In Short

 
Published: Saturday 31 December 2005

pongamia buses: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is running its 81 buses in Doddbalapur station (rural Bangalore), on a 10 per cent pongamia blend. These buses consume 6,000 litres of diesel, out of which 600 litres will be replaced with the biofuel. "We will convert all rural depots in taluk headquarters to a 10 per cent pongamia mix, in a phased manner," said Anand Rao, KSRTC Environmental Officer.

sc for ctr road: The Supreme Court has allowed for the construction of a new road through Uttar Pradesh (UP) avoiding Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) in Uttaranchal (UA). In July 2005, both UP and UA governments agreed on a new road alignment (See 'Road maze', Down To Earth, November 30, 2005). Later in August 2005, a joint survey by Project Tiger, UA and UP forest departments and Wildlife Protection Society of India found the new alignment would not harm the CTR but rather help connect nearby towns and villages.

us rejects bhopal claims: In a rude setback to the Bhopal Gas Tragedy victims, a US court dismissed a petition for compensation filed by Haseena Bi, a survivor, and several other non-governmental organisations. The case was filed against the Union Carbide Corporation. The court also dismissed a plea ordering the Union Carbide or Dow Chemicals to clean up the factory premises in Bhopal.

no river link: The Kerala government has decided not to support the proposed interlinking of Pampa Achenkovil-Vaipar rivers, under the national river linking project. Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan, water resources minister, says it would divert water from Kerala to Tamil Nadu, causing water shortage and environmental problems in Kerala and asked for a say in the water management fund by his ministry.

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