Railways’ data shows the number of animals coming under trains are increasing. Hyderabad: Thirty one animals die every day on railway tracks, as per records with the railway ministry. Railway minister
Scientists at the city-based National Geophysical Research Laboratory (NGRI) are optimistic that if water conserving measures such as rainwater harvesting are put in place in a joint venture of citizens and civic bodies, the monsoon will be enough to ensure the city does not experience another parched summer. Dr Shakeel Ahmed of the Indo French Centre for Groundwater Research said, “Even though it is too early to predict the impact of the monsoon on groundwater levels, if it continues on the same scale, we are sure we won’t have to suffer next summer.”
A month after the deadline to install GPS in vehicles transporting hazardous waste in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam has passed, the devices are yet to be installed. Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) had in March asked the authorities to install GPS devices on these vehicles and link them to the Board’s server within two months. The decision, taken during the tenure of Dana Kishore as member-secretary of APPCB, was seen as a means to link updates of handling and disposal as also enable constant monitoring of treatment, storage and disposal Facilities (TSDF) of hazardous wastes in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam.
The MoU between Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation and Rakshana Steels, which the state has decided to cancel, had an inbuilt clause that automatically made the agreement null and void in the absence of any mining rights to the state agency. As per rules, mines in tribal zones are declared as “reserve areas” and the Centre has to accord permission before mining can be taken up in those areas.
Farmers, whose tracts have been acquired by the government for the Emaar, Financial District and other projects, seem to have a remote possibility of getting them back. Except for a decision by the state
One striking feature of demographic changes in the state reflected in Census 2011 data is the sharp rise in the number of “census towns” from 93 in 2001 to 228 in 2011, indicating that people from rural
The opinion on the success of second generation of genetically modified BT cotton variety, Bollgard 2, in the state is chiefly polarised. The new variety, resilient to two chief pests, has a large chunk
With the water levels in reservoirs depleting fast, complaints over an acute scarcity of water are pouring in from almost all parts of Hyderabad city. Citizens say a large number of areas in the city are short of water now. The Water Board has started pumping water from the Osmansagar reservoir. The situation will get worse if there is no rain, as reservoirs have to get the inflows by June 15.
“The Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery rivers have experienced dramatic changes in flow due to the construction of dams, anthropogenic contamination and other activities, National Geophysical Research Institute (CSIR-NGRI) senior scientist Dr S. Masood Ahmad said here on Sunday. “The Godavari would require significant intervention to protect its ecosystems and the people, who are mainly dependent on its river basins,” he added. (About 135 million people inhabit the river basins of the Godavari and Krishna.)
The state seems to be stealthily moving to gift away government land in the upmarket Banjara Hills to private parties. The Hyderabad district revenue administration and a private individual, Ghousia Begum,
Some officials of the Water Board seem to have found an easy way to solve the problem of water contamination in the city. Citizens complain that they have received SMSes from officials stating that the water pollution complaints lodged by them have been attended to and the problem solved. “I was shocked to receive the SMS on my mobile phone stating that the water pollution problem in my area has been solved. How is it possible when no official has visited my area? What’s more, I am the complainant and none of the officials contacted me to even cross check or confirm whether the water pollution complaint has been attended to before sending me that SMS,” said C. Shankar, a resident of Old Ghansmandi.
