Orissa PCB's report on Sukinda mine favours industries

South Asia

Kalabagh aborted: Pakistan's new government has decided to shelve the controversial Kalabagh dam project "once and for all" in the name of national reconciliation. The announcement follows the government's recent plans to save energy and end load-shedding by 2009. Addressing a press conference, Power Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said Sindh and North-West Frontier Province had passed resolutions against the dam and, therefore, its construction could endanger the federation. "For a strong and united federation, it is

COP-9 makes slow progress

the ninth meeting of the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity concluded on May 30 in Bonn, Germany, with measures to protect ecosystems. The Conference of Parties (cop), the governing body of the convention, agreed on regulating the international biofuel sector. It also passed a moratorium on ocean fertilization--dropping nutrients into the sea to boost CO2-absorbing algae--citing lack of scientific knowledge on its impact.

Gas crisis hits Bangladesh

the Bangladesh government is mulling over not giving out new gas connections as a measure to check the depleting supply in the country. The measure comes at a time when the demand of gas is increasing everyday in the country. "We have not stopped new connections. We are only rationing it because the gas pressure in the pipelines has reduced in many places," says a senior official

UK reneges on climate aid

civil society organizations have criticized the uk government of making a stealth cut to an 800-million (us $ 1,582-million) fund designed to help developing nations adapt to climate change. Prime Minister Gordon Brown launched the Environmental Transformation Fund (etf) in November 2007, which was then expected to make "direct grants" to countries experiencing extreme storms, droughts and sea level rise because of climate change.

Interview: Ravi Aggarwal on different aspects of chemical regulation

ravi aggarwal, director of ngo Toxic Links, has recently been conferred the who/ifcs (Chemical Safety) Special Recognition Award. He talks to arnab pratim dutta on different aspects of chemical regulation india: There is a hazardous waste law and a hazardous chemical law. But these don't cover how a

Mumbai geared for monsoon?

In Court

Gurgaon's water crisis: The Supreme Court on May 27 sought the environment ministry's and the Haryana government's response on a petition seeking ban on commercial and industrial activities in Gurgaon because these had led to a drinking water crisis. The petition, filed by resident welfare associations and the Citizen's Council of Gurgaon, an NGO, said industrial and commercial units operating illegally were depleting the groundwater table and polluting the environment. The groundwater table is sinking at 3 m

India gets ready with national plan on climate change

india's national action plan on climate change might see the light of day around June end. The news comes after some members of the prime minister's council on climate change reportedly critiqued another draft of the plan.

Feasibility study for Mumbai BRTS to begin soon

mumbai is gearing up for the bus rapid transit system (brts). An eight-month-long feasibility study will begin in June. Faced with an "unmanageable" private traffic, the city hopes public transport will be welcome change. Transport consultant Sudhir Badami says that between 1951 and 2001, the road length in Mumbai has increased by 127 per cent and motorized vehicles have grown by 3,019 per cent.