Social activists seek withdrawal of false cases charged against protesters

Condemning the alleged State repression of the democratic rights of the people of Kudankulam, a group of social activists has urged the Tamil Nadu government to drop the ‘false cases’ charged against them and to cancel the prohibitory orders in the area. In a statement issued on the eve of Independence Day, a large number of intellectuals, activists, writers and NGO leaders, including Mahasweta Devi, V.R. Krishna Iyer, Medha Patkar, Aruna Roy, Vandana Shiva and Swamy Agnivesh, asked the government to put an end to the ‘violent repression of the non-violent struggle at Kudankulam.’

Wildlife activist Bandu Dhotre on Wednesday evening ended his hunger strike that he began on July 2, demanding effective steps for protection of tigers in the Vidarbha region, after the Maharashtra government agreed to accept almost all his demands.

“Chandrapur will be declared as a ‘tiger district’ and tigers in the non- protected areas will also be protected,” said Swanand Soni, who participated in the negotiations.

20 Wildlife Enthusiasts Have Taken Up Cudgels Against The Illegal Practice

Ahmedabad: Wildlife lovers have joined hands to give the lion king of Gir some peace and quietness. With the help of NGOs working in Saurashtra, a group of wildlife enthusiasts has decided to take up cudgels against illegal lion shows organized in the revenue areas outside Gir Sanctuary. On Sunday, a group gathered in Ahmedabad to decide on the future course of action. In all, 20 wildlife lovers from Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Amreli and other places attended the meeting, where they decided to launch a drive for the effective conservation of lions.

Agriculture, water supply in Krishnagiri district hit

Illegal sand mining in the main water sources such as South Pennar and the river Markandeya has affected water supply and agriculture in Krishnagiri district. Kodiyalam, Kelevarapalli Dam and KRP Dam are the main water sources for Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts. Many representations by farmers and social activists to supply water from South Pennar to Bargur, Veppanahalli, Berigai, Mathur and Uthangarai have not evoked any response from the authorities.

Social activist Avdhash Kaushal announced here on Tuesday that he along with some colleagues would observe a one-day fast outside the Gandhi Park on Wednesday against what he described as indecision on the part of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the National Ganga Basin Authority at its meeting in New Delhi on the stalled hydro-power projects in Uttarakhand.

These projects had the necessary clearances from the Union Ministry of Environment & Forests but were stalled by the Government under pressure from anti-development forces. “

Several members of Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s hand-picked National Advisory Council (NAC) have asked the government to stop harassing the anti-nuclear activists in Koodankulam.

They are amongst a group of over 50 intellectuals, including historian Romilla Thapar, writer Arundhati Roy, and scientist A. Gopalakrishnan to have signed a statement asking the government to halt its vilification campaign against the people’s movement against the Koodankulam nuclear plant.

Expected to be a permanent solution to the problem

Over five years after the Union health ministry finalised the draft of the HIV/AIDS Bill, it is likely to see the light of day.

GUWAHATI: The acquisition of 200 bighas of agri land for setting up a cement factory at Senabor village in the Khetri area under Sonapur revenue circle has led to a lot of resentment among the loca

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will soon conduct a noise mapping analysis of the city to identify noise pollution at various locations and instal sound barriers.