The Supreme Court on Monday again refused to hear a plea of the Tamil Nadu government seeking a direction to the Karnataka Government restraining it from drawing extra water from Cauvery basin reservoirs.

A bench of Justices D K Jain and A R Dave told C S Vaidyanathan, counsel for the Tamil Nadu government, to mention the matter again on Friday for hearing the application.

Task force is involving forest-dwellers and farmers to protect biodiversity

Ananth Hegde Ashisar, chairman of the Western Ghats Task Force, said on Monday that the task force was drawing farmers, forest-dwellers and students to join it in its drive to protect biodiversity in the Western Ghats.

The Karnataka High Court-appointed committee on malnutrition among children will submit a report to Chief Justice Vikramjit Sen by June 15, committee chairman N. K Patil has said.

The eight-member panel visited Bidar on Monday and held discussions with officials.“Officials tell us that there are 68,000 malnourished children in the district. However, NGOs tell us the number is not less than 71,000.

SC nod can lead to production of 6-7 mt from 49 category A, B mines

The shortage of iron ore in Karnataka is likely to ease by July, as regular mining is expected to resume in a couple of months from now. The Supreme Court-appointed authorities are preparing reclamation and rehabilitation (R&R) plans, stoking hopes of an end to the stalemate. Once the apex court approves the plans, mining can resume in 49 leases of 50-hectares and above falling under the A and B category mines in the districts of Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur.

High-rise buildings and mismanagement of solid waste in the city are two factors adding to greenhouse gases, increasing the local temperature and pollution in the city. Experts who presented different aspects of urban planning and creating low carbon cities at the conference on Low Carbon Cities at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) recently emphasised that future cities must lower their carbon footprint if their citizens are to lead healthy lives.

A total of 10 companies plan to set up solar projects in the State under the Karnataka Solar Mission over the next six months.

Many serve as daily wage workers for decades and retire without benefits

People who protect wild animals from poachers in the Bhadra Tiger Reserve lead an insecure life. Forest guards, who suffer disabilities in the line of duty, work for a paltry sum as salary and are deprived of service security.

Bangalore Mining in Karnataka is back on its feet. The Supreme Court has allowed mining to resume in iron ore mines of more than 50 hectares after rehabilitation and reclamation plans (R&R) for these leases are approved by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC).

The court accepted the recommendatations of the CEC which refer to restarting mining in two groupings of mines referred to as A and B groups, a classification that the panel had made based on a survey of the extent of irregularities. The two groups together constitute some 100 mines.

Sets stiff terms allows auction of iron ore already lying in stockyards

The Supreme Court on Friday partially lifted the ban on mining in three districts of Karnataka. It was lifted for a certain category of mines, with strict conditions. The court also allowed the auction of iron ore already lying in stockyards, under the supervision of a monitoring committee.
The court directed the Union ministry of environment and forests to “revisit” clearances given in the light of the reclamation and resettlement (R&R) programme.

Panel will recommend if CBI should probe money transfer to trusts run by ex-CM’s kin

All eyes will be on the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), appointed by the Supreme Court, with the panel set to submit a crucial report on Friday, on its decision on whether the transfer of money by mining companies to trusts run by former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s kin should be probed by the CBI.