KOLKATA, Feb. 11: Experts from Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) today visited bird flu-affected areas of the state ahead of the review meeting to be held by the state government to discuss lifting the ban on chicken trading and transportation.
Bali Island (Sundarbans), Feb. 11: With the Sundarbans, the world's largest estuarine delta sinking by 2.5 mm every year, thanks to global warming, the British Deputy High Commission yesterday initiated a program to combat the adverse impacts of climate change.
Chandigarh, February 12 The Chandigarh Administration has issued a draft notification to declare the city "polythene bag free' by not allowing vendors, shopkeepers, retailers and traders to use, transport and manufacture polythene bags in the city. The administration has invited objections to the scheme within the next 60 days. However, the proposal to impose a complete ban on the use of polythene bags in the city has been opposed by industrialists and traders.
Even more than tempting liquors like tequila, tobacco is a pleasure that the Old World wishes it had never taken from the New. In 1492, when Christopher Columbus was met by tribesmen with "fruit, wooden spears and certain dried leaves which gave off a distinct fragrance', he threw the last gift away. But his shipmates brought home the custom of sucking in the smoke, and the taste spread so rapidly that in 1604 King James I of England was prompted to issue a denunciation of the "manifold abuses of this vile custome'.
Chandigarh, February 12 The Haryana Health Department has operationalised 5,086 village health sanitation committees (VHSC) to bridge the gap between demand and supply of quality and timely health care services and strengthen decentralised health planning. Haryana Commissioner and Secretary, Health, Navraj Sandhu said these committees have been operationalised by giving a grant of Rs 10,000 each. The bank account of each such committee is being operated jointly by the sarpanch and accredited social health activist (ASHA) or anganwari worker (AWW), she added.
Chandigarh, February 12 The councillors of Municipal Corporation Chandigarh have decided to review the draft budget estimates for the year 2008-09. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of Finance and Contract Committee on Tuesday. While some members claimed that no decision over the draft budget estimates was taken in the meeting, Mayor Pardeep Chhabra maintained that the budget has been approved and referred to MC House.
THE National Rural Employment Guarantee Act is now in its second year. It already covers more than half of rural India
Keeping in view the assembly elections to be held in November, the Congress government in Delhi is making policies to woo voters. The government in a cabinet meeting today approved a programme to provide at least one-time meal to the poor in the Capital. A policy for the establishment of knowledge-based Special Economic Zones (SEZ) has also been approved. Besides, 10 common special courts would be set up to hear the trial of economic offences. The cabinet has also recommended summoning of budget session from March 17 to April 4.
There is a total slump in farming activity due to multifarious other factors viz. deficiency of farm labour, vagaries of weather, cost effect etc- RK Kutty
The tiger census in the country shows alarming decline in the number of tigers in India. With their total population winding up at 1411 with a 17.43 per cent coefficient of variation, the ministry has decided to take substantial steps. "The Tiger Project explained that the tiger has suffered due to direct poaching, loss of quality habitat and loss of prey,' said Rajesh Gopal, member secretary of the project, while making a presentation in the capital today. "But there is still hope.'
GUWAHATI, Feb 12
GUWAHATI, Feb 12
In the wake of persistent severe cold weather, spread of viral diseases like chickenpox, measles, chest infection and influenza among children is on the increase. According to doctors, the extreme chilly weather has badly disturbed the immunity system of the young ones. Hence, the kids are more vulnerable to viral diseases. The doctors say that there is 20 per cent increase in viral infection among the kids this winter as compared to what was experienced in January and February last year.
Electrification of border, disturbed districts on priority basis Compulsory to supply minimum 6 to 8 hours of power to villages NEW DELHI: Seeking to put back on track the power sector , the Centre has given a major boost to the rural electrification programme by allocating Rs. 28,000 crore for the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojna (RGGVY) during the 11th Plan including taking up on priority electrification of border and disturbed districts . Other initiatives
Global carbon trading has gained momentum. The Worldwatch Institute, drawing from various studies, places the total value of the trade in 2007 at $59.2 billion, an 80 per cent increase over 2006. As the 2012 deadline for reducing emission levels approaches, the volume of carbon trading will be enormous. Asian countries are the biggest sellers and western countries the biggest buyers. A World Bank report on the 2007 carbon market shows that China has a market share of 61 pe r cent and India 12 per cent.
Massive outbreak of bird flu in the neighbouring state of West Bengal has sent alarm bells ringing in Assam. As epidemics know no geographical barriers, adequate precautionary steps are the only way to combat it. To keep the dreaded bird flu at bay, the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department of the State has undertaken a slew of measures. The steps include ban on import of poultry products and free poultry zone in the two border districts of Dhubri and Kokrajhar. The move to create a free-poultry zone has resulted in mass bird culling operation in the two border districts.
COOCHBEHAR (WB), Feb 12
India has lost more than 50 per cent of its tiger population in the past five years with the numbers dwindling to 1,411 from 3,642 in 2001-02, according to the latest tiger census report. The "State of tiger, co-predators and prey in India' report, released here on Tuesday, said there had been an overall decrease in the tiger population except in Tamil Nadu where the numbers have gone up substantially from 60 in 2001-02 to 76.
NEW DELHI, Feb 12
State-run NTPC has initiated talks with GE Energy Financial Services of the US, Kyushu Electric Power Company of Japan and Brookfield Power Corporation of Canada for setting up a joint venture company to undertake renewable power generation. It has initiated the move in accordance with its memorandum of understanding with Asian development Bank .
