Page 905 - Environment
Trump slaps steep tariffs on washing machines, solar products
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday imposing steep import tariffs on washing machines and solar panels, saying the move showed the United States would not be taken advantage of anymore.
Naidu lauds PM's keynote address as 'historic'
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu remarked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in Davos as a historical day for India."Prime Minister gave an excellent speech. It is a historical day for India. PM Modi gave a very good message to global community especially on geopolitics, terrorism and environmental issues," Naidu exclusively told ANI.Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that climate change, nations distinguishing between good and bad terrorism, and nations becoming self-centered are the three major challenges that the world is facing today.While delivering a keynote address at the opening session of the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos, Prime Minister Modi said, "Climate change is a huge threat right now, Snow in the Arctic is melting, many islands are sinking or are about to sink.""Extreme cold, hot, floods, drought- the effect of extreme weather is increasing day by day. Everybody says that carbon emission ...
Want first vehicle to be electric for Indians still without
Union minister Piyush Goyal today said 80 per cent of India's population does not own a vehicle as yet and he would want their first vehicle to be electric. He was speaking here at a World Economic Forum session on 'Designing for smart mobility' where he stressed on the need for smart mobility to optimise traffic flow in India. "In Western countries, everybody owns vehicles. Countries like India which are still emerging, we have 80 per cent of our population which does not own a vehicle as yet and we would love them to have a first vehicle which is electric," Goyal said. He also said India has adopted renewable energy very rapidly. "If we take solar energy alone, we have grown by about 6 times in the last 3.5 years, and our plan is to go up to 100 GW by 2022. India has chosen to go down the path of clean energy," the minister said. In 2015, the government embarked on the world's largest campaign to replace all lighting by LEDs, he said while adding that in three years, ..
Puri lays foundation stone of underpass, flyover in Mahipalpur
Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri today laid the foundation stone for construction of underpass and flyover, to be built in Mahipalpur here at an estimated cost of Rs 188 crore, to ease traffic congestion. The work is expected to be completed in 400 days and it would improve traffic movement and provide "great relief" to people, the housing and urban affairs minister told a gathering on the occasion. "This project will facilitate movement of traffic from the international airport and create a better impression of the city among the visitors and tourists," he said. Puri said the government was "totally dedicated" to improving urban infrastructure and easing traffic movement in the city and several such projects would be implemented in the coming days. Once completed, the underpass and flyover would give relief to thousands of people who go to Terminal three of the Indira Gandhi International Airport, an official said. "It will also help decongesting Mahipalpur Road and ...
Ashok Lavasa assumes charge as Election Commissioner
Ashok Lavasa on Tuesday assumed charge as the Election Commissioner of India at the Nirvachan Sadan here.
Centre releases Rs 734.7 crore for 26 irrigation projects
The Union Water Resources Ministry has released central assistance amounting to Rs 734.7 crore for 26 irrigation projects. The ministry last week released central assistance of Rs 246.9 crore for nine prioritised projects under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) works, an official statement said. It also released Rs 487.80 crore for Command Area Development (CAD) works for 17 projects, the statement said. During the 2017-18 fiscal till now, central assistance amounting to Rs 1,152.52 crore has been released for 26 priority projects under the AIBP, it said. Plus, Rs 3,318.85 crore have been released as state share from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for 24 priority projects under the AIBP. For CAD works, assistance amounting to Rs 524.90 crore for 22 priority projects and Rs 71.52 crore as state share has been released through the NABARD, the statement said.
NHAI awards contract for four-laning of 64km NH stretch in MP
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has awarded the contract for four-laning of a 64km national highway stretch in Madhya Pradesh to a joint venture formed for the project, an official said on Tuesday.
Government releases funds for prioritised irrigation plans
The Union Water Ministry has released financial assistance of Rs 246.9 crore for the nine prioritised projects under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) works.
India to host first summit of International Solar Alliance: Modi
Citing global climate change as one of the biggest global challenges, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India will host the first summit of the International Solar Alliance (IAS) in March.
Transgenders' convention to highlight plight of Yamuna
Hundreds of transgenders will converge here for a four-day "Surya Suta Mahotsava" to highlight the poor condition of the Yamuna river. The convention of the Kinnar Akhada, from March 7 to 10, will focus on the agony of the river, Acharya Laxmi Narain Tripathi of the Kinnar Akhada said. "The condition of the Yamuna is pathetic. We need to sensitize local people and pressure official agencies to do something. "We cannot let the river die. It's one of the holiest rivers of the country," he said. A number of politicians, celebrities and religious leaders will address the convention.
Trump slaps steep U.S. tariffs on imported washers, solar panels
WASHINGTON/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump slapped steep tariffs on imported washing machines and solar panels on Monday, giving a boost to Whirlpool Corp and dealing a setback to the renewable energy industry in the first of several potential trade restrictions.
Jitendra Singh lauds PM Modi's speech at WEF
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lived up to the expectations of the entire world, said Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh on Tuesday.He was expressing his views on the Prime Minister's keynote address at the opening session of the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos."The Prime Minister has lived up to the expectations of the entire world, representatives of the business community, the political arena. He beckoned the entire world to come together. He has also lived up to that expectation of offering a lead to the world community to discover their future and to make a departure from their earlier prejudices and biases of the 20th century," Singh said.The MoS also said that Prime Minister Modi also spelled out major challenges before the world."He spelled out the challenges before the world today: the challenge of climate change, the challenge of terrorism, the challenge of radicalisation of youth, and the challenge of tending to be ...
New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way
A new hunt for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 using high-tech underwater drones has started, officials said today, in the latest bid to solve one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries. A ship operated by exploration firm Ocean Infinity arrived at the search area in the Indian Ocean yesterday and launched the drones, said Malaysia's Department of Civil Aviation director-general Azharuddin Abdul Rahman. "The vessel Seabed Constructor has arrived at the search area and commenced the search operation," he said in a statement. The jet disappeared in March 2014 with 239 people -- mostly from China -- on board, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. No sign of the plane was found in a 120,000 square kilometre sea search zone and the Australian-led hunt, the largest in aviation history, was suspended in January last year. Ocean Infinity struck a deal with the Malaysian government to restart the hunt on a private basis and will only be paid if it finds the jet or its black .
Corrected: Trump slaps steep U.S. tariffs on imported washers, solar panels
By David Lawder and Nichola Groom
Keen to work with Russia in tourism: Himachal CM
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday said the state was keen to work with Russia in areas of tourism development and water conservation.
Harsh Vardhan asks officials in ministries under him to ensure
Union minister Harsh Vardhan has asked senior officers and scientists in the ministries under him to identify ten priority areas and ensure ground-level implementation for time-bound and measurable results. The minister has asked the scientists and officials of ministries of environment, science and technology and earth sciences as well as the department of scientific and industrial research and the department of biotechnology to do so. Vardhan has also suggested that a plan should be drawn up for the 115 least developed districts that have been identified by NITI Aayog and urged the five ministries or departments under him to ensure time-bound implementation. Such an approach will pool and converge latest scientific and technical knowhow, financial, human and infrastructural resources to maximise outcomes and outputs in various sectors, he said. Those sectors include water management, air quality management, soil management, waste management, climate change, marine and
PM Modi defends globalization at Davos summit
DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Prime Minister Narendra Modi mounted a defense of globalization at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday, urging joint action on climate change and economic cooperation, in a speech some delegates took as a swipe at U.S. President Donald Trump's America First agenda.
World facing three major challenges: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said climate change, nations distinguishing between good and bad terrorism and nations becoming self-centered are the three major challenges that the world is facing today.While delivering a keynote address at the opening session of the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos, Prime Minister Modi said, "Climate change is a huge threat right now, Snow in the Arctic is melting, many islands are sinking or are about to sink.""Extreme cold, hot, floods, drought- the effect of extreme weather is increasing day by day. Everybody says that carbon emission should be reduced, but how many people and countries are there who are ready to help developing countries and societies to get useful technology?" Prime Minister Modi asked.He also outlined the efforts India is making to tackle the menace of climate change."My government has put a very big goal before Indians to protect the environment and to fight climate change- ..
Andhra IT minister participates in 'Industrial Corridors' session in Davos
Andhra Pradesh Information and Technology (IT) Minister Nara Lokesh on Tuesday participated in the "Industrial Corridors in India" business session along with global CEOs held by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) here in Davos.Lokesh spoke about measures being taken up for the industrial development of Andhra Pradesh."We are strategically utilising Vizag - Chennai and Chennai - Bangalore industrial corridors for industrial development of Andhra Pradesh. We are implementing clusters model. In order to create fulfledged eco system in electronics manufacturing, we are forming exclusive electronic manufacturing clusters. Already one cluster is operational in Tirupati with companies like Celkon, Carbon, Dixon," he said.He also spoke about improving water facilities in the Rayalaseema region."There has been no industrial development in Rayalaseema region due to lack of water facility. Now we 've changed the situation. Water vows of Rayalaseema region ...
E-waste norms opportunity to create formal mkt: IFC consultant
Government's norms for e-waste management will lead to a formal market in this area, attracting more investments and creating jobs, an IFC consultant said today. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the E-Waste Management Rules, 2016 in supersession of the e-waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 2011. International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and Karo Sambhav, a e-waste producer responsibility organisation (PRO), hosted a sensitisation workshop to facilitate an interactive discussion around the current and future scenario of e-waste in India. Ronojoy Sircar, Consultant, Advosiry Services, IFC said, the e-waste management Rules 2016 have given the e-waste management sector an opportunity to not only develop a sustainable ecosystem but also create a formal market that will attract investment and grow employment. "The current perception that e-Waste is solely a matter of compliance should evolve into an ...
