More stars than sand grains
An Australian astronomer claimed to have completed the most accurate calculation ever of how many stars shine in the visible universe
Tigers roamed where factories stand today
This might come as a surprise to many, but the Ankleshwar and Bharuch region of Gujarat was once a lush green forest cover. Today, this region is best known for its high concentration of chemical factories, but almost 30 years ago tigers, leopards, wild dogs and the Indian bison roamed …
Delimitation panel awaiting 2001 census data
The Constituency Delimitation Commission was still awaiting the promised 2001 Census data from the Registrar General of India to proceed with its own work of delimitation of constituencies. The Commission Chairman Justice Kuldeep Singh told a Press conference on the conclusion of his interaction with the associate members of the …
Bihar Govt committed to giving land to landless
Bihar chief minister, Rabri Devi on Sunday announced that the Government would continue to distribute land among the landless across the State and ensure that the beneficiaries get actual possession of the land. She made the announcement while distributing 2133 acres of Government land among 17,093 landless people of six …
Slum dwellers to get ownership rights
All the slum-dwellers in Karnataka State (23,79,084 as per 2001 Census) will soon become the owners of the huts they have been residing in for decades. All for a mere registration fee of Rs 100. The Karnataka Slum Clearance Board (KSCB), the ministry of housing and the law department, have …
Golden Quadrilateral by Dec 04: Khanduri
The first phase of the four lane Golden Quadrilateral highway, connecting all the four corners of the country is scheduled to be completed by the end of year 2004, Minister for Road Transport and Highways B C Khanduri said. "The centre would be spending Rs 25,050 crore for the completion …
On the way out
The Maharashtra government has in principle decided to repeal the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act (ULCRA), 1976, and replace it with a fresh enactment that will apply solely to Mumbai, Pune and Thane. While some have welcomed it, others feel it is simply replacing one bad statute with another.
Eco-tourism camp in Sunderbans
An eco-tourism conservation camp along with an eco-museum, the first of its kind in the Sunderbans Reserve Forest area, will be inaugurated on 15 July by state forest minister Mr Yogesh Barman.
Centre seeks Cabinet nod on Urban Reforms Fund
To promote development of modern infrastructure in small and medium townships, the Union Government is seeking Cabinet approval of Urban Reforms Infrastructure Fund (URIF). This programme is part of two major initiatives introduced by Planning Commission KC Pant in the 10th Plan aimed at reducing intra State and inter-State disparities. …
Rising middle class anger puts plan for Taj Mall on hold
A world heritage site, the Taj Mahal is a 17th centuray Indo-Persian mausoleum built in honour of the wife of the Mogul Emperor Shah Jehan. Earlier this week Shri Jagmohan ministry of tourism put the shopping mall on hold following an unprecedented public outcry when the plan was divulged to …
State to have 20 new taluks by year-end
The Karnataka State Government has initiated steps to form 20 additional taluks by the end of this year, Revenue Minister H C Srikantaiah said. "Already Special Tahsildars have been appointed to 14 taluks in the state in view of the workload in these taluks and as a precursor to splitting …
Tourists to advocates
The idea of ecotourism being one of the ways in which a variety of ecological, economic and social ills can be resolved has been around for some time now. Unfortunately though, the desire to see quick and/or easy solutions to these problems all too often results in both the concept …
No mala fide in issuing CRZ notification: Baalu
"There can be no question of any mala fide, so far as Iam concerned in issuing the amendment to the coastal regulations, which are legislative and statutory in charater," Union Minister of Environment and Forests T R Baalu said in his counter-affidavit filed in the Madras High Court. The Tamil …
Krishna meets Kalam, Advani over cauvery
The river water dispute between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh has put a question mark on the ambitious national river water linking project proposed by the NDA government. Irked by the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister's alleged remarks urging the people of the state to stop the construction of Paragodu Tank by …
NCDC to take up development projects
National Cooperative Development Corporation(NCDC) would take up development projects to the tune of Rs 125 crore in Kerala State during the current financial year. This was announced at a meeting of NCDC held to review the functioning of the ongoing projects initiated by the Corporation and to take up new …
Kerala won`t allow linking its rivers with TN`s: Antony
Kerala would not allow under any circumstance implementation of the proposal to link Pampa and Achankovil rivers with the Vaipar in Tamil Nadu as part of the national river-grid project, Chief Minister A K Antony said in the state assembly. "Under the constitution, nobody can stake claim over the rivers …
Cong team discusses slums` relocation with Lyngdoh
A high level delegation of Delhi Congress led by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) President Choudhury Prem Singh and other senior leaders met Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) JM Lyngdoh on the issue of relocation of slums in the city. The delegation urged Mr Lyngdoh to …
Scarce water
Independent studies, conducted both nationally as well as internationally, have for the past decade been emphasising the desperate need to conserve water. In fact, so alarming has the situation become that a report prepared by the United Nations late last year predicted that the world would start running out of …
Pondy to cruise ahead in tourism
Pondicherry, bubbling with tourism activity these days is soon to have a Yard Marina of international standard on its sprawling seafront as part of the union territory's ambitious tourism promotion plans.
