Page 887 - Environment
Envt ministry gives green signal to developTelangana NIMZ
A committee under the ministry of environment, forest and climate change has given its nod to prepare the terms of reference (ToR) for development of the proposed Zaheerabad National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) in Sangareddy district in Telangana. The expert appraisal committee under the ministry had earlier deferred its decision on the same saying it felt that the proposed land where theNIMZis expected to come has 13 reserve forests around it, besides other reasons. However, after obtaining clarifications form Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TSIIC), the project proponent, the EAC gave its nod for preparing the ToR and also other relevant reports. "After detailed deliberation during 183rd meeting held on 24th January, the EAC recommended for grant of ToR for development of Zaheerabad National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ), and for preparation of EIA/EMP reports with public consultations subject to compliance of all .
Telangana IT Minister bats for waste-to-energy tech
Telangana Information Technology Minister KT Rama Rao on Friday underscored the need to convert waste into energy.Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the 66th National Town and Country Planners Congress 2018, he told the town and country planners to make a plan to segregate all the waste and covert it out into energy."The second important thing is to bring in smart public transportation facilities. To implement this, we have to sync with transportation authorities," Rama Rao said.He also encouraged people to use the public transport or walk to work so that traffic problems are reduced."The last thing is encouraging the technology. We should use technology intensively. We need to get alerts when someone is building beyond the permissible limits," the minister said.The three-day conference is being organised by Institute of Town Planners, India (ITPI), the apex body of qualified professional town and country planners.This conference is based on the theme 'Urban Environmental ...
14,000 trout fish found dead in Kupwara farm
Over 14,000 trout fish were found dead on Friday due to water poisoning in a fish farm in north Kashmir's Kupwara district.
Rare 200 million-year-old ichthyosaur species discovered
A rare 200 million-year-old ichthyosaur species has been discovered from a private collection, 22 years after it was originally found. Ichthyosaurs were a type of sea-going reptiles that lived during the time of the dinosaurs. In 2016, Dean Lomax from the University of Manchester in the UK described an ichthyosaur skeleton that he had examined in the collections of Leicester's New Walk Museum and Art Gallery. He spotted several unusual features of the bones and determined that the features were unique and represented a new species, which he called Wahlisaurus massarae. "When Wahlisaurus was announced, I was a little nervous about what other palaeontologists would make of it, considering the new species was known only from a single specimen," Lomax said. "My analysis suggested it was something new, but some palaeontologists questioned this and said it was just 'variation' of an existing species," he said. Lomax then teamed up with fossil collector, Simon Carpenter, of ...
Number of migratory birds visiting Pong Dam in HP declines
Taking note of the fall in the number of migratory birds visiting the Pong Dam wetland this year, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today said behavioural changes of these birds need to be studied and measures taken to improve their habitats. Presiding over the state-level event on the World Wetland Day in Jawali town, near the Pong Dam reservoir in Kangra district, he exhorted people to participate in conserving and restoring wetlands. Wetlands help reduce flooding, replenish drinking water supplies, filter waste, provide urban green spaces, and were a source of livelihoods, he added. "Himachal Pradesh encompasses a wide variety of wetlands, spread in various ecological zones which, apart from being biodiversity treasures, were sources of livelihood for the local community and had immense aesthetic and tourism values," Thakur said The chief minister said the number of birds visiting Pong Dam this year was 1.10 Lakh as compared to 1.27 lakhs in 2017 -18, adding that the ...
Rare 200 million-year-old fossil discovered
British paleontologists have discovered a rare 200 million-year-old Ichthyosaur specimen from a private collection 22 years after it was originally found. Ichthyosaurs were a type of sea-going reptile that lived during the time of the dinosaurs.
Telangana to set up clean authority on the lines of Tokyo
Telangana will soon set up a body to address issues of environment and it would function on the lines of a similar agency in Tokyo, said state Municipal Administration Minister K T Rama Rao today. 'Clean Authority of Telangana', to be set up on the lines of one existing in Tokyo, will address issues of environment, he said. "...Telangana will be the first state in India to be creating its own clean authority. We recently entered (into) an MoU in Tokyo...(to set up the body)," Rao said. "We are going to institute the same kind of mechanism (which exists in Tokyo). We will be setting up several waste- to-energy projects in the state of Telangana," he said, speaking at the 66th National Town and Country Planner's Congress here. According to the MoU signed last month, the government of Telangana and the Clean Authority of Tokyo would "exchange information on knowledge in municipal solid waste incineration facilities", a state government statement said last month. They will ..
Himachal's Pong wetlands nest 1.10 lakh birds (February 2 is World Wetlands Day)
Over 110,000 feathered guests of 107 species were recorded in a census in Himachal Pradesh's Pong Dam wetlands, officials said on Friday. Among them the bar-headed goose, the common coot and the northern pintails are the prominent species.
China launches first shared education satellite
China's first shared education satellite carried by the Long March-2D rocket was launched into space on Friday.
Budget '18: Swaminathan hails MSP hike
Agriculture expert and former Rajya Sabha member M.S. Swaminathan has welcomed the Union Budget announcement to keep the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all unannounced Kharif crops at least at one and a half times of the production cost.Swaminathan told ANI, "I am happy that after over 10 years we recommended this formula, the government has accepted it. Better late than never. Farmers will be happier."On Thursday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced that the government has decided to keep the MSP for all hitherto unannounced crops of Kharif at least at one and half times of their production cost."This historic decision would prove an important step towards doubling the income of our farmers and NITI Aayog in consultation with central and state governments will put in place a foolproof mechanism so that farmers will get adequate price for their produce," Jaitley said.As a primary measure, the government announced raising institutional credit for the agriculture sector to Rs 11 ...
Wallaby rescued in Australia to be released
A marsupial smaller than kangaroo called wallaby, rescued by ferry crew members from harbour waters here in Australia, is recovering and set for release on Friday, an official said.
Work to rid Kanjli wetland of hyacinth, wild vegetation begins
The work to clear the Kanjli wetland here from hyacinth and underwater vegetation commenced today by environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal and his associates. The Kanjli wetland has failed to attract migratory birds from Siberia over the last three years as it was covered in hyacinth and wild vegetation. Seechewal, aided by his associates, decided to take up the initiative to clean the wetland, from where the Kali Bein river passes. Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) Chairman K S Pannu, Deputy Commissioner Mohd Tayyab and Seechewal inspected the ongoing work in the rivulet. Pannu and Tayyab lauded the efforts made by Seechewal. Pannu, who is also the coordinator of Holy Bein project, directed the DC to develop Kanjli wetlandas a tourist attraction. Speaking to mediapersons, Pannu said the wetland would be cleared of the hyacinth, and water sports would be introduced in the rivulet. Later, the PPCB chairman reviewed the progress of the Holy Bein project at the Yojna .
Polar bears starving due to climate change: study
The polar bear populations are declining fast as they are unable to catch enough prey to meet their energy needs due to climate change, a study has found. The study, published in the journal Science, revealed that polar bears have higher metabolic rates than previously thought, and the climate change is affecting their environment for hunting fat-rich prey. Researchers have been studying polar bears in the Beaufort Sea area since the 1980s. Their most recent population estimate indicates the polar bear population has declined by about 40 per cent over the past decade. "We have been documenting declines in polar bear survival rates, body condition, and population numbers over the past decade," said Anthony Pagano, from the University of California, Santa Cruz in the US. "This study identifies the mechanisms that are driving those declines by looking at the actual energy needs of polar bears and how often they are able to catch seals," Pagano said. The researchers ...
No fresh nod to Goa from Karnataka to transport non-bio waste
Karnataka has not renewed permission to Goa to transport the latter's non-biodegradable waste across the border, officials said today. The non-biodegradable waste generated in Goa used to be sent to two cement manufacturing companies in Karnataka. However, since the authorities in Karnataka have not renewed the permission to carry the waste to these companies, it is still lying in Goa. This development assumes significance as the two neighbouring states are currently at loggerheads over the sharing of Mahadayi river water. Talking to PTI, senior Goa government officials said that from January this year, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has not given permission to the state to transport the non-biodegradable waste to Vasavadatta Cement factory in Sedam district and ACC cement factory at Wadi village. "The permission had expired on December 31, 2017, after which they refused to renew it despite several communications to them," a senior government official ..
UP farmers unhappy with Budget '18
Farmers from Uttar Pradesh have expressed their unhappiness over the Union Budget 2018 that was introduced by Union Finance Minister on Thursday.With agriculture being a key focus in this year's Union Budget, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has announced a number of schemes and measures that are expected to benefit the agriculture sector, and also help the Centre in realizing their mission to double farmers' income in the near future.Although the key focus of this year's Union Budget has been agriculture with the announcement of a number of schemes and measures that are expected to benefit the sector, it has not been appreciated by many."There is no relief to the farmers. They said earlier during Vidhan Sabha elections that they will waiver the loan, but it didn't happen in our village," said Moolchand Swami a farmer from Kanpur.On a similar note, a farmer from Varanasi has stated that even if the government had hiked the Minimum Support Price (MSP) farmers will be a loss."Budget is ...
Visit of trainee IAS officers to slum areas organised
The Delhi government's Urban Development Department organised a visit of trainee IAS officers to slum areas here in order to provide them exposure about the living conditions of the lowest strata of society in urban areas. An official said about 181 such officers, who are undergoing a training programme at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (Mussoori), also visited mohalla clinics, night shelters and waste-to-energy plants yesterday. According to the UD department, the visit under the winter study tour was an eye-opening experience for the young officers to the reality of living conditions of the lowest strata of society in urban areas. "The visit to the mohalla clinics showed how easy access to primary healthcare to even the lowest rung of society had been planned," the official said. He said the winter study tour aims at giving different kinds of exposure to the young IAS officers who could implement new ideas when they are posted in their ...
Why polar bears are starving
The polar bear population is declining fast as they are unable to catch enough prey to meet their energy needs, says a study.
Comprehensive policy framed to meet urban challenges: Dy CM
Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Kumar Singh today said the government had framed a comprehensive policy for effective implementation of the flagship housing, sanitation and civic programmes to make Jammu and Kashmir a model state. Winding up a discussion on Demands for Grants of the Housing and Urban Development Departments (HUDD) in the state assembly, he said the state had witnessed a surge in the urban population in the recent past with the twin capital cities accounting for 60 per cent of it. "Revised Master Plan of Srinagar, 2035 has been placed in public domain and is likely to be notified shortly, while Revised Master Plan, 2032 of Jammu, Udhampur and Katra towns have been approved and an exercise for preparation of zonal plans is also being undertaken simultaneously," he said. He said master plans for 24 towns of the state were at different stages of preparation. Singh, referring to the Centre'sSmart City Mission, said proposals for both Jammu and Srinagar had been .
300MW Kishenganga project likely to commission this year: DyCM
The 300 MW Kishenganga hydroelectric power project, executed by NHPC, is likely to be commissioned this year and it will go a long way in augmenting the power generation capacity, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Kumar Singh said. Winding up the discussion on the Demands for Grants of the Power sector in the Legislative Assembly last night, the Deputy Chief Minister said that several hydroelectric projects have been undertaken in the state under close monitoring for ensuring that these are completed within the stipulated timeline. "Two projects of 9MW capacity each in Dah and Hanu in district Leh have been completed and the commissioning of these projects shall be done during the current year while the tendering process of 12 MW Karnah HEP has also been initiated," he said adding that three new projects in joint venture with NHPC and Power Trading Corporation are at an advanced stage of tendering. Referring to restructuring of State Power Development Corporation (SPDC), ...
January was hottest month ever recorded in New Zealand
January was the hottest month ever recorded in New Zealand, and experts say climate change is one factor. The heat has led to a shortage of fans that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern jokingly referred to as "fan-ageddon." Ardern says that while many people are probably enjoying a great summer, they also need to consider the long-term consequences of climate change, including sea-level rise. Figures released Friday by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research indicate the average temperature during January was 20.3 degrees Celsius (68.5 Fahrenheit). That was more than 3 degrees Celsius above normal and beat the previous record of 19.6 Celsius set in February 1998. Record-keeping began in 1909. New Zealand has a relatively mild climate that is moderated by the surrounding ocean.
