Three 'missing' NCP MLAs return to Mumbai

CP's chief spokesperson Nawab Malik on Sunday claimed that the three MLAs were flown to Delhi in a chartered plane by the BJP on Saturday after they attended Ajit Pawar's swearing in.The three MLAs have stated that they are with the party, Malik added.The NCP won 54 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly elections held last month. DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: The Telegraphhttp://www.boxboardproducts.com/UserProfile/tabid/61/userId/474544/Default.aspx

https://www.theverge.com/users/musksmelaan

Dowry deaths in Kerala down, but cruelty up

While 16 cases were reported last year, the figure was 12 in 2017 and 25 in 2016. But the number of domestic violence cases has increased this year compared to last year. At least 2,190 cases were registered under section 498 A (cruelty by husband / relatives) till September this year compared to 2,048 last year. During the last decade, 228 women fell victims to dowry cruelties within seven years of their marriage. But the conviction rate in such cases is very low. The National Crime Records Bureau data says 87 per cent of dowry death cases and over 83 per cent of cases registered under Dowry Prohibition Act in the country are pending in courts. M.S. Thara, member of Kerala Women's Commission, says that rather than bringing in more laws, individuals have to change to end such cruelties. Ostentatious marriages must be discouraged to avoid financial strain on the poor, she adds. In June 2015, the commission had urged the then UDF government to enact a law to curb marriage expenses. But the proposal was ignored. ... DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: Deccan Chroniclehttps://ask.fm/meekumarks

Shut down 4,774 industries in residential areas immediately, NGT directs Delhi government

Thus, show cause notice to 4,774 was wrongly issued instead of straightway such units being closed," the NGT noted."Let all such units, which have been illegally restarted, be closed forthwith in terms of order of the Supreme Court without any further procedure of show cause notice and coercive measures in terms of recovery of compensation for illegal operation of such units be adopted in accordance with law, apart from initiation of prosecution," NGT said."Failure to do so shall be viewed seriously and coercive action against the responsible municipal commissioner of the said corporation would be taken, including entry in their ACR column and stoppage of salary," the tribunal said.The green panel also said that pending work of survey of all 29,877 units be also completed, action be taken before December 31 and status report filed on or before January 15, 2020, by e-mail.The NGT had earlier appointed a committee headed by a former Delhi High Court judge to deal with nearly 52,000 industrial units, which are operating illegally in the residential areas of the national capital.The NGT has asked the committee to assume charge and said the accountability for making the panel functional will rest on the Delhi chief secretary and Delhi Pollution Control Committee chairman.The panel may inspect the hot spots and other sites for which the Delhi police will provide required security, it had said.The tribunal had earlier taken note of a news report published in an English daily alleging that thousands of polluting industries are being brazenly run in the city right under the nose of authorities.The report had said that Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) recently listed 51,837 units operating from non-conforming/residential areas and asked the three municipal corporations to initiate action against them.According to the news item, the industries were leading to water and air pollution in the areas as they do not have license to operate."The analysis of the data released by DSIIDC shows most violations in Moti Nagar, Kirti Nagar, Ramesh Nagar, Najafgarh and Mansarovar Garden, all in west Delhi; Ashram, Bhogal, Jangpura, Maharani Bagh and Mahipalpur in south Delhi; Gandhi Nagar, Jheel, Shastri Nagar, Kailash Nagar, Jafrabad and Shahdara in east Delhi; and Sadar Bazar, Chandni Chowk, Malkaganj, Ballimaran, Lal Kuan and Kashmere Gate in north Delhi."Other highly affected areas are Karol Bagh, Patel Nagar, Anand Parbat, Rohtak Road, Rajinder Nagar, Old Rajinder Nagar in central Delhi; Shahdara, GT Road, Babarpur and Vishwas Nagar in northeast Delhi; and Burari and Jagatpuri in northwest Delhi," the report said. DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: The Telegraphhttp://www.subzerotyler.com/UserProfile/tabid/61/userId/242250/Default.aspx

https://findery.com/jokerjokin

Sushant Estate's inspiring turnaround story is fuelled by its residents

The elected RWA and residents came together to address the issues the society was facing. These ranged from repairing the small dents and worn out patches on the facade to open the defunct community centre. A maintenance agency that looked after the security, housekeeping and the overall functioning of the society was selected. The twice-elected president of the society, Upminder Singh Oberoi, talks of how the residents came together to make the society a great place to live in. From installing new lifts and painting the buildings for the first time in fifteen years to changing the pipeline and planting thousand saplings, the society saw a sea of changes. The last two years, the prices of the flats have also risen sharply and the residents have started taking pride in their home. Chartered accountant couple, Honey and Rahul Gupta who have been living here on rent for the last two years now want to buy their home here. 'The location of the condominium is brilliant. It is centrally located and close to everything. Furthermore, the residents are friendly and helpful. Although the architectural design of the condominium is a little old school, the facilities are great.' Talking of the facilities, activist and resident Pushp Dahya said, 'We have everything within the condominium. For fitness, we have yoga classes, a well-equipped gymnasium, zumba classes, an open-air gym, a swimming pool. Similarly, we are completely self-sufficient.' The condominium has a well-stocked daily needs store, three vegetable vendors, two tailors, a dry cleaner, a chemist shop and a unisex salon. The condominium, which also has a large number of retired residents as well as children, places great importance on health care. 'There is a physiotherapy clinic and a dentist within the premises of the condominium. Besides that, there are a couple of health care camps that are organised. The living conditions in the condominium have improved dramatically in the last few years,' said Vishal Nakra, a resident and a chartered accountant. While the old-timers are happy with the progress made in the condo and they say they can see it getting better every day. Those who have recently moved in from other states talk about the instant warmth and comfort they felt in the condominium. DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: Hindustan Timeshttps://issuu.com/vinoudsreera

https://anotepad.com/notes/xjgfwj7 National player Amrita Babu of Kothamangalam Panthapra tribal settlement, was delegated to carry the event torch. The 12-year-old also became the showstopper on the first day, after she bagged gold medal in 100 metre run in the sub-junior girls category. Track and field items will be held at LNCPE stadium. DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: The New Indian Expresshttps://www.curbed.com/users/meekumarks

Krack is based on true incidents

Slated for release next summer, Krack is being produced by B. Madhu while Tamil actors Samuthirakani and Varalakshmi Sarath Kumar have also been roped in for major roles. ... DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: Deccan Chroniclehttp://danmooredesigns.com/UserProfile/tabid/61/userId/413455/Default.aspx

MG Road in Kochi awaits redemption

While Broadway finally got its revival plan, with CSML submitting a DPR and tenders to be floated this month, MG Road stretch continues to be plagued with misery. "Business was slowing down even before the advent of the metro came. After construction, it became almost nil. The situation remains the same now. Lack of parking facilities, increased rent and traffic bottleneck have all played their part," said TGF Paul, general secretary, Ernakulam Merchants Association. Flawed proposal? G Karthikeyan, president, Kerala Merchants Chamber of Commerce, feels enabling parking space will help businesses to a large extent. "The proposal mooted by KMRL comprised pedestrianisation, with no parking facilities; the very reason it was rejected. We had requested authorities to build a multi-level parking facility to benefit customers but the same fell through. Last week, the Assistant Commissioner of Traffic had called a meeting to resolve related issues. Traffic officials suggest measures to ban parking. But, this will do nothing to improve sales. Hopefully,Operation Anantha will bring a solution to clogged drains and the waterlogged road," he said. Pedestrian plaza,the solution "Earlier, KMRL had suggested converting MG Road into a pedestrian plaza, like the one inaugurated in Chennai yesterday. Such a plaza comprises one-way vehicular traffic, pedestrian-friendly facilities, street performances and outdoor dining. It would also contain proper stormwater drainage systems. Most modern cities have adopted this form of development. The pedestrian plaza was supposed to extend from Maharaja's to the Madhava Pharmacy Junction. However, a few business traders opposed the report which became politicised, eventually leading to the project being dropped," said D Dhanuraj, chairman, Centre for Public Policy Research. He added that notion that awareness about the project must be effectively spread among the stakeholders involved. "Business traders had genuine concerns. As per the report, vehicles would be able to traverse one-way. This had them wondering about the state of shops on the other side. Another primary claim is that of parking space. If the feeder services employed at Metro functioned efficiently, parking space would not be a problem. The report also involved a hop-on service. Unfortunately, the larger public was unable to get the thrust of the project. Residents' associations and the Corporation could have been more involved," he said. Meanwhile, KMRL sources said they had held discussions with various stakeholders. "During the initial phase of the discussions, the outcome wasn't fruitful. We are keen to beautify the stretch," said the source. One-way traffic As per the report submitted by the Kochi Metro, vehicles would be able to travel one-way. This had the merchants wondering about the state of shops on the other side. Another primary claim is that of parking space. KMRL version KMRL sources said they had held discussions with various stakeholders. "During the initial level of the discussions, the outcome wasn't fruitful. We are keen to beautify the stretch," said the source. DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: The New Indian Expresshttps://www.openstreetmap.org/user/neutosgotham

http://doodleordie.com/profile/neutosgotham

Research develops new way to remove carbon dioxide from air

The technique, based on passing air through a stack of charged electrochemical plates, is described in a new paper in the journal Energy and Environmental Science, by MIT postdoc Sahag Voskian, who developed the work during his Ph.D., and T. Alan Hatton, the Ralph Landau Professor of Chemical Engineering. The device is essentially a large, specialised battery that absorbs carbon dioxide from the air (or another gas stream) passing over its electrodes as it is being charged up, and then releases the gas as it is being discharged. In operation, the device would simply alternate between charging and discharging, with fresh air or feed gas being blown through the system during the charging cycle, and then the pure, concentrated carbon dioxide being blown out during the discharging. As the battery charges, an electrochemical reaction takes place at the surface of each of a stack of electrodes. These are coated with a compound called polyanthraquinone, which is composited with carbon nanotubes. The electrodes have a natural affinity for carbon dioxide and readily react with its molecules in the airstream or feed gas, even when it is present at very low concentrations. The reverse reaction takes place when the battery is discharged -- during which the device can provide part of the power needed for the whole system -- and in the process ejects a stream of pure carbon dioxide. The whole system operates at room temperature and normal air pressure. "The greatest advantage of this technology over most other carbon capture or carbon-absorbing technologies is the binary nature of the adsorbent's affinity to carbon dioxide," explains Voskian. In other words, the electrode material, by its nature, "has either a high affinity or no affinity whatsoever," depending on the battery's state of charging or discharging. Other reactions used for carbon capture require intermediate chemical processing steps or the input of significant energy such as heat, or pressure differences. "This binary affinity allows capture of carbon dioxide from any concentration, including 400 parts per million, and allows its release into any carrier stream, including 100 per cent CO2," Voskian says. That is, as any gas flows through the stack of these flat electrochemical cells, during the release step the captured carbon dioxide will be carried along with it. For example, if the desired end-product is pure carbon dioxide to be used in the carbonation of beverages, then a stream of the pure gas can be blown through the plates. The captured gas is then released from the plates and joins the stream. In some soft-drink bottling plants, fossil fuel is burned to generate the carbon dioxide needed to give the drinks their fizz. Similarly, some farmers burn natural gas to produce carbon dioxide to feed their plants in greenhouses. The new system could eliminate that need for fossil fuels in these applications, and in the process actually be taking the greenhouse gas right out of the air, Voskian says. Alternatively, the pure carbon dioxide stream could be compressed and injected underground for long-term disposal, or even made into fuel through a series of chemical and electrochemical processes. The process this system uses for capturing and releasing carbon dioxide "is revolutionary" he says. "All of this is at ambient conditions -- there's no need for thermal, pressure, or chemical input. It's just these very thin sheets, with both surfaces active, that can be stacked in a box and connected to a source of electricity." "In my laboratories, we have been striving to develop new technologies to tackle a range of environmental issues that avoid the need for thermal energy sources, changes in system pressure, or addition of chemicals to complete the separation and release cycles," Hatton says. "This carbon dioxide capture technology is a clear demonstration of the power of electrochemical approaches that require only small swings in voltage to drive the separations." In a working plant -- for example, in a power plant where exhaust gas is being produced continuously -- two sets of such stacks of the electrochemical cells could be set up side by side to operate in parallel, with flue gas being directed first at one set for carbon capture, then diverted to the second set while the first set goes into its discharge cycle. By alternating back and forth, the system could always be both capturing and discharging the gas. In the lab, the team has proven the system can withstand at least 7,000 charging-discharging cycles, with a 30 per cent loss in efficiency over that time. The researchers estimate that they can readily improve that to 20,000 to 50,000 cycles. The electrodes themselves can be manufactured by standard chemical processing methods. While today this is done in a laboratory setting, it can be adapted so that ultimately they could be made in large quantities through a roll-to-roll manufacturing process similar to a newspaper printing press, Voskian says. "We have developed very cost-effective techniques," he says, estimating that it could be produced for something like tens of dollars per square meter of the electrode. Compared to other existing carbon capture technologies, this system is quite energy-efficient, using about one gigajoule of energy per ton of carbon dioxide captured, consistently. Other existing methods have energy consumption which varies between 1 to 10 gigajoules per ton, depending on the inlet carbon dioxide concentration, Voskian says. The researchers have set up a company called Verdox to commercialize the process, and hope to develop a pilot-scale plant within the next few years, he says. And the system is very easy to scale up, he says: "If you want more capacity, you just need to make more electrodes." ... DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: Deccan Chroniclehttp://www.cruzroja.es/creforumvolint_en/user/profile/60508.page