Page 890 - Environment
Hyderabad: Two cops save life after administering CPR on road
Two policemen in Hyderabad saved an elderly life on Wednesday after the senior citizen suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed on the road in Puranapul area near Charminar.The cops have been identified as Inayatullah Khan and Chandan Singh, who were on duty at Puranapul crossroads when the incident took place.The two alert home guards reportedly were well versed with the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) method and administered chest compressions and rescue breaths to the sick person and revived him."Our personnel were on duty at the crossroads when they noticed a man collapsing. Immediately, Traffic Home Guards Chandan Singh and Inayatullah made that person to relax and did chest compressions," Bahadurpura Traffic Inspector A. Srinivas told ANI."Meanwhile, 108 ambulance reached the spot and they appreciated the policemen for their reviving efforts," he added.Hyderabad Traffic Deputy Commissioner of Police Ranganath also praised the two and said, "Not just the medical staff but ...
VW hid 'devastating' result from diesel exhaust tests on
German auto giant Volkswagen tried to keep secret the results of a diesel emissions test on monkeys because it showed a worse health impact than expected, a news report said today. The firm's suppression of the widely-condemned study emerged on the same day prosecutors in two German carmaking strongholds pressed forward with investigations of industry stalwarts Bosch and Audi over diesel emissions cheating. Bild daily reported that the exhaust fumes tests on 10 monkeys that have sparked fresh public outrage following VW's emissions-cheating scandal "were never supposed to come to light" because the results were "too devastating". Amid a storm of criticism over the experiment and over separate tests on German human volunteers commissioned by an auto industry-financed research institute, VW on Tuesday suspended its chief lobbyist Thomas Steg and labelled the testing "unethical and repulsive". The human and animal tests were commissioned by an organisation funded by VW, ...
Exclusive: Mexico regulator hopes for first shale auction by end 2018
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico hopes to hold its first shale oil and gas auction by the end of 2018, the head of the country's oil regulator told Reuters on Wednesday, potentially opening up one of the world's top reserves of unconventional energy to foreign investors.
Do not clear proposed neutrino project, says Vaiko
: MDMK leader Vaiko today demanded that the Tamil Nadu government not give pollution board clearance for the proposed Indian neutrino project in the district as it would damage the environment and badly affect the livelihood of farmers here and in nearby areas. Speaking to reporters after launching his anti-neutrino project campaign, he alleged that the union government had fast tracked the process of setting up the project lab at Ambrappar hill at Pottipuram. He urged the state government not to succumb to the Centre's 'pressure' and to reject any proposal for Pollution Control Board clearance of this project. Vaiko alleged that five districts would become a desert if the neutrino project was implemented. He also alleged that a huge amount of explosives would be used to break rocks from the hill, posing a grave threat to 12 major dams in two states.
NHRC notices to Centre, Punjab Govt over pesticide health hazards
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday issued notices to the Punjab government and the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare over the reports of serious diseases in the Malwa region due to excessive use of pesticides and insecticides.The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report about how excessive use of pesticides and insecticides have left a residue of heavy metals in soil and groundwater causing various serious diseases to many people in the Malwa region of Punjab.The NHRC issued notices to the chief secretary of the state and secretary of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, seeking a detailed report within six weeks.The Commission also observed that it seems that even after the lapse of a period of more than 7 years, the things have not moved and the people residing in the Malwa region are still suffering from various diseases including cancer, liver failure, renal failure, birth defects and so on.A study, reportedly conducted by ...
BP expects gas to overtake oil as main energy source in 2040
VIENNA (Reuters) - BP expects gas to overtake oil as the world's primary energy source in around 2040 as demand for the least polluting fossil fuel grows, its vice president for strategic planning said on Wednesday.
HC seeks response of LG, Delhi metro over reduced road size
The Delhi High Court today sought response from the LG's office and the Delhi Metro on a plea seeking removal of alleged unauthorised Metro construction at INA market here as it has reduced the road size and hit traffic movement. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar also issued notice to the authorities including Delhi government's Public Works Department and asked them to file their affidavit in two weeks. The court has now fixed the matter for further hearing on February 16. The court was hearing a plea by Delhi residents Manjeet Singh Chugh and Ankush Wohra who have alleged that the size of the road near the INA Market had been reduced from 60 feet to 15 feet affecting traffic movement in the south Delhi area. The petitioners told the court that the construction has caused inconvenience to the public at large and that the situation would require constant deployment of traffic police. The plea has alleged that the area would be an ...
Railways to set up coach factory in Maharashtra
The Railways will set up a coach factory in Maharashtra's Latur district, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal said after a meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis here.
Maharashtra: Ghodazari to be a new wildlife sanctuary
The Maharashtra Government today approvedGhodazari in Chandrapur district as a new wildlife sanctuary. Chief MinisterDevendra Fadnavis took the decision at the13th Meeting of Maharashtra State Board for Wildlife in Mumbai. He also approved various proposals for development works within national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. The new sanctuary will include about 159 sq km area of Bramhapuri forest. The area is home to 10 to 15 tigers and 23 leopards. It will createemployment opportunities for 59 nearby villages, a government statement said.
Punjab govt bans sale of Endosulfan, other insecticides
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today approved a ban on the sale of Endosulfan and 19 other insecticides reported to be harmful for human beings as well as from the environmental sustainability and economic viability aspects. Acting on the recommendations of the Registration Committee, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), and the Punjab State Farmers' Commission (PSFC), the chief minister, who also holds the agriculture portfolio, gave his nod to the ban, to be effective from February 1. Making it clear that no laxity would be tolerated in this regard, the chief minister directed that the ban be implemented meticulously and stringently. On Singh's directives, the agriculture department has issued detailed guidelines on the regulation of the sale of insecticides in the state. The department has been asked to review the licenses given for these insecticides and also not to issue fresh license for these insecticides from February 1, officials said. According to the .
No immediate possibility of simultaneous polls: Nitish
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said he did not see any "immediate possibility" of holding the Lok Sabha and assembly polls simultaneously as meeting constitutional requirements for it to happen would take a lot of time. The JD(U) president, who had switched allegiance to the BJP-led NDA from the Congress-led opposition alliance last year, said he was in principle supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push for simultaneous elections, according to a statement. President Ram Nath Kovind in his address to the joint sitting of Parliament on Monday had advocated for simultaneous polls, and Modi too had strongly supported it. Kumar said that simultaneous polls will bring down the cost of holding elections and also give elected governments more time for development. However, he added, "Constitutional requirements will have to be met for this and it will take a lot of time. There seems to be no immediate possibility of holding the Lok Sabha and assembly polls ...
Admin approval for Blr suburban rail project initial phase
The Karnataka government today gave administrative approval for implementation of Bangalore Suburban Rail project's initial phase, worth Rs 1,745 crore, under equity sharing model between the state government and Indian Railways, by using a Special Purpose Vehicle. Karnataka government agreed to make an initial equity payment of Rs 349 crore in two years (2018-19, 2019-20) to begin the work under phase 1(A) of the three phased project, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra said Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting here, he said the proposal included 58 trains, each with a capacity to carry 1,800 to 2,000 people, 160 services, covering a total distance of about 440 km. "This was a long pending issue.. after a series of meetings it has been finalised now," he said. Giving details of the financial implications, he said of the approximate requirement for the project (phase 1(A), which is about Rs 1,745 crore, the Railway Ministry and Karnataka ...
Gadkari, Nitish inspect flex-engine bike from Bajaj
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today inspected the flex- engine bike manufactured by Bajaj Auto. The development comes barely days after Road, Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Gadkari had said that two major bike makers are expected to come up with flex engine motorcycles by the month-end. A flex-fuel or dual fuel vehicle is capable of operating on both petrol and ethanol. "Gadkari and Kumar inspected the flex-engine bike along with auto rickshaws on ethanol and electric. The bike is still to be launched in the market," an official said. Keen to promote electric vehicles fleet as well as vehicles on alternative fuel like ethanol, Gadkari has also been emphasising the need to enhance ethanol output in a bid to move towards ethanol-based transportation. "By the end of this month, two two-wheeler manufactures have promised to come up with electric as well as flex-engine motorcycles which can run both on petrol and ethanol," ...
Mahadayi: Outfits say they will off bandh if PM intervenes
Pro Kannada outfits today said they would call off their proposed 'Bengaluru bandh' on February 4, if Prime Minister Narendra Modi intervenes to solve the Mahadayi river water sharing issue with neighbouring Goa, as demanded by them. However, they would go ahead with it Modi did not intervene to find a solution, Vatal Nagaraj,who heads 'Kannada Okkoota', an umbrella organisation of Kannada bodies, said. "We will observe a Bengaluru Bandh on February 4 if the Prime Minister fails to give us any relief. If he makes any announcement prior to that, then we will call it off," he told PTI. Modi will be in the city on February 4 to participate in the concluding ceremony of Karnataka BJPs Parivarthana Yatra, a state-wide programme against the Congress government. A state-wide bandh was observed by the outfits on the issue on January 25. Nagaraj said the outfit held discussions today with farmers from Nargund, Navalgund and drought affected regions of North Karnataka. "BJP ...
Work on memorial of Guru Ravidas to be expedited: Manpreet
Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal today said that the state government would expedite the work on the setting up of a memorial of Guru Ravidas 'Meenare-e-Begampura'. He was addressing a gathering at the state-level function on the 'Prakash Purb' of Guru Ravidas in Khuralgarh Sahib here, an official release said. The finance minister said the Kandi and Border area in the state were underdeveloped. He said during a recent meeting with Union Finance Minister Atun Jaitley, it was proposed that by increasing the central grant under the Border Area Development Scheme and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, the Kandi and Border areas could be developed. He said that in this semi-mountainous area, the wild animals often destroy crops. "In view of which, the Punjab government will provide a subsidy of Rs 50 crore to farmers to protect their crops," he said. The minister said to solve the problem of irrigation in the Kandi area, 265 tubewells will be installed in 13 Assembly
'Norway looking for business collaboration with Gujarat'
Norway is hopeful of collaborating with Gujarat firms in various areas including waste management and higher education, its envoy said here today. "An industry delegation from Norway will meet business delegates from Gujarat by the end of April to explore collaboration possibilities," Consulate General of Norway in Mumbai, Ann Ollestad said. The Scandinavian country can also offer a lot to a state with a 1,600-km long coastline in marine sector, she said. "Waste and environment are high priorities for both the countries, and Smart City initiative gives us an opportunity to enter into waste management business. Also, Gujarat is a state with long sea coast, so there is a huge potential for green shipping and coastal shipping," Ollestad said. "Surveillance over coastal lines, as well as tackling pollution like oil spills and micro plastics in the ocean and electrification of ports through renewable energy offer us huge business opportunity in the state," she said. The ...
Series of earthquake can shift Yamuna, others: HC
Observing minor tremors following an earthquake on the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday said that a series of quakes can shift Yamuna River and other natural things from one place to another.
Yavatmal: 60-year-old was killed by tiger, autopsy confirms
A sixty-year-old farmer, whose mutilated body was found near village Loni in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra earlier this week, was killed by a tiger, a government doctor confirmed today. "As per the autopsy report, Ramaji Shendre was killed by a tiger," said the Dean of Government Medical College, Dr Manish Shrigiriwar. Shendre is believed to be the tenth victim of the tiger, though it was not confirmed by forest officials.
80% rabi crop sowing completed in C'garh
Planting of winter crops has been completed in 80 per cent of the total crop area so far in Chhattisgarh, a state minister said today. "Farmers have completed sowing of rabi crops on around 15 lakh hectares of land as against the target of 18.51 lakh hectares in the state," Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal said. Food grain, pulses, oilseeds and vegetables are being sown, he added. At present, grains, including wheat, rice, maize and others, have been sown on 2.65 lakh hectares as against the target of sowing on 3.65 lakh hectares in this season, the minister said. Similarly, the department has set a target of sowing pulses on 3.64 lakh hectares. "Till date, sowing of pulses has been completed on nearly 2.99 lakh hectares," he said. Besides, sowing of oilseed crops, including alsi, mustard, toriya, til, sunflower and others on 2.44 lakh hectares have been completed so far, he added. Vegetables have been cultivated on 1.68 lakh hectares, he added. Meanwhile, Chief ...
List steps to curb traffic congestion in Mumbai: HC asks cops
The Bombay High Court has directed the city traffic department to list down the steps it proposes to take in order to curb traffic congestion in the crowded market areas in Mumbai. A bench of Justices Naresh Patil and N W Sambre also said that the traffic department must consider introducing measures like marking some days in a week as "pedestrians only" days, and of imposing steep parking rates in crowded market areas to deter the use of private vehicles in such areas. The bench was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL), which highlighted poor traffic management in the market areas, such as Kalbadevi, Chira Bazaar, and Crawford Market. The plea, filed by a city resident, also said that considering that most of such market areas had narrow bylanes riddled with encroachments, it would be extremely difficult for fire tenders and emergency service vehicles to gain access in case of an emergency. The department, in turn, had submitted an affidavit with details of the ...
