Babu K Peter | ENS Kochi

THE Sabari Rail project is all set to chug into history. After 14 years of surveys and discussions, it is a NO for the project. The Environment Impact Assessment study jointly conducted by the Kerala Forest Research Institute in association with Kerala State Biodiversity Board termed the project as "unviable and superfluous."

Objections to CZM notificationFinalization of the Coastal Management Zone (cmz) Notification 2008 may be delayed, with states, ngos, activists and fish workers

KOLLAM: Based on the Forest Rights Act approved by the Union Government, forest rights committees will be set up in the district on August 3. A meeting chaired by District Collector A.Shajahan has taken a decision in this regard.

The Act envisages to provide rights on the dwelling places of those people, including Scheduled Tribes, in the forest land in which they had been living traditionally.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Projects have been invited from voluntary organisations, schools, colleges, governmental and non-governmental organisations in Kerala and Lakshadeep for the national environment awareness programme organised Union Forest Ministry and Centre for Environment and Development from November 24, 2008, to February 27, 2009. The topic foer the year will be climate change. Applications with necessary documents should reach Executive Director, Centre for Environment and Development, Thozhuvancode, Vattiyurkavu, Thiruvananthapuram-695013, before August 25.

THRISSUR: There is no dearth of examples to substantiate the observations made the other day by Sukumar Azhikode - 'expert opinions are often untrue, farce' - while inaugurating dharna against the proposed Athirappilly hydroelectric project here.

An example is the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on the project which was carried out by Water and Power Consultency Services Private Limited (WAPCOS), Hariyana.

The Kerala State Electricity Board had assigned the study to WAPCOS on October 8, 2002 and the consultants submitted the study report to KSEB next year.

J. Venkatesan

Existing Cauvery basin irrigation area not protected: Tamil Nadu

Karnataka questions Tribunal's methodology

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday posted for final hearing in November three special leave petitions filed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala challenging the final award passed by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal on February 5, 2007. The Union Territory of Puducherry, which is also a party to the dispute, has not filed an SLP.

PALAKKAD: The grama panchayats should prepare plans for the development of watersheds in their respective areas and seek approval if they want it to be implemented under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), according to District Collector K S Sreenivas.

Each watershed area should be considered as a unit and agriculture, irrigation, animal husbandry and social forestry activities should be undertaken jointly so that productivity is increased.

WADAKKANCHERRY: Kalamandalam Vice- Chancellor K G Poulose has called upon the people of Kerala to protect rivers in the state.

Speaking at a discussion on

For the development of the wetland eco-system in Kerala

Part of a rehabilitation package for farmers in suicide-prone areas

Development programmes to be as per Swaminathan panel recommendations

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Thursday gave in-principle approval for providing financial support for the development of the Kuttanad wetland eco-system in Kerala as part of a rehabilitation package for farmers in suicide-prone districts of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.