Rising height, growing doubts
The 18-year-old conflict over the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) has reached a decisive phase. The dam, at present 100 metres high, is waiting for clearance from the Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R;) Sub-Committee to be built up to the height of 110.64 metres.
Will Kol Dam enhance life of Bhakra Dam by 18 years?
Alarmed at dumping of muck along the banks of the Sutlej river, top brass of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) perhaps no more shares the optimism of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) that completion of Kol Dam will extend the life of Bhakra Dam by 18 years. The muck …
Forest fire threat to coffee estates
It is learnt that the forest fire that occurred in the reserve forest area of Kallur hills in Karnataka has not been extinguished yet. The fire had been engulfing the scrubbed forest and efforts to extinguish the fire by forest officials with the help of Girijan tribals is still on, …
Regularisation of forest encroachment stayed
In a setback to the NDA government just before the Lok Sabha elections, the Supreme Court stayed the Centre's order to grant ownership rights to tribals, encroaching upon lakhs of hectares of forest land illegally in several states after 1993. The stay was granted by a three-judge Bench of Chief …
176 trees uprooted in Rohini park
Over 176 trees were razed on a land adjoining the Avantika district park in Rohini in New Delhi a fortnight ago. The police got wind of the incident after the DDA's horticulture department filed a complaint. No FIR has been registered yet. Residents alleged that some politicians were involved in …
Decision on Cola unit yet to be implemented
The decision of the State Cabinet banning the Coca-Cola unit at Plachimada from drawing groundwater till June 15 is likely to be implemented only after the High Court hearing on the matter scheduled on Wednesday.
CNG leakage may be health hazard: Study
A pilot study on DTC's CNG buses conducted by a team of Manesar-based experts and submitted to Delhi Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf is to be forwarded by the Ministry to the State Transport Authority and DTC for implementation. The study has raised the issue of unchecked pollution and leakages by …
120 trees felled in Rohini
About 120 trees were chopped off overnight in Delhi Development Authority's (DDA) district park in Avantika, Rohini. DDA has given a written complaint to the police blaming a "mob" for the act. DDA has a district park in the area. The park has oxidation pools which have been lying unused. …
$120 million CNG project under HDIP opposed
The Planning Commission has opposed the decision of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural resources for the implementation of $ 120 million project for CNG promotion through Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP) and said that the project be given to the private sector. Official sources said that the Planning Commission …
Call to preserve forest resources in BTAD
An awareness programme on protection of wildlife and forest resources was organized at Takampur forest village under Kachugaon divisional forest in Assam recently. The programme was organized jointly by the Forest Department officials of Kachugaon forest division in collaboration with the Kachugaon Anchalik unit of All Bodo Students' Union with …
World Bamboo Congress To Focus On Industrys Woes
There is some good news for Rs 2,043 crore bamboo industry in the country and millions of bamboo growers. New Delhi is slated to host the seven-day Seventh World Bamboo Congress beginning on Februray 27, this year. Alongwith this event there will be a four-day World Bamboo Expo showcasing the …
Govt accused of favouring illegal timber traders
The Pakistan government's decision to allow the transit of millions of cubic feet of timber, cut illegally from forests in Kohistan district , has resulted in huge financial losses to the public exchequer and encouraged timber smugglers to exploit the situation, sources said. The cabinet's decision to allow contractors to …
Forest fire at Attur, animals safe
Around fifteen acres of land have said to be gutted in a forest fire at the Kallur area of Atturu forest, near Anekadu region of Karnataka. No animals including elephants or deer have been affected by the fire said, Zonal Forest Official H R Kumar. The instantly flaming fire due …
World Bamboo Expo 2004: NE products to go international
With 66% of India's bamboo locating in the region, the manufacturers and producers of bamboo products in the North-east will get an international platform in the World Bamboo Expo 2004, which will coincide with World Bamboo Congress and the Seventeenth edition of the Indian Handicrafts and Gifts fair to be …
Bamboo houses may dot urban landscape soon
Sustainable and cost-effective houses made of bamboo and bamboo composites may soon start dotting our landscape with a prototype model successfully undergoing an earthquake resistant test. The prototype single-room house made up of bamboo mat corrugated sheet roofing and bamboo cement mortar has proven to be eco-friendly, fire resistant and …
CM assures ownership of trees before polls
Tree ownership Struggle Committee Honourary President A K Subbaiah has said Chief Minister S M Krishna has assured to take a final decision regarding giving of Tree Ownership in Kodagu district of Karnataka before the announcement of assembly elections. Addressing a press conference here on Friday, he said Chief Minister …
Timber distribution rules need revision
Failure to rationalise and revise the timber distribution rules is not only denying the fund-starved government of much-needed revenue but also taking a heavy toll of the state's precious forest resources.
WWF opts out of Indonesian pulp project
WWF, the conservation organisation, has withdrawn from a controversial project to help clean up the enviornmental practices of Indonesia's largest pulp and paper producer - a move that could see the company lost hundreds of millions in sales in Europe, Japan and the US.In August, debt-ridden Asia Pulp and Paper …
Centre to notify 93 as cut-off date
In what could be described as a major respite for encroachers, Union Environment and Forest Ministry has decided to notify 1993 as the cut-off date for conversion of forest villages to revenue villages notwithstanding Assam Government's plea. But the new set of guidelines has failed to impress State Forest Minister, …
