Page 916 - Environment
No clearance to power plants if they don't follow norms: MoEF
The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) today assured the National Green Tribunal that it would not grant clearance to any new thermal power plant until they comply with the standards set by it, after a plea alleged that many plants were flouting norms and causing pollution. The Environment Ministry in December 2015 had issued a notification revising the standards for coal-based thermal power plants across the country which aimed to reduce emissions like sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter, besides water consumption. These power plants were given a deadline of December 2017 to install appropriate mechanism and technologies to cut emissions. The lawyer appearing for the ministry told a bench headed by acting Chairperson Justice U D Salvi that a plea seeking extension of time for implementing the MoEF's notification was pending in the Supreme Court. However, the submission was opposed by the counsel for petitioner Sunil Dahiya, who said the ...
Snakelet found in Delhi Assembly premises, rescued
A black-headed royal snakelet was rescued by the Wildlife SOS rapid response unit from the premises of Delhi Legislative Assembly, a statement said today. The Assembly's housekeeping staff recently spotted the snakelet inside one of the meeting rooms and immediately informed the NGO Wildlife SOS on their 24-hour rescue helpline, it said. Two snake rescuers from the wildlife conservation NGO rushed to the spot. The rescuers identified the snakelet as a Black-headed Royal Snake (Spalerosophis atriceps) also known as a diadem snake. "The snake was a juvenile as it had pale brown patches and lacked the distinct irregular black markings that adult royal snakes have on their body. The rescue team carefully removed the reptile and released it into its natural habitat," Wasim Akram, Manager Wildlife SOS Special Projects said. The snake was kept under observation before releasing it back into its natural habitat. According to the statement, the species is non-venomous and is ...
Centre seeks Arunachal government's support for rural electrification
The central government on Wednesday sought the support of the Arunachal Pradesh government for expeditious completion of the rural electrification programme under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gramjyoti Yojana.
Rs 616-cr being spent on power augmentation in JK: Asiea
Jammu and Kashmir government today said the Centre has launched Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) for improvement of power system in the state at a cost of Rs 616.59 crore. Responding to a question by PDP MLA Abdul Rahim Rather in Assembly, Minister of State for Power Asiea Naqash said the programme has been approved for implementation in 21 districts of the state including 10 in Jammu province, 9 in Kashmir and two in Ladakh region. Asiea said DDUGJY is aimed at augmenting the power infrastructure and electrification of all unelectrified areas in the rural region. It also envisages various reforms in the power sector to improve overall power scenario in the state. Elaborating further, the minister said the reason for slow implementation is poor response to tenders and meeting various other technicalities. She said the government is making constant efforts for speedy implementation of this important programme in all identified areas of the state to ensure ..
JK: Oppn walks out from assembly after speaker claims security
Opposition National and Congress members today staged a brief walkout from the assembly as MLAs, cutting across party lines, raised the issue of breach of privileges and protocol of speaker Kavinder Gupta and demanded government's intervention. National Conference and Congress MLAs walked out of the House for a few minutes after Gupta revealed how his security protocol was breached and was still waiting for a report from the authorities concerned. "We walked out in support of the speaker and for our rights," Congress legislature party leader Nawag Rigzin Jora said. Amid sloganeering against the government and in support of the speaker, the opposition took the decision after several members, including both from the PDP and BJP, speaking on the discussion of grants, raised the issue of breach of privileges and protocol by government officials and sought the intervention of the government. When independent MLA Pawan Gupta was speaking on the issue, the speaker intervened ..
Scottish varsity strikes pact for new satellite city in Bengal
A Scottish university today announced an agreement with the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) to collaborate on a new satellite city in West Bengal. The agreement will see academics from the Institute for Future Cities (IFC) at University of Strathclyde work with officials at the NKDA on research and the sustainable development of the smart city dubbed New Town Kolkata. "India will be the world's second-largest source of urban growth in the next 30 years with hundreds of millions more Indians moving to cities. We need to ensure the cities of the future are sustainable both economically and environmentally and are good places to live," said Richard Bellingham, director of IFC. "New Town Kolkata is a major initiative which is a good match for the skills at the University of Strathclyde, which places an emphasis on 'useful learning'. We want to make a difference; this is the kind of collaboration where our research and expertise can be put into practice in the .
379 acres of land encroached in Jammu: Govt
Over 379 acres of land have been encroached by land grabbers in four villages in the outskirts of Jammu city, the Jammu and Kashmir government said today. In a written reply to a question by BJP MLC Vikram Randhawa in Legislative Council, Minister for Revenue Abdul Rehman Veeri said that over 379 acres of land in Sunjwan, Kanachak, Laliyal and Panjore villages of Jammu district have been encroached. "An area measuring 217 acres of the total encroached land have been retrieved," he said. Veeri added that there was no information of any influential person or politician occupying large chunk of land unauthorisedly.
Basai wetland: NGT lifts stay on work at waste treatment plant
The National Green Tribunal has lifted its stay on the construction of a waste treatment plant in the catchment area of the Basai wetland at Gurgaon in Haryana. A bench headed by acting Chairperson Justice U D Salvi passed the order after perusing the revenue records and noting that the land in question has not been identified as a wetland by the Haryana government. The order came after the project proponent assured the bench that it would not to carry out construction on the site without obtaining the consent from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board. The project proponent gave an undertaking that it would not set up any machinery or equipment to run the construction without an authorisation from the state pollution board. "The record reveals that the land in question has not been identified as a wetland by the State of Haryana. In view of this fact and the undertaking given by the Project Proponent we vacate the injunction order dated July 27, 2017," the bench, ..
China's aircraft carrier sails by Taiwan as tensions grow
China's sole operational aircraft carrier passed through the Taiwan Strait today, the island's defence ministry said, as Beijing steps up pressure on its democratic rival. It comes weeks after Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen warned against what she called China's "military expansion" -- the increase of air and naval drills around the island since she came to power in May 2016. Beijing views the self-ruling island as part of its territory, to be reunified at some point. Cross-strait relations have become increasingly frosty as Tsai refuses to acknowledge Taiwan is part of "one China". The aircraft carrier -- a second-hand Soviet ship -- caused a stir in Taiwan when it first entered the strait in January last year, viewed as a symbolic show of strength by Beijing. The defence ministry said the Liaoning carrier and accompanying vessels entered Taiwan's air defence zone early this morning and left by noon. The fleet, which earlier this month had sailed south through the ...
France plans to accelerate wind power projects
PARIS (Reuters) - France is expected to announce measures this week to accelerate the installation of wind turbines and overcome long-running opposition from activists who have frustrated the country's attempts to hit renewable energy targets.
HC seeks Delhi govt reply on plea alleging cruelty to cattle
The Delhi High Court today sought the response of the AAP government, municipal bodies and Animal Welfare Board on a plea alleging violation of animal rights and laws in milk dairies in and around the national capital. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar issued notice and asked the authorities to file their status reports on the petition which alleged that health and well-being of cattle were being severely compromised in the milk dairies in Delhi's municipal zones. The PIL filed by animals rights activist Gauri Maulekhi alleged that there was indiscriminate violation of animal rights and, due to lack of infrastructure, there is no proper space for animals who have to sit alternatively. "Its not uncommon to inject these cattle with Oxytocin, a prescribed drug, to boost milk letdown and sometimes this is done 2-3 times a day," the plea claimed. The plea sought direction to the authorities to ensure compliance of the Delhi Municipal Act ..
Bhel secures order for setting up 660 MW supercritical thermal power project
In Jalgaon district of Maharashtra
China launches new scientific research ship
A Chinese university has launched a new deep ocean scientific research ship in Shanghai.
Best ways to decorate your space with plants
Plants look just adorable and keeping them indoors not only brings life to the entire place but they also improve the air quality by reducing toxins existing in the atmosphere so make sure you are decorating your abode with plants nicely.
Signature City Project in Kanpur:NGT show cause notice to MoEF
The National Green Tribunal has issued notice to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to show cause why it has not considered a plea challenging the construction of Signature City Project in Kanpur. A bench headed by acting NGT Chairperson Justice U D Salvi rapped the MoEF for not hearing the petitioner in the case and directed it to file reply in this regard by January 24. "Issue notice to the Ministry of Environment and Forests as to why they have not dealt with the said application if not already dealt with," the bench said. The tribunal had last year in November disposed of the plea filed by journalist Ashwini Yadav seeking a stay on Signature City Project as the Kanpur Development Authority has not obtained the 'no objection certificate' from the state environment department. The order had come after the lawyer for the MoEF had assured the bench that that they would deal with the application for obtaining the environmental clearance as expeditiously as ..
Cartosat-2 becomes operational, beams images
India's remote sensing satellite Cartosat-2 has become operational and started beaming images from the earth's lower orbit, a space official said on Wednesday.
Om Metals Infraprojects' JV secures contract for USD 32 million
From Ministry of Food & Agriculture, Republic of Ghana
Rock python spotted in Odisha village
A 9-feet-long rock python, weighing around 12 kg, was spotted at a village in Ganjam district of district. Activists of animal welfare organisation, 'People for Animals', along with forest personnel led by range officer of Digapahandi forest range, A Madhabilata, rescued the reptile from a threshing yard at Odasingi village yesterday, a forest official said. The reptile would be released into the wild near Changudidei hill, he said. "It is rare for reptiles to move out of their hideouts in winter. So the python's movements were unusual. We think that the reptile is two-year-old," Sameer Kumar Tripathy, a wildlife activist, said. This is the second rock python that was rescued from the area in the last three months. In October 2017, a full-grown python was rescued from Jalamaripalli village. Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Asish Kumar Behera said that the Indian rock python is sighted frequently in the area. The Indian rock python is a large non-venomous python
No-fishing zones may help endangered penguins
A recent study suggests that small no-fishing zones around colonies of penguins can help in conserving the struggling species.Researchers from the Universities of Exeter and Cape Town tested bans on catching "forage fish" such as sardines and anchovies - key prey for the endangered penguins - from 20km around their breeding islands.The body condition and survival of chicks improved when the no-fishing zones were in place.Study author Dr. Richard Sherley from the University of Exeter's Penryn Campus in Cornwall said, "The amount of forage fish caught worldwide is increasing and - although the effects are disputed - the impact on marine ecosystems could be severe".Forage fish are a key link in the food chain as they eat plankton and are preyed on by numerous species including tuna, dolphins, whales and penguins."We need to do more to understand the circumstances in which small no-fishing zones will improve the food available to predators, but our research shows this is a promising way ..
BHEL bags Rs 2,800-cr order for power project in Maharashtra
State-run power equipment maker BHEL today said it has won a Rs 2,800 crore contract for 660 MW supercritical thermal power project in Maharashtra. It will be set up as an expansion project of Maharashtra State Power Generation Company's (MAHAGENCO) Bhusawal Thermal Power Station in Jalgaon district, BHEL said in a BSE filing. BHEL's scope of work for this brownfield expansion project includes design, engineering, manufacture, supply, construction, erection, testing and commissioning of 1X660 MW supercritical coal-based thermal set and civil works. It said the 1,420 MW Bhusawal TPS(thermal power station) is equipped with 2 sets each of 210 MW and 500 MW ratings. "The key equipment for the contract will be manufactured at BHEL's Trichy, Haridwar, Bhopal, Ranipet, Hyderabad, Jhansi, Thirumayem and Bengaluru plants while the company's power sector - western region shall be responsible for civil works and erection and commissioning of the equipment," the company said. BHEL ...
