Page 909 - Environment
'Turkeys were domesticated for worship, not just for eating'
Turkeys were not only prized for their meat but also for their cultural significance in rituals and sacrifices, according to a study which uncovered the origins of the earliest domestic turkeys in ancient Mexico. Researchers, including those from the University of York in the UK and the Institute of Anthropology and History in Mexico, studied the remains of 55 turkeys which lived between 300 BC and 1500 AD. The birds had been discovered in Mesoamerica - an area stretching from central Mexico to Northern Costa Rica within which pre-Columbian societies such as the Mayans and Aztecs flourished. Analysing the ancient DNA of the birds, the researchers were able to confirm that modern European turkeys descended from Mexican ancestors. The researchers also measured the carbon isotope ratios in the turkey bones to reconstruct their diets. They found that the turkeys were gobbling crops cultivated by humans such as corn in increasing amounts, particularly in the centuries leading
India asks Germany to help relax new EU rice import rule
As the new stringent EU rice import rule kicked in this month, India has asked Germany to use its good offices to resolve the issue at the earliest. The European Union (EU) has reduced the maximum permissible residue level (MRL) of Tricyclazole (a fungicide) in basmati rice to 0.01 mg per kg from the present limit of 1.0 mg per kg effective January 1. India, the world's largest producer of the aromatic grain, has made several representations to some European countries, to convince them on the need to relax the rules. During last week's visit to Germany's capital Berlin, Minister of State for Agriculture Gajendra Singh Sekhawat raised the issue with his German counterpart. "Sekhawat also impressed upon the German minister to use his good offices for early resolution of Indian rice export being subjected to arbitrarily fixed maximum residue limit on Tricyclazole at 0.01 mg/kg by the EU," the minister was quoted as saying in an official statement. He also highlighted that ...
China donates solar power generation systems to Nepal
China has donated over 32,000 sets of solar power generation systems to Nepal to enhance its domestic capacity in combating climate change.
China donates over 32,000 solar power generators to Nepal
China has donated over 32,000 solar power generating systems to Nepal to enhance its domestic capacity and to provide electricity to communities that have been without power since the 2015 earthquake. The donated items included 32,000 sets of household solar power generation systems and 325 sets of solar power generation systems, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported yesterday. The aid from China comes as left alliance headed by CPN- UML leader K P Sharma Oli, who is widely regarded as pro- China, won the recent elections in Nepal. China has been investing heavily in Nepal as it seeks to expand its influence in the land-locked country which is heavily dependent on supplies of essential goods from India. Oli during his brief stint in power between 2015-16 signed the Transit Transport Agreement (TTA) with China to improve the connectivity between Nepal and Tibet in a bid to end decades-old dependency on India for daily supplies. During his Beijing visit last year, China in .
Barrier Reef funding boost to tackle predatory starfish
A multimillion-dollar campaign to stop the predatory crown-of-thorns starfish devouring the Great Barrier Reef was announced by the Australian government today in a push to preserve the World Heritage-listed ecosystem. The coral-eating starfish are naturally occurring but have proliferated due to pollution and agricultural run-off at the struggling reef. Their impact has been profound - a major study of the 2,300-kilometre (1,400-mile) long reef's health in 2012 showed coral cover has halved over the past 27 years, with 42 percent of the damage attributed to the pest. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Australian dollar 60 million (USD 58 million) would go into the new drive, with just over half to be spent on incentives for farmers to prevent agricultural pollutants from running into the reef. Funds will also go towards increasing the number of patrol vessels and divers targeting the starfish, he said. "It is a vibrant, resilient ecosystem and one of the best-managed .
Facing neglect, Goa's state flower 'Abolim' set to bloom again
After being pushed into near oblivion, Goa's celebrated 'Abolim' flower is getting back into the limelight with a group of like-minded people working on a project to revive it. Scientifically known as crossandra infundibuliformis, Abolim was notified as the state flower in the early 1970s because of its importance in Goa's socio-cultural life. But over the years, it virtually vanished from the state's floriculture map, forcing its imports from adjoining Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. "Abolim once again needs to feature prominently in the state's socio-cultural life for which the efforts are now being made. "There are only a few pockets left now where the trees bearing Abolim flowers are planted. The rest of Goa has forgotten them," said Minguel Braganza, Secretary of the Botanical Society of Goa. Braganza has been on the forefront of a project to revive the floriculture sector, which has been getting secondary preference in the state's economic scenario. Braganza said the
Aiming to be first Indian to traverse both Poles in a year
He aims to cross the Antarctica, not merely to become the first Indian to traverse both the poles -- North and South -- in under one year, but for a larger cause: Raising awareness about climate change.
Chinese Navy gets new electronic warfare aircraft: Report
China has built a new type of electronic warfare aircraft which can cover bigger combat areas such as the South and East China seas and greatly enhance the Navy's capabilities in modern warfare, a media report said today. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's South China Sea Fleet deployed the H-6G bomber in its recent combat manoeuvres. The aircraft developed for 10 years in service is equipped with the Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) pods underneath its wings. It was the first time the bomber played "a supporting role in the electronic warfare", China Central Television (CCTV) reported last week. The modified H-6G fitted with ECM pods can engage in combat missions using electronic jamming, suppression and anti-radiation, it said. "The main role of the electronic fighters is to obstruct the enemies' electronic jamming devices - for example, radar, to temporarily or permanently, if powerful enough, cover the surveillance devices and to hide our combat platforms' ...
Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban Launches Smart Star-Rating for Garbage Free Cities
Cities can be rated as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 star based on their compliance with the protocol conditions specified for each of the rating. Further city should be ODF(Open Defecation Free) before it could be given rating of 3 star or above. While cities may self-declare themselves as 1-star, 2-star or 4-star, MoHUA will carry out an additional verification through an independent third party to certify cities as 3-star, 5-star or 7-star. Cities will need to get recertified themselves every year to retain their star-status.
Sinking Sundarbans: Inexplicable lack of global concern
Sagar Island (Sundarbans): Kalyani Mandal has gone way past hope. Living in Dhoblat Shibpur, a coastal village on this island in the Sundarbans estuary, her house has been washed away by the sea thrice in 10 years. "How many times can you make a fresh start?" she asks despairingly.
Pentagon made of microbes older than dinosaurs: study
Some of the building blocks of the iconic Pentagon and Empire State Building in the US are made of mineralised microbes that lived up to 340 million years ago, predating the dinosaurs. The material, known as oolitic limestone, is a popular building material around the world and is almost completely made of millimetre-sized spheres of carbonate called ooids. Researchers from the Australian National University (ANU) found that ooids were made of concentric layers of mineralised microbes, debunking the popular 'snowball theory' that ooids were formed by grains rolling on the seafloor and accumulating layers of sediment. "We have proposed a radically different explanation for the origin of ooids that explains their definitive features," said Bob Burne from ANU. "Our research has highlighted yet another vital role that microbes play on Earth and in our lives," Burne said. Different types of oolitic limestones have formed in all geological periods and have been found around the
Milk production increased by 20.12% during the year 2016-17 in comparison to 2013-14
The minister said that since last 20 years, India continues to be the largest milk producer in the world and the credit goes to the Government initiatives and implementing various schemes to increase the productivity of milch animals. Milk production, which was around 17-22 million tonnes in the 1960s, increased to 165.4 million tonnes during 2016-17. Particularly, it has increased by 20.12% during 2016-17 in comparison to 2013-14. Similarly, per capita availability has increased from 307 grams in 2013-14 to 355 grams in 2016-17, registering 15.6% growth. Moreover, income of milk producers increased by 23.77% during 2014-17 as compared to 2011-14. In the last 3 years, with the annual growth rate of 6.3%, India has outpaced global milk production where it has grown by 2.1%.
Millets trade fair in Karnataka rakes Rs 107 cr business (Lead, correcting para five)
The International Trade Fair on Organics & Millets held here since Friday generated Rs107 crore business, said Karnataka Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Sunday.
Millets trade fair in Karnataka rakes Rs 107 cr business
The International Trade Fair on Organics & Millets held here since Friday generated Rs107 crore business, said Karnataka Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Sunday.
Delhi CM inaugurates project for laying sewer lines
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today inaugurated a project for laying sewer lines in 12 colonies of north-west Delhi's Najafgarh area. The project will benefit around 16,000 people living in the area, the government said. "In the next two years, development work in all unauthorised colonies in Delhi will be carried out at break neck speed. I have arranged for funds and resources for this purpose," he said at the event, where he was shown black flags by a group of people. The sewerage from these colonies will be pumped through the lines to a treatment plant in Najafgarh. Therefore, pollution in the Najafgarh drain due to untreated waste will be mitigated, the chief minister said. The project will cover A-1, A-2, A-3 blocks in Dharampura; Roshan Garden; Roshan Vihar; Dwarka Vihar; Seichand Park; Shankar Park and Chander Mohalla, the government said. The work is expected to be completed in 24 months. Speaking at the event, local MLA and Transport Minister Kailash Gehlot ...
U'khand gets Centre nod for setting up 3 museums, science city
Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma today gave his consent to set up three museums and a science city in Uttarakhand. The minister of state for environment, forest and climate change, Sharma, gave his in principle agreement over the issue during a meeting with state chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat here. According to a government press release here, Sharma gave his nod for a Rs 11 crore fund for setting up a museum in Pauri, which will be based on the life of Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali, a freedom fighter from Uttarakhand. Similarly, a museum will be constructed on the banks of the Bhagirathi river in Tehri with an expenditure of Rs 20 crore, the release said. The third museum will be set up in Almora. A science city will also be set up in Deheradun with full financial assistance from the central government. The Centre has earmarked Rs 190 crore for the science city. The state government has also decided the spot where the proposed science city would be set ...
4407 acre of illegal cannabis cultivation destroyed by police
Using satellite imageries to locate illegal cultivation of cannabis in remote and hilly areas across the state, Odisha Police has destroyed ganja plants over 4,407 acre of land, Director General of Police, R P Sharma said today. Stating that use of satellite imageries have helped in better results in inaccessible and interior areas of Maoist affected districts, Sharma said huge ganja plantation have been destroyed in Kandhamal, Boudh, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Koraput districts. "The state has scaled a new height in destruction of illicit cultivation of cannabis," the DGP said. "During the crop year 2017-18, illicit cultivation of cannabis have been destroyed in more than 4407.73 acres of land spread over eight districts till January 20 against the target of 3,050 acres," Sharma told reporters. "Further, this it to note that there is sharp decline in illicit cultivation of cannabis in the districts of Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul and Nayagarh due to constant efforts by the .
Initiative to collect data on accidental wildlife deaths launched
The Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) has launched 'Roadkills' - a citizen science initiative - to collect data on mortality of wild animals on roads, irrigation canals or railway lines in India.
Cannabis grown on 4,407 acres in Odisha destroyed
Cannabis cultivated on 4,407.73 acres in eight districts of Odisha has been destroyed in the 2017-18 season, as against a target of 3,050 acres, an official said on Sunday.
No reversal of decision on shutting down Bathinda power plant:
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today ruled out reversal of the government's decision to close down the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP), Bathinda, pointing to the non-feasibility of continuing operations. In a statement issued here, the chief minister explained the circumstances that led to the closure of the Bathinda thermal plant and two units of Ropar thermal plant, saying the decision had to be taken mainly due to lack of power demand in the state and availability of cheaper power from other alternate sources. Reiterating that no employee would lose his job because of the closure and all workers would be accommodated within the region, the CM said after closing down plant operations completely, the surplus manpower of the Bathinda plant shall be utilised on other works where there is shortage of staff. This will increase productivity as it will stop increase of power generation cost over the year, besides resulting in savings to PSPCL, since power from ...
