Page 93 - Environment
FAW outbreak: Mizoram plans to increase maize yield
The Mizoram Agriculture Department is taking steps to increase maize production despite an outbreak of the Fall Army Worm (FAW), which has left a trail of destruction in the maize fields across the state, officials said on Friday. The state was expecting an increase in maize production, had it not been for the FAW outbreak. The production of maize in the state was 8,911 metric ton in 5,779 hectares in 2016-17 while it was 9,470.6 metric ton in 5,979.2 hectares in 2017-18, the officials of the Agriculture Department said. "We expect a high increase in the cultivation area and production in view of the department's concentration on maize cultivation in the low-lying areas of central Mizoram's Serchhip district under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)," the officials said. Additional seeds have been distributed to the maize farmers for Rabi and Kharif crops, though the FAW "has been a big blow" to the cultivators, they said, However, they expressed hope that a large ...
EC takes special measures as Sunderbans goes to polls
Election officials in West Bengal are gearing up for an altogether different kind of battle with boats, HAM radios and power generating equipment as the world's largest mangrove, the Sundarbans, votes on Sunday.
Leopard found dead in Pench Tiger Reserve
A leopard was found dead in Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Maharashtra, a forest official said on Friday. The carcass of the animal was spotted on Thursday evening. "The staff of the PTR's South Fulzari beat came across the carcass of an adult leopard during patrolling in the dry Pench riverbed in compartment no 546 of East Pench range of PTR, Maharashtra at around 5 pm on Thursday," a release issued by the deputy director of the PTR said. After being alerted, the range forest officers reached the spot. "Prima facie, the animal apparently died as a result of territorial fight. Puncture wounds and laceration marks were visible on the neck and head portion. Body parts like teeth, vibrissae, claws, etc. were found to be to be intact and the carcass seemed to be 5-6 days old," the release said. As per the standard operating procedures laid down by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a search operation was carried out in around 500 metres radius around the ...
Parking space for over 1,300 cars by year-end in Noida
Work is nearing completion on three underground parking lots in the city which will offer space to more than 1,300 cars to park by this year end, Noida Authority officials said Friday. The multi-storey parking lots, costing Rs 141.23 crore, will come up in Sector 1, 2 and 3, which are grappling with traffic congestion due to roadside parking of vehicles, a senior official said. The parking in Sector 1, built at an estimated cost of Rs 47.26 crore, will have space for 534 cars in an area of 17,160 sq metres and is scheduled to get completed by this December-end, Noida Authority's General Manager Rajeev Tyagi said. "Work is also underway for a Rs 61.82 crore parking in Sector 2 which will have space for 565 cars in an area of 18,273 sq metres," he said, adding that the project is expected to be completed by October-end. The officer said the third parking is coming up in Sector 3. "It will have space for 262 cars in an area of 11,370 sq metres. It is being built for an estimated cost of .
A life cut short, dreams shattered by stray dogs in Mathura village
Seven-year-old Devki wanted to be a either doctor or engineer. She was eagerly waiting for her school to open after the summer vacations. But her life was cut short in an attack by a pack of dogs, who mauled her to death at Pisawa village in Mathura on Monday. The incident has frightened other villagers. Devki was on her way to deliver food to her father Bhoop Singh at their farm when she was mauled to death. Her inconsolable father told PTI, "I was not ready to send her to school. But she used to insist on going to school like her elder sisters. She always longed for the school dress and schoolbag. She was fond of studying. She was a sharp child." "Now, she won't be able to go to school. She hadn't received the books and the dress from her school. All her dreams have gone with her," said her father. A pal of gloom has descended on her village after the tragedy. Experts say such incidents take place when dogs feed on dead animals and start behaving like wolves or jackals. Animal ...
Plants are working to slow effect of human-caused climate change: Study
As the planet gets warmer, plants are working to slow the effect of human-caused climate change, observed researchers. Since the beginning of the industrial era, plants have increased the process of photosynthesis.According to the study published in the Journal of Trends in Plant Science, terrestrial plants are currently absorbing more CO2 than it released into the atmosphere through the combination of fire, decomposition, plant respiration, and human-related emissions.This is commonly known as the land carbon sink, and we know it's currently slowing the rate at which atmospheric CO2 is increasing. What we don't know is how strong that response is, and how long we can count on it.Associate Professor Cernusak, a terrestrial ecologist measured the strength of the terrestrial biosphere's response to increasing CO2.They focussed on photosynthesis, the process in which plants capture energy from the sun and use it to synthesize carbohydrates from CO2 and water and examined terrestrial ...
Health benefits of using Electric car
Migration from polluting vehicles, that burn fossil fuels, to electric vehicles, ideally using electricity generated sustainably, could significantly reduce the incidence of cardiopulmonary illness due to air pollution, a recent study suggests.According to the team of researcher, in addition to less employee absence from work through illness, the switch will also lead to broad improvements in quality and length of life.Researchers suggest that the migration from polluting vehicles that burn fossil fuels to electric vehicles, which ideally use electricity generated sustainably, could significantly reduce the incidence of cardiopulmonary illness due to air pollution.The team's paper compares the financial costs of building electric vehicle charging infrastructure using empirical data with health costs to see if there is a net benefit. They have found that in the majority of plausible scenarios of balanced growth, when the number of vehicles rises and so does the number of charging ...
Water in Goa dams sufficient for over month
The Goa government Friday said even if the monsoon is delayed, the water storage in the reservoirs is enough to meet the drinking requirement of the state for over a month. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the southwest monsoon onset is likely to set over Kerala on June 6, as against the normal onset date of June 1. "There is sufficient water in the reservoirs of the state. Even if the monsoon is delayed, there is no need to worry as the storage is enough for over a month," B V Pujari, superintendent engineer of Goa water resources department, told PTI. The current water level of Selaulim dam, the biggest in the state, is 30.20 metres, much above the dead level of 20.42 metres. The reservoir has been the main source of drinking water for entire South Goa district, which includes the port town of Vasco. Pujari said there is sufficient water in Selaulim dam to fulfil the requirement for the next 75-80 days. Anjunem dam, located in north-eastern
414 million plastic pieces found on Indian Ocean islands: Study
An estimated 414 million pieces of plastic -- including nearly one million shoes and 370,000 toothbrushes -- have been found washed ashore on the beaches of remote Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean, according to a study. The survey of plastic pollution, published in the journal Scientific Reports, estimated that the beaches on the islands are littered with 238 tonnes of plastic. Remote islands which do not have large human populations depositing rubbish nearby are an indicator of the amount of plastic debris circulating in the world's oceans, said Jennifer Lavers from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) at the University of Tasmania in Australia. "Islands such as these are like canaries in a coal mine and it's increasingly urgent that we act on the warnings they are giving us," Lavers said. Plastic pollution is now ubiquitous in our oceans, and remote islands are an ideal place to get an objective view of the volume of plastic debris now circling the globe,
414 mn pieces of plastic found on remote islands
Some 414 million pieces of plastic, including one million shoes and over 370,000 toothbrushes, were found washed ashore on the remote Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean, a new research has revealed.
Once a dumping ground, Neela Hauz now a soothing site
Amid the bustle of south Delhi's urbane surroundings, the Neela Hauz biodiversity park, comes as a soothing sight. The clean water body and the lush green landscapes that one sees today was earlier a stench emanating dumping ground for construction material and sewage water. Caretakers at the site claim that it attracts a large number of tourists on daily basis in winters.
Research Afoot at Shoolini University to Produce Biodiesel From Biowaste
/ -- Depleting levels of fossil fuels and air pollution are a major concern for environmentalists around the world and a lot of emphasis is being put on biofuels and renewable resources. Biodiesel seems to be just the right solution for meeting the energy requirements of the future. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/792680/Shoolini_University_Logo.jpg ) In their attempts to find a low cost and eco-friendly process for production of biodiesel from biowaste, researchers at Shoolini University's School of Biotechnology are working on biodiesel derived from a microalgae species, Chlorella pyrenoidosa utilizing Dairy wastewater as natural feedstock for the algae. Shoolini University, Dean of Research & Development, Dr. Sourabh Kulshreshtha, said, "A lot of research is going on around the world on biodiesel and utilising waste for biodiesel production and it has been reported as a renewable, green fuel with better engine emission properties." He added that biodiesel is expensive .
SpaceX postpones launch of its first internet network satellites
SpaceX postponed a launch of 60 satellites into low-Earth orbit that was scheduled for last night, possibly until next week, citing a need for software updates. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from Cape Canaveral was to be the first of potentially thousands in its Starlink project to beam broadband internet across the planet. "Standing down to update satellite software and triple-check everything again," said a tweet from the official SpaceX account. "Always want to do everything we can on the ground to maximize mission success, next launch opportunity in about a week." The launch, which was initially envisaged for Wednesday, was first delayed because of high winds. Billionaire Elon Musk's firm, which is leading the private space race when it comes to rocket launches, is now looking to seize a chunk of the future space internet market. The launch will make it an early forerunner, along with rival OneWeb, a startup, but well ahead of Amazon's Project Kuiper, the brainchild of Musk's .
Cobra rescued from Air Force officers' mess garden
A cobra measuring about two feet was caught from an Air Force officers' mess near the IGI Airport and released in its natural habitat by animal rescuers. A team of Wildlife SOS was rushed to rescue the cobra that was found at the Air Force officers' mess on Wednesday, said a spokesperson of the group. The maintenance staff at the mess found the snake in a garden. They contacted Wildlife SOS helpline and two trained rescuers were sent to handle the situation, said the spokesperson. The snake was released in its natural habitat after being kept under observation for a few hours. The common cobra (Naja naja) is one of the four venomous snake species to be found in the Indian subcontinent. They are listed under Schedule II of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Telangana CM to visit Ramagundam, Kaleshwaram May 18-19
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao would be visiting Ramagundam and Kaleshwaram in the next two days. He would visit Ramagundam May 18 and go to Kaleshwaram the following day to inspect the Kaleshwaram irrigation project work at Medigadda and Kannepally, an official press release said here. During his visit, he wouldvisit the 1600 MW NTPC power plant under construction at Ramagundam. He would also hold a review meeting with NTPC and TSGENCO officials there, the release said. The chief minister Thursday held a review meeting on supply of power for lifting of water from Kaleshwaram project, at Pragathi Bhavan.
Prashant Bhushan writes to Env Min over Bt Brinjal cultivation
Advocate Prashant Bhushan has urged the Ministry of Environment to destroy Bt brinjal, a genetically modified crop, planted in farms and prosecute those responsible behind its illegal cultivation. In a letter to Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan, Bhushan alleged that the ministry's 2010 moratorium on the commercial planting of Bt brinjal was being flouted. "l am constrained to say that we are looking at a collective failure of our regulatory bodies and connected institutions, with the final blame falling squarely on the apex regulator, the GEAC (Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee) in your ministry, the body solely responsible for all environmental releases of GMOs," he said in the letter. "The illegal planting of Bt Brinjal demonstrates the vacuum that exists in the oversight of GMOs in lndia," Bhushan added. He sought that the crop be uprooted and destroyed in farms and an exercise be undertaken for testing of seeds. "Uproot and destroy planted Bt brinjal in farms and ...
3 COP meetings adopt amendments to restrict dumping of e-waste in developing countries
Impact of e-waste and plastic waste on human health was the agenda at the three COP meetings held for over 10 days in Geneva with over 180 countries adopting amendments to restrict dumping of e-waste in developing countries by the developed ones after the Indian government expressed concern over it. The triple COP (Conference of the Parties) meetings, involving the conferences of the parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, were held in Geneva from April 29 to May 10 on the theme 'Clean Planet, Healthy People: Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste' with over 180 countries as participants. A delegation of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC), and other ministries such as agriculture, chemicals, and electronics and information technology participated in the meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland. Under the Basel Convention, a major achievement was the decision to amend the convention to include unsorted, mixed and contaminated plastic waste under .
Adityanath hits out at opposition for asking PM Modi's caste
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Thursday that by asking the caste of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the opposition is plotting to weaken the country. Training guns at the Congress, he said the party ignored farmers, soldiers and the youth during the UPA regime. Adityanath said due to foreign policy of the Modi-led dispensation at the Centre, India is globally known for its power. "Now the terrorists are also aware of the fact that because of the stringent rules, they cannot even think of harming our country," he said. The chief minister said the BJP is committed towards the development of the country and in the last five years, the party has worked for the marginalised sections of society. "By asking the caste of Modi, the opposition is plotting to weaken the country. The PM has extended the benefits of government schemes like concrete houses, gas, electricity and toilets, etc. to crore of poor families without any discrimination," he said. Before the last phase of ..
CPCB asks DJB to set up vigilance system to stop waste water discharge into Yamuna
The Central Pollution Control Board has asked the Delhi Jal Board to penalise defaulters indulging in illegal activities leading to release of waste water into Yamuna and set up a vigilance system to stop such discharge into the river. The CPCB has also sought an action plan and a compliance report from the Delhi Jal Board in the matter by May 20. The CPCB, in its notice to the CEO of the DJB earlier this month, said an inspection by a CPCB team found scattered habitations between Palla to Wazirabad on the flood plain of Yamuna. The team also found possibility of discharge of waste water of said habitations to the river through temporary arrangements (tankers), it said. "Discharge of untreated waste water of these scattered colonies disposing off into river Yamuna makes water unfit to meet the primary water quality criteria - bathing quality," the notice added. During inspection, the team has identified a drain discharging waste water from scattered habitations to river Yamuna. The ...
One held after video shows man on bike luring lion with bait
A person was detained in Gujarat on Thursday after a video surfaced in which a man was purportedly seen dragging an animal carcass behind his motorcycle apparently to lure a lion, a forest official said. Taking serious note of the incident, Chief Conservator of Forests, Junagadh Wildlife Circle, D T Vasavada, said strict action would be taken against those found harassing lions in the state. In the nearly 15-second clip, which went viral on social media platforms, a man was seen dragging the carcass, apparently of a cattle, tied to his two-wheeler with the help of a rope. Lured by the bait, a male lion was then seen appearing from the bushes and chasing the carcass for some distance. Some persons standing at a distance and recording the video could be heard cheering the man on the bike when the lion came out of the bushes. On learning about the incident, the state forest officials launched an inquiry into it. "A person allegedly involved in the incident has been detained