Environment

New Delhi, Oct 27 (PTI) A layer of haze blanketed the national capital and its air quality dipped to "very poor" category with revellers continuing to defy with impunity the Supreme Court-enforced two-hour limit for bursting crackers on Diwali on Sunday.

Ear-deafening booms, toxic smoke and ash from firecrackers filled the air as the overall air quality index crossed the "severe" mark at many places.

LUXEMBOURG, Oct 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The EU’s top court ruled on Thursday that France has persistently exceeded the threshold limit for nitrogen dioxide, a polluting gas from diesel motors that causes major health problems.

The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, referred the matter to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in May 2018 after almost a decade of warnings that went unaddressed.

New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) As many as 2,155 people lost their lives and another 45 were reported missing this monsoon season in rains and floods, which affected more than 26 lakh people in 22 states, Union Home Ministry officials said on Friday.

The maximum number of 430 people died in Maharashtra, followed by 227 in West Bengal in rains, floods and landslides that hit as many as 361 districts in the country.

Kurseong (WB), Oct 24 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday took part in a 10 kilometres long march in Darjeeling hills to create awareness on environment conservation.

Banerjee, who is known to be a fitness freak, marched the entire 10 km stretch - from Kurseong to Mahanadi area - on the occasion of International Day of Climate Action.

During the march, she interacted with the locals and spoke about environment conservation and keeping the greenery intact.

SOCHI (Russia), Oct 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia and Ethiopia have signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The two countries signed the agreement on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa Summit in the Russian resort city of Sochi.

HARARE, Oct 24 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — At least 55 elephants have starved to death in the past two months in Zimbabwe’s biggest national park as a serious drought forces animals to stray into nearby communities in search of food and water, authorities said.

“The problem is real, the situation is dire,” said National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesman Tinashe Farawo. Other animals such as lions at Hwange National Park have been affected.

BERLIN, Oct 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of farmers drove their tractors into German cities on Tuesday, in protest at the government’s new agricultural policies which they say will hurt their livelihoods and make them scapegoats for climate change.

Long convoys of tractors held up traffic at the main protest sites in Berlin and Bonn, both home to federal government offices, while thousands more honked their horns and blocked roads in cities including Munich, Hanover and Stuttgart.

New Delhi, Oct 23 (PTI) The Delhi High Court Wednesday dismissed a PIL challenging the AAP government's proposed odd-even road rationing scheme which is expected to be in force from November 4-15.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar declined to entertain the plea as the petitioner had not made any representation to the government before approaching the court.

The court also said that the petition was filed without the details of the scheme which is yet to be notified by the Delhi government.

Chennai, Oct 21 (PTI) Landslips have been reported in some parts of Nilgiris district, as the Regional weather office here on Monday predicted heavy rainfall to occur over Tamil Nadu during the next five days with the North East Monsoon becoming active.

Landslips were reported at least in 10 places in Nilgiris district following rains during the last two days, particularly in Coonoor, disrupting movement of vehicles in the morning, officials said.

However, operations to clear the debris are going on a war footing, they said.

Kanpur: In view of the increasing level of air pollution the district administration has decided to confirm the causes and the exact condition of the air pollution in different localities. 

The District Magistrate Vijay V Pant has asked the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board regional officer to conduct a test of the air pollution level in prominent localities.

For this purpose, he suggested bringing in use installed pollution measuring gadgets under the Smart City project.