When homemakers unite

Every once in a way, one comes across an instance that reestablishes faith in the tools of the establishment. Take the case of the Behala public interest litigation (pil), for example. About a hundred housewives from Behala, situated in the southern part of the city of Kolkata, approached the green bench of the High Court of Calcutta in February 1997.

Succour for Sukruli

the people of Sukruli block in Mayurbhanj district, Orissa, can heave a sigh of relief. A division bench of the Orissa High Court (hc) recently directed Shiv Shakti Sponge Iron Limited (sssil) to install effective pollution preventive mechanism as prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board (cpcb).

Junkedat last

Finally the government has decided to scrap the much-hyped Timarpur plant which had become a white elephant. The move has been hailed by environmentalists, who have criticised the project for more than two decades. "Such a plant should not have been commissioned in the first place. It reflects the dark side of burn technologies.

TURN DOWN VOLUME

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has frowned upon the decibel din in the state. Acting on a petition, the court has issued notices to the state chief secretary and the state pollution control board for strict enforcement of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to reduce noise pollution caused by excessive use of loudspeakers, particularly during examination time. The petitioner had contended that the prescribed noise limits were being violated in religious places at unearthly hours.

When modern wisdom fails...

Bangalore's tree court was the first of its kind in the country. It was set up in 1994 at the initiative of an enthusiastic deputy conservator of forests (dcf), C Jayaram. Set up under the Karnataka Tree Preservation Act, 1976, the tree court would see trees of all shapes and sizes come to life in a wood-panelled conference room on the ninth floor of Karnataka's forest headquarters at Aranya Bhavan.

Real estate on water

Concrete drama Actsaid the court. The government did not. The realtors are at the deep end now

Unfit for office

when the Jharkhand High Court (hc) asked state pollution control board chairperson Balmukund Nath Shahdeo to assist it during the hearing of a pollution case relating to an industrial unit near Dhanbad, the official was blissfully ignorant of the matter.

Save the ridge

Delhi's green cover -- the Ridge -- has depleted by more than half in the last 10 years. Taking serious note of this situation, the Delhi High Court recently issued notices to concerned agencies of the Delhi government regarding its protection. These agencies, which include the office of the lieutenant governor of Delhi, the government of the national capital territory and Delhi Development Authority, will soon have to tell the court about the steps taken by them to preserve the green tract.

Construction Prohibited

In a significant decision, the Orissa High Court has banned all construction activity within a one-kilometre radius of Nandankanan, the wildlife sanctuary-turned zoo. The high court gave the judgement while responding to a public interest litigation which alleged that builders were not only offering plots around the park but had also started construction violating the Orissa Land Reforms Act and Forest Act. The petitioner said that the construction work would affect the ecology of the region.

Rogue illusionists

in a district where not toting a double-barrelled gun or revolver is considered a violation of the dress code, the word 'fraud' was redefined with astounding audacity.