The menace of illegal mining continues in Alwar. A 40-year-old labourer was buried alive at an illegal mine when debris came sliding upon him at Balaheda village in Bandikui area on Friday. According to SHO Bandikui, Rohitash Devanda, some people were involved in illegal mining in forest area near Balaheda village. The mishap occurred around 2 pm.

"We have come to know that debris from a higher point on a hill came sliding upon a labourer - Mangya Ram Kumhar - and two others Dhanna Kumar (35) and Nemichand (33)," said the officer. He added that the police were not informed immediately. Some locals took the victims out of the debris and rushed them to a private hospital.

JODHPUR: The city is all set to become tobacco free very soon.

BARMER/JAIPUR: After oil, the deserts of Barmer are poised to produce methane gas.

JAIPUR: It could be tough times for mine owners who have not received safety clearance from the state's Director General of Mines Safety (DGMS). A recent directive by the department has sought suitable measures for ensuring that all mines apply for the mandatory clearance soon.

Sudhanshu Pant, principal secretary, department of mines and petroleum, has written to the director of the mines and geology department urging him to initiate measures so that all operation mines gets the clearance from DGMS within a month.

JAIPUR: It was the end of a long wait for tourists, hoteliers, tour operations and the entire town of Sawai Madhopur as the gates of Ranthambore National Park was opened for tourists on Wednesday morning. Excitement was palpable as the first vehicle moved into the green forest.

According to sources, nearly 16-17 gypsies and four canters went in for safari in the morning as well as the evening. However, currently all tickets for safari are being given on current bookings. The facility for advance bookings will be activated from Thursday. And this time a lot of changes have been made in the rules for advance booking so as to ensure that no black-marketing of tickets take place.

A Green NGO today announced the setting up of a state-of-the-art Environmental Training Institute in Alwar.

The famous Ranthambore and Sariska national parks in Rajasthan were thrown open to tourists on October 17, a day after the Supreme Court lifted the interim ban on tourist activities in the core areas of tiger reserve forests in the country, following the notification of revised comprehensive guidelines for tourism in these zones.

The resumption of tourism activities brought cheer to hoteliers and tour operators, whose business had been hit hard by the cancellation of tiger safaris and bookings, following the impasse after the apex court’s July 24 order, which halted all tourism-related activities in the tiger reserve areas

SC Verdict On Lifting Ban Likely To Attract More Tiger Tourists During Festive Season

Jaipur: It could not have been better than this. With festive season around, it was a gift of sorts for many a tourist in the state as the Supreme Court on Tuesday lifted the ban on tiger tourism in reserves across the country. The court has now allowed tourism in 20% of the core area of tiger reserves.

Rajasthan was the worst hit after the ban was imposed on tourism in the core areas of tiger reserves. The two reserves in the state -- Ranthambhore National Park and the Sariska National Park -- normally open for tourists from October 1. However, due to the ban this year, the parks had to remain closed, turning away many as the tourist zones in these parks lie mostly in core areas. Now, both will open on Wednesday.

After GAIL found new oil reserves in Ganganagar last month, now Focus Energy last week hit upon huge reserves of gas in three wells in SJL field at RJON/06 in the Shahgarh Bulj area in Jaisalmer at a depth of 3,170m.

Focus Energy is still digging four new wells where the chances of finding gas reserves are high. Focus Energy is using modern technology for exploring oil and gas. The firm has also applied to the state government for making new air strip to ferry the experts in charted planes. The Ministry of defence has also approved it.

Jaipur: The ambitious but controversial tiger relocation programme at Sariska Tiger Reserve is set to enter the next phase with the introduction of two female and a male tiger in the park before the end of winter.

This will take the tiger count to 10 at Sariska. The forest department is gung ho about the plan, more so after the sighting of the first cubs recently.
Everybody, though, doesn’t share forest department’s enthusiasm regarding the project. The debate on if Sariska is safe for tigers is on with conservationists raising concern over poaching still being a big threat.