Mining – India 1
1. Vedanta runs into a London storm over Orissa mining plans 1
2. Protest held against Indian mine 3
3. Iron ore rates take quantum leap 4
4. Orissa's anti-mining protests reach Delhi 5
5. Government grilled over illegal mining 6
6. Case to be filed against mining firms 7
Mining – International 7
7. Zim withdraws mining snatch bill 7
8. Sierra Gorda can produce 140,000 tonnes per year of copper 8
9. Legislators press for closure gold mine 9
10. World largest copper mine Minera Escondida to cut production 10
11. Rivona VP says no to mining activities 10
Other News 11
12. Raja slams Environment Ministry 11
13. National Water Mission under National Action Plan for Climate Change 12
14. In danger zone 13
15. National Road Safety and Traffic Management Board 15
Mining – India
Vedanta runs into a London storm over Orissa mining plans
27 Jul 2009, 1620 hrs IST, IANS
Print
EMail
Discuss Share
Save
Comment
Text:
LONDON: The Church of England and other shareholders of the mining company Vedanta braced for major protests at their annual meeting here on
Monday with a young Kondh tribal joining celebrities to demand an end to mining plans on the bauxite-rich mountains of Nyamgiri in Orissa.
As major shareholders, who also include local councils in Britain, gathered for the Annual General Meeting, the movement against Vedanta operations in Nyamgiri gathered the celebrity support of human rights campaigners Bianca Jagger and Arundhati Roy.
Owned by Indian-origin billionaire Anil Aggarwal, Vedanta's plans to build an open-pit mine for bauxite threaten the ecologically sensitive mountain, which is a sacred site for the Kondhs, said Sitaram, a representative of the tribe, who travelled all the way from Nyamgiri.
"We cannot live without our god mountain and the forest and we will continue our peaceful struggle. It is a life and death battle and Kondh people are united on this," said Sitaram, whose travel was sponsored by ActionAid, a campaigning nongovernment body.
Jagger and Roy also lent their voices to the mounting protests against Vedanta Resources plc, which is a member of the FTSE 100 group of leading companies in the London Stock Exchange.
"I will be appealing to investors, which include the [British] government's own staff pension fund, the Church of England and borough councils such as Middlesbrough to stop Vedanta going ahead with a mine that will damage the cultural and economic rights of the Kondh people as well as the fight against climate change," Jagger said.
Vedanta, the core of whose assets lies in India, was not immediately available for comment but the group has previously argued that the project will bring vital jobs and economic development to the region.
Writer and activist Arundhati Roy, in a recent letter to protesters, said bauxite mountains are part of a very delicate ecosystem.
"...Today, in the era of climate change, surely it's time to realise that forests, river systems, mountain ranges and people who know to live in ecologically sustainable ways, are worth more than all the bauxite in the world," Roy said.
Vedanta chairman Aggarwal said in the Annual Report published last week: "I am ...pleased to report that the Indian Supreme Court has cleared the bauxite mining project at Niyamgiri. We expect to commence mining our own bauxite from Niyamgiri in the current year."
Protesters, who include large NGOs such as Survival International, Amnesty International, Action Aid, War on Want and many Indian activists, hope to replicate their campaigning success with the Norwegian government.
In 2007, the Norwegian Ministry of Finance excluded Vedanta from further investments of the Norwegian government's pension fund after its Council on Ethics warned of "an unacceptable risk of contributing to severe environmental damages and serious or systematic violations of human rights by continuing to invest in the company".
Survival Director Stephen Corry said, "While world leaders talk about stopping climate change, tribal people around the world are literally sitting in front of bulldozers - not just for them, but for all our sakes."
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Indl-Goods-Svs/Vedanta-runs-into-a-London-storm-over-Orissa-mining-plans/articleshow/4825968.cms
Protest held against Indian mine
Bianca Jagger has led protests against Vedanta
Activists have demonstrated outside the annual general meeting of British mining company Vedanta, protesting against its plans for a mine in India.
The Kondh tribe says the opening of the bauxite mine will destroy a large part of the Niyamgiri Mountain in the eastern Indian state of Orissa.
An elder of the tribe was to attend the meeting, while environmental campaigner Bianca Jagger protested outside.
They have appealed to investors to stop Vedanta going ahead with the mine.
Vedanta says the project is ethically and environmentally sound.
We have been living in harmony with this mountain, these forests, these animals for generations. Vedanta has been here for less than 10 years.
Sitaram Kulisika, Kondh tribe elder
Ms Jagger is supported by UK-based campaign groups, including ActionAid and Survival International.
They held a demonstration outside the meeting the venue of the Vedanta meeting in London, with a yellow digger to illustrate the kind of mining assault they say the firm will launch on the Niyamgiri hills, which many tribal peoples believe to be sacred.
Way of life
ActionAid bought a single share in Vedanta for tribal activist Sitaram Kulisika so that he could attend the meeting on behalf of the Kondh tribe.
"Last year Vedanta directors promised not to mine without our consent. I am here to request all shareholders to honour that promise and save our livelihood and our god," he said ahead of the protest.
"We have been living in harmony with this mountain, these forests, these animals for generations. Vedanta has been here for less than 10 years.
Critics say that the Vedanta operation is a social and environmental disaster
"They cannot tell us what is best for our future."
Ms Jagger has called on investors, including the Church of England and some borough councils, to rethink their involvement with Vedanta.
The Church has shares in Vedanta worth £2.5m ($4.1m).
Mining giant Vedanta is based in the UK but has most of its operations in India.
It is about to start mining bauxite in the Niyamgiri hills, to be processed at a refinery that has already been built in the area.
Bauxite is used to make aluminium.
The company and its Indian partner have been accused of forcing people to move from the land.
Vedanta has said it is committed to developing the project "in line with the best international standards for environmental management", and has noted that the project has been approved by India's Supreme Court.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8170328.stm
Iron ore rates take quantum leap
TNN 27 July 2009, 11:12pm IST
Print
Email
Discuss Bookmark/Share
Save
Comment
Text Size: |
BELLARY: Its good news for mine owners. The rate of iron ore which suffered a setback after the economic meltdown, has taken a quantum leap since
last September.
The earlier rate of $140 per tonne, which dropped down to $48 per tonne after the economic recession has now increased to $80 per tonne. At present, there are 32 mining companies which are operating in the district, while the remaining 60 were shut down due to various reasons like license renewal and illegal mining, based on the Lokayuktha report.
Sandur and Hospet, the hub of mining activities, is the areas where the rich 63 and 63.5 iron ore grade are found extensively. This, when imported to China would fetch them $62 per tonne. Every month, 15 lakh tonnes of iron ore are being imported to national and international market and it has taken a beating after the recession set in. With the increase in rate, the mining market is all set for revival.
Traffic snarls which had come down considerably in the Bellary district due to less movement of mining lorries since last year, is likely to go up, haunting the peace of nature lovers. However, businessmen in real estate, hotel, automobiles, petrol and diesel, insurance and can heave a sigh of relief with this change.
In this connection, stern measures should be taken by the district administration and regional pollution control board to prevent air pollution, which is causing respiratory hazards to the people.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/City/Hubli/Iron-ore-rates-take-quantum-leap/articleshow/4827042.cms
Orissa's anti-mining protests reach Delhi
2009-07-27 22:31:00
Members of Orissa's Kondh tribe Monday gathered for a candle light vigil in the capital, urging Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to stop mining of the bauxite-rich Nyamgiri hills in their state.
According to the tribesmen and others supporting them, the mining of the Niyamgiri hills will lead to massive deforestation, affect water resources, destroy the local ecosystem and endanger wild animals commonly found in the area like tigers, leopards and elephants.
The mining will destroy the traditional way of life that indigenous communities like the Kondh tribe lead in the Niyamgiri hills, they said.
Damki Majhi, a tribesmen, said: 'If the mining starts, we can't stay there any more. Our streams, forests and crops will be destroyed...we are dependent on Niyamgiri for water.'
'We cannot eat money and we know it won't last long,' he added.
Among the various organisations supporting the Kondh tribe's cause and joining in the tribesmen's protest is the international aid agency, Action Aid.
According to Action Aid, the Supreme Court of India recently ruled in favour of the Britain-based mining company, Vedanta Resources, allowing it to go ahead with its proposed mining of the hills.
'This was even though the Centrally Empowered Committee appointed by the apex court stated that mining will lead to massive deforestation in the area and threaten the indigenous way of life there,' an Action Aid official said.
'In the recent past, a growing international scrutiny of Vedanta's activities in Orissa and elsewhere led the Norway Pension Fund to withdraw its investment of 15.6 million dollars from the company,' the Action Aid official said.
'We believe that the remaining shareholders need to be explained the true impact of the mining activity, carried out with their money and support, will have on this indigenous community,' the official added.
Related Links: National,Business
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?a=jh1w5qadfca&title=Orissa_s_anti_mining_protests_reach_Delhi
Government grilled over illegal mining
TNN 28 July 2009, 03:01am IST
Print
Email
Discuss Bookmark/Share
Save
Comment
Text Size: |
PANAJI: Minister of forests Felipe Neri Rodrigues and chief minister Digamber Kamat assured the House on Monday that action would be taken
against illegal mining in the state.
The assurance came in response to a starred question by Pernem BJP MLA Dayanand Sopte, who also spoke out against illegal mining in Korgao village of Pernem taluka. Sopte said the committee headed by the chief conservator of forests had visited the Korgao site but the complaint was filed about 20 days later. Sopte also said when the committee visited the site, they took the land owneragainst whom the complaint had been lodgedalong with them for the inspection, but not the complainant, the village panchayat of Korgao. Sopte said the land owner was none other then former Pernem legislator Jitendra Deshprabhu.
Sopte added that mining had been carried out at Korgao without any prospecting license or NOCs from the water resources or mining departments. "Eight months have passed since the inspection and your report says that inquiry is in progress. But he (the land owner) is building hutments for his labourers at the site. Why is no action being taken against the offenders?" Sopte demanded.
Rodrigues, however, answered that no illegalities were taking place in the forests although "lots of things are happening in private properties." The minister also said that the report states that mining in Korgao has been stopped. "We can give an assurance that if any activity is still going on, we can take action."
Leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar also intervened in the debate to state that in Maulinguem-Sanguem, mining was actually going on in wildlife areas. Parrikar said mine number 20/51 was actuallyworking partly in Mahaveer wild life sanctuary. There are about 22 irregularities of which many are downright illegal. "Inspections are not enough, action is required," Parrikar said.
Clarifying about the Korgao mining activity, the chief minister intervened to say that although no prospecting license had been issued there, the owner said that it was his private property and that he was removing "murram" to fill his land. Kamat said that the extraction activity at Korgao had been stopped. If the officers failed to take action, we will hold the concerned officers responsible, Kamat said, adding that he would ensure that illegal mining activities are stopped immediately.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/City/Goa/Government-grilled-over-illegal-mining/articleshow/4827697.cms
Case to be filed against mining firms
TNN 28 July 2009, 03:03am IST
Print
Email
Discuss Bookmark/Share
Save
Comment
Text Size: |
BICHOLIM: Villagers of Advalpal, Bicholim have decided to file a law suit against mining companies causing pollution in the area.
Addressing a press conference here on Sunday evening, Prabhakar Naik alleged that the government has failed to give them justice in the matter. All the natural springs and water reservoirs have been destroyed due to mining silt, causing water scarcity during the summer, he said.
Villagers Satyawati Naik, Sulochana Naik, Asmita Naik, Anant Naik, Vaikunth Naik and Bicholim block president of Congress party Naresh Sawal were present.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/City/Goa/Case-to-be-filed-against-mining-firms/articleshow/4827700.cms
Mining – International
Zim withdraws mining snatch bill
Moses Mudzwiti Published:Jul 28, 2009
________________________________________
Article Tools
Print E-Mail
Save and Share
ZIMBABWE’S inability to attract foreign investment has forced the government to withdraw contentious amendments to a mining bill that would have halved private ownership.
For weeks, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has been re-assuring investors that planned legislation that would allow the government to take more than 51% ownership of foreign-owned mines would not go ahead.
The minerals that would have been affected include gold, diamonds and platinum.
Six months after the unity government was formed, there has been little or no foreign investment coming into Zimbabwe.
Observers have blamed the country’s unfriendly policies and pressure has been mounting for a rethink.
Zimbabwe has about 600 mines and many of them are badly in need of massive capital investment.
Announcing the withdrawal of the amendments to the mining bill, Thankful Musukutwa, the mines and mining development permanent secretary, said: “There has been realisation that, in its present form, the bill would not be able to attract meaningful investment.”
The move to withdraw the amendments comes ahead of planned incentives such as reduced import tariffs on capital goods.
President Robert Mugabe had proposed the bill as a means of appeasing a restless population during his country’s economic meltdown.
He promised that the government would acquire 51% of all mines and give half its stake to ordinary citizens. But bad policies and unreliable electricity have reduced mining outputs to record lows of below 10%.
http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=1040664
Sierra Gorda can produce 140,000 tonnes per year of copper
Tuesday, 28 Jul 2009
Vancouver based Quadra Mining released a scoping study on its Sierra Gorda project in Chile's region II outlining a 25 year life in which it would produce on average 306 Mlb per year copper, 16 Mlb per year molybdenum and 36,000 oz per year gold for a startup CAPEX of USD 1.66 billion and copper cash cost of USD 0.79 per lb.
The company said that the study contemplated an open pit operation with a 111,000 tonnes per day throughput.
Mr Paul Blythe CEO of Quadra said that "We would expect to be in production in 2013-14. We aim to have permitting at the end of this year or in the Q1 of 2010."
Based on prices of USD 2.00 per lb for copper, USD 12.0 per lb molybdenum and USD 800 per oz gold, the project has a net present value of USD 622 million using a 10% discount rate and an internal rate of return of 16%.
The study used average grades of 0.42% for copper, 0.03% for molybdenum and 0.07 gram per tonne for gold and recoveries of 86% for copper, 59% for molybdenum and 42% for gold.
Quadra also updated Sierra Gorda's resources to now include 1.35 Bt in measured and indicated sulfides grading 0.42% copper, 0.03% molybdenum and 0.07 gram per tonne gold. Inferred sulfides amount to 456 Mt grading 0.38% copper, 0.01% molybdenum and 0.04 gram per tonne gold, both using a 0.30% copper equivalent cutoff grade.
Oxide measured and indicated resources stand at 251 Mt grading 0.33% copper. Inferred oxides amount to 26.8 Mt at 0.28%, both using a 0.20% cutoff.
Mr Blythe said that the company is looking for a partner to assist the company financially in advancing the project.
Quadra Mining recently acquired Centenario Copper, which runs the Franke mine in region II, near Sierra Gorda and is slated to produce some 30,000 tonnes per year in copper cathode. The company has also considered producing the less processed pregnant leach solution in order to save on startup costs as that would require less equipment.
(Sourced from bnamericas.com)
http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/07/28/MTA0MTky/Sierra_Gorda_can_produce_140%252C000_tonnes_per_year_of_copper.html
Legislators press for closure gold mine
Speaker of the National Assembly Samwel Sitta chats with The Citizen Managing Editor Bakari Machumu at parliament ground in Dodoma yesterday.
By Faraja Jube
Members of Parliament continued to press yesterday for closure of the Barrick gold mine in Tarime District, Mara region for poisoning a vital river.
The onslaught in the august House was led by Kyela MP Dr Harrison Mwakyembe (CCM). He was later supported by Dr Gertrude Mongela of neighbouring Ukerewe Island in Lake Victoria.
Dr Mwakyembe said the Barrick run North Mara gold mine was responsible for spewing poison into a dependable river, something that has caused catastrophic consequences to the local populace.
"I am recommending that the Barrick mine be closed immediately pending all the due process to establish what is happening and ensure the company adheres to environmental safety standards," Dr Mwakyembe said.
He said the mining development agreements entered by investors and the government did not have the relevant environmental clauses to address the serious consequences as experienced in Tarime.
Dr Mwakyembe said Barrick was notorious worldwide where it operated for violating environmental laws and claimed the company was once barred in Austsralia. "I know they will make noise and take you wherever but on this one, we will stand by your actions,"said Mwakyembe. who is a senior lecturer in law.
Dr Mongela, a former president of the Pan-African parliament, said poisoning was a serious threat to the biodiversity of Lake Victoria. She said poison from the mines was a very serious matter. "On poison you don�t compromise, you close the mine first,"she said.
But Barrick CEO Deo Mwanyika said the MPs were missing the point. "A parliamentary committee was formed and its report on the investigation of the mine has not been released. Why don�t they wait?"he told The Citizen after the debate in Dodoma.
He said MPs were criticising the investors without first getting the facts on the ground and seek appropriate measures to "cure the problem and not its symptoms."
The Kyela MP also wondered whether appropriate steps had been taken to ensure Tulawaka mine that is due to wind its activities did not leave gapping pits behind. �We have read that they are leaving but I would want to know if they had set aside funds to rehabilitate the environment,� he said.
He also warned against any rushing to exploit Uranium deposits that have been discovered in several parts of the country without first making sure that that leaders were ready to be accountable and draw contracts that would benefit the nation.
The MP criticised the government for not revoking tax exemptions on mining companies following the revocation of a 2005 Government Notice that allowed the benefit. He said the tax relief they were enjoying was not part of the agreement with the Government.
The MP also gave the Energy and Water Regulatory Authority (Ewura) three months to stamp bring to an end adulteration of fuel or else he would be forced to table a private motion to force management changes.
Felix Mrema (Arusha Urban-CCM) said the government should empower artisanal miners for locals also to benefit from minerals, now enjoyed mainly by foreign investors. He praised the minister for introducing a fund to help small-scale miners and also the decision to review the Songas capacity payments.
http://thecitizen.co.tz/newe.php?id=14023
World largest copper mine Minera Escondida to cut production
Tuesday, 28 Jul 2009
Reuters reported that Minera Escondida will be closing part of its mining operations for repairs. It will be repairing the Laguna Seca semi autonomous grinding mill for 45 days. During the Q1 of this year, output fell by about one third compared to 2008.
BHP Billiton owns a majority share of Escondida and runs the mine. The company, which manages over 100 operations across 25 countries, reported a record USD 15.39 billion profit in the 2007-08 financial year. The company, however, expects a much smaller profit margin this year due to drop in commodity demand through the world.
Copper has seen a steady rise in value over the last several months after crashing near the beginning of 2009. The metal is currently valued at around USD 2.42 per pound. BHP Billiton, which had a stock value floating between USD 59 and USD 62 on July 23rd has seen similar trends, hitting an all-time high of USD 95 per share in May 2008 before plummeting as low as USD 24.62 per share in November 2008.
Sourced from Reuters)
http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/07/28/MTA0MTgz/World_largest_copper_mine_Minera_Escondida_to_cut_production.html
Rivona VP says no to mining activities
TNN 28 July 2009, 03:04am IST
Print
Email
Discuss Bookmark/Share
Save
Comment
Text Size: |
MARGAO: Villagers of Rivona, at an environmental public hearing held recently, with respect to an iron and managanese ore mine in the village,
registered their staunch opposition to the operation of the mining lease. Significantly, the Rivona village panchayat also voiced its opposition against the mine and vowed to oppose mining activities in the village.
"Nearly 200 families from the village, who are largely small time farmers, would be adversely affected if the mine is allowed to operate. Besides, there are many ancient temples and caves of historical importance in the vicinity of the mining lease, which stand to be destroyed if the mine starts its operations. Afforestation is never done by the mining companies and neither do they bother to fill up the mining pits once the mines are exhausted. The panchayat strongly supports the villagers in their opposition against the proposed mine," sarpanch Gitanjali Naik stated at the hearing.
Rama Velip, chairperson, Gawda, Kunbi, Velip and Dhangar Association, Colomb, in his submission, made a strong case for rejecting the environmental clearance to the mine by pointing out that "the proposed mining activities would be in contravention of the Environment Protection Act, the Air Act, the Water Act and the Forest Conservation Act". "Besides increasing dust pollution in the village and causing respiratory diseases to the locals, the mine, if allowed to operate, will cause immense harm to the Western Ghats," he stated.
Chandrakant Rivonkar while picking holes in the project report submitted by the mining company, pointed out that there existed ancient Pandava caves within 200 meters of the proposed mining site "whereas the report states that there are no protected sites within a 10 km radius." "Besides, the noise pollution caused by mining activities will be more than 50 decibels and not what is mentioned in the report. The company uses the blasting technique for mining, however, this fact does not find a mention in the report. The area is rich in flora and fauna while the report says that there is no plantation," Rivonkar stated.
Avdhut Prabhudesai, in his objections, opposed the mines on the grounds that the proposed site was in proximity to the settlement area.
"Mining activities in the locality are not done with the aim of sustainable development, but only to satiate the greed of the mine owners. Any increase in mining activities in the village will lead to an increase in the density of the mining vehicular traffic on the existing roads thus posing a hazard to the lives of the locals. Besides, the increase in mining activities will lead to a sharp rise in the number of patients suffering from respiratory diseases on account of severe dust pollution," Prabhudesai pointed out.
Altogether 365 written objections against the mine were received at the public hearing that was conducted by additional collector, South Goa, Prasanna Acharya, and environmental engineer of the Goa StatePollution Control Board (GSPCB), Rajendra Kamat.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/City/Goa/Rivona-VP-says-no-to-mining-activities/articleshow/4827702.cms
Other News
Raja slams Environment Ministry
Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI: Communist Party of India MP D. Raja has criticised the Union Environment and Forests Ministry for the manner in which it had bypassed Parliament, ignoring the Standing Committee recommendations on the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds.
‘Disturbing’
Describing the Ministry’s recent moves as “disturbing,” Mr. Raja, in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, said the Ministry had done little to comply with the Standing Committee’s report and address the concerns it raised. Such actions could not be condoned as the government claimed to be concerned about the rights of forest dwellers and the protection of the environment. It was important that the government take steps to frame a Bill as per the Standing Committee’s recommendations. “In the wake of debates on global warming and climate change, effective protection of natural forests, environmentally sound measures to respond to deforestation and effective safeguards for the rights of marginalised communities are vital,” Mr. Raja said, seeking Dr. Singh’s intervention.
“Rights ignored”
The Centre had introduced a Bill in 2008 to access Rs. 11,400 crore in the CAMPA fund by creating a statutory CAMPA authority. The Standing Committee rejected the Bill because of the lack of respect for the rights of forest dwellers, centralisation of decision-making, and the fact that it did not address the fundamental issues in the diversion procedure under the Forest (Conservation) Act, Mr. Raja said.
Hence, it was expected that the Ministry would re-frame the Bill as per the Standing Committee’s recommendations and table it in Parliament. “Yet, I learned to my shock and dismay recently that the Ministry has now decided to bypass Parliament and instead seek approval from the Supreme Court. Instead of redrafting the Bill and approaching Parliament, the Ministry approached the Attorney-General and a Supreme Court-appointed committee.”
Printer friendly page
http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/28/stories/2009072860451000.htm
National Water Mission under National Action Plan for Climate Change
________________________________________
13:33 IST
Backgrounder
National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), released last year, envisages institutionalization of eight national missions. National Water Mission is one of the eight identified national missions. Ministry of Water Resources has prepared the draft comprehensive Mission Document for National Water Mission through consultative process. The objective of National Water Mission is “conservation of water, minimizing wastage and ensuring its more equitable distribution both across and within States through integrated water resources management”.
Five goals identified for the National Water Mission are: (i) Comprehensive water data base in public domain and reliable assessment of the impact of climate change on water resources, (ii) Promotion of citizen and State action for water conservation, augmentation and preservation, (iii) Focused attention for over-exploited areas, (iv) Increasing water use efficiency by 20 %; and (v) Promotion of basin level integrated water resources management.
Consultative process was adopted for preparation of the comprehensive mission document in view of the large number of stakeholders and numerous cross cutting issues involving many Ministries. A Steering Committee was constituted with Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources as Chairman and the representatives of the concerned Ministries, professional organizations academic institutions/experts and non-governmental organizations.
The sub-committees on (i) policy and institutional framework, (b) surface water management, (c) ground water management, (d) domestic and industrial water management, (e) efficient use of water for various purposes, and (f) basin level planning and management, examined the various related issues. The Sub-committees consisted of the representatives of States, experts, and academic institutions and non-governmental organizations.
A national workshop was held on the Draft Mission Document for ‘National Water Mission’ in March 2009. Based on the suggestions received from various states and other stakeholders and the views that emerged during the deliberation at the workshop, the Draft Mission Document has been revised.
NAPCC has laid down the principles and has identified the approach to be adopted to meet the challenges of impact of climate change through eight National Missions namely, (a) National Solar Mission; (b) National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency; (c) National Mission on Sustainable Habitat; (d) National Water Mission; (e) National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Eco-system; (f) National Mission for a Green India; (g) National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture; and (h) National Mission of Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change.
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=51072
In danger zone
Binay Singh, TNN 27 July 2009, 10:21pm IST
Print
Email
Discuss Bookmark/Share
Save
Comment
Text Size: |
VARANASI: Will the high concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere bring about a catastrophe on the Earth?
"Unless we reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million (ppm), we will cause huge and irreversible damage to the Earth," says Bill McKibben, an American environmentalist and author. "Currently, we are breathing in an atmosphere with about 390 ppm CO2, which is alarming for the living beings on the Earth," he points out.
The alarming concentration of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere if not stopped immediately will bring disastrous impacts on people and places all over the world, he informs TOI. McKibben, the author of books like 'Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities' and 'The Durable Future and The End of Nature', was in the city on Sunday. He also took part in a seminar on 'Climate Change: A Global Concern' organised by the Sankat Mochan Foundation (SMF) on Tulsi Ghat on Sunday evening.
Referring to the drought-like situation due to scant rain in UP and other places, he says the disastrous impact of high concentration of CO2 are being seen across the world. Drought is becoming much more common, making food harder to grow in many places. It is estimated that there will be a reduction of 30-40 per cent in the production of major crops, he says and informs that glaciers, the source of drinking water, are melting and disappearing fast. Mosquitoes, who like a warmer world, are spreading and bringing malaria and dengue fever. Sea levels have begun to rise and scientists warn that they may go up as much as several metres this century. If that happens, many of the world's cities, island nations and farmland will be underwater. Even an increase of one degree C temperature on Earth causes impacts like increasing evaporation and droughts in dry areas. Just a few degrees increase in temperature can completely change the world and threaten the lives of millions of people, he points out.
According to him, the global warming is happening faster than ever and humans are responsible for it. For all of human history until about 200 years ago, the atmosphere contained 275ppm of CO2, which is a useful amount because without some CO2 and other greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, the planet will be too cold for humans to inhabit. Beginning in the 18th century, humans began to burn coal and gas and oil to produce energy and goods. The amount of carbon in the atmosphere began to rise. We're taking millions of years worth of carbon, stored beneath the Earth as fossil fuels and releasing it into the atmosphere. The 350ppm, what many scientists and climate experts are now saying, is the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere. Accelerating arctic warming and other early climate impacts have led scientists to conclude that we are already above the safe zone at our current 390ppm, he says.
According to him, James Hansen of America's National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the scientist who warned about global warming, wrote that if humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilisation developed and to which life on Earth was adapted, paleoclimate evidence and ongoing climate change suggested that CO2 would need to be reduced to 350ppm.
"It is a hard task, but not impossible. We need to stop taking carbon out of the ground and putting it into the air," he says, adding there is a need to start using solar and wind energy and other such sources of renewable energy. "If we do so, then the Earth's soils and forests will slowly cycle some of that extra carbon out of the atmosphere and eventually CO2 concentrations will return to a safe level." By decreasing use of other fossil fuels and improving agricultural and forestry practices around the world, scientists believe the Earth can get back to 350 by mid-century. But, the longer we remain in the danger zone (above 350ppm) the more likely that we will see disastrous and irreversible climate impacts, he concludes.
Campaign to make a difference
VARANASI: The saying of Mahatma Gandhi- "A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history"- is the driving force of the 350.org, an international campaign dedicated to creating an equitable global climate treaty that lowers carbon dioxide below 350 parts per million. The campaign was launched in March 2008 by Bill McKibben.
A group of such spirited people, both from the US and Varanasi assembled on the Tulsi Ghat on Sunday afternoon, to discuss the environmental issues with a commitment to spearhead the campaign against water and air pollution.
McKibben, who led the largest demonstrations against global warming in American history, was in the city on Sunday wanting a collaboration with the Sankat Mochan Foundation (SMF), a local organisation working for the cleaning of the Ganga for past 27 years, to address this environmental issue. Appreciating McKibben's initiative, the SMF president and retired professor from the Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (IT-BHU), Prof Veer Bhadra Mishra, said there was a need to rope in more social and voluntary organisations as well as individuals to address the burning issues of air and water pollution.
"While McKibben is advocating for the protection of atmospheric climate, we are working to stop the sewage discharge into the Ganga. Both air and water are the important components of the nature and it is the duty of all to maintain the balance of nature," said Mishra.
Speaking on the occasion, McKibben said the United Nations is working on a treaty, which is supposed to be completed in December this year at a conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. In this meeting, delegates, non-governmental organisations and businesses from every nation will meet to finalise a new global climate change agreement. He also called upon to organise events to celebrate the International Day of Climate Action on October 24.
The seminar was also addressed by IT-BHU director Prof SN Upadhyaya, climate scientist and retired professor from BHU Prof BRD Gupta, Dr Devendra Mohan, Dr TM Mohapatra, Prof SK Mishra, Dr Vishwambhar Nath Mishra and others.
Pollution boards have a different take
VARANASI: While the alarming concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has raised concern of climate experts, the UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) are not monitoring the CO2 level.
However, the CPCB is executing a nation-wide programme of ambient air quality monitoring known as National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). The network consists of 332 operating stations covering 121 cities/towns of the country. Under NAMP, four air pollutants including sulphur dioxide (SO2), oxides of nitrogen as NO2, suspended particulate matter (SPM) and respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) have been identified for regular monitoring at all the locations. The monitoring of meteorological parameters such as wind speed and wind direction, relative humidity (RH) and temperature were also integrated with the monitoring of air quality.
"The CO2 is not regarded as pollutant like carbon monoxide (CO)," Dr Franklin, the scientist at the regional office of UPPCB, told TOI on Monday. According to him, the CO2 does not cause direct fatal impact on human health. The CO2 is the byproduct of all aerobic decomposition. He, however, admitted that the high concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere was responsible for the global warming and climate change.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4826031.cms
National Road Safety and Traffic Management Board
________________________________________
16:2 IST
LOK SABHA
The government is considering setting up of National Road Safety and Traffic Management Board. The Committee of Secretaries (CoS) and the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) have already agreed to the proposal. A draft Cabinet Note in this regard has been circulated to the concerned Ministries/Departments seeking their comments .The creation of the Board would require approval from the Cabinet and an Act of Parliament so no definite timeframe for creation of the Board can be envisaged at this stage. This information was given by Shri Mahadeo Singh Khandela, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways in Lok Sabha today.
The proposed National Road Safety and Traffic Management Bill suggested by Sundar Committee also envisages enabling provision to create similar State Level Road Safety and Traffic Management Boards for the States. The Minister informed that the report has been circulated to all the states/UTs for their comments and was also discussed with the States in various meetings. The State Governments have endorsed the report of Sundar Committee. As such, the States have not been requested separately to create similar Boards in their States.
Shri Khandela also informed the House that in view of the precarious financial position of various public transport institutions such as State owned Road Transport Undertakings, the Planning Commission has allocated funds in the 11th Five Year Plan for providing central assistance to the States for strengthening public transport system in the country. Planning Commission has also given its in-principle approval on a draft scheme prepared by Road Transport and Highways Ministry.
RS:PM
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=51081
No comments:
Post a Comment