UTTARAKHAND

In pursuance of its focus on hygiene and health, Century Pulp and Paper mill launched biodegradable cellulose film “Natura Wrap” at its plant in Lalkuan.

Food packaging plays an important role especially in the present times. Packaging material should ensure food quality while also retaining the aroma. Natura Wrap being a cellulose film not only ensures superior aroma retention property that preserves freshness but also safeguards food quality. In addition to this, the product is completely bio-degradable, making it an absolutely environment friendly product.

This transparent film manufactured from cellulose originated in plant cell wall. The product, cellulose film is easily decomposed in soil or compost and degraded into water producing carbon dioxide gas and biomass.

INTERNATIONAL

India has been ranked among the bottom 10 countries in a new worldwide indexon the commitment of different nations to reduce inequalities in their populations.

UK-based charity Oxfam International’s ‘Commitment to Reducing Inequality (CRI) Index’ ranks India 147th among 157 countries.

The index is topped by Denmark, based on its high and progressive taxation, high social spending and good protection of workers.

· Researchers developed bio electronic medicine that helps nerve growth

Researchers at the Washington University in the U.S. have developed the first bioelectronic medicine, an implantable, biodegradable wireless device. This device speeds nerve regeneration and improves the healing of a damaged nerve.
The scientists developed a device that delivers regular pulses of electricity to damaged peripheral nerves in rats after a surgical repair process, accelerating the regrowth of nerves in their legs. About the size of a small coin, the wireless device operates for two weeks before getting absorbed into the body.

· India ranks 147th in Oxfam World Inequality Index 2018

Oxfam International’s report, the UK-based charity, released Commitment to Reducing Inequality(CRI) Index. In the Index, India ranked 147th among 157 countries and was labelled as “a very worrying situation” with respect to the rising inequality in the country.
Out of 157 countries measured, Denmark topped first based on its high and progressive taxation, high social spending and good protection of workers.

NATIONAL

Soon, passengers on board trains can lodge complain through a mobile app and it will be registered as ‘Zero FIR’ and immediately investigated by the RPF.

A pilot project under which complaints of harassment, theft, crime against women can be lodged through a mobile application is already ongoing in Madhya Pradesh which will be replicated across the country soon.

ZERO-FIR means that a FIR can be filed in any police station (i.e.: irrespective of place of incident/ jurisdiction) and the same can be later transferred to the appropriate police station.

Currently, if there is an incident that passenger wants to report, he has to fill up a complaint form provided by the ticket examiner which is submitted to the RPF or GRP at the next station. This form gets transferred into an FIR automatically.

This leads to delay and passengers don’t get immediate relief. The app will not only have the presence of RPF, but also the Government Railway Police (GRP) as well as TTES and the train conductor. The app will also have a panic button for women in distress.

Russian made AN-32 of the Indian Air Force’s transport fleet will take to the skies from a base in the Western Sector using a mix of Aviation Turbine Fuel and Bio-fuel.

To ensure that production of Bio-fuel doesn’t affect the land available of food-grains, Biofuel will be produced only from non-edible oils that grow well in arid lands. Gujarat, for instance, offered 10,000 acres arid land to produce non-edible oilseeds. Other states that are keen to produce non-edible oil seeds and put up plants to produce Bio- Fuel include Punjab, Haryana, Chattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Telangana.

Strengthening Forest Fire Management in India”,jointly prepared by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the World Bank.
The report was released by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Hon. Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
The report states that forest fires are the leading cause of forest degradation in India.
About 95 percent of all forest plots inventoried show some signs of degradation.

TheCentral Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is to implement an emergency action plan called the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). It aimed at combating air pollution that has begun to show a trend towards very poor category. Under the emergency action plan, stringent actions are implemented based on the air quality of the city.
If the air quality in any area falls to an emergency category, measures like stopping entry of trucks into Delhi (except essential commodities), stopping construction activities and appointment of the task force to take a decision on any additional steps, including shutting of schools will be implemented.