HOJAI, March 30

MoEF penalized for not appointing appellate authority It is the forum for redressing grievances of people affected by environmental clearances, given by the government, to dams, infrastructure projects, mines and industrial activities. But a visit to the office of the National Environment Appellate Authority (neaa) at Bhikaji Cama Place, Delhi, would make one think one got the address

Apex court steps in, asks states for afforestation plans THE bill that proposed centralized management of funds, collected in lieu of permission to divert forestland to non-forest uses, was defeated in the Rajya Sabha on February 25. Members of the house objected to the bill saying centralized forest fund management goes against the federal system in India. It takes away financial

View image Polavaram hydropower project will flood Orissa

2000: Intervention application filed before the SC bench hearing forest case of 1995. It pointed out irregularities in compensatory afforestation. March 2002: MoEF drafts scheme for compensatory afforestation. April 2004: CAMPA notification issued but not implemented May 2006: SC directs setting up ad hoc CAMPA. May 5, 2008: CAMPA Bill, 2008, introduced in Lok Sabha

water feud: Acting on a petition against the Kalasa-Bhandura diversion project, the Karnataka high court has issued show cause notice to the state government and the Union ministry of environment and forests. The project will divert 7,560 million cubic metres of water from river Mandovi to river Malaprabha and displace Kankumbi and Nerse villages, said Paryavarni, a non-profit based in Belgaum

If the ministry of environment and forests relaxes environmental standards, it would be a setback

Over the last fortnight, the Madhya Pradesh government moved two tigresses from Bandhavgarh sanctuary to the Panna tiger reserve. Apparently, this was aimed at enhancing the "dwindling tiger population" by encouraging the big cats to mate. But wildlife experts rubbish the state government effort: they say the big question is whether there are any male tigers at all in Panna.

A self-certification benefit for polluting industries and a three-year exemption from certain procedural norms for those seeking environmental clearance at the state level are among the sweeping changes proposed by the Manmohan Singh government in what is seen as an election-eve gift to industry.

GUWAHATI, March 18