High risk

Problem: Tall buildings risky in high seismic zones; Status: Hill-stations are getting concretised and growing vertically; Challenge: Use local …

What goes down

Problem: Lack of space for garbage disposal; inadequate sewerage; Status: Garbage disposed on hill slopes ends in streams/rivers; Challenge: …

Defying gravity

Problem: Terrain forbids water supply systems that work in plains; Status: Water crisis in peak season every year; Challenge: Develop …

Local travails

Problem: Tourist influx too large; earnings flow downhill; Status: Residents forced to share meagre facilities with tourists; Challenge: Regulate …

Boom

Problem: Terrain forbids sprawl as in cities in the plains; Status: Alarming population density (people per sq km); Challenge: Policy question is:…

COVID-19: North Bengal tourism takes a hit as wildlife parks keep visitors out

Hotels and homestays empty; shut sanctuaries hit businesses 

Tea tag takeaway

The Geographical Indication tag for Darjeeling tea may have opened a window of opportunities for big estates, but there are huge challenges for …

Workers missing from tea gardens of north Bengal and Assam

Rural employment guarantee scheme is keeping them engaged

Iconic Tiger Hill near Darjeeling under ‘development’ threat, NGT pulls up government departments

An environmentalist moved court listing several detrimental activities in the  area; departments nudge one another 

After central, now eastern Himalayas? Glacial lake outburst in North Sikkim sparks alert across the state

Downstream areas such as Darjeeling and north Bangladesh to be affected as water travels in the Teesta river

Climate impact: Tamil Nadu study links vector-borne scrub typhus cases with high rainfall, humidity

Every millimetre increase in rainfall could lead to a 0.5%-0.7% hike in monthly scrub typhus cases

Survey highlights severe nutrition deficiencies in West Bengal tea workers

Study carried out following death of a tea worker due to starvation

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (April 24, 2019)

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

Labour union raises concerns over housing scheme for Bengal tea workers

Pashchim Banga Cha Majoor Samiti Study presents analytical report based on RTI, workers’ replies; shows scheme will reduce income, …

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (December 21, 2022)

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

Small tea growers in Arunachal unable to avail tea board subsidy

Forest clearance from MoEF required to register with the Tea Board of India

West Bengal labour department's tea garden survey kept under wraps

Excerpts and recommendations from the unpublished survey report of all tea gardens in the state that reveals miserable living conditions of …

Simmering discontent over tea

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