Arms delivery to Jharkhand forest dept stalled
The Jharkhand forest department suffered a setback when the union home ministry stalled delivery of 250 Self Loading Rifles (SLRs) to the State forest department, official sources said. To meet the increasing threat of poachers and Naxalites, the forest department had given an order to a ordinance factory for delivery …
Govt seeks heritage-site tag for Kodagu forests
The Karnataka State government has decided to send a proposal to UNESCO seeking a World Biodiversity Heritage Site status for the Western Ghats forests in Kodagu district. The proposed site includes the reserve forests between Brahmagiri, Talacauvery and Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuaries, which would be merged and declared a National Park. …
Council passes irrigation bill
The Legislative Council today passed the Karnataka Irrigation (Amendment) Bill, 2003, in addition to the Karnataka Ground Water (Regulation for Protection of Sources of Drinking Water) Bill, 1999 and the Karnataka Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2003, which the Legislative Assembly had approved earlier. The Karnataka Irrigation (Amendment) Bill, 2003 seeks …
Govt to settle Nagas in Assam forests?
The Naga people living in the disputed forest areas along Assam-Nagaland border are liable to be recognized as the permanent residents of these areas besides in other disputed forest areas along the border of Assam with the six other north-eastern States, if a recent circular issued by the State Government …
Eviction is driving farmers to suicides
The nightmare of eviction haunting the poor farmers of the coastal and Malnad regions, Mangalore, has entered the portals of the Vidhan Parishat. Senior Congress Leader and Rajya Sabha member Janardhana Poojary recently brought it to the notice of the session and it ignited heated discussions. Thus the long-pending demand …
B`lore wil turn green come Aug 5
Rare and beautiful plant species like Jakaranda, Tububia and Bahumia would spruce up the city landscape soon. Inspired by the copious rainfall, the Bangalore City Corporation has pledged to take up a
Sandalwood smuggling thrives in city, Delhi a major receiver
Over 200 cases of sandalwood thefts are reported annually in the city with the Indian Air Force premises in Jalahalli reporting the same with an alarming consistency. There was an attempt recently to even cut down sandalwood trees at Karnataka State Police Wireless Headquarters on M.G. Road. During daytime, these …
Debate over community forests
The success that Nepal has achieved with regard to forest conservation through community participation is gradually being eclipsed in the recent days. Only a few days ago, the detractors of the community forestry were found criticising the indigenous forest conservation practice saying that it is marred by ill governance, and …
Fuelling fires for own cause
In India, it is common to have forest fires. But if you think it is a natural phenomenon, think again. As per a WWF-India report, almost all forest fires are caused - intentionally or unintentionally - by humans. The irresponsible attitude of those residing in and around forests has started …
Farmers hold rally against eviction
The Malenadu Raita Hakku Hitharakshana Samiti organised a procession and a public rally in Beltangady, Mangalore, on Monday to urge the authorities to prevent the forest department from evicting small and marginal farmers from their encroached lands and regularise the encroachments.
Green is my colour
In pursuance of its vision of a green and clean state, the Sikkim Government, under the leadership of CM Pawan K Chamling has worked relentlessly to evict encroachers from forest land. This movement has been spearheaded by the Environment and Wildlife Department that evicted 31 encroachers throughout Sikkim this year …
Nurturing idea of Thar river
Scientists have discovered fossil remains of an elephant in the most unlikely place - the Thar desert - lending credence to the theory that the Vedic Saraswati river flowed in Jodhpur, Rajasthan thousands of years ago. The droughts for centuries resulted in migration of animal and their large-scale deaths. Abrupt …
This monsoon proves too much for trees too
Human beings are not the only ones facing problems due to excessive monsoon rains in the Capital. The city's trees, at least quite a few of them, have also become victims of the record breaking downpour that has lashed the city this year. The Capital has lost over 550 trees …
Civic bodies creating roadblocks to green Delhi
While the Delhi government has been vociferously propagating the slogan of "Clean and Green Delhi" and the need for having water harvesting to recharge depleting groundwater levels, the civic agencies executing various works including construction of roads, pavements, dividers and nullahs having thrown all norms to the winds and are …
No room for politics in plan to link rivers, says Prabhu
The chairman of the Union Government's Task Force for Interlinking of Rivers, Suresh Prabhu, said that all political parties should come together and support the objective of linking various rivers for augmenting the irrigation potential and controlling the adverse impact of different parts of the country.
Municipality to assist less affluent sections
The Avadi Municipality, Tamil Nadu has decided to assist the less affluent sections to instal rainwater harvesting structures through sponsorships, loans from cooperative banks and through self-help groups. At a council meeting held, the civic body also resolved to pursue the collection of tax arrears amounting to Rs 60 lakhs …
Form autonomous body for Pagladiya dam : CM to PM
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi requested Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to instruct the authorities concerned to constitute an autonomous body for time-bound implementation of Pagladiya Dam. In a letter to the Prime Minister today, Mr Gogoi said that for a number of reasons including delay in getting funds, the …
Compensation for Indus Water Treaty demanded
A delegation of National Conference led by Ajay Sadhotra, Provincial Presidetn, Jammu, said Government of India has in an agreement agreed to start 7 hydroelectric projects in the state of about 3000 MW capacity in all the three regions of the state but it is unfortunate that only Sewa-II has …
Navdanya`s water liberation movement launches second phase
Navdanya's Jal Swaraj Abhiyan (Water Liberation Movement) launched the second phase of its Uttaranchal Jal Yatra from Kashipur on 1 August, opposing the privatisation of water and creating awarness for its conservation. This Yatra, coordinated in Uttaranchal by Navdanya, an organisation headed by Dr Vandana Shiva, is part of Rashtriya …
