An evening in Paris
Over two weeks and two extra days, the Paris climate conference delivered everything the world expected. Impassioned speeches. Hectic, sleep-…
Court Digest: Major environment hearings of the week (September 23-27)
Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal through the week&…
Whither the National Green Tribunal?
Instead of giving financial and administrative support to the NGT, efforts are usually directed towards diluting its powers, defeating the very …
What is MoEF&CC’s compliance module for environmental clearance all about?
The latest notification by the ministry is a step forward in streamlining the process; but some gaps remain
Implement the Biological Diversity Act in its true spirit
It is high time the Centre and states did so. It would save India from a number of avoidable problems
Power producers want government to relax norms for thermal power plants
The new norms announced late last year by the environment ministry have made domestic power producers anxious
Here is a 5-step guide for making your daily life plastic-free
Plastic is so ubiquotous in our lives that one should start on a small scale in the beginning
India’s forest cover goes up by nearly 3% this decade; but all is not well
'Very dense forests', which absorb maximum carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, increased by a mere 1.14 % between 2017 and 2019, according …
Bhupender Yadav releases DTE’s State of India’s Environment 2022
Climate change, desertification and the sustainability-affordability linkage three extremely critical issues facing India today
License to pollute : Inefficient Kota thermal power station allowed to function by Rajasthan
Earlier, the government was planning to retire two units of the plant June 30. However, protests by local politicians and the employees …
MoEF&CC takes back advisory to avoid honeycombing of forest land under FRA
An official from the environment ministry says the advisory was withdrawn as there is no provision under the Forest Rights Act to club land together
Rules to implement Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act to be finalised by January 3
The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act was passed to restore forest cover which was lost due to diversion of forest land
Environment ministry order bans use of plastic packaging for tobacco, gutkha
The ministry passed its order after the companies failed to adhere to the Supreme Court directive asking them to adhere to the new Plastic Waste …
Parliamentary panel underlines lack of quality data on air pollution in smaller cities
Panel suggested prioritising funds to install systems for monitoring air quality in smaller cities and towns; called for transparency in …
States with more than 75% forest cover won't have to divert revenue land
Forest Advisory Committee decided this while suggesting that instead states with deficient green land should divert their non-forest land …
MoEF&CC issues recommendations to improve environment clearance and monitoring process
The recommendations come after an audit report found delays in all stages of impact assessment and highlighted other gaps
New FCA rules not in compliance with FRA, endanger rights of tribals and forest dwellers
The new Forest Conservation Rules, 2022 were notified June 28 and will be put before both Houses of Parliament in the current session for approval
Why Union Budget 2022-23 is not good in environmental terms
By slashing allocation for environmental organisations, regulatory boards and introducing infrastructure development schemes, the Centre has sent …
Tribal affairs ministry constitutes committee on CFR guidelines under FRA
It was doing this as there had been no progress reported by states in recognising habitat rights despite its repeated clarifications
Can plastics be good?
Though plastics are harmful for the environment, a few interesting initiatives across India hold promise
Top committee for diverting forests recommends penalties for violating projects
The Forest Advisory Committee has said the environment ministry imposes “inconsistent and arbitrary" penalties
After Dave, what does future hold for GM Mustard?
The new Environment Minister has to respond to allegations that the entire process of approving GM Mustard was unscientific
Here’s why Centre’s new SOP may damage Environment Impact Assessment regime
MoEF&CC’s new guidelines no deterrent; rather, they send a message to violators to ‘pay their way through’
Draft EIA notification 2020: Is it contra legem to international conventions, judicial verdicts
The draft Environment Impact Assessment notification aims to set aside several essential provisions such as public consultation, and plans to …
New mining leases deemed to have all approvals for 2 years: Environment ministry
New lessee will take on water, air, forest rights and other liabilities from the previous lessee
