In 2019, the illegal wildlife trade reached staggering levels. Pangolin scales and ivory were being trafficked in massive quantities from Africa to Asia, exposing a network of crime syndicates operating at an industrial scale. The sheer volume of these shipments marked a disturbing milestone, one that revealed the global reach …
Rapid deforestation and urbanisation have encroached upon the forest under the supervision of District Forest Office (DFO). The DFO has failed to check the rampant destruction of the natural resource in the name of providing shelter to landless and freed bonded labourers. Infrastructures such as electricity facilities, road, drinking water …
The people of Ekiriya in Lunugala are concerned that illegal gem mining in the Mahawela irrigation canal is damaging the canal banks and sluice gates. They said an organised group was mining for gems in the canal without any regard to the damage they cause to the environment. It was …
Activists question allowing China to participate in ivory trade, with estimates that as much as 90 per cent of retail items in the country are illegal.
In recent years, the Indonesian capital of Jakarta has become a focal point for the pet trade in tortoises and freshwater turtles. Alarmingly, observed trends indicate much of this trade is illegal and includes a growing number of threatened species. Regular monitoring of wildlife markets is essential to keep abreast …
The Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Bill 2011 is all set to be placed before the Union Cabinet for approval next week. The Bill which has been designed to address illegal mining and mandate the miners to compulsorily share their profits earned from mining operations is likely to be …
Bangalore: The Bellary brothers, considered the kingmakers of Karnataka politics, found themselves sidelined from the new ministry led by Sadananda Gowda after a tame surrender by the Jagadish Shettar camp which, for the past week, was in combat mode with outgoing chief minister B S Yeddyurappa. The developments could well …
Investigators followed the money trail to zero in on the alleged attempts made by the JSW Group to influence the then Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa by giving huge illegal gratifications to his kin. The group, which is officially headed by Hisar MLA Savitri Jindal as the chairperson, figures prominently in …
Sajjan Jindal-promoted JSW Steel today firmly denied allegations of bribery and other illegal deals levelled by the Karnataka Lokayukta against it. It said that it has not been allocated any iron ore mine even after operating its steel plant for over 20 years in the state. Addressing a press conference …
The Centre is inching towards signing an MoU on wildlife cooperation with Bhutan. A source said a draft MoU highlighting the areas of cooperation and the way for implementation had been prepared. “It will take some time but this is going to happen. Relations with Bhutan have always been at …
Cameroon and Chad have signed an accord to ramp up efforts to fight poachers who kill hundreds of elephants a year in a protected park on their common border, ministers from both nations said. Both central African countries suffer from rampant poaching of elephants and other species for ivory headed …
MUMBAI: The state government In what is an indication of indiscriminate sand mining carried out in the state, the government on Wednesday admitted to 8,200 instances of illegal sand mining being reported in a year. During a discussion in the zero hour in the legislative assembly, minister of state for …
Outgoing Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa today moved the Karnataka High Court for quashing the Lokayukta’s report which indicted him in the illegal mining case that eventually cost his job. In his petition, Yeddyurappa, who resigned following a directive by the party’s central leadership in the wake of the submission of …
The National Mining Regulatory Authority will review sectoral issues and advise the government on policy and strategy, including royalty rates, and would have the power to investigate and launch prosecution against cases of large-scale illegal mining. The mining sector will have a comprehensive legislation as the Group of Ministers (GoM) …
Amid reports about smuggling of red sandalwood (Rakta Chandan) from India to China via Nepal, India has sought the Government of Nepal’s help in controlling the organised illegal trade. A senior official of the Department of Customs (DoC) said India has requested DoC through diplomatic channel. “India has requested us …
China is the largest importer by weight of illegal ivory in the world. In response the government of China took steps to reduce this illegal ivory trade in 2004 by introducing an official identification card for each ivory item sold in registered shops. China was then approved by CITES to …
The government has undertaken an action plan for saving theRoyal Bengal Tigers of the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forests, atop forest official said here on Friday. "The Taka 276 crore Tiger Action Plan would beimplemented as part of strengthening regional co-operation for wildlifeconservation with the assistance of the World …
Shimla: Himachal will take up the issue of illegal mining from the riverbed in the Damtal-Chakki area of Kangra and Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur with the neighbouring states to check the illegal practice. The state government has decided to take up the issue with Punjab and Uttarakhand with whom it …
The exit of Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa is set to turn the heat on mining magnates, the Reddy brothers, two of whom are Cabinet Ministers in the state. The Lokayukta report indicts the Reddy brothers on three specific counts: forcing miners to enter into partnerships with their front …
Bangalore: A 17-hour work schedule, visiting ports for days together, half a year of undercover investigation. Exposing the plunder of money and natural resources involved almost roundthe-clock probe by five officers of the Lokayukta’s investigation team. Field investigation and reconnaissance started in August 2010, after the first report on illegal …
