The Legal Initiative for Forests and Environment disputed the claims of the National Highway Authority of India that has moved the Supreme Court for fast-track clearance of delayed highway projects.

Elaborating upon the Forest Advisory Committee meeting held in December 2012, Ritwick Dutta, environmental lawyer and member of LIFE said, “From the 29 projects put up for clearance, the FAC cleared as many as 17. Three of these proposals were from the NHAI and while two were cleared, one was sent back on the ground that they wanted more information.”

KATHMANDU, JAN 01 - With a view to increasing greenery in the Capital city and compensating for the environmental degradation caused by the road expansion drive, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KM

Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation has floated a plan of complete removal of the settlement and any other encroached forest land within five years.

Srinagar, December 30: The state is losing its green sheen fast as the forest land has shrunk from 20,230 sq km to just 7,590 sq km as per data furnished by the state Department of Forests earlier

JAMMU, Dec 28: Reviewing various forest development projects and schemes under execution in Mahore at a high level meeting today, Minister for Forests and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmed said that al

Residents of Bhosalenagar believe in leading by example. The mohalla committee of the area has been passionately working towards Pune’s green cause for the last seven years.

SHILLONG: The Megh-alaya People’s Environment Rights Forum (MPERF) has urged Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary to keep on hold his assent to the Meghalaya Forest Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2012, which was passed by the State Assembly recently.

In a representation submitted to the Governor on Wednesday, the MPERF requested that the Amendment Bill be sent back to the state government for a ‘detailed deliberation’. The representation also stressed on seeking opinion from technical, legal experts and conservationists besides the general public before deciding either in favour or against the amendment.

JAMMU: Minister for Forests and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmed today said that the Poonch city forests would be developed as eco-tourism destination on society mode with a project cost of Rs 164.25 crore.

Reviewing the overall functioning of the Poonch, Rajouri, Nowshera, Reasi and Mahore forest divisions, at a high level meeting, the Minister said that department has already completed an eco-tourism project at Dera Ki Gali which has started producing dividends.

JAIPUR: Rajasthan will soon become the first state in the country to conduct a tree census. Provisions for a census are a mandatory part the Rajasthan Trees (plantation and protection in urban areas) Bill likely to be introduced in assembly this budget session.

The bill, which has been in the works for a long time, has been given an in-principal approval by the state government. On Tuesday, the state law review committee of the advocate general's (AG) office submitted the final draft and rules of the bill. Chief secretary C K Mathew has also asked concerned departments of law, finance and local self government to finalize the modalities so that it can be presented before the cabinet soon.