All that was discussed in the House through the day
Stubble burning contributed to high concentrations of PM2.5 in Delhi’s air
The 24-hourly average for PM2.5 concentration in Delhi during the first week of November ranged between 109-486 µg/m3, according to CAAQMS data, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) said in the Rajya Sabha on November 25, 2019.
According to the ministry, the high concentrations of PM2.5 were due to adverse meteorological conditions like lower mixing height, low wind speed, high relative humidity etc.
These were coupled with local sources of emissions like industrial emissions, vehicular emissions, road and soil dust, construction and demolition activities and stubble burning in the northern states.
BS-VI vehicles require petrol and diesel with sulphur content not exceeding 10 parts per million (ppm)
Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) vehicles require petrol and diesel with sulphur content not exceeding 10 parts per million (ppm), stated the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in the Lok Sabha.
Refineries have undertaken projects to supply BS-VI fuels according to the mandated date across India to produce and supply BS-VI compliant petrol and diesel. The sulphur content of both petrol and diesel have been brought down from 50 ppm in BS-IV to 10 ppm max in BS-VI.
State governments can specify penalties under Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019
According to the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, passed recently in Parliament and the provisions notified with effect from September 1, 2019, the state government may, by notification in the official gazette, specify such amount for compounding of certain offences, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari told the Rajya Sabha.
Rainfed rice yields in India are projected to reduce by 6% in 2020: environment ministry
Simulation studies by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research using integrated modelling framework show that rainfed rice yields in India are projected to reduce by six per cent in the 2020 scenario, but the decline is marginal (<2.5 per cent) in the 2050 and 2080 scenarios, the MoEF&CC told the Rajya Sabha.
The irrigated rice yields are projected to reduce by four per cent in 2020, seven per cent in 2050 and by 10 per cent in the 2080 scenario.
But effective adaptation measures like adoption of short-duration varieties and site-specific improved management practices can minimise the yield loss in paddy despite changing climate, the ministry said.
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