European Union plans to restrict chemical use by farmers in Europe could reduce harvests at a time of global food shortages, farmers, academics, regulators and pesticide makers warned yesterday. Crops such as apples and hops could no longer be grown on the continent if EU draft plans are not amended, they said. Wheat and potato yields could drop by almost a third, according to industry-sponsored research.

The state environment department will come out with a roadmap next month to stop use of toxic colours on idols so that the Hooghly is not polluted during immersion. At a recent meeting of the state pollution control board, researchers and academics had expressed concern about the extent of the problem. Senior government officials and representatives of paint manufacturers attended the meeting.

Ontario said on Tuesday that it will ban the sale and general use of pesticides in what the province said would be among the toughest such environmental laws in North America. Canada's most populous province said the new legislation -- expected to take effect next spring -- would outlaw homeowners' use of lawn and garden pesticides for such things as killing dandelions. Exceptions would be made for golf courses, farms and forests. In Canada, only the province of Quebec has a similar ban, and according to the pesticide industry no US state has a ban in place.

HOPE AND FUTILITY:March 16, 2008. Padyatris rest at a school in Farah, after a 28 kilometer trek from Agra. The marchers are aged between 11 and 82

The story of Bhopal 1984 is one of ignored warnings, inadequate precautions and absolute indifference to human lives. It was a disaster foretold