Prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched the National Air Quality Index, to monitor pollution levels in 10 major cities and inaugurated the two-day conference of state environment ministers
The government has constituted a ‘task force’ to frame road map for massive national river linking project. The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga
With over 1000 tea factories, we are the second largest producer and exporter of tea after China. However, the tea processing is highly expensive and energy consuming business. Energ
Nature and its elements have taken the place where there was once filth and heaps of garbage. Initiating the concept of public art in the holy town of Varanasi, visual arts stu
As India takes lead in world climate change policies, the ministry of environment, forests and climate change has drafted new emission and water consumption standards for thermal power plants.
A plastic bag is impeding human evolution or say, making us irresponsible. How can a filthy but convenient product like a plastic bag affect human intelligence? Every city in India i
State-run Oil India Ltd has got environment clearance for drilling 20 wells in three blocks in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan for production of 1 mmscmd gas at an estimated cost of Rs 96 crore.
Puducherry has come up with an eco-friendly way of treating water in a fishing hamlet Chinna Kalapet. Based on a technology called SHEFROL (sheet flow root level) bioreactor, the wastewater treatme
Going by the activities over the years in the riverbed and floodplains in Delhi, there seems to be a veritable #OccupyYamuna campaign going on. Sri Sri Ravishankar’s
Facing a barrage of allegations and a case in National Green Tribunal (NGT), Art of Living Foundation head and noted spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has appealed to all “to not politici
Noted environmental activist Bharati Chaturvedi has said that she considers the construction activities in preparation for the world culture festival in the Yamuna river plains, an act of violence
Giving a go ahead to the Art of Living (AoL) foundation to hold the
A defiant Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, in an interview to
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has threatened to revoke permission for the
It may sound odd but the Yamuna, the venue of the three-day long World Cultural Festival being organised by Art of Living Foundation of Sri Sri Ravishankar, is flowing dirty because prime minister
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has said his government was not responsible for calling the army for making pontoon bridges over the Yamuna river for the World Culture Festival of
Activists, courts, and finally even the rain could not stop Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s World Culture Festival. Prime minister Narendra Modi too ignored alerts about its rickety dais and attended
The three-day World Culture Festival has begun on the flood plains of the Yamuna. The controversies surrounding the event failed to upset the participants and spectators who have gathered at the ve
Around 4.30 on Friday evening a band of 20 protestors led by voluntary organisation Sweccha gathered opposite gate number one of the World Culture Festival (WCF). They were protesting with black ba
Lashing out at some of the detractors of the World Culture festival, organised by the Art of Living (AoL) foundation, Delhi water resources and tourism minister Kapil Mishra has said that nowaday
After a serious leakage accident at the Kakrapar atomic power station in Gujarat on March 11, environmental activist group Greenpeace India has called for an immediate independent investigation of
Unpredictable rains, “unsafe stage”, and environment activists could not dampen the spirits of Sri Sri Ravishankar’s three-day mega event, World Culture Festival. Dubbed as a &ldq
Late in his presidency, Barack Obama looks at the future and finds climate change as the most worrisome factor – and he is also worried about drought, famine and “displacement from the
Close to the World Cultural Festival organised by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living (AoL), purportedly, causing damage to the flood plain of river Yamuna in Delhi, the centre is mullin
World is observing the 46th Earth day on Friday. Leaders from 160 countries will sign the Paris Climate Agreement on the occasion to stem global warming. According to reports, one b
The debate on what indeed is a ‘smart city’ continues to reverberate even almost a year after the mission on smart cities was launched in June 2015. Environmentalists keep insisting on
On a dry winter morning in December 2012, while crossing the bridge over what seemed like narrow waterway in an eastern UP town, I noticed a mountain of garbage in the stream. This shrunken, pollut
In 15-years, automobile production in India increased by 339.5 %. The total production in 2001-02 was 53,16,302, this increased to 2,33,66,246 in 2014-15, recording an absolute growth of 1,80,49,94
The forest fire which has been raging in Uttarakhand for the past few days has caused widespread destruction and has left environmentalists worried. The fire has undoubtedly caused extensive damage
Even as the country reels under severe drought, information secured by Greenpeace through RTI suggests that the government is willing to overlook the policy meant to protect pristine forests,
The government has launched a web-based application on integrated waste management system (IWMS), ‘iwms.nic.in’, for better management of waste. All the industries dealing in haza
Loknath Nauri comes home with a large herd of cattle. He had taken them out for grazing in the forest. But surprisingly they are not milch cows. “Only one of these gives milk and that too is
The Public Affairs Centre, a not for profit organisation, assessed states and union territories using data available in the public domain in key areas of governance and came out with ‘Public
At Kondhavguda village, most people are out in the forest to pick wild food or firewood, tending to farms, washing at streams or carving out bricks from a muddy ditch. Aadi Kumbruka looks much youn
Some 15 citizen organisations and resident associations have come together on a common platform called Apna Mumbai Abhiyan to protest against big infrastructure projects in the city approved withou
Calling conservation a means to achieve development, prime minister Narendra Modi said that various business groups can be involved in tiger protection programme through corporate social responsibi
To create awareness and address the challenges of achieving sustainable growth in its member countries across the Asia-Pacific region, the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) in collaboration wit
Many of us have fond childhood memories of playing with droplets of mercury spilled out of a broken thermometer. A dark silver-coloured shiny liquid was a plaything for kids and perhaps still is, b
June 05 is observed as world environment day across the globe. According to United Nations Environment Programme, this year’s theme is on the illegal trade in wildlife. Read de
There are 302 polluted river stretches along 275 rivers in the country. The pollution assessment is based on the bio-chemical oxygen demand (BOD) levels which are the key indicators of pollution, M
The river Saraswati flowed steadily for over 2,000 years, before dying over 4,000 years back. The Haryana government is now intent on bringing it back to life, even as many other rivers across the
After cruising on the Yamuna Expressway for over an hour, I reach Runakta, a small village on the outskirts of Agra city. Here, I was told, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has creat
“The river [Ganga] is no ordinary image in which the divine has come to dwell. She is celestial-unmediated and immediate. Whatever is holy, whatever is merciful, whatever is utterly auspiciou
Medha Patkar and the movement led by her, the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), evoke sharp responses. Many label them anti-development, anti-technology and in cahoots with those who do not wan
Scaling up village water safety and security (VWSS) can help improve access to quality drinking water and condition of household toilets. It can also help face floods and drought situations, NGO sa
The government aims to profit from the longest river of the country by using it as a water highway. It has expressed interest in dredging lengthy stretches of the Ganga, building barrages and thus
The union government in May partnered with UNDP India and launched Namami Gan
Life in Bengaluru came to a halt this week following the Cauvery water protest that led to the worst violence in ten years. States of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have always been in conflict ove
At COP 21 in Paris, parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) reached a landmark agreement to combat climate change and to accelerate and intensify the actions a
Ahead of the BRICS Summit, underway in Goa from Saturday, a clutch of civil society movements f
India’s leading water expert and president of the South Asia Consortium for Interdisciplinary Water Resources Studies, S Janakarajan, wonders why Chennai, a city that receives 1,250 mm ra
The supreme court has asked Karnataka to release 2,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu every day till further orders. However, farmers living near Cauvery delta region are worried as their li
As the Delhi government announced emergency measures to help citizens cope with the public health crisis of hazardous air pollution levels, Greenpeace India has reiterated the central demands of it
Delhi is sick. It is wheezing and coughing. Its roads are packed with vehicles
Anupam Mishra, an activist-scholar who redefined cross-connections between Gandhian thought and environmentalism, died Monday morning after a protracted battle with prostate cancer. He was 68
Arsenic took my brother’s life. He had developed a wound on his foot from where blood and pus used to ooze out all the time. Despite that, he fought for all of us and tried his best to bring
At a time when the biggest seller of weapons is bestowed
Union minister Uma Bharti on Friday said that the centre is discussing the issue of bringing water into concurrent list with states. To place water in the concurrent list is a propos
The growing consumption of diesel has been a matter of concern for the Indian Railways. Not only does its emission cause environmental damage, buying diesel involves huge foreign exchange out
Sohan Lal, a traffic constable with Delhi police, is often short of breath, suffers bouts of wheezing and coughing, and sometimes complains of chest pain. He’s only 33 and was recruited after
The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) and Vietnam National Productivity Institute (VNPI) announced that the 11th Eco-products International Fair (EPIF) will be hosted in Ho Chi Minh City, Vie
The supreme court has ordered the distribution of compensation to families affected by the Sardar Sarovar dam project. Each family will receive Rs 60 lakh per for two hectares of land. Moreover, ab
The 2,500 km long river Ganga is relatively clean in some parts. Union minister Vijay Goel informed the Lok Sabha that water quality monitoring of river Ganga is being carried out by
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in independent analyses, have declared 2016 the hottest year since 1880. Sci
When the truth was a few steps away from Modi’s gaze In November 2014, prime minister Narendra Modi made his first visit to his constituency Varanasi and laun
Delhi Jal Board, in collaboration with University of Virginia on Thursday unveiled the Yamuna River Project with a symposium cum exhibition as a part of the overall effort to map out an expansive,
The river Ganga that the people in the plains know is very ill. It is odious. Well, what they perhaps don’t realise is that the river is not like that when she begins her journey from the Gan
A section of people’s movements and other civil society organisations across India are holding more than 100 protest actions between May 1 and May 7 to mark the 50th anniversary of the establ
Is the world getting greener? That would be a paradox when nations are putting their heads together to find ways to fight global warming. While the world is condemning carbon dioxide (CO2) a
Anil Madhav Dave, the environment minister who passed away on Thursday, was a maverick in politics: he was an amateur pilot and once he did the parikrama, or circumambulation, of the Narmada river
The internet is flooded with updates on activities planned for this World Environment Day (WED) for “Connecting People to Nature”. For years, activities in the name of WED ar
Sand mining was once an activity that provided an alternative source of livelihood to the fisherfolk living on the outskirts of Mumbai. Today, relentless, mechanical sand mining has not only snatch
The water resources ministry is working on a national river Ganga bill to protect the river from pollution and degeneration. Addressing the media on Monday, union minister for water resources, rive
Incense sticks were lit. Ram Sahay Marawi, 70, was ready to break the coconut over the ground – an auspicious ritual before starting anything new. He along with fellow tribal villagers was wo
The death of two people after a mountain of trash collapsed in Delhi must be a wake-up call for civic authorities across the country. The tragedy at Ghazipur landfi
Somprakash had just picked the set of crumpled papers his wife, Kavita, had angrily thrown in the garbage; he pressed each paper with hand to remove creases and put these in a thick paper folder. T
After a long wait of almost half a century, filled with more twists and turns than the river Narmada’s, the Sardar Sarovar project is finally complete. Prime
Yield gaps in wheat production in India can be countered with an earlier sowing date, says a University of Michigan researcher. Using a new way to measure wheat yields,
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken a serious view of the “life-threatening high pollution” in Delhi/NCR, and has sought reports, within two weeks, from various union
The odd-even formula of traffic rationing is going to be implemented in Delhi in an effort to tackle the smog that has made it difficult to breath in the national capital. The Delhi
Not just Indians, the Pakistanis too are finding it hard to deal with smog and Pakistan’s Punjab government has asked chief minister Amarinder Singh to quickly tackle this issue.
Air pollution potentially affects children’s brains, according to a new Unicef report which also points out that the majority of children at risk are in South Asia. The
BHEL has secured an order for the renovation and modernisation of electrostatic precipitators (ESP) at Kahalgaon super thermal power station in Bihar. The Rs 215 crore turnkey order
A calamity in the times of intense politics, particularly just ahead of elections, is the worst reckoner of history. Luckily, the Cyclone Ockhi that hit the southern coast of Gujarat earlier this w
People working for the protection of wildlife and natural habitats in India were honoured by the Sanctuary Nature Foundation. The 18th Sanctuary Wildlife Awards were held in Mumbai
GAIL Limited organised two day-long oil and gas health safety and environment (HSE) conclave for oil and gas enterprises on Friday at Noida GAIL director (projects) and chairman of
Anupam Mishra, widely known for his book ‘Aaj Bhi Khare Hain Talab’ – about reviving traditional methods of water conservation, passed away on this day a year ago.
There are 302 polluted river stretches, which is primarily due to discharge of untreated municipal sewage and industrial effluent, parliament was informed. Union minister Mahesh Shar
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the chief secretary of Punjab and the secretary of union ministry of health for a detailed report within six weeks on the situation
It’s Monday afternoon. The otherwise spick and span organic waste converter (OWC) room in the backyard of Mindspace IT Park in Airoli, Navi Mumbai, is emitting a strong odour – like tha
Come Holi and the non-ending debate on saving water vs it’s just-a-once-in-a-year festival rages on. A week before the festival, many housing societies and complexes has already started prepa
Though the summer is yet to set in, the 91 major reservoirs in the country are holding water equal to barely a third of their capacity, according the latest government data. The wate
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with French president Emmanuel Macron who is on a four-day visit to India, inaugurated the 75 MW solar power plant in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday.
Day zero fast approaches Cape Town, one of the wealthiest towns in Africa. It’s been three years since the city has not received proper rainfall. The water reservoirs are depleting fast. The
The ministry of environment, forest and climate change held a meeting on Wednesday to review mitigation measures to combat air pollution in Delhi-NCR. The review meeting was chaired by secretary CK
On the eve of the 8th World Water Forum (WWF), held in March, social media was abuzz with ‘news’ that the Brazilian government had handed over its two large aquifers to private companie
In November 2015, Mumbaikars started an exciting experiment. Called Equal Streets, it was a citizen initiative to usher in equality at least in the usage of roads and streets. Thus, on Sunday morni
For years we had a tradition in Mumbai, particularly for all the trunk roads, to be avenues (boulevards). Though we continue to have trees in some parts of Mumbai, the fact is that we appear to hav
The storm is yet to die out over the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited`s (MMRC) taking over 30 hectares of the famed Aarey colony, a green belt of mumbai, when another application has come in f
The work on Sunder Nursery, a lush green refuge from urban chaos in central Delhi, started in 2007, when the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) undertook a conservation and renewal project. The 90-a
In a breather for the mining industry, the supreme court on April 4 allowed the export of iron ore from loading points on river jetties in Goa while disposing a joint special leave application file
Very few know that leading Bollywood actress Juhi Chawla is an activist of sorts when it comes to environment. She is an organic farmer as well and does her bit in spreading awareness about sus
When the Maharashtra government imposed a state-wide ban on the use of plastic on June 23, Avadesh Kushwaha, a vegetable and fruit vendor in Vile Parle, had a mixed feeling about it. Though he wa
Like other people-related disputes, inter-state river disputes in India are congenital. People live in peace for ages till the hegemonic state etches a border through them, dividing them up and div
For a ban that arrived with a bang, it seems to be fading away even before it could take effect. The Maharashtra government has backtracted to allow groceries and general stores to continue to use
With a coastline over 8,000 km long, India’s coastal zone is endowed with a variety of marine ecosystems which include mangroves, coral reefs, sea grasses, salt marshes, mud flats, estuaries,
Two e-vehicle charging stations, one for fast charging (DC) and the other for slow charging (AC), were recently inaugurated by minister of heavy industries and public enterprises Anant Geete at Udy
The development trajectory for most nations has come at the backbone of a strong ecological resource base. In fact, economies such as those in the Middle East are largely based upon exports of crud
A building comes up based on a plan, which is based on discussions among the client, the architect and the builder. Can they draw a blueprint without basic information like measurements of land,
With the commissioning of the fourth and final 30 MW hydro generating unit, BHEL has successfully commissioned the 120 MW Pulichintala Hydro Electric Project (HEP) in Telangana. The other three uni
NTPC has inked pacts with vehicle aggregators like Ola, Lithium, Shuttl, Bikxie, Bounce, Electrie and Zoom Car to develop and utilise public charging infrastructure. Th
How can Quantum Urbanism help us rethink waste? It is as much a question as it is an open invitation to explore our relationship with waste and how deeply wedded that relationship is to systems t
Diwali, and Delhi is again awash in grey. Smoke from crop stubble and fireworks burdens the cold air, thick with emissions and construction dust. Mo
Climate change is for real. And the recent Kerala floods and the deepening farm crisis make this a dreadful phenomenon for India. IMD chief KJ Ramesh talks about how well- or ill-prepared the c
The government has said that state-run BHEL and Libcoin are in talks to form a world class consortium to initially build 1 GWh (Gigawatt hours) lithium ion battery plant in India. The plant’s
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the 220 kV Srinagar-Alusteng-Drass-Kargil – Leh transmission system to the nation to ensure uninterrupted power supply to Ladakh round the year. The mov
While we toss in the dead pencil cells or dry cells in the dustbin we never give a thought about end-of-life management of these batteries. The recent study of Toxic Links on batteries titled &lsqu
SAIL has rolled out stainless steel smart garbage bins, which will display signals to the collection vehicle about the ‘fill-up’ position. A smart garbage s
The day Amit Shah filed his election candidature papers from Gandhinagar, BJP workers were enthusiastic in preparing for a series of rallies in the constituency – but they had a complaint:
When considering climate change, one of the greatest threats before the humanity, discussions usually focus on air and water, but land too is affected by and in turn affects global warming as much
India has pledged to convert nearly 50 lakh hectares of degraded land into fertile land in 10 years, union minister for environment, forest and climate change Prakash Javadekar has said.
The petroleum and energy sectors will play a vital role in making India a 5 trillion dollar economy, as envisaged by prime minister Narendra Modi. Addressing the 7th convocation of
India has expressed resounding commitment to finding long-term solutions for minimizing the impact of desertification and land degradation as it took over the presidency of the Conference of Partie
The rankings for Indian cities in the latest Global Liveability Index, prepared by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), should not have come as a surprise to us: the two cities that feature in th
Scheduling irrigation, constructive use of water, proper crop selection and utilising modern irrigation technologies will help enhance water security while also ensuring a high agricultural product
Addressing the Conference of Parties (COP14) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced that India would raise its target o
Traditional fishermen or Kolis; synonymous with feasting, song and dance; are the original inhabitants of Mumbai. For generations, they have loved their vocation and prided in it. But their work an
The time for talking is over; the world needs to act now. That was the message prime minister Narendra Modi delivered at the Climate Action Summit 2019 during 74th session of UNGA in New York.
After prime minister Narendra Modi in his independence day address to the nation referred to the environmental harm caused by single-use plastic, the government was widely expected to come out with
Citizen protesters had some relief on Monday as the Supreme Court ordered a status quo pm the cutting of trees in Aarey forests of Mumbai to build a Metro Rail shed. The apex court&r
Delhites on Monday woke to the predictable grey sky but it was marginally less grey than it was on Sunday. There was hope that the worst might be over, as the air quality index (AQI) improving to 3
With improvement in air quality on Wednesday, the capital seems to be emerging out of a nightmare, though the situation continues to be worrisome as the stubble burning in farms of neighbouring Pun
This piece is based on a previous article by the authors published in Geoforum [Elsevier] in May 2019: available online:
In the science laboratory of a modest government school, a team of young students give a demonstration of what is called ‘non-structural mitigation’. When earthquake-like jolts are give
India has been among the countries most affected by climate change, and ranks high on the Climate Risk Index prepared by researchers at NGO Germanwatch. The index for 2019, publishe
In an audit report tabled in the Haryana assembly on November 26, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has indicted the Department of Mining and Geology of the state for its consisten
Every winter Delhi experiences some of the worst air pollution levels in the world. Concentrations of particulate matter – PM10 and PM2.5 – regularly hover around values of 400 to 500,
With a humble beginning in 1875, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) – which is celebrating its 145thFoundation Day on January 15 – has marched forward with various milestones and
Mumbai is building a coastal road to cut through traffic snarls and make life easier for commuters. The ambitious project, part of the city’s Development Plan (DP) 2035, is the second major i
To protect the fast depleting wetlands against being used as landfill and for development activities in Mumbai metropolitan region (MMR), environmentalists have asked the centre to declare the 289-
At a conclave titled ‘Climate Crisis - Action for Tropical Coastal Cities’, organized by Mumbai First last week, stakeholders came together for two days to discuss risk management in co
Wild plant species used in herbal treatments of Covid-19 are set to come under heightened harvesting pressure, as a result of both increased demand and more people turning to wild harvesting as an
A civil society group has pointed out several “fallacies” in the chemicals and fertilizers ministry’s letter in response to the agriculture ministry’s draft of banning 27 de
SEEDS, a not-for-profit organization, enables community resilience in the areas of disaster readiness, response and rehabilitation. Manu Gupta, co-founder of the organization, is a doctorate in
In a web address, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackerey on Sunday announced that the controversial Aarey car shed for line 3 of Mumbai Metro (Colaba-Bandra-Seepz) on the western suburbs will
When my water bag broke, at age 24, I excitedly woke my parents and said let’s go to the nursing home, in Mumbai, to have my first baby because I could not wait to get back home to my hubby i
Mumbai had a quiet Eid-e-Milad this year, with the maximum noise decibel level of 66.1 dB, thanks to restrictions in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has made people celebrate various fest
As the Maharashtra government has appealed people to avoid the use of firecrackers during the Diwali season amid the Covid-19 pandemic, health minister Rajesh Tope Saturday said the government woul
Aiming to curb pollution amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the BrihanMumbai municipal corporation (BMC) on Monday imposed a ban on the use of firecrackers and fireworks – during the festival of Diw
In line with its plans, 17% of work on the Mumbai Coastal Road, the Maharashtra government’s ambitious infrastructure project to decongest traffic movement in the megacity, has been completed
About 36.69 crore LED bulbs have been distributed among households across India under the Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) scheme, whereas under the Street Lighting National Programme
On the New Year’s day, Mumbai, India’s financial capital, recorded the second worst air quality index (AQI) since 2016. On Thursday it worsened and dropped to `very poor` category.
Antony Waste Handling Cell (AWHC) has been offering its services in handling municipal solid waste (MSW) across India for the past 19 years. When AWHC made its initial public offer (IPO) during Dec
Following is the rendering in English of Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray’s inaugural address during the webcast of ‘Colaba Conversation 2021: Creativity, Community and C
India and the Pandemic: The First Year Essay from The India Forum Orient BlackSwan, 335 pages, Rs 695 It’s about time for the first ann
Lockdowns following the outbreak of Covid-19 have been a blessing in disguise for air pollution around the world, and 63% India cities marked improvements over 2019. Still, air quality remains a co
The new vehicle scrapping policy will present a win-win situation for all stakeholders, minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday. “
Now that we’re here: The Future of Everything By Akshay Tyagi and Akshat Tyagi Penguin, 336 pages, Rs 299 How do you prepare for a
An affordable home must be equal to (or more than) 300 sq ft carpet area. Today the lowest cost of MHADA tenement is Rs. 10,000/sq ft. Thus the MHADA cost of a 300 sq ft basic unit would cost Rs. 3
To promote electric vehicles Maharashtra has announced its Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2021 specifically targeting six cities of Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Amravati and Nashik. From April 2
Within days of announcing its new Electric Vehicle Policy 2021, Maharashtra Friday announced its partnership with Climate Group’s EV100 network to push and promote electric vehicles and reduc
A new study titled, ‘Quantitative analysis of Microplastics along River Ganga’ by Toxics Link has found heavy concentration of microplastics in the Ganga. All samples col
Making public transport environment-friendly, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has inducted 35 electric buses to Mumbai’s fleet under the central government’s FAME II project
After Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray’s personal assistant Milind Narvekar demolished his illegally constructed bungalow at Dapoli-Murud seashore in Ratnagiri district on Sunday,
With multiple big-brand vehicles outsourcing parts of their production to India, and many others putting up assembly-line factories in India, it is no surprise that India is on its way to becoming
Raising concerns over rising seawater levels and climate change, Mumbai First, a 25-year-old public-private partnership policy think tank, has written letters to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav T
This year during the second wave of Covid-19, an unprecedented ‘oxygen shortage’ crisis gripped the national capital and several other parts of the country. A similar situation is brewi
Kalidasa’s Meghaduta: The Cloud Messenger Translated by Abhay K. Bloomsbury / 114 pages / Rs 399 ‘Meghduta’, a &lsq
‘Trees of Arunachal Pradesh: A Field Guide’ is a first-of-its kind pictorial guide for a wide audience. A visually rich book that will help you to efficiently and easily identify trees
Being a diplomat is a fulltime job, in which Abhay K., an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, spends most of his working hours. Like all diplomats and indeed the rest of us, he manages to make ti
At the COP26 Climate Change Summit, held in November 2021, India pledged to become a net-zero carbon emission country by 2070. Hence, the expectations from the union budget to nudge India towards a
India is likely to be the most impacted country by the effects of climate change and the most impacted large country.The IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report on Climate Change (2021) outlines speed
Starting Monday – which is International Day of Forests, people across the world can view rare stories from different ecosystems of India’s rich natural heritage through more than 100 r
As life came to standstill during the lockdown and everyone was confined within four walls of their homes, India’s gig economy ensured that basic supplies were not hampered. At that time, in
The Supreme Court has directed the BrihanMumbai municipal corporation (BMC) to award the contracts for Mumbai’s sewerage treatment plants (STPs) to the eligible lowest bidder before May 31, 2
After reports of cost escalation of its sewerage treatment plants (STPs) by 42% over its estimated cost of Rs 16,412 Cr in 2020, BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has come out with project-b
At a time when climate change, preservation of nature and ecological balance and reducing fertilizers and chemicals in agriculture and food are drawing huge attention, a forest village in Maharasht
Even as the Congress has moved the Supreme Court alleging cost escalation in Mumbai Sewage Disposal Project-II (MSDP-II), the BrihanMumbai municipal corporation (BMC) has gone ahead and issued work
India is the fifth-largest automotive market in the world and will have about 400 million customers in need of mobility solutions by 2030. With the government emphasizing an accelerated transition
India stands committed to reduce Emissions Intensity of its GDP by 45 percent from the 2005 level by 2030 and achieve about 50 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil f
A good monsoon has left the trees all washed and spruced up. It’s right time to take a good look at them, and also to tell the young generation about their diversity. So, tree lovers across t
The Struggle for Narmada: An Oral History of the Narmada Bachao Andolan, by Adivasi Leaders Keshavbhau and Kevalsingh Vasave By Nandini Oza, Translated from the original
There is barely any difference in overall PM2.5 (particulate matter 2.5) trends between cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and those outside its ambit, shows a new analysis by the
Tourism is a huge part of global culture nowadays and is also one of the biggest sources of revenue across the world. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), in 2019, the tourism
* Delhi’s seasonal PM2.5 average during and after the pandemic shows about 20% improvement compared to the 2015-18 winters. But the progress has stagnated. *&nb
In yet another recognition of India’s commitment to protect and conserve the pristine coastal and marine ecosystems through holistic management of the resources, the globally recognised and t
India recorded extreme weather events on 242 of the 273 days by September 30 this year. In other words, more than 88% of the time over these nine months, the country was witnessing an extreme weath
Snow leopard, the elusive great cat, has finally been spotted in Kashmir, bringing cheers to the conservation community. Researchers from Nature Conservation Foundation have recorded
As the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) was launched on the sidelines of the COP27 at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, India’s environment minister Bhupender Yadav expressed commitment to the conse
As many as 178 species of birds have been recorded in Nagaland by 18 eBirders during a first-of-its-kind event over four days this month. They have also uploaded 84 checklists to eB
Plastic is arguably the most ubiquitous material of our times. In this Age of Plastic, it might seem its use can’t go up any further – and yet it keeps going. Between 2000 and 2015, glo
Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) aims to use a two-track approach on environmental social and corporate governance (ESG). Addressing a conference on ‘ESG for Atman
Nine species of owls (including the magnificent spot-bellied eagle-owl), 10 birds of prey, 11 species of Woodpeckers (including white-bellied woodpecker – the largest woodpecker in peninsular
Climate change is a global crisis that is only becoming bigger by the day. Any action to mitigate the effects of global warming and pollution is made difficult by the obvious conundrum: when all na
India has reiterated that it stands committed to reduce Emissions Intensity of its GDP by 45 percent by 2030, from 2005 level (as per the updated NDC submitted to UNFCCC in August 2022) and to achi
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has grown concurrently and risen to enormous prominence in recent years. Initially, business owners started CSR by making charitable donations in an unstructur
The first All India Annual State Ministers’ Conference on Water was inaugurated by prime minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. The theme of the conference is ‘Water Vision @ 2047’ a
The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is an annual event that brings bird enthusiasts, students, and nature enthusiasts together to watch
The Dehradun-based Forest Survey of India (FSI), an organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, carries out the assessment of forest cover biennially since 1987 and
India’s climate actions cut across various sectors and are being implemented through various programs and schemes of different union ministries, departments and state/ union territory governm
The journey of ESG is a bridge from ‘qualitative change’ to a ‘measurable value’. ESG is the consideration of E-S-and-G non-financial issues, alongside financial factors, wh
MADE IN INDIA: 75 Years of Business and Enterprise By Amitabh Kant Rupa, 240 pages Rs 595 Seventy-five years after India attained freedom at
Marine litter is a serious trans-border issue. Global research estimates say that about 80% of marine litter comes from land-based mismanagement of solid waste that reaches the ocean bed through va
Access to Information Digital libraries have played a significant role in making environmental information more accessible to people worldwide. The Clim
With Mumbai’s AQI worsening to 300 in recent days, in a letter to Sanjeev Kumar, additional municipal commissioner, climate and anti-noise activist Sumaira Abdulali, convenor, Awaaz Foundatio
On Saturday, May 13, birdwatchers and enthusiasts have organised two important events: on Endemic Bird day, those in India will document the 232 species of birds that are endemic or near-endemic to
The 3rd ECSWG (environment and climate sustainability working group) meeting is being held during May 21-23. The meeting is being kicked off with a G20 Mega Beach Clean-Up on Sunday in Mumbai at Ju
The ongoing third Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group G20 meeting (May 21-23) has focused on three aspects: land degradation and reclamation of mining areas, Blue Economy and susta
Urging use of alternative and cost effective fuels to reduce pollution caused by vehicles, union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said finding cost-effective fuels is
Climate change rising temperature and sea levels are posing new risks for coastal cities. With population growth rate of 1%- 2% in India every year, Mumbai too is growing and is population will dou
Green Banking is an initiative taken by the banks to promote environment-friendly practices and reduce carbon footprint of their activities. Green financing (a part of ‘Green Banking’)
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India organized the World Environment Day on Monday with a thrust on Mission LiFE. The concept of LiFE, i.e., Lifestyle for Env
Early Bird and the Rainmatter Foundation have announced five bird walks, led by naturalists, across India on June 10. The walks, to be held in Agartala, Dehradun, Mysore, Panjim, and Tirupati early
In the face of pressing environmental challenges, sustainability has become a critical focus for global development. Education plays a vital role in equipping individuals with the knowledge and ski
India has the potential to be a Green Hydrogen exporter, minister of state (independent charge) science & technology Dr Jitendra Singh has said. Addressing the International Conf
Delhi has recorded its lowest average Air Quality Index (AQI) during July this year compared to the corresponding period of last four years. This month, the capital experienced all 31 days with `Go
The information below was given by union minister of state for environment, forest and climate change Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
Pulse to Planet: The Long Lifeline of Human Health By K. Srinath Reddy With Forewords by N.R. Narayana Murthy & Sir Michael Marmot HarperCollins |
Marginlands: Indian Landscape on the Brink By Arati Kumari-Rao Picador India, 256 pages, Rs 699
With Mumbai’s Air Quality Index (AQI) hitting 300 this week and surpassing the worst levels of the national capital of Delhi, the city has been engulfed by thick smog posing serious threat to
With air pollutions levels shooting up over the last few days and the city of Pune recording a PM 2.5 concentration currently, 6.4 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value, Parisar, a Pune-
India`s tryst with trade through the Arctic regions, including the Northern Sea Routes (NSR), has become an impact-making endeavor recently. The Arctic of yore is now a pivot – point of geopo
Survival at Stake: How Our Treatment of Animals Is Key to Human Existence By Poorva Joshipura HarperCollins, 328 pages, Rs 499 With science n
Air pollution in Delhi has been in headlines, as every year in recent times. Mumbai too has suffered from air pollution, despite being a coastal city. Apart from many other metros such as Bangalore
Hailing the Maharashtra government for introducing a bill to amend the Insecticide Act, 1968, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) India has called the amendments ‘very focussed’ and ur
The ministry of environment, forest and climate change has sanctioned projects to assess impact of air pollution on human health in 20 selected cities across the country under the National Environm
In 2024, readers can look forward to selected writings of two of the pre-eminent intellectuals of our times, Sudhir Kakar and Upendra Baxi. Also on offer are essays by S. Jaishankar, a collection o
Striking a delicate balance between meeting the nation`s surging energy demands and upholding an unwavering commitment to environmental preservation, the coal sector has been playing a pioneering r
With largest coal-based thermal power fleet and automobile manufacturing and the third largest number of factories directly dependent on fossil fuels in the country, Maharashtra accounts for 10% of
During the four days from Feb 16, more than a thousand birdwatchers throughout India are coming together with the goal of documenting as many birds as possible across the country’s diverse lo
Snakes, Drugs and Rock ’N’ Roll: My Early Years By Romulus Whitaker with Janaki Lenin HarperCollins, 400 pages, Rs 699
In the recently held Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), India has done well, uploading the second-highest number of checklists and the third-highest species of any country. Over the four days of GBB
Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist of World Health Organisation (WHO), has said that more than pandemic, climate change is the concern to respect not only for our health but our very existe
The union government has approved a scheme to promote India as a manufacturing destination so that e-vehicles (EV) with the latest technology can be manufactured in the country. The policy is desig
