To tied-over energy shortfall, the government is planning 40,000 mw of hydroelectric power generation capacity during the 12th (2012-17) and 13th Plan (2017-22). "We are making preparations for power projects in the 12th and 13th Plan, and are planning to add 40,000 mw capacity in the hydro sector,' Central Electricity Authority (CEA) chairman Rakesh Nath said here. Project sites in states with hydro potential are being identified.

After Uttarakhand, it is the turn of the Himachal Pradesh government to stop Van Gujjars, nomadic tribals, from migrating to highland pastures in the state despite promulgation of the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (recognition of forest rights) Act on January 1, 2008. A total of 432 Van Gujjar families comprising more than 1,000 members and thousands of milch animals are stranded. This year these tribals have been denied entry to their traditional grasslands in Shimla district.

The technology savvy city has highest repute of education environs to its credit, but, ironically, the majority areas here are turning into garbage bin, apparently due to apathy of the civic authorities. The lack of concern towards solving the problem the garbage menace has resulted into the biggest civic problem in Roorkee.

Uttarakhand forests are smouldering, leading to a loss of forest wealth worth crores, besides invaluable damage to flora and fauna. These raging fires have also claimed two human lives. With mercury soaring high, forest fires have engulfed large areas in the Garhwal as well as the Kumaon regions of the state. State government officials have requested the remote sensing agency to provide satellite imagery of the prevailing fires to know the exact damage.

Efforts of Corbett National Park officials and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) have helped save lives of at least three tigers of the Corbett National Park. According to officials of ministry of environment and forest, the park authorities received some information about dubious movements of a person from Bawariya tribe in a particular area following which they informed the WCCB. The particular area is home to three tigers of the park, officials said, adding that the person had been detained and was now in the judicial custody.

Climate change and reckless construction have dried up the "Water Bank' of the country

The former Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee president and Rajya Sabha M.P. Harish Rawat has threatened a massive agitation if the State Government did not implement the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act 2006 immediately. Addressing a large number of Van Gujjars and other forest dwelling people during a token dharna cum fast at the Gandhi Park here, Mr Rawat said the Act if implemented would benefit about 20 lakh people who were under a constant threat of being uprooted from their traditional homes by the forest and other officials.

From both the economic and the enviromental angle, bio-gas is the ideal solution for rural households: cheap with no recurring maintenance costs and zero impact on the environment. Why hasn't it been adopted more widely? The benefits of this appropriate technology are numerous and some appear self-evident. For one, there is no emission of greenhouse gases that cause climate change, unlike in the burning of fossil fuels.

With alarm bells ringing over the rapid melting of glaciers in the Himalayas, the Uttarakhand Government has decided to regulate tourist flow to the protected areas of Gangotri National Park, includin

Finding a place to stay in the remote and far-flung areas would no longer be a problem, especially for trekkers and wildlife lovers, as accommodation will be made available in 400 forest rest houses t