NMPT gets first place among 13 ports for cleanliness
‘The port registers Rs 190.55 crore net profit in 2017-18’
Mangaluru, July 31: Nava Mangaluru Port Trust (NMPT) president MT Krishna Babu said that after paying Rs 124.81 crore tax, the port has recorded a net profit of Rs 190.55 crore during 2017-18 financial year.
Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, Krishna Babu said that during 2017-18, the port had handled 42.06 million metric tons goods, which is 5.28 per cent more compared to 2016-17.
First place in cleanliness
The NMPT has got the first place among 13 ports in the country under the swachh Bharat campaign for cleanliness. From the solar power generation units adopted in the NMPT, total 840 kv power was being generated due to which, more than 95 per cent of the total power demand of the port was being supplied from solar energy. This project was considered under the Swachh Bharat campaign, he said.
During 2017-18, total 24,258 people have visited through 22 ships and in 2016-17, total 30,246 had visited through 28 ships. Compared to this year, last year had more visitors and ships. The NMPT has handled 23.719 lakh tons iron ore, 23.999 lakh tons processed iron ore, 41.717 lakh tone coal, 17.434 lakh tons through containers and 22.09 lakh ton LPG. Compared to last year, this year the quantity of coal being supplied from Udupi Power Plant and crude oil to MRPL has come down. Comprehensively, progress was achieved in goods transport, he said.
Sand from Malaysia
As per the decision to import sand from Malaysia in order to curb sand mining in the district, total 1.50 lakh ton sand was imported from Malaysia during 2017-18, he said.
Two mechanized berths to be completed in 2019
The construction of two mechanized berths would be completed in 2019. Currently, the berth number 16 was being developed in private-public partnership, he said.
Steps to cut down expenses
The NMPT has taken steps to cut down the goods transportation and port expenses. With the cutting of additional payment to workers other than their salaries, the burden on the customers of the port would come down. Steps would be taken to give only salary to the workers of the port, he said.
Project for connecting road, railway line
A project report was prepared to develop a connecting road and a railway line to transport the goods inside the port. Under this programme, existing facilities would be upgraded. In 2017-18, the NMPT has spent Rs 2,60,66,000 for CSR funds to invest for community and public works, Krishna Babu said.
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Delhi's air remains hazardous, SC raps officials for 'serious lapse' in ensuring GRAP-4 curbs
New Delhi, Nov 25: Delhi's air pollution levels remained alarming on Monday, with the capital's 24-hour average AQI reading soaring to 349 from 318 the previous day, even as the Supreme Court slammed the city government and police for a "serious lapse" in implementing GRAP curbs.
The apex court, however, asked the central pollution watchdog to consider restarting physical classes in the schools and colleges of Delhi-NCR, noting that students are being deprived of mid-day meals and lack the wherewithal to attend virtual classes.
According to the SAMEER app, which offers hourly updates on the National Air Quality Index, the AQI was recorded at 218 at 9 am, but it rose to 377 at 7 pm, thanks to a low wind speed.
Seven of the 38 air quality-monitoring stations in Delhi reported AQI levels in the "severe" category at 5:30 pm, with the number rising to 14 at 7 pm.
The latest data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said Delhi's 24-hour average AQI, recorded at 4 pm, stood at 349.
Bhavreen Kandhari, an environmentalist, said the AQI has risen due to a combination of stagnant winds that have a speed of less than 10 kilometres per hour and dropping temperatures that trap pollutants close to the ground.
The CPCB categorises the AQI as follows -- 0-50 (good), 51-100 (satisfactory), 101-200 (moderate), 201-300 (poor), 301-400 (very poor), 401-450 (severe) and above 450 (severe plus).
Last week, the city endured its highest recorded AQI for the season, reaching a hazardous 495, prompting the implementation of the Stage-4 restrictions under the Supreme Court-mandated Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to curb pollution.
On Monday, the primary pollutant contributing to the deteriorating air quality was PM2.5, with levels recorded at 166.9 micrograms per cubic metre at 4 pm.
These fine particulate matters with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less, pose severe health risks as these can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.
The drop in the air quality follows a week of hazardous levels of pollution, with Delhi's AQI surpassing 450 for the first time this season last Sunday morning.
Although the air quality improved slightly on Thursday and Friday, it worsened again on Saturday, with the AQI returning to the "severe" category.
As evening descended on Monday, a thick layer of mist and smog covered the city, reducing visibility and exacerbating the air-quality crisis.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to consider restarting physical classes in schools and colleges in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas, noting that students are being deprived of mid-day meals and lack the wherewithal to attend virtual classes.
The restrictions on physical classes in schools and colleges were imposed recently due to severe air pollution.
The court censured the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and Delhi Police for a "serious lapse" on their part in strictly implementing the GRAP-4 measures, and directed the CAQM to take action against the erring officials.
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih said the authorities have made no efforts to implement the GRAP-4 measures.
"It is apparent that the authorities mentioned in GRAP-IV clauses 1, 2 and 3 have made no earnest efforts to implement action under clauses 1 to 3. Some police teams were deputed at a few entry points, that also without any specific instructions," it said.
The Centre's Decision Support System (DSS) for Air Quality Management estimated that vehicular emissions contributed 16.4 per cent to Delhi's pollution on Monday. Stubble burning, another major factor, accounted for 11 per cent of the capital's pollution on Sunday.
The DSS provides daily estimates for vehicular emissions, while the data on stubble burning is typically released the following day.
Meanwhile, the daytime temperature was recorded at 25.8 degrees Celsius, 0.9 notches below the seasonal average, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
Humidity levels fluctuated between 85 per cent and 68 per cent during the day.
The IMD has forecast moderate fog for Tuesday, with the maximum and minimum temperatures likely to hover around 26 degrees Celsius and 12 degrees Celsius respectively.
