Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Jayanthi Natarajan the new MoEF minister

In a substantive yet incomplete exercise, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today dropped seven ministers, inducted V Kishore Chandra Deo and seven other new faces, and elevated three others including Jairam Ramesh from whom Environment and Forests has been taken away.

In the much-talked about revamping of his ministry, Singh did not touch the 'big four' -- Finance, Home, Defence and External Affairs -- but shifted M Veerappa Moily from Law to Corporate Affairs and brought Salman Khursheed in his place.

 
Trinamool Congress leader Dinesh Trivedi has been elevated to the... Read more..

CERC seeks fuel efficiency labels for four wheelers - Economic Times

The Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC) called upon the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) to implement the fuel efficiency Standards and labelling for four-wheelers in India. The CERC sent a representation to this effect to BEE director general Ajay Mathur.

It may be mentioned here that BEE has already introduced star labelling, indicating the power consumption of electrical equipments, air-conditioners, refrigerators, distribution transformers, ceiling fans, pumps/motors and geysers. As early as August 2008, the BEE had announced the scheme for implementing fuel... Read more..

CERC to review tariff norms for biomass plants

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) plans to review tariff determination norms for biomass power projects to allow developers pass the increase in fuel costs to users.

The regulator has taken the decision to review tariff guidelines for biomass power plants on a request from the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE), sources said. The ministry has swung into action because many biomass plants closed down in states like Punjab, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh due to high fuel costs.

While future biomass plants will definitely benefit from the revision of... Read more..

IIM-A, Cept, IIT Delhi team up for sustainable urban transport

Institutes in the city are trying to give a sustainable touch to the urban transportation systems of the country. Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A), Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology University (Cept) and Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D) have teamed up to employ their expertise in formulating a methodology for low carbon urban transport system across the country. The project called 'Promoting Low Carbon Transport in India,' endorsed by the ministry of environment and ministry of urban development, will envision a carbon free transportation in the... Read more..

Over 2000 glaciers retreating in country

For better planning and management of water resources, the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) and department of space conducted satellite-based monitoring of the glaciers across the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra river basins. The extensive study of snow and glaciers of Himalayas has been released by MoEF.

India has 16,672 glaciers covering an area of 40,563 sqkm. Over 2,700 glaciers were monitored. Of 2,767 glaciers, 2184 are retreating, 435 are advancing and 148 glaciers show no change.

Snow cover and glacier extent was monitored regularly for the entire Himalayan... Read more..

Andhra decides to plant two million saplings as a part of eco-drive

 Andhra Pradesh Government decided to plant two million saplings as part of its 62nd 'Vana Mahotsavam' programme in an eco-friendly initiative.

The students and state government officials launched this awareness campaign in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.

Lauding the state government's initiative, N. Javahar Babu, Chief Conservator of Forests, said that these kinds of initiatives are essential to create environment consciousness among the people.

"All the states of India and not only the southern states where environmental degradation has taken place to a large extent,... Read more..

Renewable certificate price revision may hurt fund flows

 
The proposed downward price revision for renewable energy certificates (REC), if accepted, will jeopardise investment flow in green projects.

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission has suggested a six to 20 per cent price cut for RECs effective April 2012 for three years, intending to make trading attractive.

The industry feels that the market should be allowed to mature first before any changes in the benchmark price system is made. Project developers feel that the CERC's move to reduce floor and forbearance (ceiling) price would create uncertainty among... Read more..

Programme to utilise solid waste first in India: min

The much awaited Solid Waste Management programme of the Punjab government would commence from August 31, a minister said here today.
"This multipurpose project would be first of its kind in India where all towns and cities would be covered under MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) management in scientific manner," Local Bodies and Industries Minister Tikshan Sud said.
The minister said that as per the estimate, 137 cities of Punjab produce 4300 tonnes solid waste per day that would be utilised for producing power, compost or other useful products and finally disposal of remaining... Read more..

India firm on Tipaimukh project - amid concerns across border

The Indian government is going ahead with the proposed 1,500-MW Tipaimukh hydel power project in Manipur despite objections from NGOs in India and opposition parties in neighbouring Bangladesh, says an official.

"All apprehensions are baseless. The mega hydel power project would be commissioned despite opposition within the country and outside," Prem Chand Pankaj, chairman-cum-managing director of the state-owned North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd. (Neepco), told IANS in an interview.

A section of environmentalists and activists in Manipur and Bangladesh... Read more..

Carbon dioxide content threatening Ajanta Caves: ASI

The Ajanta Caves, a world heritage site located 5km northeast of Aurangabad, are under threat because of high carbon dioxide (CO2) content resulting from increasing human interference, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has said. The ASI has conducted a five-year climate monitoring study inside the caves.

The source of CO2 in the caves is exhalation by visitors. Ajanta Caves attract 6,000-7,000 tourists a day during the peak season of October to January and about 4,000 visitors a day during the rest of the year.

The CO2 content increases by 20-30% when the caves are... Read more..

OSPCB asks 6 sponge iron units to shut down, NTPC seeks more time for ash disposal

 The Orissa State Pollution Control Board has asked six sponge iron units to shut down for not adhering to environment safety measures as earlier directed the body, state environment minister Debi Prasad Mishra said on Thursday.

The six sponge iron units that were slapped closure notice include Ores Ispat Private Limited, Pawanraj Sponge Iron Limited, Bijabhal, Rexon Strips Limited and Aditya Sponge and Power Limited in Sundergarh district, OMDC Sponge Iron Plant in Keonjhar and Thakurbari and Bindal Sponge Iron Limited at Talcher.

The closure notice was given following a... Read more..

IFC to invest $2.7 m in Jain Irrigation arm

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is helping Jain Irrigation Systems in India to set up Sustainable Agro-Commercial Finance Limited, a non-banking finance company that will provide loans to small-scale farmers to help them install micro-irrigation systems and improve productivity.

The project is expected to benefit more than six lakh farmers with limited access to credit, in the next five years, said IFC here on Thursday.

IFC will invest $2.7 million (equivalent to Rs.12 crore) in equity in Sustainable Agro-Commercial Finance, a subsidiary of Jain Irrigation Systems.... Read more..