Forest of Assam - on the verge of extinction
In recent years, the forests of Assam have been alarmingly depleted due ot a host of anthropogenic factors. Like other states of the North-east, having 64% average land of forest cover. Assam was also endowed with plenty of forest resources covering about 39% of average area. But in these years …
10,000 saplings for police stations
The Sangrur police with the support of the district administration and the Forest Department organised a function at Longowal village, 16 km from Sunam, Punjab to celebrate Vanmahotsava Day.'
Rs 310 cr for Bhakra project
A Rs 319.46 crore Bhakra Canal Command Project to irrigate 2,39,154 hectares of area in eight districts of Haryana has been approved by the Central Government. Out of a total of 1233 watercourses to be lined under this project, 581 watercourses with a total length of 77.81 lakh running ft …
CM opens water supply schemes
The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, warned that his government would not spare those who had misappropriated public money, howsoever influential they might be. Mr Chautala was addressing a gathering after inaugurating a water supply scheme at Sulikhera village in Fatehabad district. The project had been completed at …
Encroachments in Thatkola
Despite a Supreme Court order to evict in the Thatkola reserve forest in Karnataka's Chickmangalur district, the state government has done little to recover the land.
Forest and Ecology
There are many issues that cry for the attention of the parlimentary committee on environment and forests. The foremost being the continuing depredation of the mining industry. The Mineral Foundation has been unable or unwilling to address the issue of the large-scale siltation of water bodies and the continuing menace …
Babas, NGOs to green Punjab
Punjab will now utilise the services of babas to enhance the area under forests. The government has banned the planting of exotic trees. Only indigenous species of trees such as kikkar, sheesham, neem, ber will now be planted.
Dense forest cover
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Dr S N Rai, in a clarification to the news item, "Dense Malnad Forests denuded' published in these columns on June 29, has stated that the satellite imagery data of forest cover does not specifically mean that the statutory forests (control of forest department) …
When 1,000 trees fall along 14 km, its time to think
It's a noble vision, to create the finest road network in India. But what's far from noble is the felling of thousands of trees -- many illegally -- on the road to realising that vision. Unofficial statistics show that, on an average, 100 trees are sacrificed per kilometre. Well, the …
Assam Rifles in timber smuggling
After the Railways and Nagaland Police, the latest government organization to join the timber smuggling business is none other than the Assam Rifles. The CRPF and the Assam Police personnel of Diphu Town out post, who were on duty at Diphu Market, apprehended three Assam Rifles jawans along with a …
640 logs of walnut wood seized, 3 held
Tightening its noose over the timber mafia, the police arrested three persons and recovered 640 logs of walnut wood from their possession near Oachghat under sadar police station in the disrict last night.The estimated price of the seized wood is more than Rs 50,000.
Forest Bill to be made law in this session, says Minister
Forest Minister K. Sudhakaran on Wednesday told the Assembly that the Kerala Forest (Vesting and Management of Ecologically Fragile Lands) Bill would be made law in the current Assembly session. Replying to questions, he said that under the Forest ordinance the Government had acquired a total of 11037 hectares of …
Heres how seeds are being sowed for a vibrant forest
The demonstration plots on how community forests are managed along scientific lines have been billed as second-generation conservation and management tools in the light of the achievements recorded in the area of tree improvement and allied activities in Nepal. The last trimester report of the Tree Improvement and Silviculture Component …
Saplings in memory of war heroes face sudden death
The two flyovers being constructed to link the Noida expressway with the Noida toll bridge are likely to ruin more than 15,000 plants, which were planted seven years ago in the 12 acre Smriti Van in Sector 16-A of Noida.
Indian scientists clone embryos of goat, buffalo
Six years after the creation of the world's first cloned mammal - Dolly the sheep, Indian Scientists for the first time have cloned embryos of goats and buffalo from their skin cells. Completing the first phase of the project successfully, the team at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) plans …
Sentenced to plant 500 trees
In a unique punishment, a farmer in central China's Henan province has been ordered to plant 500 trees to replace those he illegally felled to sell as timber, and also guarantee their survival, a report said. The court ordered Zhang to plant 500 aspens, the same type of tree he …
Where PM`s statement came as a surprise
After the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee's statement on the Centre having granted a 'No Objection Certificate' to the Madhya Pradesh Government for conversion of 925 forest villages into revenue villages, the Ministry of Environment and Forests is tight-lipped about the issue. Apparently, the Ministry wants the controversy to die …
This time, newsprint saves trees
For two grand old Banyan trees that have been on Sarjapur Road in Bangalore, for around 300-400 years, their guardian angel is surely perched up there in one of those outstretched branches. The friendly wood nymph has not only prevented workmen from raising the axe at the nick of time, …
Water is backbone of development: Sharad Yadav
Union food and civil supplies minister Sharad Yadav said that the development of the country is related to the water in fields. He said that if we do not realise the value of water now, the future generation would be in serious trouble with regard to drinking water.
