Page 908 - Environment
Factbox: Effect on commodities markets due to U.S. government shutdown
(Reuters) - Commodities markets were trading normally on Monday even though key regulators, including the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), will be operating with skeleton crews due to the U.S. government shutdown.
No shortage of drinking water from Narmada, says Gujarat
The Gujarat government on Monday assured that there won't be any shortage of drinking water in the state this summer due to the Narmada crisis as the state is mostly dependent on the river for their water needs.
Fireworks units in Sivakasi resume work after agitation
The fireworks units in and around this town resumed work today after remaining shut for nearly a month demanding exemption of their produce from the Environment Protection Act. The fireworks manufacturers and workers, who launched an indefinite shut down on December 26, called off their agitation on January 20 after talks with Tamil Nadu Minister K T Rajendra Balaji on their demands. They had then announced that work would be resumed from today and accordingly more than 800 units in and around this town in Virudhunagar district, the national hub of fireworks, started functioning, industry sources said. They had also demanded expediting a petition pending in the Supreme Court seeking to ban manufacturing, trading and bursting of crackers throughout the country. It was contended by them that the pendency of the petition has prompted traders not to place advance orders for firecrackers as they were apprehensive of a ban. Chief Minister K Palaniswami had on January 17 wrote ..
Vardhan launches LED streetlights project for east Delhi
Union minister Harsh Vardhan today inaugurated a project in east Delhi, under which over a lakh conventional street lights would be upgraded with LEDs at "zero cost" to the cash-strapped civic body of the area. One lakh incandescent streetlights and 2,800 semi-high mast lights will be converted into LED lights over a period of nine months, East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) Commissioner Ranbir Singh said. Vardhan in his address, at the event held at the EDMC headquarters at Patparganj, highlighted the probable dangers of global warming and climate change, and said, adopting LED lights is a small step in mitigating that harm. "Launched #EastDelhiMunicipalCorpn's #LED lights program. 1 lakh conventional street lights and 2800 High Mast lights will be replaced by LED lights at zero cost to the Corpn. Instead it will get a share of the savings on energy bills to the tune of 77.97 per cent," the science and technology minister later tweeted. East Delhi Mayor Neema Bhagat
Gujarat government calls for judicious use of water
Following a sharp decrease in water storage of all the dams over river Narmada, including Sardar Sarovar, the Gujarat government today called for judicious use of water. Due to a fall in the water storage, mainly because of a weak monsoon, Gujarat would only get 4.71 million acre feet (MAF) water, which is just 45 per cent of the sanctioned supply of 9 MAF awarded by the Narmada Tribunal to the state, an official release said. Supply of water in the Sardar Sarovar Dam and various other dams upstream in the neighbouring Madhya Pradesh have received less water due to scarce rainfall in the catchment area of the Narmada river, which mostly falls in Madhya Pradesh, it said. As a result, the overall water storage in all the dams over Narmada stands at just 14.66 MAF this year as against 29.18 MAF last year. Overall, this is the lowest water storage-level in the last 15 years, the release said. Narmada water is distributed among four states -- Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, ...
ofo powers Indore's attempt at Guinness Book of World Records
In a bid to promote greener and healthier modes of transportation, ofo, the world's first and largest dock less bicycle-sharing platform operated via mobile app, came together with Saksham Cyclothon, Indore, to help them enter the Guinness Book of World Records for the 'largest number of bicyclists riding in a city together'.Organised by the Indore Cycling Association (ICA), India's premier cycling event turned out to be a roaring success with participation from more than 38,000 riders.Witnessed by more than 50,000 people on the ground, the event was attended by the Union Petroleum Minister, Dr. Dharmendra Pradhan.With the common goal to improve the overall quality of lives in India by promoting a greener and healthier Indore through the conservation of fuel, the event gathered massive support from citizens and authorities alike.As one of the official partners of the Saksham Cyclothon, ofo provided over 400 bicycles exclusively for the police officials and the Border Security Force ...
Four power projs operational on Chenab, 7 more proposed: Dy CM
Jammu and Kashmir's Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh today said there are four power projects operational on river Chenab, while seven more have been proposed to be constructed on the river. Replying to the discussion held on power infrastructure raised by NC MLC Sajad Ahmad Kichloo in the Legislative Council today, the deputy chief minister said there are four power projects with 1,680 MW cumulative capacity operational on river Chenab and seven more projects having a total capacity of 5,388 MW have been proposed to be constructed on the river flowing through Chenab Valley comprising Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban districts. He said that a comprehensive Relief and Rehabilitation (RR) policy has been formulated for the affected people of three power projects of Pakal Dul, Kiru and Kawar in Kishtwar district. The government would provide Rs 33 lakh for undertaking the construction for individual house; the extent of stamp duty would be limited to Rs 25 000 besides providing
Never go anywhere uninvited, says 'miffed' Sidhu
Apparently miffed over not being invited for the Amritsar mayoral election tomorrow, Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu today said he never goes anywhere uninvited "except the Golden Temple or Durgiana Temple". Elected councillors of the Municipal Corporation of Amritsar will tomorrow take oath and then all the elected councillors will unanimously elect the next mayor of the holy city. Punjab cabinet minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa has been assigned the duty to oversee the mayoral elections. Mayors of Jalandhar and Patiala will be elected on January 25. During a press conference here today, when Sidhu was asked whether he was going to attend the programme where Amritsar's next mayor will be elected, Sidhu said, "No". "I never go anywhere uninvited except the Golden Temple or Durgiana Temple. Since I was not invited in any such function, there's no question of attending such a programme," said Sidhu. "I have no knowledge who will be the next mayor of Amritsar, only ...
Water supply hit in Delhi
Water supply was hit across Delhi today due to a rise in the levels of ammonia in Yamuna and reduction in the supply of raw water from Haryana, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) said. Currently, the water treatment plants that source raw water from the Yamuna and the carrier lined channel from Haryana are running at 70-80 per cent capacity, a DJB statement said. "The ammonia level has risen to 1.6 ppm against the treatable limit of 0.9 ppm, in the raw water available at the Yamuna pondage. "The affected areas: whole West, North, Central Delhi, part of South, including Delhi Cant and NDMC areas," it said. The agency advised people to make judicious use of water and call the central control room (1916/23527679/23634469) for tankers.
Bayer launches hybrid rice seed
German drug and agro-chemicals major Bayer today announced the launch of hybrid rice seed 'Arize AZ 8433 DT' with strong inbuilt tolerance to Brown Plant Hopper (BPH) and Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB). Brown Plant Hopper is the most destructive pest in rice growing areas of India and caused huge losses to farmers in the 2017 kharif season, it said in a statement. "The introduction of Arize AZ 8433 DT is another step towards improving rice productivity in India," said Peter Mueller, Head of the Crop Science division at Bayer South Asia. In the event of a BPH and BLB attack, Arize AZ 8433 DT offers yield advantage of up to 20 to 30 per cent over other susceptible open-pollinated varieties (OPVs), where yield losses could be up to 100 per cent, the company claimed. Besides superior yield attributes, another advantage of cultivating 'Arize AZ 8433 DT' includes a significant saving on pesticide application, it added. According to Bayer, pest tolerance has been achieved in the ..
Goa CM skips Mahadayi river dispute awareness programme
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and majority of MLAs today skipped an event organised by the state secretariat to create awareness about the Mahadayi river water sharing dispute. The programme was organised at the secretariat in Porvorim, which was attended by only six out of the total 40 MLAs. However, Goa Assembly Speaker Pramod Sawant said Parrikar had informed him in advance that he would not be able to attend the programme due to his preoccupation. Besides Parrikar, Water Resources Department Minister Vinod Palyekar too gave a miss to the event attended by Mahadayi Bachao Abhiyaan leader Rajendra Kerkar among others. On the occasion, Kerkar made a presentation on the simmering dispute between Goa and Karnataka. Goa and Karnataka have locked horns over sharing of Mahadayi (known as Mandovi in Goa) river water. The issue is currently pending before the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal in Delhi. The speaker, who hosted the programme, expressed displeasure over bulk ..
Vardhan forms joint working group of departments under him
Environment minister Harsh Vardhan today said an empowered joint working group will be formed comprising nodal officers from five ministries and departments headed by him to synergise efforts for developing technological solutions. Addressing an inter-ministerial coordination meeting, the minister stressed on the need to break the mindset of "working in silos". A working group will be formed to take decisions on every possible problem for scientific resolution and each of the ministries will nominate its nodal officers, he said and called it a "grand alliance". "Chaired a meeting of heads of all Depts under my charge in science and Environment. Decided to form a #GrandAlliance for #FunctionalSynergy. "An empowered #JWG of these Depts set up to take decisions to form a unified force to address every possible problem for scientific resolution," he tweeted. He said that all sorts of problems can be solved through science, but the approach towards it needs to be changed in .
India to host 16th International Energy Forum conference from April 10-12
India will host the 16th ministerial round-table conference of the International Energy Forum (IEF) from April 10-12 in the national capital, Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said here on Monday.
Cabinet approves Agreement with UNESCO on establishment of International Training Centre for Operational Oceanography in Hyderabad
The purpose of this Agreement is to establish a training centre towards development of capacity for the countries on the Indian Ocean Rim (IOR), African countries bordering the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, small island countries under the framework of UNESCO. The operational oceanography is an activity of conducting systematic oceanographic studies towards providing information services to various sectors viz. fisherman, disaster management, shipping, ports, coastal states, navy, coast guard, environment, offshore industries for conducting their day-to- day operations.
Bamboo cultivation can boost farmer income, says Gadkari
Union minister Nitin Gadkari has said the government is working towards encouraging petrol, diesel and gas production from biomass and called for encouraging bamboo cultivation to boost farmer income. He said since bamboo is now listed under the category of a grass and the forest department's permission is not required to grow and cut it for commercial purposes, bio- ethanol could be produced from it. "We need to encourage bamboo cultivation in this region in order to ensure financial stability of farmers," the transport minister said. Yavatmal is located in Vidarbha, a region known for farmer suicides. He was speaking yesterday at the inauguration of four lanes of the NH-930, stretching between Warora and Wani, and the rail overbridge at Pimpalkhuti village here. He said infrastructure projects worth thousands of crores have been sanctioned for the development of Yavatmal district in Eastern Maharashtra. Nearly Rs 3,500 crore has already been sanctioned for the ...
Global business group 'lit a flame' for long-term U.N. goals: chair
OSLO (Reuters) - Many companies are looking past quarterly results to discover long-term economic opportunities in U.N. goals to end poverty and protect the planet, the head of an international business commission has said.
Himachal to provide land to Hindustan Salts for mining
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday directed the local authorities to provide land to state-run Hindustan Salts Ltd to restart mining rock salt in the state, an official said.
Australian university goes 100 per cent solar
In what is claimed to be a first for any university, University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia has inked a 15-year agreement to get 100 per cent of its energy supplied by photovoltaic solar energy.
China donates 32,000 solar systems to Nepal
In a bid to enhance Nepal's capacity in combatting climate change, China has donated over 32,000 solar power generation system sets to that country.According to the Xinhua, the donated items also include 325 sets of solar power generation system (1200Wp), battery, controller, LED bulb and case that include the status indicator and system cable.Nepal Ministry of Population and Environment Joint secretary Ram Prasad Lamsal said, "The support provided by China is instrumental in addressing the problems of environment and climate change. It will also benefit our people from the perspective of health and time-saving."The donated goods will be distributed by the Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC) in the areas affected by a devastating earthquake in 2015, according to the Nepali government."The bigger power generation systems with high power will be used for the community schools, health centres and local government offices while the low power systems will be used for the households .
Hindustan Salts seeks surplus land for rock salt processing in
Hindustan Salts Ltd, a central public sector enterprise, today requested the Himachal Pradesh government to provide surplus land on lease for further processing and increasing 'rock salt' output in Drang, Mandi. Hindustan Salts chairman and managing director S P Bansal called on state chief minister Jai Ram Thakur in Mandi and put forth his demand for surplus land. Drang in Mandi is famous for the best mines of rock salt -- also known as 'Gumma salt' in local parlance -- in India after Pakistan and Afghanistan. These mines were started in May 1963 and closed in January 15, 2011, due to non-forest clearance from the environment and forest ministry and non-deposit of royalty by the company. However, after re-commissioning in March 2016, the rock salt mine was extracting around 1,500 metric tonnes of salt every year from Maigal, Darang and Gumma mines. The mine has had 58 million tonnes of total deposits used for animal lick and used by locals for various applications and ..
