Factly: Environment Archives

Device to trap ocean plastic waste relaunches

A floating device designed to collect plastic waste from the Great Pacific garbage patch has been re-deployed. The device, developed by the Netherlands-based engineering NGO Ocean Cleanup was first deployed in 2018. However, during the first run, the device broke under constant waves and wind. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, also known as Pacific trash… Continue reading Device to trap ocean plastic waste relaunches

Vulnerable Ranganathittu bird sanctuary to get a solid makeover

In an effort to better conserve bird species, Ranganathittu bird sanctuary is being revamped and various measures such as soil stabilisation has have been taken. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is located in the Mandya District of Karnataka. It comprises of six islets on the banks of Cauvery River. It was formed in 1648 when the then… Continue reading Vulnerable Ranganathittu bird sanctuary to get a solid makeover

ASEAN vows to tackle ocean waste

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) has vowed to fight against plastic pollution in the ocean as their leaders adopted a joint declaration during the 34th Asean summit in Bangkok. The Bangkok Declaration on Combating Marine Debris in ASEAN Region was adopted by the leaders of the ASEAN countries which includes four of the world’s… Continue reading ASEAN vows to tackle ocean waste

Odisha comes up with a flood atlas, aided by satellite imagery

Odisha Chief Minister has released a unique flood hazard atlas which is expected to help the State manage floods more efficiently. The flood hazard atlas system takes into account the flood inundation data captured through satellite imagery over the period from 2001 to 2018. The National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of the Indian Space Research… Continue reading Odisha comes up with a flood atlas, aided by satellite imagery

Bhubaneswar becomes 0.5 degree C hotter due to urbanisation

The researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology(IIT) Bhubaneswar has documented how urbanisation of cities in the last decade can sharply increase the local temperature. The study has found out that the local surface temperature in large cities in Odisha such as Cuttack and Bhubaneswar has increased by as much as 40-50% during the period… Continue reading Bhubaneswar becomes 0.5 degree C hotter due to urbanisation

Supreme Court halts road works through tiger reserves

The Supreme Court has halted further construction of the Kandi road project. The Kandi Road Project seeks to connect Ramnagar in Kumaon to Kotdwar in Garhwal. The construction of the road has been stopped as it passes through a “critical” corridor between the Rajaji Tiger Reserve and the Corbett Tiger Reserve. The stay on Kandi… Continue reading Supreme Court halts road works through tiger reserves

Shri RK Singh approves Dispute Resolution Mechanism for solar/wind sector

Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy(IC) has approved a proposal to set up a Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) for solar/wind sector. This move will give further fillip to the smooth implementation of solar/wind energy projects in India. It fulfils a long pending demand of the industry to resolve expeditiously, unforeseen… Continue reading Shri RK Singh approves Dispute Resolution Mechanism for solar/wind sector

Crop insurance claims surge, delay in disbursals falls

The government’s crop insurance scheme Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has witnessed a rise in claims ratio from farmers across the country in fiscal 2018-19. The higher claims ratio means farmers have claimed a larger amount of the crop insurance portfolio under the scheme as against portfolio in the previous year. Most of the… Continue reading Crop insurance claims surge, delay in disbursals falls

Himalayan glaciers are melting twice as fast since 2000: study

According to a new study published in Science Advances, that rate of ice loss in the Himalayan glaciers from 2000 to 2016 is double that from the period 1975 to 2000. The researchers constructed a 40-year record with 3D modelling, using declassified Cold War-era spy satellite images and more recent satellite photos According to the… Continue reading Himalayan glaciers are melting twice as fast since 2000: study

First “song” recorded from rare, lovelorn, right whale off Alaska

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) researchers have announced that they have documented vocalisations made by eastern North Pacific right whales (Eubalaena japonica) in the Bering Sea. It is the first confirmed “song” from any right whale population. Right whales are known make gunshot sounds. The newly-recorded noise sounded like a song because of the… Continue reading First “song” recorded from rare, lovelorn, right whale off Alaska

Post-Mains Strategy Session by Mr. Ayush Sinha | ForumIAS