On March 13, a bill to increase the country's green cover received the union cabinet's approval. Rs 6,000 crore collected by the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (campa),

Residents of Nahur, Mulund, oppose state govt's fromula to pay afforestation charges , regularise land The Hillside Residents Welfare Association (HIRWA) and People's Power of Nation (PPN)

The Centre has no reliable data on the impact of joint forest management (JFM) on the forest resources despite of the fact that JFM was introduced more than a decade back in the country and lakhs of hectare have been put under green cover through this community forest management scheme. Also, there is no concrete data available with the Centre on dam age to green cover by fire, pests or the extent of encroachment within the forest area. India has 1.8 per cent of world's forest cover.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today exhorted the residents to make rational use of water and electricity .The use of recycled water for gardening would go a long way in saving drinking water. The water-harvesting scheme would be introduced in 205 schools and an amount of Rs.40 crore has been earmarked. The Delhiites have bought around five lakh CFLbulbs .The use of these bulbs would help save 1200 MW.

The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh indicated during last July's G-8 Summit in St Petersburg that he wanted to force the pace of Indo-Russian cooperation. The PM remarked that, "The economic pillar of our strategic relationship needs attention, as at present it is not as strong as it should be.' He, and others, have also noted that both economies have been logging up good rates of growth, something that could lay the foundation for more substantive economic cooperation between the two.

Till about four years ago, this lane of Maninagar's Mukti Maidan area was used more as a public urinal and a garbage dump. Today, it's the greenest street in this part of town. All thanks to the efforts of one man who has not just transformed this smelly street but also created several oases in Maninagar and Khokhra. Meet 80-year-old Philip Macwan, who is green at heart and has single-handedly planted over 1,000 trees over the past decade.

The NWFP Minister for Environment and Forest, Wajid Ali Khan has said that the provincial government will install solar wood seasoning plants at two major timber markets of the Forest Development Corporation (FDC). The plants to be installed at Chakdara (Swat) and Goharabad (Havelian) would enhance the wood quality that would produce durable furniture.

Abdul Aziz distributing fruit saplings as Bangla New Year gift at his nursery at Shaliabaha village in Ghatail upazila. Photo: STAR Every Pahela Baishakh (Bangla New Year), a large number of people including women and children come to the house of Abdul Aziz for fruit saplings. He gives away those for free as his New Year gift.

Pungthing Shimrang, a senior member of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issac Muviah), tells Down To Earth

On resumption of oil exploration
We have not agreed on that. We can't allow mineral resources of the state to be extracted by outsiders.

On environmental damages

Slowing Deforestation May Be Worth $Billions