Showing posts with label Pollution. Show all posts

Jan 6, 2016

Union Government launches Ganga Gram Yojana

1/06/2016
Union Government launches Ganga Gram Yojana




The Union Government has launched Ganga Gram Yojana in Uttar Pradesh (UP).
As per the scheme, 1600 villages of UP will be developed which are located along the banks of river Ganga. 
This scheme was launched by the Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharti at Puth village in Hapur district of UP.

Highlights of the Ganga Gram Yojana
  • Approx 1 crore will be invested on each village.
  • In the first phase of the Ganga Gram Yojana, 200 villages in UP have been selected.
  • Every house in the village will have a toilet.
  • Alternative arrangements for sewage treatment will be made as the open drains directly fall into river Ganga.
Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation also deployed the first company of Ganga Task force Battalion to fast track implementation of Namami Gange Programme. It was deployed at Garhmukteshwar town in Hapur district of UP.

Dec 8, 2015

First red alert on pollution declared in Beijing

12/08/2015
Authorities in Chinese capital Beijing on 7 December 2015 issued its first-ever red alert on air pollution ordering schools to close due to hazardous air quality.
The warning was an upgrade from the previous second highest orange alert. The red alert is the most serious (highest) warning on a four-tier system of emergency air-pollution response system was adopted in 2013.
 
Under the alert
  • Government has advised schools to be voluntarily close unless they had good air filtration systems.
  • Half of private cars in the capital city would be also ordered off the road during the period with an odd-even number plate system in force.
  • The other extra measures to be enforced include halting outdoor construction, banning fireworks and outdoor cooking.
China, the world’s biggest carbon emitter in recent times is grappling with the serious chronic problem of the air pollution leading to smog in cities. Most of the pollution is caused by the coal-fired power plants along with vehicle emissions, heating systems and construction and factory work.
 
Particulate matter (PM) 2.5
 
Readings of Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 particles in Beijing also has climbed 300 micrograms per cubic meter which is far more than World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limit of 25 per cubic meter.
PM2.5 are fine particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter that may occur naturally or from anthropogenic activities like human industrial processes. They often reach the lungs causing lifelong respiratory disease and may be fatal if it mixes into the bloodstream.

Nov 1, 2015

Punjab to set up bio-ethanol refinery to stop menace of straw burning

11/01/2015
Punjab to set up bio-ethanol refineryPunjab Government has announced to set up bio-ethanol refinery in the state to tackle the menace of wheat and paddy straw burning.
In this regard, state government has inked MoU with consortium of Beta Renewables, Novozymes and CVC India Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. for project estimated worth Rs. 950 crore during the Progressive Punjab Investor Summit, 2015.
 
Benefits of bio-ethanol refinery
  • Would play an important role in solving the chronic problem of straw burning of leftover agro-based produce especially from wheat and rice feedstock's.
  • Benefit farmers economically, as they would be paid for their agro-based produce to extract bio-ethanol.
  • It would also help in preventing the loss of fertility of soil and damage to environment by reducing air pollution.
What is Bioethanol?
 
  • It is an alcohol derived by process of fermentation mostly from carbohydrates of plant produce and feedstock's.
  • Commonly obtained from crops such as sugarcane, cassava, corn, potato, beetroot and recently grapes, banana and dates etc.
  • Uses: As a quasi-renewable energy it can be blended with petrol or diesel making it a sustainable transport fuel. It can also be used an alternative fuel in manufacturing processes and cosmetic products etc.

Oct 22, 2015

First car-free day observed in Delhi

10/22/2015
First Car-Free Day was observed in Delhi on 22 October 2015 to encourage the people to use public transport instead of using their cars.
It was observed from 7 AM till 12 noon on the stretch connecting Red Fort to India Gate via Delhi Gate and ITO.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia took part to observe this day by taking part in a cycle rally. DTC also had deployed additional buses with frequency of one or two minutes on this route for better facilitation of commuters.
Delhi government has decided to observe ‘Car-Free Day’ on different road stretches on the 22nd of every month. This initiative seeks to reduce
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