BARMER/JAIPUR: After oil, the deserts of Barmer are poised to produce methane gas.

BARC’s Nisargruna biogas technology can produce 25-30 kg of methane and 50-60 kg of organic manure from onetonne of biowaste A staggering amount of waste is generated every day in every town and city, and the local bodies are grappling with logistics for its disposal. The problem arises as the government and individuals fail to see waste as a potential source of energy and agricultural input in the form of manure.

The Bangalore Corporation, which recently made waste segregation mandatory at the household level, is showing the way for the rest of India. It is setting up 12 Nisargruna biogas plants across the city to convert biodegradable waste into methane and organic manure.

New Delhi They can do so by paying a fee, but must sell the mined fuel back to govt at a discount

Stepping up the gas on coal production, the government proposes to allow companies exploring coal bed methane (CBM) to simultaneously mine coal from the same block. Permission may be given to both existing and new operators of CBM blocks to undertake coal mining in the same fields. As of now, CBM blocks, characteristically much larger than coal blocks, cannot be mined for coal until the gas venture is completed and the field surrendered to the government after the 35-year lease. This has reduced the area for coal mining for a long duration, increasing pressure on coal companies facing stagnant production.

A 200-year period covering the heyday of both the Roman Empire and China's Han dynasty saw a big rise in greenhouse gases, according to a study that challenges the U.N.

A European satellite that will acquire data critical for weather forecasters has launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

One of the most important European space launches of the year takes place from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, later.