Environmental Issues

Reform agenda bearing fruit,says World Bank India jumped 23 ranks in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index 2018 to 77. In the 2017 report, the country was ranked 100. The Index ranks 190 countries based on 10 indicators across the life-cycle of a business, from “starting a business” …

‘Other States can use existing stocks this year’ The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed States other than Delhi to use their existing stocks of crackers for Diwali next week. However, the Bench of Justices A.K. Sikri and Ashok Bhushan directed that only green crackers can be manufactured henceforth across the …

Action taken for not covering construction material The Noida Authority on Sunday fined a developer Rs. 5,000 for not adhering to the National Green Tribunal norms regarding construction. The developer was fined for not covering construction material at a site in Sector 63. The developer was warned of stricter action …

Caught in a four-decade, inter-State wrangle, the villagers of Umru come together to ensure a safe stopover for a flock of Amur falcons Umru village on the Assam-Meghalaya border lacks a road but that doesn’t stop its famous winter visitors — a flock of Amur falcons, the world’s longest travelling …

Air quality turns ‘very poor’ ashaze engulfs city The Capital continues to battle dangerous levels of pollution and on Sunday recorded its worst score on the Air Quality Index (AQI) for the season. The city registered an average AQI of 366, which falls in the ‘very poor’ category, based on …

‘No compromise on public health’ The Supreme Court on Wednesday banned the sale and registration of motor vehicles conforming to the emission standard Bharat Stage-IV in the entire country from April 1, 2020. It said pollution hasreached an “alarming and critical” level all over India. “It brooks no delay,” a …

The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed shock over the disappearance of 31 hills in the Aravalli area of Rajasthan and asked the State government to stop illegal mining in the 115.34-hectare area there within 48 hours. The top court said that even though Rajasthan was earning royalty of around Rs. …

Bursting of firecrackers during Deepavali may not be the only reason for air pollution, but the Supreme Court cannot become a mute spectator and allow the deterioration of air quality caused by the bursting during the festival. This is how the Supreme Court’s judgment, declaring a ban on toxic and …

The tractor mounted Happy Seeder machine can cut and lift the previous crop (in this case the rice straw) and sow a new (wheat) crop in its place. It also deposits the straw over the sown area as mulch. The machine can be operated with a 45 hp tractor and …

Aimed at reducing the rapidly growing human-elephant conflict in areas of Chhattisgarh, where nearly 20 human lives were lost because of attacks by a herd of 19 elephants, the State Forest Department in collaboration with Wildlife SOS has radio-collared a wild elephant to help create an early warning system and …