The commencement of the controversial coal handling activities in Port town after nearly a gap of two-and-half months on Wednesday, has prompted the Mormugao Bachao Abhiyan (MBA) to submit a memorandum to Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), to stop activities at Berth No 10 and 11 immediately, if not would be forced to commence a peaceful agitation.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court directed the government and the AP Pollution Control Board to pay compensation to farmers affected by pollution from industries in the Patancheru industrial area before the next hearing on June 9. A division bench comprising Justice B. Prakash Rao and Justice C.Y. Somayajulu observed: "It is better to pay the compensation before the next hearing of the writ, otherwise interest will be imposed on the princial amount of compensation.'

The UPA government, it seems, has moved to implement a proposal backed by several key ministers, Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and the Prime Minister's Office that Dow Chemicals' business be facilitated in India even while the government pursues a case against it in the Bhopal gas disaster.

An estimated 1,800 hospitals in Maharashtra have not yet applied to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) for authorisation to dispose off bio medical waste (BMW). Efforts have been initiated to know about the methods used to dispose off such waste as it can lead to a pollution problem of severe magnitude and endanger lives.

After getting a show cause notice from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board, the Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited (HPGCL) has applied for consent of the board under the Water Act and the Air Act (prevention and control of pollution). The HPGCL had started commercial production from the first unit of 300 MW of Deenbandhu Chottu Ram thermal plant here with the mandatory consent from the board. Sources in the board said consent would be issued after verification of the documents filed by the HPGCL.

The environment department has directed all hotels, resorts and even tents for tourists within a kilometre of forest areas to take the state pollution control board's permission to continue operations. The directive follows a string of complaints of violation of environment norms against hotels and resorts

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.

Use of clean fuel is mandatory within 30 sq km of Victoria Memorial The state pollution control board and police will soon launch a drive to identify hotels, restaurants and other establishments violating a high court order banning the use of coal for cooking within 3 km of Victoria Memorial Hall. Violators may attract closures, fines and even FIRs. The decision to launch the joint drive was taken at a recent meeting between environment department officials and Calcutta police top brass at Lalbazar.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday directed the state government and the AP Pollution Control Board to file a report on the implementation of Supreme Court directions with regard to pollution control measures in Patancheru industrial area. While dealing with a batch of writ petitions, a division bench comprising Justice B. Prakash Rao and C.Y. Somayajulu expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in the implementation of the Apex court orders.

The report readied by the committee to look into the Dow Chemical imbroglio has given a green signal for the construction at the Shinde village site, stating that it will be used only for research and development activities. It has also asked the company to get the requisite environmental clearance before they start operations and has asked the company to work with the local communities to generate employment opportunities for the villagers.

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