Forest and nature protection officials from Nepal and India have started their first ever joint survey of tigers.

Nepal has begun a three-month-long census of its tigers which were declared by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as an endangered species in 2010.

The Centre may set up an inter-ministerial group (IMG) for suggesting ways to fast-track clearance for South Korean steel major Posco’s $12-billion investment plans in Odisha, which are mired in la

Administration says issues with villagers sorted out through dialogue, acquisition peaceful

Realising that the Land Acquisition Bill, already cleared by the Union Cabinet, would put land procurement for big-ticket industrial projects in a quandary, the Odisha government has resumed land acquisition for the showpiece Posco project at a frenzied pace. In November 2011, land acquisition for the mega steel project ground to a halt after clashes broke out over the construction of a coastal corridor. With land acquisition slated to turn challenging after the new Bill is passed (since it would need the consent of at least 80 per cent of the affected people), experts believe at this stage, the state government cannot afford to buy time.

Pune: The proposal to reserve land in merged villages for bio diversity parks (BDP) has been officially passed. But the major tasks lies ahead as the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and citizens face a stiff challenge to protect the open tracks of lands from encroachers.

The state government has clearly put the responsibility on the civic body asking it to take care of the BDPs on its own. Environmentalists, on the other hand, say the PMC should devise a mechanism to protect the land from slums. Experts say that protecting public lands, parks and water bodies has become an increasingly uphill task. Adequate involvement of people, policy makers and politicians which is most essential for effective management of common resources in the city is shrinking rapidly.

Hyderabad: Hyderabad city, once known for it natural and man-made wetlands no longer boast of these features, thanks to the consumer society that has led to extensive depletion of these swamplands.

Wetlands are the best sources of drinking water; they can also be used as percolation tank. Wetlands help in recharging aquifers and also hold good recreation values and attract many birds and aquatic animals explained environmentalist Farida Tampal, state director World Wide Fun for Nature said, wetlands across the city are disappearing rapidly and one of the main reason for this is pollution caused by waste.

PANJIM: Fresh investigation by State government has revealed that as of now 14 mines are involved in various kinds of illegalities, including encroachment outside their lease areas.

According to the details tabled in the House, 14 mining lease holders are either involved in illegal extraction or encroachment outside the mining lease. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday told the house that the investigation to nail the illegalities as pointed by the Justice M B Shah Commission is under way.

Inadequate fund allocation is hampering the ambitious Noyyal river system revival or restoration project and the meagre allocation of Rs. 30 lakh per annum is just proving to be insufficient even for carrying out emergency repairs to the channels and tanks.

Noyyal that originates in Western Ghats near Poondi and runs through Coimbatore, Tirupur and Erode, to become a tributary for Cauvery, is the lifeline of these districts. It runs for 65 km in Coimbatore, 34 in Tirupur and 39 in Erode before joining river Cauvery in Kodumudi. The system was once catering to the irrigation needs of over 36,000 acres.

Yet the state authorities have to work harder to implement it to make the state slum-free by upgrading or creating new housing infrastructure in slum areas

The Madhya Pradesh government has claimed that sixteen cities of the state have joined Rajiv Awas Yojana, also known as RAY. Yet the state authorities have to work harder to implement it to make the state slum-free by upgrading or creating new housing infrastructure in slum areas. The RAY authorised the government to extend financial assistance and assign property rights to slum-dwellers for shelter and basic civic and social services.

Tourism & Culture Ministries Spar Over Ownership Of Plot Near Birla Mandir

New Delhi: A multilevel parking project in the heart of the city—near Birla Mandir on Mandir Marg—has been put on hold as two union ministries—tourism and culture—are fighting over ownership of the land. In 2011, the tourism ministry gave in-principle approval for the project, to be developed by New Delhi Municipal Council. But the ministry of culture claims a project for construction of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Memorial Library was sanctioned in 2003 before the joint union ministry of tourism and culture split in two parts.