Even as the Jay Prakash Associates (JPA) has moved an application for seeking environment clearance of a captive thermal plant at Bhagheri, villagers have joined hands to oppose it tooth and nail.

Dharamsala: As the state has been declared drought hit, the government has decided to give a surcharge tax waiver on agriculture as compensation to farmers.

However, according to the data collected by the Revenue Department, the loss due to drought in Kangra district had been Rs 199 crore, including loss of Rs 165 crore on account of crops and Rs 34 crore on horticulture.

In a throwback to the Chipko movement to save trees in the seventies, the Rakhi festival has turned into a rallying point for hundreds of village women near here as they pledge to protect their 'brother' trees that will be drowned by the Renuka hydroelectric project.

Inordinate delay in implementation of the Himachal Pradesh Groundwater (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) Act is leading to over exploitation of groundwater resources in some highly stressed areas.

Shimla: The government is likely to go slow on the proposed ban on plastics in view of the issues raised by various sections of the people who will be affected by the decision.

Scientists are trying to protect a traditional rice variety that is on the verge of extinction in Himachal Pradesh. The red rice is more disease-resistant and hardier than strains cultivated commercially over most of India and can lend that through cross-breeding.

Baldev S Chauhan / Shimla July 31, 2009, 0:22 IST

The Union agriculture ministry has agreed to enhance central assistance from Rs 23,000 per hectare to Rs 56,000 per hectare for planting improved apple tree varieties in the old orchards of Himachal Pradesh.

M R Bhutiyani

Gabion-retaining structures and use of high-strength geo-synthetics for soil reinforcement can find a lasting, environment friendly and cost-effective solution to the problem of recurring landslides in the geologically fragile hill state like Himachal Pradesh, asserts geo-technical engineering expert Minimol Korulla.

SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to continue with its market intervention scheme to procure fair and average quality apples during the current crop season, ensuring remunerative prices for the produce to farmers in various terminal markets of the country and saving them from exploitation at the hands of middlemen.