Sunday, August 7, 2011

India third biggest greenhouse gas emitter: Government

India is the third biggest greenhouse gas emitter with its contribution standing at 5.3 per cent behind countries like China and the USA, the Government said in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.


"As per current information available, the countries which are the largest contributor, in percentage term regarding greenhouse gas emissions are China 19.5 per cent, USA 19.2 per cent, India 5.3 per cent, Russia 5.1 per cent, Japan 3.6 per cent and Germany 2.6 per cent," Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan said.

In her written reply to CPI-M MP Susmita Bauri, Natarajan said the Government has taken steps to reduce the carbon emission intensity.

"India will endeavour to reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 20 to 25 per cent in comparison to the 2005 level," she said narrating the programmes initiated by the Government to cut the emission.

by: Times of india

Birds avoid dry Keoladeo sanctuary

The green cover at the Keoladeo National Park after the recent short spell of rain is alluring but it cannot get more deceptive than this - the famed bird sanctuary is devoid of its life line, the winged guests.

All one gets to see in the park are a few birds, most of them only the local species. Among the monsoonal birds, only a handful of openbill storks are seen - small colonies of these birds nestled on a couple of trees, in a small portion of the park.

The beauty of the winged visitors at the Unesco's world heritage site begins and ends there. Even these few birds are likely to fly away soon, the reason being shortage of water in the park.

There is little hope that the monsoonal birds, which normally arrive in the park by July-August , will been seen this time too. Forest officials and bird watchers believe that unless immediate arrangements for water are made, no monsoon birds would be breeding in the park. The minimum requirement of water at the park is 500 MCFT (million cubic feet) annually, but all that it has got this season till now is less than 50 MCFT.

Since, the water bodies in the park are completely dry. the winged visitors avoided the park.

Recent spells of rain have ensured a little more than five feet of water in the nearby Ajam dam.

However, only after the level crosses about eight feet, the water would spill over into the artificial ponds and lakes in the park. Despite it being the monsoon season, the only source of water for the birds in the sanctuary are the 11 bore wells across the forest area. However, the amount of water pumped out is far from enough.

"The situation is almost like in 2009 when the open-bill storks and other birds have had to abandon their nests and eggs, which later became food for snakes and monkeys .

This year, though a few birds have started nesting, breeding has not yet begun. Unless a miracle happens, other breeding birds might not even be visiting the sanctuary ,'' an official said. The release of water from the Panchna Dam in Karauli district in August 2010, had brought in a new lease of life for the bird sanctuary.
 
By : Times of india 

Oil spill off Mumbai from sunken ship MT Rak

A cargo vessel which sunk off the Mumbai harbour Thursday has been leaking oil, an official said Sunday.
"Oil has been observed leaking from the sunken vessel Rak Carrier since late Saturday at an approximate rate of 1.5-2 tonnes per hour," a navy official said.

"Coast Guard ship Samudra Prahari on patrol immediately responded and used oil spill dispersant to neutralise the spilled oil. Operation 'Paryavaran Suraksha' has also been launched by the Coast Guard," he added.
According to the official, an aerial recce conducted Sunday morning indicated spread of oil up to seven nautical miles from the sunken vessel.
The Coast Guard has pressed another vessel, ICGS Sankalp, in the area, he added.
However, the coastal authorities have been advised to maintain strict vigil. "State authorities have also been advised to direct fishermen to refrain from fishing in the vicinity of the affected area," the official said.

The ship MT Rak Carrier, laden with 60,000 tonnes of coal and 340 tonnes of fuel and diesel, sank Thursday afternoon, raising apprehensions of an ecological hazard.

The 30 crewmen aboard -- all Indonesians, Jordanians and Romanians -- were rescued in a coordinated effort by the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.

The Panama-flagged ship, owned and managed by M/s. Delta Shipping Marine Services, Qatar, was on a voyage from Lubuk-Tutung, Indonesia to Dahej Port in Gujarat, carrying a consignment of coal meant for Adani Enterprises Ltd.

Two top officials of the cargo vessel were Saturday arrested and later released on bail by a Mumbai court.
The duo -- Jordanian Capt. Arkan Younis, 36, and Romanian chief engineer Eonascho Eon, 54 -- were nabbed under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 336, pertaining to endangering life or personal safety of others.

By :Times of india