high fluoride: Almost 35 per cent of school children above 8 years of age in the Palam area of Delhi suffer from dental fluorosis, according to a study by the Fluorosis Research And Rural Development Foundation based in the capital. Of the 576 water sources tested, as many as 112 were found contaminated. Fluorosis related diseases do not have a cure or treatment.

municipalities bill: The Rajasthan Municipalities Bill, 2005 is receiving flak from urban planners and environmentalists. They allege that the bill, open for comment, will lead to privatisation of municipal services without any understanding of or debate on its implications.

identifying encroachers: The Karnataka government will set up committees for identifying/regularising unauthorised land occupancy by tribals in seven districts. The committees will be formed at four levels