Green justice: up in smoke?
Aided by officialdom and politicos, polluting industries seem well cushioned against thunderous court orders
Watershed ruling on Narmada
The Supreme Court has washed aside an ambiguous Review Committee Report and ordered fresh investigations
The red triangle
The government, the judiciary and the people have to take action together to stop environmental damage. Laws have to be enacted and cases taken …
Ban diesel
There is no such thing as safe diesel technology as of now. The only option, therefore, is to ban the manufacture of private diesel vehicles and …
Big tobacco comes under the hammer
A Miami jury slams unprecedented punitive damages on tobacco companies, who will appeal the verdict
Air pollution
Our cities and small towns are reeling under severe air pollution made worse by the government's muddled approach to air quality planning. Only a …
Up in smoke
US state governments misuse funds meant for curbing smoking; A US anti-tobacco negotiator quits
Rainwater rights
The government- NGO friction at Lava ka Baas has opened a Pandora's box water ownership, archaic laws and hopeful communities that want to hold …
Green laws
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY IN INDIA: CASES, MATERIALS AND STATUTES By Shyam Divan and Armin Rosencranz •Second edition • Published …
The Sherlock principle
When there is only one option left, it is the right answer: this was the Supreme Court's logic in the CNG order
Claiming water
The fundamental right to water intends to alleviate suffering. It fails miserably to meet its intention. Feel the lives of those who suffer and …
Sharks bear brunt of seasonal fishing frenzy
Even as the Andaman and Nicobar coast is witnessing the June-end whirl of shark fishing activity, the local administration and conservationists …
Orissa's stick is Chhattisgarh's carrot
orissa might well be at the receiving end of one of Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi's pre-poll sops meant to benefit his own states's …
What happened in Wayanad
It is not the first time that tribals of the Wayanad district in Kerala have rebelled against the state. In fact, the recent incident at the …
"Water is a national resource"
GOURISANKAR GHOSH, executive director, Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council, Geneva, Switzerland tells NIDHI JAMWAL that there …
"Even conventional sources of energy initially required government support"
Rakesh Bakshi, managing director, Vestas RRB India Limited, an Indo-Danish joint venture manufacturing wind electric generators, talks to …
Smoke laws first enacted in city of joy
Because of its political importance in the British empire, Calcutta was one of the first cities to regulate smoke emissions. But legislation …
A lot of smoke
While some commend the Delhi government's proposal to ban the sale of new two-wheelers fitted with two-stroke engines from January 2000, …
Lack of options
Neither improving diesel quality nor upgrading engine technology help to avert the threat posed by toxic particulate emissions from diesel …
The air is heavy
Particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone: Delhi's air is already overcast with a very high concentration of these pollutants. Exposure to …
Biodiversity in jeopardy
Tribals in Kerala are being forced to give away medicinal plants in repayment of their loans. In the process, biodiversity is being depleted
Reining it in
Chennai shores up its laws to curb groundwater depletion, with renewed emphasis on rainwater harvesting
New Hampshire battles against oil giants
New Hampshire has become the first state in the US to take on oil giants such as ExxonMobil and ChevronTexaco over widespread contamination of …
Bangalore lakes get a refill
While most of Bangalore is anxious to see the heavens open, the city's Lake Development Authority must be thanking its lucky stars that the …
Banning spam
The uk government has proposed a crackdown on the much-hated menace of e-mail spam. It intends to check those indulging in the insidious practice …