The IMF’s April 2025 Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa presents a clear warning: regional growth is slowing, debt pressures are mounting, and donor assistance is declining. Yet the report outlines critical opportunities particularly in domestic revenue mobilization, structural reform, and private sector activation that can shape a more resilient …
in one of the worst nuclear accidents in Japan's history, on September 30, high levels of radiation leaked from a uranium processing plant at Tokaimura, some 140 kilometres from Tokyo, exposing around 50 people to radiation, three of whom are said to be in a serious condition. Prior to this …
What were your major achievements during your tenure as environment minister? Since 1952, we have been trying to increase forest cover to 33 per cent, but there has been no action plan. I have prepared a very comprehensive action plan and a number of donor agencies have been identified to …
The Indian coasts are to be opened to accommodate construction activities. There is a debate brewing in the nation today whether this move will benefit the coastal communities or simply fill the coffers of certain powerful lobbies. There is also a feeling that it will thrust the fragile marine ecosystem …
five days after arriving in the us , I noticed that the asthma, that had been my constant companion in Delhi, had almost completely disappeared. Only then did I truly realise to what extent the air we breathe has become poison. Today, tens of millions of city dwellers who are …
It is clear to those who live, or even happen to visit Delhi, that the problem of pollution is extreme in this city. It needs immediate and drastic action so that the solutions can keep pace with increasing emissions from the ever-increasing fleet of vehicles. It has been almost two …
In Kesharpur, a tiny village in the foothills of Orissa’s Nayagarh district, villagers search for a baton in their frontyard every morning. Two families find a baton each. The batons decide their day’s work
In every village, a committee is elected by the people. There is a blanket ban on felling and stray grazing. The committee supervises these bans and resolves all conflicts. It also collects fines, decided by the villagers, for any violation of the protection rules. Similarly, it decides the village peoples' …
Orissa's forest protection movement, which started in different places at different times, has become so strong that neither do forest officials find it easy to enter the forests protected by communities nor has the government been able to implement its conservation programmes. But the government refuses to acknowledge their efforts. …
What is your concept of conservation when the state is facing severe degradation of the forests and other environmental problems? My concept is very clear: there has to be a fine balance between development and ecology. But whatever policies we formulate must be accepted by the people. We need development …
A poll issue Villagers put forward a charter of six demands to political leaders, from village to state-level, seeking rights over the forests they have created it's a battle between the haves and the have-nots. At stake is 400,000 hectares (ha) of forest land in Orissa
1920s: The British introduced railway lines in Orissa. Commercial exploitation of forests began in a big way. 1930s: In Dhenkanal, people revolted against the king for rights over the forests they traditionally protected. Lapanga village in Sambalpur became the first recorded village to protect forests.The king of Mayurbhanj initiated JFM …
september 5, 1984. Ganga Prasad Yadav, a farmer living in Teghara village in Saharsa district in north Bihar, will not forget the date in a hurry. "It had been raining incessantly for over a week. The water level of the Kosi river had been rising continuously. Then the eastern Kosi …
grasim industries ltd ( gil ), an Aditya Birla group company, sought the permission of the Kerala government to close down its viscose plant located on the banks of the river Chaliyar at Mavoor, Kozhikode district. The company also posted copies of the notice to the trade unions on August …
a detailed proposal to halve the percentage of smokers by 2010 was unveiled recently by the Japanese government. This is for the first time that the health and welfare ministry has set numerical targets in its effort to control cigarette smoking. It plans to force tobacco companies reveal more information …
Floods in Philippines have already killed around 130 people and government officials are blaming environment officials for the tragedy. Meanwhile, 83 people perished in flood-related accidents in the capital Manila, its suburbs and several northern provinces, some of which are still underwater. Rescuers have dug up six more bodies from …
The Delhi high court has sought a reply from the Union government on a petition challenging a provision in the Patents Rule, 1972. The petition, relates to processing of international applications in the country under a single window system through the Patent head office in Calcutta. A division bench comprising …
IN GERMONY Sweedan and the Netherlands, protecting and caring for the environment has become part of the culture. This high level of public awareness pushes the politicians and the industry towards looking for genuine changes in policies and laws. By contrast, it is just a greenwash here in France. The …
It is indeed amazing. It was only four months ago, in April, that the Ministry of Petroleum was telling the Supreme Court that it is not possible for it to supply high quality diesel. And that all it could do is to supply diesel with a sulphur content of 0.25 …
for the people of Kashmir, the unbelievable is happening. Their famed Dal lake is dying before their eyes. The government says it is "committed' to save the lake, but ifs and buts rule the roost. One such attempt to save the lake was made in 1997 with the launch of …
It is early morning. Kana manoeuvres his boat across the canal towards what appears to be a traffic jam, half-a-kilometre ahead. Soon his boat, too, becomes a part of the incoming traffic. At the centre of the commotion is the Al Murtaza vegetable market
