The river is now one big sewerage line; its catchment area once fed 1,775 lakes

The Arkavathy River was once the lifeline of the region. But all that is left of it today are just fond memories. The river basin that used to boast of 1,775 lakes along its pathway, now has only a few hundreds surviving.
Even during the rainy season, some of the lakes are not filled with water from the basin. The industries along the river stretch and sand mining activity have practically destroyed the river bed, residents claim.

The Kerala River Protection Council has called upon K. Kasturirangan, chairman of the high-level working group on Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), not to dilute the recommendations of the Madhav Gadgil committee.

It claims the report marks the beginning of a totally different planning process involving the local people as envisaged in the Panchayati Raj system.
In a letter to Dr. Kasturirangan, council vice-president V.N. Gopinatha Pillai and environmentalist Thomas P. Thomas alleged that no government had given the required attention to the deteriorating environmental conditions of the Western Ghats.

Three Years After Tragedy, No Mechanism In Place To Check Radioactivity

PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar Thursday launched a scathing attack on environmentalists claiming they should not criticize the government on mining while ‘sitting in AC rooms’.

In his reply to the discussion on the Budget 2013-14, Parrikar claimed that mining industry was very crucial to strengthen the financial status of Goa. “I am not supporting the mine owners but for that (sins of mine owners) why should the common man be punished?” he asked.

BHUBANESWAR: Rivers of Odisha are far more polluted than what is projected by the Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB), pointed out experts at a seminar here on Wednesday.

Environmentalists in the city have urged the state government to take immediate steps to save the life of Mohan Kumar who is on a hunger strike at the High Court Junction demanding a comprehensive compensation package for victims of endosulfan in Kasargod district.

Inaugurating a protest meeting at the High Court junction, environmentalist M K Prasad said the government could not back track from the responsibility of providing protection to the victims.

Formal discussion on Monday

As the indefinite hunger strike seeking swift and comprehensive rehabilitation of endosulfan victims in the district entered 31st day on Wednesday, a five-member delegation of agitating activists will hold preliminary talks with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday ahead of the formal talks scheduled on Monday.

Lankan govt has also protested and voiced reservations against the project

Indian and Sri Lankan environment activists are planning a series of joint protests against the proposed Kudankulam nuclear plant in southern Tamil Nadu.
“Several environmental groups are protesting in that country (Sri Lanka), too. We are in touch with the environmental organisations there on a regular basis. Last week, one of them had organised a protest in front of the Indian Embassy in Sri Lanka and we are looking to take this tie-up forward,” said M Pushpanarayan, leader of the Tamil Nadu-based People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE), which has completed 583 days of continuous protests against the project.

Mumbai: The state government’s plan to tighten security for netas by building a blast-proof wall outside the Mantralaya main gate may lead to the axing of at least 34 trees in the vicinity.

Confirming the tree-cutting proposal, civic superintendent of gardens K Yadav said, “The public works department has proposed to cut down 34 trees surrounding the Mantralaya building for certain constructions and alterations. Usually, such proposals by the state are cleared by the civic body.”

An indefinite hunger strike launched by the Endosulfan Peeditha Janakeeya Munnai (EPJM) seeking effective and swift relief and rehabilitation for hundreds of endosulfan victims and their families crossed three weeks on Monday.

Environmentalist A. Mohankumar has been fasting at the strike venue for eight days. The doctors who examined him on Monday morning said his vital parameters were normal.