AHMEDABAD: The central government has announced Rs 320 crore aid for drought relief for Gujarat even though there was no demand from the State. Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar and Jairam Ramesh came on their own on a two day visit to assess the situation. During a review meeting with the State Government officials the Centre announced that Rs 425 Crore for supply of drinking water would be released immediately.

The ministers also announced 150 day employment under the MNREGA scheme. At present there is a provision for 100 days employment. They further announced that employment under MNREGA would be given not on per person basis but on family basis.

GANDHINAGAR: The state government has told Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar that out of a total urban population of 2.57 crore in Gujarat, "nearly 2 crore people, 80% of the urban population , are likely to face drinking water crisis".

Of this, 1.60 crore population belong to the eight municipal corporations, while the rest, around 40 lakh, to 69 municipalities, the state officials stated while making a presentation before Pawar and his team. The issue which needs to be urgently addressed is about drilling new tube wells, installation of additional hand pumps, laying connecting pipelines, and supply of water through tankers, the presentation said.

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat high court on Friday green-lighted the felling of trees to expand highways in Saurashtra by rejected a PIL which sought to restrain the administration from chopping down nearly 10,262 trees.

While dismissing the PIL, however, the bench of Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and Justice J B Pardiwala ordered the authorities to plant three times to the number of trees that will be chopped off in the road-widening process. This means the authorities will have to plant 30,000 trees.

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat high court asked the state government to take immediate action about land sold by Maldharis to others, in and around the lion’s abode, Gir sanctuary.

A division bench of Justice P B Majmudar and Justice Mohinder Pal ordered the administration to implement a 2010 high court decree to conduct an inquiry and follow due process of law in connection with nearly 292 plots, now occupied by non-Maldharis, without delay.

NADIAD: If you think 'Rakshabandhan' is all about sisters tying rakhis to their brothers, you may have to do a rethink. For this village in Nadiad has vowed to save water and to mark this event they have decided to tie Rakhis to all their water sources - be it their village wells, water taps, tube wells and hand pumps. The biggest Rakhi in the state was tied to a village well, which measured almost 28 feet.

Solar power is emerging as a key renewable source of power in India as the government is pushing through policies to support its development, given its focus on preventing climate change by encoura

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat high court on Thursday asked Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) and electricity providers to explain the hike in tariff that came into effect last month.

A bench of chief justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and justice J B Pardiwala issued notice to GERC, Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd and four state electricity distribution companies in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) by Consumer & Education Research Society. CERS questioned GERC's decision to raise the tariff on June 1. The new tariff structure has been fixed for the year 2012-13.

Fertiliser, power sectors likely to resist shifting additional allocation for city vehicles

The Gujarat High Court’s order regarding natural gas allocation for compulsory usage in all vehicles in the State has been hailed by environmental activists and the State government alike, but the fact still remains that India simply does not have enough gas to cope with higher demand. In directions issued on a writ petition filed by the Gujarat Rajya Autorickshaw Federation on Wednesday, the Gujarat High Court directed the State government to compel owners of all vehicles registered in the State to start using natural gas — even if it be at higher prices — within a year.

AHMEDABAD: In an order which would impact lakhs of people owning cars, the Gujarat high court on Wednesday directed the state government to pass necessary laws to make it compulsory for all four-wheelers registered in Gujarat to convert to natural gas within one year.

Further, the court gave two months to the state government to issue necessary orders to impose stringent restrictions to reduce pollution by fixing levels of emission to the minimum, at par with international norms. The order applies to both public and private vehicles running on petrol and diesel.

AHMEDABAD: Officials of Gujarat Pollution control Board (GPCB) issued immediate closure notice to Spectrum Dyes and Chemicals located at Baleswar of Palsana taluka of Surat District some 20 km off Surat city. This action was taken after the unit management was found guilty of releasing untreated Chemical water directly in to Baleswar creek through a fake pipeline installed by them .

Baleswar Khadi (Creek ) is located some 500 meters off the site of the unit. "We had received a complaint that unit management is releasing the untreated harmful water waste in the creek directly during the night hours.