City banquet halls under NGT lens

Taking note of pollution and traffic congestion during functions at banquet halls, farmhouses and hotels here, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formed a committee to stop activities that lead to degradation of the environment. It has also asked the committee to prepare an action plan in this regard within a month. A bench of NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said marriage halls are violating norms by organising weddings and other functions without any permission. 
The green panel formed a joint committee with representatives of civic bodies, the Central Ground Water Authority, the DJB, the police and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. 
In its first meeting, the panel has to prepare an action plan and lay down time lines for sewage disposal, groundwater extraction, rainwater harvesting, municipal solid waste management, systems for groundwater recharge. It will also have to form a plan to check air quality due to traffic congestions and noise pollution because of use of DJ sets. The tribunal said the committee would compile data of all such places where functions, including marriages, take place. The data should be published and appropriately regulated, it said.

Cyclone Gaja toll rises to 45, Tamil Nadu CM asks all leaders to join relief ops

The toll in cyclone Gaja has touched 45, Tamil Nadu  Chief Minister K Palaniswami said on Sunday and appealed to leaders of all political parties to take part in the relief activities. He said the relief operations were going on a war footing in the districts affected by the cyclonic storm and state ministers have been deployed in Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Pudukottai to monitor it.


The state government is collecting details about areas which have been badly affected by the cyclone, Palaniswami told reporters here.

"In villages, lots of trees and standing crops have been damaged, affecting the livelihood of farmers. The extent of damage is being evaluated. Till now, 45 people have lost their lives due to cyclone," the chief minister said.

The Tamil Nadu government has announced a solatium of Rs 10 lakh to family of each of the deceased from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund (CMPRF). Those with severe injuries would be provided with Rs one lakh each while those whose injuries are not grievous in nature would get Rs 25,000 compensation.
Palaniswami said 1.7 lakh trees have been uprooted, 735 cattle died, 1.17 lakh houses damaged and 88,102 hectare agricultural land has been affected in coastal districts.

Nearly 2.50 lakh people were provided accommodation in 483 relief camps. Besides, 1,014 mobile medical vans have been set up and so far one lakh people in affected areas have benefited from it, the chief minister said.

Noting that 39,938 electric poles and 347 transformers were damaged in the affected districts, he said 12,532 men of the state electricity board have been despatched to take up the repair work.Responding to a question, Palaniswami urged all political leaders and people to extend a helping hand in this time of need.

"It is a natural calamity. There should not be any differences like opposition, ruling party in taking up relief operations. I appeal to everyone to help the affected people," he said.

Pollution board plans complete ban on private cars except CNG ones in Delhi

Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) has recommended emergency implementation of either the odd-even scheme or a complete ban on non-CNG private vehicles if the pollution level in the city rises again.


Air pollution level has improved in Delhi after recent rains and drop in stubble burning cases in the neighbouring states. But the air quality was still far from safe and under 'poor' category, which is likely to get worsen in the next few days.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) has been oscillating between 'severe' and the upper range of 'very poor' for the past one week even crossing 600 post-Diwali.

In 2016, the odd-even scheme was enforced twice January 1-15 and April 15-30 -- in Delhi when vehicles having odd and even numbers were allowed to ply on alternate days as the air quality deteriorated.

The odd-even scheme is a part of the Graded Responde Action Plan (GRAP), emergency measures implemented in phases to combat air pollution. It came into effect from October 15.

Is marijuana an aphrodisiac?

Legalization of marijuana in the US was followed by decreased purchase of condoms, finds a new research. Photo: iStockphoto

Science shows that marijuana negatively affects both male and female reproductive health. However, changes in sexual behaviour induced by marijuana can offset the biological effects, leading to increased birth rates, suggests a new research by Michele Baggio of the University of Connecticut and others.

The authors study the changes in sexual behaviour and birth rates across the United States following legalization of marijuana for medical purposes in various states. Such legalization is likely to have increased the overall availability of marijuana in the respective states.

The authors show that legalization of medical marijuana was followed by increased frequency of sexual intercourse and less contraceptive use.

The authors arrived at this conclusion by analysing the annual survey of youth conducted from 1997 to 2015 which asks respondents details of their sexual activity and substance use.

Their analysis of data on retail sales showed that legalization of marijuana was followed by decreased purchase of condoms.

According to the authors, the use of drugs led people to indulge in more risky sexual behaviour and to ignore the costs associated with such behaviour.

The study contends that the ability of marijuana to heighten sensory perception, increase relaxation, and reduce stress and anxiety outweighed its negative impact on reproductive health, when viewed strictly through the narrow prism of impact on birth rates.

Why and What is Green Protocol?

A deep analysis into the problem of Solid Waste Management will light the fact that waste becoming an unmanageable problem is a very recent phenomenon that began hardly ten to fifteen years back at the most.Increase in population as claimed by many is definitely not the main reason.  If one analyses critically, it boils down to one word “Disposables”.

By disposables what is meant here is that the use of one time use and throw products has increased drastically in the past ten to fifteen years and with it the magnitude of the problem of its disposal. Disposable water bottles, disposable paper, Styrofoam and plastic cups, disposable paper, plastic and Styrofoam plates, disposable food packaging including aluminium and Styrofoam packaging, plastic bags, etc. Therefore Green protocol is essentially a set of measures which when implemented results in significant reduction of waste with primary focus on prevention of use of disposables and using reusable alternatives like glass/stainless/porcelain cutleries.

When Green Protocol is implemented in any event, non biodegradable waste generation becomes close to zero. Therefore, the question of waste management post the event becomes virtually non- existent. It was tried for the first time in National Games and now it has become a people’s movement with many functions including weddings implementing Green Protocol.

Mission AARDRAM

Mission AARDRAM aims at creating “People Friendly” Health Delivery System in the state. The approach will be need based and aims at treating every patient with ‘dignity’. Through the state of the art investigation and intervention protocols it envisages transforming all Primary Health Centers into Family Health Centres as a first level Health delivery point. The mission envisages ensuring quality care at Primary Health Centres. All high footfall hospitals will be transformed to patient friendly Out Patient service providers. The services include web based appointment system, virtual queues, patient reception at registration centres, waiting rooms with wi-fi facilities and so on.

The Government is committed to people-friendly healthcare for delivering the public sector health care system to make quality specialist health care facilities accessible to the poorest of the poor.

The objectives of Mission Aardram are:

• Transform PHCs into FHCs
• Avail the best service of the best doctors and para medical staff
• Reform out-patient management procedures with state-of-the-art facilities
• Facilitate with hygienic and spacious wards, rooms, beds and toilets
• Avail Life Saving Medicines from the hospital concerned on moderate rates

The Haritha Keralam Mission

Haritha Keralam is an Umbrella Mission integrating the components of Waste Management, Organic Farming, Water Resources Management. It has an ambitious outlook to address the issues of piling waste, impending drought and health hazards due to the consumption of pesticide treated vegetables and in general, the agricultural dependency of the State.

The Haritha Keralam Mission aims to integrate the 3 most important and inter-related sectors through an orchestrated and cascading implementation of three Sub-Missions.

* Household level segregation and safe disposal of organic waste through feasible options like composting, biogas, arrangements for institutional waste disposal, re-use, recycling and safe disposal of non-degradable and electronic waste are given priorities.
* Rejuvenation of tanks, ponds, streams and rivers are the focus in the water resource sector.
* The thrust in promoting organic agriculture will be to produce safe to eat vegetables and fruits to make the state self-sufficient within the next 5 years.

Haritha Keralam is one of the four mega missions announced by the government of Kerala, which emphasize on pro people alternative mode of development.

SPM and piezo electric balance method,what is it?

Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM)

Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) is solid and liquid particle suspended in ambient air of which particle size is not more than 10 micro-m.


An indicated value as a mass concentration is obtained from the decrease of the frequency of a quartz due to the adhesion of particle. The advantage of piezoelectric balance method is high sensitivity.

coal dust

Coal dust is a fine powdered form of coal, which is created by the crushing, grinding, or pulverizing of coal. Because of the brittle nature of coal, coal dust can be created during mining, transportation, or by mechanically handling coal. It is a form of fugitive dust.

Grinding coal to dust before combusting it improves the speed and efficiency of burning and makes the coal easier to handle. However, coal dust is hazardous to workers if it is suspended in air outside the controlled environment of grinding and combustion equipment. It poses the acute hazard of forming an explosive mixture in air and the chronic hazard of causing pulmonary illness in people who inhale excessive quantities of it.

The distribution of the particle-size of coal dust is frequently measured in mesh

Major Sources of pollution?

 Among the most important are

• Lead from gasoline, paint, shot, and other sources poisoning people and animals
• CFCs depleting ozone
• Acid rain killing trees, lake life, and other vegetation
• DDT killing birds and other animals
• Asbestos causing cancer
• Coal dust causing Black Lung Disease
• Tobacco causing cancer and other diseases

NGT forms committee to check pollution during functions at banquets, hotels

Taking note of pollution and traffic congestion during functions at banquet halls, farmhouses and hotels here, the National Green Tribunal has formed a committee to stop activities that lead to degradation of the ENVIRONMENT. The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Westend Green Farms Society alleging that banquets and marriage halls operating in Mahipalpur and Rajokri near Indira Gandhi International Airport were causing vehicular congestion and environment pollution. The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Westend Green Farms Society alleging that banquets and marriage halls operating in Mahipalpur and Rajokri near Indira Gandhi International Airport were causing vehicular congestion and environment pollution. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel  said marriage halls are violating norms by organising weddings and other functions without any permission. The green panel formed a joint committee with representatives of municipal corporations, the Central Ground Water Authority, the Delhi Jal Board, the Delhi Police and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. The committee, which has to meet at least twice a month, will be headed by the Delhi government's urban development secretary, the tribunal said. 

Oil short-selling jumps in record streak as faith in Opec wanes

Hedge funds are betting Opec will struggle to reverse oil’s precipitous plunge. Their combined wagers against West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude soared for a seventh straight week, the longest global short-selling streak in data going back to 2011. The bearish bets jumped 14 per cent in the week ended Nov. 13 and have tripled since the end of September, according to data from the US Commodity Futures Trade Commission and ICE Futures Europe on Friday.
With oil prices slipping into a bear market, Opec has promised to do what it takes to cut output. Still, it’s unclear how far the cartel and its allies will go and it may take a reduction well beyond the 1 million barrels a day that’s been publicly discussed to restore faith, said Daniel Ghali. 

“We’ve been through not just a price shock, but a momentum shock,” he said in a telephone interview. “Given that, we don’t think oil will recover these losses in short order without a significant catalyst, and that may have to be Opec doing more than expected.’

Temperature Plummets To Minus 6 Degree In Himachal Pradesh's Keylong

Keylong, tourist destination Manali in Kullu district and Kalpa in tribal Kinnaur district continued to shiver under below-freezing point temperatures.

Shimla: 

Cold wave in Keylong of tribal Lahaul and Spiti district intensified on Saturday as the night temperature fell further, especially in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh, after the recent snowfall, the meteorological department said.

Keylong, tourist destination Manali in Kullu district and Kalpa in tribal Kinnaur district continued to shiver under below-freezing point temperatures, Manmohan Singh, Shimla meteorological centre director, said.

The lowest temperature in Himachal Pradesh was recorded in Keylong at minus 6.0 degree Celsius between 5.30 pm Friday and 8.30 am Saturday, he added.

The minimum temperature in Kalpa was recorded at minus 1.0 degree Celsius; in Manali, the minimum temperature was minus 0.6 degree Celsius during the period.

Higher reaches of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Chamba, Shimla and Kullu districts received snowfall on Wednesday night.

Climate change likely caused migration, demise of ancient Indus Valley civilization

More than 4000 years ago, the Harppa culture thrived in the Indus river valley of what is now modern Pakistan and northwestern India, where they build sophisticated cities, invented sewage systems that predated ancient Rome's and engaged in long distance trade with settlements in Mesopotamia. Yet by 1800 BCE, this advanced culture had abandoned their cities, moving instead to smaller villages in the Himalayan foothills. A new study from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found evidence that climate changes likely drove the Harappans to resettle far away from the floodplains of ht Indus.

Animal populations are shrinking due to their high-risk food-finding strategies

A study using animal attached technology to measure food consumption in four very different wild vertebrates has revealed that animals using a high risk strategy to find rarer food are particularly susceptible to becoming extinct, as they fail to gather food for their young before they starve.

Houston's urban sprawl increased rainfall, flooding during Hurricane Harvey

Researchers found that Houston's urban landscape directly contribute to the torrential rainfall and deadly flooding of Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Houston's risk for extreme flooding was 21 times greater due to urbanization. The results highlight the human role in extreme weather events and the need to consider urban and suburban development when calculating hurricane risk.