Forest minister Sartaj Singh has said that tree plantation and forest conservation is a pious work in present context. The forest officers should guide forest dwellers in generating an alternative employment.

Forest minister was addressing a two-days conference of chief forest conservators of state here today. He also conferred gold medals upon 17 forest officers.

The CEC has recommended immediate suspension of mining operations and initiating the process for cancellation of 15 mining leases in three mine rich forest blocks in Bellary range for violation of rules and regulations.

The CEC in its interim report has stated that leases to these 15 companies, coming under the Ramgad Forest Block, Swami Malai Forest Block and Sandur Range Forest in Bellary, we

The Planning Commission has said that steps for ensuring domestic coal production for the Eleventh and Twelfth Plan period should be allowed to go unhindered.

This forms part of the recommendations of the Plan panel submitted to the Group of Ministers headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, which is considering environmental concerns relating to coal mining and other developmental issues.

The much talked about re-introduction of the Asiatic cheetah may have to wait with the authorities in Rajasthan, both political and administrative, expressing reservations over the location identified for the purpose in Jaisalmer district.

A visit by Union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh to Jaipur this weekend did not help speed up the move.

The Forest Department will develop tree parks at six places on the outskirts of Bangalore in an effort to increase the green cover around the State capital, Forest Minister C H Vijayashankar said on Friday.

Tree parks are planned off Bannerghatta, Mahantalingapura off Whitefield Road, Challahalligudda near Devanahalli, Bhootanahalli off Kanakapura Road and near Hesaraghatta and Kengeri.

The Rajasthan Government has selected the Forest Protection and Management Committee (Van Suraksha Evum Prabandhan Samiti) of Balicha range in Pratagarh district for the conservation award, Amrita Devi Vishnoi Smriti Puraskar, for 2010.

The annual award, given to non governmental agencies, societies and groups engaged in exemplary acts of forest conservation and wildlife protection in the State

Commercial endeavours being allowed in forests: Cong
The government came under fire in the Vidhan Sabha for allowing commercial endeavours in forests in the name of eco-tourism to benefit favoured private parties in blatant violation of the Forest Conservation Act (FCA).

Pradesh Congress Committee chief Kaul Singh while raising a discussion on the functioning of the Forest Department said out