Switchover jitters

on march 28, 2003, the Calcutta High Court passed an order which, if implemented, would make Kolkata the country's only city with 100 per cent Bharat Stage-ii compliance (equivalent to Euro-ii).

Bangalore lakes get a refill

While most of Bangalore is anxious to see the heavens open, the city's Lake Development Authority (lda) must be thanking its lucky stars that the monsoon is delayed. For if the rains had lashed the region on June 5 -- as forecast by the India Meteorology Department -- they would have put a damper on an ongoing project to revive 60 waterbodies in Karnataka's capital.

Oil company seeks legal nod to barge into marine park

How can one conserve a wildlife sanctuary better? By flagrantly trespassing on one part of it. Then picking up the tab for planting trees on another in recompense. This is precisely the logic underlying a petition filed by Essar Oil Limited in the Supreme Court (sc). The case, scheduled to be heard next on July 7, 2003, may have a bearing on protected areas across the country.

Left unaddressed

in compliance with a Supreme Court (sc) directive, thousands of 'illegal squatters' along railway tracks around Rabindra Sarobar (lake) in south Kolkata will be evicted soon. The clearing up campaign will be similar to the West Bengal government's 'Operation Sunshine' -- the much-publicised drive to remove hawkers from Kolkata's pavements.

Jaya-baalu feud

The battle between the Union minister of environment and forests, T R Baalu, and Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa over an amendment to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification has taken a fresh twist.

Coke in hot water

The Kerala High Court has ordered status quo to be maintained on the cancellation of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Limited's licence to operate its bottling plant at Plachimada in Kerala. The licence had been cancelled by the Perumatty gram panchayat in Palakkad district of Kerala, following complaints that the company was creating water scarcity in the area by overexploiting groundwater.

Victory for Bangla arsenic victims

Victims of arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh have won their first victory. The High Court in London confirmed that the British Geological Survey (bgs) has a reasonable case to answer and that the victims have a realistic prospect of success in their pursuit of claims. The court decided that the litigation raised a novel point in law and could not be summarily dismissed at a preliminary hearing.

Fancy dress?

these days bioceramic health products are the rage in Kerala. The markets are flooded with bioceramic t-shirts, vests, briefs, shoes, sandals, necklaces, bed-sheets and facial masks that are supposed to emit far infrared rays. The propagators of these products claim that they can cure all sorts of ailments -- from backaches to cancer.

Avoiding harm - how simple a duty is it?

THE London High Court judgement on arsenic poisoning cases in Bangladesh (see: Far-reaching verdict; see also: Hoping for relief, April 30, 2003) explicity clears the way for affected people to claim compensation. Implicity, it raises other issues of far-reaching consequence.

High court overruled

The Supreme Court has stayed a decision of the Himachal Pradesh High Court permitting a family to cut hundreds of deodar and kail trees on their private forest land. A bench comprising Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice H K Sema granted the stay in response to the Himachal government's appeal against the high court order.