FAC gives final clearance to North Koel dam project in Jharkhand

The project will impact 15 villages in the Palamau Tiger Reserve, and the people have been protesting against the project

ISRO has realised Sarabhai’s vision of using space technology to help the common man

Wing Commander (retired) Rakesh Sharma recently completed 35 years of being the first Indian to have ever set foot in space. He talked to Down To Earth about the exhilarating moment, space exploration, humans as multi-planetary species, ISRO’s plan to send a humanoid to space and weaponisation of space in a four-part series. Here is the third one:

Elephant kills five in Odisha

The victims were asleep on their verandahs when the tusker trampled them

Saurashtra woes: Policy change on check dams leads to water deficit

In the 1990s, non-profits and farmers themselves built check dams; today, the government does it, without proper research or site selection

Taxing Renewable Energy Certificates — Yay or Nay?

Green power firms want GST on RECs removed. How justified is it?

Southern African countries won’t manage disasters unless they work together

 Of SADC’s 16-member states only Angola, Botswana, Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa contributed to the relief efforts after Cyclone Idai

What caused 41,000 lightning strikes across India on April 16?

Lightning strikes kill more people in India than any other extreme weather event but they go largely unnoticed

Request for diverting forest land in Saranda for Tata rejected

Forest Advisory Committee, which comes under MoEF, cited a lack of information as well as many inconsistencies in the proposal

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (April 18, 2019)

Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal

Bad news for grizzlies as berries ripening faster due to climate change

The bears need to feast on buffalo berries before they hibernate for the winter

Scientists develop salt tolerant rice variety

The variety can withstand salt concentration of up to 200 micromole per litre

Humans will leave Earth not to explore, but to exploit

Wing Commander (retired) Rakesh Sharma recently completed 35 years of being the first Indian to have ever set foot in space. He talked to Down To Earth about the exhilarating moment, space exploration, humans as multi-planetary species, ISRO’s plan to send a humanoid to space and weaponisation of space in a four-part series. Here is the second one:

Lactalis to milk more in India. Why that may worry some

French dairy giant has been in the news for allegedly cheating farmers back home, for its secretive business model and for the quality of its products

New cholesterol study may lead you to ask: Pass the eggs, or pass on the eggs?

A recent study examined the association between dietary cholesterol or egg consumption with cardiovascular disease and all causes of mortality

Odisha food commission stresses on FRA to beat hunger

Panel chief writes to all collectors to implement Forest Rights Act properly

Low vaccine coverage could be behind measles outbreaks: WHO

The world saw 300 per cent more cases in the first three months of 2019 compared to last year

Extensive amendment to forest law will dehumanise forests

The proposed amendment comes at a time when forest dwellers’ rights are being threatened even when there is FRA

Verbal screening can help diagnose cancer in resource-hit areas in absence of facilities

First-of-its-kind survey helps identify mouth cancer patients in Maharastra’s Gadchiroli district

Selective abortions killed 22.5 million female foetuses in China, India

Abortions lead to gender ratio distortions in 12 Asian and European countries

Notre-Dame de Paris: From searing emotion to the future rebirth of a World Heritage Site

Of all the historic monuments on earth, Notre-Dame de Paris is one of the “superstars”: its unique history, exceptional architecture and renowned artefacts attract millions of visitors to Paris.

Bengal's tea belt: 3 lakh voters, but nobody cares about elections

Tea garden workers in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and North Dinajpur, which go to polls on April 18, depend on Bhutan more than India for employment and water