Justice Swatanter Kumar is new NGT chief

December 28th, 2012

Justice Swatanter Kumar has become the first Supreme Court judge to be
the chairperson of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) which was, till
now, functioning without a full-time chairperson. He will decide on cases
pertaining to environmental protection, and conservation of forests and
natural resources.
What is NGT?
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Tags: 2012 December 2012 Environment Persons in News Plans and Policies
National Investment Board renamed as Cabinet Committee on Investment,
also changes made in its powers
December 19th, 2012
The Union Cabinet approved a renamed and modified version of the original proposal,
creating a new Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI) to fast-track decisions on
infrastructure and manufacturing projects over Rs. 1,000 crore.
This was done primarily to address the Environment Ministrys objections to a
National Investment Board (NIB) which could assume some of its authority.
In the new version, CCIs primary role will be to urge nodal ministries to fast-track
clearances.
Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI)
It will be headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and include administrative Ministries
as members.
It will set time limits for decisions on approvals and clearances and will then monitor the
process to ensure that those deadlines are met.
It will be able to review cases which face delays, and facilitate the removal of hindrances
in the process.
In the new version, CCIs primary role will be to urge nodal ministries to fast-track
clearances.
What were the objections with NIB?
The controversy was created when NIB was proposed to have powers to make possible
interventions and even take decision regarding specific approval/clearance for an
unduly delayed project, if deemed necessary on behalf of the concerned ministry in
case of failure its failure in decision making in stipulated time frame.
The idea was strongly opposed by the Environment Ministry.
Tags: 2012 December 2012 Environment Socio-Economic
Kyoto Protocol extended till 2020: Doha Climate Conference
December 17th, 2012
Kyoto Protocol which was signed in1997 to oblige
industrialized nations to reduce emission of greenhouse
gases to fight global warming has been extended till 2020.
The protocol was due to expire at the end of 2012. It was decided in the 18th session of the
CoP (Conference of the Parties) to theUnited Nation Framework Convention on Climate
change (UNFCCC)and the 8th session of the CoP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to
the Kyoto Protocol held in Doha, Qatar. Around 200 countries participated in the talks.
Highlights of the Conference:
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Tags: 2012 December 2012 Doha Environment Places in News
India, Pak talk towards resolution of Sir Creek Issue
December 5th, 2012
India and Pakistan recently concluded a meeting with an
aim to resolve Sir Creek dispute. Besides, issues on
Siachen and Kashmir are other territorial troubles b/w
the two nations were also discussed.
Image Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk
Both countries agreed on certain issues including:
De-linking maritime boundaries from land.
Marking from seaward to the point where both these sides agree.
Declaring non-defined area (Sir Creek and the approaches) as free zone or the maritime
sensitive zone, or turn the area into the a jointly administered maritime park.
Sir Creek Issue
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Tags: 2012 Banking December 2012 Defence Environment India-International
Relations International Pakistan
Etheostoma Obama: Freshwater Fish named after Barack Obama
December 5th, 2012
Etheostoma obama, or the spangled darter, is a newly discovered
species of relatively skinny orange and blue speckled freshwater fish
that has been named after US President Barack Obama due to Barack Obamas "global
vision of environmental protection and conservation".
Scientists have discovered 5 new species of freshwater fish calledDarters (belongs
to perch family) in river drainages in eastern North America and named after four US
presidents (Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Teddy Roosevelt and Jimmy Carter) and a vice-
president (Al Gore). The other leaders were also picked for their environmental bona fides.
No plans to dump nuclear waste in Kolar mines: NPCIL
December 1st, 2012
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL)
Removing the fears of the people of Kolar in Karnataka, the NPCIL submitted in the
Supreme Court that no decision had been taken to dump nuclear waste in the inoperative
Kolar Gold Mines of Bharat Gold Mines Ltd.
Tags: 2012 December 2012 Environment Karnataka
200 nations meeting in Doha for talks on global warming
November 29th, 2012
Around 200 nations are meeting in Qatar capital Doha for the annual talks over global
warming. The twenty years old talks over reducing greenhouse gas emissions have not yet
fulfilled their main purpose.
The negotiators at Doha will focus on extending the Kyoto Protocol which was adopted in
1997, and is set to expire this year.
Tags: 2012 Doha Environment International November 2012
Dumping of N-waste at KGF ruled out
November 27th, 2012
The centre made it clear that it has no plans to dump Nuclear waste (N-waste) from
Kudankulam Nuke Power plant in the defunct gold mines of Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) in
Karnataka. The reported move by the Govt to dump the waste at the KGF was opposed by
various political parties.
The team of experts clarified that since KGF lacks a rocky (granite) background and has
waterlogging area, the site is not safe for dumping the N-waste.
Tags: 2012 Environment November 2012 Places in News
26,000 hectares in Bagalkot will have Drip irrigation
November 27th, 2012
Drip irrigation project is planned to irrigate nearly 26,000 hectares of land in the command
area of the Krishna in Bagalkot district. The project would cost Rs. 800 crore.
What is Drip Irrigation?
Drip irrigation or trickle irrigation or micro irrigation or localized irrigation, is an
irrigation method deployed to save water and fertilizer by allowing water to drip slowly to
the roots of plants, either onto the soil surface or directly onto the root zone, by using a
network of valves, pipes, tubing, and emitters. It is done through narrow tubes that deliver
water directly to the base of the plant.
Advantages of Drip Irrigation:
Fertilizer and nutrient loss is minimized due to localized application and reduced leaching.
Water application efficiency is high.
Field levelling is not necessary.
Fields with irregular shapes are easily accommodated.
Recycled non-potable water can be safely used.
Moisture within the root zone can be maintained at field capacity.
Soil type plays less important role in frequency of irrigation.
Soil erosion is minimized.
Weed growth is minimized.
Water distribution is highly uniform, controlled by output of each nozzle.
Labour cost is less than other irrigation methods.
Variation in supply can be regulated by regulating the valves and drippers.
Foliage remains dry, reducing the risk of disease.
Usually operated at lower pressure than other types of pressurised irrigation, reducing
energy costs.
Tags: 2012 Agriculture Environment Geography November 2012 Science and Technology
Mount Tongariro in New Zealand erupts again
November 27th, 2012
Mount Tongariro, a volcano situated on New Zealands North Island, erupted for the second
time this year.
Where exactly is Mount Tongariro?
Mount Tongariro is a compound volcano in the Taupo Volcanic Zone of the North
Island of New Zealand.
Located 20 kilometres (12 mi) to the southwest of Lake Taupo, and is the northernmost
of the three active volcanoes that dominate the landscape of the central North Island.
What is Taupo Volcanic Zone?
The Taupo Volcanic Zone is a highly active volcanic V shaped area in the North Island
of New Zealand that is spreading east -west at the rate of about 8mm per year.
Named after Lake Taupo, the flooded caldera of the largest volcano in the zone.
The following Volcanic Centers belong to the Taupo Volcanic Zone:
Rotorua
Okataina
Maroa
Taupo
Tongariro
Mangakino
Australia clears plan to protect Murray-Darling Basin
November 27th, 2012
Australia approved a plan aimed at saving vital Murray-Darling Basin river water sytem.
About Murray-Darling Basin:
The MurrayDarling Basin is a river network sprawling for one million square kilometres
(400,000 square miles) across five Australian states(New South Wales, Victoria, and the
Australian Capital Territory, Queensland South Australia) in the interior of south-
eastern Australia. The two main rivers in this basin are the Murray River and
the Darling River.
How it is important to Australia?
The basin drains around 1/7
th
of the Australian land mass,

and is one of the most
important agricultural areas in Australia.
What are the dangers faced by the basin?
The major threat to the basin is overexploitation and draught which has caused increase in
concentration of salt and depletion of water.
What is the Plan?
As per the plan:
Around 2,750 gigalitres of water will be returned annually as environmental flows to the
system.
2 million tonnes of salt will also be flushed out each year.
Tags: 2012 Australia Environment International November 2012 Places in News
Scientists: Greenland losing 200 million tonnes ice every year
November 22nd, 2012
Using satellite data, Scientists confirmed via Glacier-covered Greenland has had an average
net loss of 200 billion tons of ice every year since 2003.
The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) which can detect mass changes on
the surface of the Earth over time. GRACE does this by detecting subtle increases and
decreases in gravity, which is directly related to the mass below the two orbiting GRACE
satellites.
Roughly, 200 million tonnes of ice is the amount needed to fill enough railroad coal cars to
encircle the Earth.
The study was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Tags: 2012 Environment November 2012 Places in News Science and Technology
WMO: Greenhouse Gases Level Reached Record High in 2011
November 22nd, 2012
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
In its annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, WMO held that that the atmospheric volume of the
greenhouse gases, which are often blamed for the change in atmosphere, reached a record
high in 2011.
As per the survey, the volume of carbon dioxide, the prime greenhouse gas grew at
almost identical rate in previous 10 years (i.e. at an average by 2 ppm) and it touched
390.9 parts per million (ppm) or 40% above the pre-industrial level.
The level of methane has also risen rapidly in the past 3 years.
The Volume of Nitrous Oxide another greenhouse gas also increased in 2011. Nitrous
Oxide has a long-term climatic impact which is 298 times larger than carbon dioxide.
Tags: 2012 Environment November 2012 Science and Technology
BP agrees to pay $4.5 billion in penalties for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
disaster
November 18th, 2012
BP Plc will pay $4.5 billion in penalties and plead guilty to felony misconduct
in the Deepwater Horizon disaster, which caused the worst US offshore oil
spill ever. The settlement includes a $1.256 billion criminal fine, the largest
such levy in US history.
About BP plc, Supermajors, Deepwater Horizon
Continue reading
Tags: 2012 BP plc Environment International November 2012 US
By 2017, US can become worlds biggest oil producer
November 16th, 2012
The worlds foremost energy watchdog, the International Energy Agency
(IEA) in its recent report World Energy Outlook 2012 has held that US
can become the worlds largest oil producer by 2017.
How would this happen ? Predictions for USA and Global Predictions
Vulture population rises in India
November 15th, 2012
As per a recent report by the Bombay Natural History Society (BHNS) rapid
decline in the number of critically endangered Indian vultures has stopped.
Indias vulture population has risen for the first time in last 20 years, after a
sharp decline in their numbers by more than 99%. Vulture numbers
decreased in India from 4 crore in the early 80s to less than 1 lakh in
2011.
Why Vulture numbers were fast declining in India?
Diclofenac, a painkilling drug administered to cattle, is the main cause of mass
extinction of vultures.
Vultures, which have a digestive system robust enough to even digest disease-causing
pathogens found in rotting meat of dead,do not have a critical enzyme that breaks
down diclofenacand die of renal failure after eating carcasses of cattle administered
the drug.
Vultures feeding on cattle either die from acute kidney failure within a few days or lose
their ability to reproduce.
Diclofenac is a painkilling drug administered to cattle.
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has put vultures on its list of
critically endangered species.
The three most common species of vultures and there approx. numbers in the India are:
1. Long-billed vulture (Gyps indicus), also known as the Indian vulture (44,000)
2. White-backed vulture (Gyps africanus) (11,000)
3. Slender-billed vulture (Gyps tenuirostris) (1,000)
Tags: 2012 Diclofenac Environment November 2012 Vulture
No resolution achieved during Antarctic Ocean sanctuary talks at CCAMLR
November 4th, 2012
No resolution could be reached during the talks at the Commission for the Conservation
of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR),at Hobart in Australia. The
commission is made up of 24 countries and the European Union.
What is CCAMLR?
Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
(CCAMLR) was established in 1982.
The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, also
Commission on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, and CCAMLR, is
part of the Antarctic Treaty System.
Its aim is to conserve marine life in the face of rising demands to exploit krill, a
shrimp-like creature which is an important source of food for species in the Antarctic.
The commission permits fishing carried out in a sustainable manner and takes
account of the effects of fishing on other components of the ecosystem.
Headquartered in Tasmania, Australia.
CCAMLR is an international commission with 25 Members, and a further 10 countries have
acceded to the Convention.
Based on the best available scientific information, the Commission agrees a set of
conservation measures that determine the use of marine living resources in the Antarctic.
The key institutional components of CCAMLR are:
the CAMLR Convention which entered into force on 7 April 1982
a decision-making body, the Commission
a Scientific Committee which advises the
Commission using the best available science
Conservation measures and resolutions
CCAMLRs Membership and provisions for international cooperation and collaboration
a Secretariat based in Hobart, Tasmania, that supports the work of the Commission.
What was the objective of the conference?
The conference was held to reach agreement on creating new marine sanctuaries to
protect thousands of polar species across Antarctica. CCAMLR had been considering
proposals for two critical areas in Antarcticas Southern Ocean.
They included 1.6 million square km of protection for the Ross Sea, the worlds most
intact marine ecosystem, and 1.9 million square km of coastal area in the East Antarctic,
backed by Australia and the EU.
Who opposed the move?
Blocking countries included major fishing countries, with China, Japan, South Korea and
Russia among them.
Tags: 2012 Australia China Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
(CCAMLR) Environment EU Europe International Japan November 2012 Russia South Korea
Orissa slaps a penalty of Rs 23,904 crore on errant miners
November 4th, 2012
The Orissa steel and mines department has imposed a penalty of Rs 23,904 crore on 27
miners in the mining circle of the mineral-richKeonjhar district for extraction of ore
beyond the permissible limits.
Companies which have been slapped with penalties include Tata Steel, Aditya Birla-owned
Essel Mining and the state-owned Orissa Mining Corporation.
Tata Steel has been asked to pay Rs 6,265 crore. Others who have been charged are Essel
Mining (Rs 4,530 crore), RP Sao (Rs 3,872 crore), Sarada Mines (Rs 2,845 crore), KJS
Ahluwalia (Rs 2,022 crore), Serajuddin & Co (Rs 1,983 crore).
Tags: 2012 Environment Essel Mining Keonjhar Legal November 2012 Odisha Orissa Orissa
Mining Corporation Places in News Tata Steel
Uttarakhand tops in Environmental Performance Index (EPI)
November 1st, 2012
Uttarakhand (scored 0.8123) topped the list of best-performing States and Union
territories in terms of environmental performance. As per theEnvironmental Performance
Index (EPI) released by Planning Commission:
Uttarakhand is followed by Himachal Pradesh (0.7316), Chandigarh (0.7270), Sikkim
(0.7149), and Andhra Pradesh (0.7147).
Best states in terms of air quality: Mizoram, Kerala, Goa, Sikkim, Tripura,
Puducherry and Andaman and Nicobar (all with average score of 1)
Paradoxically, except for Uttarakhand, all the States meet the prescribed national
ambient air quality standard in respect of the sulphur dioxide of 20 micrograms per
cubic metre.
More than 10 States do not meet the national standard of 30 microgram per cubic metre
for Nitrogen dioxide.
Except for Goa, Kerala, and Mizoram, no State meets the 60 microgram per cubic metre
national standard for particulate matter.
Himachal Pradesh is the only state with 100 % sewage treatment capacity, in the
remaining States it ranges from 0 (13 States) to less than 20 % (8 States) and more than
50 per cent in 4 States.
Total fecal coliform count is as much as 92 % in most of the States.
States leading in forest conservation and expansion of green cover are Chandigarh,
Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh.
Environmental well-being is one of the considerations for transfer of funds to the States
under the Gadgil formula.
Indicators taken under consideration to arrive at water quality:
Sewage disposal
water quality of rivers
dissolved oxygen
total coliform count
percentage of water exploitation
The indicators considered for measuring the ambient air quality performance:
sulphur dioxide
nitrogen oxide
particulate matter
Tags: 2012 Andaman and Nicobar Andhra Pradesh Environment Environmental Performance Index
(EPI) Gadgil formula Goa Himachal Pradesh Kerala Mizoram November 2012 Planning
Commission Puducherry Science and Technology Sikkim Tripura Uttarakhand
Ocean-grabbing a danger to worlds fisheries: UN
November 1st, 2012
As per a UN expert on right to food, Ocean-grabbing is as serious a threat as
land-grabbing.
What is Ocean-grabbing?
An aggressive industrial fishing by foreign fleets.
How and to whom is it threatening?
Ocean grabbing is mainly concerned with the interest of
smaller fishermen, local communities and sustainable fishing.
It is a threat to food security in developing nations
Excessive and aggressive fishing threatens the fish
ecosystem and makes this practice unsustainable.
It depletes the fishing zones at a faster rate.
What is land-grabbing?
Land grabbing is the contentious issue of large-scale land acquisitions: the buying or
leasing of large pieces of land in developing countries, by domestic and transnational
companies, governments, and individuals.
Countries such as China and Saudi Arabia have bought up agricultural land in poorer
countries such as Ethiopia and Ghana.
What is water-grabbing?
Water grabbing involves the diversion of water resources and watersheds by domestic
and transnational companies, governments, and individuals, which deprives local
communities who depend on the water and ecosystems for their livelihoods.
The ability to take over water is usually associated with processes of commoditization and
privatization of water that transform water from a public good to a private commodity,
with access often controlled by ability to pay.
What are the suggestions made by UN to contain Ocean grabbing?
Create exclusive artisanal fishing zones for small-scale fishers and clamp down on
incursions by industrial fleets
Support small-scale fishers cooperatives and help them rise up the value chain
Put co-management schemes in place to manage fishing resources locally
Refrain from undertaking large-scale development projects, e.g. sand extraction, that
adversely affect the livelihoods of small-scale fishers
Make fisheries and small-scale fishers an integral part of national right to food strategies.
Negative Impact of Nutrients On Coastal Ecosystems
October 29th, 2012
Salt Marshes along the U.S. Eastern seaboard and other highly developed coastlines have
witnessed deterioration of salt marsh. The disintegration has accelerated in recent
decades, with some losses caused by sea-level rise and development.
As per recent studies, nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorusoriginating from septic
systems, sewerage, and soil fertilizers on land flow with rainwater down to the coastal
ocean is responsible for this disintegration.
What is the importance of Salt Marshes?
Salt marshes form critical interface b/w the land and sea. They provide habitat for fish,
birds, and shellfish; protect coastal cities from storms; and they take nutrients out of the
water coming from upland areas, which protects coastal bays from over-pollution. Losses of
healthy salt marsh have accelerated in recent decades, with some losses caused by sea-
level rise and development.
Tags: 2012 Environment October 2012 Salt Marshes Science and Technology
Scientists oppose TECs recommendations of 10year ban on field trials of GM
crops
October 29th, 2012
Scientists have opposed the recommendations made by the Technical Expert Committee
(TEC) appointed by the Supreme Court of India which has recommended a moratorium of
10 years on all field trials of transgenic food crops and field trials of transgenics in those
crops for which India is a centre of origin or diversity.
Why this opposition?
As per scientists opposing the suggestion, ban on the field trials and commercialization of
transgenic crops could harm Indian farmers the most as they need to elevate production of
food grains to meet the demands of increasing population with reduced availability of fertile
land. As per them, TEC has exceeded its mandate and made many sweeping
recommendations on diverse issues without bearing in mind the scientific rigor of the
methods used in India which are similar to those in the most advanced countries. Scientists
are of the opinion that interventions using GM technology will play a significant role in
providing the necessary means to enable farmers to produce more using fewer resources.
Tags: 2012 Environment GM Crops GM technology October 2012 Science and
Technology transgenics
Italian court convicts scientists who were not able to give earthquake warning
October 26th, 2012
An Italian court sentenced six scientists and a government official 6-year imprisonment on
the charges of manslaughter. The scientists were accused of not
being able to give adequate warning of an earthquake that killed
more than 300 people in LAquila in 2009.
All the convicts who were member of National Commission for the
Forecast and Prevention of Major Risks, were accused of
negligence and malpractice in assessing the danger and informing the
city about the risks.
What is the case?
The scientists on National Commission for the Forecast and Prevention of Major
Risks were accused of giving "incomplete, imprecise and contradictory" information on the
danger a few days before earthquake. They were accused of negligence in evaluating the
tremors that preceded LAquila earthquake.
As per scientific opinion given by prosecutors, the dozens of lower level tremors seen
months before the quake were typical of the kind of preliminary seismic activity seen before
major earthquakes. However, Defense lawyers said earthquakes could not be forecasted
and even if they could, nothing could be done to prevent them.
Tags: 2012 Environment International Italy L'Aquila Legal October 2012 Places in News
NTCA to build a national data base for tigers
October 25th, 2012
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) will establish a national data base
for tigers, and each one of the big cats will have a unique identification number and code.
The initiatives of providing UID will aid in better bio-monitoring of tigers.
OBJECTIVE: Providing UID will enhance monitoring and also give the
exact estimate of the tiger population in the country. Camera trap will be
used to photograph the tigers from both sides to avoid variation in stripes and a UID
allotted to each of them.
Tags: 2012 Environment National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) October 2012
E-eye Project in Corbett National Park
October 25th, 2012
E-Eye Project: A pilot surveillance project being piloted
in Corbett National Park in which liveelectronic
surveillance is done with the help of cameras with
video recording facility mounted on towers.
The project will help in tracking the movement of
animals, human interference and checking poaching.
These cameras will generate alerts to the control room
in the park and the NTCA office located at Delhi, as the tigers cross the boundary. These
cameras capture thermal and normal image of body mass regardless of forest density and
severe weather conditions and therefore, can monitor the area during night or day.
Tags: 2012 Corbett National Park E-Eye Project Environment October 2012 Places in News Plans
and Policies
Expert committee suggests 10-year moratorium on GM food crop field trials
October 25th, 2012
The 5-member, Technical Expert Committee appointed on the directions of Supreme Court,
has recommended a 10-year moratorium on field trials of all Genetically Modified
(GM) food crops.
The panel, in its interim report, suggested that the field trials should not be done till an
independent committee of experts and stakeholders examines and assesses the potential
hazard of herbicide tolerant crops and their suitability to India.
What is the concern of environmentalists?
The environmentalists are concerned about the potential damage GM crops can cause to
human health, to livestock and to biodiversity and the likelihood of field trials to
contaminate regular crops.
Tags: 2012 Environment Genetically Modified (GM) October 2012
Alternatives to Endosulfan available
October 23rd, 2012
The Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) Review Committee to theStockholm
Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants approved the assessment of 100 chemical
alternatives to insecticide and acaricideEndosulfan. The committee also suggested its non-
chemical alternatives.
Which of the approved alternatives are used in India?
Among the approved alternatives which are used in India, some are:-
Malathion
Aldicarb
Carbofuran
Cabaryl
Fipronil
Methyl parathion
Pyrethrin
go green, temple, temples in India
Green Temple !Puri Jagannath temple will become first of
the kind to go green