A record 212 people who defend our land and environment were killed last year, reports Global Witness - an international NGO dedicated to preventing extractive industries from infringing on human rights. This is an average of more than four people a week. Shockingly, over half of all reported killings last …
Varanasi: The stand of Union water resource ministry, headed by Uma Bharti, to oppose major hydroelectric projects proposed on Alaknanda-Bhagirathi-Mandakini river basins has been appreciated and welcomed by environmentalists and river scientists in the city. "It is a big step taken by Uma Bharti's ministry for rejuvenation of the Ganga. …
Forest Department yet to buy land for compensatory plantation The government is all set to axe thousands of trees for widening the Chandigarh-Ludhiana road, but the Forest Department has no land available for compensatory afforestation. Replying to a query, Forest and Labour Minister Chunni Lal Bhagat said efforts were on …
Sources said Transport Minister Satyendar Jain discussed the roadmap for the inquiry with officials Wednesday. The transport department geared up for an inquiry into allegations of uncertified CNG kits being fit in cars, even as environmentalists backed the Delhi government’s ban on registrations, while installation centres and distributors expressed worry …
HYDERABAD: Is the Telangana government's decision to fix the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of the KBR National Park, at a meagre 3-7 metres, deliberately designed to ensure smooth execution of the controversial Strategic Road Development Plan (SRDP)? A scan of official records clearly point in that direction. Sample this: The order …
A draft notification on definition of forests prepared by the environment ministry may finally resolve ambiguity over whether large tracts of the Aravalis are “forests“. However, if approved, the notification may exclude scrub forests in the ecologically fragile hills that have less than 10% crown cover. Large Aravali stretches are …
Dehradun: After a lull of five years, hundreds of residents from over 32 villages in Rudraprayag district. are set to resume their agitation against Singoli-Bhatwadi and Byung-Phata hydel projects on Mandakini river. The villagers have been protesting intermittently against the projects since 2006, while seeking compensation in lieu of the …
At least 185 environmental activists were killed last year, the highest annual death toll on record and close to a 60% increase on the previous year, according to a UK-based watchdog. Global Witness documented lethal attacks across 16 countries. Brazil was worst hit with 50 deaths, many of them killings …
The Aravalli’s ancient forest grove is an excellent groundwater recharge zone Environmentalists have hailed the recent decision of the Haryana government to notify Mangar Bani, off Gurgaon-Faridabad road, as a no-construction belt. “We had been fighting for the status for almost a decade. It is very critical for the ecological …
BOGOTA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Three environmental activists were killed per week last year, murdered defending land rights and the environment from mining, dam projects and logging, a campaign group said on Monday. In 16 countries surveyed in a report by Global Witness, 185 activists were killed, making 2015 the …
The draft national policy on wetlands has been strongly opposed by Green Heritage, a conservationist group from North Lakhimpur. This was stated during a media interaction by the group near Satajaan Wetland on the banks of the Ranganadi river at Pahoomara here recently. Addressing reporters, Dr Prabal Saikia, secretary-general of …
The NGOs opposing “development work” atop Chamundi Hills are banking on environmental and heritage laws to stall the project in court. The protests are being spearheaded by Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) and Let’s Do It Mysore, besides individuals who will also organise a candlelight vigil on June 18 at 6.30 …
Indian business houses have a major responsibility to behave responsibly and to ensure that their exploitation of the environment does not lead to reduced well-being for people. This means that the use of resources that industry makes should be highly efficient so that unnecessary exploitation does not take place; pollution …
NGO Plant and Animals Welfare Society (PAWS-Mumbai) complained to the civic body about unauthorized sewerage and effluents being released into Powai lake. The activists said pollutants are affecting the lake's biodiversity. "We have submitted a letter to the S ward office. We also plan to meet senior officials to stop …
To Issue Notification To Create 500m Shield The Haryana government on Monday announced it would issue a formal notification demarcating Mangar Bani as a no-construction area. The notification will throw a protective shield around the sacred grove in the Aravalis whose preservation environmentalists have waged a long battle for. CM …
Gurgaon: Four months after the Haryana government demarcated a large part of the Mangarbani groves as a 'no construction zone' in February this year, it has failed to come up with a gazette notification declaring Mangarbani and its buffer area as a protected 'forest'. Environmentalists on Sunday wrote a letter …
KOCHI: Experts on wetland conservation have dubbed the Draft Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2016, brought in by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), as ineffective for being ambiguous and lacking in suggestions for wetland conservation. “The draft rules are inept and the process is Sisyphean. We fear …
In the 1950s, Hazratganj attracted college-goers for a relaxing walk. Times changed and cars replaced cycles and two-wheelers in the 1990s. Circa 2016, more cars than people are seen on city roads and honking is the order of the day. Better pay and higher disposable income is adding more than …
Jaipur: Taking cognizance of environment degradation and depleting green cover, it's been almost one year that Rajasthan High Court suggested Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) to set up an electric crematorium. But so far despite being among the 20 smart cities in the country, Jaipur has no such plans in the …
Thousands of trees were destroyed, many charred, in the violence that erupted last week following exchange of fire between police and squatters at Jawahar Bagh in Mathura. Uttar Pradesh horticulture department officials said the number of trees burnt or destroyed could be more than 5,000, mostly fruit-bearing varieties. Environmentalists in …
Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Minister Uma Bharati has threatened to go on a hunger strike if concerns for tigers and vultures come in the way of linking two rivers that will benefit millions of people in central India. The ministry also favours concurrent audits by the Comptroller …
