Agitated residents of Kalem on Monday asked district Collector, G P Naik to initiate action against a sponge iron plant for alleged pollution. The residents warned to take the law in their own hands if the government fails to intervene and redress the grievances of the people of Kalem. Black-colour dust, which the residents claim is polluting the houses of the people of Kalem was kept before the Collector for his attention and action.

The Brahmani is the second largest river in Orissa. It begins as two rivers - the Shankha and the Koel - from the Chota Nagpur Plateau in Jharkhand and joins the Saraswati at Vedvyas to from the Brahmani. Vedvyas is a sacred place, 9 km from Rourkela, which is a major urban centre - the 2001 census estimated its population at 484,292.

Acknowledged as one of the biggest sources of pollution in the Capital, the coal-based Indraprastha power plant should not be allowed to operate till 2010 as has been proposed by the Delhi Government, say experts. The Indraprastha plant along with the other coal-based plants in the city -- the Badarpur thermal power station and the Raj Ghat power station -- have been criticised for not just lagging behind in power production but also for not being environment-friendly.

A paper and pulp mill, operating in southern Chile, has pitted a group of fisherfolk against its neighbours and is trying to get away by installing a controversial pipeline to dump waste water from

on april 11, the Jodhpur bench of the High Court of Rajasthan ordered closure of 126 industries operating in non-conforming areas in Pali, infamous for pollution from its dyeing and printing industries. The court issued two orders in response to petitions filed by industry groups

The Buriganga along with other rivers in Dhaka is dying out due to continued encroachments, and acute pollution caused by dumping of industrial waste. As per the suggestions and the demands made by environmentalists and green activists, the past governments had taken initiatives from time to time in a bid to save the rivers from encroachers and polluters but in vain. In 2003, the then government formed a task force to save the Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Sitalakhya and took some decisions, including eviction of the encroachers.

THE need for moving the tannery units away from city's Hazaribagh area has always been felt acutely by the environmentalists and the decision makers alike, considering the severe negative impact of the industry on environment. But little progress has been made to relocate them in Savar, even after three years of inauguration of the relocation project there.

The much-awaited relocation of tanneries from Hazaribagh to proposed 'leather estate' in Savar is facing various complications as the government and the industry owners have yet to settle several issues even three years after inauguration of the relocation project. Tannery owners are reluctant to shift their businesses until the government provides them with compensation and other facilities. However, the government is apparently not much willing to meet these demands. Complexity in setting up the Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) is also hindering the process, said sources.