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Chennai: A new micro composting centre along South Cooum Road has become Greater Chennai Corporation's (GCC) latest step toward solid waste management, a system equally dominated by private players and residents' groups in the city. The two-week-old facility processes around 3 tonnes of green and brown waste, generating 300kg of compost daily.Chennai once had nearly 194 composting centres mostly located in and around burial grounds, many of which were shut down over hygiene and efficiency issues. "Apart from this one, we also run a two-year-old centre in Ward 59. The aim here is to handle large volumes of waste scientifically and ensure a consistent output of compost with a dedicated team," said Puvi Care Solutions and Namma Ooru Foundation founder P Natarajan, who partnered with GCC to revive the facility. The waste, collected by the Ramky Group and GCC workers, includes green waste rich in nitrogen, such as fruits, flowers, and vegetables from Kothawal Chavadi market, and brown waste rich in carbon, like horse dung, paddy straw, coconut shells, and sugarcane waste."We first pulverize the brown waste, mix it with green waste, shred it finely, and line it up in rows called windrows for aerobic composting," explained R Saravanan, one of the six workers operating the facility. The final compost is roughly 10% of the total input of waste and is ready in three weeks. If the centre falls short of its 3-tonne target, it sources additional waste from markets like Koyambedu. Workers also remove microplastics at every stage to maintain the quality of compost.Siva Rajasekaran, GCC councillor representing ward 63, says the green initiative means something to him as Chennai chapter president of the River Kaveri Farmers Organization. "Although Chennai is not necessarily an agricultural district, initiatives such as this in the South Cooum road make me happy," he said.
SOLAPUR, India (Reuters) - India is likely to produce a record amount of sugar in the next marketing year from October after millions of farmers expanded cane cultivation, encouraged by ample water supplies and declining prices of competing crops, farmers and industry officials told Reuters. The rebound in production would allow the world's second-largest sugar producer to resume exports in 2025/26, they said, after a lack of rain cut cane yields and led to two years of restrictions. Indian exports could cap global sugar prices, traders said, by increasing supplies in the world market at a t ...Read More >
INDORE: The disposal of 337 tonnes of toxic waste linked to the Bhopal gas tragedy must be undertaken after detailed discussions with scientists and experts as it has a bearing on the wellbeing of citizens, senior BJP leader and former Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan said on Thursday. Highly toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas had leaked from the Union Carbide pesticide factory in Bhopal in the intervening night of December 2-3 in 1984, killing 5,479 persons and leaving thousands of others with serious, long-term health issues. It is widely acknowledged as the world's worst industrial disast ...Read More >
Bhimavaram: West Godavari district collector Chadalawada Nagarani said that in addition to planting trees to improve greenery, efforts are being made to control plastic pollution. On Thursday, to celebrate World Environment Day, a large-scale programme was taken up in the district to plant saplings and remove plastic waste from canals and drains under 'Vanam-Manam.' As part of this, collector Nagarani, District Superintendent of Police Adnan Nayeem Asmi, district Joint Collector T Rahul Kumar Reddy, DRO Mogili Venkateswarlu, and district officials from various departments enthusiastically pa ...Read More >
Ahmedabad, June 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The MSC IRINA, recognised as the world's largest container ship by TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) capacity, is set to dock at the Adani Group's Vizhinjam International Seaport on Monday and will be berthed till Tuesday. The monumental arrival marks a significant milestone for the seaport, which was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 2. The MSC IRINA boasts an impressive capacity of 24,346 TEUs, making it a formidable player in global shipping. With a length of 399.9 metres and a width of 61.3 metres, the vessel is approximate ...Read More >
New Delhi: India's coal sector has registered a 5.88 per cent increase in production to 830.66 million tonnes (MT) during April 2024 to January 2025 of the current financial year, from 784.51 MT recorded during the same period of 2023-24, according to a Coal Ministry statement issued on Monday. The total coal production during January 2025 has reached 104.43 MT, reflecting a 4.38 per cent increase over 100.05 MT recorded during the corresponding period of the previous year. The contribution from captive, commercial, and other entities for January 2025 has also been particularly strong, with ...Read More >
Rajamahendravaram: As part of World Environment Day celebrations, a major initiative to plant 4 lakh saplings across the district has been launched, district collector P Prasanthi announced on Thursday. She called on everyone to protect these saplings for the benefit of future generations. The main event was held at the Government Arts College campus in Rajahmundry under the aegis of the Forest Department, where the district collector participated as the chief guest. Chief Conservator of Forests BNN Murthy and other senior officials were also present. Speaking on the occasion, collector Prasa ...Read More >
Dehradun, Jun 6 (PTI) The Centre and Uttarakhand government are committed to making the state a national hub of horticulture, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Friday. Interacting with farmers at a Kisan Chaupal in Pavwala Sauda village under Doiwala block of Dehradun, the agriculture minister said, "The quality of fruits, grains and vegetables grown in Uttarakhand is unique and they have full potential to make a mark at the global level." "The Centre and the state government together will make Uttarakhand a national hub of horticulture," he said. During his visit, the ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: Telangana continues to be among the states with the highest number of forest fire incidents in the country, with most fires attributed to human activities rather than natural causes. Negligence and, in some cases, deliberate acts have led to repeated and widespread fires, even within critical tiger reserves. Between November 2023 and January 2024, Telangana reported 13,479 forest fire incidents, including large and recurring fires. The numbers are consistent with previous years -- 13,737 in 2021-22 and 13,117 in 2022-23. According to the EnviStats India 2025, a survey by the Forest ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday refuted the rumours regarding slum demolitions and said that no slum would be demolished without first providing permanent housing to its residents. FIRs will be filed, and strict action will be taken against those spreading false information about demolitions, she added. She inaugurated and inspected various development projects in Nehru Camp in Haiderpur, Ekta Camp in Pitampura, and the area near U and V Blocks of JJ Cluster in the Shalimar Bagh Assembly constituency. The Chief Minister also reviewed key works, su ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Monsoon covered the entire country on Sunday, nine days before the normal date, advancing into the remaining parts of Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, west UP and Haryana, IMD said.This is only the fourth time in the past 25 years that monsoon covered NCR and remaining parts of northwest India the same day. The last time this happened was on July 13 in 2021, whereas the earliest date on which such an event took place was June 16 in 2013 -- the day Kedarnath witnessed a major disaster due to cloudburst and flash floods.It has taken monsoon 37 days to cover the entire country this time since its ...Read More >
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 6 (ANI): Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday attended a 'Kisan Chaupal' event at Pav Wala Soda village in the Raipur block of Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The programme was held as part of the 'Developed Agriculture Resolution' campaign aimed at strengthening the agricultural sector in the state. During the event, Chouhan interacted with local farmers and praised the success stories shared by them, especially in the areas of organic farming and coarse grain production. He also showed strong support for promoting Uttarakhand's organic produce at both n ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 8 (PTI) Engineering solutions provider DEE Development Engineers Ltd is planning to diversify into hydrogen production as it expects good business opportunities in the sector. DEE Development Engineers Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Krishan Lalit Bansal said, "We have very recently put our foot in the production of some small gas/chemical plants. We have acquired a 70 per cent stake in a company called Maldives Design Ltd, which is specialised in the manufacturing of nitrogen and oxygen plants, hydrogen purification plants, and ammonia crackers." Also Read | Bodoland Lot ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 8 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, instead of introspecting on the defeat in the 2024 state assembly polls, has been repudiating the mandate given by the people because they rejected him. The leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha is preparing his excuses for future defeats in the upcoming assembly elections, including Bihar, Fadnavis said in his articles published in the Indian Express and Marathi daily Loksatta. On Saturday, Gandhi, in an article published in several newspapers and in posts on X, claimed the 2024 Maharas ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 27: In a significant boost to India's horticultural exports, the Centre's Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has facilitated the flagging off of the first consignment of one metric tonne of rose-scented litchi from Punjab's Pathankot to Doha in Qatar, according to an official statement issued on Friday. In addition, 0.5 metric tonne of litchi was also exported to Dubai, UAE, from Pathankot this week, marking a twin export achievement and reinforcing India's potential in global fresh fruit markets. This milestone initiative, undertake ...Read More >
During a raid conducted on Thursday in the presence of members from the Uttar Pradesh State Women Commission and the State Welfare Department, the old-age home in Noida was found in a deplorable condition. Forty-two elderly people were rescued from an "illegal" old-age home after a police raid at the institution found some women tied up, many residents without clothes and others in "basement-like" rooms, officials said. During a raid conducted on Thursday in the presence of members from the Utt ...Read More >
Majuli (Assam) [India], June 28 (ANI): Majuli, the river island district in Assam, has marked a significant milestone as its indigenous organic red bao paddy makes its debut in the global market. In a historic development, the first consignment of this unique variety of rice has been formally exported to countries in Central Asia and Europe, bringing smiles to the faces of Majuli's farming community. Also Read | Long-Awaited Relief for Retired Government Employees? 8th Pay Commission May Reduce Commuted Pension Restoration Period from 15 to 12 Years. The export initiative has been spearhead ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) The government on Thursday came out with the definition of green steel and asked the industry to take measures to bring down carbon emissions below the level of 2.2 tonnes on per tonne of finished products. Union Steel Minister H D Kumaraswamy also released a 'taxonomy on green steel' with parameters for giving star ratings on products based on the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted during the production process. The steel industry has been the backbone of India's industrial growth and it is imperative that this vital sector undergoes a transformative shift towards ...Read More >
MUMBAI: India is likely to produce a record 117.5 million tonnes of wheat in the year ending June 2025, the farm ministry said, above its March forecast of 115.4 million tonnes, as higher prices prompted farmers to expand the area planted with high-yielding seed varieties. India, the world's biggest wheat producer after China, produced 113.3 million tonnes of wheat in 2024, the farm ministry said in a statement issued late on Wednesday. However, a leading industry body said the crop was nearly 6.25% lower than the government's estimate. The country's rice production in 2025 is also set to c ...Read More >
Hisar, Jun 5 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini Thursday announced the establishment of natural and organic mandis in Gurugram and Hisar to promote natural farming on a large scale in the state. The Gurugram mandi will cater to produce such as wheat, paddy and pulses, while the Hisar mandi will focus on fruits and vegetables grown through natural and organic methods. Also Read | Delhi: High-Level US Team Arrives for Talks on Bilateral Trade Pact With India. In addition, a committee will be formed under the Haryana Kisan Kalyan Pradhikaran to determine fair pricing for produce gr ...Read More >
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar suggests empowering rural youth to drive change in India's underutilized agricultural sector during his visit to Dr YS Parmar University. He advocates for direct subsidies to farmers, emphasizing the need for bridging the gap between production and market access and the use of AI for rural transformation. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has called for empowering rural youth to catalyze significant transformation in India's largely untapped agricultural sector. Dur ...Read More >
Chittoor: Chittoor MP D Prasad Rao on Saturday underlined the need for strict adherence to the directives issued by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, whose top priority is the welfare of mango farmers. In a statement, the MP highlighted the importance of implementing the government's measures without deviation. He urged officials to ensure the reopening of mango pulp processing units and facilitate the purchase of Totapuri mangoes directly from farmers to prevent losses. The latter expressed his gratitude to Naidu for announcing a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs.12,000 per tonne for Tot ...Read More >
New Delhi: India has dispatched its first-ever consignment of rose-scented litchis to Qatar, marking a significant step in its push to expand exports of high-value horticultural produce, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Friday. The shipment, comprising one tonne of the premium litchis from Pathankot, Punjab, was sent to Doha on 23 June, with support from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda). A smaller, half-tonne batch was simultaneously exported to Dubai. The fruit -- known for its delicate floral aroma and juicy sweetness -- has lon ...Read More >
Inflow into the Stanley Reservoir in Mettur increased to 80,984 cusecs on Saturday. Following an increase in inflow, the Water Resources Department (WRD) issued a flood warning to people living in low-lying areas on the banks of the River Cauvery. On Saturday, the dam's water level stood at 117.93 feet against its full capacity of 120 feet. The storage level stood at 90.20 TMC against its full capacity of 93.47 TMC. At 8 a.m., inflow into the dam increased to 73,452 cusecs from Friday's inflow o ...Read More >
Hisar, Jun 5 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini Thursday announced the establishment of natural and organic mandis in Gurugram and Hisar to promote natural farming on a large scale in the state. The Gurugram mandi will cater to produce such as wheat, paddy and pulses, while the Hisar mandi will focus on fruits and vegetables grown through natural and organic methods. In addition, a committee will be formed under the Haryana Kisan Kalyan Pradhikaran to determine fair pricing for produce grown using natural and organic farming practices. The Chief Minister made these announcements ...Read More >
Wheat is the unsung hero of African food, the secret sauce (or rather, secret grain) behind some of your favorite dishes. From the cloud-like deliciousness of Ethiopian injera to the satisfying Moroccan couscous, wheat is Africa's culinary backbone. This article features five mouthwatering dishes that highlight the versatility and tastiness of African wheat-based cuisine. Injera is a sourdough-risen flatbread with a slightly spongy texture, made from fermented teff flour. In Ethiopia and Eritrea, it serves not only as sustenance but also as a utensil for eating. The blend of teff flour and wa ...Read More >
Hyderabad: With the early onset of pre-monsoon showers, farmers across Telangana have started their agricultural activities ahead of schedule. However, the agriculture department is facing strong criticism for failing to provide adequate fertilizers and seeds necessary for the current season. According to officials, there is a significant shortfall in the availability of essential inputs like urea and cotton seeds, which may negatively impact crop planning and productivity across the state. Also Read: Madhuri Dixit Recalls 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun' Magic with Salman Khan as Monsoon Arrives For ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): On the occasion of World Environment Day, a website, "Discover Green Hydrogen," was launched by L&T GreenTech. The website focuses on the global clean energy revolution, providing insights, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the rapidly evolving Green Hydrogen industry. Powered by L&T GreenTech, a key division of L&T Energy's Green & Clean Energy Business, the newly launched website reflects L&T's unwavering commitment to sustainability. Also Read | Delhi: High-Level US Team Arrives for Talks on Bilateral Trade Pact With India. This website is designe ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) Business conglomerate Aditya Birla Group has acquired Cargill's speciality chemical manufacturing facility in Dalton, Georgia. In a statement on Thursday, the group announced the expansion of its US Advanced Materials business with the acquisition of Cargill Incorporated's 17-acre speciality chemical manufacturing facility in Dalton, Georgia. The acquisition continues Aditya Birla's expansion in the US' manufacturing sector, a key aspect of Aditya Birla's growth strategy, which now totals over USD 15 billion in investment. The acquisition was executed through Aditya B ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Telangana continues to be among the states with the highest number of forest fire incidents, with a majority linked to human activities rather than natural causes. Forest officials point to negligence and deliberate acts, even within ecologically sensitive zones such as tiger reserves. From November 2023 to January 2024, the state recorded 13,479 forest fire incidents, including large, continuous and recurring outbreaks. Similar figures were reported in the previous two years -- 13,737 incidents in 2021-22 and 13,117 in 2022-23. Only Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Chhattisgar ...Read More >
CHENNAI: Vegetable prices at the Koyambedu Wholesale Market in Chennai recorded moderate fluctuations on June 7 (Saturday), with several items registering notable increases. According to traders, the price of carrots and bitter gourd rose by Rs 20. Carrots, which were priced at Rs 30 per kg on June 1, are now selling at Rs 50. Bitter gourd, earlier sold at Rs 25, is currently priced at Rs 40. Brinjal also recorded a sharp rise of Rs 15 per kg, increasing from Rs 25 to Rs 40. Additionally, the prices of small onions (shallots), Ooty beetroot, and chow chow increased by Rs 10. Small onions we ...Read More >