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700 villages reeling under drinking water crisis

The State Government on Monday informed the Legislative Assembly that 700 villages in seven districts have been reeling under severe drinking water crisis and Rs 267.49 crore had been released to Task Forces headed by legislators to mitigate water shortage.
 
It said 35 taluks in nine districts have been declared drought-hit.
 
Replying to the debate over drinking water, which took an ugly turn last week, Revenue Minister V Srinivas Prasad said 700 villages in Kolar, Dharwad, Bengaluru Rural, Mysuru, Bengaluru Urban, Ramanagaram, and Chickballapur had been facing... Read more..

Date : Mar 25
Source: The Hindu

Green Bank to invest in projects in India, South Africa

Green Investment Bank (GIB) today announced a pilot project to fund overseas ventures in renewable energy sector to the tune of 200 million pounds (approximately Rs 1,800 crore) in India, South Africa and east African nations.
 
"GIB will initially target three regions East Africa, South Africa and India... (and) will focus on investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency," the bank said in a statement. 
 
The pilot project will involve British Pound 200 million of investments, it said, adding the proposal would be in addition to GIB's allocation of 3.8... Read more..

Date : Mar 25
Source: Business Standard

Climate change to have considerable impact on Ganga's dynamics

Climate change will have a "considerable" impact on the dynamics of the river Ganga, affecting a major portion of north India which is directly dependent on it for its agriculture and industrial needs, a recent study said.
 
In a study conducted by researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, on how the stream-flow in the basin would change under the changing "land use pattern" and "climate", it was found that among both the factors, the effect of climate change was much more "pronounced".
 
"Certain changes are because of land use and some... Read more..

Date : Mar 25
Source: Zee News

For farmers, a switch to horticulture is just a click away

Indian farmers have historically struggled with prolonged droughts that parch the farmland, followed by heavy rains and floods that destroy crops. 
 
In an attempt to protect farmers from the vagaries of weather, the Indian government introduced the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in 2003, encouraging them to shift to horticulture crops such as fruits, vegetables, spices, flowers and plantation crops. In 2013, NHM was subsumed into the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). 
 
States that implement this centrally sponsored mission are helped... Read more..

Date : Mar 25
Source: Live Mint

Global solar energy installations to cross 54 GW this year: Report

Installations of solar power generation capacities worldwide are projected to touch 54,500 MW this year while India is expected to add 1,800 MW during the same period, says a report. 
 
"Another solid year is in store for the global solar industry and new streams of funding are coming into the sector," Mercom Capital Group, a global clean energy communications and consulting firm, said. 
 
Indian solar installations in calendar year 2014 totalled 883 MW, down slightly compared to 1,004 MW installed in 2013. 
 
"India failed to reach the GW mark in 2014... Read more..

Date : Mar 25
Source: Economic Times

Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy stadium: World's first solar-powered cricket ground

This year's edition of the Indian Premier League in Bengaluru will be played on what the state cricket association claims is the world's only solar-powered cricket ground. 
 
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has commissioned a 400-KW solar plant to power the entire M Chinnaswamy stadium, except for the high-intensity floodlights, before the IPL season commences next month. he company executing the project has proposed powering the floodlights too using solar energy as the next step in KSCA's 'go green' mission. 
 
"We are aiming to make this a green... Read more..

Date : Mar 25
Source: Economic Times

Delhi Metro sets up wastewater treatment plants at 5 depots

Delhi Metro has set up Effluent Treatment Plants and Sewage Treatment Plants at its five depots to reuse waste water for cleaning train coaches and related purposes thus saving about 143 kilolitres of water per day. Similar plants have also come up at Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's residential colonies at Shastri Park, Sarita Vihar and Yamuna Bank where about 260 kilolitres of water is being reused, primarily in watering gardens and toilets. 
 
The five depots where the facilities have been installed are - Sarita Vihar, Shastri Park, Yamuna Bank, Sultanpur and Khyber Pass. The... Read more..

Date : Mar 24
Source: Business Standard

Gujarat's GIFT City expects to garner $50 billion business annually

With Sebi finalising norms for the country's first IFSC, Gujarat's GIFT City expects to tap business worth $50 billion annually that India has been losing to global financial hubs like Singapore and Dubai. GIFT City also expects other regulators, RBI and IRDA, to come out with their norms in the coming days for the banking and insurance entities, respectively, which would set up shop in the proposed International Financial Services Centre. 
 
Capital markets regulator Sebi yesterday approved norms for setting up of stock exchanges and other capital market infrastructure in such... Read more..

Date : Mar 24
Source: Economic Times

37,000 million litres of sewage flows into rivers daily: Report

Events around World Water Day, which is marked every year on March 22, may remind everyone about the implications of dwindling water reserves due to population pressure and pollution but the message is, somehow, lost in absence of adequate action on the ground by stakeholders, including the government.
 
The water pollution scenario in India can be mapped by the findings of the country's key pollution watchdog - Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) - which in its recent report noted that nearly 37,000 million liters per day (MLD) of 'untreated' sewage water flows into rivers... Read more..

Date : Mar 24
Source: Times of India

Costa Rica has used only renewable energy in ’15

Costa Rica has achieved a clean energy milestone by using 100% renewable energy for a record 75 days in a row. The feat was achieved thanks to heavy rainfall, which powered four hydroelectric plants in the first three months of the year, the state-run Costa Rican Electricity Institute said. No fossil fuels have been burnt to generate electricity since December 2014, in the state which is renowned for its clean energy policies. 
 
While Costa Rica is a small country, with a population of about 4.8 million people, it has made great strides in its use of renewable energy. Last... Read more..

Date : Mar 24
Source: Times of India

Modi's real-time monitoring of Ganga pollution hits roadblock

The Modi government’s first big bang reform to clean the Ganga by introducing real-time online monitoring of pollutants from April 1 has hit a roadblock after stiff resistance from the industry, potentially jeopardising a plan to expand the plan nationwide. Major industries along the Ganga have complained the government is forcing them to install particular software and not allowing them flexibility to choose from an array of available technologies.
 
“We are not against online monitoring but the government should be more accommodating of our concerns,” said a representative of... Read more..

Date : Mar 24
Source: Hindustan Times

GPCB plans 25 stations for online pollution monitoring

Recognizing the need to monitor real-time and peak concentration levels of critical pollutants, the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) has decided to set up 25 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) across the state. 
 
Under its Ambient Air Quality Programme, GPCB has issued tenders for setting up these stations and they will be finalised by mid-February. The stations will begin operations by mid-2015. 
 
The board decision comes after it got quality data from two such stations — one in Maninagar and another in Jamnagar — set up some time... Read more..

Date : Mar 24
Source: Times of India

New system to turn wastewater into freshwater

Researchers have developed a new technology that turns wastewater into freshwater more efficiently than conventional methods. Dr Jianmin Wang, a Missouri University of Science and Technology professor developed multiple wastewater treatment technologies that produce freshwater that is not only cleaner than wastewater treated using traditional methods, but also requires less maintenance and energy.
 
Wang said 0.8 per cent of America's energy use is spent on wastewater treatment. Much of that energy is used to aerate the tanks where wastewater is treated. The energy is used to... Read more..

Date : Mar 24
Source: Zee News

Govt to simplify waste disposal approval process

The environment ministry plans to simplify approvals needed for disposal of waste through an integrated waste management information system. It will also modify archaic rules to tailor them to present-day needs. 
 
The ministry in the past few years has realized that there is an urgent need for a more comprehensive and holistic approach to ensure environmentally sound management of all kinds of waste through a single platform, an official said on condition of anonymity. 
 
“Thus, we have undertaken a task to develop an integrated waste management information system... Read more..

Date : Mar 24
Source: Live Mint

Electric Vehicles Just Got Cooler

In case you didn't think electric vehicles were cooler than their gas-guzzling counterparts, well, think again. They quite literally are, according to scientists. Electric car skeptics often point out that the vehicles are made using energy from the same fossil-fuel burning power plants as traditional cars, which....sort of defeats the purpose, right? Not entirely. A study published this week in Nature Scientific Reports finds that electric cars, despite being born of fossil fuels, have a big cooling effect when it comes to urban heat islands, those bubbles of hot air that eclipse cities... Read more..

Date : Mar 24
Source: Gizmodo

Water Management Company Wabag Wins EUR 30 Mln Plan Project in India

VA Tech Wabag Ltd., India won an order for a value of around EUR 30 million for Design and Construction of 140,000 m3/d Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Dinapur, Varanasi including Operation and Maintenance for ten years. The scope for VA Tech Wabag includes Design, Engineering, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of the Sewage Treatment Plant whereas the civil construction will be carried out by the JV partner.
 
The order is part of JICA – Funded Ganga Action Plan Project and the implementation agency for this project is Ganga Pollution Prevention Unit of UP Jal... Read more..

Date : Mar 24
Source: Friedl News

To help 'Smart Cities' plan, Sebi approves norms for issuance and listing of municipal bonds

The Securities and Exchange Board of India has cleared the framework to set up international financial services centres (IFSC), approved rules for municipalities to issue and list bonds and made it easier for banks to take control of listed companies in financial distress by converting loans into equity. 
 
The board of the market regulator also approved a roadmap for the new fiscal year, when it is expected to unveil rules to help startups raise funds through crowdfunding and institutional trading platform, as well as measures such as e-IPO and e-KYC to make it easier to... Read more..

Date : Mar 23
Source: Economic Times

Urban homes emit more greenhouse gases than industry

The industrial sector has been taking the flak for emitting high levels of hazardous gases over the years but it might ultimately be our homes that are responsible for the highest emission of greenhouse gases. A recently published study conducted by the Centre for Ecological Sciences of the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, found that the domestic sector was one of the highest contributing factors to greenhouse gases in seven cities.
 
When the cities were considered individually, the domestic sector was the highest contributor in Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Mumbai,... Read more..

Date : Mar 23
Source: Times of India

The Water Man of India Wins 2015 Stockholm Water Prize

Rajendra Singh, popularly known as ‘The Water Man of India’ has been awarded the 2015 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate, for his innovative water restoration efforts, improving water security in rural India, and for showing extraordinary courage and determination in his quest to improve the living conditions for those most in need.
 
Born in 1959, Rajendra Singh studied Ayurvedic medicine and surgery and then went to work in the arid and poor interiors of Rajasthan. His goal was to set up health centers in these areas but upon closer interaction with the locals, he realised that... Read more..

Date : Mar 23
Source: The Better India

Dutch tie-up on smart cities

A delegation from Netherlands be in India from Monday to explore business and investment opportunities for Amsterdam is also slated to discuss ‘smart cities’, a focus area of the Narendra Modi government. The delegation and the Dutch government are expected to share their knowledge on the issue, in line with an agreement signed under the earlier government here.
 
To an e-mailed question on how the Netherlands government wanted to collaborate in the smart city project, Angelique Meyer, representing Urban Solutions Amsterdam Smart City, listed urban planning, waste management,... Read more..

Date : Mar 23
Source: Business Standard

Panasonic India aims to capture 5% market share in solar segment

Consumer electronics major Panasonic India will focus on expanding its solar products range and is looking at capturing 5 per cent market share in this segment in a year. 
 
"We are focusing more on solar products. We are expanding our products offering and looking at capturing 5 per cent market share in a year's time in the solar segment. We are working towards that," Panasonic India Manging Director Manish Sharma told PTI. 
 
The company at present sells a solar lantern in India. 
 
"Going forward, our intention is to get into larger business of solar... Read more..

Date : Mar 23
Source: Business Standard

Eastern Naval Command going green to reduce carbon footprint

The Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Command is not just leading from the front in protecting the country's eastern seaboard but has also taken a head start in energy conservation and environmental protection to cut down on its carbon footprint. 
 
For starters, the ENC uses solar energy to light up some naval establishments, battery operated listers (trolley) to carry cargo in the Naval Dockyard, and pollution control boom for naval jetties to restrict marine pollution. It has also actively taken up rain water harvesting and vermiculture techniques, apart from planting saplings to... Read more..

Date : Mar 23
Source: Times of India

Solar Parks on Fertile Land Are New Adversary of India’s Farmers

If a lack of water doesn’t drive Natthu Raja off his farm, an abundance of sunlight might. Indian farmers have long battled for access to water as factories encroach on agricultural land. Their newest adversary has the Prime Minister’s backing: solar power farms looking for acreage to build on. 
 
Raja, who grows lentils in Lalitpur in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, says officials have told him solar power developers may want to buy his land. Growing lentils doesn’t provide much income, yet Raja says without it he has no future.
 
“Good agricultural land is... Read more..

Date : Mar 23
Source: Bloomberg

Guidelines About Rooftop, Small Solar Plants Upheld

Paving the way for increased use of solar energy, Madras High Court has upheld certain clauses of the guidelines issued by the Centre for electricity generation with roof-top and other small solar power plants by private persons/bodies.
 
Maintaining that the challengers have not substantiated that the clauses are arbitrary, Justice M Duraiswamy on Tuesday said only overwhelming public interest required interference by the Court. In the absence of the same, the writ petitions are liable to be rejected, the Judge observed and dismissed a batch of writ petitions from Saheli... Read more..

Date : Mar 23
Source: The New Indian Express

India's Inox Wind up to $164 mln IPO subscribed more than 18 times

Indian wind-turbine maker Inox Wind Ltd's up to 10.25 billion rupees ($164 million) initial public offering, the biggest in more than two years, was subscribed over 18 times, as investors bet on the growth potential for renewable energy.
 
Inox Wind, India's fourth-biggest wind turbine generator maker, was raising 7 billion rupees in the IPO, while its parent Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd was selling 10 million shares in the company in a price range of 315-325 rupees apiece.
 
The sale received bids for 18.5 times the number of shares on offer as of the last day on... Read more..

Date : Mar 23
Source: Reuters
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