singh Tomar is expected to attend the inaugural day of the conference as a special guest, according to an official release issued here today. The 'Mining Today 2018 - International Conference-cum- Exhibition' will also see the presence of Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Harsha Vardhan as the chief guest for the valedictory session on February 16, it said. E S L Narasimhan, Governor of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, will also attend the event, it added. The four-day event, being organised jointly by the Mining Engineers Association of India (MEAI), the Federation ofIndian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Telangana government, will deliberate on issues such as mineral exploration, mine design techniques, policy, environment, mines safety aspects, ...
5 kg pangolin scales seized in Madhya Pradesh, government staffer held
The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department officials have seized five kg scales of pangolin or scaly anteater in Balaghat district over a fortnight and arrested a government employee in this regard, official sources said on Wednesday.
Latin America's premium coffee growers branch out to cheaper beans
NEW YORK/GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - A growing number of farmers in Latin American nations renowned for their high-quality arabica coffee are starting to plant cheaper robusta - a crop still frowned upon or even outlawed in some countries.
Ants' antibiotics to help humans fight resistant superbugs
Researchers have identified ant species that make powerful antimicrobial agents to help fight off various diseases, a finding that can be used to make new antibiotics for humans as well as help them in their war against resistant superbugs.
Team assesses beach for blue flag certification
A Central team of experts today visited Karaikal to assess the suitability of the Emerald beach in the town for obtaining the 'Blue Flag certification.' Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education, Denmark, an internationally acclaimed NGO, that a beach, marina or sustainable boating tourism operator meets its stringent standards. The experts were drawn from the Ministries of Science and Technology and Environment and Forests. The standards include cleanliness, water quality, safety, environmental education and information, and general environmental management, officials said. With a view to enhancing the standards of cleanliness in Indian beaches, the centre has proposed to improve the amenities in 10 beaches across 10 states in the country and obtain Blue Flag certification, they said. The Emerald beach is one among the beaches being assessed for suitability to be included among the 10 beaches. The team, led by Dr Salish Lodia from the ...
Farmer outfits block road traffic in Punjab
A group of farmers' outfits today blocked traffic at several places in Punjab over their demand for a complete debt waiver. The seven groups protested at Sunam, Dirba, Lehraghaga, Malerkotla, Bhawanigarh in Sangrur, Patiala chowk in Patiala, Lehra Mohabbat in Bathinda, Gill Kalan in Moga, Barnala, Raikot and Fazilka. The Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan), BKU (Dakonda), Kirti Sangharsh Committee, BKU (Krantikari) and Kirti Kisan Union participated in the agitation. The protesting farmers claimed that the police took more than three dozens of farmers into preventive custody at Rajpura in Fazilka and Talwandi Mange Khan in Ferozepur. The farmers have been seeking complete debt waiver from the Congress-led Punjab government. They have also been demanding Rs 10 lakh compensation and government jobs for the family of those farmers who committed suicide. The state government had recently announced the farm debt waiver in which crop loan waiver for upto Rs 2 lakh for small ..
MoEF panel asks Tel govt to act against cine workers' body for
A committee under the Union Environment Ministry has asked the Telangana government to act against Telugu Cine Workers Co-operative Housing Society Ltd for taking up construction work of a housing project allegedly without environmental clearance. The project involves construction of group housing complex with a total built up area of 5,23,094.72 sq m in a total plot area of 2,72,788.93 sq m at Manikonda Jagir village in Rangareddy district by the society, the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) said in the minutes of the meeting held recently. The construction was started in September 2009 and 60 per cent of the built-up area was reported to be completed by November 2016 (when applied to the state EAC) without obtaining the prior EC. "The EAC, after detailed deliberations on the proposal in terms of the provisions of the MoEF & CC Notification dated March 14, 2017, confirmed the case to be of violation of the EIA Notification, 2006 and recommended for the following ..
India needs ecosystem for clean tech to cut emissions, fuel
India will need a comprehensive ecosystem that supports cleaner technologies, including electric vehicles, to meet its vision of cutting emissions, reduce dependence on imported fuel and achieve leadership in clean technology, according to Maruti Suzuki India MD and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa. The company today unveiled its electric concept compact SUV, e-Survivor here at the Auto Expo while showcasing a range of technologies to accelerate electrification of powertrains in India, ahead of its planned launch of an electric vehicle in the country by 2020. The e-Survivor concept demonstrates Maruti Suzuki's efforts in the direction of electric mobility and presents an innovative, futuristic vision, the company said. Ayukawa said products alone will not be enough to realise India's grand vision of bringing down emissions substantially, reduce dependence on imported fuel, and secure a leadership position in clean technology capability. "India will need a comprehensive ecosystem that
Jumbo dies in fight with another tusker
A jumbo died in a fight with another elephant in Burgur forest area, forest officials said today. Locals noticed two pachyderms fighting inside the forest yesterday and one of them falling down after being injured in the stomach. Forest officials said the carcass was badly mutilated in the attack and as they were wild animals roaming in the area, they did not bury it.
HC seeks to know protocol BMC chief follows before deciding
The Bombay High Court directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) today to file an affidavit stating what protocol is followed by the civic chief while deciding proposals to fell trees in the city. As per a recent amendment to the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, any proposal to cut trees below 25 in number can be placed before the concerned civic body commissioner. Proposals above 25 trees would be sent to the Tree Authority. A division bench of Justices A S Oka and P N Deshmukh was hearing a petition filed by an activist Zoru Bhathena complaining that tree cutting proposals were being split as the Tree Authority only looks into proposals that concern more than 25 trees. Bhathena had approached the high court challenging the validity of last year's amendment to the Act that conferred special powers upon the municipal commissioner to decide proposals seeking permission to remove, fell or transplant up to 25 trees. "The ...
Abnormal rains washing away Britain's cricket, golf
An abnormal increase in rainfall in Britain owing to climate change is washing away golf, football and the best loved cricket, a new report said on Wednesday.
BM Solaris launches electric bus series
JBM Solaris Electric Vehicles Ltd, a joint venture between India's JBM Auto and Europe's Solaris Bus & Coach SA, today launched its electric bus series 'Eco- Life' in the Indian market. The buses, depending on the customisation, will be priced in the range of Rs 2-3 crore and are expected to be deployed in the second half of this year, JBM Group Executive Director Nishant Arya told reporters at the Auto Expo 2018. "Eco-Life, a zero emission vehicle that is also 'Made in India', will save around 960 tonnes equivalent of carbon dioxide and 3.5 lakh litres of diesel over 10 years of operation... This is a huge evolution from how public transportation operates in the country," he added. Solaris Bus & Coach is a family-owned and family-run enterprise founded by Solange and Krzysztof Olszewski. Since its launch in 1996, the company has produced about 16,000 vehicles that are driven across 32 countries. "We are excited to be present in India...JBM and Solaris together ..
Submitted compliance report to WTO in solar power case: Govt
India submitted the compliance report to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on December 14 last year over the trade dispute with the US over solar cells, stating that it has complied with the ruling of the multi- lateral trade body in this dispute, Parliament was informed today. In 2015, India lost a case against the US at the WTO as the dispute settlement body of the organisation ruled that the country's domestic content requirements under its solar power programme were inconsistent with the international norms. Domestic content stipulation for solar cells and modules under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) programme was challenged in 2013 by the US in the WTO. "After the WTO ruling that required India to remove domestic content stipulation for solar cells and modules in the programme, India submitted its compliance report to the WTO," Minister of State for Commerce and Industry C R Chaudhary said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. He said India ...
NIA to probe 'puzzling' bomb blasts in Manipur: CM
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh informed the State Assembly on Wednesday that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will probe the three "puzzling" bomb blasts that took place this year in Imphal's high security areas.
J-K govt suspends transport facility in Jhelum due to low
Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh today said that the water transport facility in the Jhelum river was suspended due to a drop in the water level. He said this in the Legislative Assembly in a reply to a question by PDP MLA Mohammad Ashraf Mir. The services would be resumed once the level increases, Singh said, adding that the cruise facility was launched onJuly 11last year and continued for some time on complimentary basis. On July 24, 2017, the department had offered a subsidised service at Rs 25 per person and the service was offered twice a day from10 am and 4 pm, he said Singh, who holds Housing and Urban Development portfolio, said that Rs 1.50 crore was spent on the service as on date in the ongoing fiscal. In response to another part of the question, he said that over Rs 4 crore was spent on removal of weed from the Dal Lake in the last three years. Singh said that Rs 60 lakh was spent in 2014-15, over Rs 1.85 crore in 2015-16 and over Rs 1.55 .
No political meddling in power sector's functioning in UP:
The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) today said that political interference in the functioning of power corporations has come to an end after the Yogi Adityanath-led government assumed power in the state. "Ever since Yogi Adityanath has taken over as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, he has left the fate of power sector in the state to its corporation and that there is no political intervention in functioning of the power corporation," UPERC chairman Suresh Kumar Agarwal was quoted as saying in a statement issued by industry body PHDCCI. He further said that with the new administration at the helm in the state, the corporation authorities are taking punitive actions to recover power dues, and this is the perceptible change one can notice in the power sector of UP. Addressing a National Energy Conclave organised by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) here, Agarwal said that in the forthcoming mega investment summit, the UP government ..
