Page 889 - Environment

Nitish applauds Union Budget on agri and health counts

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today lauded the Union Budget, saying it contained appreciable initiatives for the agriculture and health sectors. "I could not listen to the entire budget speech of (Finance Minister) Arun Jaitley, but heard the parts relating to agriculture, health and education. The finance minister deserves applause on these counts," he told reporters here. The JD(U) chief lauded Jaitley's announcement that the minimum support price for Kharif crops would be calculated by adding 50 per cent to the production cost and that a similar formula would be adopted for the other crops. "In the health sector, the announcement of a Rs five lakh healthcare cover for 10 crore poor families is a huge initiative. The move would, in effect, benefit about 50 crore people. I congratulate Jaitley on this count as well," Kumar said.

Kharif support price to be 50% more than production cost: FM

In a major bonanza to farmers, the government said today that support prices for the upcoming Kharif crops like paddy will be fixed at least 50 per cent higher than the cost of production, while raising farm credit target for the next fiscal by 10 per cent to Rs 11 lakh crore. In an effort to take agriculture out of stress, it also announced a slew of measures such as setting up two separate funds amounting to Rs 10,000 crore for building infrastructure in sectors such as fishery, aquaculture and animal husbandry. Besides, it allocated Rs 2,000 crore for setting up agri- market infra fund and Rs 1,290 crore for a national bamboo mission as also Rs 500 crore for 'operation green' to check volatility in tomato, onion and potato rates and Rs 200 crore to encourage medicinal and aromatic crops cultivation. Presenting a pro-farmer Union Budget 2018-19, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley reiterated the government's commitment to welfare of farmers saying that the emphasis is to ...

Gobar Dhan scheme to convert cattle dung into bio fuel announced

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday announced the launch of the Gobar Dhan scheme to manage and convert cattle dung and solid water into compost and bio-fuel.

Politicians should listen to scientists: Nobel laureate

UK-based scientist Richard J Roberts, who won the Nobel Prize in physiology in 1993, criticised the "anti-GMO people" today and said politicians should listen to the scientists and not the anti-science people, who speak "nonsense" and "tell lies". He also said that he would "organise" support of Nobel laureates on the Genetically Modified Organism (GMO). Roberts is here to participate in the three-day-long Nobel Prize Series organised by Nobel Media, a wing of Nobel Foundation, which bestows the coveted award. "My aim in life is to convince politicians that science is important. They should listen to the scientists and not listen to the people who are anti-science, who are people who speak lot of pseudo science," Roberts told PTI. "At the moment, one of the things that is important is GMO...these are the future of agriculture," he said. "There is so much nonsense spoken by anti-GMO people, by Greenpeace activists, it is not just true...Most of what they say is not true. ..

Air pollution rings a bell in Budget, FM vows special scheme

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said a special scheme will be executed with Delhi government and adjoining states to address the rising air pollution in the National Capital. Presenting the Union Budget 2018-19, the minister also said steps will be taken to subsidise the machinery required for management of crop residue. "A special scheme will be implemented to support the efforts of the governments of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and the NCT of Delhi to address air pollution and to subsidise machinery required for in-situ management of crop residue," he said. Unveiling the last full-year budget of the current BJP- led government in Parliament, he said air pollution in Delhi- NCR region has been a cause of concern. The Economic Survey had suggested heavy penalties for burning agricultural waste, and more incentives for farmers to prevent alarmingly poor air quality in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas. The Survey said due to burning of paddy fields after harvesting by

Budget 2018: Special scheme to tackle air pollution

Delhi's air pollution found a special mention in Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's fifth budget as the minister on Thursday announced a special scheme to tackle stubble burning.Stubble burning in the adjoining states of the Delhi-NCR is one of the major contributors to the air pollution.Meanwhile, Jaitley also announced to provide subsidize machinery for the management of crop residue.The Finance Minister assured to provide assistance to the Government of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi National Capital Territory (NCT) to deal with worsening level of air quality."The air pollution level in Delhi and National Capital Region is a cause for concern. A special scheme will be implemented to support Government of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi NCT to address it and subsidize machinery for management of crop residue," Jaitley said in the Parliament.This decision comes after Delhi's air pollution level hit a new high this winter, leaving its people grasping for breath.The ...

Air pollution 'a cause of concern', Budget announces special schemes to tackle stubble burning

Rising air pollution found mention in the 2018-19 Union Budget speech and was termed a "cause of concern", as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday announced support to tackle the menace in the National Capital Region (NCR).

MSP for kharif crops to be 1.5 times input cost: Jaitley (Second Lead, Correcting figures in para nine)

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday announced that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for notified kharif crops will be 1.5 times the input cost and stepped up the institutional credit for the sector to Rs 11 lakh crore.

The raptors guarding Mexico's airport

Far from the crowds of passengers, lines and passport control, Madison spreads his wings on the side of a runway at Mexico's international airport, the busiest in Latin America. He is one of several peregrine falcons deployed to prevent "bird strikes" -- a hazardous collision between birds and planes that can have dangerous and even catastrophic consequences. In 2009, for instance, a US Airways jet had to set down on the Hudson River in New York after a flock of birds took out its engines. In January this year, a Mexico-bound KLM flight made an emergency landing after hitting birds on take- off in the Netherlands. "It's dangerous. Birds don't mix with planes. They can hit a turbine," Oscar Chavez, a 26-year-old who is one of the biologists handling the falcons in Mexico, told AFP. Each day, Madison and another peregrine falcon named Ilse are on duty at the airport, which sees 44 million passengers pass through it each year. "The other birds realize a predator is around ..

MSP for kharif crops to be 1.5 times input cost: Jaitley

In line with the BJP's poll promise before the 2014 general elections, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday announced that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for notified kharif crops would be 1.5 times the input cost along with formation of a concrete mechanism to ensure higher farm income.

Budget 2018: Govt to construct 2 crore toilets in next 2 years

With focus on farmers, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his presentation of the Union Budget 2018-19 announced construction of two crore toilets in the span of next two years."An additional 2 crore toilets will be made in the next 2 years and this should go a long way in addressing the crucial issue of open defecation, especially in rural areas," Jaitley said while applauding the Swachh Bharat Mission of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.He said that the mission is flying strong, having already resulted in six crore toilets being constructed across the country.He also announced higher MSP for farmers along the launch of operation green to boost produce.Jaitley added that the Government's focus will shift from 'Ease of Doing Business' to 'Ease of Living' for poorest of the poor.He announced the launch of Operation green on the lines of operation flood. Sum of Rs. 500 crore has been allocated for this purpose. This operation will help farmers generate produce."We also propose to extend ...

Lava spreads more than 3 kilometres from Philippine volcano

Lava flowing out a Philippine volcano has spread up to 3.6 kilometres since it began intense eruptions more than two weeks ago. Streaks of red glowed atop the summit of Mount Mayon during a mild eruption Thursday morning as the moon set, hours after a blue moon and supermoon coincided with a lunar eclipse. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said lava fountains and emissions of gas and ash have been sporadic. The eruptions fed lava flows in two areas that already exceed 3 kilometres. The danger zone around Mayon extends 8 kilometres, though authorities have struggled to keep villagers from returning to check on their homes and farms and tourists from trying to photograph the volcano's dramatic displays. Mayon in northeastern Albay province has been erupting for more than two weeks, forcing more than 84,000 villagers to flee to crowded emergency shelters. Scientists fear a more violent eruption could be imminent.

Budget Highlights 6

* Government plans to construct two crore more toilets under Swachh Bharat Mission

Budget Highlights 5

* Have decided to take healthcare protection to a new aspirational level. Launching a flagship National Health Protection Scheme to cover 10 crore poor and vulnerable families, benefiting approximately 50 crore people

Budget 2018: Govt to construct 20 million toilets in next 2 years

Jaitley said the mission was flying strong, having already resulted in six crore toilets being constructed across the country

Ireda and Rumsl Signs Agreement for Large-Scale Solar Parks in Madhya Pradesh

Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), World Bank & IREDA have been able to work out a proposal to channelize US$ 100 Million for creating common infrastructure for ultra-mega solar parks in India to achieve the 100 GW solar capacity addition target by 2022, set by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Under the World Bank Line of Credit, IREDA has sanctioned its first loan of Rs. 210.62 Cr. to RUMSL to finance two such solar parks in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The agreement was signed by Shri S K Bhargava, Director (Finance), IREDA and Shri Avaneesh Shukla, Executive Engineer, RUMSL in the presence of Shri Upendra Tripathy, Interim Director General, International Solar Alliance (ISA).

Railways to Set up a Coach Factory in Marathwada, Maharashtra

Work on this project will be done on high priority with fast track processing of all approvals. Maharashtra Government has offered several concessions including in land, taxes and etc.

Modi hails Coast Guard

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated the Coast Guard on its Foundation Day.

Solar products on demand in Kashmir

In an endeavour to cope with the irregular electricity supply, people in the Kashmir Valley are now using solar panels and solar-powered lamps.These solar products are on a high demand in the Valley due power shortage.The local markets in Kashmir are filled with solar products like, solar geysers, solar lights, solar bulbs, solar lantern, solar heating systems which are proving very useful during the winters.This concept of using solar products has been adopted by the masses.Locals have expressed their happiness over the increasing use of solar products as a substitute for electricity."In the evening at least for 2 hours, solar panels are being used in every household. The shortage in power supply is not being felt with the use of solar products," said a customer."There is a serious power shortage, we depend on solar-powered lamps, it is a must for every home," added another customer."There is an increase in demand for solar products", said a solar products dealer.

Godrej Properties add three new projects

In Bangalore and Noida