New Delhi The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has defended its position on the comptroller and auditor general (CAG) report citing delayed green nods that has hindered coal production. The ministry said it gave clearances in excess of what was required and projects are pending as these clearances are still unultilised.

The ministry claims to have given clearances worth 2.71 lakh MW of power capacity of which only 55,000 MW have been used till now. Further, it claims to have cleared 800 mt of coal against current demand of 436 mt. The ministry also said that most of the projects didn't furnish information related to coal linkages, acreage and sulphur content which delayed the green nods.

A move that proposes to allow forest dwellers to commercially exploit minor forest produce, which includes bamboo, has worried activists and the forest administration, especially after what happene

Samaj Parivarthan Samudaya (SPS), the main petitioner in the public interest petition on illegal mining in Karnataka, has appealed to the Supreme Court for scrapping of all mining leases in Category ‘A’, which fall in the forest areas in the three districts of Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur.

In a submission filed to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court, in response to the SC direction on August 17, 2012, the non-government organisation has appealed for the cancellation of mining leases in Category B and C and impose suitable fine on them.

Tamil Nadu has always been in the forefront of environment conservation, said C.V. Sankar, Principal Secretary, Environment and Forests, here on Tuesday.

The Tamil Nadu Forest Act of 1882 is one the oldest in the country. The State had also played a role in the Supreme Court coming out with landmark judgements related to environment.

Gram sabha’s total control over forest produce makes ultras unhappy, reveal reports

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat high court asked the state government to take immediate action about land sold by Maldharis to others, in and around the lion’s abode, Gir sanctuary.

A division bench of Justice P B Majmudar and Justice Mohinder Pal ordered the administration to implement a 2010 high court decree to conduct an inquiry and follow due process of law in connection with nearly 292 plots, now occupied by non-Maldharis, without delay.

PANJIM: The state government has proposed to consider illegal tree felling cases as theft and impose stringent penalties of compulsory imprisonment against the offenders henceforth.

This was disclosed by the chief minister Manohar Parrikar, on behalf of the state forest ministry, during question hour in the Goa Assembly on Monday. The matter was raised by Opposition leader Pratapsingh Rane and Valpoi MLA Viishwajeet Rane.

LUCKNOW: The Union ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) has objected to the work being undertaken for the Samajwadi Party government's ambitious Lion Safari project in Etawah forest division,

PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday claimed that the governments that disrespect the rights of tribals living in the forest, themselves are encroachers on forest lands and that enactment of Forest Rights Act (FAR) reinforces the right of the tribals living there.

“Tribals have not encroached on the forest land. We are the ones who have snatched away their forest rights by encroaching on the forest land,” the chief minister said while addressing an orientation programme on effective implementation of Forest Right Act (FRA), organized by Directorate of Tribal Welfare.

New Delhi Environment, public hearing rules may be eased

Some relaxation in green norms for coal mining may be on the cards. Keen to step up coal output, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) will discuss on Friday options including an easing of environment and forest clearance norms for 13 Coal India projects besides relaxing the Forest Rights Act for the coal miner. The Act seeks to recognise and vest forest rights and occupation in forest-dwelling scheduled tribes and other traditional forest-dwellers living there for generations but whose rights could not be recorded.