Birth Rate is a crude measure of fertility of a population and is a crucial determinant of population growth. It gives the number of live births per thousand population in a given region and year. The Birth Rate at all India level has declined drastically over the last five decades …
As receding glaciers form new lakes across the Himalayan frontier, a new dimension has been added to the strategic paradigm. Geological and climatic considerations apart, many of these lakes lie close to the border and may well be used to trigger floods downstream. While dozens of lakes have come up …
The Centre for Science and Environment, a New Delhi-based public interest research and advocacy organisation, has called for a public transport strategy for the Northeast. “We should design roads for public transport, cycling and walking and not just for cars in an effort to cut pollution and congestion and reduce …
The Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act has often been ridiculed as a scheme that has hardly any impact. Many say that MGNREGA workers just 'dig and fill holes,' but scientists from premier science institutions seem to think differently. At a time when the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act …
But co claims it gave up equity in state-owned holding firm for hydel projects on its own Arunachal Pradesh, the epicentre of hydel power in India, has decided to reverse its contentious decision in 2009 to give 49% equity in its hydro-power corporation to the Naveen Jindal Group. The decision, …
Implementation of MGNREGS works such as water conservation and harvesting works, drought proofing and renovation of traditional water bodies have contributed to improved ground water levels finds this study conducted by IISc, Bangalore. The study on the environmental benefits of MGNREGS and reduction of vulnerability to climate risks was initiated …
Meeting slated for May 1, makes strong case for hydro to be declared as renewable energy, Jyotiraditya Scindia Union Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia will chair an advisory group on May 1 to discuss the bottlenecks in the development of hydro power projects, falling share of hydro power, delays in environment …
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday presented to Sikkim an award for “extraordinary and innovative” work done by the State’s Rural Management and Development Department. The Prime Minister presented a medal, a scroll and cash award of Rs 5 lakh to DR Nepal, secretary, Rural Management and Development Department, Sikkim, …
In the backdrop of two strong earthquakes rocking Sikkim, the capital city of which is witnessing haphazard growth and mushrooming of multi-storey buildings, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has launched a project to undertake seismic microzonation of Gangtok city and its surroundings area for disaster mitigation and urban planning. …
Himachal Pradesh, known for its wide variety of fruit produce, could soon have competition from the faraway state of Sikkim. The former princely state in the northeast is foraying into cultivation of not only exotic items kiwifruit, but also more common varieties like apples, pears, pomegranate, almonds and walnuts. “Introducing …
Arunachal Pradesh bagged an award in the Best State: Campaign Clean India category apart from winning a special prize for Most Innovative use of Information Technology at the National Tourism Awards function here on Monday. However, none of the other northeastern states could make a mark in the event. Incidentally, …
Gangtok: Sikkim is pushing its tourism envelope with a combination of nature and spirituality to preserve the essence of its Himalayan heritage and make a statement of sustainable growth in this age of manic concretization of the fragile hill environment. Sample this: Laid out across 23 acres of lush slopes …
Gangtok, Feb 25: Greener, bigger, fresher and more wholesome than elsewhere in the country – that’s how vegetables appear here, in the manicured Saramsa Gardens, the venue of the Sikkim International Flower Show, 2013. Rows upon rows of potted vegetables flourish in what is described as the State’s organic stomach. …
The Cabinet will take up the proposal for a National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) on Thursday. It will cater to the 37.7 crore urban population and will be a sub-mission of an overarching National Health Mission (NHM) for urban and rural areas. In a potentially contentious proposal and a shift …
Global average temperature increase during the last century has induced species geographic range shifts and extinctions. Montane floras, in particular, are highly sensitive to climate change and mountains serve as suitable observation sites for tracing climate-induced biological response. The Himalaya constitute an important global biodiversity hotspot, yet studies on species’ …
The Central government has sanctioned a grant of Rs 1.89 crore for the modernisation and construction of fish landing centres in the state reservoirs under the scheme of the National Fisheries Development Board, Hyderabad. Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri, who also holds the portfolio of fisheries, said here today that …
Days ahead of the first meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Investment ( CCI), the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC), the statutory body for advising on forest clearances, rushed to clear a little over 20 projects, including those in mining and power. The CCI, set up to hasten big-ticket infrastructure projects, …
Glacial lake is a water body formed in/under/besides and/or in front of a glacier due to glacial dynamics. Such high-altitude glacial lakes are hazardous to humanity and infrastructure as they can drain instantaneous and create devastating floods in the downstream. The formation of moraine-dammed glacial lakes and glacial lake outburst …
To avoid accidents on upcoming Sevoke-Rangpo line To get started a project that has been hanging for four years now for want of environment and forest clearance, the Railways have decided to install sensors to track the pachyderms present on or near rail tracks. The Railway Ministry has sought a …
GANGTOK: Sikkim is the second–smallest State in India in terms of area after Goa. It is also the least populated in the country with just 6,00,000 people. Yet, in some matters, this Himalayan State towers over others, leading the way where the rest of India falters. Among the most innovative …
Within days of China announcing three new hydroelectric projects on the Brahmaputra river and catching India by surprise, the Centre has set the ball rolling to build the strategic Tawang hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh. The 800-MW power project proposed to be built on the Tawang Chu river has got …
