Category: Environment, Forest and Climate change

How Haryana has failed the Aravalis

In 1900, the British had the foresight to realise that the survival of the hilly areas could be at risk without ecological safeguards. So, they introduced a land preservation act. The undivided Punjab state government continued the protection for the hills. However, after the formation of Haryana, the Aravalis have come under major threat with repeated attempts to dilute the legal cover, notwithstanding a few efforts in the 1970s and 1990s to notify some areas under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) Read more

Courtesy: Times of India

Report slams DMF funds to medical college

The New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has raised objection to sanction of Rs 396 crore to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Keonjhar when healthcare in the district is in a shambles.

A report published by CSE details release of funds of District Mineral Foundation (DMF) and their utilisation in various sectors. It has expressed concern over the slow utilisation of the funds in the district. Read more

Courtesy: Orissa Post

‘Blatant disregard of law’, SC orders demolition of illegal construction in Faridabad forest land

“The unfortunate and distressing consequence of this is that because of a complete lack of any concern for the environmental and ecological degradation carried out in the Aravalli hills by influential colonizers like the applicant and what appears to be a very strong mining lobby in Haryana, the damage caused to the Aravalli hills is irreversible.”

Enumerating the ecological damage that has been caused by this activity, the judgment also states that there has been acute water shortage and lake Badkal, once a tourist spot, has also dried up.

“It is not only the future generations that have to pay a heavy price for this environmental degradation, but even the present generation is paying a heavy price for the environmental and ecological degradation inasmuch as there is an acute water shortage in the area…

…In addition, what was once a popular tourist destination, namely, Badkal Lake has now vanished and the entire water body has become bone dry. What are the more severe consequences that will be felt in the years to come, only time and nature will tell.” Read more

Courtesy: barandbench

State failed in helping mining-hit people, says CSE

The District Mineral Foundations (DMF) of the state have failed to benefit mining-affected people due to institutional and administrative gaps, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) pointed out in its report ‘People First: District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Status Report, 2018’.

The report covers 12 states and closely studies the DMF administration and investments in five states including Odisha. Read more

Courtesy: Orissa Post

India’s ecological hotspots are on a slow-ticking time bomb

“The impact of the next ecological disaster can be reduced if we take urgent steps,” says noted environmentalist, V.S. Vijayan. A co-author of the Madhav Gadgil committee report on the Western Ghats ecosystem, which has suddenly acquired a new breath of life, Vijayan says development and conservation should go hand in hand. “We are utterly against the sort of development that comes at the cost of exploiting our ecosystem.” Read more

Courtesy: live mint

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