Mumbai: The residents of Lokhandwala complex in Andheri seem to be fighting a losing battle to protect mangroves in the area. Their efforts suffered a major blow when it was revealed that the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has leased out around 10 acres of mangrove land to a private company for a gymkhana.

Land fertility in Rangpur region comprising Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts is falling alarmingly due to shortage of green manure, sulphur and zinc in the soil.

Unrestricted use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides were also contributed in reducing fertility of lands, agricultural experts here said.

In a bid to overcome reliance on food imports, countries in Asia and the Gulf have been at the forefront of farmland purchases in the world's poorest continent, where millions survive on subsistence farming.

Land purchase deals amid gunshots in Jharkhand village investigations into the murder of four security guards at a proposed power plant in Jharkhand are revealing uncomfortable truths about industrialization in the state. The company that wants to buy land in Chakla village of Latehar district called the guards martyrs and held Maoist rebels responsible for the murders. Sources in the

Tobacco cultivation is posing a threat to the public health and the environment in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).

Although tobacco cultivation is strictly prohibited, the tobacco companies are doing brisk business, violating the rules. Besides, they motivate the farmers openly by offering incentives in cash and kind to cultivate tobacco.

The Right to Information (RTI) Act has exposed encroachment on three bighas of forest land, involving a former forest official and now pradhan of the Barswan gram panchayat in Balh block.

Goa government has almost finished the task of demarcating private forest land in the State culminating the voluminous task undertaken over last two years.

Mumbai: The Vipassana Research Institute, Igatpuri has signed an agreement with the state forest department to adopt 200 acres of reserve forest land under the Joint Forest Management scheme.

A Cabinet Sub-Committee, which inquired into the position of lands in relation to the Land Reforms Commission (LRC), had made far-reaching recommendations including a decision to restrict the extent of land managed by Plantation Companies to 2000 hectares and a mechanism to recover a massive Rs. 10.42 billion owed by these companies to commercial banks as well as the Treasury.