Page 932 - Environment
Overuse of fertilisers: IIT Kharagpur creates soil database
An IIT Kharagpur research team has created a database of some 1,700 soil samples collected from across Odisha, West Bengal, Karnataka and Rajasthan to have sufficient variations and different properties. "We created new algorithms (computer programmes) to relate soil reflectance and individual soil properties. Through our research, we showed that multiple soil properties including those which do not directly influence soil reflectance may also be estimated in this approach - all in a few minutes," Prof. Bhabani Sankar Das of Agricultural and Food Engineering at IIT Kharagpur said. Reflectance is the measure of the proportion of light or other radiation striking a surface which is reflected off it. The research has led to the creation of an Indian soil spectral library and Indian computer programmes for estimating soil properties, he said. While over-use of fertiliser remains a burning issue since the green revolution, recommendations for using the right amount and type
Landfill site at Noida: NGT asks residents to approach UP govt
The National Green Tribunal has directed a Noida-based association of homeowners to approach the Uttar Pradesh government with its plea that the proposed Sector 123 site was unfit for setting up a landfill for municipal waste. A bench headed by acting Chairperson Justice U D Salvi asked the residents, who are opposing the setting up of a waste-to-energy plant and landfill at the site, to make a representation to the state government and the NOIDA authority. "It can be seen that the matter of utilisation of the site at Sector 123, NOIDA for municipal solid waste processing site/waste to energy plant lies before the authority and the aggrieved parties are granted liberty to approach the authorities concerned to vent their grievances. "The present application can be disposed of with liberty being granted to the applicant to approach the state of Uttar Pradesh and NOIDA authority with a plea that as per sitting criteria the site at Sector 123, NOIDA is not an appropriate ..
New catalyst can create fuels from shale gas
Scientists have developed a platinum and copper alloy catalyst that can convert methane in shale gas into hydrocarbon fuels. Platinum or nickel are known to break the carbon-hydrogen bonds in methane found in shale gas to make hydrocarbon fuels and other useful chemicals. However, this process causes 'coking' - the metal becomes coated with a carbon layer rendering it ineffective by blocking reactions from happening at the surface. The new alloy catalyst developed by scientists at University College London (UCL) in the UK and Tufts University in the US is resistant to coking, so it retains its activity and requires less energy to break the bonds than other materials. Currently, methane reforming processes are extremely energy intense, requiring temperatures of about 900 degrees Celsius. This new material could lower this to 400 degrees Celsius, saving energy, researchers said. The study, published in the journal Nature Chemistry, demonstrates the benefits of the new ...
Sun-like star can help decode sun's variability, climate effect
Scientists have found a star that is almost identical to the Sun except for the chemical composition -- which they believe is like a Rosetta Stone that can help shed light on sun's variability and its effect on Earth's climate.
NGT directs states to submit action plan on use of fly ash
The National Green Tribunal has directed all the states and the Union territories to submit their action plan to the environment ministry for utilisation of fly ash generated by thermal power plants. A bench comprising acting Chairperson Justice U D Salvi and Expert Member Nagin Nanda directed the states to submit a comprehensive plan to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in four weeks and asked the ministry to submit the documents to it before the next date of hearing. The green panel said that every state and Union territory was under obligation to implement the notifications issued by the ministry from time to time and dispose of the ash produced by power plants in an environment-friendly manner. "We direct the respondents (states and UTs) to submit their action plan for utilisation of ash produced and generated by the power plants in terms of the notifications within four weeks from now to the MoEF which shall place the same before us with their comments .
Maha takes preventive steps after bird-flu outbreak in B'luru
Days after the outbreak of avian influenza - commonly known as bird flu - at Bengaluru in neighbouring Karnataka, the Maharashtra government has asked officials to undertake preventive measures against spread of the infection in the state. The state has issued instructions in this regard in the last couple of days and appointed nodal officers to oversee effective implementation of these measures for the poultry industry, which generates an annual revenue of about Rs 700 crore, an official said. "Not a single case of bird-flu has been detected so far in the state. Instructions have been given to collect the blood samples of every poultry bird transported from the neighbouring state to Maharashtra," state animal husbandry commissioner Kantilal Umap told PTI today. He said the Maharashtra government has also asked poultry managers to spray medicines for protecting birds. "It (poultry) is a business with an annual turnover around Rs 700 crore. The total number of poultry ...
Delhi-NCR to generate 1.50 lakh MT e-waste by 2020: Assocham
Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) is likely to generate about 1,50,000 metric tonnes (MT) of e-waste per annum by 2020 from the current level of 85,000 metric tonnes, according to industry body Assocham. E-waste is expected to be generated at compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 25 per cent in the Delhi-NCR region, the industry body said. The chamber attributed factors like low organised recycling, cross-border flow of waste equipment into the country, limited reach out and awareness regarding disposal, and lack of coordination between various authorities for non- involvement of municipalities in E-waste management. "Less than 1.5 per cent of India's total electronic waste gets recycled due to absence of proper infrastructure, legislation and framework. The country produced approximately 2.5 million metric tonnes of e-waste in 2017," Assocham said. The e-waste products have components that contain toxic substances like lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent ...
Butterfly Parks to turn 'eco-monitors' in Kerala
A string of butterfly parks, providing natural habitat for beautiful flying insects that is getting endangered, will soon play as 'eco-monitors' in Kerala, if everything goes as planned. The state-run Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) has drawn up an ambitious programme to create a number of butterfly gardens/parks in selected schools and other significant spots in the state. The proposed parks would be toxic-free spaces as no chemicals, pesticides or insecticides would be used as growth promoting agents of plants or to make the flowers bloom. Only plants grown under bio-environs would be planted in the parks and no toxic substance would be used to attack butterflies, whose number has dwindled drastically in the southern state, a KFRI official said. The pollution of the particular area and the 'health' of the environ could be assessed according to the presence of butterflies, which come and thrive at the proposed parks. A discussion is going on with the Department ..
Larsen & Toubro commissions 360 MW Bheramara Combined Cycle Power Plant
On 05 January 2018
Three sentenced for killing near threatened markhors
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has complimented the administration of Gilgit-Baltistan for expeditiously arresting and sentencing markhor poachers in Astore district in Pakistan.
Smog in Mumbai: 'Situation critical' say citizens
Mumbai resembled Delhi on Tuesday as the country's financial capital was engulfed by thick smog on account of poor air quality.Mumbai has been experiencing deteriorating air quality and thick smog since December and this has got many worried about the situation."It is a critical condition for Mumbai as well as the whole world. Purity of the air is decreasing day by day. I think it is time for all of us to take a step to raise this awareness of tree plantation and decreasing the number of vehicles which we use today," said a jogger at Marine Drive.Another person walking down Marine Drive said the condition is not as bad as Delhi. "Pollution in Delhi is more. I hope Mumbai does not get in tuned to that level.
L&T commissions 360 MW Bheramara power plant in Bangladesh
Engineering major Larsen & Toubro today said it has commissioned and handed over the 360 MW Bheramara power plant in Bangladesh. The Bheramara Combined Cycle Power Plant Development project was handed over to North West Power Generation Company Ltd (NWPGCL), a fully-owned subsidiary of Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), on January 5, 2018, it said in a BSE filing. The power plant is based in Bheramara of Kushtia district in Bangladesh, which is approximately 250 km from Kolkata, it added. L&T said its scope of work included design, engineering, supply, installation and commissioning of the complete power plant on back-to-back turnkey basis for Marubeni Corporation of Japan, with gas turbines, steam turbines and generators from Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Japan. Shares of L&T were trading 0.34 per cent down at Rs 1,333.50 per scrip on BSE.
Australia's green turtle may become extinct: Report
A new study on Tuesday claimed that the green sea turtles in Australia's Great Barrier Reef might become extinct due to warmer ocean temperatures.
All is not lost in stressed power projects, Railways, PPAs, electric vehicles to be growth drivers: ASSOCHAM study
Stressed assets remain a key concern for power sector in India. Out of the 24 stressed projects having capacity of 41.81 GW, 8,300 MWs are without any power purchase agreements (PPA), 9500 MW capacity are having partial PPAs (i.e. less than 40%). The balance capacity is having PPAs greater than 40%. Avenues need to be found out to utilize the power available in the stranded capacities, which are already commissioned or nearing completion, the study stressed.
India rejects U.S. solar claim at WTO, explores new defence
GENEVA (Reuters) - India hit back on Monday at Washington's latest legal assault on its solar power policies at the World Trade Organization, rejecting a U.S. legal claim and exploring possible new protection of India's own solar industry.
No sewage facility in 45% of Delhi, HC seeks DJB's reply
The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to come up with an action plan to address the issue of sewage problem in the national capital, after it was informed that 45 per cent of the city is not connected to the sewage system.
India 'main partner' of Seychelles: Wavel Ramkalawan
Hailing India as the "main partner" of Seychelles, a top leader of that country today said New Delhi has never bracketed the island nation as a "high-income country" while offering help, unlike Europe which would tell it to sort out problems on its own. Delivering a talk at the Sapru House here, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, also said, "Terrorism is not a major concern for us at the present time. Our security concerns are piracy, drug threat and poaching." Ramkalawan, whose ancestors hailed from Bihar, is from the Seychelles National Party (SNP), which has a majority in the 33-member Assembly. During his talk 'Seychelles of my dreams', hosted by the Indian Council of World Affairs, he spoke about the opportunities and challenges in his country, the relationship with India and the old cultural ties between the two nations. "Whenever we ask India for help, it doesn't look at us as high-income country. Europe would tell us, ..
EU's Juncker says next EU budget has to be bigger despite Brexit
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union's next long-term budget has to be larger than the current 1 percent of EU GDP (gross domestic product), despite the loss of major net contributor Britain, the head of the European Commission said on Monday.
Send proposal to develop green cover along Yamuna banks: Delhi
Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain today wrote to DDA Vice Chairman Udai Pratap Singh, seeking a proposal from the authority to develop "greenery" on the either side of the 23-kilometre-long Yamuna river bank. Hussain said plantation along the river's banks will not only improve Delhi's green cover, but will also help in soil conservation and prevent encroachment. The Yamuna riverfront falls under the specially- designated as zone 'O', for having special characteristics and ecological significance. The zone 'O' is conceived to set the strategies for rejuvenation of river Yamuna. According to Hussain, the zone 'O' is nearly 23 kilometres long on each side of the Yamuna and is under the control and supervision of the Delhi Development Authority. Hussain said in the letter that the DDA has been approached several times to make the sites on the 'O' zone available to the government for carrying out tree plantation. "I would, therefore, request you to kindly intervene and
Adani Group among top 15 global utility solar power developers
Adani Group has been named in the top 15 global utility solar power developers that includes likes of First Solar, Total, SunEdison and Engie. Adani, ranked 12th, is the only Indian company on the list put out by Greentech Media, a Wood Mackenzie business. "We have only included companies that are active in developing projects in more than one country," it said in a report. "There are a number of developers active in single markets (predominantly China, India and the US) that have developed more capacity than some of the companies covered in this report." Top of the list is First Solar with an operational capacity of 4,619 MW and in-development capacity of 4,802 MW. Adani has 788 MW of operational capacity and another 1,270 MW under development. "Adani is moving into the Australia solar market with the development of the 140 MW Whyalla and 170 MW Rugby Run plants," GTM Research said. It "could potentially look to acquisitions to grow outside of India the company had ...
