Kochi Corporation issued building permits in violation of coastal regulations: CAG report

Multi-storey buildings up to 21 floors were allowed along Chilavanoor backwaters without even bothering to obtain clearances from coastal …

Fishers at bay

When it was introduced in 1991, Coastal Regulation Zone was a blanket notification to protect India's coast and fisherfolk. In 17 years, it was …

UPA misses opportunity to pass landmark mining Bill

Mining and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill set to lapse. Passing it would have led to distribution of mining profits to the tune of Rs …

Is Maharashtra tendu trade rule amendment a trap for gram sabhas?

Forest department's move may be a ploy to retain control over trade in forest produce, say activists

Supreme Court allows SKS Microfinance to resume operations in Andhra

Micro-lender among those accused of coercive loan recovery from rural poor; court asks state not to take coercive steps against firm for now

PETA takes jallikattu protest to London

Bull-taming sport of Tamil Nadu allowed this year despite ban by Union environment ministry

COVID-19: Punjab’s pond cleaning project gathers pace

The Punjab government generated employment of 1,052,524 man-days under the MGNREGA since May 12

Will Bengal allow high decibel firecrackers?

Activists fear noise control rules will be relaxed for manufacturers of firecrackers

Civil society praises Centre’s draft order banning 27 pesticides

The pesticides in question continue to be used in India, but are already banned, restricted or withdrawn in other countries 

Allahabad High Court continues tough stance on construction along Ganga

Development authority fails to give clear answers on fate of development in the river’s inviolate zone

Bringing order to streets

Centre legalises street vending and gives the profession its due respect. But accommodating vendors is a challenge

Man beaten to death for protesting noisy firecrackers in West Bengal

Disabled youth on wheelchair severely thrashed in Kolkata; police arrest over 1,600 people for violating noise rules, unruly behaviour

Marketing of formula milk preventing breastfeeding of infants

3-part Lancet paper finds exploitative market thrives despite WHO recommendations, violating World Health Assembly code 

Rajasthan Assembly passes camel Bill to stop slaughter and restrict migration

Experts says the Bill, which is intended to protect camels, does not address concerns of camel keepers

One river, two origins

Industrialists are trying to push the origin of the Nag river downstream to capture its upper stretch for real estate business

State has no absolute right over subsoil minerals: SC

Ownership over minerals vest with land owner, says apex court; question of payment of royalty to state referred to a larger bench

Mumbai sea link extension may be junked in favour of a coastal road

Activists say Rs 9,000 crore project will destroy beaches and violates coastal regulations

Maharashtra groundwater bill gets presidential nod

Setting up regulatory authority, notification of overexploited areas and developing watershed development plans to get top priority

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (September 18, 2020)

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

NGT wants groundwater extraction based on EIA only

Tribunal calls for doing away with general permissions given to commercial entities to withdraw groundwater

New rules for coasts

Environment ministry notifies CRZ 2011. It has pro-builder bias, say fishers and activists

No pesticide check yet

Despite joint parliamentary committee’s concerns, pesticides remain unregulated, finds CSE study

Cheyyur power project: people to move court against MoEF panel approval

Activists say expert appraisal committee's clearance to proposed ultra mega power project based on false information furnished in EIA report

Adani project in Mundra has violated environmental norms: MoEF committee report

Report recommends reform of coastal zone regulations, establishment of environment restoration fund

Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link on hold

National Green Tribunal orders not to begin construction on the basis of seven-year-old environment clearance