HP Govt decision draws flak
The controversial decision of the Himachal Pradesh Government lifting ban on green felling to mop up finances has drawn attention of environmentalists towards serious consequences of the move on the fragile Himalayan ecology. The repercussion of the move, according to the environmentalists, will disturn the fauna, flora and ecology of …
Climbing know-how aids conservation project
Volunteers this month began planting trees on slopes on Mikurajima island, south of Tokyo, where landslides occurred when a typhoon struck the area five years ago. Volunteers with mountain-climbing experience used ropes to keep their footing when planting trees on the 40-degree slopes, which have not been restored because of …
Govt fast-tracks plan to cut diesel emissions
The Japanese government plans to implement a set of new measures to reduce exhaust emissions from diesel-powered vehicles, including the tightening of regulations on emissions from those vehicles, in 2005, two years earlier than the originally scheduled 2007, and give preferential tax treatment to buyers of diesel vehicles that meet …
Delhi's pollution may double by 2005
The pollution level in the national capital is feared to increase by two times by 2005 if no remedial measures are taken, State Minister for Urban Development Bandaru Dattatreya said today.During 1991, the pollution level was estimated at about 2.49 lakh tonne and is feared to increase to 4.35 lakh …
Integrated forest policy urged
The just concluded three-day meet of the Commonwealth Forestry Association (CFA) here has urged the governemnt to evolve an integrated national forest policy so that no ministry or department harms the forests in order to show quick results. The conference said the policies under which the different ministries and departments …
A 'tendu-patta' story unlike any other
The senior Congress(I) leader, Mr. Arjun Singh, today reiterated the Congress Party's commitment to the cause of the tendu leaf pluckers and said that Madhya Pradesh has set an example before the whole country by protecting their rights through the cooperativisation o tendu leaf trade.
Water harvesting to be made mandatory
Alarmed by the continued growth in population and an inability to meet the demand for drinking water, coupled with a fast depleting ground water level, the Delhi Governemnt plans to introduce a comprehensive legislation making it mandatory for all new multi-storey structures, including Co-operative Group Housing Societies, to have water …
Karnataka orders brisk work at Alamatti dam
The Karnataka Government has asked the engineers in Upper Krishna Project (UKP) to work day and night to put up skin plates for erection of crest gates to store 173 tmcft. of water in Almatti Dam now that the Supreme Court has permitted raising of the height of the Dam …
Remove water from State list
Thakur: Even as casualties mount and officials keep tossing the blame amongst themselves for the present drought conditions in large parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan, the Union Minister for Water Resources Dr. C.P. Thakur says he has had enough.
A new solution for clean drinking water
Dr. Srinath Dixit, Senior Scientist (Agriculture Extension) at the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), has come out with solution for clean drinking water. To solve the water contamination problem, Dr. Dixit has come out with a simple device by tapping solar energy.
Destruction reaches grand scale proportions
With only seven per cent of the original forests now in tact, Conservation International has declared the Atlantic rainforests as one of the 25 environmental 'hotspots' in the world. Ninety per cent of Brazil's endangered species are in the Atlantic Forest.
Liberalisation in forest products trade sought
India should liberalise its trade in forest products and services globally so that the full impact of its forest sector is felt, said the deputy director-general of Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Mafa E Chipeta. He said that as India had a restricted trade in forest products, including tightly …
Punjab to introduce 'green panchayats'
Having lowest forest cover in the country, Punjab has introduced a concept of "green panchayats " to promote social forestry and forest cover in the state. Punjab has forest cover which is less than 10 percent of its area whereas the required forest coer under norms is 33 per cent. …
Balochistan bid to save world's largest juniper forest
Authorities in Balochistan have launched efforts to save the world's largest juniper forest, dwindling at an alarming rate.The IUCN, the international body for conservation of natural resources, is helping the Pakistan government in the province to devise a strategy to preserve the rare juniper forest spread in and around the …
Asian Bank report
water shortage may heighten tension in South Asia : The Asian Development Bank in its annual report has warned that tension may heighten between the countries in South Asia as the region is faced with water shortage.The report has been issued at a time when there is acute shortage of …
Scheme for processing of minor forest produce
A scheme for processing of minor forest produce through self-help groups of tribals has been launched in Bastar district of Madhya Pradesh. Under the scheme, envisaging expenditure of Rs 16 crore, employment opportunities would be created for the tribls in the processing, marketing and transporation of minor forest produce, an …
Fix achievable targets in forestry sector, says Baalu
Minister for environment and forests T R Baalu has called for formulating realistic resource mobilisation plans and fixing achievable targets in the foresty sector, considering the overall economic condition of the country. Inaugurating a seminar on 'India's Forests Beyond 2000' here on Wednesday, Mr Baalu stated that inadequate investment had …
Proposed amendments to Forest Act sent to Cabinet
The ministry for environment and forests has already proposed necessary amendments to the Forest Conservation Act and has sent to the Cabinet for approval, said highly placed sources in the ministry.
