Latest news with #Pillai
Canada Standard
14 hours ago
- Business
- Canada Standard
Yukon, B.C. Agree to Link Grids Through New $2B Power Line
The Yukon and British Columbia governments have agreed to jointly plan a transmission line connecting their power grids, with project costs in the billions and a timeline of over a decade. A local management consultant says there may be better ways to meet the territory's electricity needs. The Yukon-BC Grid Connect project aims to enable two-way electricity transmission, enhancing energy security and offering "mutual economic prosperity," the premiers of the two governments said in a joint statement. Signed May 23, their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) "will guide intergovernmental collaboration" through the exploration and planning phases of connecting the two grids. "It's an agreement between both premiers' offices at the political level, just that this is a priority," Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai told Yukon News. The planned 765-kilometre, 200-kilovolt transmission line is expected to cost around $2 billion and will take more than 10 years to complete. It will require close cooperation with Indigenous communities along the route, and will be guided by "advancing reconciliation with affected First Nations, including through Indigenous partnerships and ownership," says the joint statement. Last year, the federal government announced $40 million for a feasibility study of the power line. The study will update one released in 2015, in which consultancy firm Midgard said it "cannot see a plausible scenario, given the assumptions, where Yukon profitably imports electricity." Midgard also questioned the reliability risks the territory would face if it depended on another jurisdiction for its electricity supply. Now, Pillai is pitching the power line as "a nation-building project" that would benefit all of Canada by boosting Arctic and northern sovereignty and security. Proponents also emphasize the environmental benefits, noting that the corridor would facilitate the flow of clean electricity northward. This could reduce reliance on liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports for mining operations in the region, allowing operators to market their resources as lower carbon, writes Yukon News. The MOU doesn't come with any financial commitment. But with the transmission line's price tag roughly equal to the territory's total annual budget, the cost cannot "be put on the back of Yukoners," said Pillai, who called for more funding from Ottawa. In an interview last fall, Yukon Member of Parliament Brendan Hanley said connecting the grids would allow the territory to export surplus energy and diversify its energy sources as the climate becomes more variable. Currently, Yukon is isolated from the North American grid and primarily powered by hydroelectric dams. But rising demand and low reservoir water levels have increased the proportion of energy it sources from fossil fuels. The territory also relies on rented diesel generators to meet peak power demand. With the grid connection years away, opposition leaders have questioned how Yukon will address its immediate energy challenges, Yukon News reported last fall. Economist Keith Halliday writes the massive transmission line is but one possible solution to the territory's energy troubles. Clean energy needs could also be met by building several smaller, "bite-size" projects in the area to add to the territory's own capacity. "Instead of huge surplus intertie capacity in the initial years, you build up generation capacity in small steps as demand for electric vehicles and heat grows," Halliday says. These smaller projects would create long-term employment in the Yukon economy, rather than the powerline construction jobs that would disappear when the project is finished. "Instead of outsourcing power jobs to B.C., you create well-paid engineering and union jobs here," Halliday writes. "Instead of B.C. investors getting the returns, they go to Yukon First Nations development corporations and our private sector." Source: The Energy Mix
Scroll.in
4 days ago
- General
- Scroll.in
Shipwreck off Kerala coast likely to endanger marine ecology and life
The Liberian-flagged ship that sank off the Kerala coast has raised concerns about a potential oil spill and hazardous cargo, and the resulting ecological impact. The ship ELSA 3, enroute from Vizhinjam to Kochi, tilted into the sea on May 24, 38 nautical miles off the Kochi coast and sank completely the next morning. According to the Ministry of Defence, the ship had 640 containers, of which 46 were washed ashore in south Kerala on Tuesday, May 27. Also, tiny plastic pellets or nurdles, suspected to be from containers, were found on the coast of Thiruvananthapuram the same day. Nurdles scattered in the sea are hard to clean up and can endanger marine life. As per media reports, large quantities of nurdles, also suspected to be from the containers, washed ashore in the Kanniyakumari district of the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu on May 28 afternoon, a few days after the ship began sinking. Besides, of the containers remaining in the sea, 13 carry hazardous material, but authorities have not disclosed the nature of this material. Another 12 contain calcium carbide, which becomes inflammable when reacting with water. It can also make the water more alkaline, disrupting the marine ecosystem. Under India's National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan, the incident was classified as Tier II (spills requiring regional or national intervention). As per the contingency plan, the Indian Coast Guard has been trying to control the oil spill on site while state agencies are coordinating the response on the shore. Oil spill in patches The ship was loaded with 367 tonnes of furnace oil and 84 tonnes of low-sulphur high-speed diesel (HSD), according to a press release from the Ministry of Defence. 'Low-sulphur HSD is commonly used in ships. We don't know which of the two fuels leaked. Initially, the leak was in a 1 nm X 2 nm [nautical miles] area, and later it spread to 2 nm X 2 nm,' said Commander Atul Pillai, Defence Public Relations Officer, Kochi. He said the Coast Guard has largely contained the spill. 'Three Coast Guard ships have been churning the affected waters while two Dornier aircraft sprayed oil spill dispersants. Earlier, the spill was visible from the aircraft; now, there are only patches. Coast Guard has also now dispatched a pollution response strike team and a pollution response vessel from Mumbai to analyse and handle the contamination,' he said. When asked whether the oil spill could be fully dispersed, Pillai said, 'We can't say if more oil will leak out of the ship. As of now, the operation is going on.' Biju Kumar, marine biologist and head of the Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries at Kerala University, says long-term monitoring is needed even if the oil spill is dispersed. There is no immediate concern as no fish mortality has been reported. However, diesel and engine oil contain several hydrocarbons, some of which are persistent organic pollutants and are easily absorbed and remain in the food systems. The oil will ultimately settle down, get converted into paraffin balls, and spread over long distances. That is a threat to the benthic ecosystem (at the bottom of the sea).' More concerning, Kumar said, are the containers that are still missing. 'None of the recovered containers have calcium carbide, which means we need to have a thorough search for the declared materials. Second, many items, like plastic pellets, were not disclosed earlier. So, what is in the containers is a concern.' Until Monday, two days after the ship began sinking, most containers washed ashore were either empty or contained non-hazardous materials like tea. By the next day, plastic pellets washed up. The nurdles, 1 mm to 5 mm in diameter and considered primary microplastics, are used to manufacture plastic products. According to Kumar, this is the first instance of plastic pellet pollution from a shipwreck reported in India. He says the nurdles' size and buoyancy allow them to travel far, and their resemblance to fish eggs causes aquatic animals to ingest them, which could be fatal. Nurdles can also absorb pollutants over time, gradually break down into micro and nano plastics, and enter the food chain. Kumar says nurdles should be removed from the spill sites and beaches as soon as possible. The state government has enlisted volunteers, who would be guided by drone surveys, to remove pellets from the shore. Sreekala S, chairperson of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board, says, 'We plan to coordinate with the administrations to remove the containers and materials. The shipping company MSC [Mediterranean Shipping Company] has agreed to remove these, and discussions on this are ongoing.' MSC is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland but ELSA3 was registered in Liberia. The Mercantile Marine Department, Kochi, under the Directorate General of Shipping, has issued a pollution liability warning to the company, and MSC is reported to have hired an agency for cleanup. Kumar says the government should form a consortium of experts to conduct long-term monitoring studies. 'There is an international standard of practice for such monitoring. This includes frequently examining the water, sediment, and biota in the pelagic, mesopelagic (intermediate depths), and bottom layers. Filter feeders, especially mussels and shrimp, have a greater chance of accumulating chemicals. So, examining all these animals will give you a picture of the type and level of contaminants.' He adds that such studies are usually conducted for about three years and should be extended if contaminants are detected. Joint studies Until May 27, ICAR's Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute scientists collected water and sediment samples from 12 shores where containers were washed up. These were in Ernakulam, Alappuzha, and Kollam districts. 'The analysis will take time, but preliminary observations don't indicate oil slicks,' says Ratheesh Kumar R, team member and senior scientist. From May 28, the fisheries institute, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, and the National Institute of Oceanography are conducting a 10-day vessel-based survey. 'We will collect water and sediment samples from different depths of the sea and measure water quality, alkalinity, oil content, biota, etc. We will also collect fish from 8-10 landing centres and look for any chemicals, oil, or hydrocarbons,' Ratheesh Kumar said. The survey locations would be selected based on dynamic maps by the ocean information services centre that project the oil drift based on wind and current directions. The fisheries institute will continue the study for at least six months, though the sampling frequency may be lower, Ratheesh Kumar said.
India Gazette
26-05-2025
- General
- India Gazette
Kerala: Containers from sunk Liberian vessel spotted on Kollam coast
Kollam [Kerala], May 26 (ANI): Eight containers from the Liberia-flagged container vessel MSC ELSA 3, which sank off the Kochi coast on May 25 due to flooding, were spotted on the Kollam coast on Monday. Red containers were seen washed ashore amidst the rocky shores and turbulent waters, highlighting potential environmental and navigational hazards. Earlier on Sunday, the Indian Coast Guard stated that the vessel was carrying 640 containers, including 13 containing hazardous cargo and 12 with calcium carbide. It further added that the ship had 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil in its tanks, and the ICG had activated 'comprehensive Pollution Response preparedness' to address all possible scenarios of oil spillage. The ICG also added that all the 24 crew members were rescued in a joint effort by the ICG and the Indian Navy. 'All 24 crew members' ex Liberian-flagged container Vessel MSC ELSA 3 were rescued safely, 21 by the India Coast Guard & 3 by the Indian Navy Ship Sujata after the vessel sank off Kochi this morning. The vessel was carrying 640 containers, including 13 containing hazardous cargo and 12 with calcium carbide. Additionally, the ship had 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil in its tanks. ICG has activated comprehensive Pollution Response preparedness and is working in close coordination with the State administration to address all possible scenarios. ICG aircraft equipped with advanced oil spill mapping technology are conducting aerial assessment of the affected area,' the ICG stated on X. The vessel's sinking on May 25 has raised concerns about pollution, leading to intensified efforts by the Indian Coast Guard and Navy, as detailed by Indian Navy PRO Athul Pillai on Sunday. According to Pillai, the two ICG ships, Saksham and Samarth, are now focused on mitigating potential ecological damage, with a Dornier aircraft assisting in surveillance, as the vessel remains a concern for maritime pollution. 'Two of the Coast Guard ships are involved in the pollution response activities. The ship has been changed into a pollution response configuration. One of the ships, Saksham, is already in the area. The other ship, Samarth, will proceed to the area to augment the pollution response activities. The Indian Coast Guard Dornier is also on task for the pollution response activities,' Pillai stated. By late Saturday night, 21 of the 24 crew, including nationals from Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, and the Philippines, had been rescued. Three senior crew members remained onboard to assist with salvage arrangements. However, the vessel's condition deteriorated overnight, and it capsized on May 25. The three crew members were forced to abandon the ship and were rescued by INS Sujata. (ANI)
New Indian Express
26-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Alzheimer's patient dies after assault by caregiver in Pathanamthitta
PATHANAMTHITTA: A 60-year-old Alzheimer's patient who was under treatment after being assaulted by his caregiver passed away in Pathanamthitta on Sunday. The incident that took place on April 23 has sparked outrage and raised concerns about the safety of vulnerable individuals. The victim, Sasidharan Pillai, a resident of Thekkekkara in Pandalam and a retired BSF soldier, had been bedridden for seven years. According to the police, he was assaulted by home nurse Vishnu, 37, from Kollam, who had been hired through an agency in Adoor just six weeks prior to the incident. Police investigation revealed that Vishnu used a stick and a belt to repeatedly assault the patient, causing multiple injuries, including a fractured backbone, bruises on his back, and a deep cut below his knee. The violence came to light after Pillai's wife, M S Anitha, a government school teacher in Thanjavur, grew suspicious during a phone call on April 23 when she heard unusual noises in the background. She alerted the neighbours, who found visible injuries on Pillai's body. On reviewing CCTV footage, the family discovered evidence of the assault. The Kodumon police, led by Inspector P Vinod, registered a case based on Anitha's complaint and swiftly apprehended Vishnu.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
EMA Partners India launches James Douglas Global; to be led by Harish Pillai
Executive search and leadership advisory firm EMA Partners India has launched James Douglas Global Talent Solutions (James Douglas Global), a specialised vertical focused on delivering next-generation recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) and integrated talent acquisition solutions . James Douglas Global marks EMA Partners' strategic expansion into the broader talent solutions domain, enabling the company to offer a comprehensive suite of services across the talent value chain. With a strong emphasis on sectors such as BFSI, Technology, Lifesciences, and Manufacturing, James Douglas Global will combine domain expertise with digital innovation to address evolving enterprise hiring needs. James Douglas Global will be led by Harish Pillai, who comes with over two decades of experience in RPO, staffing, and talent strategy. Pillai previously served as Managing Director at Randstad Enterprise India where he was instrumental in building high-performing talent businesses. James Douglas Global's offerings include 'MatchCore', a proprietary AI-powered platform that enhances recruitment outcomes through workflow optimization, process automation, and deep analytics. MatchCore supports real-time data visualization and decision intelligence, empowering hiring managers and business leaders to make smarter, faster, and more informed talent decisions. This new vertical positions EMA Partners as a one-stop talent advisory partner, offering not only executive search expertise but also full lifecycle talent acquisition solutions, powered by AI, data intelligence, and operational excellence. K. Sudarshan, Managing Director at EMA Partners India Ltd. said 'With James Douglas Global, EMA Partners is reinforcing its commitment to innovation in the talent space. The combination of strategic search and operational hiring capability ensures we deliver impactful talent outcomes across leadership and volume hiring mandates alike.' Harish Pillai, Managing Director, James Douglas Global commented 'James Douglas Global was conceptualized to expand EMA's capabilities in providing scalable, tech-driven hiring solutions aligned with the evolving workforce landscape. Whether it's high-volume enterprise hiring or niche mandates for emerging GCCs, our approach will be agile, intelligent, and fully customizable.' Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
