Mumbai: Mangroves in the city are in peril. Green cover in Mahul, Chembur has come under threat after toxins were dumped there last week.

The incident was reported behind a Slum Rehabilitation Authority building (SRA) in Mahul where trucks have reportedly been discarding oil residue on the mangroves. Locals said that the activity has been going on since the last one week. The matter was reported to the forest department and the mangrove cell has already inspected the area and taken samples. However, those dumping the deposits remain unidentified.

Noida: Adopting a stern outlook on wastage of groundwater by packaged water companies, the National Green Tribunal has sought details of all such factories operating in the Noida-Greater Noida region. Aclarification has been sought asto whether such industries have the consent of the authorities of the twin cities and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board to operate. The tribunal has also sought details about the ‘sources’ from which these factories collect water.

The tribunal has directed the Central Ground Water Authority and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board to furnish guidelines regarding conservation of groundwater and provide data pertaining to groundwater levels from 2006.

Jaipur: The state government is mulling to impose fresh charges on developers for laying water pipelines in new residential colonies, housing societies and highrise buildings. The idea was proposed during a meeting of the Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED) and the Urban Development and Housing (UDH) on Wednesday.

Keeping in view the depleting groundwater level, the government is close to revising the guidelines for water distribution. “To resolve the water supply problem in new colonies and high-rise buildings, the UDH) and PHED will prepare a preliminarily report,” said N K Khare, chief town planner of Jaipur. Revising guidelines for water distribution are also on the cards.

Noida: Decreasing groundwater levels have forced the Noida Authority to pass an order making it mandatory for all developers to get a ‘no objection certificate’ (NOC) from the Central Groundwater A

The ambitious project will provide infrastructure facilities at a cost of Rs 2,100 crore

The State Cabinet on Thursday gave its nod to implement a project aimed at decongesting Bangalore City by developing eight small towns around it at a cost of Rs 2,100 crore - a move seen as an attempt by the ruling BJP to please the electorate in the State capital ahead of the Assembly elections. Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Urban Development Minister Suresh Kumar said the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) had identified eight clusters around Bangalore where the project would be implemented keeping in view future growth.

People carrying out construction scarring hills with material of dismantled buildings

The green cover in the McLeodganj area of Dharamsala is being threatened by illegal dumping of solid waste along hill slopes. People carrying out construction are scarring the hills with the material of dismantled buildings. Many such constructions are coming up in tourist places of the McLeodganj and Bhagsunag area.

Noida: The task force, set up by Noida Authority to stop extraction of groundwater by builders, inspected several sites of private developers on Sunday and found a project in Sector 93B flouting th

PANJIM: The directorate of mines and Coastal police raided Akada, St Estevam and seized one canoe and arrested 10 persons for illegal sand mining.

The 10 – labourers –will be produced before the SDM Wednesday, Old Goa PI, Manoj Mardokar told media Tuesday. New Roman'; font-size: medium; text-align: justify;">It may be recalled that last month coastal police seized five canoes and a FIR was filed against 50 labourers at Cumbharjua after raids were conducted by the mines department officials and police.

Hit by slackening demand amid economic slowdown and high interest rates, the real estate sector has asked for infrastructure status for the housing sector in the Budget for 2013-14, which would help it avail of tax benefits and easier flow of credit. The housing ministry has said at least low-cost housing should get this status.

The National Real Estate Development Council (Naredco) said the sector should get infrastructure status and rental housing should be made more attractive to address the shortage of houses.

Farmers are opting for the real estate option due to poor agricultural conditions

Pushed by unsettling agricultural conditions and pulled by lucrative real estate deals, farmers across the famed and fertile Cauvery delta in Tamil Nadu are selling their lands to real estate developers. In Amma Chatram, Marudhanallur, Tirunageswarm, Mathur, and in a host of other villages in Thanjavur and adjacent districts, farmlands are being converted to residential plots at a galloping rate.