The Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS) has proposed setting up a greenhouse gas observatory at Munnar as part of developing an integrated climate change database and information system in the State.

The initiative is part of the estimate Rs. 80-crore scientific study to map the impact of climate change on agriculture, fisheries, industries, transport, tourism, bio-diversity and forestry sectors.

CEC LAHDC Rigzin Spalbar today convened a meeting to review the implementation and progress of hydro and solar power plants undertaken by LREDA. The meeting was attended by all the ECs, Councilors, Jigmet Takpa, Project Director, LREDA and team of engineers of LREDA.

Takpa gave a presentation of the total projects in hand and detailed report on accomplished and ongoing works of LREDA. He informed that out of 22 hydro power plant projects, 10 projects are under execution with the deadline of ending 2014 and out of 125 solar power plant projects 92 are completed and the remaining will be completed by end of this year.

JOWAI: In a first of its kind initiative in the State, Sakri village in East Jaintia Hills has been electrified through a mini-hydro project jointly implemented by the Meghalaya Rural Development Society (MRDS), Lifcom and the Nagaland Empowerment of People through Energy Development (NEPED).

The Rs 1.50 lakh mini-hydro project known as hydroger, a bigger dynamo-type generator, was inaugurated by the East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner, Abhishek Bhagotia on Thursday.

The number of farmers suicides declined to 346 in 2011 from 565 in 2006 in Vidarbha region

The government today said 228 farmers committed suicide in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra because of agrarian distress during the April-January period of 2012-13 fiscal. "The number of farmers in the six identified suicide prone districts of Vidarbha region who committed suicide due to agrarian distress is 228 during the last 10 months till January 31, 2013," Minister of State for Agriculture Tariq Anwar said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

The parliamentary panel says govt has failed to understand the urgency of timely infusion of capital in the system

PANJIM: At least 99 villages including around 90 in the heart of the State’s mining belts of Sattari and Sanguem have been declared ecologically sensitive areas under the Environment Protection Act, 1976, by the Kasturirangan report, amidst accusations that it had sought to dilute the Gadgil panel report.

The high-powered committee was formed by the Centre to study and recommend ways to implement the Madhav Ghadgil report on UNESCO featured biodiversity hotspot, the Western Ghats.

The 10-member panel has also moved away from the suggestions of the Gadgil panel

A crucial report on Western Ghats prepared by K Kasturirangan-led high-level working group (HLWG) has recommended prohibition on development activities in 60,000 sq km ecologically sensitive area spread over Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The 10-member panel, constituted to examine the Western Ghats ecology expert panel report prepared under the leadership of environmentalist Madhav Gadgil, has also moved away from the suggestions of the Gadgil panel.