Latest news with #cyclones
Economic Times
3 hours ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Odisha demands Rs 3,069 crore from Centre under RDSS
Bhubaneswar, The Odisha government on Tuesday urged the Centre for early sanction of Rs 3,069 crore under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo has raised this demand before Union Power Minister Manohar Lal during his meeting in New Delhi, an official statement said. The Centre had launched the RDSS with an aim to reduce the aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses to pan-India the scheme, financial assistance to power distribution companies is provided for upgradation of the distribution infrastructure and for prepaid smart consumer metering and system metering based on meeting pre-qualifying criteria and achieving basic minimum benchmark in reforms, officials said. As Odisha frequently faces natural disasters like cyclones and floods, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) has proposed the creation of disaster-resilient power infrastructure with selective underground cabling, especially 30 km from the coastline, the statement said. Therefore, Odisha urgently needs central financial assistance for disaster-resilient power infrastructure, Singh Deo the rising demand for power, he urged Lal for the allocation of 800 megawatt (MW) power from NLC Talabira Phase-II project in addition to the 400 MW already allocated in Phase-I to Odisha. It would bring the total share to 1,200 MW from 3,200 MW total project capacity, the statement said.
Associated Press
22-07-2025
- General
- Associated Press
From dying reefs to flooded graves, Vanuatu is leading a global climate case
PORT VILA, Vanuatu (AP) — When John Warmington first began diving the reefs outside his home in Vanuatu's Havannah Harbor a decade ago, the coral rose like a sunken forest — tall stands of staghorns branched into yellow antlers, plate corals layered like canopies, and clouds of darting fish wove through the labyrinth. 'We used to know every inch of that reef,' he said. 'It was like a friend.' Now, it's unrecognizable. After Cyclone Pam battered the reef in 2015, sediment from inland rivers smothered the coral beds. Crown-of-thorns starfish swept in and devoured the recovering polyps. Back-to-back cyclones in 2023 crushed what was left. Then, in December 2024, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake shook the seabed. What remains is a coral graveyard — bleached rubble scattered across the seafloor, habitats collapsed, life vanished. 'We've come out of the water in tears,' said Warmington, who has logged thousands of dives on this single reef. 'We just see heartbreak.' That heartbreak is becoming more common across this Pacific island nation, where intensifying cyclones, rising seas and saltwater intrusion are reshaping coastlines and threatening daily life. Since 1993, sea levels around Vanuatu's shores have risen by about 6 millimeters (.24 inches) per year — significantly faster than the global average — and in some areas, tectonic activity has doubled that rate. International court to opine on nations' obligations to address climate change On Wednesday, Vanuatu will get its day in the world's highest court. The International Court of Justice will issue an advisory opinion on what legal obligations nations have to address climate change and what consequences they may face if they don't. The case, led by Vanuatu and backed by more than 130 countries, is seen as a potential turning point in international climate law. 'Seeing large, polluting countries just continue business as usual and not take the climate crisis seriously can get really sad and disappointing,' said 16-year-old climate activist Vepaiamele Trief. 'If they rule in our favor, that could change everything.' The opinion won't be legally binding, but could help shape future efforts to hold major emitters accountable and secure the funding and action small island nations need to adapt or survive. It comes after decades of frustration for Pacific nations who've watched their homelands disappear. In Tuvalu, where the average elevation is just 2 meters (6.6 feet), more than a third of the population has applied for a climate migration visa to Australia. By 2100, much of the country is projected to be under water at high tide. In Nauru, the government has begun selling passports to wealthy foreigners — offering visa-free access to dozens of countries — in a bid to generate revenue for possible relocation efforts. 'The agreements being made at an international level between states are not moving fast enough,' said Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu's minister for climate change. 'They're definitely not being met according to what the science tells us needs to happen.' Vanuatu has already sought opinions from other international courts and is pushing for the recognition of ecocide — the destruction of the environment — as a crime under the International Criminal Court. 'We have to keep fighting till the last bit,' Regenvanu said. How climate change is decimating Vanuatu For children in Vanuatu, climate change isn't a theory — it's a classroom, or the lack of one. At Sainte Jeanne D'Arc school on Efate Island, elementary school teacher Noellina Tavi has spent two of the last three years teaching her students in tents — first after the 2023 cyclones and again following the 2025 earthquake. With a shortage of emergency tents, her class was combined with another. Students fidget and lose focus. 'It's too crowded,' Tavi said. 'We can't work peacefully.' When it rains, the tents turn cold and muddy. Tavi often sends students home so they don't get sick. Anytime a storm approaches, the tents must be dismantled, the furniture carried to shelter and the children sent home. 'That disrupts their education for a whole week,' she said. In rural areas, extreme weather hits something even more basic: food security. On Nguna Island, farmer Kaltang Laban has watched cyclones wipe out the banana, cassava and taro crops that feed his community. 'After a cyclone, we would have nothing for months,' he said. Now, with support from Save the Children, Laban and other farmers are storing preserved fruits and vegetables in a facility beside their gardens. 'But not every community has this,' he said. More than 70% of Vanuatu's population lives in rural areas and depends on small-scale farming. In 2025, USAID cut funding for a rainwater harvesting initiative designed to improve water access at cyclone evacuation centers in one of the country's most remote, drought-prone provinces, said Vomboe Shem, climate lead for Save the Children Vanuatu. The materials had already been shipped and distributed, but the project was halted. 'These disasters are happening over and over again,' Shem said. 'It's pushing our communities to their limits.' Not all of these impacts can be pinned solely on climate change, said Christina Shaw, CEO of the Vanuatu Environmental Science Society. Coastal development, tectonic sinking, volcanic eruptions, deforestation and pollution are also contributing to ecosystem decline. 'Vanuatu's environment is quite fragile by its inherent nature in that it's young with narrow reefs, has small amounts of topsoil and is insulted regularly by natural disasters,' she said. 'But we do have to think about the other human impacts on our environment as well.' The damage isn't limited to homes, gardens and reefs — it's reaching into places once thought to be untouchable. On the island of Pele, village chief Amos Kalsont sits at his brother's grave as waves lap against broken headstones half-buried in sand. At high tide, both his brother's and father's graves sit just a few arm's lengths from the sea. Some homes and gardens have already been moved inland, and saltwater intrusion has tainted the community's primary drinking water source. Now, the community is considering relocating the entire village — but that would mean leaving the land their grandparents cleared by hand. 'The sea is catching up and we don't know what else to do,' Kalsont said. 'It's not fair that we have to face the consequences when we didn't contribute to this in the first place.' Many in Vanuatu remain committed to building something stronger and hope the rest of the world will support them. 'This is our future, and it's particularly our children's future, our grandchildren's future,' said Regenvanu. 'We just have to keep pushing for the best one we can.' Back in Havannah Harbor, John Warmington still dives the reef he considers part of his family. While much of it is gone, he and his wife Sandy have begun replanting coral fragments in hopes of restoring what's left. 'Our friend is still here,' he said. 'Life is coming back.' ___ Follow Annika Hammerschlag on Instagram @ahammergram. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Hans India
12-07-2025
- Climate
- Hans India
Farmers urged to utilise crop insurance schemes
Vijayawada: NTR district Collector Dr G Lakshmisha has urged farmers to voluntarily avail themselves of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the Re-structured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS). These schemes provide crucial insurance compensation for various crops in the event of natural calamities such as cyclones, droughts, and unseasonal rains. Collector Lakshmisha chaired a review meeting with officials from the Agriculture and Horticulture departments on PMFBY and RWBCIS. During the meeting, he announced that for the current Kharif season in the district, paddy, red chili, maize, and green gram crops have been notified under the yield-based PMFBY. Cotton has been notified under RWBCIS. The Collector explained that the village has been notified as the insurance unit for paddy, the mandal for red chili, and the district for maize and green gram. Tata AIG Insurance Company has been selected for the implementation of PMFBY, and IFFCO Tokio General Insurance Company for RWBCIS. The Collector advised farmers to stay away from intermediaries and brokers regarding crop insurance and instead utilise the services of CSCs. Collector Lakshmisha instructed field-level agriculture and horticulture officers and staff to provide necessary assistance and guidance to farmers to help them utilise the crop insurance schemes effectively. For paddy, the insured amount per acre is Rs 42,500, with a premium of Rs 850, and registration must be completed by August 15. District Agricultural Officer DMF Vijayakumari, Horticulture Officer P Balaji Kumar and other officials also participated.
Hans India
01-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Vizag among 50 global finalists in Bloomberg Mayors Challenge 2025
Visakhapatnam: In a significant development, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation(GVMC) got selected as one of the 50 global finalists in the coveted Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge 2025. The global competition aims at extending support to transformative concepts from across the world. The GVMC's achievement reflects its testament to its commitment towards building a climate resilient city. Among the 50 cities from 33 countries, Visakhapatnam was selected in the competition. The officials from the GVMC will pitch in for ideas at the camp scheduled next month. The city will receive expert support for piloting innovative solutions in community-based climate resilience as it aims to transform emergency response to a real-time, community-driven climate risk model. This sixth edition of the Mayors Challenge attracted over 630 applications from cities across 99 countries. Visakhapatnam is one of the 50 cities selected from 33 countries, representing more than 80 million residents worldwide. The city will receive $50,000 in seed funding and expert support to prototype. Focusing on co-creation and citizen engagement to tackle climate-induced risks such as floods, cyclones, and extreme heat, the GVMC will further develop its Prajamukhi- Urban Living Lab (V-PULL). The proposal emphasises local innovation, encouraging community-led risk mapping, real-time data collection and deployment of early alert systems. GVMC's ideation team will join Bloomberg Philanthropies' Ideas Camp in July to refine the concept. 'The recognition reinforces our commitment to building a climate-resilient and inclusive city. Through the Prajamukhi - Urban Living Lab, we are empowering communities to co-create solutions that save lives and livelihoods. It is not just about technology, it is about trust, collaboration and innovation,' said Mayor Peela Srinivasa Rao. Sharing his views, Municipal Commissioner Ketan Garg said, 'The initiative puts people at the centre of urban resilience. By co-creating with communities, we are building a smarter and more responsive governance system. This model will not only serve Visakhapatnam but can inspire other cities in India and beyond.' Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organisation focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas such as arts, education, environment, government innovation and public health.
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Maharashtra govt to install automated weather stations in every village
The Maharashtra government has decided to install automated weather stations (AWS) in every village across the state. This initiative is part of the Union Government's Weather Information Network Data System (WINDS) project. Currently, Maharashtra has AWS installed at the revenue circle level. However, the state government has now issued a Government Resolution (GR) and announced the installation of AWS at each village in Maharashtra for accurate weather forecasting and to assist farmers and citizens of Maharashtra. The WINDS project aims to provide accurate weather information, facilitate weather-based agricultural advisories, support research in agricultural meteorology, and ensure the availability of necessary weather-related data during disasters. With AWS installed at the Gram Panchayat level, the state government expects to provide timely guidance to farmers and help citizens affected by natural disasters such as cyclones, droughts, earthquakes, and floods. As per the Government Resolution issued on Friday, financial assistance is provided to help citizens affected by natural disasters, including cyclones, droughts, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, hailstorms, landslides, snow avalanches, pest attacks, cold waves, and severe frost. Live Events The AWS units will help collect localised, accurate weather data, especially during natural disasters. These AWS units will measure weather parameters, including temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind speed, and direction. This information, when processed using AI systems and analytical technologies, will facilitate data aggregation and interpretation, providing timely guidance to farmers. Previously, under the Mega Project, AWS were set up at the Revenue Circle level. However, weather conditions recorded there may not reflect local variations at the village level. Thus, it is now proposed to expand the AWS installation to the Gram Panchayat levels for precise and locally relevant weather data. According to the official statement, approval is granted to set up Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) at Gram Panchayat levels, excluding those already covered at the Revenue Circle level, under the WINDS project. As per WINDS MANUAL, 2023, five WINDS Implementation Partners (WIPs) have been selected for the project implementation, including: Azista Industries from Ahmedabad, National Commodities Management Services from Hyderabad, Ingen Technologies from Kanpur, Skymet Weather Services of Noida (U.P.), and Obel Systems from Secunderabad. The selection of WIP will be made through a financial bidding process among empanelled agencies. The Agriculture Commissioner is authorised to conduct bidding, contract signing, and implementation for a period of five years (renewable, depending on further Central Government instructions). In order to maintain uniformity and efficiency, one WIP will be appointed for every 2-3 Revenue Circles. After issuing the work order, the AWS must be installed within one month. A WINDS Local Guardian (WLG) will be appointed from the concerned Gram Panchayat staff for AWS setup supervision, calibration, and regular maintenance. The WIP is responsible for the maintenance, repairs, or replacement of malfunctioning or stolen equipment. The technical specifications of AWS will follow the WINDS Manual, 2023. Data from AWS will be stored and disseminated through the WINDS portal, managed by the Central Government. The Central Government will appoint Quality Assurance Partners (QAP) to monitor data accuracy and conduct audits. Expenses will be borne by the PMFBY (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana) FIAT fund. Weather data will be recorded daily from 8:30:01 AM of the previous day to 8:30:00 AM of the current day, and hourly summaries will be uploaded to the portal. The Agriculture Commissioner is empowered to create operational guidelines, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and terms & conditions under the project.
