New Delhi : All hydel projects with investment requirement of up to Rs 1,000 crore may soon be exempted from the mandatory techno-economic clearance of the Central Electricity Authority.

The Sikkim government has launched a massive initiative to revive and restore dying natural springs to address the water problem, especially in the rural areas. It has led to a 15 per cent enhancement in spring discharges.

Through the initiative called Dhara Vikas, the government has sucessfully revived 50 springs and four lakes in 20 drought–prone Gram Panchayats, a senior Sikkim government official said.

V. S. Vijayan, member, Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), has said that it was evident that vested interests were behind those opposing the Madhav Gadgil report.

Himachal is among the four states selected for the implementation of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded innovative pilot project under the new global mechanism of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation of Forests (REDD) Plus to combat climate change.

The state is flouting every law and risking the future of its people to allow dubious private players a free run, says Jay Mazoomdaar.

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake, with its epicenter in Gangtok, Sikkim, hit the area at 11:57 am on Thursday, sending shocks throughout eastern Nepal.

An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale shook Sikkim and adjoining areas on Thursday, causing panic, officials said. There were no reports of damage or casualties.

Sikkim could be in for a Goa-like scam of environmental violations with several hydroelectric projects coming up on the Teesta river basin without mandatory wildlife clearance, flouting Supreme Cou