Opening up, but tread softly

April 2003 saw two diverse regions in India take a similar decision. Both partially opened the door to tourism in hitherto protected belts. One …

Need or greed?

The Union Ministry of Finance has recently alleged that green clearances are holding up the country’s infrastructure development and growth.…

Private affairs

The invitation was innocuous. The Confederation of Indian Industry (cii) -- the grouping of the large and most powerful industries -- was …

Mining firms set up shop in Orissa

Lanjigarh block, Kalahandi, Orissa, May 17: At its summit, the northeastern ridge of the Niyamgiri hill range has a bald patch, typical of …

An evening in Paris

Over two weeks and two extra days, the Paris climate conference delivered everything the world expected. Impassioned speeches. Hectic, sleep-…

I was dropped because I stood for Western Ghats conservation: P T Thomas

P T Thomas, senior Indian National Congress leader and sitting Member of Parliament from Idukki Lok Sabha constituency, has been denied a ticket …

Gentle on critical pollution

After declaring 43 industrial areas in India as critically polluted and imposing a moratorium on their expansion, the Union Ministry of …

Deafening Noise

Constant exposure to noise can make one deaf. The major culprit is road traffic. Can one avoid noise? It’s difficult. Checking it, however, …

Polavaram fraud

The Polavaram dam on the Godavari could displace 400,000 people and submerge nearly 4,000 hectares of forestland. Most of the people threatened …

Lives of others

Wildlife is more of an academic concern except when the charismatic tiger is wiped out from a protected forest or our favourite fish vanishes …

The hunt for benefits

India is hailed as a pioneer in implementing the third objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity—fair and equitable sharing of …

Lavasa exposed

By its looks, the place could be mistaken for Portofino, a fishing village-cum-resort in Italy—multi-coloured buildings crowd a waterfront …

Cabinet signs death warrant for green panels

In one fell swoop the Union ministry of environment and forests is preparing to disband several key committees set up under section 3 (iii) of …

Bureaucratic coup

Administrative officers wrest control of the environment ministry, relegating scientists to the sidelines

Court Digest: Major environment hearings of the week (October 27-30, 2020)

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

Forest ministry favours intrusion

The biggest threat protected areas across the country face right now is from their purported protector -- the Union ministry of environment and …

Pink bollworm resistant to Bt: Monsanto

Commercial interest behind claim, says Centre’s research institute

Mission impossible?

The sheer scope of the biodiversity action plan may militate against its successful implementation

Request for diverting forest land in Saranda for Tata rejected

Forest Advisory Committee, which comes under MoEF, cited a lack of information as well as many inconsistencies in the proposal

What killed the chirp?

A study confirms modern buildings, pesticides and mobile towers are responsible for decline in sparrow population

Reform for reform’s sake

Without bottom-up rehauling National Environment Protection Agency will be more of the same

Centre ignores certifying agency

Private players set up forest certification body even as the ministry, which manages 90 per cent of the forests, gives it a cold shoulder

‘Scrap 24 dams, save Ganga’

Wildlife Institute of India report warns against ecological impact of dams in Uttarakhand

Court Digest: Major environment hearings of the week (September 23-27)

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

Whither the National Green Tribunal?

Instead of giving financial and administrative support to the NGT, efforts are usually directed towards diluting its powers, defeating the very …