Page 891 - Environment

NHRC notices to Centre, Pb over pesticides health hazards

The NHRC has sent notices to the health ministry and Punjab government over reports that excessive use of pesticides and insecticides have allegedly left residue of heavy metals in soil and ground water, causing various diseases to the people in the Malwa region. The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the chief secretary of the state and secretary of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, seeking detailed report within six weeks. "They have been asked to inform about the steps taken, after the year 2012, when the Commission had disposed the matter on the assurance given by the state government for an affirmative and prompt action to deal with the menace," the NHRC said in a statement today. The rights panel said it has "taken suo motu cognisance of a media report about how excessive use of pesticides and insecticides have left residue of heavy metals in soil and ground water, causing various serious diseases to many people in the Malwa ...

Stuttgart prosecutor investigates Bosch over Chrysler emissions role

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The Stuttgart prosecutor's office said on Wednesday two employees of auto supplier Robert Bosch were being investigated on suspicion of aiding fraud, as part of a wider probe into Chrysler diesel emissions in the United States.

NCP seeks Lokayukta probe into Maha minister's 'land dealings'

The NCP today demanded a probe by the Maharashtra Lokayukta against Tourism Minister Jaykumar Rawal into "irregularities" in his "land dealings" in Dhule and Nandurbar districts. NCP spokesman Nawab Malik met with Lokayukta justice (retd) M L Tahiliani and submitted documents to back his charge. "We demand a probe into the irregularities. We submitted documents to the Lokayukta today," Malik told reporters. The BJP minister is battling allegations of dubious land deals in Dhule district following the suicide committed by 84-year-old farmer Dharma Patil over inadequate compensation for his land, which had been acquired by the state government for a solar project. Patil had consumed a poisonous substance at the Mantralaya here on January 22 after a scheduled meeting between him and state Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule was cancelled at the last moment. Patil died while undergoing treatment at J J Hospital on January 28 night. Malik had alleged that the meeting ...

HC notice to LG, Delhi Metro over reduced road size

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, the Delhi Government, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the Delhi Police and others on a plea seeking removal of alleged unauthorised construction of Delhi Metro in INA market as it is hampering free movement of traffic in south Delhi.The court has asked all the respondents to file their replies till February 16.The petitioners are residents of South Extension who raised the issue of reducing the size of the road from 60 feet to 15 feet due to the construction of Metro station in INA.The petition stated, "...the area would be accident prone as the size of the road has been reduced from the road from 60 feet to 15 feet."The petitioners told the court that reducing the size of the road has caused traffic chaos and virtually leading to traffic jams that are causing inconvenience to the public.The petitioners informed the court that the present situation will require the constant deployment of the

Revert to 90:10 share pattern for agricultural schemes: Punjab CM

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to revert to the 90:10 share pattern between the Centre and states for agricultural development programmes and also batted for crop diversification.

Hong Kong approves ban on local ivory trading by 2021

Hong Kong lawmakers gave final approval today to a government proposal banning local ivory trading in the Chinese territory by 2021, with conservation groups hailing it as a major victory in the fight to save elephants. Lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the measure, voting 49-4 to amend the existing law to outlaw sales of ivory in Hong Kong, which researchers say is the world's biggest retail ivory market. The proposal also includes significantly stiffer penalties to deter smuggling of ivory and other highly endangered species. Under the new law, the maximum sentence will increase to a 10 million Hong Kong dollar ($1.3 million) fine, double the current amount, and 10 years in prison, up from the current two years. Wildlife activists applauded the move, even as Hong Kong moves more slowly than Beijing. Mainland China, the biggest source of global ivory demand, banned sales at the start of the year after shutting all carving factories and shops last March. "A ban on ...

Elderly man trampled to death by elephant

An elderly man was trampled to death by a wild elephant at Lalai village in Odisha's Sundargarh district today, a senior Forest official said. Chatri Kujur (60) came face to face with a herd of about five pachyderms when he moved out of his house in the morning and one of the jumbos attacked him, said Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Rourkela, Sanjay Swain. Kujurs family has been given a sum of Rs 20,000 towards cremation and compensation would be provided as per the prescribed norms, said the DFO Earlier four persons have been killed in elephant attack in the area since the beginning of this year, said a forest official.

CSE hails Punjab for ban on 20 pesticides

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has welcomed a move by the Punjab government to ban with immediate effect the sale of 20 pesticides (insecticides) which are harmful to humans and environment.

7th India Energy Congress to begin tomorrow

Over 400 experts are expected to brainstorm on energy transition across the globe in view of technology and digital disruptions at 7th India Energy Congress, scheduled to begin tomorrow here. More than 400 experts will meet here on February 1 and 2 to discuss and debate the energy transition being witnessed, Energy 4.0 - the fourth energy revolution and draw map for 2030, in view of technological and digital disruptions already underway and those visible across the horizon, an official statement said. The 7th India Energy Congress will also deliberate upon how these are driving energy transition in various parts of the world. The India Energy Congress is the flagship event of World Energy Council India (WEC India) and joint event of ministries of power, coal, new & renewable energy, petroleum & natural gas, external affairs and Department of Atomic Energy. The WEC India functions under the power ministry. Secretary (Power) is the chairman of the WEC India. NTPC .

MP's BJP MLAs using farmers funds for study tour: Congress

The Congress party on Wednesday alleged that the list of farmers going for a study tour to New Zealand and Australia, include former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs and their relatives.Congress spokesperson K K Mishra said, "The Madhya Pradesh government is sending 30 farmers on a study tour to New Zealand and Australia. The list of farmers includes names of former BJP MLAs and their relatives. These people are going on foreign tour using funds for farmers, what is CM doing?"Madhya Pradesh Horticulture Minister, S P Meena on earlier in the day informed that 30 farmers have been selected for a study tour to New Zealand and Australia."Farmers greatly benefit from such programs," said Meena.He also informed that for tour to South Africa online applications have been floated.

Punjab CM seeks reverting sharing pattern in agri programmes

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting that the sharing pattern between centre and states be reverted to 90:10 for agriculture development programmes in order to avert the looming crisis in the farm sector. "The target of doubling farmers' income in five years appears almost unachievable unless urgent steps are taken to re-direct the focus and provide the essential institutional support," the letter said. Underlining Punjabs role in the Green Revolution, the chief minister said while there had earlier been huge increase in productivity of food grains and in arable area under wheat and paddy, the production potential of these crops with the currently available technology had been fully exploited. On the one hand, growth in productivity and real farm incomes had materially slowed down and on the other, the very sustainability of the rice-wheat cropping system is under threat due to over-exploitation of natural ...

MoU signed for $30 ml WB loan to RUMSL for MP solar projects

An MoU was signed today between Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited (RUMSL) and the World Bank, which will provide a loan of USD 30 million (around Rs 210 crore) to develop the "world's largest" 750 MW solar power plant in Rewa and another one in Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh. The MoU was signed in the national capital, a senior official said. "World Bank's arm - Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA)- and Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited (RUMSL), a joint venture of the state and the Centre, signed an agreement in New Delhi today," Principal Secretary of Madhya Pradesh's New & Renewable Energy Department, Manu Srivastava, told PTI over phone. "The signing of the loan agreement at India Habitat Centre is a major step towards fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mission of 100 GW solar power generation in India by 2022," he added. WB is providing a loan of USD 100 million through IREDA for financing infrastructure of solar parks in India," Srivastava said. "IREDA

Goa will become open defecation free by Oct 2 this year: CM

Goa will become open defecation free by October 2 this year, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has said. "We are going to construct 72,000 toilets in different parts of both the districts (North Goa and South Goa) of the state," the chief minister said at an event here yesterday. On the occasion, Parrikar rued shortage of toilets in a number of village panchayats in the state. The chief minister said he felt "embarrassed" due to plight of women who have to defecate in the open due to absence of sufficient toilets in their villages. "Yesterday, I was in a rural area and I started inquiring with them about toilets. I came to know that there are several village panchayats that are short of toilets by at least 100 to 250 numbers. So I asked them what about women from the village. The locals said women go to the forest areas early morning to relieve themselves," Parrikar said while addressing an event here yesterday. The chief minister said he was "embarrassed" to know about ...

Dinesh Srivastava new Chief Executive of Nuclear Fuel

Dinesh Srivastava today took over as the Chief Executive of the city-based Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC). In this capacity, he will also be the Chairman of the NFC Board, a release from the NFC said. Prior to this, he held the position of Deputy Chief Executive, NFC. Srivastava worked at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai for three decades, and is a senior professor at the Homi Bhabha National Institute. A metallurgical engineer from the University of Roorkee, he has contributed exclusively in the development of advanced structural materials of extreme strategic value for India's nuclear energy programme, the release said. "Target of his work has been self-reliant development of critical nuclear components for the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)," it added. NFC is a unit of the Department of Atomic Energy. As per the NFC website, it is responsible for the supply of nuclear fuel bundles and reactor core components for all the nuclear power reactors operating .

'Three red-headed vulture nests found in Cambodia'

Three critically endangered red- headed vulture nests have been discovered in Cambodia's Chhep Wildlife Sanctuary by conservationists. The population of this species in Cambodia is possibly less than 50 individuals, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). These nest discoveries give hope that conservation efforts may save this species from extinction, they said. Global vulture populations are declining at an alarming rate. Cambodia's three vulture species - Red-headed (Sarcogyps calvus), Slender-billed (Gyps tenuirostris), and White-rumped (Gyps bengalensis) - are all listed as Critically Endangered. Cambodia supports the largest population of vultures in Southeast Asia, but there only a few hundred individuals left in the country. As part of the Bird's Nest Protection Program, WCS has employed six community members to protect the nests of these vultures. Local people are incentivised to protect the Critically Endangered species until their eggs hatch and ...

UltraTech Cement gets green nod for limestone mining project

UltraTech Cement has got the go- ahead for its limestone mining project in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat that would entail an investment of about Rs 60 crore, as per official documents. The proposal is to mine limestone in a lease area of 632 hectare with production capacity of 2.07 million tonne per annum (TPA). Total mineral reserves are 63.58 million tonne and life of the mine is 32 years. In a letter issued to the company, the Environment Ministry said it has given the green light to UltraTech Cement's proposed limestone mining project with certain conditions. Among conditions, the company has been asked to rehabilitate 147 families and provide a house for each family with a total expenditure of Rs 12.25 crore or as per the norms of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, whichever is higher, it said. The company has also been asked to help the project affected farmers for purchase of alternate ...

HC notice to Baijal, Delhi Metro over reduced road size

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notices to Lt. Governor Anil Baijal, Delhi Metro and others on a plea seeking removal of alleged unauthorized Metro construction at INA Market as it has reduced the road size and hit traffic movement.

Rice basmati weakens on subdued demand

In restricted activity, rice basmati prices fell by Rs 100 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today owing to slackened demand. However, other grains held steady in thin trade. Traders said muted demand against adequate stocks position mainly weighed on rice basmati prices. In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa-1121 variety moved down by Rs 100 each to Rs 8,200-8,300 and Rs 6,900-7,000 per quintal, respectively. Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal): Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,080-2,280, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,795-1,800, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,805-1,810, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 260-300, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Roller flour mill Rs 960-970 (50 kg), Maida Rs 990-1,000 (50 kg)and Sooji Rs 1,050-1,060 (50 kg). Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,800, Basmati common new Rs 8,200-8,300, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 6,900-7,000, Permal raw Rs 2,325-2375, Permal wand Rs 2,375-2,425, Sela Rs

T'gana CM hails trial run of KTPS

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao congratulated the Telangana State Power Generation Corporation Ltd (TSGenco) for the trial run of Kothagudem Thermal Power Station (KTPS) Stage-VII. Rao called up the CMD of TSGenco, D Prabhakar Rao, and congratulated him, a statement from the CM's office said. "The KTPS should be taken as a matter of inspiration for its quick progress in the construction of Yadadri and Bhadradri power plants," the CM said. He appreciated the electricity staff for working towards the government's aim to make the state power surplus, the statement added.

Sustainability is the future of fashion: Anita Dongre

Renowned designer Anita Dongre says the only way forward in the world of fashion is through sustainability. The designer said today there is a growing need to conserve natural resources and protect the planet from unnecessary wastage. Her 'Songs of Summer', which she unveils today at the closing on Day 1 of the LFW Summer/Resort 2018, is one such example. "We start every collection with same passion and enthusiasm. Some garments in the clothing line have been made from R Elan fabric, where they have taken polyester and recycled it. "There are four that we've done using that polyester as a sustainable fabric. We have tried to incorporate sustainability in the collection as it is the future," Dongre told PTI in an interview. Reminiscing her childhood connection to Rajasthan, the couturier said she drew inspiration from a "garden of flowers" for the showcase. "Summer to me means beautiful bougainvillea flowers. It always looks beautiful in Rajasthan's summers. For me, it's