The Environment Ministry has lifted its January-2010 moratorium on environmental clearance for new projects and expansion in eight critically polluted areas, including Ludhiana in Punjab.

Based on recommendations received from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the moratorium has been lifted in Ludhiana (Punjab), Varanasi-Mirzapur (UP), Agra (UP), Bhavnagar (Gujarat), Cuddalore (Tamil

The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF),currently under attack for being allegedly too rigid in providing clearances to projects, has lifted an earlier moratorium in this regard on eight more critically polluted areas.

However, the MoEF has indicated that the respective state governments and pollution control boards need to adhere to strict implementation of action plan to contain pollut

New Delhi: Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh would dilute environmental norms to allow 16 coal projects to take off, coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said on Tuesday.

Jairam Ramesh had not taken a decision by the evening but he wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh apprising him of the meeting between the two.

PARADIP: The House panel on environment expressed dissatisfaction over inability of Paradip Port Trust, IOCL, Paradeep Phosphates Ltd in controlling industrial pollution in the area.

The State Government has claimed that the solid waste processing unit near Sullia in Dakshina Kannada does not pose threat to environment.

In an affidavit filed before the High Court on Saturday, the government said that the unit has been set up with necessary sanctions from competent authorities - Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and the Department of Mines and Geology.

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has extended the stay on the order of the Madras High Court with regard to Sterlite Industries till the second week of December.

A Bench comprising Justices R V Raveendran and H L Gokhale directed the respondents to file their replies in four weeks and the rejoinder thereafter in two weeks.

The Bench also asked the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to file the

BHUBANESWAR: The wildlife wing of the Forest department has raised concerns over the setting up of 1,000 mw thermal power plant proposed by Tata Power Company at Naraj.

Its proximity to critical sites, impact of pollution on them as well as on the wildlife are issues the wildlife wing is worried about.