Ex-workers affected due to mercury pollution by the Hindustan Unilever’s now-defunct thermometer factory in Kodaikanal, on Monday staged a protest at the company’s headquarters in Andheri, Mumbai,

Kerala has come out against the idea of creating an “overarching national legal framework of general principles on water sector,” which is an item on the agenda of the 14th National Conference of Water Resources and Irrigation Ministers in progress in New Delhi.

Addressing the conference of the Ministers in the national capital, Kerala Minister for Water Resources P.J. Joseph said no such change in the laws governing the water sector was essential since the Constitution and existing legal provisions were sufficient to address issues related to the water sector.

We asked the Hindustan Unilever Limited to respond to the allegations in our story. Excerpts from an email reply

Sitting atop the Palni hills, Kodaikanal, the premier tourist destination of Tamil Nadu, does not evoke images of pollution.

A tragedy similar to Bhopal gas leak is in the making our own backyard -- Kodaikanal. A series of flawed policies in handling the mercury leak at the Hindustan Lever Limited's failure to p factory there nine years ago has denied justice to the people and resulted in f protect a sensitive ecosystem.

The mercury level detected in freshwater (Pambar River) is 30 times higher than the mercury level recommended by US-EPA for freshwaters -- Mark Chernaik, toxicologist and scientist

MARUMALARCHI Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), general secretary Vaiko was arrested along with 153 party workers on Friday while attempting to enter Kerala from the Onpadharu check post to inspect the site where the Kerala government had decided to construct a dam across the Pambar river.

Tirupur: Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko asked the Central and State governments to take steps to stop the Kerala government from going ahead with the proposal to construct a dam across Pambar river.

Tirupur: Hundreds of Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam members and supporters staged a demonstration at Udumalpet on Thursday in protest against the proposed construction of a dam by Kerala Government at Marayur across Pambar river.

According to them, the dam will be against the interests of farmers along Amaravathy river system since Pambar river feeds water into Amaravathy river.

THE issue of mercury leak in the eco-sensitive Pambar Shola forest in Kodaikanal from Hin dustan Lever's thermometer factory was firs brought to notice in 2001 by factory workers and environmental groups.