Opening up, but tread softly
April 2003 saw two diverse regions in India take a similar decision. Both partially opened the door to tourism in hitherto protected belts. One …
Need or greed?
The Union Ministry of Finance has recently alleged that green clearances are holding up the country’s infrastructure development and growth.…
Private affairs
The invitation was innocuous. The Confederation of Indian Industry (cii) -- the grouping of the large and most powerful industries -- was …
Mining firms set up shop in Orissa
Lanjigarh block, Kalahandi, Orissa, May 17: At its summit, the northeastern ridge of the Niyamgiri hill range has a bald patch, typical of …
An evening in Paris
Over two weeks and two extra days, the Paris climate conference delivered everything the world expected. Impassioned speeches. Hectic, sleep-…
I was dropped because I stood for Western Ghats conservation: P T Thomas
P T Thomas, senior Indian National Congress leader and sitting Member of Parliament from Idukki Lok Sabha constituency, has been denied a ticket …
Gentle on critical pollution
After declaring 43 industrial areas in India as critically polluted and imposing a moratorium on their expansion, the Union Ministry of …
Deafening Noise
Constant exposure to noise can make one deaf. The major culprit is road traffic. Can one avoid noise? It’s difficult. Checking it, however, …
Polavaram fraud
The Polavaram dam on the Godavari could displace 400,000 people and submerge nearly 4,000 hectares of forestland. Most of the people threatened …
Lives of others
Wildlife is more of an academic concern except when the charismatic tiger is wiped out from a protected forest or our favourite fish vanishes …
The hunt for benefits
India is hailed as a pioneer in implementing the third objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity—fair and equitable sharing of …
Tribunal on trial
It has been four years since the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Act was passed by Parliament for effective and expeditious disposal of cases …
Lavasa exposed
By its looks, the place could be mistaken for Portofino, a fishing village-cum-resort in Italy—multi-coloured buildings crowd a waterfront …
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
Biomedical Waste Management in India: Still a looming concern
The seemingly endless stream of biomedical waste management in India has necessitated the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to …
Cabinet signs death warrant for green panels
In one fell swoop the Union ministry of environment and forests is preparing to disband several key committees set up under section 3 (iii) of …
Bureaucratic coup
Administrative officers wrest control of the environment ministry, relegating scientists to the sidelines
Court Digest: Major environment hearings of the week (October 27-30, 2020)
Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
Ease of doing business takes precedence over environmental and social concerns in project review process
The office memorandum has taken a very myopic view of any perceived delay in appraisal for environmental clearance
25 years of liberalisation and its impact on environment
Anil Madhav Dave, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, on 25 years of liberalisation and it's impact on environment
Forest ministry favours intrusion
The biggest threat protected areas across the country face right now is from their purported protector -- the Union ministry of environment and …
Pink bollworm resistant to Bt: Monsanto
Commercial interest behind claim, says Centre’s research institute
Mission impossible?
The sheer scope of the biodiversity action plan may militate against its successful implementation
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
Expert committee meets to review projects in violation and grant environment clearance
A notification by the environment ministry gave a chance for violating projects to apply for environment clearance