Environmentalists worry about biopiracy in Assam
Unabated biopiracy in Assam has caused concern among environmentalists as it poses a serious threat to the state's rich forest resources. That piracy is being carried out in a most skillful manner and many plant and animal species have become extinct is a matter of urgent concern, a recent report …
Scientists have found a Green bug
Green not as in colour but eco-friendliness. One of the biggest environmental headaches is vinyl chloride. Chemical firms around the world are under pressure to tackle aquifer pollution from this highly useful but dangerous main ingredient in PVC products.Now, say a group of scientists, there's an answer. It is a …
Panchayats to keep tabs on PDS
In a significant move, the Rajasthan Government has transferred the powers to control and manage the Public Distribution System (PDS) in the rural areas to the Panchayati Raj institutions.
Unesco launches Save Our Heritage campaign
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) in collaboration with the Department of Archaeology and National College of Arts (NCA) has launched a campaign "Save our Heritage' for the conservation of Shalamar Gardens in Lahore (Pakistan). Also the campaign includes the launching of Urdu version of the kit, "World …
If this goes on, Unesco threatens delisting
The plan to construct huge structures near the Taj Mahal has jeopardised the prestigious Unesco World Heritage status of the monument. If the project affects the authenticity and integrity of the site and its environs, it could be put in the
Efforts on to include Shahpura lake
Efforts are on to include environmental conservation and management of Shahpura Lake under the Bhoj Wetland Project, project director Gulshan Bamra has informed. The management and conservation of the Shahpura Lake of Madhya Pradesh not being in the original plans for the project.
City beautiful seeks heritage status
Chandigarh might become the first modern heritage city of Asia as UNESCO, during its Heritage Centre meeting, has shown keen interest the upkeep of the city.
Skulls of `earliest Homo sapiens` found in Ethiopia
The fossil skulls of two adults and a child who lived and died 160,000 years ago in the Afar region of Ethiopia are the oldest representatives of Homo sapiens, scientists will report. The finds support the theory that modern humans emerged in Africa less than 200,000 years ago - and …
Chandigarh to be on world heritage map
First when it comes to per capita cars, first on the list of top ten cities of India as far as quality of life goes (Outlook) and now, all set to become tghe first city from Asia to feature on the lit of World Modern Heritage cities. That's Chandigarh, winning …
Monumental follies cost crores
It's a race against time for the Archaeological survey of India. With the current financial year drawing to a close, ASI officials are on spending spree, fencing good old monuments like Jantar Mantar in Delhi to flooring crumbling buildings to meet March 31 deadline. "The ASI is suffering from a …
Deadly cocktail
Every gulp of mineral water you take could buy you death. The Pollution Monitoring Laboratory of the Centre for Science and Environment, Delhi has found that most mineral water brands in India contain residues of killer pesticides. Its scientists tested 17 major brands in Delhi and 13 in Mumbai and …
Corporation, government agencies lack testing facilities
The controversy over the high incidence of residual pesticide in bottled drinking water does not seem to have any ripple effect in the Chennai city, where the testing facilities available at Chennai Corporation and other agencies are a far cry from what is needed. The public analyst lab of the …
Heritage conservation body set up for State hill stations
The State Government has appointed a Heritage Conservation Committee for the hill stations of Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani giving them statutory heritage protection for non-archaeological sites. The hill stations are the fourth in the country to be bound by statutory heritage conservation rules, the others being Hyderabad, Pune and Mumbai.
CST is nominated for world heritage status
The Central Railway has once again petitioned Unesco to notify the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) in Mumbai as a world heritage site. It sent a formal application to this effect to the Unesco's world heritage committee last month, well before the February 1 UN deadline for receiving listing proposals for …
Pesticide- free bottled water must from April 1 : Swaraj
Packaged drinking water manufacturers will need to ensure pesticide-free water from April 1 as the government has decided to impose the stringent European Union standards for testing, Union health minister Sushma Swaraj said.
Heritage committee set up for Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani
The Maharashtra government has just appointed a heritage committee for the hill stations of Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani. The committee, which was constituted on January 20, will be headed by Ravindra Surve, a retired IAS officer. The committee's role will be to administer the heritage list and heritage regulations drawn up …
Archaeology team off to Afghanistan
The National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (Japan) will send a research team to Afghanistan's Bamiyan Valley to check its underground archaeological remains with radar, the government-affiliated institute said. Having been commissioned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the team will leave Saturday for a stay of about one month.
Redeeming a toxic hotspot
The Kalamassery-Eloor industrial belt has become the bane of Kochi when the city goosesteps into a new era of development with the Vallarpadam project, Goshree bridges, seaport-airport highway, IT and ITES parks etc. Horrifying tales of sufferings of residents due to pollution of land, air and water bodies are pouring …
