Page 952 - Environment
Climate change to up migration of asylum-seekers to Europe
Migrants applying for asylum in the European Union will nearly triple over the average of the last 15 years by 2100, if carbon emissions continue on their current path, according to a study. The study, published in the journal Science, suggests that cutting emissions could partially stem the tide, but even under an optimistic scenario, Europe could see asylum applications rise by at least a quarter. "Europe is already conflicted about how many refugees to admit," said Wolfram Schlenker, an economist at Columbia University in the US. "Though poorer countries in hotter regions are most vulnerable to climate change, our findings highlight the extent to which countries are interlinked, and Europe will see increasing numbers of desperate people fleeing their home countries," said Schlenker. Researchers compared asylum applications to the EU filed from 103 countries between 2000 and 2014, with temperature variations in the applicants' home countries. They found that the more ..
Missing Argentine sub's crew honoured at memorial service
Argentine Cabinet officials have honoured the crew of the submarine ARA San Juan, which disappeared last month, during a naval ceremony here.
President Kovind dedicates AP Fiber Grid, drone project to nation
President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday dedicated Andhra Pradesh (AP) Fibre Grid and drone project to the nation.Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu were present on this occasion.The vision of Fibre Grid project is "to establish a highly scalable network infrastructure, accessible on a nondiscriminatory basis, to provide on demand, affordable and end-to-end broadband connectivity of 15 Mbps for all households and 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps for institutions & Offices by 2018, to enable realization of the Vision of Digital AP, in partnership with the Government of India and the private sector."AP State FiberNet Limited (APSFL) is responsible for undertaking the works of AP Fibergrid , its operations and maintenance and business activities.The AP government wants to use drones for governance, administration, and for the maintenance of law and order in the state.These flying objects can be used to monitor real-time situations in an area, and deploying .
Government is on its way to achieving 175 GW target for installed Renewable Energy capacity by 2022
Year End Review 2017 -MNRE
Fukushima operator wins first safety approval since disaster
Japan's nuclear watchdog today gave a formal green light to the operator of the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant to restart two reactors, the first since the 2011 atomic crisis. The Nuclear Regulation Authority handed its approval to the Tokyo Electric Power Co following a month of public hearings, judging that the two reactors met the stricter safety standards introduced after the disaster, an NRA official told AFP. The two reactors are situated at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, one of the world's biggest and the largest in Japan. Like many other nuclear power plants in the country, the plant in central Japan has been idle since the 2011 meltdown triggered by a tsunami after a 9.0-magnitude earthquake. The tsunami overwhelmed reactor cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in northeastern Japan, causing meltdowns and releasing radiation in the most dangerous nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986. TEPCO still needs to get local consent to bring the ...
Pregnant elephant 'poisoned' in Indonesian palm plantation
A pregnant elephant has been found dead in a palm oil plantation on Indonesia's Sumatra island, in what authorities suspect was a deliberate poisoning, an official said today. The animal's body was found near the remote Seuneubok Bayu village in Aceh on December 22, after authorities received a tip off from locals, Aceh conservation centre head Sapto Aji Prabowo told AFP. "The 25-year-old elephant had been dead for around 10 days when we got there," he said. "From the autopsy, we saw that its digestive organs turned black which the doctor said was a general indication of poisoning." The Sumatran elephant was carrying 13-month old male foetus and was at least six months short of giving birth. Locals have told authorities that several days before the carcass was discovered farmers had complained an elephant ate their fertiliser. Sumatran elephant are critically endangered and a protected species, but rampant deforestation for plantations has reduced their natural habitat ..
Saving Manipur's Sangai from untreated human waste
"I managed to catch a glimpse of its tail", "I saw its shadow," "Lucky if you spot one!"
Armenia looks to solar energy to move out of Russia's shadow
Landlocked and poor, Armenia has long relied on Russia for its energy needs, but the government is hoping to reduce that dependence by tapping a resource that is plentiful in the region: the sun. With few fossil fuel resources of its own and its sole nuclear power plant nearing the end of its working life, Armenia is banking on renewable energy to reduce its dependence on its former Soviet master, which accounts for nearly 83 per cent of gas imports. And with Armenia much sunnier than most of Europe -- according to government figures, it receives 1,720 kilowatt hours per square metre of sunlight every year, compared to an average of 1,000 in Europe -- solar energy looks to be the most promising. "To ensure its energy security and independence, Armenia, like any other country, strives to diversify energy sources," the ex-Soviet republic's Deputy Energy Minister Hayk Harutyunyan told AFP. Within four years, up to eight percent of the country's energy needs will be covered
New $318 million loan Agreement Signed with World Bank to Support Climate Resilient Agriculture
The project will rehabilitate and modernize about 4,800 irrigation tanks and 477 check dams, spread across 66 sub-basins, in delivering bulk water to irrigation systems.
Brazil halts fish exports to EU
Brazil has announced a temporary halt on fish exports to the European Union following detection of irregularities in the way some Brazilian firms apply food-safety regulations.
Hybrid guavas rule Hyderabad market
Markets in Hyderabad are witnessing more demand and sale of hybrid guavas, pushing aside the local breed.The guavas tend to appear fresher with a juicy texture and fewer seeds than the local ones, which have more seeds and stay juicy for a short duration."I started purchasing these guavas as they are tastier than the normal ones. They are very sweet. One guava weighs around 500 grams and can feed many. That's why I love eating this guava," said a customer to ANI.Another customer expressed his concern over the difference in rates between local and hybrid guava."I have never tried these hybrid guavas but their appearance attracted to purchase these guavas so I came to purchase. I came to take these but the cost is around rupees 100 unlike the regular guava which cost rupees 40", said another customer.Even a businessman agreed to the fact that hybrid guavas are better than the local once."These hybrid guavas are really ruling the market. They are imported from Jharkhand, Raipur and even .
India inks $318 mn World Bank loan for TN irrigation scheme
The governments of India and Tamil Nadu on Tuesday signed an agreement with the World Bank for the multilateral lender to provide a $318 million loan for modernisation of irrigation projects in Tamil Nadu, improve market opportunities for small and marginal farmers and their adoption of climate resilient techniques.
Bandh called in K'taka tomorrow over Mahadayi water dispute
The Pro-Kalasa-Banduri project organisations have called for a bandh in North Karnataka tomorrow over Mahadayi water dispute.The state of Karnataka and Goa are at loggerheads on the issue of sharing inter-state Mahadayi river water.While the river originates from Karnataka, a major part of it flows in Goa.Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddarmaiah has called for a meeting with his Maharashtra and Goa counterparts Devendra Fadnavis and Manohar Parrikar respectively "to arrive at a negotiated settlement" over the issue.The Karnataka has sought the release of 7.56 tmcft water for the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project.
Congress, BJP spar in Karnataka over Mahadayi water row
Karnataka's ruling Congress and the opposition BJP on Tuesday blamed each other on the deadlock over getting Mahadayi river water from neighbouring Goa to the four drought-hit districts in the state's northern region.
Higher MSP, non repayment of bills should be legal rights of
Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna chief and MP Raju Shetti has said he would move two Private Member bills in Budget session of Lok Sabha next year seeking that farmers be legally protected and their bills be waived in case of a damage caused to their crops due to unforeseen factors. The MP also said that farmers should get 50 per cent higher MSP on crops as a statutory right. "I will move two private member bills in the Budget session of Parliament demanding that farmers be given a statutory right not to repay loans they have taken from banks and money lenders in case of an eventuality. I would also demand that farmers get 50 per cent higher MSP as a legal right," Shetti, who represents Hatkanangale Lok Sabha seat in western Maharashtra, told reporters here. He appealed to all political parties to support the passage of bills in the interest of farmers and "show their genuine concern for farmers". The farmer leader is currently on visit of Vidarbha region in east ...
Sivakasi fireworks units begin indefinite closure
More than 860 fireworks factories in and around this town, the national hub of the industry, today launched an indefinite closure demanding an amendment to the Environment Protection Act exempting their produce from it's purview. They also wanted expeditious hearing by the Supreme Court of a petition seeking a series of steps to curb air pollution, including ban on sale, possession and bursting of firecrackers across the country. The manufacturers said dealers were not paying advances for ordering fireworks in view of the pendency of the petition seeking a ban on fire crackers sale and this affected the working capital required by the industry. Industry sources said the indefinite closure would affect the livelihood of eight lakh workers employed directly and indirectly in the units in and around this town which met 85 per cent of the country's fireworks requirement. The All India Federation of Fireworks Associations functionaries said for several decades the traders ...
How long will it take to fund monkey,nilgai population control
The Delhi High Court has asked the Centre how long it would take to approve the funding for its pilot project to manage the population of monkeys, nilgais, wild pigs and elephants -- the four focal species in conflict with humans. To mitigate human and wildlife conflicts, the central government has decided to scientifically manage or control the population of these species by using immune-contraception method, the court was told. However, one of the scientists working on the project told a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar that the process would take another three to four years due to lack of infrastructure as they were still testing on mice. S K Gupta, a scientist with the National Institute of Immunology (NII), told the court that he needs funding and a dedicated space to carry on with his research. The bench, thereafter, told the Centre to inform the court, the status of the financial approval for the project on the next date of ...
Youth electrocuted, locals ransack SEB office, vehicle
A vehicle was set on fire and a state electricity board office ransacked today after a youth got electrocuted while allegedly stealing power in Diamond Harbour area of South 24 Parganas district, police said. The youth was electrocuted when he panicked seeing an approaching state electricity board (SEB) vehicle in the area, a police officer said. Local residents, however, alleged that the youth died when an electric cable fell on him. The irate villagers blocked the National Highway-117, ransacked the local SEB office and set one of its vehicles on fire, the officer said. West Bengal Power Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay said the SEB board was not conducting any anti-hooking drive in the area and it had nothing to do with the electrocution of the youth.
2017 likely to end on 'severe' note as pollution set to spike
'Severe' air pollution may return in the national capital in the run-up to New Year, the Met department has forecast, prompting the CPCB to direct agencies to step up action against polluting sources. The concentration of pollutants will rise till at least December 29 due to low velocity wind and the coming down of the atmospheric layer where air and pollutants mix close to the surface. Wind speed 900 metres above the ground may fall to 4 km/hr on December 29, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. On December 27 and 28, it will be around 17 km/hr and 6 km/hr, respectively. However, from December 30 wind speed may pick up a little and rise to 13 km/hr on the eve of New Year. Ground-level wind speed will be between 5 km/hr and 8 km/hr during this period, the IMD said. The day's Air Quality Index (AQI) was 335, classified as 'very poor' by the CPCB, which may trigger respiratory illnesses on prolonged exposure. "The IMD has predicted that low winds, poor ...
Hry notifies draft bill for setting up Pond Development body
The Haryana government has notified a draft bill for setting up a Pond Development, Protection and Conservation, Pond Water and STP Treated Affluent Utilization Authority. The authority would manage all ponds located outside notified forest areas in the state, excluding those having an area of less than half an acre. Objections and suggestions have been invited on the draft bill, an official spokesman said here today. He said the authority would consist of the chief minister or minister for irrigation and water resources as chairperson, and chief secretary as vice-chairperson. The spokesman said the functions of the authority would include survey and study, regulations, control, protection, conservation, reclamation, regeneration, restoration, construction, environmental impact assessment and planning, evolving integrated plan for development of ponds. The functions of the authority would also include removal of encroachment of ponds, use of pond water for cattle, fire .
