The Nankan River in Kumamoto Prefecture was hit by a 5,000-liter oil spill Friday after a nearby food processing plant stocked up on more oil than usual before a gas surcharge was reinstated earlier in the week. Iwamoto Co., based in the town of Nankan, had increased its stores of heavy oil to stock up before higher gasoline and other surcharges were reinstated Thursday by the government after the ruling bloc-controlled Lower House rammed through a related bill. The oil is used as fuel for boilers.

The Delhi gov ernment will soon to take up an integrated sanitation scheme in the city to ensure that all people get the minimum standard of hygiene and do not go in the open for their toilet needs. The Delhi Cabinet will soon give its nod to a proposal to adopt the integrated sanitation scheme under the national rural sanitation scheme to give subsidy of Rs 6,000 to the people taking sewer connections for their areas.

With untimely swelling of Jamuna River during the last several days, massive erosion along its western bank in Sirajganj district has devoured 200 homesteads and over 100 acres of croplands in 22 villages of five upazilas in the district. The affected upazilas are Kazipur, Sirajganj Sadar, Belkuchi, Chowhali and Shahzadpur. Meghai, Maizbari, Natuarpara, Shuvogachha, Simantabazaar and Dhekuria in Kazipur upazila, Kaizury, Gudhibari, Porzona, Monakosha and Datpara in Shahzadpur upazila and Khaskawlia, Umorpur, Jalalpur and Enayetpur in Chowhali upazila are worst affected areas.

Three weeks after local fishermen discovered oysters at the Mahim Bay, scientists have found that the mollusks are of a different variety

A committee of concerning officials has been formed for the Parikrama path of Narmada Valley and facilities for the pilgrims. This committee would prepare action plan for construction of Parikrama Path. Decisions were taken for conservation of rivers at this meeting chaired by Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan. It may be mentioned that Narmada is the only river in the world whose Parikrama is made by the people. So Narmada river is a cultural heritage. Problems of pilgrims would be removed if it is made pollution free.

The findings were certified by veteri- nary experts sent in early 2008 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. A report was submitted to the chief wildlife warden on February 26 which clearly concluded that the reptiles perished due to "visceral gout," a direct consequence of kidney failure. Sudhir K. Singh

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.

A committee has been constituted comprising officers of concerning departments for development of Parikrama Path of Narmada river and for providing facilities to the pilgrims undertaking the Parikrama. Divisional Forest Officer Shri Pankaj Shrivastava would be the member-secretary of the committee. It would chalk out an action plan for construction of the Parikrama Path.

Cumbarjua Fishermen's Ekvott and Cumbarjua Nadi Bachao Samiti have threatened to agitate if the government continues with its ostrich-like attitude to the death of fish in the river. Addressing a press conference here, Samiti President and Panch member Nityanand Sawant and secretary Mahendra Gaonkar said fishing activity has come to a halt as fish is dying due to release of discharge by a sea food factory located nearby.