karnataka is in the process of commissioning several coal-based power projects. To discuss their feasibility, the state's electricity regulatory commission conducted a public hearing in

With scattered rains in various parts of the country and increased inflow of water in the four main rivers during the past week, water availability for sowing of rice and cotton crops have improved. Earlier, there was 30 percent to 40 percent shortage of irrigation water for Kharif crops which are the main foreign exchange earners for the country, provider of raw material for the textile based industries and employer of millions of farm labourers.

People protesting against shortage of water blocked a busy thoroughfare that links Baloch Colony with Defence, resulting in suspension of traffic on the road for more than four hours during the evening rush hours on Tuesday. Hundreds of residents of Manzoor Colony, including women and children, gathered on Shaheed-i-Millat Extension Road to voice their anger over the suspension of water supply to their locality. The protesters also burnt tyres on the road and pelted passing vehicles with stones.

With the growing threat of water scarcity in the state capital and suburbs, the Tripura Government has sent a proposal of Rs 665 crore for a project to transport water from the Gumati river, about 70 km away, through pipelines to ensure water supply to an additional 1.5 lakh families in the city. Official sources said here today that a high level committee, headed by Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, approved the project earlier this week and sent it to the Union Urban Development Ministry for funding under the Jawaharlal Neheru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).