Daily Weather History & Observations
Tuesday, 31 December 2013
CNG hike bad for environment: Minister
CNG hike bad for environment: Minister
NEW DELHI: The new environment minister, Saurabh Bhardwaj, has slammed
the latest price hike in CNG, saying competitive pricing of diesel and
CNG will be detrimental to the environment. He also suggested that
"vested interests" in the diesel lobby may be behind the sudden hike. In
an exclusive interview with TOI, Bhardwaj said the AAP government is
trying hard to roll back the hike and has already met some CNG
companies.
"The CNG price should have been kept low because it is environment-friendly. Even when CNG was cheaper, many people were not keen on buying it. Now its price has been increased to such an extent that most people will switch to diesel. That will be disastrous for the environment. There are no two ways about it," Bhardwaj said on Monday. He added that an announcement on the CNG issue is likely on Tuesday.
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) also questioned Veerappa Moily's intentions. Moily is the Union minister for petroleum and natural gas. "We would like to ask Mr Moily why he has raised the price of a green fuel without hiking the price of a polluting fuel-diesel? This has almost destroyed the price advantage of CNG over diesel. Who is he protecting, the environment or the ministry?"
CNG now costs Rs 50.1 per kg in Delhi, Rs 56.7 per kg in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad, while diesel is priced at Rs 53.78 per litre. "The mileage given by 1kg of CNG is different from that given by 1l of diesel. Also, you burn more CNG so it needs to be cheaper," said Vivek Chattopadhyaya, a researcher at CSE. "The government does not have a fiscal policy to directly promote CNG use in cities. It should prioritize CNG and have a fuel policy that makes CNG price much less than diesel for required allocation in the transport sector. Another issue is that petrol and diesel may cost the same at refinery but the excise duty on use of diesel by cars is much less. The government incurs revenue losses because of this," added Vivek.
Bhardwaj had a similar view. "I think the government should do something to regulate CNG prices. The Centre should provide subsidies on CNG for the environment, not just for the people." he said.
World Health Organization (WHO) last year classified diesel engine exhaust as a carcinogen-a substance that causes cancer. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) suggested that exposure to diesel exhaust could cause lung cancer and is linked to bladder cancer.
"The CNG price should have been kept low because it is environment-friendly. Even when CNG was cheaper, many people were not keen on buying it. Now its price has been increased to such an extent that most people will switch to diesel. That will be disastrous for the environment. There are no two ways about it," Bhardwaj said on Monday. He added that an announcement on the CNG issue is likely on Tuesday.
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) also questioned Veerappa Moily's intentions. Moily is the Union minister for petroleum and natural gas. "We would like to ask Mr Moily why he has raised the price of a green fuel without hiking the price of a polluting fuel-diesel? This has almost destroyed the price advantage of CNG over diesel. Who is he protecting, the environment or the ministry?"
CNG now costs Rs 50.1 per kg in Delhi, Rs 56.7 per kg in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad, while diesel is priced at Rs 53.78 per litre. "The mileage given by 1kg of CNG is different from that given by 1l of diesel. Also, you burn more CNG so it needs to be cheaper," said Vivek Chattopadhyaya, a researcher at CSE. "The government does not have a fiscal policy to directly promote CNG use in cities. It should prioritize CNG and have a fuel policy that makes CNG price much less than diesel for required allocation in the transport sector. Another issue is that petrol and diesel may cost the same at refinery but the excise duty on use of diesel by cars is much less. The government incurs revenue losses because of this," added Vivek.
Bhardwaj had a similar view. "I think the government should do something to regulate CNG prices. The Centre should provide subsidies on CNG for the environment, not just for the people." he said.
World Health Organization (WHO) last year classified diesel engine exhaust as a carcinogen-a substance that causes cancer. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) suggested that exposure to diesel exhaust could cause lung cancer and is linked to bladder cancer.
Monday, 30 December 2013
Road Regulations
The Rules Of The Road Regulations was
brought into effect from July 1, 1989. It serves as a basic guide for the
Indian driver, showcasing the rules which he has to follow, while on the
roads. It deals with basic facts such as overtaking, traffic signals,
Towing, speed limits, the necessary documents to be carried while driving
and other such neglected, but imperative points nonetheless.
1. Short Title And Commencement
(a) These regulations may be called the Rules Of The Roads Regulations, 1989.
(b) They shall come into force from July 1, 1989.
2. Keep Left
The driver of a motor vehicle shall drive the vehicle as close to the left side of the road as may be expedient and shall allow all traffic which is proceeding in the opposite direction to pass on his left hand side.
3. Turning to Left And Right
The driver of a motor vehicle shall:
-- when turning to the left, drive as close as maybe to theleft hand side of the road from which he is making the turn and of the road which he is entering.
-- when turning to the right draw as near as near as may be to the centre of the road which the driver is entering.
4. Passing To The Right
Except as provided in regulation 5, the driver of a motor vehicle shall pass to the right of all traffic proceeding in the same direction as himself.
5. Passing To The Left
The driver of a motor vehicle may pass to the left of a vehicle, the driver of which having indicated an intention to turn to the right has drawn to the centre of the road and may pass on either side, a tram car or other vehicle running on fixed rails whether travelling in the same direction as himself or otherwise provided that in no case shall he pass a tram car at a time or in a manner likely to cause danger or inconvenience to other users of the road including persons leaving or about to enter tram cars.
6. Overtaking Prohibited In Certain Cases
The driver of a motor vehicle shall not pass a vehicle travelling in the same direction as himself:
(a) if his passing is likely to pass inconvenience or danger to other traffic proceding in any direction;
(b) if he is near a point, a bend or corner or a hill or other obstructionof any kind that renders the road ahead not clearly visible;
(c) if he knows that the driver who is following him has not signalled that he may be overtaken.
7. Overtaking Not To Be Obstructed.
The driver of a motor vehicle shall not, when being overtaken or being passed by another vehicle, increse speed or do anything in any way to prevent the other vehicle from passing him.
8. Caution At Road Guide
The driver of a motor vehicle shall slow down when approaching a road intersection, a road guide, pedestrian crossing or a road corner, and shall not enter any such intersection, guide or crossing until he has become aware that he may do so without endangering the safety of persons thereon.
9. Giving Way To Traffic At Road Guide
The driver of a motor vehicle shall, on entering a road interjection at which traffic is not being regulated, if the road entered is a main road designated as such, give way to the vehicles proceeding along the road, and in any other case give way to all traffic approaching to the intersection on his right hand.
10. Fire Service Vehicles And Ambulances To Be Given Free Passage
Each driver shall on the approach of a fire service vehicle or an ambulance allow it free passage by drawing it to the side of the road.
1. Short Title And Commencement
(a) These regulations may be called the Rules Of The Roads Regulations, 1989.
(b) They shall come into force from July 1, 1989.
2. Keep Left
The driver of a motor vehicle shall drive the vehicle as close to the left side of the road as may be expedient and shall allow all traffic which is proceeding in the opposite direction to pass on his left hand side.
3. Turning to Left And Right
The driver of a motor vehicle shall:
-- when turning to the left, drive as close as maybe to theleft hand side of the road from which he is making the turn and of the road which he is entering.
-- when turning to the right draw as near as near as may be to the centre of the road which the driver is entering.
4. Passing To The Right
Except as provided in regulation 5, the driver of a motor vehicle shall pass to the right of all traffic proceeding in the same direction as himself.
5. Passing To The Left
The driver of a motor vehicle may pass to the left of a vehicle, the driver of which having indicated an intention to turn to the right has drawn to the centre of the road and may pass on either side, a tram car or other vehicle running on fixed rails whether travelling in the same direction as himself or otherwise provided that in no case shall he pass a tram car at a time or in a manner likely to cause danger or inconvenience to other users of the road including persons leaving or about to enter tram cars.
6. Overtaking Prohibited In Certain Cases
The driver of a motor vehicle shall not pass a vehicle travelling in the same direction as himself:
(a) if his passing is likely to pass inconvenience or danger to other traffic proceding in any direction;
(b) if he is near a point, a bend or corner or a hill or other obstructionof any kind that renders the road ahead not clearly visible;
(c) if he knows that the driver who is following him has not signalled that he may be overtaken.
7. Overtaking Not To Be Obstructed.
The driver of a motor vehicle shall not, when being overtaken or being passed by another vehicle, increse speed or do anything in any way to prevent the other vehicle from passing him.
8. Caution At Road Guide
The driver of a motor vehicle shall slow down when approaching a road intersection, a road guide, pedestrian crossing or a road corner, and shall not enter any such intersection, guide or crossing until he has become aware that he may do so without endangering the safety of persons thereon.
9. Giving Way To Traffic At Road Guide
The driver of a motor vehicle shall, on entering a road interjection at which traffic is not being regulated, if the road entered is a main road designated as such, give way to the vehicles proceeding along the road, and in any other case give way to all traffic approaching to the intersection on his right hand.
10. Fire Service Vehicles And Ambulances To Be Given Free Passage
Each driver shall on the approach of a fire service vehicle or an ambulance allow it free passage by drawing it to the side of the road.
The Rules Of The Road Regulations was
brought into effect from July 1, 1989. It serves as a basic guide for the
Indian driver, showcasing the rules which he has to follow, while on the
roads. It deals with basic facts such as overtaking, traffic signals,
Towing, speed limits, the necessary documents to be carried while driving
and other such neglected, but imperative points nonetheless.
11. Right Of Way
Pedestrians have the right of way at uncontrolled pedestrian crossings. When any road is provided with a footpath or cycletrack especially for other traffic, except with permission of a police officer in uniform, a driver shall not drive on such footpath or track.
12. Taking 'U' Turn
No driver shall take a 'U' turn where 'U' turn is especially prohibited and on a busy traffic road. If a 'U' turn is allowed the driver shall slow signal by hand as for a right turn, watch in the rear view mirror and turn when safe to do so.
13. Signals To Be Given By Drivers
The following signals shall be used by drivers of all motor vehicles namely :-
(a) When about to slow down, a driver shall extend his right arm with the palm downward and to the right of the vehicle and shall move the arm so extended up and down several times in such a manner that the signal can be seen by the driver of any vehiclewhich maybe behind him.
(b) When about to stop, the driver shall raise his right forearm vertically outside of and to the right of the vehicle, palm to the right.
(c) When about to turn to the right or to drive to the right hand sideof the road in order to pass another vehicle or for any other purpose, a driver shall extend his right hand in a horizontal position outside of and to the right of his vehicle with the palm of the hand turned to the front.
(d) When about to turn to the left or to drive to the left to the left hand side of the road a driver shall extend his right arm and rotate it in an anticlockwise direction.
(e) When a driver wishes to indicate to a driver of a vehicle behind him that he desires to overtake him he shall extend his right hand and arm horizontally outside of and to the right of the vehicle and shall bring the arm backward and forward in a semi- circular motion.
14. Direction Indicator
The signals referred to in regulation 12, may be simplified also by mechanical or electrical devices.
15. Parking Of The Vehicle
(a) Every driver of a motor vehicle parking on any road shall park in such a way that it does not causeor is not likely to cause danger, obstruction or undue in convenience to other roadusers and if the manner of parking is indicated by any sign board or markings on the road side, he shall park the vehicle in such a manner.
(b) A driver of a motor vehicle shall not park his vehicle:-
(i) at or near a road crossing, a bend, top of a hill or a humpbacked bridge;
(ii) on a footpath;
(iii) near a traffic light or pedestrian crossing;
(iv) in a main road or one carrying fast vehicle;
(v) opposite another parked vehicle or as obstruction to other vehicle;
(vi) alongside another parked vehicle;
(vii) on roads or at places where there is a continuous white line with or without a broken line;
(viii) near a bus stop, school or hospital entrance or blocking a traffic sign or entrance to a premises or a fire hydrant;
(ix) on the wrong side of the road;
(x) where parking is prohibited;
(xi) away from the edge of the footpath.
16. Visibility Of Lamps And Registeration Marks
(a) No load or other goods shall be placed on any motor vehicle so as to mark or otherwise interrupt vision of any lamp, registeration mark or any other mark required to be carried by or exhibited on any motor vehicle by or under the Act, unless a duplicate of the lamp so marked or otherwise obscured is exhibited in the manner required by or under the Act for the exhibition of the marked or obscured lamp or mark.
(b) All registeration and other marks required to be exhibited on a motor vehicle by or under the Act shall at all times be maintained in a clear and legible condition.
17. One Way Traffic
A driver shall not
(i) drive a motor vehicle on road declared 'One-Way' except in the direction specified by sign boards;
(ii) drive a vehicle in a reverse direction into a road designated 'One Way'.
18. Driving On Channelised Roads ( Lane Traffic)
(a) Where any road is marked by lanes for movement of traffic, the driver of a motor vehicle shall drive within the lane and change the lane only after giving proper signal.
(b) Where any road is marked by a yellow line dividing road, vehicles proceeding in the same direction trying to ovrtake each other shall not cross the yellow line.
19. Stop Sign On Road Surface
(a) When any line is painted on or inlaid into the surface of any road at the approach to the road guide or to a pedestrian crossing or otherwise, no driver shall drive a motor vehicle shall any part thereof projects beyond that line at any time when a signal to stop is being given by thr Police Officer or by means of traffic control light or by display of any traffic sign.
(b) A line for the purpose of this regulation shall not be less than 50 millimetres in width at any part and may be either in white, black or yellow.
20. Towing
(a) No vehicle other than a mechanically disabled motor vehicle or incompletely assembled motor vehicle, a registered trailer or a side car, shall be drawn or Towed by any motor vehicle, except for purposes of delivery and to the nearest filling station or garage.
(b) No motor vehicle shall be drawn or Towed by any other motor vehicle unless there is in the driver's seat of the motor vehicle being drawn or Towed a person holding a licence authorising him to drive the vehicle or unless the steering wheels of the motor vehicle being Towed, are firmly and securely supported clear of the road surface by some crane or other device on the vehicle which is drawin or Towing it.
(c) When a motor vehicle is being Towed by another motor vehicle the clear distance between the rear of the front vehicle and the front of the rear vehicle shall at no time exceed five metres. The Tow ropes, or chains shall be of a type-easily distinuishable by other road users and there shall be clearly displayed on the rear of the vehicle being Towed in black letters not less than seventy - five mllimetres high and on a white background the words 'ON Tow'.
(d) No motor vehicle when Towing another vehicle other than a trailer or a sidecar shall be driven at a speed exceeding twenty- four kilometres per hour.
11. Right Of Way
Pedestrians have the right of way at uncontrolled pedestrian crossings. When any road is provided with a footpath or cycletrack especially for other traffic, except with permission of a police officer in uniform, a driver shall not drive on such footpath or track.
12. Taking 'U' Turn
No driver shall take a 'U' turn where 'U' turn is especially prohibited and on a busy traffic road. If a 'U' turn is allowed the driver shall slow signal by hand as for a right turn, watch in the rear view mirror and turn when safe to do so.
13. Signals To Be Given By Drivers
The following signals shall be used by drivers of all motor vehicles namely :-
(a) When about to slow down, a driver shall extend his right arm with the palm downward and to the right of the vehicle and shall move the arm so extended up and down several times in such a manner that the signal can be seen by the driver of any vehiclewhich maybe behind him.
(b) When about to stop, the driver shall raise his right forearm vertically outside of and to the right of the vehicle, palm to the right.
(c) When about to turn to the right or to drive to the right hand sideof the road in order to pass another vehicle or for any other purpose, a driver shall extend his right hand in a horizontal position outside of and to the right of his vehicle with the palm of the hand turned to the front.
(d) When about to turn to the left or to drive to the left to the left hand side of the road a driver shall extend his right arm and rotate it in an anticlockwise direction.
(e) When a driver wishes to indicate to a driver of a vehicle behind him that he desires to overtake him he shall extend his right hand and arm horizontally outside of and to the right of the vehicle and shall bring the arm backward and forward in a semi- circular motion.
14. Direction Indicator
The signals referred to in regulation 12, may be simplified also by mechanical or electrical devices.
15. Parking Of The Vehicle
(a) Every driver of a motor vehicle parking on any road shall park in such a way that it does not causeor is not likely to cause danger, obstruction or undue in convenience to other roadusers and if the manner of parking is indicated by any sign board or markings on the road side, he shall park the vehicle in such a manner.
(b) A driver of a motor vehicle shall not park his vehicle:-
(i) at or near a road crossing, a bend, top of a hill or a humpbacked bridge;
(ii) on a footpath;
(iii) near a traffic light or pedestrian crossing;
(iv) in a main road or one carrying fast vehicle;
(v) opposite another parked vehicle or as obstruction to other vehicle;
(vi) alongside another parked vehicle;
(vii) on roads or at places where there is a continuous white line with or without a broken line;
(viii) near a bus stop, school or hospital entrance or blocking a traffic sign or entrance to a premises or a fire hydrant;
(ix) on the wrong side of the road;
(x) where parking is prohibited;
(xi) away from the edge of the footpath.
16. Visibility Of Lamps And Registeration Marks
(a) No load or other goods shall be placed on any motor vehicle so as to mark or otherwise interrupt vision of any lamp, registeration mark or any other mark required to be carried by or exhibited on any motor vehicle by or under the Act, unless a duplicate of the lamp so marked or otherwise obscured is exhibited in the manner required by or under the Act for the exhibition of the marked or obscured lamp or mark.
(b) All registeration and other marks required to be exhibited on a motor vehicle by or under the Act shall at all times be maintained in a clear and legible condition.
17. One Way Traffic
A driver shall not
(i) drive a motor vehicle on road declared 'One-Way' except in the direction specified by sign boards;
(ii) drive a vehicle in a reverse direction into a road designated 'One Way'.
18. Driving On Channelised Roads ( Lane Traffic)
(a) Where any road is marked by lanes for movement of traffic, the driver of a motor vehicle shall drive within the lane and change the lane only after giving proper signal.
(b) Where any road is marked by a yellow line dividing road, vehicles proceeding in the same direction trying to ovrtake each other shall not cross the yellow line.
19. Stop Sign On Road Surface
(a) When any line is painted on or inlaid into the surface of any road at the approach to the road guide or to a pedestrian crossing or otherwise, no driver shall drive a motor vehicle shall any part thereof projects beyond that line at any time when a signal to stop is being given by thr Police Officer or by means of traffic control light or by display of any traffic sign.
(b) A line for the purpose of this regulation shall not be less than 50 millimetres in width at any part and may be either in white, black or yellow.
20. Towing
(a) No vehicle other than a mechanically disabled motor vehicle or incompletely assembled motor vehicle, a registered trailer or a side car, shall be drawn or Towed by any motor vehicle, except for purposes of delivery and to the nearest filling station or garage.
(b) No motor vehicle shall be drawn or Towed by any other motor vehicle unless there is in the driver's seat of the motor vehicle being drawn or Towed a person holding a licence authorising him to drive the vehicle or unless the steering wheels of the motor vehicle being Towed, are firmly and securely supported clear of the road surface by some crane or other device on the vehicle which is drawin or Towing it.
(c) When a motor vehicle is being Towed by another motor vehicle the clear distance between the rear of the front vehicle and the front of the rear vehicle shall at no time exceed five metres. The Tow ropes, or chains shall be of a type-easily distinuishable by other road users and there shall be clearly displayed on the rear of the vehicle being Towed in black letters not less than seventy - five mllimetres high and on a white background the words 'ON Tow'.
(d) No motor vehicle when Towing another vehicle other than a trailer or a sidecar shall be driven at a speed exceeding twenty- four kilometres per hour.
21 - Use Of Horns And Silence Zones
A driver of a vehicle shall not :
(i) sound the horn needlessly or continuously or more than necessary to to ensure safety;
(ii) sound the horn in silence zones;
(iii) make-use of a cut-out by which gases are released other than through the silencer;
(iv) fit or use any munitioned horn giving a harsh, shrill, loud or alarming noise;
(v) drive a vehicle creating undue noise when in motion;
(vi) drive a vehicle with a muffler causing alarming sound.
22. Traffic Signs And Traffic Police
A driver of a motor vehicle and every other person using the road shall obey :-
(a) every direction given, whether by signal or otherwise, by a police officer or any authorised person for the time being incharge of the regulations of traffic;
(b) any direction applicable to him and indicated on or by notice, traffic sign or signal fixed or operated by an authority, competent to do so;
(c) any direction indicated by automatic signalling devices fixed at road intersections.
23. Distance From Vehicles In Front
The driver of a motor vehicle moving behind another vehicle shall keep at a sufficient distance from that other vehicle to avoid collision if the vehicle in front should suddenly slow down or stop.
24. Abrupt Brake
No driver of a vehicle shall apply brake abruptly unless it is necessary to do so for safety reasons.
25. Vehicles Going Uphill To Be Given Precedence
On mountain roads and steep roads, the driver of a motor vehicle travelling down the hill shall give precedence to a vehicle going uphill wherever the road is not sufficiently wide to allow the vehicles to pass each other freely without danger, and stop the stop the vehicle to the side of the road in order to allow any vehicle proceeding uphill to pass.
26. Obstruction Of Driver
A driver of a motor vehicle shall not allow any person to stand or sit or anything to be placed in such a manner or position as to hamper his control of the vehicle.
27. Speed TO Be Restricted
The driver of a motor vehicle shall, when passing a meeting or procession or a body of troops or police on the march or when passing workmen engaged on road repair, drive at a speed not exceeding 25 kilometres an hour.
28. Driving Of Tractors And Goods Vehicles
A driver when driving a tractor shall not carry or allow any personto be carried on the tractor. A driver of a goods carriage shall not carry in the the driver's cabin more numbers of persons than that mentioned in the registeration certificate and shall not carry passengers for hire or reward.
29. Projection Of Loads
No person shall drive in any public place any motor vehicle which is loaded in a manner likely to cause danger to any person in such a manner that the load or any part thereof or anything extends literally beyond the side of the body or to the front or to rear or in height beyond the permissible limit.
30. Restriction To Carriage
Except for the fuel and the lubricants necessary for the use of the vehicle, no explosive. highly flammable or otherwise dangerous substance shall be otherwise carried on any public service vehicle.
31. Restrictions ON Driving Backwards
No driver of a motor vehicle shall cause the vehicle to be driven backwards without first satisfying himself that he will not thereby cause danger or undue inconvenience to any other person or in any circumstances, for any greater distance or period of time than maybe reasonably necessary in order to turn the vehicle round.
32. Production Of Document
A person driving a vehicle-
(i) shall always carry with him his driving licence; certificate of registeration; certificate of taxation and certificate of insurance of the vehicle and in case of transport vehicle the permit and witness certificate also;
(ii) shall on demand by ppolice officer in uniform or an officer of the Motor Vehicle Department in uniform or any other officer authorised by the Government, produce the documents for inspection.
33. Every driver must be conversant with the provisions of Sections 112, 113, 121, 122, 125, 132, 134, 185, 186, 194, 207 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988.
A driver of a vehicle shall not :
(i) sound the horn needlessly or continuously or more than necessary to to ensure safety;
(ii) sound the horn in silence zones;
(iii) make-use of a cut-out by which gases are released other than through the silencer;
(iv) fit or use any munitioned horn giving a harsh, shrill, loud or alarming noise;
(v) drive a vehicle creating undue noise when in motion;
(vi) drive a vehicle with a muffler causing alarming sound.
22. Traffic Signs And Traffic Police
A driver of a motor vehicle and every other person using the road shall obey :-
(a) every direction given, whether by signal or otherwise, by a police officer or any authorised person for the time being incharge of the regulations of traffic;
(b) any direction applicable to him and indicated on or by notice, traffic sign or signal fixed or operated by an authority, competent to do so;
(c) any direction indicated by automatic signalling devices fixed at road intersections.
23. Distance From Vehicles In Front
The driver of a motor vehicle moving behind another vehicle shall keep at a sufficient distance from that other vehicle to avoid collision if the vehicle in front should suddenly slow down or stop.
24. Abrupt Brake
No driver of a vehicle shall apply brake abruptly unless it is necessary to do so for safety reasons.
25. Vehicles Going Uphill To Be Given Precedence
On mountain roads and steep roads, the driver of a motor vehicle travelling down the hill shall give precedence to a vehicle going uphill wherever the road is not sufficiently wide to allow the vehicles to pass each other freely without danger, and stop the stop the vehicle to the side of the road in order to allow any vehicle proceeding uphill to pass.
26. Obstruction Of Driver
A driver of a motor vehicle shall not allow any person to stand or sit or anything to be placed in such a manner or position as to hamper his control of the vehicle.
27. Speed TO Be Restricted
The driver of a motor vehicle shall, when passing a meeting or procession or a body of troops or police on the march or when passing workmen engaged on road repair, drive at a speed not exceeding 25 kilometres an hour.
28. Driving Of Tractors And Goods Vehicles
A driver when driving a tractor shall not carry or allow any personto be carried on the tractor. A driver of a goods carriage shall not carry in the the driver's cabin more numbers of persons than that mentioned in the registeration certificate and shall not carry passengers for hire or reward.
29. Projection Of Loads
No person shall drive in any public place any motor vehicle which is loaded in a manner likely to cause danger to any person in such a manner that the load or any part thereof or anything extends literally beyond the side of the body or to the front or to rear or in height beyond the permissible limit.
30. Restriction To Carriage
Except for the fuel and the lubricants necessary for the use of the vehicle, no explosive. highly flammable or otherwise dangerous substance shall be otherwise carried on any public service vehicle.
31. Restrictions ON Driving Backwards
No driver of a motor vehicle shall cause the vehicle to be driven backwards without first satisfying himself that he will not thereby cause danger or undue inconvenience to any other person or in any circumstances, for any greater distance or period of time than maybe reasonably necessary in order to turn the vehicle round.
32. Production Of Document
A person driving a vehicle-
(i) shall always carry with him his driving licence; certificate of registeration; certificate of taxation and certificate of insurance of the vehicle and in case of transport vehicle the permit and witness certificate also;
(ii) shall on demand by ppolice officer in uniform or an officer of the Motor Vehicle Department in uniform or any other officer authorised by the Government, produce the documents for inspection.
33. Every driver must be conversant with the provisions of Sections 112, 113, 121, 122, 125, 132, 134, 185, 186, 194, 207 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988.
The owner/driver of the vehicle must
report the accident to the nearest police station within 24 hours, and also
to his insurance company in the event of an accident.
The driver of a vehicle involved in an auto accident that has caused injury or damage to any person, animal, vehicle or property should render all possible assistance to the injured and report the matter to the nearest police station within 24 hours.
If the accident involves a vehicle carrying dangerous good (oil tankers, chemical carriers, etc.) it is advisable to keep everyone away. Do not let anyone smoke within 100 metres. Take emergency action as per the information displayed on the vehicle.
You should offer medical assistance. If the person refuses, attempt to obtain in writing that he/she does not wish to receive medical attention. Note down the names and addresses of the witnesses and registration numbers of the vehicles passing by. They may be useful in case of legal complications later.
Note down the name of the policeman who comes on the scene.
Engage a vehicle in neutral gear when Towing it. If its transmission system has failed, and the gear is stuck, the axle shafts should be removed.
Use the parking brake to control your vehicle if the brake has failed. Use hazard-warning lamps for giving clear indications to other road users.
It is also important to avoid moving the vehicle unless ordered to do so by a police officer.
It is imperative that person(s) who are trapped are removed.
It is necessary to prevent fire or obstruction to public.
You should avoid handling the injured unless it is necessary as a life-saving measure.
Also avoid getting into arguments with the other party and/or witnesses.
The driver of a vehicle involved in an auto accident that has caused injury or damage to any person, animal, vehicle or property should render all possible assistance to the injured and report the matter to the nearest police station within 24 hours.
If the accident involves a vehicle carrying dangerous good (oil tankers, chemical carriers, etc.) it is advisable to keep everyone away. Do not let anyone smoke within 100 metres. Take emergency action as per the information displayed on the vehicle.
You should offer medical assistance. If the person refuses, attempt to obtain in writing that he/she does not wish to receive medical attention. Note down the names and addresses of the witnesses and registration numbers of the vehicles passing by. They may be useful in case of legal complications later.
Note down the name of the policeman who comes on the scene.
Medical Help
Section 134 of the Motor Vehicles Act casts obligatory responsibility on every driver/owner of the vehicle involved in an accident to convey the injured to the nearest hospital/medical practitioner. The doctor so approached shall be duty bound to render necessary medical aid or treatment without waiting for any procedural formalities.Towing the vehicle
For Towing a break down vehicle, it is always advisable to use a crane. Only if a crane is not available, a rigid Tow bar can be used. Never use a rope or flexible cable for Towing, because your vehicle can dash against the Towing vehicle if it suddenly stops.Engage a vehicle in neutral gear when Towing it. If its transmission system has failed, and the gear is stuck, the axle shafts should be removed.
Use the parking brake to control your vehicle if the brake has failed. Use hazard-warning lamps for giving clear indications to other road users.
It is also important to avoid moving the vehicle unless ordered to do so by a police officer.
It is imperative that person(s) who are trapped are removed.
It is necessary to prevent fire or obstruction to public.
You should avoid handling the injured unless it is necessary as a life-saving measure.
Also avoid getting into arguments with the other party and/or witnesses.
Road Safety Week
Road Safety Week
Road Safety WeekRaod safety week is celebrated with the great joy and enthusiasm every year in India at many places such as Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Baroda, Vadodara, Pune, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Chandigarh and etc. People are encouraged about how to drive on road by organising variety of programmes related to the road safety.
During the whole week celebration of this campaign, variety of educational banners, safety posters, safety films, pocket guides and leaflets related to the road safety are distributed to the on road trevellers. They get motivated about the road safety while trevelling on road means having planned, well-organized and professional way travelling. People who travel in unprofessional way are requested to use road safety measures and follow traffic rules by giving them roses.
Road Safety Week 2014
Road safety week 2014 would be celebrated in India from 2nd of January (Thursday) to the 7th of January (Tuesday).How the Road Safety Week is Celebrated
Road safety week is celebrated by performing the following activities:
- Road safety leaflets including roses, chocolates and flowers are distributed to the travellers on the road.
- commuters are also explained about the methods and necesseities of the road safety means they must understand the use of helmets or seat belts while driving on the road or anywhere.
- Various painting and drawing competitions, road safety announcements, exhibitions, road rules test, girls scooter rally to encourage the use of helmets, debates on road safety at the All India Radio, workshops, seminar and etc activities are organized.
- Free medical chek up camps and driving training workshops are organizzed for the drivers to encourage them towards the road safety.
- Road safety quiz compititions are also organized to promote people about road safety.
- Traffic safety games including card games, puzzles, board games and etc are organized to educate school children about road safety.
Celebrating the road safety campaign was initiated by the ISS India HSE (Health Safety and Environment) in order to make people aware about the national road safety in the Indian subcontinent. ISS India had declared to celebrate the Road Safety Week all through the country in the first week of the month of January. The aim of this campaign was to emphasize and accentuate people about the need of safe roads travel by applying just simple rules.
According to the information, it has been noted that approximately one lakh people are getting killed per year in the road accidents. Or some of them become sufferer of the life threatening problems such as mental trauma, loss of memory, loss of hand or legs and so many for the whole life. Such situations specially in India increases the importance and necessity of the road safety measures. India has a very huge population of the road travellers such as two wheelers, four wheelers on the road, thats why they must know the road safety.
It also need efforts from different stakeholders such as the community, transport sector, insurance sector, health sector, police, legal sector, educational institutions, highway engineers, vehicle manufacturers, public agencies, NGOs and etc. Students are given a big oppurtunity to be participated in the road safety week programme as to change something, youths of the country must understand first.
Road Safety Week Themes
- The theme for road safety week celebration 2013 was “Stay Alive, don’t drink and drive” to increase awareness among people against the drunken driving.
- The theme for road safety week celebration 2011 was “Road Safety A Mission, Not Intermission”.
- The aim of celebrating the campaing road safety week is to promote the road safety measures in the community, schools, colleges, work places, on roads and etc.
- To decrease and completely remove out the road accidents, road accident death and injury cases by applying the road safety measures.
- To encourage all the travellers to follow the traffic rules and wear helmets and seat belts while driving.
- To implement the new preventative measures which are proved to lessen the risk of road accidents, death or injury.
- To aware the people about the speed limit of the vehicles to prevent road accidents.
- To maintain the speed and required distance from other vehicles
- To aware people that do not drink, do not drive when tired and do not use phones or radios while driving.
Sunday, 29 December 2013
'India must change agri, industrial practices to save environment'
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SME Times News Bureau | 28 Dec,
2013
President Pranab Mukherjee Friday said India needed to change its agricultural and industrial practices to reduce toxicity in food, water and environment. Speaking at the inaugural function of a five-day-long 37th Indian Social Science Congress-2013 at Aligarh Muslim University in Aligarh, Mukherjee stressed on seriously considering the conservation of bio-diversity and natural resources. "Our relations with nature should be guided by the principles of reciprocity, limitation, cooperation and sustainability. The fertility of our soil needs to be restored without further delay. We need to change agricultural and industrial practices in order to reduce the toxicity in food, water and environment," he said. "It is important that our country growsin harmony with nature. Conservation of bio-diversity and natural resources merits a serious consideration," he added. Emphasizing on the need to conserve water, Mukherjee said despite water on its surface, Earth has only one percent drinking water, a large quantity of which is polluted. Moreover, rivers are drying and ground water is being over-exploited. "So, we need to conserve and replenish our water resources," he said. The president further said that climate change was a threat but also a unique opportunity to work together. "As a developing country on the frontlines of climate vulnerability, India has a vital stake in the evolution of a successful, rule-based, equitable and multilateral response to climate change," he said. |
Saturday, 28 December 2013
Adequate Availabilty of Fertlizers at APT Cost Through the Year -Year End Review 2013
Adequate Availabilty of Fertlizers at APT Cost Through the Year
Contd……..3
Year End
Review
2013
|
There has
been adequate availability of Chemical Fertilizers throughout the country
during current year both for the Kharif and Rabi
Seasons. Demands have been met through domestic production and through imports
and timely supplies were made as required in all States.
Movement and
Distribution of Fertilizers
The
cumulative availability and Sales of Urea, DAP, MOP and NPK during the year
2013 (April’13 to November’13) in the country is as follows:
Name of Fertilizers
|
Availability
(in LMT)
|
Sales
(in LMT)
|
Urea
|
210.5
|
200.3
|
DAP
|
57.4
|
49.1
|
MOP
|
16.5
|
14.2
|
NPK
|
53.2
|
47.4
|
Details regarding the direct transfer of subsidy are
being worked out. The whole objective is to ensure the availability of
fertilizers to the farmer and to effectively reach the envisaged subsidy to
them.
Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Policy
for Phosphatic & Potassic
P&K fertilizers
With a view to ensure
balanced use of fertilizers and to promote investment in fertilizer sector, the
Department of Fertilizers is implementing the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS)
Policy for decontrolled Phosphatic & Potassic (P&K) Fertilizers w.e.f.
1.4.2010. Under the NBS policy, a fixed rate of subsidy (in Rs. per Kg. basis)
decided on annual basis is provided to each grade of subsidized P&K
fertilizers depending upon its nutrient (N, P, K & S) content. Any variant
of the fertilizers under the NBS fortified with micronutrient Boron and Zinc, as
provided under the FCO, is eligible for a separate additional fixed subsidy.
Under the Policy the prices are allowed to be fixed by the fertilizer companies
at reasonable level. In order to ascertain the reasonableness of Prices fixed
by the fertilizer manufacturers/importers, they are mandatorily required to provide
subsidy cost data of their fertilizers products.
At present 22 grades of
P&K fertilizers, namely, DAP, MAP, TSP, MOP, Ammonium Sulphate
(produced by FACT), SSP including 16 grades of complex
fertilizers are covered under the NBS Policy. The subsidized fertilizers are
allowed for use in manufacturing of mixture and customised
fertilizers after their receipt in the District.
-2-
The Subsidy outgo in
P&K sector during the implementation of NBS policy w.e.f.
1.4.2010 has been contained and showing decreasing trends as can be
(in Rs. Crore)
Year
|
Subsidy on P & K fertilizers
|
2010-11
|
41500.00
|
2011-12
|
36107.94
|
2012-13
|
30576.12
|
2013-14 (BE)
|
29426.88
|
With the implementation of
NBS Policy, there is adequate availability of P & K fertilizers in the
country and subsidy outgo in P & K sector has also been contained. Prices
of P & K fertilizers remained stable during the year and were reported
lower as on November 2013 as compared to prices during previous year.
New
Pricing Scheme beyond Stage – III
The matter of formulation of policy
for the existing urea units beyond stage-III of New Pricing Scheme (NPS) is
under consideration of Group of Ministers (GOM) constituted to review the
fertilizers policy, the meeting of which was held on 5th June, 2013.
During the meeting, it was decided that further deliberations on the issues are
required before formulation of policy for existing urea units beyond New
Pricing Scheme.
At the beginning of this
calendar year on 2nd January, 2013 the Department of Fertilizers had notified
‘New Investment Policy- 2012’ with an eye on future requirements and to always make adequate supplies of
fertilizers in the country. It is expected that the demand of urea in the
country by the end of 12th Five Year Plan will be around 360 lakh MT. With the approval of this policy, nearly 100 lakh MT of additional urea capacity is expected to be added
in the country to an already existing indigenous capacity of 220 LMT and 20 LMT
from Oman India Fertilizer Company (OMIFCO) in Oman. An investment of nearly
Rs. 35,000 crores is proposed to be made during 12th
Five Year Plan period (2012-17). This will make country self reliant in
urea by end of 12th Five Year Plan. In response to the Policy, the Department of Fertilizers has
received over 15 proposals from companies in the private, cooperative and
public sector.
Currently consultations
are on to amend the New Investment Policy (NIP)- 2012
as the response to the NIP 2012 had been more than expected.
Meanwhile
the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had also approved the proposal
regarding revival of five closed units of Fertilizer Corporation of India
Limited (FCIL) at Sindri, Talcher,
Ramagundam, Gorakhpur and Korba.
The CCEA in May 2013 approved the waiver of Government of India loan and
interest thereon amounting to Rs.10, 644/- crore for
the purpose. This would ensure positive net worth for FCIL and enable FCIL to
come out of the purview of BIFR, and hasten the process of revival of closed
units of FCIL.
Contd……..3
-3-
Revival of
closed units of HFCL/FCIL:-
(i) There are five closed units of Fertilizer Corporation of
India Ltd (FCIL) at Sindri, Talcher,
Ramagundam, Gorakhpur & Korba
and three closed units of Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation Ltd. (HFCL) at
Durgapur, Haldia and Barauni.
The cabinet had in 2008 approved revival of FCIL and HFCL units subject to
non-recourse to Government funding and to consider write off of GoI Loan and interest to the extent required. Cabinet
Committee on Economic Affair (CCEA) in 2011 approved revival of Sindri, Talcher and Ramagundam Units of FCIL on ‘nomination basis’ by the
nominated PSUs and Gorakhpur & Korba units of
FCIL and Durgapur, Haldia, Barauni
of HFCL through bidding route with the stipulation that Board for Industrial
and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR) proceedings be expedited. Cabinet also
approved the Draft Rehabilitation Scheme (DRS) for revival of all the Units of
FCIL and HFCL. DRS envisaged revival of Talcher Unit
by the consortium of M/s. Rashtriya Chemical &
Fertilizers Limited (RCF), M/s Coal India Limited (CIL), and M/s Gas Authority
of India Limited (GAIL), revival of Ramagundam Unit
by M/s. Engineers India Limited (EIL) and M/s. National Fertilizers (NFL)
Limited and revival of Sindri unit by M/s Steel
Authority of India Limited (SAIL). Proposal/action plan on revival of HFCL
units to be taken up once revival of FCIL units is on track.
(ii) The
revival process of closed units of FCIL is on.
For Talcher unit, it is proposed to establish
two joint venture (JV) companies viz. first company for upstream coal
gasification section, with GAIL being a major stakeholder and second company
comprising RCF, CIL and FCIL for downstream section of Ammonia-urea, Nitric
Acid, Ammonia Nitrate plants, off sites and utilities. The Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) among consortium PSUs, i.e. CIL,
RCF, GAIL and FCIL, has been signed on 5/9/2013. For Ramagundam
Project, EIL & NFL are having discussions with the Technology providers and
selection of the same is in the final stage. EIL itself would take up the
Engineering and Project Construction for the project. For Sindri
unit, it has been decided to entrust the assignment of R&R activities at Sindri Unit to M/s. Project & Development India Limited
(PDIL) and PDIL have submitted their offer for assignment to SAIL on 20/09/2013
for their examination and approval, before Work Order is issued to PDIL for the
R&R activities.
Disinvestment
of RCF/NFL/FACT:-
As per amendment of the Securities
Contract (Regulation) Rules 1957, it is mandatory for the company to dilute its
shareholding to a minimum level of 10% of public equity by 8th
August 2013. Accordingly, 7.64% GOI shareholding in NFL, 12.5% of GOI
shareholding in RCF have been disinvested and 8.56% of GOI shareholding in FACT
has been transferred to Special National Investment Fund to be sold over a
period of five years.
Roof Top Rain Water Harvesting
Roof Top Rain Water Harvesting
Various States/Union Territories have made
rainwater harvesting mandatory by enacting laws or by formulating rules &
regulations or by including provisions in Building byelaws or through suitable
Government Orders. Details are given in Annexure. Data on quantum of
rainwater being harvested/ saved in the States is not maintained by any single
agency.
Four States/UT viz. Jammu & Kashmir,
Manipur, Mizoram and Lakshadweep have not made roof top rainwater harvesting
mandatory. In Jammu & Kashmir, as the stage of ground water development is
very low, the state does not feel it necessary to adopt any such regulation. In
Mizoram, rainwater harvesting is already a common practice; hence, the State
Government has not imposed any regulation for making it mandatory. In Manipur,
demonstrative projects of roof top rainwater harvesting are being taken up by
the State Government. In Lakshadweep, due to the hydrogeological conditions,
need for rainwater harvesting is not felt. Besides, Central Ground Water
Authority (CGWA) has been constituted under Section 3(3) of The Environment
Protection Act, 1986 and the Authority has issued directives to the Chief
Secretaries of all States and the Administrators of all UTs to take measures to
promote/adopt artificial recharge to ground water/rainwater harvesting. CGWA
has also taken up the matter with various Central and State government
organizations for adopting rainwater harvesting and recharge to the ground
water. A Model Bill has also been circulated to all the States/UTs which,
inter-alia, has provisions for rainwater harvesting to enable them to enact
ground water legislation for its regulation and management.
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has
prepared a conceptual document entitled “Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to
Ground Water in India” which envisages construction of different types of
Artificial Recharge and Rainwater Harvesting structures in the Country by
harnessing surplus monsoon runoff to augment ground water resources. The
Master Plan has been circulated to all State Governments & is also
available in Public Domain.
This information was given by Union Water
Resources Minister Shri Harish Rawat in written reply to a written question in
the Lok Sabha
Weather Forecast
Weather Forecast
Government has launched the National Monsoon Mission to build state-of-the-art coupled ocean-atmospheric climate model framework for a) improved prediction of monsoon rainfall on extended range to seasonal time scale (16 days to one season) and b) improved prediction of temperature, rainfall and extreme weather events on short to medium range time scale (up to 15 days). Through these efforts, an appropriate dynamical prediction system will be implemented for more accurate monsoon rainfall prediction on all spatial and time scales over the Indian region. The improved system will help us in issuing more accurate short range forecasts (up to 3 days) and warnings for extreme weather events like heavy rainfall events, active (heavy) and break (weak) spells during the monsoon season in advance and more accurate seasonal forecasts for all-India monsoon rainfall.
Operational implementation of improved forecast suite of models after the commissioning of the High Performance Computing (HPC) systems, under the Modernization of the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO) - India Meteorological Department (IMD) have enhanced the weather forecasting capacities through assimilating all available global satellite radiance data for the production of finer-scale forecast products at 22Km grid globally and 9Kms/3Kms grid over India/regional/mega city domains. The performance evaluation of the updated global/meso-scale forecast systems for the past 5-7 years have demonstrated enhanced forecast skill by about 18% quantitatively as far as the track and landfall forecasts of the tropical cyclones are concerned.
As and when the cyclone systems move in to the 500Km surveillance range of DWRs, identification of strong wind zones and pockets of heavy rainfall within the core cyclone area is carried out and their rapid changes are monitored on continuous basis. IMD currently operates 5- Doppler Weather Radars (DWR) at Chennai, Machilipatnam, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, Sriharikota on the east coast along with a network of Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) and Automatic Rain Gauges (ARG) for continuous weather surveillance over the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.
There is no proven scientific technique available, anywhere in the world, to forewarn/ predict the occurrence of earthquakes. Nevertheless, efforts are continuously made world-over including India, to monitor and study various earthquake precursory phenomena in critical seismotectonic regions, which would not only help for advancing understanding of earthquake generation processes but also lead to identifying possible earthquake precursors, which may serve as potential predictors in future. As part of this, a National Program on Earthquake Precursors (NPEP) has been initiated, through a multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary mechanism to adopt an integrated approach of generation, assimilation and analyses of a variety of earthquake precursory phenomena in critical seismotectonic environments in the country in a comprehensive manner. The ESSO of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MOES) has also launched a major program on drilling a deep bore holes in the seismically active Koyna-Warna region in Maharashtra to study in detail the ongoing earthquake generation processes in the region. The on-going scientific deep drilling investigations in the seismically active Koyna region will provide a unique opportunity and the much desired data sets to better understand the mechanisms of faulting, physics of reservoir triggered earthquakes and also contribute towards earthquake hazard assessment and develop models for earthquake forecast in future.
Union Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Shri S.Jaipal Reddy gave this information in reply to a written question in the Lok Sabha
Government has launched the National Monsoon Mission to build state-of-the-art coupled ocean-atmospheric climate model framework for a) improved prediction of monsoon rainfall on extended range to seasonal time scale (16 days to one season) and b) improved prediction of temperature, rainfall and extreme weather events on short to medium range time scale (up to 15 days). Through these efforts, an appropriate dynamical prediction system will be implemented for more accurate monsoon rainfall prediction on all spatial and time scales over the Indian region. The improved system will help us in issuing more accurate short range forecasts (up to 3 days) and warnings for extreme weather events like heavy rainfall events, active (heavy) and break (weak) spells during the monsoon season in advance and more accurate seasonal forecasts for all-India monsoon rainfall.
Operational implementation of improved forecast suite of models after the commissioning of the High Performance Computing (HPC) systems, under the Modernization of the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO) - India Meteorological Department (IMD) have enhanced the weather forecasting capacities through assimilating all available global satellite radiance data for the production of finer-scale forecast products at 22Km grid globally and 9Kms/3Kms grid over India/regional/mega city domains. The performance evaluation of the updated global/meso-scale forecast systems for the past 5-7 years have demonstrated enhanced forecast skill by about 18% quantitatively as far as the track and landfall forecasts of the tropical cyclones are concerned.
As and when the cyclone systems move in to the 500Km surveillance range of DWRs, identification of strong wind zones and pockets of heavy rainfall within the core cyclone area is carried out and their rapid changes are monitored on continuous basis. IMD currently operates 5- Doppler Weather Radars (DWR) at Chennai, Machilipatnam, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, Sriharikota on the east coast along with a network of Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) and Automatic Rain Gauges (ARG) for continuous weather surveillance over the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.
There is no proven scientific technique available, anywhere in the world, to forewarn/ predict the occurrence of earthquakes. Nevertheless, efforts are continuously made world-over including India, to monitor and study various earthquake precursory phenomena in critical seismotectonic regions, which would not only help for advancing understanding of earthquake generation processes but also lead to identifying possible earthquake precursors, which may serve as potential predictors in future. As part of this, a National Program on Earthquake Precursors (NPEP) has been initiated, through a multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary mechanism to adopt an integrated approach of generation, assimilation and analyses of a variety of earthquake precursory phenomena in critical seismotectonic environments in the country in a comprehensive manner. The ESSO of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MOES) has also launched a major program on drilling a deep bore holes in the seismically active Koyna-Warna region in Maharashtra to study in detail the ongoing earthquake generation processes in the region. The on-going scientific deep drilling investigations in the seismically active Koyna region will provide a unique opportunity and the much desired data sets to better understand the mechanisms of faulting, physics of reservoir triggered earthquakes and also contribute towards earthquake hazard assessment and develop models for earthquake forecast in future.
Union Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Shri S.Jaipal Reddy gave this information in reply to a written question in the Lok Sabha
Research on Climate Change
Research on Climate Change
Ministry of Earth Sciences has a long-term program of
monitoring one of the major fjords at Ny-Ålesund
(1200km to the south of the North Pole) on the Svalbard archipelago in the
Arctic region to understand how it may respond to changing climate. Main
objective of the project is to establish a long-term comprehensive physical,
chemical, biological and atmospheric measurement programme to study:
i)
The
variability in the Arctic/Atlantic climate signal.
ii)
The
effect of interaction between the warm Atlantic water and the cold glacial-melt
iii)
fresh
water on the biological productivity and phytoplankton species composition
iv)
and
diversity within the fjord.
v)
The
winter convection and its role in the biogeochemical cycling.
vi)
The
trigger mechanism of spring bloom and its temporal variability and biomass
production.
vii)
The
production and export of organic carbon in the fjord.
In addition, following the understanding on February 2013
Delhi meeting of the Belmont Forum, a new multi-institutional Collaborative
Research Activity has been proposed for exploring the linkage between the
Arctic and Antarctic climate variability and the Monsoon as a new global
initiative to be led by India and France.
Union Minister of Science &
Technology and Earth Sciences Shri S.Jaipal Reddy gave this information in reply to a written question in
the Lok Sabha.
Global Warming
Global Warming
Spatial
pattern of trend in mean annual temperature anomalies, for the period
1902-2012, suggests significant positive (increasing) trend (0.50C
in general with few pockets of 1.00C) over most parts of the country
except some parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Bihar, where significant negative
(decreasing) trend was observed. No significant long-term trends are reported
in the frequencies of large-scale droughts or floods in the summer monsoon
season.
The
Government has undertaken the following steps in the area of Climate Change:
i)
Launched
a high-priority Programme to address the Science issues of Global and Regional
Climate Change (GRCC) with a well-equipped state-of-the-art Center for Climate
Change Research (CCCR) at Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune
for inter-disciplinary research and training in the area of science of climate
change.
Development of
Earth System Model (ESM) has been taken up by building additional marine
biogeochemistry module to the coupled ocean-atmospheric model and numerical
experimentation is carried out for ESM utilization for generating projections
of global climate. Regional scale climate downscaling is carried out using
variable grid (zoom) general circulation model, WRF and REGCM models.
Currently, CCCR is
leading “Co-ordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX)” for the South
Asian region under the aegis of the World Climate Research Program (WCRP) of
the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). The CORDEX program provides an
important framework for a co-ordinated set of downscaled regional climate
simulations for both the historical past and future decades. Training workshops
are conducted for end-users, stakeholders in the South Asian region.
ii)
Under
the National Action Plan on Climate Change, it is proposed to establish a
permanent institutional mechanism that will play a development and coordination
role.
iii)
The
National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) was released by the Prime
Minister on 30th June 2008.
iv)
The
National Action plan outlines eight missions in specific areas of Solar Energy,
Enhanced Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Habitat, Water, Sustaining the
Himalayan Ecosystem, Green India, Sustainable Agriculture and Strategic
knowledge for Climate Change. Eight National Missions form the core of the
National Action Plan, representing multipronged, long term and integrated
strategies for achieving key goals in the context of climate change.
Union Minister of Science &
Technology and Earth Sciences Shri S.Jaipal Reddy gave this information in
reply to a written question in the Lok Sabha.
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