@110 km/hr

Planners are yet to recognize the Sunderbans is increasingly vulnerable to rising sea level and intense cyclones. Despite the early warning, it …

IN SHORT

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (September 8, 2020)

Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal

South Asia

West Bengal transport minister calls cycle ban in Kolkata illegal

State government yet to revoke ban on non-motorised transport despite repeated protests, calls from civil society and advisory from Union …

Simmering discontent over tea

The newfound success of brand Darjeeling is fuelling suspicion between planters and workers. Sayantan Bera reports

Threadbare clothes, school drop outs due to lack of uniforms: West Bengal MGNREGA workers’ lives in tatters

Central government’s freeze on funds for rural employment scheme has completely degraded villagers’ living conditions

Hunger stalks government schools in West Bengal

Pilot survey under Project Dipankar in four prosperous districts shows 87 per cent class I students of government schools are undernourished

Food authority backtracks

Says milk adulterated but not unsafe for consumption

Return of bird flu in India raises alarm

No confirmation yet on whether virus is a mutant one

Roadmap for an effective environmental regime

Nivit Kumar Yadav reports on how different countries are tackling environmental pollution and the lessons in it for India

Stink in the leather belt

Calcutta Leather Complex has shifted from the heart of the city to the outskirts on Supreme Court order, but it fails to treat toxic effluent and …

Cyclone Amphan, returning migrants spark COVID-19 spread in rural Bengal

Close to 800,000 in flood shelters, with some already occupied by returning migrants

South Asia

COVID-19 pandemic takes toll on mental health of sexual minorities

People from the queer community take to social media to share experiences with depression, loneliness and stigmatisation

Indian companies' CDM projects pollute environment

Most clean projects cleared on face value and are based on tall claims

IN COURT

COVID-19, Cyclone Amphan show how sex workers remain at receiving end

People tend to believe ‘other’ bodies, particularly of specific caste, class and religion, to be the source of risks. The story, …

Locusts entering Bengal? Experts, govt officials say little chance

Last reported locust swarm in Bengal in 1965, says an expert

Stop passing the buck

Letters

Coal quandary

In a sweeping pronouncement, the Supreme Court has termed all the 218 coal blocks allocated since 1993 illegal. This has raised a fundamental …

Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance: A strong EC Act is still needed

The ordinance does not expressly define ‘extraordinary circumstances’: Such legislative ambiguity makes one question the entire …

Sand slips

Where there is a river, there is sand. Called a minor mineral, it fulfils a major requirement of the booming construction industry. No wonder, …

Natural highways

The aviation sector is struggling for survival, while roadways and railways are bleeding the treasury dry. Inland navigation is economical and …