Many people of ward 71, 73 and 74 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) fell ill today after consuming water supplied by the civic body. While civic officials said that eight people had fallen ill, locals said that the number was at least 27.

UNLESS there is heavy rain in the Murray-Darling Basin over the rest of the year, 90% of South Australians face environmental catastrophe caused by the movement of heavy metals in solution up the river by osmosis. Osmosis is the process by which any solution that is in higher concentration in one part of a body of fluid will flow into the other parts with a lower concentration until the solution is evenly distributed.

A committee of concerning officials has been formed for the Parikrama path of Narmada Valley and facilities for the pilgrims. This committee would prepare action plan for construction of Parikrama Path. Decisions were taken for conservation of rivers at this meeting chaired by Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan. It may be mentioned that Narmada is the only river in the world whose Parikrama is made by the people. So Narmada river is a cultural heritage. Problems of pilgrims would be removed if it is made pollution free.

THE Indian Coast Guard Director General Vice Admiral R F Contractor on Thursday advocated for a mechanism to enforce strict regulations against sea polluters.

A novel scheme is being implemented to rid villagers of polluted drinking water in the rural areas of Madhya Pradesh. Under this scheme, now the villagers would be able to test purity of water in just Re 1. The test would be conducted by trained members of Gram Panchayats. They are being imparted specialised training in this connection. Amount to be incurred on water testing would be mobilised through public participation.

A committee has been constituted comprising officers of concerning departments for development of Parikrama Path of Narmada river and for providing facilities to the pilgrims undertaking the Parikrama. Divisional Forest Officer Shri Pankaj Shrivastava would be the member-secretary of the committee. It would chalk out an action plan for construction of the Parikrama Path.

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.

Effluents push fish off city coast Mumbai's famed local seafood cuisine seems to be losing some of its distinctive flavour with fishes like Pomfrets, Bombay Duck, Lobsters, Prawns and Mackerels slowly disappearing into obscurity. Old timers reminiscence about how these fishes used to rule the coastline not too long ago.

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.