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<ul><li>Today, the Park covers an area of 1334 square kilometres after the adjacent Keladevi Sanctuary, Sawai Mansingh sanctuary and a few other forests were added to the Park's territory.</li><li>If you really want to see a <keyword id="9403" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tiger">tiger</keyword>, be sure to book at least three safaris.</li><li>Built by the Chauhan Rajputs, the Ranthambore Fort is believed to be the first Jauhar site in Rajput history.</li></ul>Among the leading tiger sanctuaries in India, <keyword id="6368667" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ranthambore-National-Park">Ranthambore National Park</keyword> in Rajasthan is an old favourite amongst <keyword id="6360144" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="wildlife">wildlife</keyword> lovers despite the promise of sighting the elusive big cat remaining slim. Open from October to June, Ranthambore is perhaps one of the best places to see wild tigers in Rajasthan. Of course, multiple attempts may be required. That said, tigers are not the only creatures inhabiting the dry scrublands. The Park is also home to a host of other wild animals, including leopards, striped hyenas, crocodiles, langurs, rhesus macaques, jackals, jungle cats, caracals, blackbuck, black-naped hare, chinkara and hundreds of species of birds. <div type="image" title="Ranthamore National Park" msid="82015236" hostid="261"></div>Ranthambore was declared a tiger reserve in 1973, and seven years later, a 274.5 square kilometre area of the forest was declared as Ranthambore National Park. Today, the Park covers an area of 1334 square kilometres after the adjacent Keladevi Sanctuary, Sawai Mansingh sanctuary and a few other forests were added to the Park's <a href="https://www.wwfindia.org/about_wwf/critical_regions/national_parks_tiger_reserves/ranthambore_tiger_reserve/">territory</a>. The topography consists primarily of grasslands and forest cover featuring primarily hardy 'dhak' (Butea monosperma) trees that can withstand long dry spells. Also called 'Flame of forest', these dhak trees flower even during the dry season. Safaris<div type="image" title="Ranthambore National Park" msid="82015215" hostid="261"></div>If you really want to see a tiger, be sure to book at least three safaris. Ten kilometres from Sawai Madhopur is the first gate of the Park, and an additional 3 kilometres will take you to the main gate. The safaris take place twice daily -- morning and evening. You have the option to book a Gypsy vehicle that will ensure a more private experience. Else, you can book a seat in a canter which is basically a large open van. Booking can be made in advance from the <a href="http://www.rajasthanwildlife.in/">website</a>, or you can try your luck directly at the Forest Office who keep a few canters and a Gypsy on hold for impromptu reservations.Ranthambore Fort Smack in the middle of the Park is the fascinating 10th-century Ranthambore Fort, strewn around which are ancient temples and mosques, hunting pavilions, lakes and vine-covered chhatris. Built by the Chauhan Rajputs, the Fort is believed to be the first Jauhar site (mass suicide by immolation) in Rajput history. The rather grim story is that the ruler Hammir Deva was embroiled in a long battle with Muslim forces. Although Hammir fought off the invaders, the women who were seeking refuge in the Fort learned that he had succumbed on the battlefield and preferring death to dishonour, they committed mass suicide. Covering an area of 4.5 square kilometres, the ruins of the Fort provide a great vantage point to view the surrounding areas. The Fort also has a few temples dedicated to Ganesha, Shiva and Ramlalaji. DastkarThis not-for-profit NGO was established in 1981 to empower village women to earn regular income by selling their textile and embroidery work. Situated a little beyond the park entrance, the Dastkar Ranthambore Project was started in 1991. At the time, there were only 100 <keyword id="940905" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="bandhani">Bandhani</keyword> workers in Sawai Madhopur. Today, more than 2000 craftspeople work here. The workshop and outlet is definitely worth a visit. <div type="image" title="Ranthambore National Park" msid="82015255" hostid="261"></div> Getting thereAround 463 kilometres from Delhi, Ranthambore can be reached by car, or you can take a train to the town of Sawai Madhopur. There are a bunch of trains that ply this route, including the Nizamuddin–Kota Jan Shatabdi (12060) that leaves Delhi at 1.15 pm and arrives at Sawai Madhopur at around 6 pm. Or you can opt for the Golden Temple Mail (12904) that departs from the Nizammudin station in Delhi at 7.05 am and arrives at Sawai Madhopur at 1 pm. Places to stay There are dozens of places to stay to suit every budget near the Park. <a href="https://www.khemvillas.com/">Khem Villas</a>, a rather swanky property, is run by the late Fateh Singh Rathore's son who was an instrumental force behind the tiger conservation movement here. This impressive eco-lodge set in 22 acres of organic farmland and reafforested land has various accommodation options on offer -- from rooms in the colonial-style bungalow to luxury tents and stone cottages. Run by the <keyword id="167201" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajasthan-Tourism-Development-Corporation">Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation</keyword>, <a href="http://rtdc.tourism.rajasthan.gov.in/Client/HotelDetails.aspx?HotelID=SawaiMadhopurJhoomarBaori">RTDC Castle Jhoomar Baori</a> is around 7 kilometres from the station. The property was a former royal hunting lodge set on a hilltop and features basic borderline shabby rooms, but the location and price make up for these shortcomings. Located at a distance from the main city, Clarks Resort Abhyaran Ranthambore is another reasonably-priced hotel with 30 rooms, a spa and a pool, among other facilities. Customers have shared rave reviews about the staff and the food. SEE ALSO:<a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/article/mountains-rivers-trout-and-toddy-manali-offers-you-all-these-and-more/articleshow/82002848.cms">Mountains, rivers, trout and toddy - Manali offers you all these and more</a><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/article/mountains-rivers-trout-and-toddy-manali-offers-you-all-these-and-more/articleshow/82002848.cms"></a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/founders-take-note-heres-why-most-startups-fail/articleshow/81981138.cms">Founders, take note: here’s why most startups fail</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/google-phone-app-now-lets-you-record-calls-automatically-from-unknown-numbers/articleshow/81982791.cms">Google Phone app now lets you record calls automatically from unknown numbers</a>

Ranthambore National Park features an excellent variety of wildlife amidst dry scrublands and fortress ruins

Come July, all government departments in the state will go full steam launching pompous plantation drives, but the net result hints at an alarming reduction in green cover across <keyword id="6357713" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="uttar-pradesh" source="Orion">Uttar Pradesh</keyword>. This year, more than 35 crore saplings are to be planted in different areas of the state involving as many as 30 government departments. To set a new Guinness World Record, UP's deputy chief minister has announced opening of 150 new high tech nurseries, two in each district. An amount of Rs 150 crore has been earmarked. Taj city, <keyword id="6356295" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="agra" source="Orion">Agra</keyword> has been given a target of planting 51 lakh saplings. In 2018, the city planted 20 lakh, in 2019 the number was 28 lakh, in 2020 they planted 38 lakh, and in 2021, 45 lakh saplings were planted. DFO Akhilesh Pandey claims 70 per cent plants have survived. Interestingly, Agra mayor Navin Jain had planted some 12,000 saplings on the <keyword id="6354936" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="yamuna" source="Orion">Yamuna</keyword> river bed, which were all washed away when the water level rose in August last year. An inquiry is still going on. In the past years, huge plantation drives have been ordered by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister <keyword id="43254" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="yogi-adityanath" source="Orion">Yogi Adityanath</keyword> and also by his predecessor <keyword id="6355031" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="akhilesh-yadav" source="Orion">Akhilesh Yadav</keyword>. However, the green activists remarked that these are "paper trees to be found only in government files." In the last year of his term in office, former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav set a Guinness World Record for planting 50 million saplings in a day. Next year Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath set a target of nine crore saplings. "Trees rich in medicinal properties and of religious significance will be planted across the state," it was claimed. Despite such herculean efforts, the green cover in Uttar Pradesh remains a dismal 9 per cent, against the national target of 33 per cent. Green activists in Agra doubt the government claims. "These are paper trees to be found only in government files. The ground reality is different," said activist Harendra Gupta of River Connect Campaign. "For 90 million saplings, we need 2,25000 hectares of land, if the distance between two saplings is kept 5 metres. The Akhilesh Yadav government planted 50 million. So now where's the space," wonders Pandit Jugal Kishor. If so many trees have been planted over the years, why are they not visible? Environmentalist Dr Devashish Bhattacharya explains, "The eco-sensitive Taj Trapezium Zone, spread over 10,400 sq km, has seen continuous denudation of forest cover due to massive construction activity. The Yamuna and Agra-Lucknow expressways, dozens of flyovers, the inner city ring road and widening of the national highway to Delhi have gobbled up acres of green cover, exposing the Taj Mahal to dust-laden winds from Rajasthan desert." The Supreme Court had directed that a green buffer be created to insulate the historical monuments from air pollution. "But there has been no significant improvement in the conditions around the Taj Trapezium Zone. Even the area around the protected Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary is being gobbled up by colonisers and business interests. The dense cover at Keitham Lake is continuously being reduced," Bhattacharya added. Green activists in Agra have warned of a steadily diminishing green cover in the Taj city, with one expert blaming monkeys for it. The Supreme Court has been repeatedly asking the authorities since 1996 to intensify efforts to develop a green belt to contain air pollution in Agra, India's most popular tourist destination. Green activists have expressed concern over the latest trend of developing concrete jungles where once green forests had existed. "From Vrindavan to Agra, there were 12 big forests in the Braj area. But now only their names remain. The green patches have turned brown, yellow and grey," says Vrindavan activist, Jagan Nath Poddar, convener of Friends of Vrindavan. The activist said, "the builders and corrupt government officials had colluded to gobble up huge chunks of forest land. Illegal felling of trees continues along the Yamuna. Also, the continuous construction of roads, expressways, flyovers and other projects has taken a heavy toll on green cover, specially trees." Eco Club president, Pradip, noted that instead of increasing the forest cover area, the percentage had fallen to around 7 per cent against the national standard of 33 per cent. "The loss of green cover had affected the rainfall pattern, reducing the number of rainy days in the whole Braj Mandal. Agra was being ruined by so-called development. The alarming fall in the green cover due to negligence and corrupt ways of the bureaucracy will prove suicidal and hasten the ecological apocalypse," he said. Most green activists of Braj Mandal said monkeys too were to blame. "The monkeys are a big nuisance. We keep planting saplings all over but find the next day that the monkeys have uprooted them all. To promote green culture in the city, we will need to contain the monkey population," they stated. "Every year, just before the monsoon sets in, all the state government agencies, NGOs, green-warrior outfits and nature lovers join the ritualistic <keyword id="62575" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tree-Plantation" source="Orion">tree plantation</keyword> drive with tall claims about the number of saplings planted. They just get photographed and then forget about the saplings totally," the activists said. "If you add up all the claims of tree plantation work each year since 1990 by successive state governments, there would be hardly an inch of space left for planting new saplings. UP's green cover is hardly 10 percent and with new mega projects coming up everywhere, film city, international airport, expressways, residential urban clusters, shopping complexes, the space for extending green cover is severely limited," they claimed. A group of green activists in Agra has demanded an independent audit of the green work done so far. "The real problem with such over-hyped campaigns is that these are not backed by adequate support services that can take care of the plants for three years at least," says green activist, Padmini Iyer from River Connect Campaign. SEE ALSO : <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/news/facebook-insta-and-google-took-down-over-21-million-posts-in-may-while-whatsapp-and-twitter-banned-over-19-lakh-bad-accounts/articleshow/92698950.cms">Facebook, Insta and Google took down over 21 million posts in May while WhatsApp and Twitter banned over 19 lakh ‘bad’ accounts</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/amazon-prime-day-sale-2022-to-begin-on-july-23-in-india/articleshow/92699059.cms">Amazon Prime Day Sale 2022 to begin on July 23 in India – everything you need to know about the biggest sale on Amazon</a>

UP's green cover is reducing at an alarming pace in spite of tree plantation drives

<ul><li>April was the <a href="https://internal.imd.gov.in/press_release/20220402_pr_1551.pdf">hottest </a>month for northwest and central India and the third-hottest April the country has seen over the past 122 years, from 1901 to 2022.</li><li>The heat wave is also taking lives. It has already taken 25 lives in <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/25-heat-stroke-deaths-in-maha-most-in-6-yrs/articleshow/91243493.cms">Maharashtra</a>, in April and March, which is the highest in six years, and over 374 cases of heat stroke have been reported in this period.</li><li>We take a closer look at the heat patterns, cascading impacts of a heat wave and how can we control climate change.</li></ul>Summer has arrived early this year. The <a href="https://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2022/apr/03/climate-maximum-india-sees-its-hottest-march-in-122-years-2437271.html#:~:text=The%20average%20maximum%20temperature%20of,temperature%20of%2033.09%20degrees%20Celsius.">hottest March</a> in 122 years was followed by even more <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/heatwave-in-india-what-is-wet-bulb-temperature-why-is-it-important-and-how-to-measure-it/articleshow/91306156.cms">intense heat waves</a> in April. As per the India Meteorological Department, April was the <a href="https://internal.imd.gov.in/press_release/20220402_pr_1551.pdf">hottest </a>month for northwest and central India and the third-hottest April the country has seen over the past 122 years, from 1901 to 2022. This April, which left more than a billion people sweltering, was not ‘just another hot month.’ It indicates a recurring pattern of intense hot spells, which could be a sign of climate change and <keyword id="6366055" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-warming" source="Orion">global warming</keyword>. <div type="image" title="spongebob-squarepants-burning in intense heat" msid="91367932" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Summer has arrived early this year&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Could these intense and recurring heat waves be a sign of climate change?" text="Could these intense and recurring heat waves be a sign of climate change?">Could these intense and recurring heat waves be a sign of climate change?</cmsannotation> The number of heat wave days in India in a decade has increased from 413 during 1981-90 to 575 in 2001-10 and further to 600 in 2010-20, a <a href="https://theprint.in/environment/indias-early-heatwave-sign-of-climate-change-could-be-more-dangerous-to-health-say-experts/933706/">study </a>by IMD and Kottayam-based Institute for Climate Change Studies (ICCS) said, highlighting the impact of climate crisis on the maximum temperatures. In fact, 12 of the country’s 15 <a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1686173">warmest years</a> on record have occurred in the last 30 years. The daily high temperatures measured each year have also been increasing at a faster rate than daily low temperatures. This indicates that the distribution of temperature is shifting and <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/02/india-heat-wave-in-pictures.html">changing </a>the ‘normal’ state. <div type="image" title="gfx1-heat-Artboard-1-copy-4" msid="91367958" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;12 of India&amp;#39;s 15 warmest years on record have occurred in the last 30 years&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The heat wave is also taking lives. The 2015 <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/85986/india-faces-deadly-heat-wave">heat wave</a> in June killed more than 2,500 people and the 2022 heat wave in March and April has already taken 25 lives in <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/25-heat-stroke-deaths-in-maha-most-in-6-yrs/articleshow/91243493.cms">Maharashtra</a>, which is the highest in six years, and over 374 cases of heat stroke have been reported in this period. <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2022/04/29/climate-change-india-heatwave/9583931002/">Experts</a> predict that before climate change, such intensity of heat would have only been seen about once in every 50 years in India. However, it is now <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2022/04/29/climate-change-india-heatwave/9583931002/">expected</a> to occur once every four years. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Is the worst yet to come?" text="Is the worst yet to come?">Is the worst yet to come?</cmsannotation> Let’s take a closer look at the heat patterns in April. On April 27, 2022, the highest temperature in the country, 45.9°C (114.6°F), was recorded in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Barmer in West Rajasthan in the northwest reported a high of 45.1°C (113.2°F) a day before, according to the <a href="https://mausam.imd.gov.in/Forecast/marquee_data/Press%20Release%2027.04.2022%20_1.pdf">India Meteorological Department</a>. Many other cities and towns recorded temperatures of 42-44°C (108-111°F). <div type="image" title="Northwest and central India recorded the third-hottest April the country has seen over the past 122 years" msid="91368008" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Northwest and central India recorded the third-hottest April the country has seen over the past 122 years&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> These patterns could change in the future. So, is the worst yet to come? As per India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences, the frequency of warm extremes over India has increased during 1951–2015, with accelerated warming trends during the recent 30-year period. Significant change is observed for the warmest day, warmest night and coldest night since 1986. Our country, which is reeling through a heat wave right now, is also expected to suffer through more frequent and intense hot spells, extreme rainfall and erratic monsoons in the coming decades as the planet warms, said <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/india-s-record-heatwave-to-get-worse-authorities-blame-global-warming-122042900785_1.html">United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel</a>, a body for assessing the science related to climate change. On the other hand, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) released a statement that said “it is premature to attribute the extreme heat in India and Pakistan solely to climate change.” The global body added that the heat is consistent with what it expects in a changing climate. The WMO also noted that these “heat waves are more frequent and more intense and starting earlier than in the past.” <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Cascading impacts of a heat wave" text="Cascading impacts of a heat wave">Cascading impacts of a heat wave</cmsannotation> The summer in India has been brutal in the past couple of years, with heat wave deaths occurring with more regularity, especially in heat wave-prone regions of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Odisha. It also has led to cascading impacts not just on human health, but also on ecosystems such as agriculture, water and energy supplies. Power demand has spiked and coal inventories have dropped, leaving the country with its worst <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/why-are-there-power-cuts-and-heatwave-in-india/articleshow/91177785.cms">power shortage</a> in more than six years. Additionally, in the last seven days, India’s Forest Survey department (FSI) has reported more than<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/in-depth/how-frequent-forest-fires-impact-humans-animals-and-environment-equally/videoshow/91294425.cms"> 7800 forest fires </a>in various parts of the country. <div type="image" title="Large forest fires have increased in India due to rising temperatures" msid="91368122" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Large forest fires have increased in India due to rising temperatures&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The heat wave has also <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/after-five-record-crops-heat-wave-threatens-indias-wheat-output-export-plans-2022-05-02/">threatened</a> India’s wheat output plan. However, there’s still hope to <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/2022/04/04/ipcc-ar6-wgiii-pressrelease/">control</a> climate change. It will involve a substantial reduction in fossil fuel use, widespread electrification, improved energy efficiency, and use of alternative fuels (such as hydrogen). <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="91306156" title="Heatwave in India: What is wet bulb temperature, why is it important and how to measure it" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

Is India’s intense heat wave a sign of climate change and global warming?

Summer has arrived early this year. The <a href="https://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2022/apr/03/climate-maximum-india-sees-its-hottest-march-in-122-years-2437271.html#:~:text=The%20average%20maximum%20temperature%20of,temperature%20of%2033.09%20degrees%20Celsius.">hottest March</a> in 122 years was followed by even more <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/heatwave-in-india-what-is-wet-bulb-temperature-why-is-it-important-and-how-to-measure-it/articleshow/91306156.cms">intense heat waves</a> in <keyword id="6364510" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="April" source="Orion">April</keyword>. As per the India Meteorological Department, April was the <a href="https://internal.imd.gov.in/press_release/20220402_pr_1551.pdf">hottest </a>month for northwest and central India and the third-hottest April the country has seen over the past 122 years, from 1901 to 2022. This April, which left more than a billion people sweltering, was not ‘just another hot month.’ It indicates a recurring pattern of intense hot spells, which could be a sign of climate change and global warming. <div type="image" title="Summer has arrived early this year" msid="91355355" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Summer has arrived early this year&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Could these intense and recurring heat waves be a sign of climate change? The number of heat wave days in India in a decade has increased from 413 during 1981-90 to 575 in 2001-10 and further to 600 in 2010-20, a <a href="https://theprint.in/environment/indias-early-heatwave-sign-of-climate-change-could-be-more-dangerous-to-health-say-experts/933706/">study </a>by IMD and Kottayam-based Institute for Climate Change Studies (ICCS) said, highlighting the impact of climate crisis on the maximum temperatures. In fact, 12 of the country’s 15 <a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1686173">warmest years</a> on record have occurred in the last 30 years. The daily high temperatures measured each year have also been increasing at a faster rate than daily low temperatures. This indicates that the distribution of temperature is shifting and <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/02/india-heat-wave-in-pictures.html">changing </a>the ‘normal’ state. <div type="image" title="12 of India&amp;#39;s 15 warmest years on record have occurred in the last 30 years" msid="91355411" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;12 of India&amp;#39;s 15 warmest years on record have occurred in the last 30 years&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The heat wave is also taking lives. The 2015 <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/85986/india-faces-deadly-heat-wave">heat wave</a> in June killed more than 2,500 people and the 2022 heat wave in March and April has already taken 25 lives in <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/25-heat-stroke-deaths-in-maha-most-in-6-yrs/articleshow/91243493.cms">Maharashtra</a>, which is the highest in six years, and over 374 cases of heat stroke have been reported in this period. <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2022/04/29/climate-change-india-heatwave/9583931002/">Experts</a> predict that before climate change, such intensity of heat would have only been seen about once in every 50 years in India. However, it is now <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2022/04/29/climate-change-india-heatwave/9583931002/">expected</a> to occur once every four years. Is the worst yet to come? Let’s take a closer look at the heat patterns in April. On April 27, 2022, the highest temperature in the country, 45.9°C (114.6°F), was recorded in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Barmer in West Rajasthan in the northwest reported a high of 45.1°C (113.2°F) a day before, according to the <a href="https://mausam.imd.gov.in/Forecast/marquee_data/Press%20Release%2027.04.2022%20_1.pdf">India Meteorological Department</a>. Many other cities and towns recorded temperatures of 42-44°C (108-111°F). <div type="image" title="Northwest and central India recorded the third-hottest April the country has seen over the past 122 years" msid="91355531" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Northwest and central India recorded the third-hottest April the country has seen over the past 122 years &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> These patterns could change in the future. So, is the worst yet to come? As per India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences, the frequency of warm extremes over India has increased during 1951–2015, with accelerated warming trends during the recent 30-year period. Significant change is observed for the warmest day, warmest night and coldest night since 1986. Our country, which is reeling through a heat wave right now, is also expected to suffer through more frequent and intense hot spells, extreme rainfall and erratic monsoons in the coming decades as the planet warms, said <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/india-s-record-heatwave-to-get-worse-authorities-blame-global-warming-122042900785_1.html">United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel</a>, a body for assessing the science related to climate change. On the other hand, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) released a statement that said “it is premature to attribute the extreme heat in India and Pakistan solely to climate change.” The global body added that the heat is consistent with what it expects in a changing climate. The WMO also noted that these “heat waves are more frequent and more intense and starting earlier than in the past.” Cascading impacts of a heat wave The summer in India has been brutal in the past couple of years, with heat wave deaths occurring with more regularity, especially in heat wave-prone regions of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Odisha. It also has led to cascading impacts not just on human health, but also on ecosystems such as agriculture, water and energy supplies. Power demand has spiked and coal inventories have dropped, leaving the country with its worst <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/why-are-there-power-cuts-and-heatwave-in-india/articleshow/91177785.cms">power shortage</a> in more than six years. Additionally, in the last seven days, India’s Forest Survey department (FSI) has reported more than<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/in-depth/how-frequent-forest-fires-impact-humans-animals-and-environment-equally/videoshow/91294425.cms"> 7800 forest fires </a>in various parts of the country. <div type="image" title="Large forest fires have increased in India due to rising temperatures" msid="91355581" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Large forest fires have increased in India due to rising temperatures&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The heat wave has also <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/after-five-record-crops-heat-wave-threatens-indias-wheat-output-export-plans-2022-05-02/">threatened</a> India’s wheat output plan. However, there’s still hope to <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/2022/04/04/ipcc-ar6-wgiii-pressrelease/">control</a> climate change. It will involve a substantial reduction in fossil fuel use, widespread electrification, improved energy efficiency, and use of alternative fuels (such as hydrogen). The ongoing <keyword id="6371478" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="heatwave" source="Orion">heatwave</keyword> in India has brought the wet bulb temperature concept into mainstream conversation. Here's a short video on why wet bulb temperature is important. <div type="image" title="What is the wet bulb temperature? Click on the image for the full video" msid="91355692" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;What is the wet bulb temperature? Click on the image for the full video&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Before we let you go, here’s an important announcement- Business Insider India brings you SaaS Scions, a 6-part video series chronicling Indian SaaS scions - SaaS leaders who have come to define this sector in India. And now for the world. Over the course of this season, the series will capture the thinking and vision of these icons and highlight the potential for the sector in the decades to come. Here’s the registration link - <a href="https://saasscions.com/">https://saasscions.com/</a>

SIMPLY PUT: Why April was more than 'just another hot month'

New Delhi, Apr 7 () The National Green Tribunal has directed the Environment Ministry and the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) to resolve the dispute on budgetary support for assessment of status of Natural Conservation Zone. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice A K Goel said the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), being the nodal agency, had all the jurisdictions to take binding decision on the subject instead of prolonging the issue on the ground that the tribunal should decide the issue of inter-departmental coordination. "We do not appreciate the stand of the concerned departments in bringing such issue before the Tribunal, avoiding their duties and responsibility to the detriment of public interest. "We direct the MoEF and NCRPB to resolve the inter-se issue forthwith. The decision taken by the Secretary, MoEF in the matter will bind the NCRPB unless challenged at any appropriate forum," the bench said. That National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) had submitted a proposal wherein it was stated that the whole exercise will take around 12 months and would have an estimated cost of Rs 1.86 crores subject to approval from MoEF. The MoEF told the NGT that proposal was discussed at length and it was decided that since the entire exercise of mapping would facilitate better planning and management of Natural Conservation Zone (NCZ) areas which fall under the jurisdiction of NCRPB, proposal of NRSC may be forwarded to NCRPB for providing budgetary support in completing the whole exercise. MoEF had earlier proposed before the NGT that NRSC may be asked to do land use cover mapping for assessment of status of Natural Conservation Zone. The ministry had told the tribunal that area under NCRPB has gone change over a period of time in all the constituent states as more and more districts have been added to it. The MoEF said that in view of the non-availability of higher resolution data in the year 1999 it is proposed that NRSC may be asked to do land use land cover mapping for the two periods i.e. 1999 and 2019. The NGT had earlier constituted a fresh committee to look into the question whether sub-regional plans for protection of NCZs were consistent with the regional plan prepared by the NCRPB. The green panel had said the committee would comprise representatives of the MoEF, NRSC, Forest Survey of India as also Revenue secretaries and Principal Chief Conservators of Forest of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh Delhi and Rajasthan. The tribunal was hearing a petition filed by the Legal Aid Committee NGT Bar Association against the alarming rate of depletion of NCZs in NCR. It had sought directions to check alleged diversion of the area marked as NCZ by the NCRPB in the regional plan. The plea had alleged that states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan had diverted the NCZ area in violation of the original plan while preparing sub-regional plans and such diversion would adversely affect the environment. PKS SA

NGT directs govt, NCR planning board to resolve dispute on budget for assessment of NCZ

<keyword id="6358070" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="mumbai">Mumbai</keyword>, Avian influenza has been confirmed as the cause of death of different birds in <keyword id="270139" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Parbhani">Parbhani</keyword>, Mumbai, <keyword id="37647" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Thane">Thane</keyword>, <keyword id="101668" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Beed">Beed</keyword> and <keyword id="375688" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dapoli">Dapoli</keyword> in <keyword id="13126" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</keyword>, as per test reports of a Bhopal-based lab, a senior state government official said on Monday. However, it is "absolutely safe" to consume eggs or chicken as the virus cannot withstand cooking temperatures, and people need not worry as infection to humans due to <keyword id="95867" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bird-flu">bird flu</keyword> is "rarest of rare", state animal husbandry department secretary Anoop Kumar told . The official also said they would be increasing bio-safety measures in poultry farms so that there is no interface with wild birds. In the morning, Parbhani Collector Deepak Muglikar told that bird flu has been confirmed as the cause of death of around 900 hens at a poultry farm in Murumba village and the district administration has decided to cull nearly 8,000 birds in the village. Kumar said the animal husbandry department has already started implementing its action plan and the culling of birds will begin from Tuesday. He said 8,000 to 10,000 birds within one-km radius of the infected zone in Parbhani may be culled. According to the Bhopal-based ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), two crows from Mumbai died due to bird flu. Three pond egrets and a parrot from Thane were infected by the H5N1 avian influenza virus, the institute's test report said. Besides, a chicken and two herons from Parbhani too died of H5N1 avian influenza virus, while crows from Beed and Dapoli (in Ratnagiri district) were infected by H5N8 avian influenza virus, as per the report. "Our action plan implementation work has begun. We will be holding a review meeting with the chief minister (Uddhav Thackeray) in the evening," Kumar said. "We will get our strategies approved by the CM and start culling from tomorrow, especially in Parbhani where poultry birds have been found to be infected," he said. The government machinery, including district collectors and forest department, is on alert, he said. Kumar also said that people need not worry as infection to humans due to bird flu is "rarest of rare". The state government is also running a campaign to make people aware that it is safe to consume eggs and poultry products, because there is "absolutely no possibility" of infection due to eating them. "And our cooking temperature takes care of any kind of virus, not only flu virus...it is absolutely safe to eat eggs and chicken," he said. Talking to reporters in Jalna, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said his department is on alert in view of the bird flu cases found in the state. However, there is nothing to fear, he said and asked people to take care and be safe. Earlier, Parbhani Collector Muglikar said they have created a prohibitory zone in 10 km radius of the area where the birds died. "No birds will be transported from there to any other place. Our medical team is stationed there and it is examining all people of the village," he said. There is no need to be panic and the district administration is taking all precautions, he added. Meanwhile, the <keyword id="6360923" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Thane-municipal-corporation">Thane Municipal Corporation</keyword> has set up a control room to monitor the situation and appealed to people to promptly report any cases of bird deaths in the city. It will also work to pro-actively remove fear from the minds of citizens and give them appropriate information from time-to-time, a release from thhe civic body said. Bird flu cases have so far been confirmed in Maharashtra, Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/employment-opportunities-in-the-telecom-sector-are-expected-to-grow-by-20-in-2021/articleshow/80183579.cms">Fiber layers and field engineers to researchers ⁠— telecom jobs may see a 20% spike in 2021 as India leaps into the 5G era</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/india-may-be-considering-a-covid-cess-on-high-income-earners-aside-from-more-levy-on-fuel/articleshow/80208520.cms">India may be considering a COVID cess on high income earners — aside from more levy on fuel</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/with-whatsapp-popularity-hit-zoho-plans-to-launch-arattai-messaging-app/articleshow/80206802.cms">Zoho plans to woo WhatsApp defectors with its own messaging app Arattai</a>

Maharashtra confirms bird flu cases in Parbhani, Mumbai, Thane, Beed and Dapoli

Drone-as-a-Service (DAAS) provider Garuda Aerospace will soon start spraying anti-locust pesticide in several parts of Uttar Pradesh, including Noida near Delhi, said a top company official. "We have got the order to deploy five drones for anti-locust operations from <keyword id="9479061" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="banda-university-of-agriculture-technology">Banda University of Agriculture &amp; Technology</keyword>, Uttar Pradesh. We will be sending 10 pilots for operating the drones. The mandate is to deploy the drones for a total of 50 hours at the locations specified by the University," Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Managing Director of city-based Garuda Aerospace, told IANS. He said the company has already deployed its drones in Rajasthan in <keyword id="9446117" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="locust-control-operations">locust control operations</keyword>. "This is the first time drones are being used in locust control measures in India. It is a new case scenario," Jayaprakash said. According to him, there are two methods of spraying the pesticide -- one by flying above the swarm of locust and spraying on them and the other is to spray the pesticide beforehand on the areas where the locusts are expected to land. He said the state government agencies predict the flight path of the locust and give us one/two days notices on the location where the drones are to be used. Sometimes the notice is very short. Jayaprakash said the locust hit percentage is about 70 per cent as per the state government officials. "Unlike bees that attack an adversary, locusts swarm does not attack drones. Perhaps they see it as a big bird, their enemy and avoid. Their main purpose is to eat, procreate and fly," Jayaprakash said. According to him, the Banda University order will be executed in three/four days as the total 50 hours of flying can be completed by the five drones in that time. "The five drones will be flown by air on Monday," he added. Garuda Aerospace has been carrying out drone based anti-coronavirus sanitation orders from several municipal corporations and smart cities like <keyword id="6357203" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Varanasi">Varanasi</keyword>, Rourkela, Raipur, Chennai and Hyderabad. "While the government contracts for anti-coronavirus sanitation orders have been completed, the corporate sector has started using our services. And now the orders are for locust control operations," Jayaprakash added. According to him, the Covid-19 pandemic and locust attack has increased the focus on drones and their use. Apart from spraying anti-coronavirus disinfectants, drones were used by police in Tamil Nadu to monitor the lockdown violators. Jayaprakash said Garuda Aerospace has manufactured and serviced drones for several government departments in Tamil Nadu, like forests, electricity, police, mining, agriculture, Indian Coast Guard and others. "Already drones are being used for spraying pesticides, weedicides and liquid fertiliser on farms and is also used for monitoring of pipelines and surveillance and now for locust control operations," Leo Peter Charles, Managing Director, Jane Aerospace Private Ltd told IANS. Jane Aerospace is into consulting, marketing, sales and provision of skilled manpower support for drone operating companies. Agreeing with Jayaprakash, Charles said there will be more interest on drones from different agencies. "The challenge for the drone makers is importing critical components from China given the current border tussle," Charles said. Jayaprakash said there are other markets wherefrom the critical components can be imported and China is not the sole market place. The only advantage China offers is the price, but there is also the issue of quality. Meanwhile, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has set up a nine member working group to suggest suitable insurance cover for drones as their numbers are on the rise. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/india-records-biggest-single-day-spike-of-19906-covid-19-cases-tally-reaches-528859/articleshow/76670166.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">A record single-day surge of 19,906 COVID-19 cases on Sunday on June 28 in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/locust-attacks-in-up-jhansi-chitrakoot-prayagraj-pratapgarh-bhadohi-azamgarh-and-ambedkar-nagar/articleshow/76669556.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Swarms of locusts reach Uttar Pradesh, several districts put on alert</a>

Garuda Aerospace to deploy drones in Uttar Pradesh to help control locust

Scared of losing guests and business, <keyword id="20324" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Hoteliers">hoteliers</keyword> in <keyword id="54507" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ranthambore">Ranthambore</keyword> used their influence to relocate park’s most-watched tiger, T24. 
 
As per sources, the operation of relocating T24 to Udaipur zoo was so secretive that even Forest Minister Raj Kumar Rinwa was kept in dark. 
Sources told Times of India that T24 was shifted on Saturday as hoteliers felt it may frighten away guests as it apparently killed a forest guard recently. 
 
A wildlife expert said that hoteliers were divided as majority were in favour of keeping the tiger at the park as it was the most sighted one but there was also a dispute among the forest staff about the identity of the tiger that killed the forest guard. 
 
"Forest officials were confused between T72 and T24," the expert told TOI and added, "However, a handful of lobbyists supporting T24's shifting were more powerful and succeeded in their design." 
 
The shifting came at a time when Rinwa was in the process of constituting a committee to verify whether it was T-24 or some other tiger which had attacked humans. But all of a sudden, he was told about the futility of the exercise since T-24, fondly known as 'Ustaad', was already half way towards Udaipur. 
 
Sources told TOI that Rinwa had requested Rajya Sabha MP VP Singh Badnore to head the committee, who had reportedly recommended conservationists Valmik Thapar and Rajpal Singh Shekhawat as other members. 
 
Insiders told the news daily that experts had suggested to Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje that even if T24 was attacking humans, it could be shifted to the Sariska reserve or Mukundra, a new forest zone adjacent to Ranthambore identified for tiger reserve expansion. 
 
Experts say carnivores have a natural tendency to fear humans. "But you can't say that T24 was a man-eater as it never chased humans," the expert said. 
 
Congress party MLA from Kumher, Vishvendra Singh, cited the instance of T7, which was shifted from Ranthambhore to Sariska after it attacked a few humans, including forest ranger Daulat Singh. 
 
"T7 is now happily settled as ST6 at Sariska. Why should there be different treatment for similar incident?" Singh told TOI and added that he sighted T7 thrice at Bharatpur, where it had strayed in 2010. "It never attacked anybody at Bharatpur," he said. 
 
Rinwa said that Kumbhalgarh and Mukundra forests have also been identified for expansion as tiger reserves, where T24 could be shifted if experts so recommended. 
 
Conservationist Thapar supports T24's caging, saying: "In my 40 years of experience of Ranthambhore tigers, T24 is the most dangerous one. He killed four people including two forest guards and two locals. The forest department and the government of Rajasthan have done a successful job in relocating a man-killing and eating tiger.”

Ranthambore just lost its most sighted tiger. Thanks to hoteliers

Taking another step towards cementing its bilateral ties, India and Germany have signed an agreement to financially support the Green Energy Corridors (<keyword id="264938" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="GEC">GEC</keyword>) project. The Exchange of Note was signed under the <keyword id="2648060" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indo-German-Bilateral-Development-Cooperation">Indo German Bilateral Development Cooperation</keyword> on Wednesday. 
	 
	Together, both the countries are planning to create transmission infrastructure in the renewable energy rich states across India, which can later be transferred to the national power grid. 
	 “Government of Germany has committed funds amounting to Euro 500 million for GEC project this year. In this regard, the Exchange of Note, signed by the German Ambassador, was presented to <keyword id="1928895" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajiv-Mehrishi">Rajiv Mehrishi</keyword>, finance secretary, government of India, by Heiko Warnken, head of Development Cooperation, Embassy of Germany to India here yesterday. With this, the total commitment from government of Germany for GEC project stands at Euro 750 million. In 2013, government of Germany had committed Euro 250 million,” as per a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance. 
	 
	The government has also signed three loan agreements for the project for a total loan amount of Euro 625 million. “Rajesh Khullar, joint secretary of Department of Economic Affairs, signed loan agreements with German government’s Development Bank KfW to provide a loan of Euro 76 million to Tamil Nadu and a loan of Euro 49 million to Rajasthan for intra-state transmission schemes,” the ministry said. 
	 
	“Power Grid Corporation of India Limited signed loan agreement for Euro 500 million with KfW for inter-state transmission schemes,” it added. 
	 
	The Department of Economic Affairs also inked an agreement with KfW for an amount of Euro 4 million in order to provide technical assistance to Himachal Pradesh Forest Ecosystems Climate Proofing project as well as Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Development Fund project respectively.

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SIMPLY PUT: Why April was more than 'just another hot month'

NGT directs govt, NCR planning board to resolve dispute on budget for assessment of NCZ

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Garuda Aerospace to deploy drones in Uttar Pradesh to help control locust

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Ranthambore just lost its most sighted tiger. Thanks to hoteliers

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