Environmental Issues

Plea seeks urgent directions against cross-breeding The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Union government to respond to a petition to restrict the import of exotic bulls to prevent cross-breeding, which has led to the depletion of indigenous cows, and immediate shutdown of unauthorised slaughter houses. A Bench of Justices …

Five reptiles, fitted with radio transmitters, released into Satkosia gorge of Mahanadi Odisha has renewed its effort to revive the population of gharials, a “critically endangered” species of crocodile, in their natural habitat by releasing five reptiles into the Satkosia gorge of Mahanadi — the southernmost limit of gharials’ home …

High waves forecast along coast The coastal areas in Kerala remained in a state of high alert for the second consecutive day on Saturday as high waves battered seawalls and groins and threatened to devour large tracts of land. The southwest monsoon drenched most parts of the State, leaving low-lying …

Scientists have used a new technique to wipe out a population of mosquito species on two islands in China. The results of the pilot trial, published in the journal Nature , show that combining incompatible and sterile insect techniques enabled near elimination of Aedes albopictus , or the Asian tiger …

Habitat destruction and hunting by humans are reasons for fall in numbers Mankind’s destruction of nature is driving species to the brink of extinction at an “unprecedented” rate, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) warned on Thursday, as it added more than 7,000 animals, fish and plants …

Floods drive rhinos out of Kaziranga park Kaziranga National Park (KNP)’s man-made highlands have turned into islands of relative safety for the park’s animals as large parts of Assam remain inundated by flood waters. Among the handful of species that have taken refuge in these patches of higher ground are …

Floodwaters showed a receding trend in Assam on Wednesday but left 10 people in five districts and three one-horned rhinos in the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) dead. Floods and rain-induced landslides have so far killed 30 people while 51 animals have either drowned in KNP or been killed by speeding …

Centre releases Rs. 251.52 crore as part-payment for relief and rescue operations Four people lost their lives and two one-horned rhinos drowned in Kaziranga National Park (KNP) on Tuesday as Assam continued to reel under floods and rain-induced landslides. The day also saw Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat …

Asks States to set up common treatment and disposal facilities, if not done yet The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed all States and Union Territories to furnish a report on the amount of biomedical waste generated and asked them to set up common treatment and disposal facilities, if not …

Restrains BMC from proceeding with the 29.2 km-long project The Bombay High Court on Tuesday set aside the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) clearances granted to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for the ambitious Rs. 14,000-crore coastal road project, saying there was “serious lacuna” in the decision-making process. Pointing out that …