Rain douses many Aussie bushfires
Weary firefighters sand and danced on Monday after heavy rain doused many wildfires that had burned out of control across Australia's most populous state for two weeks. Up to 4 cm of rain fell overnight, mainly in the Blue Mountains National Park, 80 km west of Sydney. Officials said the …
Ryots seek drip units on false water samples
Farmers seeking sanction of drip irrigation units on subsidy are making a mockery of the existing system by reportedly presenting false samples of water. Most farmers submitted samples of mineral water and water from tap, according to sources. In fact, they are supposed to submit samples of water from agriculture …
Australia bushfires
Thousands of firefighters took advantage of cooler conditions on Sunday to try to contain bushfires which have ravaged New South Wales state. The firefighters are battling up to 100 fires.
Lease hold forestry 16 more districts
The Kathmandu Government has decided to extend the Lease Hold Forestry Programme which directly contributes to poverty alleviation in additional 16 districts.
Pune college to be sued for felling trees
The Tree Authority of Pune will file a court case against the Fergusson College management for axing 18 big trees in its botanical garden without seeking permission from the authority.
A clean-up of a different kind
Burdwan Police organised a desiltation project for an irrigation canal at Shimulia village in West Bengal under the Galsi police station. Local youths and panchayat staff also lend a helping hand in the desiltation of the 1.5 km stretch of the No. 1 branch canal under the irrigation department.
All eyes on the weather as fires keep on blazing
Thousands of weary firefighters hoped n Saturday for rain and cooler weather after battling through the night against two huge bushfires threatening mountain towns to Sydney's west and beach side hamlets to the south. Meteorologists said there might soon be some respite, with rain forecast for the north of the …
Environment workers come under attack
Australian environmentalists have come under attack as anger mounts over the devastating bushfires ranging in Sydney and along the country's east coast, accused of aiding the fires by stopping land clearing.
KNP officials plan using weedicide
The authorities of the Kaziranga National Park are contemplating to spray weedicide to ensure no growth of a weed locally known as Lazuki baan, which had grown in the pasture of the park last year.
ISRO working on GTO satellites
The Indian Space Research Organisation is expected to launch GSLV Mark-3 by 2007, which will be able to carry and launch into the space geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) satellites with a payload of 4.5 tonnes.
Australian fire crisis rages on for 12th day
Searing temperatures have dropped, but with erratic winds blowing and no rain, in sight, Australia's fire crisis entered its 12th harrowing day. Two more teen arson suspects were arrested on Friday, bringing to 23 the number of people detained for starting fires that have triggered mayhem across Australia's largest state.
So that drought never returns
In the last few weeks since the media storm on drought hit our politicians, several of them have made statements the importance of a community-based rainwater harvesting strategy to drought proof the country. Anil Agarwal had argued for a community-based rainwater harvesting paradigm. The developments show that community-based rainwater harvesting …
BWSSB, BMP 'dilute' agreement
The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) gave two New Year gifts to the people last week: it increased the water tariff and reduced the consumption limit under the minimum slab. Increasing the rate and reducing the minimum slab is not a new exercise for the BWSSB. The board …
Reservoir levels grim despite good rainfall
Water levels in the Country's major reservoirs continue to be under pressure not withstanding higher rainfall recorded during this year's monsoon periods. According to Central Water Commission which monitors the water levels in 70 important reservoirs spread all over the Country, the combined live storage in these reservoirs stood at …
Rs 2.75 crore funds for AP water schemes
The Union Ministry of Rural Development has approved a funding of Rs 2.75 crore to Andhra Pradesh towards water and sanitation projects. The funds, routed through the Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission, are to be used for the projects in the districts of Adilabad, Mehboobnagar, Kurnool and Anantapur.
Swear, this one comes straight from swine !
In what experts say is a major step forward an unlimited supply of human transplant organs, scientists have cloned piglets lacking one of the two genes that prompt the human immune system to reject swine tissue.
People preserve forests
Forest dwellers who have traditionally lived in harmony with nature and wildlife have an intrinsic role to play in forest preservation and wildlife protection. However, those who have contributed positively to maintaining the ecological balance for generations are now being arbitrarily resettled and culturally uprooted from their natural surroundings.
Concern expressed over decline of grasslands in state
Despite grasslands tremendous economic and ecological significance the green pastures of Gujarat which are dubbed backbone of the rural economy are not green anymore. Encroachments on traditional grazing lands called gochar ovrgrazing, planting of commercial plant species and invasion by exotic plant species like prosopis Juliflora and lantana are some …
