Old tanks, lakes can end citys water woes
If water supply in Delhi is augmented by half of what is being supplied now, water woes would end. Experts say that if local alternatives are used to increase supply, not only would the environment be protected, costs would come down considerably.
No more watering down the issue
Acute shortage of clean and safe water has become a matter of concern all over the country, especially in Delhi. Over-exploitation of groundwater has distributed the hydrological balance leading to decline in productivity of wells, increasing cost of boring wells as well as electricity costs. Industry is not oblivious of …
Tree plantation project unlikely to be implemented before monsoon
With the Tree Authority yet to be formed, Clean Bhayandar-Green Bhayandar is definitely not the mantra for the authorities at the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation(MBMC).It should be noted that 250 full grown trees along the Dr Hedgevar Marg from the Western Express highway No 8 (Kashimira) to the Railway crossing …
HP forest cover dwindling
For the last one-decade, Himachal Pradesh has been facing severe financial crisis which has badly affected the afforestation programme in the State. With hardly 25.7 per cent area under forest cover, as against the norms of 66 per cent laid down in the national forest policy, the State was required …
Bamboo, lean and mean, set for a leap
Bamboo has been identified as a key job-generating sector by the Planning Commission which has just finished coordinating a report on its technology and trade development. But a government strapped for cash is depending on existing programmes to push bamboo to its rightful place in the sun. The Planning Commission's …
Corpn. to set up urban forestry wing
A new 'Urban Forestry Wing' will be created in the Chennai Corporation to develop greenery and forest in and around Chennai. A Forest department official will head the new wing. Meanwhile, the much-publicised 'Tree Helpline' launched by the Chennai Corporation to control illegal fellng of trees seems to have belied …
State hosts jumbo forest meet, but skips vital issues
Trust the cash-strapped Maharashtra State government to do what it has planned for the next two days. Apart from enormous administrative flux, it wil spend lakhs on a jumbo conclave of 130 top forest officials where many of the issues slted for discussion may not be directly related to forest …
Threatens stir over water crisis
The Shiv Sena has threatened to launch a massive agitation if the water supply in the Kanpur city does not improve within three days. The city is reeling under acute water crisis but the district authorities are displaying an apathetic attitude towards the hardship being faced by the citizens, senior …
Forest depletion in Assam alarming : Bordoloi
Assam's Sonitpur district has a dubious distinction. For the past six years, this district has withnessed the fastest rate of depletion of its forest cover in the country. Some 22,000 hectares of forest land have been destroyed. Minister of State for Forest and Environment Pradyut Bordoloi disclosed. Bordoloi, who was …
Gogoi Govt in a fix over eviction from forest areas
The Assam State Government seems to be in a quandary these days, after the submission of the draft forest policy by an expert panel. The draft forest policy has stated that ex-tea garden labourers have encroached upon a major portion of forest areas. Now, the problem before the Government is …
IAF battles infiltrators of a different kind __ sandalwood poachers
While our armed forces are busy battling infiltrators from across the border, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is facing infiltration of a different kind -- at home in Bangalore in India's 'aviation capital.' Going by statistics over the last two and-a-half years, sandalwood poachers seem to have struck a goldmine …
Encroachments on forest land to go
The Congress government has decided to launch a special campaign to clear forest land of over 45,000 encroachers. A high level meeting of forest officers held under the chairmanship of Mr Chander Kumar, the Himachal Forest Minister, decided that immediate action should be initiated to evict those who have applied …
Sustained efforts needed for green drive to flower
Though on the face of it the forest cover in Delhi increased from 5.9 per cent in 1999 to cover 7.5 per cent by 2001, people concerned with environmental issues believe there is a need to continue with the afforestation drives with renewed vigour as much of the change could …
Villagers here have a green thumb
The jungle is becoming so thick in Dhanturi village (Gujarat) and its neighbourhood that the forest department would like to cut some trees for healthy growth of the rest.
The environment becomes cool
The music industry is strengthening its environmental credentials, with the announcement that the Isle of Wight music festival in June will be carbon neutral. The pop industry appears to be becoming increasingly environmentally aware. In 1997, seven million CDs were carbon neutral through the planting of native trees, says carbon …
Shop paints afforestation success
If one wants to see for himself the 'grand success' of the State(Tamil Nadu) afforestation project, then he only has to step into a 'commmunity departmental store'in a tiny hamlet, Vadakaraparai, nestling along the stretch of Palani hills. Thanks to the Kodaikanal Forest Division which kickstarted the novel 'community shop' …
Protecting Assam Forests
It is understandable that the conscientious sections of the people of Assam are not inclined to pay much attention to the claims made by Assam Minister of State for Forests (independent charge) Pradyut Bordoloi that his department was taking all conceivable steps to halt and reverse the process of encroachment …
`Many drinking water projects for Badarpur`
"Within next 3 years, at least 20 drinking water projects will be started at Badarpur constituency positively. As a result, problem of water supply will be reduced to a large extent in the rural areas of Badarpur in Assam. This assurance was given to the people by the State PHE …
NGOs up against river project
Rubbishing the river-linking project of the Central government as a route to privatisation, various social activists have labelled the project and the water policy as "a hijack of the natural rights" of local communities dependent on these rivers for survival. Gearing up for a nation-wide public campaign to safeguard the …
