After six years of campaign and persuasion, the Government of India published its first National Policy on Urban Street Vendors in 2004. Even before that policy could be fully tested, a new policy has been unveiled by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation.

Ponds and other water bodies are being filled brushing aside environmental aspects in Sherpur town, which graduated to a district town from a thana town even after the liberation of the country.

Filling the ponds and water bodies, the residents of the town are making houses and other infrastructures.

Sanjeev Sanyal / June 11, 2009, 0:25 IST

India needs to urbanise more quickly and this can be done by making smaller urban centres a magnet for rural migration.

Paribesh Bachao Andolan (PBA) yesterday urged the government to form a high-powered commission to save rivers from encroachment and pollution and to increase navigability across the country.

The demand rose at a PBA sit-in programme in front of Krishi Bank Bhaban in Motijheel. They also formed a human chain as a part of the programme.