Almost all Agra industrialists are sore over the Mathura refinery being given a clean chit by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board.

Sandalwood smuggling, epitomised by Veerappan, has become a collective phenomenon involving entire villages, which even the ban on sandalwood exports has been unable to curb. Deregulation of the sandal tree, currently under state control, is now being deb

THE SANDAL-TREE is found in the comparatively dry regions of peninsular India, especially in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The tree flourishes in cool regions with moderate annual rainfall of about

Vachati village, where the residents openly defy the authorities, has acquired a reputation for collective smuggling.

Villagers engaging in illegal cutting and smuggling of sandalwood have evolved ingenious methods to avoid detection.

Starting out as a sandalwood smuggler, Veerappan is today wanted for murder, too.

Minimising the production of waste in industries saves raw material and, because it reduces the quantity of pollutants, lowers the cost of treating effluents.

The Ganga Mukti Andolan is endeavouring to free a stretch of the Ganga and the exploited fisherfolk that derive their livelihood from it from the clutches of landowners and mafia gangs.

Washing of ice cream vats at the Nirula's factory produced a liquid that was rich in milk fats and sugar, but had a high pollution potential. Distributing the 'milk shake' among students of a blind school took care of the problem and also earned goodwill

Effluents from a liquor factory in Banka district spell doom for many villages around the unit and also pollute the Ganga.