Page 896 - Environment

Climate change can cause 15-25% slump in farm incomes: Report

The impact of climate change could reduce annual agricultural incomes from 15 to 25 per cent, which translates into loss of over Rs 3,600 for the median farm household, says the Economic Survey 2018, which was tabled in Parliament on Monday.

Wetland circuit will be formed in Punjab: Sidhu

Punjab Tourism Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu today said a wetland circuit will be formed in the state to boost tourism. Speaking at the festival of 'Migratory Birds', Sidhu said Punjab is the favourite spot of migratory birds as there are around 25-30,000 migratory birds at Keshopur Chhamb and more than 70,000 at Harike Pattan. "A wetland circuit will be formed in the state for bird lovers. All the wetlands will be made attractive for the tourists," said Sidhu here. The minister announced that next year a world photography contest will be held at the wetlands for which eminent photographers from popular TV channels such as Discovery, National Geographic and Animal Planet will be invited. He said eco-friendly towers will be installed at Keshopur Chhamb for wildlife photographers and bird lovers. Sidhu said Punjab is the second state after Manipur to implement cultural policy and now efforts are on in full swing to frame a tourism policy.

Microbes used to convert human waste into space food

Scientists have developed a method for converting human waste into a potential food source that may be used by astronauts during deep space missions to Mars and beyond. The researchers at Pennsylvania State University in the US have shown it is possible to rapidly break down solid and liquid waste to grow food with a series of microbial reactors, while simultaneously minimising pathogen growth, scientists have found. "We envisioned and tested the concept of simultaneously treating astronauts' waste with microbes while producing a biomass that is edible either directly or indirectly depending on safety concerns," said Christopher House, professor of geosciences at Penn State. "It is a little strange, but the concept would be a little bit like Marmite or Vegemite where you're eating a smear of 'microbial goo,'" said House. The study published in the journal Life Sciences in Space Research addresses multiple challenges facing deep-space missions to Mars or beyond, which ...

NHRC notice to Centre, states over pollution faced by traffic cops

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday issued notice to Union home Secretary and Chief Secretaries of all states and United territories over lack of health facilities to traffic police personnel in view of high air pollution.The commission also sought reply within eight weeks."The NHRC has taken cognisance of a complaint raising the issue of right to health of traffic police personnel across the country. Allegedly, the high air pollution is causing reduced life expectancy among them as the vehicular pollution affects their respiratory and reproductive system," the commission said in a statement.The statement further noted that "The commission has issued the notices to the union home secretary and chief secretaries of all states and union territories and sought their detailed responses within eight weeks, positively. Most of the state governments are not providing any extra allowances or health facilities to the traffic police personnel"."In case, the response is not ...

Icy ponds on Himalayan glaciers influence water flow: study

The flow of water that supports hydro-electric and irrigation projects in the mountain regions of India and Nepal is regulated by hundreds of large icy ponds on some of the world's highest glaciers, a study has found. Researchers at Aberystwyth University in the UK have shown that the ponds, which form on debris-covered glaciers in the Himalaya, control the rate at which water from melting ice flows downstream. With many covering an area of up to five times the size of an Olympic swimming pool, their hydrological role, specifically to the extent which they can store water on the glacier surface, has remained unknown until now. According to Tristram Irvine-Fynn from Aberystwyth, the role of these ponds could become increasingly important as the region's climate changes. "The hydrological role of ponds and debris may become more significant in the future. By understanding these processes we can become more confident in our predictions of water security and ecosystem ...

Scientists use microbes to convert human waste into space food

Scientists have found a potential food source for astronauts, using microbes to convert human waste into Marmite-like food, media reports said.

Volkswagen supervisory board demands inquiry into diesel fume tests

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Volkswagen's supervisory board called on Monday for an immediate inquiry into who ordered scientific tests in which monkeys were exposed to toxic diesel fumes, while the German government said such studies were unjustifiable.

Beijing to phase out coal stoves in 450 villages

Beijing plans to phase out coal-fired heating in 450 villages in the Chinese plain in 2018 in its latest bid to tackle air pollution.

J-K highway: NGT forms committee to examine soil dumping

The National Green Tribunal today appointed a committee to inspect the status of dumping of soil in Chenab and Tawi rivers for construction on a stretch of Udhampur-Banihal national highway in Jammu and Kashmir. A bench headed by acting Chairperson Justice U D Salvi constituted a committee comprising a senior scientist from the Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment and Forests and Shimla-based Himalayan Forest Research Institute. The direction came as the plea alleged that the "state of pollution" on the national highway was such that sometimes even during the day, vehicles have to switch on their headlights to see through the dust. "The committee shall give its opinion/report regarding status of existing designated dumping sites and remedial measures of alleged illegally dumped soil along with the quantum of muck before the next hearing on April 12," the bench said. The green panel .

Impose heavy penalty for burning agricultural waste: Survey

Heavy penalties should be imposed for burning agricultural waste, and more incentive for farmers is needed to prevent alarmingly poor air quality in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas, the Economic Survey said today. Besides, implementation of congestion pricing, expansion of public buses, phasing out of old vehicles as also coordination across agencies and governments can prevent the city turning into a gas chamber, especially during winters, the survey noted. "The farmers mainly from Northern India set their paddy fields on fire after harvesting. The resultant smoke, however, gets carried by winds all the way to Delhi and beyond, adding to the existing suspended particulate matter (SPM) and noxious substances that clog lungs and leave behind a near eclipsed sun," the survey tabled in Parliament said. Citing various reports according to which Delhi accounts for one of the unhealthiest cities in the world in terms of air pollution, the survey said effective actions suggested .

Super-strong aluminium alloy created

Researchers have created a super-strong aluminium alloy that rivals the strength of stainless steel, an advance with potential industrial applications. "Most lightweight aluminium alloys are soft and have inherently low mechanical strength, which hinders more widespread industrial application," said Xinghang Zhang, a professor at Purdue University in the US. "However, high-strength, lightweight aluminium alloys with strength comparable to stainless steels would revolutionise the automobile and aerospace industries," said Zhang. New research published in the journals Advanced Materials and Nature Communications shows how to alter the microstructure of aluminium to impart greater strength and ductility. The new high-strength aluminium is made possible by introducing "stacking faults," or distortions in the crystal structure. While these are easy to produce in metals such as copper and silver, they are difficult to introduce in aluminium because of its high "stacking ...

NHRC notice to Centre, states over pollution faced by traffic

The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the union home secretary and chief secretaries of all states and union territories over health hazard faced by traffic police personnel due to high air pollution. "The NHRC has taken cognisance of a complaint raising the issue of right to health of traffic police personnel across the country," the commission said in a statement today. "Allegedly, the high air pollution is causing reduced life expectancy among them as the vehicular pollution affects their respiratory and reproductive system," it said. The rights panel has issued the notices to the union home secretary and chief secretaries of all states and union territories and sought their detailed responses "within eight weeks, positively", the statement said. "Most of the state governments are not providing any extra allowances or health facilities to the traffic police personnel," it said. "In case, the response is not received within the stipulated time, the

VW under fire for diesel tests on monkeys, humans

The world's biggest carmaker Volkswagen faced fresh scrutiny today over reports it helped finance experiments that saw monkeys and humans breathe car exhaust fumes. VW "distances itself clearly from all forms of animal abuse," the group said in a statement Saturday, after the New York Times reported that a US institute commissioned by German auto firms carried out tests on 10 monkeys in 2014. But the embarrassment deepened for the group today as German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported tests on the effects of inhaling toxic nitrogen oxides (NOx) were also carried out on some 25 healthy human beings. VW's "dieselgate" scandal saw the group admit in 2015 to manipulating some 11 million cars worldwide to fool regulatory tests, making it appear as though they met NOx emissions limits when in fact they exceeded them by many times in real on-road driving. On its website the World Health Organisation points to "growing evidence" that nitrogen dioxide exposure "can ...

Over 93 lakh houses constructed by govt in over 3 years: Prez

Over 93 lakh houses have been constructed by the government in the last three-and-a-half years, President Ram Nath Kovind said today, outlining the Centre's target to provide house to every poor and homeless by 2022. In his maiden address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, he said the government has a "sensitive approach" towards providing housing with availability of water-electricity-toilet facility to all the people. "Over the last three and a half years, more than 93 lakh houses have been constructed by the government in rural and urban areas. "With a sensitive approach towards providing housing with availability of water-electricity-toilet facility to all, my Government is targeting to provide a house to every poor and homeless household by the year 2022," he said. The housing and urban affairs ministry was implementing the 'Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)' to provide houses to all poor in urban areas by 2022, while rural development ministry was

Bamboo excluded from tree category to benefit NE people: Prez

President Ram Nath Kovind today said bamboo has been excluded from the category of tree, thus allowing it to be cut, transported and used, benefiting lakhs of people in the Northeast. In his maiden address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, Kovind said lakhs of people in tribal areas, especially in the Northeastern region, depend on the bamboo industry. "The inclusion of bamboo in the category of tree had adversely affected livelihoods associated with it. Keeping in mind these difficulties, my government has excluded bamboo from the category of tree. This has now provided freedom to cut, transport and use bamboo," he said. Kovind said the minimum support price of several forest produce collected by tribal people has also been increased. Referring to the NDA government's objective of taking the benefits of development to every part of the country, the president said it was working with sensitivity to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the people of the ..

RInfra bags Rs 882 crore road contract from NHAI

Anil Ambani-led Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra) today said it has bagged a Rs 882 contract from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for six-laning of Aurangabad to BiharJharkhand border (Chordaha) section of NH-2 in Bihar. The company has received the Letter of Award (LoA) for the project from NHAI under the National Highway Development Program (phase V), to be developed on engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis, it said in a statement here. The scope of work includes design, engineering, procurement and construction of a six-lane highway and associated bridges with paved shoulders and is expected to be completed within 24 months from the appointed date. "This order is reflective of our steadily expanding footprint in the road infrastructure space following the growing presence in mega projects in power sector, both in the international and domestic markets," RInfra EPC Chief Executive Arun Gupta said. He further said the company is poised to

RInfra wins Rs 882 cr highway contract in Bihar from NHAI

Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (RInfra) today said it has won a Rs 882 contract for a highway stretch in Bihar. "RInfra has received the Letter of Award (LOA) from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for the six-laning of Aurangabad to Bihar-Jharkhand border (Chordaha) section of NH-2 in Bihar after it emerged as the lowest bidder for the development of the project on engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis," the company said in a statement. The project for six-laning of the highway stretch on NH-2 in Bihar is under the Government of India's flagship National Highway Development Program (phase V) and is funded by NHAI. RInfra said it was declared successful bidder after quoting Rs 882 crore for the project and the scope of work includes design, engineering, procurement and construction of six-lane highway and associated bridges with paved shoulders. The overall schedule for project is 24 months from the appointed date. Commenting on the award, ...

HP CM launches Zero Budget Natural Farming project to promote

Exuding confidence that farmers of his state would adopt organic farming, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today launched Zero Budget Natural Farming project. While launching the project at Chaudhary Sarvan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalay in Palampur, Thakur lauded the efforts of Sikkim for taking the lead in organic farming. "We have to equate with Sikkim in adopting organic farming, and to use manure instead of insecticides and pesticides," the chief minister said. He said the socio-economicstudies on various aspects of research and development should be kept in mind by policy makers while framing policies. "As 90 per cent of our population is dependant on farming, I believe that agriculture programmes should be pushed in a big way," Thakur said. The chief minister said the state needs to follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to increase agriculture produce and the income of farmers by the year 2022.

Mahadayi: Goa dep Speaker proposes resolution against K'tka

Accusing Karnataka of diverting the water of a Mahadayi tributary into the Malaprabha river basin, Goa Assembly's deputy Speaker Michael Lobo has said a resolution against it is likely during the Budget session. Lobo was speaking to reporters after visiting Kanakumbi in Karnataka with Speaker Pramod Sawant and two other Goa legislators yesterday. "There is a total diversion of water from Mahadayi tributary at Kanakumbi by Karnataka government by constructing underwater canals. Whatever water is flowing down to Goa from there is just seepage," the deputy speaker said, adding if the diversion was not stopped, the Mahadayi in Goa will run dry. "We have to move a resolution in the coming Assembly session, opposing the diversion by Karnataka," he said, adding he would move the resolution after consulting the ruling BJP. The Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal, which is hearing the dispute between Goa and Karnataka over the sharing of the river water, should be asked to inspect the

Climate change may cut farm income by 20-25%: Survey

Climate change could adversely affect farmers income by up to 20-25 per cent in the medium term, the Economic Survey warned and suggested the need for "dramatic" improvement in irrigation, use of new technologies and better targeting of power and fertiliser subsidies. The government has also been recommended to take "radical follow-up action" to achieve its objective of addressing agricultural stress and doubling farmers income. Since agriculture is a state subject and an open political economy question, the Survey strongly advocated a mechanism similar to the GST Council to bring more reforms in the agriculture sector and boost farmers income. "Climate change whose imprint on Indian agriculture is already visible might reduce farm incomes by up to 20-25 per cent in the medium term," the Survey for 2017-18 said. Climate change could reduce annual farm incomes in the range of 15-18 per cent on average, and up to 20-25 per cent for unirrigated areas, it said. At current ..