Indian Forest Service officials complain of anomalies in revised pay scales

They are the keepers of national wealth worth trillions of dollars, but feel their value has been undermined.

US presidential candidates' take on climate change

There are no more soft options on climate change. The two candidates running to be the future president of America realize this better than does George Bush, who even questioned the scientific basis of climate change.

RTI assessment

An 85-year-old lady was having problems getting her passport. She needed it to go and live with her children abroad. The status, the website showed, was delivered. Visits to the passport office yielded little results. "We helped her draft a right to information (rti) application. When the department concerned was informed of the application, she got the passport immediately,"

Villagers veto sale of grazing land to Mundra SEZ

Until a month ago the Adani Group, the proponent of Mundra sez in Kutch district of Gujarat, had been on a roll, buying land at dirt-cheap rates, though some in the political circle and real-estate market smelled a scam in it. Then something unprecedented happened. The people of Zarapara village near Mundra port revolted.

US undermines scientists in assessing chemicals

The politicization of uss Environmental Protection Agency (epa) has reached its acme. On April 10, the epa announced a new procedure to assess toxicity of chemicals. epa in its new avatar gives greater say to government agencies and corporate groups, and undermines scientists and public health professionals.

Will Indian generosity help Africa?

The two-day Africa summit in New Delhi last month opened a significant chapter in India's external affairs. Inaugurating the summit, attended by 14 African leaders, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced India would spend heavily on development projects in Africa.

Maharashtra, pollution board differ on Dow plant

On March 28, following a high-powered state committee's report clearing the project, Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh gave Dow Chemical International Pvt Ltd's proposed research and development (r&d) centre in Shendi village near Pune the go-ahead to begin construction.

States may get back CAMPA money

On March 13, a bill to increase the country's green cover received the union cabinet's approval. Rs 6,000 crore collected by the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (campa), a body appointed by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests on the Supreme Court's directions, will finally be used if the bill receives the parliament's approval.

Bangladesh wants hybrid paddy, experts wary

Farmers in Bangladesh, an agriculture-driven economy, are in for an era of dependency on hybrid seeds. Following a large-scale destruction of the country's paddy crops in the previous season, the government has decided to promote hybrid rice in a big way. Farmers growing hybrid varieties cannot use inbred seeds from their crop for the next season, unlike traditional rice varieties.

ONGC to resume mining in Nagaland

In 1994, the Nagaland government asked the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ongc) to shut shop in the state. Pressure from local people and militant groups had a big role in the decision. The country's largest crude oil producer is now set to resume operations in the north eastern state. It has signed a lease with the Nagaland government to revive petroleum mining in Changpang village in Wokha district.