In September 2003, the Sanjay Deotale Committee conducted extensive research in rural hospitals in the high lathyrus consumption districts of Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli, and found that they had not received any lathyrus patient in the last five years. Doctors from National Institute of Nutrition who were part of the committee did not join the research team.

wild elephants that stray into territories that traditionally do not belong to them and affect people and crops may be in for a surprise. The Maharashtra government has, secretly, dug up trenches in two districts, Kolhapur and Sindhudurg, bordering Karnataka. Wildlife activists in Karnataka don

Last year, India imported 121.67 million tonnes (MT) of crude

Pune, June 26 This year's Sant Tukaram and Sant Dyaneshwar Palkhis will comprise an ecological purpose in addition to their religious fervour. In an initiative conceptualised by the Directorate of Social Forestry, Maharashtra State, Pune, school students who are a part of the Eco Clubs formed under National Green Corps (NGC) scheme will be distributing seeds to the warkaris and even guiding them about their plantation.

Pune, June 26 The Environment Status Report (ESR) of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will have a different feel to it this year, literally. For the first time the civic body is set to produce the annual report on recycled paper. The idea behind the initiative, the first of its kind in the state, is to send across the message that it practices what it preaches, on environment friendliness and tree conservation.

Mumbai, June 26 After years, the Mithi is showing signs of revival. And the indicator, says experts, is the presence of a flock of flamingoes here for the first time

P. Sainath The shift from cotton to soybean has major implications for agriculture, livelihoods and the future of the Vidharbha region. "The shift began a few seasons ago but has picked up' "Cotton gets more risky each season' "Soybean input costs are far lower'

Tata Power Company (TPC), the country's largest private power generation company, plans to invest Rs 25,000 crore to boost its capacity by six-fold to 12,800 mw by 2013. At present, the company is implementing new power projects to the tune of 5,500 mw.

UNICEF and UN-ISDR evince interest in the computer-based game; plan to take the idea forward Taking a cue from the established fact that learning is best acquired if taught in a fun manner, Pune-based Neeti Solutions Pvt Ltd has devised a new version of the timeless game Snakes and Ladders. In its new avatar, the computer game is aimed at teaching children about fires and earthquakes and how best to cope with them.

Visiting the historic Sinhagad, one of the most favoured hangout of Puneites, will now come with a price, if you carry plastic items along. As an effort to curb the environmental pollution caused by plastic, visitors will be made to pay a penalty in the range of Rs 50 to Rs 100, if he or she is seen carrying plastic bags or bottles. "If the visitor, on his return from the fort, is found carrying less plastic than what he took along, the deposit amount will be kept as penalty,' said State Forest Minister Babanrao Pachpute, who was in the city for a hearing at Council Hall, on Monday.