Xcaret eco archaeological park

MUMBAI : Eco-friendly initiatives, including e-charging points, solar power generation, water conservation and use of energy-efficient appliances has helped Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus ( CSMT ) earn a gold certification from Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). CSMT is the first station in Maharashtra to be awarded the certification as per Confederation of Indian Industry’s IGBC rating. Central Railway (CR) chief PRO Shivaji Sutar said, “The rating system gives an impetus to national priorities like energy efficiency, water conservation, handling of waste measures and motivates adoption of green standards for buildings and their environment.” CSMT has installed electric charging points at some parking lots for two- and four-wheelers. It also installed 245 kilowatts peak (kWp) solar power capacity. Lamps have been fixed with energy-efficient LED fixtures too. Sutar said, “Occupancy sensors have been installed in offices and waiting rooms so that … [Read more...] about Mumbai’s CSMT strikes gold with green initiatives

SINGAPORE: The ministerial committee on 38 Oxley Road listed a range of options from preservation to demolition and redevelopment for Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s family home, in its report released on Monday (Apr 2) . While the committee acknowledged that there was “no immediate need to decide the fate of the property”, it added that the options were studied so that a future Government of the day “is better prepared to make a decision, when needed”. The committee categorised the options into what it called three “broad” groups – retaining the property, retaining the dining room and tearing down the rest of the property and allowing the property to be demolished for redevelopment. OPTION 1: RETAIN THE PROPERTY Under the retention option, the committee mentioned conservation and preservation as two possibilities, while stating that the former “does not confer the same national significance” as the latter. Preservation under the Preservations of Monuments Act takes into … [Read more...] about 38 Oxley Road: From preservation to demolition, ministerial committee lists options for future government

SINGAPORE: Progressively equipping schools with solar panels over the next decade is one way the Ministry of Education (MOE) plans to reach its target of getting at least 20 per cent of schools to be carbon-neutral by 2030. The target was first announced in February at the unveiling of the Singapore Green Plan 2030. MOE is also working towards a two-thirds reduction of net carbon emissions from the schools sector by 2030. Speaking in the joint segment on sustainability during the Committee of Supply debates on Thursday (Mar 4), Minister for Education Lawrence Wong said MOE will start by piloting sustainability features and related concepts in four schools - Elias Park Primary School, Mee Toh School, Commonwealth Secondary School and Tampines Secondary School. "These schools have already adopted a holistic school-wide approach to sustainability. We will work with them to further reduce net carbon emissions from the school buildings, and to encourage students to actively reduce … [Read more...] about Solar power for most schools as MOE aims for 2030 carbon-neutral target

Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu is also building a wildlife safari park, a specialised inspection centre at the Cái Mép - Thị Vải Port, beautification of roads around Bãi Sau (Back Beach) in Vũng Tàu, the April 30 Park, and a 1,073ha high-tech agricultural zone in Châu Đức District. — VNS BÀ RỊA-VŨNG TÀU — Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu Province has said it wants to complete 10 key projects in the next five years to enhance connectivity within the southern key economic region. It has planned to speed up work on two of them: the Phước An Bridge and the Biên Hòa - Vũng Tàu Expressway. The bridge will be 4.3km long, run between the province’s Cái Mép - Thị Vải and Phước An ports, and cost an estimated VNĐ4.879 trillion (US$212 million). The provincial People's Committee said the bridge would help effectively utilise the port network, the Cái Mép Hạ logistics centre, industrial zones along the sides of the road, and many other projects in the area. The four-lane Biên Hoà - Vũng Tàu Expressway … [Read more...] about Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu plans boost to transport, ports

If you prefer your travel accommodation to have attached bathrooms, solid walls and a door that doesn’t come with a zipper – with the added benefit of not having to worry if strong winds will blow it away in the middle of the night – then perhaps you've had your doubts about glamping. But, as I found out, it’s not such a bad thing after all. Glamping – or glamorous camping – is basically camping for city folk who want to become acquainted with the great outdoors without having to forgo the creature comforts that camping may require, such as sleeping on the hard ground and not having access to power outlets to charge your phones. For a friend’s 40th birthday, I recently agreed to go glamping at Big4 Yarra Valley Park Lane Holiday Park at Healesville, regional Victoria, Australia. The area is home to award-winning wineries, a gin distillery, farms, farm-to-table restaurants and gourmet produce so you can indulge both your foodie and your adventurous sides. It was a pleasant … [Read more...] about Affordable glamping: The great outdoors of Australia’s Yarra Valley… for city folk

BANGKOK: Singapore welcomes a declaration by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to combat marine debris, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Saturday (Jun 22) as he urged the regional grouping to also reduce the waste it produces. At the 34th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok on Saturday, leaders adopted the Bangkok Declaration on combating Marine Debris, reaffirming the bloc's commitment to conserve the marine environment and strengthen regional cooperation in addressing marine debris issues. READ: Among world's worst polluters, ASEAN vows to tackle ocean waste Four of the world’s top marine plastic polluters are in Southeast Asia - Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand - trailing only China. “Marine pollution impacts not just public health and food supply, but industry and tourism,” Mr Lee said during a plenary at the summit. “In Singapore, marine debris washes onto our shores regularly. There are so many beautiful beaches in Southeast Asia, and … [Read more...] about Singapore welcomes ASEAN declaration on tackling marine waste: PM Lee