Clueless in capital
Delhi s aquifers being bled dry, authorities all at sea
Search Results
-
-
SOUTH ASIA
Insuring fisherfolk
-
In Short
green flag to blue lady: The Supreme Court, on June 5, 2006, gave the green light to the French cruise liner S S Norway, a k a Blue Lady, to enter Indian territorial waters and permitted it to
-
CMC to oppose handing over of sewerage system to NWSDB
The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) is ready for a possible dispute with the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) and the Western Provincial Council as both institutions are opposed to the taking over of Colombo's sewerage system by the former. In a surprise move yesterday the CMC decided to oppose the handing over of the sewerage system to NWSDB which comes under the Ministry of Water Management. This was a sudden and surprising decision as the Council had passed a motion to hand over the sewerage system to the Water Board during the sessions on February 12. However a fresh proposal to revise the earlier decision was unanimously passed at the sessions yesterday. The motion which was presented yesterday was signed by several councillors including JVP Member, Hemantha Kumara, DUA Councillor, Roy Bogahawatte and F. M. Sharafdeen. Mr. Bogahawatte who moved the motion said the NWSDB Chairman had taken this decision on his own as the subject Minister has not made such a request. Meanwhile the main opposition UNP was to move a motion to oppose the NWSDB move to takeover the sewerage system at the Western Provincial Council sessions today. The motion was to be moved by the UNP Provincial Councillor, C. Y. P. Ram. Mr. Ram told Daily Mirror the takeover of the sewerage system by the NWSDB would pave the way to impose a sewerage levy from the city dwellers. He said this would be charged as a percentage of the total amount shown in the water bill. The party was to request the Western Province Chief Minister, Reginold Cooray to take steps to prevent this act taking into consideration the difficulties faced by the people due to the sky rocketing cost of living. Mr. Ram said some UPFA councillors have pledged their support and were expected to vote for it. He said he would discuss with the JVP too and was confident that the party would also support him. According to Mr. Ram the Attorney General had also stated the taking over of the sewerage system was illegal as there was no move to seek approval of Parliament which was compulsory for such a take over.
-
Bid to revive State forest cover
Young students on Thursday reaffirmed their commitment to save the earth's greenery and contribute towards the welfare of the society under the aegis of Junior Red Cross (JRC). More than 200 students of nine city based schools took part in an adventure trekking and skirted through Kharghuli, Chunnsali and Ramsai Hills, spending almost six hours discovering the hidden secrets of nature. The expedition was flagged off by Dr RDS Tanwar, CCF, Central Assam. Addressing the students, Dr Tanwar stressed the need for reviving the depleting forest covers in the State and called upon the students to come forward and help in the conservation efforts of the Government. He further said that the students could play a major role in the greenery recovery efforts by participating in plantation drives. The skies were clear and presence of the young people at Kharghuli gave a youthful and jovial appearance to the place. What was really wonderful was the enthusiasm of the students that caught the others also. Though the route was lengthy and hilly and the trekkers were totally exhausted, it showed on the bodies and did not dampen the gusto and eagerness for participation in other activities that followed the expedition. "The expedition is part of the JRC's effort to sow the seeds of voluntary service and love for the environment and society in the young mind,' said Rani Pathak Das, co-ordinator of JRC. Rani said that taking the students to the lap of nature helped in changing the perception and inculcating the human values. "In the midst of nature, these young people learn to be good and helpful,' said Rani. The expedition was guided by a six member team of mountaineering experts led by Ajit Kalita. "The interest of the young people in adventure sports is growing in Assam,' said Kalita praising the trekkers. He said that the young people had evinced keen interest about their surrounding and maintained discipline during the expedition. The trekkers later spend the time exchanging pleasantries as well as their ideas with each other. The JRC officials said that the interactive session after the expedition gave the students an opportunity to make new friends and build their confidence.
-
Percentage of diabetic patients increasing alarmingly
About 5.6 per cent of the country's adults and a large number of children are suffering from diabetes, and the number of diabetic patients is increasing alarmingly with more than 20,000 new patients in a year. According to the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, various causes increase the prevalence of diabetes, while unbalanced food habit, lack of physical exercise, regular intake of energy-dense fast food and soft drinks are mainly blamed for diabetes. According to the data available at the association, 22,559 new patients of diabetes were registered in financial year 2005-2006, 22,324 in 2004-2005, 21,462 in 2003-2004, 20,883 in 2002-2003, 20,607 in 2001-2002 and 17,045 in 2000-2001. A total of 3,57,418 patients were registered in financial year 2005-2006, 3,34,859 in 2004-2005, 3,12,535 in 2003-2004, 2,91,073 in 2002-2003, 2,70,190 in 2001-2002 and 2,49,587 in 2000-2001, according to the association's data. Such patients were registered with the DAB-run BIRDEM hospitals in Dhaka, 13 national healthcare network centres in the city, 10 diabetic healthcare development centres and 56 affiliated bodies across the country. The DAB president, AK Azad Khan, told New Age on Wednesday
-
Why a butterfly can destroy a behemoth
<h1><a class="l" href="http://www.google.co.in/url?q=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/11/23/stories/2010112353020100.htm&sa=X&ei=e5_rTN6uKIK6vwPVibnZAQ&ved=0CDAQ-AsoAjAB&usg=AFQjCNGR6he6ZoBpwDyOKhgO3sT3vwsf8A" a="true">Navi Mumbai airport gets 'green' signal</a></h1> <p><em>- Business Line, 23 November 2010</em></p> <p> </p>
-
Is LPG Bad for the Air Quality in Indian Cities?
<p>For a naive and non-scientist, it would be obvious that the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a clean fuel. Especially in the cities, it is the most common fuel for domestic cooking. There is also a small fraction of light duty vehicles which run on LPG and has proven to be clean compared to their counter parts - diesel and petrol.
-
Bangladesh
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="210px"> <tbody> <tr> <td bgcolor="#363636" colspan="2" height="26px" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; padding-left:5px;"> Editor's Pick</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><iframe frameborder="0" height="380" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/country/bangladesh/bangladesh_iframe.htm" style="border-width:0px; border-color:#333; background:#FFF; border-style:solid;" width="555"></iframe></p> <hr /> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="210px"> <tbody> <tr> <td bgcolor="#363636" colspan="2" height="26px" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; padding-left:5px;"> Country Overview</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 540px;"> <tbody bgcolor="#F0F0F0"> <tr> <td> <p><iframe align="right" frameborder="1" height="310" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.co.in/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=bangladesh&aq=&sll=20.984928,82.752628&sspn=45.458666,56.513672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Bangladesh&t=m&ll=23.684774,90.351563&spn=3.42031,3.724365&z=7&output=embed" width="330"></iframe><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Bangladesh is located between 20 º 34 to 26º 38 north latitude and 88.01 º to 92.42 º east longitude, with an area of 147,570 sq km). With a population of 164.000 million, Bangladesh is one of the world's most densely populated countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">It has a border on the west, north, and east with India, on the southeast with Myanmar, and the Bay of Bengal is to the south. Geologically, Bangladesh is a part of the Bengal Basin, one of the largest geosynclinals in the world.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">The Basin is bordered on the north by the steep Tertiary Himalayas; on the northeast and east by the late Tertiary Shillong Plateau, the Tripura hills of lesser elevation, and the Naga-Lusai olded belt; and in the west by the moderately high, ancient Chotanagpur plateau.</span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
-
cold wave in madhya pradesh
<div> <div align="left"> <img alt="" src="http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/html/2013.jpg" style="width: 42px; height: 30px;" /></div> <div align="left"> </div> <div align="left">
-
What is Aam Aadmi Party’s new deal on transport?
<div class="authors" style="margin-top: 5px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span class="tagLabel" style="font-weight:
-
Violence ushers in the New Year
In Chiapas state of Mexico, 1994 was heralded by a peasant uprising. Though opposition to NAFTA is said to be the immediate cause for the revolt, it was more an outburst against years of suffering.
-
Anything for water
There is increasing likelihood that by the early 21st century, water and not energy will claim the primary focus of world attention. There are substitutes for energy other than depleting fossil fuels
-
Lessons from the colonial past
Twenty-two years ago, the publication of a book, Indian Science and Technology in the 18th Century, by an unknown Gandhian, DHARAMPAL, took the academic world by storm. Until then, science in India was thought to be a Western import. Apologists of the Bri
-
Russia's role raises hopes and fears
With Russia participating in the first unified space station project, international cooperation reaches new heights. But there are also doubts about the US led venture.
-
Molecules made to order
Restructuring molecules for specific purposes be it symmetry of design or to develop medicinal drugs has come of age in India.
-
Of algae, worms and cash flow
Continuing the series on organic farming, Down To Earth's reporter found that both the scientific community and farmers are showing interest in using biofertilisers and vermiculture to substitute for chemical fertilisers. Microorganisms like algae are use
-
Tehri: is it curtains?
The beginning of submergence of Tehri also marked the drowning of anti dam sentiments. Any strong protest was conspicuous by its absence. Does this signal the end of the three decade old movement?
-
Caught in a jam
Two-stroke technology has seen improvements. But is it stretched to its limits? Public pressure against pollution is growing. Governments are responding with tighter emission standards. Even contemplating bans. But these still ply on the roads. What w
-
Freewheel
Who wants to buy a scooter that"s priced as high as a limousine? The auto industry can choose to make costly changes to the conventional technology to make it clean. And tinkering with engines has a price. A cheaper option may lie in leapfrogging to alt