Towards wetland conservation

CHECK LAND SHARKS ASAD RAHMANI, director Bombay Natural History Society The Government of India should enact a wetland conservation act, on the lines of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. But it should also consider the views of people dependent on wetlands. Millions of acres of village, semi-urban and urban wetlands are controlled by gram panchayats or city administrators. Most often administrators have no interest in protecting them and succumb to land sharks easily. Many times, wetlands are “inspected” during peak summer, when they have no water, and allocated to land sharks as wastelands.

On the shelf?

Centre's intent on ambient air quality standards unclear India's national ambient air quality standards have hit a roadblock. Revised after 14 years and finalized in May, the standards await the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests' (moef) clearance. Looks like the clearance will

Will milk fortification benefit the poor?

Industry has come up with yet another method of tackling malnutrition in India. On March 12, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (gain), an industry association, invited members of Parliament, government officials and experts from dairy industry to discuss malnutrition. High on the agenda was fortification of milk with vitamin A.

Responses to <i>DTE</i> editorial 'No more kindergarten approach to climate change'

With global warming concerns peaking, China and India are being made villains. Historically climate-profligate nations are being let off the hook. Climate negotiations have struck a dead end In our May 31, 2007, editorial, "No more kindergarten approach to climate change," we argued that inequity and bad politics mar climate change negotiations. Readers responded. Here is a cross section of views

Science vs economics of cess on diesel

Anumita Roychowdhury's story on fuel efficiency ('The great guzzle's puzzle', Down To Earth, February 15, 2007) had Sacchidananda Mukherjee, Madras School of Economics, arguing against tax brakes on diesel cars. The author replied.

Tiger farming: India debates China experiment

Should NABARD regulate micro-finance?

The Micro Financial Sector (Development & Regulations) Bill 2007 has been under the scanner of late. The bill proposes to make the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (nabard) the regulator of micro-finance sector in the country. Until now, the Reserve Bank of India has been regulating financial organisations involved in collection of public deposits.

Private sector wants to adopt public health bodies

That health care facilities available to the poor are insufficient is common knowledge. According to a recent report of the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (assocham), 1,083 family welfare centres fail to provide health care to the 180 million urban poor, with the shortfall being more for curative care. But why is an industry body totting up health care figures. The report makes it clear why.

Job growth statistics conceal agrarian crisis

Should we feel comfortable with the latest government claim that unemployment is coming down? The government says unemployment has come down due to growth. During the 2006-07 budget, finance minister P Chidambaram reiterated that growth rate must go up further for unemployment to go down.

High court order on Delhi's monkeys gets mixed response

There appears to be no way to contain the simian menace. Monkeys continue to stray into densely populated areas; driving them out has become a challenging task. Mooting a solution, the Delhi High Court in February ordered the Delhi government, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the New Delhi Municipal Council and the Delhi Development Authority to shift monkeys to the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in the city.