Amid concern about animals being run over by speeding trains in forest areas, yet another elephant was killed and another injured when the Delhi-bound Jan Shatabdi express hit a herd of pachyderms in the district on Sunday morning.

The incident occurred near Motichoor Fatak, about 50 kms from Dehra Dun. A group of eight elephants abruptly came on the tracks, SHO Manoj Singh Negi said. By the time the train had come to a halt, it had hit two elephants, killing one on the spot and leaving another injured, he said. The rest of the elephants fled into the nearby forests.

The ban on the sale of gutkha, pan masala and other chewing tobacco-based products in Uttarakhand came into effect from Tuesday.

“This is a comprehensive ban on the sale, stocking and production of gutkha and all other tobacco chewing products in Uttarakhand,” a top government official said. Most of the shopkeepers and vendors in Dehradun city, said they were not selling gutkha or any other tobbaco-based products anymore. Health Minister Surinder Singh Negi said the government would strictly enforce the ban on the sale of gutkha and similar products in the state.

‘Introduce Gross Environmental Product in planning and implementation activities’

Anil Joshi, founder of the Himalayan Environmental Studies & Conservation Organisation (HESCO) here, has urged the Uttarakhand Government to play the forerunner by introducing Gross Environmental Product (GEP) in its planning and implementation activities as the highly endangered health of the natural resources needed to be improved before it was too late.

In a two-day National Discussion seminar, which was organised under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan by Union Drinking Water and Sanitation Ministry at CGO Complex, New Delhi on Saturday, Uttarakhand Peyjal M

Describing manual scavenging as a matter involving “human dignity,” the Supreme Court today noted that the officials concerned in states were not doing their best to weed out this practice even tho

The Uttarakhand government on Monday announced that it levy fee taxes on agricultural land falling beyond the development authorities’ domain and non-regularised zones for their usage of non-agricultural purpose and their related declaration.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the state Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna here. The state would earn Rs 70-90 crore a year from the development fees of land use change, said a top government official.

Uttarakhand has more than just natural beauty to boast of. It also tops the list of best-performing States and Union territories in terms of environmental well-being.

Uttarakhand is followed by Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Sikkim, and Andhra Pradesh on the Planning Commission’s Environmental Performance Index (EPI) list. Environmental well-being is one of the considerations for devolution of funds to the States under the Gadgil formula.

Uttarakhand's CM and health minister disagree over banning gutkha

The Uttarakhand government has decided to ban the sale of gutkha in the hill state.“We are seeking an approval of the state Cabinet to ban the sale of gutkha in the state,” said Ranbir Singh, principal secretary, health.

Health Minister gets it revoked after Secretary beats him to notification

The Uttarakhand government on Tuesday reversed its order banning the production, stocking, distribution, and selling of gutka, pan masala and other nicotine-containing items within hours of the notification. The reversal order came after Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna intervened, saying the decision for an effective ban would be taken at a Cabinet meeting later this week.

The Uttarakhand government has sought a relief package of Rs 800 crore in the wake of a series of natural disasters caused by heavy rains that has wreaked havoc in the hill state.

“We have already sent an official memorandum to the Centre for a relief package of Rs 800 crore,” a top government official said on Thursday. The state has already got an interim relief of Rs 150 crore.