Rigid stance
The Narmada Control Authority's (NCA) clearance for rising the height of the Sardar Sarovar dam from 95 metres to 100 metres has evoked a predictable protest from the Narmada Bacho Andolan (NBA). This, despite the fact that NCA took the decision after its relief and resettlement (R & R) sub-group …
12,000 acres of forest land to be given away to tribals
The Ministry of Environment and Forests has buckled to the sheer perseverance displayed by Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony and agreed to part with 12,000 acres of forest land in Wayanad for the tribals in principle. After nearly eight visits to the Ministry of Environment over last six months, …
CM seeks additional central aid for afforestation
The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Digvijay Singh has said that in view of the significant role of Madhya Pradesh's forests in maintaining country's ecological balance the state should be given additional central grant for afforestation and forest conservation.
`Number of trees facing axe has declined in city`
While Bangaloreans complain of indiscriminate tree felling, the good news is that the number of trees being cut in the city has declined over the last three years. In 2000, 4,072 trees were cut. The number went down to 2,559 in 2001. It reduced even further to 1,112 trees in …
Little funds for afforestation drive
The financial crisis plaguing the Himachal Pradesh state for the past one decade has badly affected the afforestation programme. With only 25.7 per cent area under forests as against the 66 per cent norm laid down in the national forest policy, the hill state was expected to spare maximum funds …
Forest fires in Mandi area
Reports of forest fires have come from various places in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. Several pine trees were burnt in the Gandharva forest on the periphery of Mandi town. The fire, which broke was brought under control by employees of the Forest Department.
The 6 4 2 rule
People seem to be disgusted or even ashamed when they see a bus with fewer than 50 people inside it. Let us recall some basic figures, that I will name
Lascaux caves threatened by microbes
Cave Art The Lascaux caves in France, which host fabulous prehistoric art, are being threatened by harmful microorganisms again. The invading fungus, a member of the Fusarium family, was first spotted in June 2001 and has now spread to the floor, walls and parts of the caves' ceiling. Experts speculate …
Forest Department retrieves land worth Rs 1 cr
The Forest Department has successfully taken possession of a chunk of its prime land on the Patiala-Bhunerheri Road at Majal Khurd village near Patiala. According to sources in the Forest Department, the land measuring about 20 acres had been under the illegal possession of seven families who had refused to …
Report on river linking by 2006
The task force, set up by the Centre under the chairmanship of former Power Minister Suresh Prabhu to finalise modalities for rivers inter-linking, would complete the feasibility report of the project by 2006 as envisaged in a report by the National Water Development Agency(NWDA).The report was placed by the Union …
Pahal`s effort to conserve water
'Pahal' an environment conservation organisation, under the National Environment Awareness Campaign of the Ministry of Forests and Environment organised a programme on rain-water harvesting at wonderland theme park on the Nakodar Road in Jalandhar yesterdday. Demonstrations on rainwater harvesting and recharging were held.
Foreign funds for forestry project resumed
With international funding agencies coming forward again to fund forestry projects in the country, the clouds of Pokhran II that had hampered forestry projects in the country, seem to be fading away now. The project would boost up forest development schemes in the country that had suffered badly after funding …
Runoff water to be used for improving green cover
The forest department, in association with the Water conservation mission, will implement watershed programme in the forest areas and utilise one per cent of the runoff water for improvement of the green cover. Announcing this at a press conference, chairman of technical committee, Water conservation mission, T Hanumantha Rao said …
`Green cover slowly increasing in State`
Unlike in other States, the forest cover in Andhra Pradesh has been steadily increasing year-by-year, according to SK Das, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. Speaking to newsmen along with Water Conservation mission technical committee chairman T Hanumantha Rao, after a workshop on "Water Conservation - Harvesting in Forest Areas", Das …
Seeds of distress
'Plant more trees'.Looking to the relentless heat of Ahmedabad, you couldn't agree more to that. But is it really that easy to procure, and then maintain, a tree as it's made to sound? Water scarcity and bureaucratic hurdles considering, it's not. Kartik Shastri, a city-based environmentalist recalls the arduous time …
Remove encroachments CM tells Forest Department
Mr Virbadra Singh, Chief Minister has expressed concern over the increasing encroachments on forest land and asked the Forest Department to take steps to remove unauthorised occupants. Inaugurating a two day conference of forest officers on "Emerging challenges, opportunities and strategies in forestry sector', he said the menace of encroachments …
Environment Ministry to release land for Kerala tribals
The Union Ministry for Environment and Forests has agreed "in principle" to consider the Kerala Government's request for release of vested forest land in the State for redistribution among landless tribals whose agitation for land took a violent turn this February in the Muthanga area of Wayanad district. An assurance …
Shakarpur water safe, says DJB
The residents of Shakarpur have nothing to fear from the yellow tinged water they have been getting for past few days as it is potable and can be used for all domestic purposes, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has assured. Reacting to reports in a section of media about
Pak may serve notice on Indus Water Treaty
Relations between India and Pakistan may be on the mend for now, but where matters under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty are concerned, all is not well between the two countries. Pakistan seems all set to send India a notice seeking the appointment of a third party arbitrator within a …
Keep record of all trees, Virbhadra tells staff
Expressing concern over encroachments on forest and illegal felling of trees, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said that these had been checked to some extent but still much more efforts were needed in this direction. He said that cases put up before the courts should be foolproof as a …
