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 …
In contrast to China's unilateral move to construct dams on the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra, India has taken a different route with respect to dams on rivers it shares with Bangladesh. India and Bangladesh have identified several projects including the controversial Tipaimukh hydel project in which Dhaka could have …
West Bengal, Assam, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh to observe strict surveillance The Centre on Wednesday sounded ‘high alert’ in border States against avian influenza after outbreak of the dreaded poultry disease in Bhutan. Thousands of birds have been culled in Bhutan after the outbreak, which is yet to be controlled. Earlier …
By adopting a policy decision to switch over to organic farming, Kerala could be chasing a delusion, according to S.Ganesan, chairman, International Treaties Expert Committee, Indian Chemical Council. Talking to The Hindu on the sidelines of a national seminar on `WTO, FTAs and Impact on Agriculture and Allied Sectors’ organised …
With hills and mountains dotting the landscape of North Eastern region, the Centre plans to promote the region as an ‘adventure tourism’ destination to increase the flow of tourists, particularly foreign tourists, said Union minister of state for tourism K Chiranjeevi. “We know not all the roads are in good …
Shillong: Meghalaya has tried not once or twice but repeatedly to ban plastic carry bags but the effort has failed miserably. As a result every drain, stream and river are filled with plastic bags and plastic packages which contain a variety of junk food such as potato chips which are …
Land conflicts are no more limited to forest areas, neither are they confined to mining and infrastructure projects. Agri-business like jatropha, soya and palm; and renewable energy projects like wind power are likely to fuel massive conflicts over acquisition of 'common land' predicts a research report on land conflicts released …
The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC), under the ministry of forests and environment, has scheduled yet another meeting on Friday for clearing projects in violation of the Central Information Commission (CIC) orders. Earlier, the commission had pulled up environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan for a similar transgression. In February, the CIC had …
The forest cover in the country has decreased by 367 sq kms with the green area decreasing in 14 states, as per a forest report released here today. According to India State of Forest Report-2011, forest cover has decreased in 14 states including Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, …
With the forest cover of 77,700 square kilometre area Madhya Pradesh retain its coveted title of number of state of the country in terms of forest cover, according to Indian State of Forest Report 2011. When forest cover in the country has decreased by 367 square kilometres, forest cover in …
Hill States Have Highest Rates Of Diabetes, Hypertension New Delhi: Surprising trends have emerged from the health ministry’s first-ever large-scale study to check for diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure) by actually testing blood samples from the country’s general population. In the first phase of the study that checked 1.06 …
The Himalayan countries of Nepal and Bhutan will, in 2013, have two permanent air monitoring observatories set up by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) as part of a programme to reduce black carbon and other short-lived climate-forcing pollutants (SLCPs). There has been increasing international attention on SLCPs …
Climate change: a Challenge or Chance for Value Chains in Nagaland, Sikkim and Meghalaya by Heike Junger-Sharma, GIZ at CSE Climate change adaptation workshop: Towards Climate Resilient Communities in South Asia: Emerging Policies and Practices (New Delhi, December 13 - 14, 2012).
A small-hydro power (SHP) developer can either sell power directly to the state utilities at feed-in-tariffs determined by the state or indirectly through renewable energy certificate (REC) trading. In the latter case, the power generated is sold to the state discom at the average power purchase cost (APPC) or used …
The Centre is planning to formulate a law against the use of dry toilets and the erring persons could even be sent to jail, Union Minister Jairam Ramesh said on Friday. "The Government will soon formulate a law under which users of dry toilets will be punished and even sent …
To reduce the widening gap between tribal community and city dwellers, Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti (GSDS) is hosting a three day event at Gandhi Darshan in Raj Ghat here beginning Wednesday. “Adivasi Sanskriti Sangam” will basically highlight tribal culture and discuss issues affecting the lives of tribal folks. More …
Sikkim is the first State in the country to provide pucca houses to all its residents belonging to the economically weaker sections. The State Government has launched a social housing project, Chief Minister's Rural Housing Mission (CMRHM), under which around 6000 dwellers living in kutcha houses will get a new …
A modest yet consistent decline in the infant mortality rate, especially in six problematic states, is one of the key features of the latest data from the Sample Registration System. Nationwide, the IMR has dropped by three points from 47 infant deaths per 1,000 live births to 44, according to …
Uttarakhand has more than just natural beauty to boast of. It also tops the list of best-performing States and Union territories in terms of environmental well-being. Uttarakhand is followed by Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Sikkim, and Andhra Pradesh on the Planning Commission’s Environmental Performance Index (EPI) list. Environmental well-being is one …
GANGTOK, Oct 14 – A glacier study team consisting of Assistant Scientific Officer Narpati Sharma and Project Scientists RK Sharma, Pranay Pradhan and Dilliram Chettri of Sikkim State Council of Science and Technology working for Glacier Dynamics of Sikkim, has completed an expedition to East Rathong Glacier in West Sikkim. …
