Dear Dr. K. Kasturirangan,

Days After Govt’s Nod To Project, National Tribunal Quashes Clearance, Calls It Illegal

New Delhi: Within five days of imposing a moratorium on new industries in Chhattisgarh’s Korba district for being the fifth polluted industrial zone in the country, the environment ministry did a U-turn, having cleared a private 3x350 MW thermal power plant. The move overlooks not only the freeze the ministry had imposed, but also the venture is in violation of green norms.

NPC is busy carrying out project site development and CSR activities

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s green signal to the Kudankulam nuclear project, those protesting against the proposed 9,900-Mw Jaitapur nuclear project in Maharashtra are gearing to intensify their agitation. NGOs including Raigad Bachao Samiti and Konkan District Jagruk Manch said they will launch the stir afresh to mobilise villagers against the Jaitapur project, raising security concerns. Shiv Sena, the lone political party in Maharashtra opposed to the project, also said a fresh round of agitation will be unleashed soon.

Within five days of imposing a moratorium on new industries in Chhattisgarh's Korba district for being the fifth polluted industrial zone in the country, the environment ministry did a U-turn, havi

Marking a major departure from the report of the committee led by ecologist Madhav Gadgil that had called for declaring the entire Western Ghats as an ecologically sensitive area (ESA), the 10-memb

Rs 280-Cr Plan Focuses On Rehabilitation Of Sahyadri Villages

Kolhapur: The state forest department has submitted the first detailed conservation plan for Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) to the Union ministry of environment and forest. The Rs 280-crore plan focuses on the rehabilitation of villages on the fringe of the reserve and 90% of the proposed funds have been earmarked for it. Sources said the ministry would study the plan and pass it on to the National Tiger Conservation Authority for the final approval.

Mumbai: Forget skeletons, a criminal probe into the functioning of the Konkan Irrigation Development Corporation (KIDC) may reveal an entire graveyard.

The Chenara minor dam project in state water resources minister Sunil Tatkare’s bastion, Roha in Raigad district, reveals shocking instances of how officials shifted the goal post several times to push it through. The project was inaugurated by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in October, 2011. Documents accessed by TOI show the project was initially planned to irrigate 1,440 hectares, but subsequently reduced to 250 hectares when officials realized that permissions would be difficult to get. The dam’s height, which was fixed at 44.20m, was shortened to 28.95m.

Fertiliser min to oppose planned move to give priority to power sector

The oil ministry’s intent to give priority to the power sector for allocation of gas has raised an alarm in the fertiliser ministry. Sources have indicated that the fertiliser ministry will strongly oppose the move when oil ministry circulates the a note on gas allocation for approval of the empowered group of ministers’ (EGoM). It is also likely to seek higher priority for the fertliser sector so that benefits of cheaper fuel reach the country’s farming community.

Kolhapur: A fresh study of the earthquake-prone areas in the Koyna-Warna reservoir area is under way. A team of scientists from the CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, has arrived here and is expected to study the areas where seismic activity has been prevalent at low or medium intensity.

The scientists will use the Airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and photographic data acquisition and processing system for geomorphological and structural studies. The one-month study will focus on the tectonic activities around the Warna and Koyna dams.

French President Francois Hollande today discussed the proposed Jaitapur nuclear power plant, under the Indo-French civil nuclear partnership, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The $10-billion Rafale medium multi-role combat aircraft deal was also discussed. The aircraft are manufactured by French firm Dassault Aviation

This is Hollande’s first official visit to an Asian country since he was elected President of France last year. “This demonstrates the importance of this relationship to our two countries