A Special Mining Vigilance Force will be constituted in the State in the wake of rampant illegal mining, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said here on Wednesday.

Significantly even after Supreme Court directive not to grant clearance for hydroelectric project in the State until further orders

The State Government is seeking forest clearance for the 300 MW Lakhwar hydroelectric power project even after the Supreme Court on August 13 directed the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and the State Government not to grant clearance for hydroelectric power projects in the State until further orders.

Questions being raised about possible floods in downstream areas

The level in the Tehri dam in Uttarakhand on Sunday reached 818.50 metres against the permissible mark of 825 metres, Tehri District Magistrate Nitesh Kumar Jha told The Hindu .

The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday agreed to provide $ 400 million for reconstruction and rehabilitation in the disaster-hit areas in Uttarakhand.

In a meeting presided by Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar, it was decided that the money would be spent in works in sectors including the housing, tourism, irrigation, agriculture, education, and health sector.

Decides to open regional office in Dehradun, which will serve until permanent steps are taken

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) on Wednesday decided to open a regional office in Dehradun, which will serve the State until permanent steps are taken.

Monsoon fury continued to wreak havoc on Uttarakhand on Tuesday with flash floods, landslips and cloudbursts claiming 54 lives and leaving 61,890 Char-Dham yatris stranded in Chamoli, Rudraprayag,