KOCHI: A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Monday admitted a public interest writ petition filed by Dr Abraham Paul and three other officebearers of the Kochi branch of the Indian Medical Association, praying to direct the authorities to prevent noise pollution by declaring areas falling within 100 metres from hospitals, schools and courts as silent zones.

KOCHI: Kerala Birder, an internet mailing group of birdwatchers in Kerala, together with Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp Limited and Yuhina Eco-Media, a Mumbai-based organisation specialised in natural history and environment-related activities and events, will organise `Bird Race

State plans 100-acre coconut farm in Thrissur.

PALAKKAD: Computerised sand mining passes would be issued from November 1 to lift river sand from recognised

KOCHI: The ocean surface temperature in the Arabian sea and the Bay of Bengal was a half degree warmer than the temperatures expected at this time of the year. It could be one of the reasons for the heavy spell caused by the North-East monsoon in the state.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: So far, four lives have been lost and 697.13 acres of farm land affected ever since the North- East monsoon set in the State, according to the Monsoon Calamities Cell opened here.

Two people died each in Malappuram and Palakkad districts on Friday and their bodies had been recovered.

TIKI RAJWI, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Complaints lodged by the public were not the sole reason why the State Government was forced to form a three-member committee to look into the disputes regarding land acquisition for the multi-crore Vizhinjam terminal.

KOCHI: District Collector M Beena said that around 300 land owners from Vadakkumbhagam, Mattoor and Chelamattom villages are expected to attend the meeting of the District Level Purchase Committee, formed for leading land acquisition for the Angamaly-Sabari Rail route.