Latest news with #EnvironmentDirectorate
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Intense Himachal rains topple Shimla tree, expose climate crisis risk
As intense monsoon rains hit Himachal Pradesh for the third consecutive year, scientists and environmentalists have raised serious concerns over the increasing frequency of high-intensity rainfall, triggered by a dangerous combination of global warming, delayed western disturbances, and monsoonal systems. The Shimla tree fall is another sign of the Himalayan region's rising climate risk. (Representative image)(ITBP/ ANI) The alarm was sounded following an incident early Thursday morning, when a massive deodar tree collapsed onto the Environment Directorate building in the US Club area of Shimla. The tree, which had been leaning precariously for days due to continuous rain, uprooted around 5:30 AM, causing partial damage to the building's roof and entrance gate. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. Senior scientist on climate Change at the State Science and Technology and Environment Directorate, Dr. Suresh Kumar Atri, speaking to ANI, said the disaster was a clear consequence of prolonged and intense rainfall and a stark sign of changing climate patterns. "This tree had been leaning dangerously for the last few days, especially after continuous rains," Atri said. "We had already written to the Municipal Corporation, alerting them. Today, at around 5:30 AM, the tree broke and fell. It caused significant damage to the building's metal roofing and gate, though luckily, there was no loss of life. Had this occurred during the day, it could have been disastrous." He said. Atri, a climate scientist, emphasised that such incidents are becoming more frequent due to global warming and disrupted weather systems. "The root cause of all this is global warming. It's leading to high-density rainfall events across not just Himachal, but the entire region," he explained. "If these global conditions persist, we will face even greater threats in the future." He said. He also clarified the commonly misunderstood term "cloudburst," that everywhere rainfall is not a cloudburst and it doesn't burst like a balloon. "There's no such thing as a cloud exploding, as people imagine. What actually happens is high-intensity rainfall in a very short span of time in a small geographical area. If 100 mm of rain falls within an hour over, say, 10-20 square kilometres, that qualifies as a cloudburst. For instance, in an area like Shimla, if 100 mm rain falls within an hour, it leads to flash floods a cloudburst-like situation. That's around 300 crore litres of water in a compact space, which overwhelms drainage systems and natural outlets." He said. Atri warned that this phenomenon is not isolated or region-specific. "These events don't only happen in remote areas. High-intensity rainfall can strike anywhere, anytime," he said. "In 2023, similar patterns led to devastating flash floods in Mandi district and even in parts of Uttarakhand, wiping out entire villages. The damage in Himachal alone crossed ₹10,000 crores last year." Said the scientist. He noted that this year, the state has already suffered over ₹3,000 crore in damages, and the monsoon season is still far from over. Dr. Atri further stressed the role of Arabian Sea warming and disturbed western disturbance patterns, which, when combined with the monsoon, result in extreme weather. "The Arabian Sea has warmed significantly, and this affects the western disturbances, which bring rain. When these disturbances interact with the monsoon, especially in a delayed fashion, the result is catastrophic, intense rainfall, landslides, and floods. This exact combination led to widespread destruction last year and is repeating again," he warned. Calling for urgent action, Attri advocated better watershed management and strict protection of natural drainage systems. "We must keep our water channels and watersheds clear. Water must flow out without obstruction. People should avoid going near rivers and streams during such weather conditions," he advised. The recent incident at the Environment Directorate building, while not fatal, serves as another reminder of the growing environmental vulnerabilities of Himalayan states. As monsoon patterns continue to evolve under the pressure of climate change, scientists are urging both the public and authorities to remain alert and to adapt proactively to this new climate reality.
Jordan News
02-06-2025
- General
- Jordan News
Launch of the National Cleanliness Campaign in Ajloun - Jordan News
The National Cleanliness Campaign was launched today, Monday, in the Ishtafina forest area in Ajloun Governorate, under the slogan "With Our Efforts, We Protect the Environment." The campaign is part of a nationwide initiative launched by the Minister of Environment, Dr. Muawieh Radaideh, across all governorates of the Kingdom. اضافة اعلان The Director of the Environment Directorate in Ajloun, Engineer Iyass Al-Momani, speaking in the presence of Ajloun Assistant Governor Akram Al-Khawaldeh, who sponsored the event, stated that the campaign is part of the ministry's ongoing efforts to raise environmental awareness. He noted that it covers parks, forests, tourist sites, and public areas, aiming to strengthen partnerships between government entities, the private sector, and civil society. Al-Momani explained that the campaign focuses on highlighting major environmental issues and promoting environmental culture across various segments of society. It also aims to correct harmful behaviors and practices, especially the random littering of natural areas. For her part, the Head of the Environmental Awareness Department, Sawsan Anayzat, emphasized the importance of education in instilling environmental values. She noted that the directorate consistently implements programs and initiatives designed to build an environmentally conscious generation and motivate citizens to contribute to environmental protection and public cleanliness. The campaign witnessed the participation of several governmental departments, the 'All of Us Jordan' Youth Commission, environmental associations, and volunteers from the local community—reflecting a spirit of cooperation and collective action toward a clean and safe environment.
Hindustan Times
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Green energy mooted at Lko Earth Day event: ‘Balance between nature, dev must be maintained'
We must reduce the depletion of natural resources and curb deforestation to protect our planet and environment, said minister of state (independent charge) for environment, forests and climate change, Arun Kumar Saxena, while addressing a gathering on the occasion of Earth Day, at Indira Bhawan, on Tuesday. He stressed the importance of minimising pollution, reducing plastic usage, and spreading public awareness for a healthier planet. Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Saxena added, 'With rising temperatures, we must aim to triple the use of renewable energy. The imbalance in Earth's ecosystem is a serious concern that requires collective action.' He called upon everyone to take a pledge to plant trees and work towards improving the environment, and urged various departments to coordinate actions to save the natural resources of the state. Chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, while addressing the workshop, said, 'Nature has gifted us resources like water and air free of cost. In today's scenario, air and water pollution are critical issues, and we must focus on renewable energy to combat them,' he stated. The state is trying to set up 22 gigawatt of power capacity through solar plants to promote green energy in the days to come, said Singh. 'Forest cover must be maintained, and any development work must not come at the cost of the environment. There must be a balance between nature and development,' he added. The event also featured presentations by environmental experts. Mohammad Rahib, assistant director at the Environment Directorate, spoke on green energy, while consultant Pankaj Arya made a presentation on Mission LiFE. B Prabhakar from the forest department discussed carbon sequestration, Girish Kumar from UPNEDA highlighted renewable energy initiatives such training of manpower to meet the increasing requirement of solar energy, and Girish Arya from the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board addressed importance of scientific waste management to save ground water from getting polluted. The event was attended by senior officials including Anil Kumar, principal secretary, department of environment, forests and climate change; Ghanshyam Singh, director/special secretary of the same department; and Chandra Bhushan, CEO of iForest.
