Page 96 - Environment

AWS launches 3rd availability zone in Mumbai Cloud region

Addressing a packed house during the AWS India Summit here, DeSantis said that over 130,000 databases have been migrated so far globally with AWS

MoU signed between NMCG, HCL Foundation and INTACH for Rudraksh Plantation in Uttarakhand

As an initiative towards a greener ecosystem in Ganga Basin, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), HCL Foundation and INTACH for taking up a project of 'Plantation of Rudraksh Trees in Uttarakhand' under the 'Namami Gange' Programme.While the project aims at planting 10,000 Rudraksh trees in the catchment area of river Ganga in Uttarakhand in association with the local community and other stakeholders, it will also help in generating income for people residing in those areas.While signing the MoU on Tuesday, NMCG Director General Rajiv Ranjan Mishra said, "The Namami Gange Mission aims at providing comprehensive and sustainable solutions for a cleaner ecosystem along the stretch of 97 towns and 4,465 villages on the Ganga stem. The afforestation drive and the Clean Ganga Mission will go hand in hand.""While the government of India is spearheading the project, a public-private partnership provides the initiative with a ...

Sugar production likely drop 8.4 pc; to fall for 2nd straight year in 2019-20: USDA

India's sugar production is likely to decline 8.4 per cent to 30.3 million tonnes for the second straight year in the 2019-20 marketing year that would begin from October because of likely fall in sugarcane output, a latest USDA report said. The sugar output in the ongoing 2018-19 marketing year (October-September) is pegged at 33 million tonnes, lower than 34.3 million tonnes achieved in the previous year. "The 2019-20 sugar production is forecast to decline 8.4 per cent to 30.3 million tonnes, its second consecutive year of decline," the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in its latest report. This includes 6,00,000 tonnes of khandsari and 29.7 of mill sugar, it said. According to the USDA, "lower than expected cane production in the out-year coupled with a net reduction in the national-average sugar recovery rate will reduce cane availability for direct crush-to-sugar and proportionately moderate sugar output as well." In addition, successive benefits from the dedicated ...

Plastic pollution harming bacteria that help us breathe

Chemicals leaching from plastic pollution may be harming ocean bacteria which produce ten per cent of the oxygen that we breathe, a study has found. Plastic pollution has been estimated to cause more than USD 13 billion in economic damage to marine ecosystems each year, and the problem is only getting worse with marine plastic pollution estimated to outweigh fish by 2050. In the first study of its kind, the researchers from Macquarie University in Australia looked at the effects these chemicals have on the smallest life in our oceans, photosynthetic marine bacteria. "We found that exposure to chemicals leaching from plastic pollution interfered with the growth, photosynthesis and oxygen production of Prochlorococcus, the ocean's most abundant photosynthetic bacteria," said Sasha Tetu, lead author of the study published in the journal Communications Biology. "Now we'd like to explore if plastic pollution is having the same impact on these microbes in the ocean," Tetu said in a ...

Lucknow traffic police get Bengaluru counterparts' caps on trial basis

Considering the inconvenience faced by traffic cops in performing their duties wearing a woollen cap under the scorching summer sun, Lucknow traffic police have inducted 50 caps used by Bengaluru traffic cops on a trial basis.These caps made up of cotton have proper ventilation and the response has been quite good so far."The cap used by our personnel is woollen which makes it very difficult for them to bear the heat. We have distributed 50 caps from Bengaluru to our men on a trial basis. These caps are made of cotton and have proper ventilation. They also provide protection from sunburn and skin tanning," said Superintendent of Police (traffic), Lucknow.He, however, said that the response is being studied and a report will be sent to senior officials at the Police headquarters. A decision on pan state introduction of the cap will be taken only after that."We have ordered 50 more caps from Bengaluru for trial. A detailed report will be made and a committee will decide if it will be ...

Locals conduct 'foot-march' to save Indravati river, lifeline of Bastar

In view of the depleting water level of river Indravati, the locals are now gearing up to save what they call is the lifeline of Bastar region of the state.The residents of Bastar are holding a foot-march to press for their demand to save the river, for which they are demanding the release of water from Katiguda dam in Odisha, as per the water agreement between the two states.Their foot-march entered seventh-day on Wednesday. The residents walked along the stretch of the river holding placards and raising slogans -- "Save Indravati." For long, the protesters have been generating awareness among locals about the need to save the river from further degradation.The foot-march has been launched from Bhejapadar village situated along Chhattisgarh-Odisha border from where the river enters into Chhattisgarh."The level of water in the river is going down every year. This is due to the indifferent attitude of Odisha government. Chhattisgarh is not getting the volume of water required to save ..

New electrode converts carbon dioxide into fuels

Scientists have developed a bowl-shaped electrode which can efficiently convert carbon dioxide into fuels, helping combat the climate change threat posed by rising atmospheric CO2. An electrode is an electrical conductor used to make contact with a nonmetallic part of a circuit, like air or electrolyte. Researchers, including those from the University of Bath in the UK, believe the design will eventually allow the use of renewable electricity to convert CO2 into fuels and chemicals without creating additional atmospheric carbon. Using this reaction, known as the reduction of carbon dioxide, has exciting potential, according to the study published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A. However, two major obstacles are poor conversion efficiency of the reaction and a lack of detailed knowledge about the exact reaction pathway. The new electrode addresses these challenges with higher conversion efficiency and sensitive detection of molecules created along the reaction's progress -- ...

MEIL Completed 130 Projects in FY-19

/ -- Engineering and Infrastructure giant MEIL has completed over 130 projects in the 2018-19 financial year. These projects include lift irrigation, drinking water, power generation, transmission and distribution, Gas processing, city gas distribution, Hydrocarbon verticals. "We focus on completing the projects within the scheduled time without compromising the quality of work. There are two projects completed in record time, which eventually entered the several record books and received recognition from the clients," said B Srinivas Reddy, Director, MEIL. (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/887474/MEIL_Completed_Projects.jpg ) MEIL entered the Asia Book of Records, India Book of Records and Limca Book of Records for completing the NP Kunta substation project in record time. The 400/220KV power substation completed in just 7 months for Power Grid Corporation of India. "We executed complex designs by adopting stringent rules and overcame many obstructions in the process, having .

Mexico City declares pollution alert, postpones football semi-final

Mexico City declared an environmental alert Tuesday, ordering vehicles off the road and postponing the semi-finals of the first-division football league as a blanket of smog enveloped the sprawling capital. A series of wildfires on the city's outskirts have combined with stagnant weather conditions to cloak the metropolitan area of more than 20 million people in a gray cloud of air pollution, which passed the critical level of 150 points on the authorities' air quality index. "The extraordinary environmental contingency plan has been activated for the Mexico valley metropolitan area due to particles" in the air, the city's environmental commission said in a statement. Authorities called on residents to avoid physical activity outdoors, instructed schools to keep children inside at recess and urged the elderly and those with respiratory illnesses to remain inside. They also ordered cars with certain license plate numbers off the road for Wednesday, and ordered certain polluting ...

Bison killed in Bengal's Jalpaiguri after being hit by

A bison has been killed after being hit by a pickup van in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district, officials said Tuesday. The incident happened on National Highway 31 that passes through the Chapamari forest area in Nagrakata block's Panjhora. Around 5.30 pm when a bison was crossing the road, a pickup van that was coming from Nagrakata hit the animal, killing it instantly, officials said. Forest officials rushed to the spot after the incident and have started looking for the vehicle. According to forest department sources, the bison was male. They said necessary arrangements were being made to restrict speed in the forest area.

Book GSFC officials for under-weight fertiliser bags: Guj Cong

The Congress Tuesday demanded an FIR against officials of Gujarat State Fertilisers and Chemicals for alleged involvement in selling fertliser bags lighter than the marked weight. A delegation led by of state Congress Kisan Cell president Pal Ambaliya met Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel and Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture) Sanjay Prasad. Ambaliya was accompanied by Congress MLAs Harshad Ribadiya, Kirit Patel, Lalit Kagathara and Lalit Vasoya. After the meeting, Ambaliya told reporters that it was a "huge scam" to the tune of over Rs 200 crore. "Instead of taking action against erring officials, the GSFC is trying to cover up this over Rs 200 crore scam. In their press conference yesterday, the GSFC claimed it was just a technical error which resulted into a loss of just Rs 16 lakh to the farmers. This theory is unacceptable" Ambaliya claimed. "GSFC has looted our farmers. Top company officials knew that less fertiliser is being packed and sold to ...

Sand mafia triggers drinking water crisis in Bundelkhand

Annual drying up of ponds in Uttar Pradesh's part of the Bundelkhand is an annual feature; a faint hope lies in the river Ken whose much narrowed flow brings small succour. Not this year, as the Ken's riverbed has been disemboweled, its sand scooped out by the unscrupulous. Result: hundreds of people have no source of water and their anger has spilled out on roads.

Stray cattle impounding drive begins in Ahmedabad

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has begun a drive to impound stray cattle after two people were killed by the bovines in the past few days. The drive, which started on Monday, saw a clash between civic officials and cattle owners in the city's Odhav area, officials said. "The AMC has launched a stray cattle impounding drive as they cause traffic problems and there have been incidents of people being gored to death," said AMC Commissioner Vijay Nehra Tuesday. "Last year we had impounded 18,000 cattle from the streets of Ahmedabad. However, anything between 50,000-60,000 are still roaming around. The drive will continue till the streets are clear of them," he added. Nehra said cattle caught are being radio-tagged so that identity of its owners can be known and action taken in case they let them roam loose on the streets. The AMC chief said cattle owners were given plots for sheds two decades ago but several of them turned these into commercial spaces and let cows and ..

Powergrid helps restore power supply in cyclone-hit Odisha

State-run Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (Powergrid) Tuesday said it has helped state utilities restore electricity supply in cyclone-hit Odisha. Cyclone Fani on May 3 caused massive damage to power supply infrastructure in coastal Odisha, uprooting lakhs of electric poles, transformers and collapse of towers, Powergrid said in a statement. "Powergrid has helped restore power with the use of state-of-the-art techniques like emergency restoration system (ERS), swift operation management and by pooling its about 1,000 specialized manpower from the neighbouring states like West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh to assist the state entities like OPTCL (Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited) and CESU (Central Electricity Supply Utility). "All the necessary help has been extended for restoration of electricity in affected areas of the state," it added. Powergrid has also created 24x7 control rooms at various locations for coordination between various state agencies in providing timely .

Delhi's air quality improves significantly following rains

Rains washed away pollutants, thereby significantly improving the the national capital's air quality which was in the 'moderate' category Tuesday, authorities said. The air quality index (AQI) of the city was recorded at 138 on Tuesday according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research Institute (SAFAR), while the Central Pollution Control Board recorded Dehi's AQI at 147. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'. The overall air quality in Delhi was in the "moderate" category due to rains. The level of PM2.5 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) was recorded at 64 and PM10 at 156, the SAFAR said. "Air quality will improve further and touch satisfactory by Wednesday due to cloudy sky and light rains/thunderstorm. However, SAFAR model predicts that AQI may deteriorate to 'poor' by May 17 as upper winds are ..

Naxals torch trucks, excavator near Essar's Dantewada plant

Naxals Tuesday set ablaze three trucks and an excavator near an Essar plant in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, police said. The trucks and excavator were engaged in collecting dust waste from Essar's iron ore beneficiation plant in Kirandul, an official said. "A group of 50 Naxals torched three trucks and an excavator belonging to a private contractor. The drivers and cleaners were also threatened to abandon work. A police team is combing the area to nab the group," he said. He added that preliminary probe had revealed it might be the handiwork of the Naxals' "Malangir area committee".

NGT directs 18 states, 2 UTs to submit action plan on utilisation of treated waste water

The National Green Tribunal Tuesday directed 18 states and two Union Territories to submit action plan to ensure utilisation of treated waste water to reduce pressure on the ground water resources throughout the country. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed the states and UTs to submit the action plan within three months to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The green panel said the states which have still not furnished their action plans are defaulters for violating the directions of the tribunal for which no valid reason can be seen. It noted that only nine states and five UTs have submitted the action plan. "It is well known that absence of plan for reuse of treated water affects recharge of ground water and also results in fresh water being used for purposes for which treated water can alternatively be used. Proper plans for reuse of waste water can add to availability of potable water which is many times denied this basic need or has to ...

Fall armyworm pest attack in Manipur

The Fall armyworm pest attack on maize crops has been detected in Manipur's Chandel district, an official said Tuesday. Agriculture department, Nodal officer, AK Chittaranjan told PTI that as of now "it is to early to determine the exact hectares that have been affected though 200 hectares have been confirmed as affected and required pesticide to kill the worm has been successfully delivered." He said the pest attack was first detected on May 7 in Chandel district, adding that is the first ever attack by the fall armyworm pest in the state . He said soon as the attack of the pest was detected, the Agriculture department immediately procured the pesticide "Emancitin Benonate" to be used for spraying in affected maize plantations areas. He also said that "a four-member team was constituted in every district on May 10 and a training programme was organised for them the next day in association with ICAR and CAU" to enable them to identify the pest and to other technical ...

NGT fines IOCL's Panipat refinery Rs 17.312 cr for pollution

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has slapped an interim penalty of Rs 17.31 crore on Indian Oil Corporation Limited's Panipat refinery for violation of environmental norms. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed that the amount may be deposited by the unit within a month with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) by way of interim compensation for restoration of environment, subject to further orders. "We find that there is adequate material on record to hold that there is violation of environmental norms by IOCL. The inspection was carried out by the credible experts of the regulatory authorities, namely, the CPCB, the HSPCB (Haryana State Pollution Control Board) under the direction of this tribunal. Response of the unit itself shows that observations in the inspection report needed action on account of which an action plan has been submitted," the bench said. "We are, thus, unable to accept the submission that no compensation may be required to ..

Post-Fani, drones to trace missing deers of Odisha sanctuary

The Odisha government on Tuesday decided to use drones to locate about 4,000 spotted deers who are missing from a sanctuary in Puri district following Cyclone Fani, an official said. Most of the deers of the Balukhand-Konark sanctuary, which is spread over 72 square kilometres between Puri and Konark towns, could not be located after the extremely-severe cyclone made landfall in the coastal district at a speed of about 200 kmph on May 3, the official said. "We could find only one carcass of a spotted deer so far after a thorough search inside the sanctuary. However, there is no trace of other animals," said A K Mohapatra, principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF), wildlife. The deers generally come out of their hideouts at night in search of food, but the forest officials searched for the animals during daytime and could not find them, Mohapatra said. Drone cameras will be used to locate the deers as it could be more fruitful, the official said. "Since the carcass of only one deer .