GUWAHATI: The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) has completed 10 years of working in Assam.

Illegal sandmining, plotting out of agricultural lands, and allegations of departmental apathy ignited sparks at the farmers grievance meeting here on Thursday.

Allegations against some panchayat presidents abetting transfer of cultivable lands to real estate was brought to the attention of the Collector T.Munusamy. Speaking of increase in the letting of agricultural lands to real estate plots, Kaveri Danapalan, Cauvery Delta Farmers Protection Association called for reining in of illicit transfers. Similar complaints on sand quarrying were raised, and the administration was requested to divert sand quarrying to water bodies that required rehabilitation.

It has been three days since the farmers gathered at Parliament Street for a 'mahapanchayat' under the banner of Indian Coordination Committee of Farmers Movements - the Bhartiya Kisan Union, Karna

A high-level Environment Ministry panel has recommended granting green clearance to the proposed international airport at north Kerala’s Kannur district.

No minister to be allowed to step into district if apathy continues: T.V. Rajesh

Accusing Chief Minister Oommen Chandy of shying away from disbursing rightful assistance to endosulfan victims, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) has warned that it will not allow any ministers to step into the district if the UDF government continued to show lethargy in taking care of the hapless victims.

BHOPAL: The state government has initiated legal proceedings to terminate power purchase agreement with Maheshwar Hydel Power Corporation Limited, starting with serving a legal notice of default to the promoters of the company. Delay in execution of the project is said to be the major reason for this action.

Notice has been served as project activities of the Maheswhar project are at a standstill and no funds are available for the completion of the project and rehabilitation and resettlement of the oustees. As no payments have been made, M/s BHEL and other contractors have withdrawn their personnel from the dam site.

For millions of slum dweller in Delhi, there is finally some reassuring news in the form of amendments brought in by the Delhi Government in its slum policy.

As per a notification issued on February 25, this year, lakhs of slum dwellers would be benefited by the liberalised norms on their identification and entitlement for rehabilitation. Stating that it was the pressure mounted by the slum dwellers themselves which made the Delhi Government change several conditions for eligibility for rehabilitation, Ramendra Kumar, secretary general of Delhi Shramik Sangathan, said the major amendments include the change in the eligibility condition.

Affidavit on Kasaragod cell must be filed in two weeks

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Thursday directed the State government to file an affidavit clarifying the points raised by the Kasaragod District Collector regarding the formation of a Kasaragod district-level cell for coordinating rehabilitation and welfare measures of endosulfan victims. The Bench comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice K. Vinod Chandran also directed the government to inform it the number of meetings held by the district-level cell after its formation.

KORAPUT: Traffic was hit for nearly five hours on the road leading to Nalco mining area at Damanjodi following a road blockade staged by villagers at Mathalput demanding supply of drinking water by the company on Wednesday. No Nalco employee was able to enter the mining area during the agitation.

The agitating villagers alleged that they used to get water from pipes laid by Nalco in Mathalput but all of a sudden Nalco authorities blocked the pipelines on Tuesday. "The Nalco authorities have deliberately blocked the pipeline. We demand immediate restoration of drinking water supply to Mathalput," said Suresh Saunta, president of Panchpatmali Peripheral Progressive Union (PMPPU).