Think India Foundation

Over 2,000 weather stations to come up in Maharashtra

The 100-cr project expected to benefit farmers

MUMBAI : With the Maharashtra Government planning to set up 2,025 automatic weather stations (AWSs) across the State, farmers could benefit from the information obtained to decide on the cropping pattern and take preventive steps to protect the standing crop in case of weather changes.

The Rs 100-crore project will get a viability-gap funding from the Centre. The farmers could realise the advantage of the AWS from the kharif season of 2013. AWSs would be located in every revenue circle, comprising a cluster of 20-30 villages. Read more

Source : thehindubusinessline.com

Wind to energise investments in Gadag

HUBLI: Money is blowing in the winds of Gadag. Read on to know how to catch it. The region - prone to natural calamities like drought and floods - is a suitable location for setting up wind mills.

In fact, according to the data available with Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL), roughly 19,347 mw power could be generated through renewable energy sources - and wind energy can contribute around 60 per cent of it. Read more

Source : articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com

Assam disaster squads ready- Battalions could be deployed by April

Guwahati : Assam finally has its own State Disaster Response Force on the lines of the elite National Disaster Response Force to tackle disaster situations.

NDRF personnel demonstrate a rescue operation. File picture

The state force will have two battalions, each comprising 140 personnel. The battalions are likely to be deployed in Guwahati and Barak Valley in April after its personnel receive specialised training on how to respond to emergency situations like fire, floods, earthquakes and landslides. Read more

Source : telegraphindia.com

Water woes loom large over Bangalore

MYSORE: With early onset of summer all but a foregone conclusion, all eyes are on the rain gods, for if the Cauvery catchment areas do not receive sufficient pre-monsoon showers, hassle-free water supply to Bangalore and other towns may remain a mirage.

Officials of the irrigation department are a worried lot indeed: with receding water levels in three primary reservoirs - Krishnaraja Sagar, Kabini and Hemavathi (see table) - they may need to perform a balancing act in meeting the needs of the urban population and farmers simultaneously. Read more

Source : ibnlive.in.com

Seeding a policy without the dirt on climate change

ICAR says knowledge of climate change impact in India is 'fragmentary'

Genetics mode: Researchers working with transgenic groundnut plants engineered for drought resistance at the glasshouse facility of the Genetic Transformation Lab at ICRISAT in Hyderabad. Photo: K. Gajendran

A recent international conference on climate change and sustainable agriculture in New Delhi brought forth the shocking realisation that there are no conclusive studies in India on the prospective impact of climate change on the agriculture sector including livestock and fisheries.

Much of the country's understanding comes from global data provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the World Meteorological Organisation and other world bodies. Read more

Source : thehindu.com

Indian minister 'shocked' CO2 emissions cuts seen as U.N. goal

NEW DELHI (AlertNet Climate) - India's rural development minister has slammed a United Nations report which includes reducing C02 emissions as a development target agreed by poor countries, saying it was a "mistake" and that the international body was "sending the wrong signal".

In this 2010 file photo, India's former Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh gestures during a news conference at the U.N. headquarters in New York. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi

Jairam Ramesh, a former environment minister, was India's voice - echoing that of many developing nations - in refusing to commit to legally binding targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions in international climate change negotiations. Read more

Source : trust.org

Companies must fight climate change

Leaders from across the world gathered in Durban in December last year to find common ground on what is currently the most important challenge facing humanity: climate change. With virtually no headway made since the Kyoto Protocol, there is precious little time left for all nations to act before we reach the point of no return. Governments across the world must give a clear signal that they are committed to a legal deal on climate change that puts the world on track to a low-carbon economy. 

While both developed and developing nations put forth their arguments keeping in mind their respective economic interests, it is important to note that businesses can, and must, play a vital role in building a greener world. Today, businesses across the world are committed to green growth and building a 'sustainable' global economy as it will ensure their future growth. There is a unique opportunity for businesses from developed and developing nations to collaborate and develop low-carbon technologies and business models. Read more

Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com

JK abandons GOI-funded academic programs

Srinagar : Though Jammu and Kashmir falls in seismic zone-V making it prone to high magnitude earthquakes, state government is sleeping over a Union Ministry of Home Affairs funded program to set up a hi-tech Disaster Management Center (DMC) here for carrying out research in the field of seismology. 

Not only this, a Union Ministry of Rural Development sponsored program for strengthening Panchayat Raj system in JK is upto similar fate, while Government of India subsidiary Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), has asked JK to return allocated funds after the latter failed to utilize the same during the past five years to set up a research institute for urban development. Read more

Source : greaterkashmir.com

Foreign aid cash spent tackling climate change

Nearly £1.5 billion has been spent tackling man-made climate change by Government department responsible for fighting poverty abroad, it can be revealed.

Dfid is one of only two departments not affected by the Government's austerity drive Photo: PA

The Department for International Development (Dfid) has spent the total on projects which they say will either reduce carbon emissions abroad or attempt to deal with the effects of predicted changes in the earth's climate.

In the past four years Dfid has spent £900 million on climate change projects with nearly two thirds of that being spent in the past financial year under the Coalition. A further £533 million has already been committed up to 2013. Read more

Source : telegraph.co.uk

World Bank to assist Bengal in minor irrigation work: Pranab Mukherjee

BHAGABANPUR: The World Bank will extend financial assistance for undertaking minor irrigation projects in West Bengal, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said today.

"The World Bank will provide aid for Rs 1,250-crore minor irrigation project in the state," Mukherjee said at the launch of the flood control project of the Keleghai, Kopaleswhari and Baghai rivers in East Midnapore district here. Read more

Source : articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com

'Curb wastage, pollution to tackle water disputes'

New Delhi: Curbing wastage, reducing pollution and forming joint platforms to assess geological changes were among the urgent steps needed to tackle the growing conflicts on water between countries and within their own boundaries, say experts. 

The issue was debated at length by various experts, including filmmakers, columnists, academics and activists, at a roundtable on Water at War at the Alliance Francaise here Wednesday. Water had led to tensions between countries and caused fights within cities, the participants noted. Read more

Source : zeenews.india.com

Artificial Glaciers Water Crops in Indian Highlands

Villagers discover that it is easier to store water in ice than in a reservoir, and less is lost to evaporation.

Ran Bhadur (right) and Mohan Bhadur (left) shovel sand and rock to dam a stone embankment holding water that will eventually freeze and serve as an artificial glacier in the village of Stakmo in India's northern Ladakh region. Photograph by Mary Knox Merrill, Christian Science Monitor/Getty Images

This story is part of a National Geographic News series on global water issues.

A remote Indian village is responding to global warming-induced water shortages by creating large masses of ice, or "artificial glaciers," to get through the dry spring months. (See a map of the region.)

Located on the western edge of the Tibetan plateau, the village of Skara in the Ladakh region of India is not a common tourist destination. Read more

Source : news.nationalgeographic.com

Changing climates of governance

Understanding real-world complexity and anticipating change are the key to global and local governance in the 21st century

The issue of global governance has acquired increasing salience in recent years. With the process of globalisation and the increasing interconnectedness of economies, issues that transcend national and regional boundaries have become progressively more important. These include non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, in particular, nuclear weapons; cyber-security and the security of space-based assets; international terrorism, whether state-sponsored or perpetrated by non-state actors; international drug trafficking; and maritime security.

Such cross-cutting issues can be economic and social. For example, climate change and energy security have a global dimension, where competitive action by states may result in adverse consequences for all stakeholders. There are public health challenges, such as Aids, avian flu pandemics, the eradication of polio or other epidemic diseases which have a global dimension. They share a common feature in that no state, however powerful, can tackle these challenges on its own. They require a common global platform, coordinated strategies and agreed preventive actions to safeguard both domestic and global interests. Domestic actions influence and, in turn, are influenced by global responses. Read more

Source : business-standard.com

UN: Soil erosion increasing global warming threat

Global warming will get worse as agricultural methods accelerate the rate of soil erosion, which depletes the amount of carbon the soil is able to store, a United Nations' Environment Programme report said today.

Soil contains huge quantities of carbon in the form of organic matter which provides nutrients for plant growth and improves soil fertility and water movement.

The top metre of soil alone stores around 2,200 billion tonnes of carbon, which is three times the level currently held in the atmosphere, said the UNEP Year Book 2012. Read more

Source : buenosairesherald.com

Resources, implementation bugbears for environment management

Issues concerning the quality of air, water, soil, trees and other environmental and ecological attributes are at the top of the agenda in almost all discussions of our transforming society. However, the economic linkages that these issues deserve are not coming together owing both to India's economic position and individual commitment. As a result, we see a huge environmental and economic imbalance resulting in a slow pace of environmental improvements in the country.

If only intent and the content of policy are taken into account, India's environment should have been on a par with the rest of the developed world as legislations are comparable. Water, air and other waste are expected to be managed effectively and there are obligations to protect the ecology and the environment. However, implementation is far from satisfactory. Read more

Source : articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com

Improper urban planning in Northeast

Kohima : Airing concern over the improper urban planning in the north eastern states, the need to adopt a comprehensive strategy and road map for securing a holistic development and reformation of urban areas has been stressed here today at the regional workshop on “Urban Governance, Management and Municipal Finance” for the north eastern states.

Chief Secretary Lalthara told the workshop that the vulnerability of earthquake is very high in North East. Lalthara said most of towns/cities in North East are in congestion coupled with water, sanitation and drainage problem, adding that it is very difficult to rectify now as proper urban planning was not taken into account. Read more

Source : morungexpress.com

In Delhi, Leaders Call for Sustainable Action Today, Not Promises for Tomorrow

As I traveled through Mumbai and Delhi over the past few days, I’ve been awed by the rapid growth taking place in Indian cities. Statistics about urbanization abound, but experiencing the dynamic, jammed-packed streets firsthand is much more revealing.

India’s leaders are committed to helping cities keep pace with this growth, but many do not stop there. They are also working to ensure that cities grow as sustainably as possible. Read more

Source : switchboard.nrdc.org

Funds for demolishing quake-damaged buildings

Gangtok: With the September 19 earthquake in Sikkim leaving many houses damaged, the Urban Development and Housing Department has suggested that funds be provided to house owners for carrying out demolition on their own. 

According to a notice by the Sikkim government, the damaged buildings were at risk of collapsing as was the case with one at Singtam, about 30 km from here, four months after the quake. Read more

Source : zeenews.india.com

'India should adopt sustainable ways of farming'

New Delhi: A top climate scientist today asked India to adopt sustainable ways of farming which is under pressure due to water crisis caused by global warming. 

UN Secretary General's Special Advisor Jeffrey D Sach also underlined the need for adopting green technology to deal with the issue of climate change in various sectors including agriculture. Read more

Source : zeenews.india.com

Clean up and save water, says expert

BANGALORE: Wastewater treatment expert Glen T Daigger is president of the International Water Association (IWA), a global network of 10,000 water professionals who research all facets of the water cycle. Headquartered in London, IWA supports a series of strategic programmes designed to engage members on subjects critical to the water sector's wider development. TOI spoke to him on areas of concern for India, mitigation measures and the global water crisis. Excerpts:

What are the prime areas of concern in countries like India? In developed countries like Europe, the average lifespan of people went up significantly once the problem of sanitation was addressed. In developing countries too, emphasis should be on efficient sanitation system to reap economic benefits in the long run. With the global climate rapidly changing, it is getting difficult for countries to tackle long periods of drought and intense rain spells. Proper infrastructure needs to be in place too, to deal with the global water crisis. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Make biodiversity people's movement: Natarajan

New Delhi: The second day of the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit opened with a special session on biodiversity that brought together a panel of leading experts, including India’s environment minister, Jayanthi Natarajan. 

In her keynote address, Natarajan shared a quote by the Buddha, "I do not believe in a fate that falls upon men however they act, but I do believe in a fate that befalls if you do not act." Read more

Source : zeenews.india.com

Coping with disasters

Nothing tests the political will and administrative efficiency of a government like a natural disaster. More than long-term development projects and poverty-alleviating schemes, it is the response mechanisms activated in times of emergency that people remember. In Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, a month after cyclone ‘Thane' made landfall, the affected communities are still struggling to put their lives back together. Given the magnitude of destruction in the coastal areas, especially Puducherry and the districts of Cuddalore and Villupuram, normality could not have been restored in a matter of days. The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government in Tamil Nadu led by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa did well in the aftermath of the cyclone, clearing uprooted trees from the roads and reaching food to the victims. But with tens of thousands of electricity poles falling to the fury of the cyclone, power supply has returned only in phases, spread over a month, to the affected areas. More disconcertingly, a lot remains to be done in terms of rehabilitation for the people who lost their homes and means of livelihood. Farmlands have been ravaged, leaving farmers and workers without any means of income during harvest time. Many have resorted to taking loans or withdrawing deposits for day-to-day sustenance. Read more

Source : thehindu.com

Renovation work begins at Sonar Fort

JAISALMER: Renovation work has started at Sonar Fort where parts of boundary wall had collapsed in heavy rain in August last year. About 15 labourers have been engaged in the reconstruction of the collapsed wall. Renovation work has also started at two other places in the fort.

TOI had reported the apathy towards the oldest living fort in its edition dated January 16, 2012. The report caught the attention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who sought a report from Union culture minister Selja. The minister later held a meeting at the secretariat in Jaipur for the protection and conservation of the fort. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Solutions evade impending water crisis

New Delhi: Farmers in the South-Indian state of Tamil Nadu are switching from paddy cultivation to panning for salt. On the other extreme of the sub-continent, hundreds of thousands of people live in harm’s way in the event of a glacial lake outburst-triggered flood, or GLOFs as they are called. 

Something sinister connects the two disturbing happenings – amplifying the vulnerabilities of people from the northern Hindu-Kush-Himalayan range to India's southernmost tip, Kanya Kumari, a whopping 1.5 billion people and counting. The least common denominator exasperating the vulnerabilities is the phenomenon of climate change. Read more

Source : zeenews.india.com

'836 mn Indians burn biomass for energy'

Washington As many as 836 million Indians still rely on traditional biomass for energy, a report has said, even as the US claimed that India along with China would account for half of global energy consumption by 2035.

"The largest populations that rely on traditional biomass for energy are in the developing regions of Asia, with 836 million in India alone," said a new research published by the Worldwatch Institute for its Vital Signs Online publication. Read more

Source : expressindia.com

Housing project for cyclone-hit districts in Chennai

CHENNAI : DMK legislators led by Stalin stage a walkout

A Rs.1,000-crore project of building one lakh concrete houses in cyclone-hit districts such as Cuddalore and Villupuram was the highlight of Governor K. Rosaiah's address to the Assembly on Monday.

Mr. Rosaiah, who delivered his first address as Governor since assumption of office in August, said the State would take up the construction immediately to replace the damaged huts in the districts. A detailed memorandum, spelling out the quantum of damage and seeking a special package of Rs.5,248 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund, had been submitted to the Centre. Read more

Source : thehindu.com

PMO asks ministries to cut out flab in report cards

NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has asked ministries to cut out the flab while submitting their monthly report card on progress in the thrust areas that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has identified to be the core of the UPA-II's agenda in 2012-13.

A case in point is the directive to the coal ministry that seeks a monthly report card in the form of a "running note, not exceeding 500 words". Information, including additional inputs, may still be furnished in tabular format, which is a favourite with ministries and government departments. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Delhi ignores own quake peril warnings

NEW DELHI, India (AP) -- The ramshackle neighborhoods of northeast Delhi are home to 2.2 million people packed along narrow alleys. Buildings are made from a single layer of brick. Extra floors are added to dilapidated buildings not meant to handle their weight. Tangles of electrical cables hang precariously everywhere.

In this Dec. 20, 2011 photo, commuters move past congested houses built close to each other in India's most crowded northeast district of New Delhi, India.

If a major earthquake were to strike India's seismically vulnerable capital, these neighborhoods — India's most crowded — would collapse into an apocalyptic nightmare. Waters from the nearby Yamuna River would turn the water-soaked subsoil to jelly, which would intensify the shaking. Read more

Source : sfgate.com

Tamil Nadu to get 1.8 lakh housing units in the next five years

1.43 lakh units for economically weaker sections: R.Vaithilingam

One of the stalls at the exhibition at Municipalika that got under way on Monday in Chennai. Photo: S.S.Kumar.

The State will get an additional 1.85 lakh housing units in the next five years at a cost of Rs.17,230 crore. Of these, 1.43 lakh units would be for the economically weaker sections, R.Vaithilingam, Minister for Housing and Urban Development said on Monday.

Speaking at the inauguration of Municipalika, ‘10 international conference and exhibition on good urban governance for safe, healthy, green, inclusive and smart cities', he said 39,000 units were for other income groups divided into low, medium and high. Read more

Source : thehindu.com

Initial assessment puts J&K infrastructure damages at Rs 20 cr

JAMMU : Various government departments of state have suffered huge losses on account of damage to the infrastructure and equipments during the last fortnight due to inclement weather. 

As per the initial assessments send by various departments to the state government the damages are recorded to the tune of Rs 20 crore. A high level meeting of officials of various departments would be held on Monday to approve funds to meet the expenses on account of damages. Read more

Source : greaterkashmir.com

Laser-powered study on climate change

VELLORE: The National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL) attached to the Department of Space, government of India, is planning to set up a network of LIDAR (Laser Radar System) with the help of indigenously developed sensor tools in ten locations across the country in the first phase to study the aerosol distribution over India.

This was disclosed by Dr A Jayaraman, director of NARL, Gadanki (near Chittoor, AP) while inaugurating a two-day Third International conference on ‘Sensors and Related Networks’ (SENNET 12) organised by the School of Electronics Engineering and Center for Nano Technology Research attached to the VIT university on its campus on Friday. Read more

Source : ibnlive.in.com

Workers to be taught 'green plumbing'

NASHIK: Aiming to protect the environment and public health through 'green plumbing', the Nashik Plumbers' Association (NPA) has undertaken an initiative to create awareness among plumbers about green plumbing practices.

The NPA has organized a three-day workshop for the plumbers and the people associated with the plumbing profession. The workshop has been organized in association with the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials' India chapter and the Indian Plumbing Association. There are around 300 plumbing contractors engaged in Nashik. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Cutting dirty diesel pollution can reduce global warming while it improves human health

My colleague, Dan Lashof, just posted a great summary of the study, published in Science this week, that explained how cutting soot and smog pollution could help reduce the impacts of global warming in the short-term, while improving human health and buying time for critically important reductions in carbon pollution to take effect over the long term.  The study included a list of 14 key strategies like cleaner diesel engines, improved cookstoves, and capturing methane releases from coal, oil and gas production.

Here’s the key take-away: 

“[T]argeted measures to curb methane, black carbon, and carbon dioxide emissions would yield huge public health and environmental benefits.  Pollution reductions from this strategy would prevent 700,000 to 4.7 million premature deaths each year, increase crop yields, and greatly reduce the risk of extreme climate disruption that lies beyond global warming of 2 degrees Celsius.” Read more

Source : switchboard.nrdc.org

Healthcare providers 'too laid back' when it comes to clinical waste

More robust systems are needed for the management of clinical waste with many healthcare providers "too laid back" when it comes to dealing with the matter, according to a recent report. 

 

Activities by healthcare facilities represent 3% to 8% of the climate change footprint in developed countries, the Frost & Sullivan study states. The report, which focussed on practices out in India, found that around 1.48m tonnes of healthcare waste was generated each year in the country. Read more

Source : edie.net

Proposed Indian Nuclear Power Plant in Zone Subject to Earthquakes

Like many energy poor countries with rapidly rising economies, India’s government sees the development of a nuclear power industry as a potential godsend to meeting soaring demands for electricity.
 
But the country’s proposed nuclear program has run into increasing resistance, following the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami that on 11 March 2011 devastated Japan’s Daichi nuclear power plant complex, taking all six Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) reactors offline. Public opinion in India is concerned because the country is subject to both of the natural phenomena, and authorities are declining to release relevant materials. Read more

Source : oilprice.com

Earthquake-prone zones being identified in Vijayawada

The Geological Survey of India is busy preparing seismic hazard microzonation maps of Vijayawada to prevent loss to life and property in case an earthquake hits the city. Vijayawada is the only major place in Andhra Pradesh that falls under the “Earthquake zone III.” The rest of the state falls under the “Seismic zone II,” which is relatively safer. Once the microzonation maps are ready, the Earthquake Geology Division of the GSI will advise the municipal corporation about the areas in the city that are vulnerable to earthquakes, particularly high-rise buildings. The Vijayawada urban agglomeration has a population of over 17 lakhs and as many as 22 seismic sources, mainly faults, in and around the city have been identified. The Gundlakamma fault is the most active fault in the vicinity.

The city has four types of soil with black cotton soils making up 58 per cent; sandy clay loams 23 per cent, red loamy soils 17 per cent and sandy soils 2 per cent. The microzonation maps will be prepared on a scale of 1:10,000 to 5,000 and will be useful for disaster management. Similar studies have been proposed for other seismic areas like Ongole and Bhadrachalam too. Read more

Source : deccanchronicle.com

Inclinometer tests show Jaisalmer Fort under threat from seismic activities

JAISALMER: Experts have raised concerns over the safety of the historical Sonar Fort of Jaisalmer, as a recent seismic study at the world famous monument has indicated tectonic instability in a section of its foothill.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the World Monuments Fund (WMF), New York, got three inclinometer tests conducted at the fort in 2011. Even as the fourth test is due in February this year, an analysis done in the UK of the tests conducted so far has reported that earthquake faults have been found at three places in the fort. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

CEPT to develop guidelines for Indian cities to adapt to climate change

AHMEDABAD: Imagine sudden floods at Sabarmati River arising out of climate change and a loss of Rs 1,200 crore for Gujarat's Sabarmati Riverfront project!

A prior understanding of the effects of climate change and including features to adapt to these effects of climate change in the project could avoid such loses. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Worldly Wise: Explore sustainable transport solutions

2011 was a year when we were able to witness and become aware of major geopolitical changes and economic disturbances

2011 was a year when we were able to witness and become aware of major geopolitical changes and economic disturbances. But, it was also a year when very discreet yet dramatic changes took place, the world's population turned seven billion. In 40 years, our planet will be inhabited by nine billion, with two out of every three people living in cities. This accelerating urbanisation creates unparalleled challenges for governments.

The World Energy Council (WEC), in its ‘Global Transport Scenarios 2050' report, envisions that total fuel demand in all transport modes could grow by up to 88 per cent by 2050, depending on the level of government intervention. Read more

Source : gulfnews.com

New radar to predict accurate weather updates in New Delhi

New Delhi : Delhi citizens would now be able to get more accurate short-term weather updates to help them better plan their daily lives,thanks to a first-of-its-kind Doppler radar that would enable the weather department provide quick and area-specific information.

The C-band polarimetric radar,that comes in addition to an S-band radar already operating in Palam office in South Delhi,is expected to offer significant improvements in rainfall estimation,precipitation classification,data quality and weather hazard detection. Read more

Source : bernama.com 

Linking Leh via Manali through Rohtang Tunnel

Experts Work 24X7 To See Light At The End Of Tunnel

Manali (Himachal Pradesh) : Working deep below a mountain of snow in Arctic-like conditions, a team of dedicated men, including experts from Germany and Austria, are focussed on a challenging mission - completing the 8.8-km-long Rohtang tunnel, considered India's most strategically important infrastructure project.

The Rs.1,495-crore ($290 million) Rohtang tunnel, when completed, will ensure all-weather connectivity to Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district of this Himalayan state. Read more

Source : greaterkashmir.com

Homeless in Delhi dwell on roads in extreme cold

For many of us, winter means dressing up in designer jackets, stylish mufflers and sexy boots; but for them, a torn blanket is the only weapon in their fight against the harsh Delhi winter.

The best efforts of the Sheila Dikshit government in providing shelters and several court directives notwithstanding, thousands of the homeless still dwell on city roads in the extreme cold. Many sit around bonfires of plastic and rags near bus and railway stations across the city to keep themselves warm. Read more

Source : indiatoday.intoday.in

5+ crore for Nagaland’s Disaster Management

Dimapur (MExN): The government of India allocated at least Rs. 5 Crore to Nagaland as funds to “deal with disaster in the state” during for the current fiscal year 2011-2012. In December, Minister of State of Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran told the Rajya Sabha that the government of India allocated over Rs. 396.87 Crore under the State Disaster Response Funds (or SDRF) to deal with disasters in the North East Region.  

According to his reply, Nagaland was allocated Rs. 5.22 Crore with the funding share of the Centre at Rs. 4.70 Crore and the state’s share at just Rs. 0.52 Crore. The other north eastern Region states were also mentioned in his reply Assam state received the biggest SDRF funds with Rs. 276.96 Crore allocated to it, followed by Arunachal Pradesh with Rs. 38.58 Crore as funds for disaster management. Read more

Source : morungexpress.com

Power supply restored in several areas in Kashmir

Jammu (PTI) : Power supply has been restored to several areas in Kashmir valley, which had plunged into darkness due to collapse of the power infrastructure due to heavy snowfall.

"Power supply in several areas of Kashmir valley has been restored. we hope to restore electric supply in more areas in valley by this evening", the Minister of State for Power, Shabir Khan told PTI. Read more

Source : news.in.msn.com

Green jobs to grow 60% in 2012: Experts

Mumbai : With global warming becoming a major concern world over, hiring of green professionals is likely to grow by up to 60% this year, say experts.

"Companies are today taking steps to become environment-friendly and are hiring green professionals, who can help them reduce energy consumption. Read more

Source : business-standard.com

TN Student Selected as International Climate Champion

A 3rd year B Tech girl student in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has received a unique distinction of having been selected as the 'International Climate Champion-2011' by British Council.

Harshita Mehta, doing Energy and Enviornmental Engineering course, was on the top 17 to get selected as ICC-2011, among 400 competitors from all over India, a TNAU release said here today. Read more

Source : news.outlookindia.com

Indian industry pollution blankets Terai in fog

The dense fog over the Nepal Terai in the second and third weeks of December 2011 took a total of 40 lives because of the resultant cold wave it caused. The trend has followed for the past two decades as dense fog and cold wave claim several lives every year, with the poor always in the frontline.

Climate experts say that the major reason behind the fog that has enveloped the Terai since the second week of December is the growing industrial pollution in India. 

The fog has not only affected Nepal but also the Indian capital Delhi and the border states of West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Read more

Source : myrepublica.com

The vanishing shore

The country’s coastline is under threat from climate change and human activities. Experts are converging to prepare maps to pin down the changes and need for future plan in this sector

Cyclone Thane hit the southern shores of the country recently leaving major devastations in its wake. Memories of tsunami, though it happened more than five years ago, recurred all over again. Another Aila, the cyclone that had devastated Bengal’s coastline in 2009, is not a remote possibility either. Nature’s fury is way beyond human control and the ensuing destructions. Now that 2012 is here some even predict the end of the world citing an old Mayan calendar. The disaster movie 2012 from the Hollywood mill has generated its own fear psyche. To add to the fear of doomsday is the fact that the number of people exposed to natural disasters is expected to more than double by 2050. Well, that gives us a few more years. But the sad truth is that millions of victims are likely to be from India. The culprit, says the World Bank, is rapid urbanisation and the extreme weather stemming from climate change.

With such nature- induced holocaust staring us in the eye, the shoreline mapping project along the coast of India by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Chennai, is a welcome move. The Sundarbans in West Bengal has been identified globally as a critically affected area. Read more

Source : indiablooms.com

Redesign Amayizhanjan canal in Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Redesigning of the Amayizhanjan canal is the key to preventing flash floods in the city, experts say. But that’s not all.

Haphazard urbanisation and ‘plastering’ of land becoming a fad are factors contributing to flash floods, says a study by Geology Cafe, a forum of geologists in the city. Read more

Source : ibnlive.in.com

Showers leave Kanpur city waterlogged

KANPUR: The heavy rains on Sunday left many roads and lanes waterlogged and paralysed the movement of vehicles.

Due to heavy rains, several localities virtually turned into islands. Though most of the people remained indoors but those who ventured out had to wade through the flooded streets. Several localities in south Kanpur like Kidwai Nagar, Govind Nagar, Barra, Dabauli, Ratanlal Nagar, Shankracharya Nagar, Naubasta, Basant Vihar and others remained waterlogged. Localities like VIP Road, Swaroop Nagar, Arya Nagar, Lajpat Nagar and Shivaji Nagar also experienced waterlogging. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com