Water levels up in Maharashtra
The water level in several big, medium and small irrigation dams in Maharashtra has increased considerably following heavy rainfall during the last month. The water stock in big dams of the Irrigation Department, which was 1,490 MTM earlier, has increased to 4,002 MTM.
DDA 'beautifies park with 'dry' water bodies
The Delhi government Authority appears to be putting the cart before the horse, when it concerns water. It has in its jurisdiction parks, fountains and even a lake, but all sans water. Take the district park in Hauz Khas which is the largest one built by the horticulture department of …
Heights of concern
The Narmada Bachao Andolan's attempt to challenge the Narmada Control Authority's decision to raise the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam to 95 metres suffers a setback in the Supreme Court. The NBA says in its petition that temporary submergence can destroy standing crops and wash away houses with all …
Buildings preferred to relocate slum dwellers
After weighing two separate proposals by MHADA and MMRDA to rehabilitate slum dwellers on salt pan land, the state government seemed more inclined towards the MHADA plan which envisages the construction of multi-storey structures.
Slums could be increased to the height of 14 feet
Maharashtra government has empowered the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to permit slum dwellers to raise their dwellings to the height of 14 feet as part of the slum dwellers welfare programme undertaken by the authorities.
'Rs 1,000 cr for rural water supply'
The Karnataka State Government plans to spend over Rs 1,000 crore on rural water supply and sanitation and Rs 600 crore on watershed management, Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary B S Patil told this paper on Wednesday. These projects are financed by World Bank and NABARD, he added.
Urban reforms fund to start by August
The Urban reforms incentive fund announced in the budget for 2002-03 is all set to roll, with the government having finalised the modalities for disbursing the Rs 500 crore allocation for this fiscal. Allocation of funds is expected to start by August.
Implementation of pollution tax delayed
The Nepal government has suffered a loss of some 180 million rupees in the last three years as it had failed to give its decision to levy pollution tax in the consumption of every litre of fuel in the Kathmandu Valley. The government had decided to levy 50 paisa per …
15-yr-old vehicles to pay 'green levy' in Hyderabad
In a drastic move aimed at checking increasing air pollution, in the Andhra Pradesh State Capital Hyderabad, the State Cabinet on Monday decided to phase out more than 15-year-old vehicles from the crowded city roads. But instead of resorting to coercive method of refusing to reregister two-wheelers, three-wheelers and four-wheelers, …
UP govt to promote water tourism
The UP government with the assistance of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the ministry of shipping plans to promote water tourism in the state. A beginning was made today by executing a Memorandum of Understanding between the Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (UPSTDC) and the Delhi …
MCD to tap technology to solve water crisis
Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has developed a 'decentralised water and sewage treatment system' to solve the twin problems of water shortage and drainage. MCD officials point out that the sewers in most areas in the Capital are joined with storm water drains which eventually empty into the Yamuna. SO, …
Rs 300 crore World Bank aid for tourism in Chhattisgarh
The World Bank has cleared in principle Rs 300 crore assistance to Chhattisgarh for developing ecological tourism. "The World Bank has decided to sanction a Rs 300 crore assistance and a team of the Bank officials will soon visit the state," said R C Sharma, chief forest conservator of Chhattisgarh.
Himachal allows all residents to buy rural land for housing
In a significant move which is likely to have far-reaching ramifications for the state, the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet today approved a proposal relating to an amendment in the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act-1972, allowing non-agriculturists Himachalis and other bonafide residents to purchase 500 sq mts of land in …
135 spots may be waterlogged
Despite the Delhi Municipal Corporation's (MCD) target to desilt storm water drains by June 15, some areas are still likely to face a waterlogged, chaotic monsoon. These areas either don't have the drains at all, or if they do, they are old and damaged. Last year, state urban development minister …
Satellite township will help ease pressure on city
Guwahati is growing, its population is also burgeoning, every passing day. Once a sleepy town of only a few lakh people it has now become a noisy city of about two million inhabitants. In a seminar on citizens' participation in the development of Guwahati some speakers were of the opinion …
Computer waste poses threat to Asia
Potentially toxic computer waste from the US is threatening the environmental health of China and other Asian countries, a Chinese environmental official said Friday. Wang Jirong, a deputy director of the Environmental Protection Administration, urged the US to join other developed countries that have already banned such exports. The report …
'Master Plan should follow the Metro'
With Delhi's population expected to nearly double to 24 million in the next two decades, experts in the field of transport believe that the Master Plan being drawn up now for 2021 should ensure growth of commercial and residential areas around major transport corridors to check chaos on the roads …
BMP begins desilting of drains on war-footing
The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, which commenced the mammoth task of desilting major storm water drains in Bangalore on Tuesday, intends to complete the exercise by June 30 at a cost of Rs 1.72 crore. The BMP plans to remove 2,15,290 cubic metre of silt over a length of 41.57 kms.
HC orders status quo on MMRDA contracts
The Bombay High Court ordered status quo on the process of giving contracts in the second bid for Mumbai Metrolopolitian Region Development Authority's (MMRDA)'s project on construction of tenements for slum housing. The case will be heard when the court reopens next month.
