World Bank credit for A.P. forest project
India signed an agreement with the world Bank for a $ 108 millions credit for the Andhra Pradesh community forest management project. The project will be implemented in 14 districts with high poverty incidence in the forest areas of northern, coastal and southern belts of the state with a total …
No action towards eviction of tribals from forests
Even as the deadline set for removal of encroachments in forest lands ended by September, attempts of the revenue authorities to resolve the issue remain a non-starter. The official machinery is of the view that making forest free of encroachments is not an easy task. The tribals have settled in …
11 trees felled, FIR lodged
The Himachal Pradesh Forest Department has lodged an FIR and suspended the timber distribution rights of Kadaran village of Theog forest circle following reports of illicit felling of nearly a dozen green deodar and other trees. However, no one has been named in the FIR.
Forest Dept. asked to pay huge penalty
The Supreme Court in a latest directive to the Assam State Forest Department has asked the latter to pay huge penalty every month against every hectare of forest land under the grip of encroachers. The State Forest Minister, Pradyut Bordoloi informed the Assembly during the Question Hour today that the …
The farce of sustainable development
Considering the various constraints riddling the State, a creation of exclusive forest cover in forest land in Assam has emerged as an unworkable proposition. On the other hand a comprehensive strategy to carry out a massive afforestation drive throughout the State both in forest land and non forest land in …
Wildfires in Sydney
Two major wildfires in Sydney destroyed at least 10 homes on Tuesday and threatened others. The New South Wales rural fires service said a total of 70 wildfires were blazing across the State, some of which may have deliberately hit.
NEA to supply power to Pyythan, Rolpa
The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the state-owned power monopoly, will supply power to Pyuthan and Rolpa districts using the 42-kilometre long transmission lines of Jhimruk Hydropower Project, developed by the Butwal Power Company (BPC), starting Wednesday.
State forests disappearing: Bordoloi
State Forest Minister Pradyut Bordoloi today admitted that Assam State has not been able to prevent deforestation of forest land and encroachment of forest areas. This is despite the fact that laws that have been in place since 1986 banning the felling of trees.
HC issues notices on tree protection
The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the Delhi Government, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and the Delhi Police on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that trees lining the roads and street berms are being destroyed on the pretext of fixing tiles.
SYL in mind, Chautala tells Krishna to honour SC order
The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Om Prakash Chautala, has asserted that the Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr. S.M. Krishna, should honour the apex court's directive and release 9,000 cusecs of water from its reservoir to Tamil Nadu daily. He said this during a press conference. AS regards the apex court verdict …
Delhi gets auto notice from court
The Delhi high court issued notice to the city government on a petition filed by autorickshaw owners. The TSR owners in their petition submitted to Justice Manmohan Sarin alleged that by not issuing fitness certificates to them, the Delhi government was violating a Supreme Court order. "After issuing fitness certificates …
Nationwide sale of gasohol likely by 2004
In its endeavour to reduce India's dependence on imported oil, the government is planning to introduce 5 per cent ethanol blended petrol throughout the country ahead of schedule. Sources said that the sale of gasohol may be made mandatory from early 2004 as against the earlier schedule of countrywide induction …
Indonesia vows to combat haze from forest fires
Indonesia said it would try to do a better job of preventing huge forest fires that have often cast a huge pall of smoke pollution over neighbouring countries. Environment Minister Nabiel Makarim said tougher law enforcement had reduced cases of open burning on the island of Sumatra, and at least …
Expanding Hoshiarpur's green cover
Traditionally known for its thickest green cover, this Hoshiarpur city of Punjab saints has got another green belt, thanks to the efforts made by the Department of forests, which has beautified the Dhussi bundh along the Bhangi choe by planting nearly 12,000 saplings of different species of trees.
Good green news: Forest cover up in city
The Forest State Report (FSR) of the Forest Survey of India, Dehra Dun, shows that Delhi's forest cover has increased form 5.9 per cent in 1999 to seven percent now. Areawise, out of 1,400 square km, the region under forest cover has increased from 88 square km in 1999 to …
Irsa move baffles Punjab: Katchi canal feeding from Mangla
The Punjab (Pakistan) took exception to the Indus River System Authority move of linking water supply to Katchi Canal with the Mangla dam, and said Irsa was not authorized to do so under the Water Accord. In reply to the Irsa letter, the Punjab stated that for the first time …
2,54,771 hectares forest land encroached: Bordoloi
Minister of State for Forest Pradyut Bordoloi today informed the State Assembly that 2,54,771 hectares of forest land in Assam State is under encroachment and within this year, 15,755 families were evicted from forest land in different parts of Assam.
Bodies to oversee forest development
With a view to ensure people's participation in its ongoing drive to conserve the fast depleting forest cover in the Himachal Pradesh state and to save forest wealth from falling into the hands of unscrupulous elements, the Punjab forest Department has decided to constitute Forest Development Agencies in the state.
Tribals court arrest
About 1,500 tribals courted arrest, in Nasik, Maharashtra, holding a rally demanding registration of forest lands in their names and stopping the removal of tribals from these land, on Wednesday evening when the police stopped them from proceeding towards the district collectorate.
SC order puts Gujjars in a fix
With the mercury dipping, the tribal Gujjars have started their annual trek from the higher Himalayan tracts of this state to the forests of the Shivalik ranges in adjoining Uttaranchal. However, there is a lot of uncertainty as they move with their cattle and belongings to their winter dwellings this …
