Good Food is First Food. It is not junk food. It is the food that connects nature and nutrition with livelihoods. This food is good for our health; it comes from the rich biodiversity of our regions; it provides employment to people. Most importantly, cooking and eating give us pleasure. …
Environment minister Sudarshan Ghosh Dastidar today said sponge iron factories in the state had not responded to the government’s offer to undertake modernised projects for combating pollution. The 60-odd sponge iron factories are considered to be extremely polluting and have been accused of bypassing green norms. The minister was speaking …
The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests, present this two hundred and thirtieth report on steps taken by various sectors of the Indian economy to control pollution. The Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests decided to review measures taken and being taken by …
New Delhi: Authorities now face a jail term of five years for hazardous cleaning of septic tanks and sewers. The Cabinet on Thursday cleared a new legislation to end manual scavenging, with stiff penalties against the dehumanizing practice. The bill also proposes a rehabilitation package for scavengers. Agencies or families …
South Africa's leading gold miners are facing a potential lawsuit on behalf of thousands of workers who claim they contracted silicosis, a lung disease, through the companies' negligence. A South African lawyer filed the first papers on Tuesday against AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields and Harmony, in a preliminary step to …
In the wake of references being made to investigate the health issues of mine workers, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) proposes to establish a statutory authority. Cancer, tuberculosis, silicosis, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders and pulmonary function impairment such as asthma affect mine workers. The proposed authority will coordinate with …
Indian industry has one foot mired in outdated and unsustainable practices, while its other foot is poised for a leap forward. This dichotomy is clearly displayed in the environmental and operational health and safety practices of some of our heavy industry — the backbone of infrastructure and manufacturing growth. The …
Shillong: The Shillong bench of Gauhati High Court has sought a report from the state government on the recent coal mine tragedy in Garo Hills and also on the steps taken to ensure safety of miners in the State. Accepting a suo-moto PIL on the coal mine mishap, which reportedly …
The sanitation workers of Dehradun have become prone to health hazards as the practice of wearing masks and gloves is still not prevalent among them. The authorities concerned claim that the practise is not widely adopted by the sanitation workers as they are not habituated to this practice and feel …
The National Human Rights Commission has come down heavily on the Jharkhand government on the 22 documented silicosis deaths in the state, asking the Chief Secretary to explain why the families of the deceased should not be recommended for monetary compensation. The NHRC has noted that “the enforcement agencies of …
Calcutta, June 27: The Mamata Banerjee government will soon launch a drive to find out the number of people involved in manual scavenging and offer them alternatives, the move coming days after the Centre pulled up the state for its failure to curb the humiliating practice. Chief secretary Samar Ghosh …
New Delhi: Days after poisonous gas at a sewage treatment plant killed two labourers, two cleaners died inside a Rohini sewer on Wednesday morning. Shankar (40) and Manoj (19), reportedly inhaled poisonous gas while cleaning a sewer in Sector 3, Rohini. Police said the sewer is in Delhi Development Authority’s …
Indian steel companies are getting away with causing grave damage to the environment. They are not even adhering to the country’s already lax environmental laws – despite using large amounts of minerals, water and electricity. This was revealed in a report recently released by the Centre for Science and Environment, …
Says sector severely wanting in pollution & regulatory compliance The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a non-government organisation based here and promoting sustainable development, today exposed major inefficiencies in the performance of India’s iron and steel sector. In a detailed rating, which took two years to compile, of the …
KOLKATA, 4 JUNE: The Steel Authority of India (SAIL) plants of the state have ranked among the most polluting industries in a rating ~ Green Rating Project (GRP) ~ done by the New Delhi-based research and advocacy body, Centre for Science and Environment. The ratings were released in New Delhi …
The East corporation has decided to conduct free health check-up camps for its safai karamcharis, gardeners and nullah cleaners every week. The check-up camps will begin from June 9. “The health of safai karamcharis is a cause of concern. Their work requires them to be in unhygienic places. Due to …
New Delhi: Pressure is building up to treat manual scavenging on a par with crimes against dalits, to be tried under the atrocities law which lays down stringent punishment. The union social justice ministry has asked the home ministry for details of cases filed by states for manual scavenging under …
New Delhi:While the Centre plans stiff penal provisions for manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks, Delhi Commission for Safai Karamcharis (DCSK) has sought a complete ban on the same in Delhi by May 25. The Commission’s report called “Banning of manual sewer in Delhi” will be put before the …
No conviction under the old law in 19 years, says minister. Not a single person has been convicted under the anti-manual scavenging law that the country passed 19 years ago. This admission was made by none other than Mukul Wasnik, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, at a national workshop …
New Delhi: While the Central government is working on strengthening the existing Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrine Prohibition Act,1993, seeking to ensure rehabilitation of those engaged in such dehumanizing labour, activists say that thousands of manhole workers continue to work in inhuman conditions. MCD, DJB and …
New Delhi: Municipal corporation or state officials could face two years in jail or Rs 2 lakh fine for the familiar sight of bare torsos plumbing the depths of sewer tanks to clean the muck with their hands. The Centre proposes to ban ‘hazardous manual cleaning of sewers and septic …