Over 10,000 instances of “land modifications,” the majority of which are deemed to be violations of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) guidelines, have been identified along the banks of the Vembanad La

Elephant that fed on plastic waste dead

Stung by the death of a wild elephant which fed on plastic refuses, Forest Department officials are contemplating a ban on plastic in Pampa, Sannidhanam and Nilakkal areas of Sabarimala. Discarded plastic refuses are posing threat to ecology and wild animals in the region.

5 firms likely to ask for rethink on application to open new quarries

As many as five firms may ask for reconsideration of their application for opening new granite quarries in Western Ghats, invoking an order of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest.

Report has permitted uncontrolled quarrying in most parts of ghats

The Kasturirangan report has thrown open the ecologically sensitive areas of Western Ghats to mindless exploitation which would seriously hazard ecology, according to its critics.

Nudged by the Supreme Court to act against Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) violations in Vembanad Lake, the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority has decided to find out who all have transgressed

Environment conservation has taken a backseat in the district, with the Kochi Corporation and municipalities not preparing People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBR) yet.

The anti-plastic campaign of the Kochi Corporation, which was shelved following the recent fire at Brahmapuram solid waste plant site, may be re-introduced shortly. Even as the civic authorities vow to curb the use of plastic carry bags in its third attempt, the corporation seemed to be ill-equipped to restrain the menace.

Originally, the corporation had planned to impose the ban on use of plastic carry bags below 40 micron from March 1. It was also planning to undertake extensive campaigns in the city against the use of plastic bags from the first week of March.

Chandy, team to put the demand before Prime Minister

Kerala, facing a searing drought, will urge the Centre to sanction it a special Rs. 4,000-crore relief package. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and his Cabinet colleagues will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with the request during their visit to Delhi on Monday and Tuesday.

The budget proposal to aid local bodies in taking up waste-to-energy projects in public-private partnership mode is expected to improve urban waste management in Kochi and other cities.

Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram had proposed “to support municipalities implementing waste-to-energy projects by offering viability gap funding, repayable grant and low-cost capital”.

Soaring mercury levels may trigger more incidents of human-animal conflicts, it is feared.

Forest fires and the reduced availability of fodder and drinking water may force wild animals out of their territories. They may venture into human habitations in search of water and food, according to wildlife authorities. E.A. Jayson, head of the Wildlife Division of the Kerala Forest Research Institute, Thrissur, said that conflicts in each area would be influenced by a host of local factors such as availability of food and water and proximity to forest area.