The brokering of deals between international carbon trading brokers and Indian government bodies to reduce energy consumption and earn carbon credits has gained momentum in recent weeks. Not many people noticed the surprise, albeit non-political, move sprung by Mayawati's Uttar Pradesh government late last month through its electricity body, Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation (UPPCL).

The dial-a-water tanker service of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) is ringing in more woes than water to the residents of the twin cities. After booking, one has to wait for four days for delivery of the tanker containing 5,000 litre which costs Rs 250.

"I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait till oil and coal run out before we tackle that.'

From getting chilled in a spa to receiving super-speciality treatment under one roof might become a reality in the near future with a mega health project proposed on the city outskirts. Dubbed

Nearly 3,000 families will be displaced from their homes in two weeks because of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation's Rs 600- crore road widening scheme. GHMC has decided to develop 42 main routes in 12 surrounding municipalities, which were merged with the core city to form Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.

A large number of global energy players are focussing on renewable sources of cheap and clean energy, to meet the demand from developing countries. For them, what better source can there be than the sun?

Residents who are sensitive to the problems of global warming will shut down electric supply for an hour between 7.30 pm and 8.30 pm on Saturday. The "Hyderabad Unplug' event is being organised by World Wide Fund, India, to create awareness about global warming and its adverse impact on environment and the health of people.

The incidence of waterborne diseases is on the rise in the state. In all, 917 cases of acute diarrhoea were reported from the city in the last four months, of which 80 were detected in the last one week. In this context, the task force of the health department held a meeting and decided to take steps to prevent contamination of water and food. In Anantapur district, 98 cases of acute diarrhoea were reported in the past one week. Waterborne diseases were also reported from Putlur of the same district.

Hyderabad has only 114 paid parking lots while the number required is over 500. This forces motorists to park their vehicles on roadsides. The situation is unlikely to be solved soon as Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has not yet finalised the tenders to outsource parking lots. But, of the 250 parking spaces identified by the GHMC, traffic police has given the green signal only to 100 parking lots.