KINFRA tried to manipulate its way around CRZ rules, but failed: CAG

The Kerala state body tried to change the status of the land it acquired for a marine park near Kozhikode as it was 50 metres away from the seashore

Idea of regulating comfort for energy efficiency

First-ever push for thermal comfort standard for buildings shifts focus from only energy efficiency of mechanical cooling systems to thermal …

Discontinuous functions and environmental regulation

Environmental economics generally employs marginal logic. This is often useful for conceptual demonstrations even if not always literally …

India's only coastal protection system is being overhauled for economic interests

The recently released Draft Coastal Regulatory Zone, 2018, intends to replace the existing framework and further dilutes regulatory mechanisms …

Govt's reason for CRZ amendments: 'See and enjoy beauty of mighty seas'

The contentious new Coastal Regulation Zone notification gives precedence to economic developments over saving fragile ecosystems

Sailesh Nayak Committee report on coastal zone regulations released 18 months after submission

The report recommends several relaxations in a previous notification, aimed at boosting tourism and real estate

Coastal Management

Uneasy non-evolution: India has amended its coastal regulations 25 times over the past 19 years. Here are some samples. Scroll over the bubbles …

From Coke to Kokum

Recently a trend towards synthetic kokum has set in. This version is half as expensive as the natural one, has similar colour and fragrance. So …

New CRZ rules clear coast for realtors, may trigger disaster

The government put the Indian coastline at risk by not hearing stakeholders and deciding to open it for real estate industry

The beginning of the end of Andaman & Nicobar’s Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups

The Indian government’s recent removal of Restricted Area Permit from 29 islands in the archipelago reeks of avarice and tokenism, and …

Pesticide Management Bill 2020 must address important concerns

This is because agriculture in India is largely dependent on chemicals including pesticides and their usage has a huge impact on the health of …

Big agribusiness rushes to cash in on Fall Armyworm

As the pest spreads to Southeast Asia, big brands are coming up with pesticides; experts, however, advise caution

Why India needs to change the way it manages water resources

Most of the water planning and development in the country has been done as per administrative boundaries rather than by using river basins as the …

How to make invisible groundwater visible

Sustainable vision is key to balancing current needs and future demands

Coastal Regulation Zone Notification: What development are we clearing our coasts for

The Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2018, has diluted India's only protection system for the fragile ecology and opened it up to realtors …

In some places, you have to dig 130 feet down to get groundwater; that's how bad it is

With 44 per cent probability of below-normal monsoon this year, groundwater situation is likely to aggravate

Eco-sensitive regions could see flurry of construction activity as draft CRZ notification suggests

The new notification allows construction of hotels and beach resorts within 50 metres of the shorelines

Countries adopt Kigali amendment to phase down HFCs

As per the agreement, developed countries will reduce HFC use first, followed by China and then India

Simply put: Why pesticide

Why farmers remain uninformed about pesticides and their use

Manufacturers and state governments have done little to inform farmers about approved uses of pesticides and hazards of using illegal ones

Pesticides not just threaten bees, but also food production

Experts say 80 per cent of food production depends on pollination, but pesticides are affecting pollinators like bees

A win-win deal

The agreement to amend the Montreal Protocol for hydrofluorocarbon phase-down is a huge success for India

How technology can help save India’s groundwater

Technology-guided decision-making would help distinguish groundwater abuse and promote efficient use

Raging Bull: How the controversy over Jallikattu ended up saving the Pulikulam breed

The ban over Jallikattu and its subsequent lifting has made breeders in Tamil Nadu more conscious about conserving the cattle breed used in the …

Govt notifies groundwater rules, fails to address major concerns

There’s neither a limit on reusing water extracted by industries, nor is there any clause making them recharge groundwater sources