PANJIM: PWD Minister Sudin Dhawlikar launched a campaign against use of plastic at a function organised by Kundai Panchayat in Ponda taluka recently.

On the occasion, Dhawlikar lauded the initiative of Kundai panchayat for launching awareness drive which he said would go a long way in creating mass awareness among the people about plastic and its bad effects on health and environment. Dhawalikar expressed satisfaction over the theme chosen by the Kundai panchayat “Avoid Plastic and Save Village”.

Taking a giant leap forward towards protecting the environment, the Delhi Government has imposed a blanket ban on manufacture, sale, storage and use of plastic bags in the city. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Delhi Cabinet on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said: “After considering the adverse effects of plastic carry bags on the environment, we decided to ban them. It has also been observed that plastic bags cause blockage of gutters, drains and sewerage system, thereby resulting in serious environmental and public health-related problems”.

New Delhi Scientists, farmer bodies and industry associations alike have slammed the parliamentary panel on agriculture for suggesting a probe into the go-ahead for commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal, India's first genetically-modified food crop. They have also criticised its recommendation for a ban on the field trials of such crops,terming the report as “unscientific and partisan”.

The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) had approved commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal in 2009, but the then environment minister, Jairam Ramesh, had put an indefinite moratorium on the decision following protests.

Rampant illegal mining conducted in Sandur taluk of Bellary district has caused an enormous damage to the environment, health of human beings and animals over the last decade, a recent study has revealed.

According to a study conducted by Cerana Foundation, a Hyderabad-based non-government organisation, air pollution had affected crop and milk yields significantly. “Yields of maize, a major crop in this area, dropped to one-third of what it was 10 years ago from 62-74 quintal per hectare 10 years ago to 20-25 quintals per hectare as on day.

Five non-government organisations representing victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster on Monday described the latest decision taken at the meeting of Group of Ministers to send 350 tonnes of hazardous waste from the abandoned Union Carbide pesticide plant to Germany for safe disposal was a vindication of their long-standing demand on the issue.

They described this as a “minor but significant victory” in their 22 year long battle. At a press conference here, the organisations pointed out that the GoM’s decision has highlighted the toxic nature of Union Carbide’s waste and the ongoing dangers posed by the thousands of tonnes of hazardous waste in and around the abandoned pesticide factory.

PANJIM: Environmentalists have termed the State Government’s decision to allow handling of dumps of 25 MMT, annually, in the draft mining policy as ‘a sin bigger than that of Digambar Kamat government.’

Environmentalists see red in the decision to allow handling of the dumps, which they say, could result in extensive illegal mining in the State. “The decision to allow handling of dumps is like allowing illegal mining in a legal format,” said Ramesh Gawas, who has been fighting battles against several illegalities in the mining sector, for last many years.

‘Probe how Bt brinjal seed was allowed to be commercialised’

In a major setback to the proponents of genetically modified technology in farm crops, the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture on Thursday asked the government to stop all field trials and sought a bar on GM food crops (such as Bt. brinjal). The committee report, tabled in the Lok Sabha, demanded a “thorough probe” into how permission was given to commercialise Bt. brinjal seed when all evaluation tests were not carried out.