Snap shorts of important news from various news paper

Krishna canal breach adds to Andhra woes
Guntur: The cup of woes was overflowing for the Andhra Pradesh government with a fresh breach in Krishna river submerging a whole town in chief minister K Rosaiah’s home district of Guntur

Will check if China making Brahmaputra dam: Centre
New Delhi: While increasingly distrustful of China’s intentions, the government on Thursday refrained from questioning Beijing’s denial of reports that it was engaged in constructing a dam on Brahmaputra which could impact ecology in the northeastern states.

By 2021, Russia plans to go nuclear in space
Moscow: Russia’s space agency chief has proposed to build a new spaceship — one with a nuclear engine.

Anatoly Perminov told a government meeting on Wednesday that the preliminary design could be ready by 2012. He said it will then take nine more years and 17 billion rubles (about $600 million) to build the ship.

Delhi’s climate pledge
Delhi has become the first city in the country to unveil a green agenda. Under 6 broad environment categories, govt to implement 65 projects

Elephants to be banished from all zoos
New Delhi: The city zoo will soon be bidding farewell to its three elephants. In fact, elephants will no longer be seen in any zoo or circus in the country after the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) issued a notice on Monday to the effect that all of these animals in zoos, numbering about 140, should be sent to national parks, sanctuaries and tiger reserves as soon as possible.

India targets 1000mw solar power in 2013
New Delhi: The US and other advanced countries may be dithering in the fight against climate change but India is all set to open a new front — with the Solar Mission under National Action Plan on Climate Change, aiming to generate 1,000mw of power by 2013.

First time in 2 decades, India to import rice
New Delhi: The Centre on Wednesday said it may have to import rice — the first time in 20 years — to make up the shortfall in kharif crop even though it has surplus stock in godowns.

In 20 yrs, India’s water need to be double the supply
In the next two decades, global water consumption will increase from the present 4,500 billion cubic metres (bcm) to 6,900 bcm. This will be 40% more than the estimated reliable and sustainable supply today,

France wants a ‘carbon tax’ on EU imports
New Delhi/Paris: In a dampener for India, the French government is set to insist that the European Union impose a carbon tax on imports from countries such as India which are supposed to have ‘‘low environmental standards’’.

$3bn WB loan for roads soon
New Delhi: India may soon get a $3 billion (about Rs 14,000 crore) loan from the World Bank for building roads in the country, road and highways minister Kamal Nath said on Wednesday. “The World Bank president Robert B Zoellick is arriving here on December 2 and we are hopeful of getting clearance for $3 billion loan as sought by us for highway projects,” Nath said.

India’s forest cover rises to over 21%
New Delhi: Continuing the commendable trend of the past decade, India’s forest cover increased by 728 sq km during 2005-07 — a marginal rise of 0.03%. Overall, 21.02% of the country’s geographical area is now under green cover. In the past 10 years, forest cover has increased by 3.31 million hectares, showing an average 0.46% increase every year.

India’s forest cover rises to over 21%
New Delhi: Continuing the commendable trend of the past decade, India’s forest cover increased by 728 sq km during 2005-07 — a marginal rise of 0.03%. Overall, 21.02% of the country’s geographical area is now under green cover. In the past 10 years, forest cover has increased by 3.31 million hectares, showing an average 0.46% increase every year.

New emission norms may miss deadline
Non-Availability Of Fuel Can Upset April Plan

New Delhi: Will the new emission norms miss the April 2010 deadline? Automobile industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam) is upset over the non-assurance by oil companies on supply of requisite-quality fuel and has requested the government to look at delaying the deadline for the new emission norms

25% solar power must for SEZs
New Delhi: In a quiet move for greening its rapid industrialisation plan, the government is making it mandatory for all SEZs (special economic zones) to power at least a quarter of their lighting needs with solar energy. The government also wants at least half of the lighting requirements for billboards to be solar-powered.

Rs 380-crore subsidy for wind power
Mumbai: India will offer Rs 380 crore ($81 million) in incentives to wind power projects that feed into the national grid, the government said on Thursday, a move analysts believe will attract large companies.

3rd-party players in Bhutan’s hydel policy worries India
New Delhi: Bhutan king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck’s visit to India has further strengthened bilateral ties, as evident in the 12 MoUs signed between the two countries, but there is growing concern about changes in the Himalayan kingdom’s hydel power policy.