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Ideas pour in for green initiative

From making slippers out of plastic water bottles to setting up small wind turbines to run computers in remote village schools, the Take Care Take Charge (TCTC) campaign has galvanized citizens across the country to devise effective green ideas that can power sustainable living.

Responding to the call for green ideas as part of Times of India-Garnier's Take Care Take Charge initiative, green innovators have sent in more than 300 ideas since the campaign started on World Environment Day earlier this month.

June 30 is the last date for submission of ideas while the top six... Read more..

Date : Jun 15
Source: Times of India

Hitachi Announces the Opening of Investment Discussions with Hi-Rel Electronics

Hitachi, Ltd. (President: Hiroaki Nakanishi, NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501, “Hitachi”) and Hi-Rel Electronics Pvt. Ltd. (Managing Director: Piyush Shah, “Hi-Rel”) today announced that they have agreed to open discussions regarding a business alliance, including Hitachi’s investment on Hi-Rel and creation of a new manufacturing facility. The aim of this move is to bolster both companies’ power electronics businesses in India. The two companies will hold discussions with a view to entering into a final agreement around the end of September 2011.

India is expected to see many large-scale... Read more..

Date : Jun 15
Source: Business Wire

Suryachakra Pow - MoU with SunBorne and Citadel for establishing 5 MW Solar CSP

Suryachakra Power Corporation Ltd has informed BSE that Suryachakra Power Venture Private Ltd., (SPVPL - a Suryachakra Group company) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Sunborne Energy Services India Pvt. Ltd., Gurgaon (of Sunborne Energy Technologies, USA) and CITADEL Research & Solutions Ltd., Hyderabad to work together for establishing a 5 MW Concentrated Solar Thermal Power project in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

SPVPL has earlier executed a Power Purchase Agreement with Central Power Distribution Company of AP Limited for establishing the project under... Read more..

Date : Jun 15
Source: Money Control

Goa may soon be residual waste-free

A scheme to dispatch residual plastic and other waste from Goa to a cement factory in Karnataka is likely to become operational soon after a couple of baling machines are procured to compress the waste.

The state monitoring committee on waste management headed by environment minister Aleixo Sequeira met and worked out modalities on Tuesday for the collection and routing of plastic to ACC Limited in Gulbarga, Karnataka.

The environment department had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the company on Friday for the disposal of residual waste, such as plastic,... Read more..

Date : Jun 15
Source: Times of India

Heliport to come up in Rohini area

If you can afford a small aircraft or a helicopter you may be able to land in Delhi’s northern suburb Rohini. If not, you could still avail private helicopter services to be launched for tourists in remote areas, especially in northern India. Delhi is set to get its first heliport outside the Palam airport area, where small aircrafts and helicopters land.

The environment ministry has accorded in principle approval for constructing a heliport in 25 acres of barren land in Rohini, a few kilometers away from the Rithala metro station. The proposal, mooted by the civil aviation ministry... Read more..

Date : Jun 15
Source: Hindustan Times

India invites Czech companies in coal sector

 Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal has invited Czech Republic firms to invest in the coal sector in India.

"Jaiswal invited the Czech companies to invest in Indian coal sector," an official release said on Tuesday. Jaiswal, who met Czech Republic trade and industry minister Martin Kocourek on Monday, also explored the scope for technical cooperation between both the nations in the field of coal mining.

"This included deep coal mining, lignite mining and clean coal technologies covering the areas of coal mine methane extraction, underground coal gasification etc," the statement... Read more..

Date : Jun 15
Source: Economic Times

Look who is wooing the farmer! DTH spouts DD idiom, Airtel launches iKisan

For over many decades, 'Krishi Darshan' on Doordarshan has been the farmers' best friend to get updates and other best agricultural practices in India. Taking this forward, Airtel DTH which is seeing good traction from rural areas, has decided to use the direct-to-home (DTH) platform to kick-start it s own dedicated interactive service iKisaan, targeted at rural consumers.

"Over 60% of our new customers have been coming from outside of the top 300 towns," said Ajai Puri, chief executive officer, Airtel DTH. "Presence of large untapped geographies gave us the reason to launch our... Read more..

Date : Jun 15
Source: Hindustan Times

Water flow in Ganga is decreasing: IIT

The water flow in Ganga is decreasing because of the power projects in Alaknanda and Bhagiradhi basins, a study by the IIT Roorkee has warned, prompting the government to take necessary action. Accepting the "study on Assessment of Cumulative Impact of Hydropower Projects in Alaknanda and Bhagirathi Basins up to Devprayag," environment minister Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday said that the ministry would "re-stipulate minimum environmental flows" in the hydel projects in order to ensure uninterrupted flow of Ganga.

"The Bhagiradhi and Alakananda basins are important because...if there is... Read more..

Date : Jun 15
Source: Hindustan Times

Govt must move away from energy market: Ambani

Pitching for integration of fuel prices in India with the world markets, Reliance India Limited (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani has suggested the government should act like an ‘umpire’ rather than getting itself involved in the business. 

 
“The government has to be more of an umpire or the tournament organiser as opposed to getting involved in the game,” Ambani said, while speaking about necessary policy changes in the energy space. “We need disruptive policies, which will help India leapfrog and realise the growth potential, speedily and sustainably,” he said in an interview to... Read more..

Date : Jun 15
Source: Deccan Herald

India targets South Asian energy security boost with regional loan plans

 

 

 

India today said it would provide $100 million as loan for each of its neighbouring countries to help them develop infrastructure like roads and power.

 

 

After a meeting of the South Asia Free Trade Area Ministerial Council at Male (Maldives), Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said India has evolved a new ‘Buyer Credit Cover’ for the SAARC region, that is, a development loan for them.

 

 

“We would be happy to extend such development loan through our Exim bank, interest rates close to LIBOR (London Inter Bank... Read more..

Date : Jun 14
Source: Indian Express

Pune Marriott Hotel Earns LEED Gold

The Pune Marriott Hotel & Convention Centre has been awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).

With its various green initiatives, The Marriott Hotels & Resorts branded property is the first Marriott International hotel in India to receive the honor.

Since its opening in November 2010, the property has worked towards saving and preserving natural resources and the environment. The Pune Marriott has incorporated and adapted: low VOC emitting materials, reduced landscape water usage by using... Read more..

Date : Jun 14
Source: Asia Travel Tips

MMTC to pump in Rs 350 crore for renewable energy sector

Diversification and divestment – that is what's on Minerals & Metals Trading Corporation’s (MMTC) to-do list. The company is foraying into the renewable energy space, reports CNBC-TV18’s Vineetha Athrey.

India's largest international trading company is looking at diversifying and top on it's agenda is to invest in the renewable energy space. Encouraged by it's successful 15MW pilot project in Karnataka, the company is now looking to invest a total of Rs 350 crore for renewable energy sector. Of this, Rs 200-240 cr will go into setting up 40 new wind energy generators.

The... Read more..

Date : Jun 14
Source: Money Control

Farming needs major shift, says FAO

World farming needs a "major shift" to more sustainable practices as intensive crop production since the 1960s has degraded soils, depleted groundwater and caused pest outbreaks, the United Nations said. More farmers need to reduce ploughing and alternate cereals with soil-improving plants, and use an "ecosystem approach" based on natural systems to promote crop growth, save water and fight pests, the UN's Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization said in a guide to policymakers published today.

The so-called Green Revolution that started in the 1950s and spread in the 1960s... Read more..

Date : Jun 14
Source: Economic Times

No green nod to stadium in Kochi

Union environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on Monday said the proposed international cricket stadium in Kochi and the hydel power project in Athirappally cannot be given environment clearance. "The area earmarked for the project falls under the Coastal Regulation Zone-1," he told reporters after a high-level meeting with Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and members of the state Cabinet. Blame the Kerala Cricket Association indirectly, Ramesh said mangrove has been destroyed at the site to make it appear as a CRZ-2 area.

Union agricutlure minister K V Thomas, an MP from Ernakulam... Read more..

Date : Jun 14
Source: Times of India

India, World Bank to sign loan agreement for cleaning Ganga

The Government of India and the World Bank will sign an agreement tomorrow for cleaning the Ganga River.

 

 
The project has an estimated cost of Rs 7,000 crore. The share of the Government of India will be Rs 5,100 crore and that of the five state governments including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal will be Rs 1,900 crore.

The World Bank will support the Government of India by providing technical assistance and finance. The assistance would be in form of a loan of 801 million dollars from IBRD and a credit of 199 million dollar... Read more..

Date : Jun 14
Source: New Kerala

BHEL solar panels deployed on GSAT-8

The Electronics Division of Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) assembled and supplied space grade solar panels to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which was deployed on GSAT-8 satellite, according to a company release. The satellite, launched from French Guyana recently, is the heaviest-ever satellite of ISRO that caters to the requirement of telecommunications.

Four solar panels with a total surface area of 21 sq. m were deployed on GSAT-8, with a total power capacity of 4.5 kilowatt peak (kWp), which is defined as the peak photovoltaic power output that can be... Read more..

Date : Jun 14
Source: Hindu

Johnson Controls May Seek to Build Solar-Power Plants in India

Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI), a U.S. developer of energy-saving technology and hybrid car batteries, may seek to enter India’s solar industry as a plant contractor.

“We think there’s a tremendous opportunity” to engineer, build and operate plants for project developers, Pramoda Karkal, managing director at Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based company’s Indian unit, said in an interview in Mumbai.

India has awarded licenses to build at least 1,100 megawatts of solar capacity by next January, roughly equivalent to one new nuclear power plant and about 30 times what exists today. Companies... Read more..

Date : Jun 14
Source: Bloomberg

Call to meet challenges of climate change

One of the greatest challenges of this century, which is resulting in ecological imbalance, is ‘climate change', says Shailesh Nayak, Chairman of Earth Commission and Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

Delivering the convocation address on ‘climate change and energy -- present and future challenges' at the 68th and 69th convocation of Andhra University here on Monday, Dr. Nayak attributed the threat of climate change to the rapid industrialisation and high energy consumption lifestyle of the developed nations during the last 100 years.

He... Read more..

Date : Jun 14
Source: Hindu

Govt to spend Rs 46,000 cr on vulnerable green areas

Vulnerability of Indian forests to climate change will be assessed and remedial measures will be adopted under the Rs 46,000 crore Green India Mission. In a note circulated for Cabinet approval to seek funds to make the mission operational, the environment ministry has proposed that parts of Indian forest, which are most vulnerable to climate change, will be identified using satellite mapping and on ground research.

"It is not possible to bring entire forest area under the Green India Mission as that sort of funds would not be available," a senior ministry official explained.

... Read more..
Date : Jun 14
Source: Hindustan Times

Himachal takes lead in going green

Himachal Pradesh has become the first State in the country to initiate concrete steps towards reducing carbon emissions, with its decision to sign an agreement on Emission Reduction Purchase with the World Bank.

The agreement will be operative till December, 2018. The agreement on Emission Reduction Purchase, a Clean Development Mechanism Bio-Carbon Sub-Project of Himachal Pradesh under Mid Himalayan Watershed Development Project promises long term benefits to the State, sources said.

Taking a lead in reducing the carbon emissions and earning carbon credits for the same, the... Read more..

Date : Jun 14
Source: Webindia 123

Motorized 'trikes' to collect dry waste in pilot project at Divar

Garbage management is expected to be elevated to a high level for the first time in Goa after 20 partly motorized tricycles carrying six garbage bins appear door-to-door in Divar to collect segregated dry waste.

The pilot project has been driven and funded by Darryl Pereira, CEO of Reira Eco Ventures who will also initiate a door to door educative programme in Divar to spread awareness about the importance of segregating garbage at home.

"The cycles called trikes will help collect non-biodegradable waste - plastic, metal, glass, paper and other refuse from households in each... Read more..

Date : Jun 14
Source: Times of India

Govt to review 60 hydel projects on the Ganga

The environment ministry is set to review the future of 60 hydel projects in the Ganga basin following a study done by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee. The move is significant considering the BJP played up the protection of the river Ganga before Uttarakhand assembly elections nex t year and Uma Bharati, who returned to BJP last week, successfully forcing the ministry to stop construction of the Srinagar project to save a temple.

The present move is being seen as an attempt to crush the movement.

The ministry had last year asked IIT Roorkee, under the... Read more..

Date : Jun 14
Source: Hindustan Times

Narendra Modi inaugurates 10 MW solar power plant

Chief minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the first phase of the 10 MW solar power plant set up by Azure Power at Khadoda village of Sabarkantha. The inauguration marks a giant step towards realising the state’s vision of emerging as a hub of solar power generation.

“Gujarat is committed to renewable energy sources and will become the only state to have established over 100 MW of solar power in the next six months,” Modi said at the inauguration.
He said that at the same time, the state will also focus on solar energy related research.

“This will not only... Read more..

Date : Jun 14
Source: Daily News and Analysis

COAI to draft carbon emission cut plan

 Following the allegation of NGO Green Peace that telecom giant Bharti Airtel had not revealed measures taken to lower its carbon emissions, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) said it will come up with an emission reduction programme within three months.

"The COAI committed to develop a clear, detailed and sustainable emission reduction programme with realistic time frames for achievement and share this with Green Peace and other interested parties," said the association after a meeting with representatives from Green Peace.

According to the COAI, an effective... Read more..

Date : Jun 13
Source: Times of India

India’s Essar Seeks Indonesia, Australia Resources to Meet Indian Demand

Essar Group plans to acquire more coal and iron ore assets in Indonesia, Australia and Africa as it seeks to boost supply to meet domestic Indian needs, Chief Executive Officer Prashant Ruia said.

“We’re looking at investing overseas, including in Indonesia, Australia and Africa, to access natural resources,” Ruia said in a Bloomberg TV interview at the World Economic Forum on East Asia in Jakarta yesterday. “Coal and iron ore are two major possibilities and, going forward, oil and gas.”

Indian companies including Essar, Tata Power Co. and Reliance Power Ltd. (RPWR) are... Read more..

Date : Jun 13
Source: Bloomberg
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