News and Articles

Kerala's bill to penalise Coke - Relief and compensation for Plachimada factory victims
The Kerala government's decision to bring in a bill: Plachimada Coca-Cola Victims — Relief and Compensation Claims Special Tribunal in the State Assembly yesterday is certainly an epic decision. Posted on 01 Mar, 2011 02:39 PM

 'The Bill proposes to get compensation from the company and to form a tribunal to provide time-bound compensation. The tribunal is to have a chairman, a technical member and an administrative member'.

Temple fish sanctuaries: Last bastions of native fish and pristine river stretches - A report
Native freshwater fish in India are declining rapidly, due to destruction of habitats through hydrological modifications, pollution and unsustainable fishing practices. Posted on 01 Mar, 2011 12:56 PM



Temple Fish Sanctuaries: Last bastions of native fish and pristine river stretches

Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2011: Not the end of the road - An EPW paper
This article shows how the recent Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification 2011 fails to meet the demands of the fishing community and environmentalist groups. Posted on 01 Mar, 2011 11:59 AM

 It falls short of offering greater protection to the coastal ecosystem, recognising the inalienable right of fisherfolk to their habitats and providing them with representation in decision-making.

Alkaline soils: Characteristics and treatment - Ramnaresh
क्षारीय मृदाओं में विनियम योग्य सोडियम की मात्रा अधिक होती है, जिससे पौधों की बढ़वार में बाधा पहुंचती है। Posted on 28 Feb, 2011 12:33 PM

क्षारीय मृदाओं के लक्षण तथा सुधार 

Water consumption by forests - Chetan Pandit
I had asked a question about estimates of water consumption by forests, and this was published in IWP on 11February. Posted on 28 Feb, 2011 09:49 AM

Today is 22 February, 10 days afterwards, and there is not a single reply to it.

Steps to create awareness about rainwater harvesting and encouragement to states for implementation of rainwater harvesting projects - PIB release
The Parliament has been informed that the mean annual rainfall is 1,170 mm with wide regional variation. Posted on 25 Feb, 2011 10:41 AM

 Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on the average annual rainfall and rainwater harvesting, Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister of Water Resources, said that rain water is harvested through surface storages and recharge of ground water.The total storage capacity created through major and medium projects is around 225 BCM. The data on quantum of rainwater harvested through groundwater recharging is 433 BCM. Ministry of Water Resources does not maintain the data on quantum of water harvested due to manmade structures separately.It is estimated that the water utilized in 2010 is about 681 BCM.

Aerobic systems : A unique system of sewage treatment in septic tanks
With the fast paced development of urban areas and its spread, the municipalities are unable to provide either sewer lines or proper treatment of the sewage. Posted on 22 Feb, 2011 12:22 PM

This naturally results in two ill effects : (i) Increasing Pollution with untreated sewage and (ii) wasting of water, specially if it can be better treated and reused to an extent.

Supreme court judgement on common lands - Jagpal Singh versus State of Punjab (2011) - Guest post by Subbarao Prabhala
This Supreme Court judgement on common lands, is important for preservation of water bodies and 'lung spaces' Posted on 17 Feb, 2011 12:24 AM

It lays down in no uncertain terms the rights of citizens over the what in the West are called 'Commons' . Even the well-informed among us are not aware of their rights over such public spaces.

The Order states that :

Review needed on Krishna Water Tribunal analysis on Alamatti Dam to save the farmers from dangerous consequences
Computer calculations on the damaging impacts of raising Alamatti Dam indicate the potential to kill lakhs of people of Maharashtra, karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Posted on 15 Feb, 2011 11:57 AM

Prof.T.Shivaji Rao, Director, Center for Environmental Studies, Gitam University and former member of the Environmental Appraisal Committee of Union Government in 1990 when the Alamatti project was placed before the committee for clearance.

Activists arrested while protesting against dams on the river Mandakini - Press release by the MATU Jan Sangathan
Demonstrations and protests against the Singoli- Bhatwadi and Phata- Bhyung projects in Uttarakhand have been going on for many years. Posted on 14 Feb, 2011 02:17 PM

 

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