Metro to plant more trees
The "compensatory plantation" programme of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has received a further boost with the Delhi Government having cleared in principle a proposal for allotment of 50 more hectares of land for the purpose on the banks of the Yamuna in Wazirpur area of North Delhi.
NGOs seek reforms in forest policy
Representatives from voluntary organisations working for environmental issues have called for a comprehensive set of policy reforms including legislative and fiscal for establishing a participatory forest management system in the Karnataka State. They noted that the rights of use and manage natural resources should belong to local people who will …
Regenerating India's forests
Forest management is a significant area that will need to be addressed by India at the World Summit on Sustainable Development scheduled to be held at Johannesburg in September 2002. Very few people know that nearly a quarter of India is classified as a forest land, which is owned and …
Contractors withdraw after protests
A sustained campaign by foreign non-governmental organisations has threatened to kill off Turkey's Ilisu dam project on the grounds that it endangers the region's environmental and cultural heritage. But many Turks and some foreign observers argue that such action may be counter-productive.
HC refuses blanket permission
A Kerala High Court division bench today refused to grant blanket permission to revenue authorities in Wayanad district to allow cutting and removing of trees from private and patta lands in Kochi. Passing orders on a suo motu writ petition initiated on the basis of an anonymous letter, highlighting the …
Green peace calls for protecting ancient forests
Green peace issued an urgent warning to the international community today to save the world's remaining ancient forests before it is too late. In an unusual event held at China's Great Wall, the environmental group displayed gigantic inflatable models of animals over the Badaling section of the wall in Beijing …
Peru tradesd debt for forest conservation
A portion of Peru's debt to the United States will be cancelled in return for the Peruvian government's commitment to conserve and maintain wildlife reserves and other protected forest areas. U.S. President George W. Bush and Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo finalized the agreement during the visit of the American President …
Living against all odds
The tribals of Sukhsan in Orissa, caught between their own needs, an apathetic government and greedy money lenders, find themselves accused of degrading the environment by practising shifting cultivation. And forest depletion is increasingly posing a threat to the environment.
Janu to take out navothana yatra
Adivasi leader C K Janu today announced a 45-day 'national novathana yatra', which would culminate in the formation of a 'tribal court', as a mark of protest against truant forest officials who in collusion with the timber and drug mafia were supervising organised encroachment of forest and revenue lands by …
Lessons of fire
The leading flames of forest fire noticed in the two ranges of the Nagarahole forest division in Karnataka might have been doused promptly this time around. Yet, there is little room for complacency in devising foolproof measures which will ensure protection of the fauna and flora of the national sanctuary …
Greens lament depleting forests, public apathy
The story sounded familiar, even Mumbai's quandary over growing slums and shrinking open spaces. Except this saga was about tribals who had encroached on protected forest land. When forest officers tried to dislodge them, there were protest marches, media campaigns, and politicians, along with other leading lights, declared forest conservation …
PMC resolves to cut part of Ponda garden
Defying protests from residents and a local environmental group, the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) today resolved to cut a part of the garden near the municipal office in order to widen the road. The resolution was passed at the council meeting, following a request form Deputy Chief Minister Ravi Naik …
Awards for best village forest councils : Minister
The best performing Village Forest Councils, set up to carry out Tamil Nadu Afforestation Programme, will be awarded prizes from this year onwards, announced the Environment and Forest Minister, P. Mohan.
' Pressurise Centre to grant pattas in forest '
Madhya Pradesh Forest Minister Harvansh singh has requested MLAs to pressurise Union government to grant pattas in forest lands to nearly 70,000 farmers in possession of the land prior to 1980.
Project to develop wastelands
A Rs 3.76 crore project has been sanctioned for the development of wastelands of the Nagrota Bagwan area of Kangra by the Centre. Disclosing this in Himachal Pradesh today, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Prabodh Saxena, said the project titled "Integrated Wasteland Development Project, Kangra-Phase IV " would cover 6,268 hectares …
Lake authority in Bangalore
The government has proposed to set up a Lake Development Authority funded by the Union Government for the regeneration and development of lakes in Bangalore. To meet the growing demand for water, the Cauvery Water Supply Scheme IV Stage Phase I, with financial assistance from the Japan Bank of International …
The greening of Haladpada-Shisne
People's initiatives in forest management are best conceptualised by people themselves, because their lives depend on it. This was proved by two tribal communities of Haladpada and Shisne, situated alongside the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway, to protect culture.
