MoEF finally gets unit dedicated only to the Himalayas
Division was formally announced in September 2011 by the environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan
All about the new land acquisition Bill
Proposed law will replace the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 and unlike the British-era Act it provides for rehabilitation and resettlement as well
Another poll sop: MGNREGS wage to be hiked from April 1
Move was preceded by series of initiatives to woo rural voters; these include money to construct toilets and insurance benefits
Kerala government gives go-ahead to Athirappally hydel power project
Decision elicits angry response from a cross-section of society
Supreme Court stalls Centre’s plan to reintroduce cheetahs in India
Project to bring African cheetahs in Kuno-Palpur sanctuary was initiated in 2010
India takes a step ahead on nuclear transparency
To introduce an independent nuclear regulatory authority
Centre launches awareness campaign for MGNREGA
'Kaam Mango Abhiyan' aims to popularise the ambitious flagship programme of the UPA government
Poverty line delinked from food and other entitlements given to the poor
Government to wait for results of socio-economic caste census to decide parameters on who should be covered under social welfare programmes
Jairam Ramesh proposes making rural job scheme less labour-intensive
Revised MGNREGS guidelines to be finalised end of this week
Ban on construction work at Maheshwar dam lifted
This despite Jairam Ramesh himself accepted rehabilitation was slow
Bamboo a minor forest produce: Ramesh
Forest departments had been refusing the control over bamboo by forest dwellers
Infant deaths continue in Attappady
As advisor to prime minister visits the tribal block panchayat, activists demand special care for pregnant adivasi women
Environment ministry backtracks on ban on tiger tourism
Will file an affidavit in Supreme Court, seeking review of guidelines that call for phasing out tourism from core tiger habitats
Socio-economic caste census: only 4 states, UTs complete survey
Union rural development minister, Jairam Ramesh, asks all states to sort out inconsistencies in preliminary data
Centre launches bio-toilets to curb open defecation
Around 100,000 toilets to be built in next two years in 300 gram panchayats
Jharkhand proposes MGNREGA worker unions
Work demand under the rural employment programme is decreasing in the state
A march to highlight land struggles in India
Beginning October 2, activists will cover 75,000 km in a year
Socio Economic and Caste Census could leave rightful claimants out of BPL list
Activists point out several drawbacks in the inclusion and deprivation criteria
Undone by rampant mining, illegal buildings
Uttarakhand government has made no attempt to enforce mining and building regulations in the state, which exacerbated flood's impacts
Two Andhra villages get bamboo rights
The gram panchayat can earn up to Rs 1 crore a year, says Jairam Ramesh
Non-profits organise conference to draw up a national river charter
Former environment minister, Jairam Ramesh, criticises Modi government for diluting environment regulations
Funds for social welfare cut drastically in revised budget estimates
Ministers write protest letters to prime minister and finance minister, saying it would greatly impact ongoing schemes
RTI activists’ murders: Jairam Ramesh demands prompt action, compensation to families
Rural development minister’s letter to Nitish Kumar includes four suggestions for better implementation of social welfare schemes
Another village, this time in Odisha, gets official permit to sell bamboo
Though Jamguda was conferred community forest right two years ago, it was not allowed to cart bamboo out or sell it in the market
New rules for coasts
Environment ministry notifies CRZ 2011. It has pro-builder bias, say fishers and activists