No forest fires in HP reported
Frequent rain over the past month have provided relief to the Forest Department which was expecting a high incidence of forest fires in view of the prolonged dry spell. Will very little snow and rain during winter, the forests had virtually become a tender box. In fact, fires had started …
Scam in Forest Dept alleged
Thee Janglat Forest Workers Union, Punjab, claims to have exposed a forest scam involving misappropriation of more than Rs 4 crore in the Pathankot forest division during 2000-2001. Chief adviser Modh Singh Ghuman, former DEO of the department, said today that the Divisional Forest Officer, Pathankot, and forest range officers …
Villagers lock up forest dept office
The villagers of Dharwad and Kalghatgi taluks in Dharwad district locked up the office of the divisional forest officer on Thursday, protesting against the demolition of houses constructed on forest land and thereby the damage that the crops suffered at Kivade Bail village in Dharwad taluk in Karnataka.
RSV 8.86 cr released for wasteland development
The Centre has released RSV 8.86 crore to seven states for development of wasteland. This is the first installment of funds in 2001-02 fiscal issued by the rural development ministry under the integrated wasteland development programme (IWDP). This will be spend tin 19 districts of seven states through the district …
One held, 70 kg sandal seized
Two policemen on the beat caught one of the four miscreants who were trying to steal a sandalwood tree in the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) premises sin the wee hours today and seized 70 kg of sandalwood. The two policemen-Head Constable Dakshinamurthy and Constable Krishamurthy-were on their routine patrol …
Govt denies report on Mahakali dam
Nepal's Ministry of Water Resources has expressed surprise over the recent protests carried out by various left forces and denied reports that the Indian government is unilaterally constructing a dam on the Mahakali river in Purnagiri area in far-western Nepal.
All-party meet on Pulichintala soon
The Government will convene an all-party meeting in a couple of days to discuss Pulichintala and other pending irrigation projects in Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao, Minister for Agriculture and Horticulture, has said. The Minister said on Wednesday, the Pulichintala project was being unnecessarily opposed by those who were …
India, Australia to set up group on hydro-power
In an effort to increase cooperation in hydro-power between India and Australia, the two countries have decided to set up a joint working group under the Indo-Austrian joint economic commission. The decision was taken during discussions between Power Minister Suresh Prabhu, who is currently on a visit to Austria, and …
Rival seals of approval spark duel
Environmentalists trying to save endangered forests are squaring off against the timber industry over dueling seals of approval for timber. Many environmentalists dreamed of the day when consumers shopping for "green" lumber would be able to seek out wood with a logo from the Forest Stewardship Council, an international accrediting …
Minister reviews Koldam Hydro Electric Project
The Minister of State for Power, Jayawanti Mehta has said that an annual power generation exceeding 3,000 gwh in a 90 per cent dependable year will be provided by the Koldam Hydro Electric Project (HEP) when complete. She added that the project would also enhance the life of the Bhakra …
AP halts canal work as goodwill gesture to Karnataka
In an inter-State goodwill gesture shown to Karnataka, the Andhra Pradesh Government has stopped the digging of a canal undertaken by villagers at Bydegeri in Madakasira area of Anantapur district under the Neeru-Meeru programme which, according to a statement issued by the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr. S.M. Krishna, will …
Eco-lables undercut wood exports
Indonesia's furniture and handicraft makers are anxious about eco-labeling imposed on wood products by many developed countries. An eco label is a form of certification that was implemented to ensure that wood used in manufacturing comes from sustainable forest resources.
8.6% area under tree cover
Despite natural forests covering only 2.61 per cent of Haryana, the state has achieved substantial level of afforestation by bringing 8.6 per cent area under tree cover, an official press note stated here today. This has found by the Forests Survey of India. Acacia-Nilotica, eucalyptus and Dalbergia-Sissoo constituted more than …
Insects invade sal forests in Uttaranchal
As many as a 100,000 sal trees have been ravaged by an epidemic caused by an insect attack covering 21,000 hectares of Sal Forests in Uttaranchal. Nationwide, the figure is believed to be as much as 30 lakhs.
Wood worth Tk 36 lakh burnt in kilns everyday
About 70,000 maunds of wood valued at Taka 36,00,000 as fuel is being used everyday in 250 brick fields of Tangail district of Bangladesh. Trees valued at Taka 10 crores are burnt in kilns everyday as it is less costly than coal for burning bricks, according to some brick field …
A-G rules in state's favour on hump issue
The Gujarat Government claimed here on Thursday that the attorney-general of India has given his legal opinion on the controversial three-metre hump to be built on Narmada dam in state's favour. However, top Narmada Nigam sources said that despite the "positive opinion" over the hump, so essential for pre-empting any …
GM gives $10 million for endangered Brazil forest
General Motors Corp., the world's largest automaker, will donate $10 million to restore and protect an endangered tract of Atlantic Coast rain forest in Brazil, an environmental group said yesterday. The Nature Conservancy said it was the largest ever contribution to preserving forests by a major industrial corporation.
