Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of In Re: News Item Titled "Neglected Katora Houz in Hyderabad’s Golconda Fort Cries for attention appearing in ‘The Siasat Daily’ dated 25 May 2025". The application was registered suo-motu based on the news item titled “Neglected Katora Houz in Hyderabad’s …
the European Commission ( ec ) is about to approve plans to clean up air quality. It plans to impose strict limits on benzene and carbon monoxide emissions. The new benchmarks will force European governments to curb benzene and carbon monoxide emissions from vehicles and industrial plants, said a senior …
The Australian government has launched a us $220 million rescue plan for the Great Artesian Basin, where water is increasingly getting depleted due to over- exploitation and wastage. The 1,71 1,000-square-km basin a vast, subterranean "dish" of sandstone laden with water and created more than 195 million years ago in …
The Delhi High Court has taken a serious note of the dumping of bodies of infants in the Yamuna. The bench of the court comprising justice Anil Dev and Justice M Mudgal were responding to a public interest litigation filedby litendra Sahani, a city resident. The petition sought to immediately …
THE axe may soon fall on the manufacturers of diesel vehicles in India. To curb the growing use of diesel in Delhi, the Environment Pollution (prevention) Control Authority (EPA) for the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT) may ban the registration of non-commercial vehicles in the NCT. This decision was …
In a desperate attempt to contain growing pollution, the authorities in Bangkok have decided to lease city services worth over US $1 billion to private companies. Bangkok is one of the most polluted cities of Asia. "The city has tremendous environmental problems which the public services simply cannot cope with …
POET Samuel Taylor Coleridge's comment on water - abundant and yet unfit for drinking - is a reality in many parts of the globe. Contamination of water is a universal problem.Unplanned urbanisation and industrialisation are the main culprits responsible for polluting water sources in many countries. There are ways out …
As per the orders of the Karnataka High Court, vehicles which do not conform to the standards of pollution control will not be allowed to enter Karnataka from 1 January, 1998. Giving the orders, Justice Saldanha lauded the efforts of the transport department to reduce pollution in the state, particularly …
The second phase of an anti-pollution drive was inaugurated in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to check emission of black smoke and other elements caused from motor vehicles. The department of environment has launched this long-awaited drive along with the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistracy and a number …
THE Ganga Action Plan (GAP) which began in 1986 has been attracting constant flak for the manner in which it has been implemented. Critics have pointed out basic flaws in the plan. The plan is ill-suited for Indian conditions, as most schemes are heavily dependent on a constant supply of …
KANPUR, the legendary Cawnpore of the British Raj, has been re-christened time and again in it's 300 years of existence. Better known as the "Industrial Graveyard" and the "Capital of Tuberculosis" in recent years, the World Health Organisation has added another feather in its cap by declaring it one of …
IN THE last few years, scientists have come up with a novel method to fight pollution called bioremediation, or using biological means to clean up polluted lands and water bodies. It usually involves plants that have been geneticaily-modified to absorb a certain pollutant. Though still in its infancy, bioremediation can …
• The DTC floats a tender for modern, commuter and environment-friendly urban buses. • Nine companies, including Volvo, Daewoo, Optaire and India's Ashok leyland and TElCO, bid. • The DTC selects UK-based Optaire and Sweden's Volvo. • These buses give 3.2 kilometres to the litre with 110 passengers. DTC's exist- …
THE Delhi Transport Corporation's (DTC's) ambitious plan to replace its ancient, polluting and gas-guzzling fleet with new low-emission and commuter-friendly buses has gone haywire. Irked by the DTC's decision to buy the buses from European companies, two Indian bus manufacturers lobbied intensely against the deal. It was not long before …
Japanese scientists have developed a new fuel treatment that could reduce emissions from truck diesel engines. The technology could allow vehicle manufacturers to meet new emission standards After 18 years of work the researchers perfected the liquid treatment, called Soltron. The US firm Solpower, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, has acquired …
INDIA'S industrialists are yet to understand the basics of the 'polluter-pays' principle. They are only learning the hard way. The lesson is simple: while you can bluff, cheat and bribe pollution control authorities of the state governments, the courts and the civil society are a different kettle of fish. Ask …
A reduction in pollution from vehicular emissions in Europe from 2005 seems more plausible now. The deadlock between the European Union (EU), oil producers and European car manufacturers over reduction in vehicular pollution has been resolved. Down to Earth (Vol 7, No 9, Sept 30,1998) had reported in the story …
The Delhi high court has asked the ministry of environment, Central Pollution Control Board and other concerned departments to reply to a petition filed against dumping of fly ash in the capital. The court issued the notices in response to a writ petition filed by judicial activist B L Wadhera. …
SILENCE OF THE SCAMS Corruption is increasingly tightening its grip over the daily lives of Indian citizens. Experts describe it as a form of 'tidal corruption'. It has, therefore, become vital to shift attention from the corrupt to the system which breeds corruption The silence is deafening. The corrupt observe …
A lot of trees are planted on paper and forests are created on government files. Between 1980-81 and 1988-89, the government claimed that some 24 billion trees had been planted under afforestation programmes on private and public lands at an expense of over Rs 3,000 crore. In other words, taking …
The sandalwood policy of the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments have created just the right environment for corruption to thrive. It involves major kickbacks for all those involved, it leads to scarcity of the raw material and promotes black market trade. The powerful and the corrupt corner the bulk of …
