For the love of butterflies

“One sunny morning, as I was wandering about alone, my heart leapt when an Oakleaf came and settled on the path a few feet away. I dashed back to the house, grabbed the nearest net and ran back.... The net billowed as I swung it, but at the last moment, it struck a stone on the path. There was a flash of orange and blue as the Oakleaf made off, and I was left with the net.

Ganga saga part II: redesign dams, not rivers

Engineers require re-training, not the Ganga. This is where I had left our conversation last fortnight. Why did I say this? The inter-ministerial committee I participated in as a member was discussing how much the ecological flow—the water that should be left in the river for ecosystem and livelihood purposes—should be at all times. How much water is needed for the river to be a river; and not a drain?

Letters - February 28, 2013

Hello Lantana

On wrong trek

Serene natural beauty, lush green forests, crystal clear springs and stars twinkling through the night—these are sights that attract trekkers to Uttarakhand’s mountains. The beauty of the area was in our minds too when we planned a trek to Roopkund. The glacial lake 4,200 metres above sea level is famous as the site where a Nanda Devi game reserve ranger discovered more than 500 skeletons in 1942.

Call of the phantom

Web unravels

Let solar shine

Redemption from litter

Industry shadow on forest panel

THREE days after protests by environmentalists, a non-official member of the newly-constituted Forest Advisory Committee (FAC), accused of having conflict of interest, has resigned. The committee, under the Union environment ministry, grants clearances for diversion of forestland for non-forest purposes.

The rift valley