Central zone bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered closing of mining leases of 18 mines in Betul district approved by the district-level environmental committee on grounds that they were not approved by a competent authority.

Hearing the petition filed by Bhupendra Gupta, NGT bench comprising Justice Dalip Singh and expert member PS Rao has urged collector of Betul to direct mining-lease holders to stop operations with immediate effect. Six out of the 18 mines are currently operational.

National Green Tribunal (NGT), Bhopal bench, has served notices to the state government for violation of environmental laws in issuance of lease for sand mining in Betul and Hoshangabad districts.

BHOPAL: A village panchayat in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh has been selected for the National Award for outstanding work under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). Village panchayatSakadehi in Betul is one of the eleven such village panchayats in the country that have been selected for this award which will be given away on February 2, celebrated as MNREGA Day, in New Delhi.

Woman sarpanch Hemlata Wadiva, deputy sarpanch Om Malviya and village panchayat secretary Raghunath Gohe will travel to New Delhi to receive this prestigious award.

Bhopal: A woman tehsildar had a narrow escape from being mowed down by an earth extractor machine in Madhya Pradesh’s Dewas district on Tuesday when she tried to stop illegal mining.

As if to buttress Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's emphasis on drinking water and sanitation in his reply to the motion of thanks to the President's address, a young woman was rewarded for her successful insistence on a toilet as a precondition for living at her husband's place.

Anita Bai Narre of Chichouli village of Betul district in Madhya Pradesh was handed a cheque for Rs. 5 lakh by Union Minister of Rural Development Jairam Ramesh, on behalf of Sulabh International, for standing up for her dignity on reaching her husband's place and demanding the construction of a toilet.

Madhya Pradesh may not be an

With a view to implementing Nandan Orchard scheme under National Horticulture Mission, ten districts have been selected in Madhya Pradesh. Under the scheme, around hundred beneficiaries will be selected for imparting training to them.

Forest Minister and In-Charge minister of Betul district Shri Sartaj Singh said that poverty of tribal communities will be wiped out through the forests and the schemes run by the forest department. He said that the tribal communities have the right to lead a life with respect and participate in the development of the country.

The Integrated Land and Eco System Management to Combat Land Degradation and Deforestation is being launched in Madhya Pradesh from August 10. On this occasion, a workshop will be organised at the Academy of Administration, Bhopal. Forest Minister Shri Sartaj Singh will be the chief guest at the workshop, which will begin at 9.30 am.