The Hindu analysis – 23.Dec.2016

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Blue ice, a rare occurrence: Airline

What is blue ice?

‘Blue ice’, a term used for frozen sewage material leaked mid-air, as a “rare occurrence” which signifies “a leaking toilet system, leading to the formation of accumulation of ice in high altitude.”

Why in news?

National green tribunal has imposed fine of Rs.50,000 on Airlines emptying toilet tanks in air. Airlines have said it is not possible to empty toilet tanks in mid-air as claimed in a petition before the National Green Tribunal.


NGT bans open waste burning

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday imposed a complete ban on burning of waste in open places and announced a fine of Rs. 25,000 on each incident of bulk waste burning. While directing every State and Union Territory to enforce and implement Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, the green panel also asked the Environment Ministry and all States to pass appropriate directions in relation to the ban on short-life Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and chlorinated plastics within a period of six months.


Moon race: TeamIndus to carry Japanese rival’s rover

TeamIndus and Hakuto, the team of Japanaese startup ispace Inc., have signed a “rideshare” agreement. While Team Indus’s spacecraft will be launched on ISRO’s PSLV rocket on December 28, 2017, Hakuto’s four-kg robotic rover will be carried on Team Indus’s 600-kg spacecraft. TeamIndus has signed a commercial agreement to carry a robotic rover developed by Hakuto, the Japanese team in the Google Lunar XPRIZE, to the moon aboard TeamIndus’s spacecraft in late 2017.