Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (August 26, 2020)
Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
Locust fears haunt Bihar’s farmers, experts downplay potential threat
There is a likely threat, but the possibility of locusts reaching the state are very less, say experts
SC directs Gujarat, Rajasthan to decentralise food procurement under ICDS
Tells states to keep big contractors out of nutrition programme for children, and pregnant and lactating women
More bite, less to chew
The most controversial aspect of the food security law is the restructuring of the public distribution system to cover an unprecedented 67 per …
Futile deadlines: Afforestation drive in 5 states along Ganga is over with just 22% of target being met
Experts have questioned as to whether the Ganga catchment area is really available for afforestation
NITI Aayog health index: Kerala maintains top spot
The worst-performing state in overall performance was Uttar Pradesh; Bihar, Madhya Pradesh performed marginally better
Population populism: UP bill should empower, not control people
Solution to population problem lies in ensuring socio-economic development by addressing issues of adolescent sexual and reproductive health, …
Serious flaws in the government’s population control policy
Women fall victim to failed sterilisation, while the government remains unaware of this missing link in population surge
Using tannery waste in fields turning soil toxic: study
Researchers studied soil and groundwater samples from farms irrigated by tannery effluents in and around Kanpur city in Uttar Pradesh
Meerut's air quality more threatening than Delhi; old vehicles, industries add to woes
Inner Meerut's PM 2.5 concentration peaked at 1470μg/m3 as against the safe limit of 60μg/m3
Orphaned by apathy
Hidden from the outside world, this is the plight of the Van Taungiyas. They were hired during the British rule as resident labourers to plant …
Graft claims in MGNREGA squeezing poor workers, millions unpaid for months
Zero funds to Bengal, Lakshadweep this year, Centre admits in Parliament; activists ask to use pre-existing mechanisms to handle graft
Agencies working towards making Haiderpur wetland in west UP a Ramsar site
Haidepur is significant as it supports rich biodiversity, offers livelihood opportunities for locals
Peninsular India may get locusts after 46 years. Blame the wind
The pests are being carried into the region by the southern branch of winds entering India north of the Western Ghats
Power plants in Singrauli-Sonebhadra region fail to manage ash: Analysis
Incidents of fly-ash breaches points to serious, unaddressed issue of unutilised fly-ash piling up in the region
Ganga speaks volumes on flawed govt plan, yet makes no poll ripples
Uttar Pradesh's rivers find no mention in election discourse despite clean-up projects being the keystone of the Centre
Ayodhya airport expansion and discharge of water from Coca-Cola factory put villagers in a fix
Villages drowning after rains due to airport expansion while polluted water destroying fields, allege locals
North India Deluge 2023: Yamuna breaches evacuation mark in Delhi; expert calls flood policy ‘absolute failure’
The Yamuna inundates parts of Delhi even with very little rain as it is silted and is not dredged, according to Gourishankar Ghosh
Farm laws repeal: Agri unions welcome move. But here’s why they won’t call off protest
The unions want minimum support price guarantee and the announcement to take effect through “due parliamentary procedures”
Meat Matters
Why slaughterhouses have to be "illegal" to be sustainable and why farmers have to give up their cattle for survival
Lucknow’s waterbodies perish at the hands of unregulated construction
Land records of Lucknow Nagar Nigam state the city has 964 tanks and ponds, a majority of which are unidentifiable due to reclamation
Nepal earthquake: death toll crosses 3,600
The toll may further rise as bodies are still feared trapped under the rubble. US, UK and India offer financial aid to Nepal
Uttar Pradesh police opens fire on anti-Kanhar dam protestors
Tribal leader Akku Kharwar and eight others seriously injured in the firing in Sonbhadra district
Deadlocked in Aligarh
On the one hand: potholed roads, poor sewage systems, numerous small scale industries, nightmarish working conditions. On the other: clueless …
Kharif sowing period almost over, but huge deficit for paddy and pulses
Jharkhand most affected due to delayed monsoon 2022; Soyabean, millet see increase