Punjab forest policy soon
Punjab Minister for Forests and Tourism Malik Salim Iqbal said the department has drafted the forest policy and made amendments in the Punjab Forest Act which will be released shortly. Talking to newsmen he said a sub-committee has been constituted to consider the new policy and the amendments. He said …
Ministry moots changes in Environment Protection Act
The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MEF) is drafting changes in the Environment Protection Act (EPA), making it obligatory on companies seeking environmental clearance to contribute to the proposed afforestation fund.The proposed changes to be introduced as "a mandatory condition in the EPA" will make it binding on companies to …
Most states logged below quota
Nearly all the states in Peninsular Malaysia logged below their annual quota last year, Primary Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik said.According to the Forestry Department's 1997 annual report, Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Selangor and Terengganu logged below their annual coupe. A total of 34,410ha …
Environment Ministry clearance needed for wood-based projects
The Minisry of Industry has accounced that henceforth entrepreneurs who wish to obtain approval from the Government for setting up any wood-based project should obtain prior clerance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests before submitting their application to the Administrative Ministry/SIA.
95 asked to vacate encroached forest land
Deputy Conservator of Forests,Karnataka, A M Annaiah has said that 95 people who had allegedly encroached forest land had been served notices to vacate them immediately.Speaking to the press here today he said a chargesheet of 129 instances of encroachment, involving 1,218 acres of land had been submitted to the …
Govt proposes cess on hydel power to fund investments
The government , announcing a policy on hydro electric development, proposed to impose a cess on consumption of power throughout the country. The cess will help in creating a fund for promotion of hydel projects. The policy, approved by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday, envisages increasing public and private investment …
Focus on forest cover increase
The Uttar Pradesh Governor, Mr. Suraj Bhan, called upon officials of various departments to undertake afforestation schemes expeditiously to increase the forest cover which would come down from 17 per cent to 2.5 per cent once Uttaranchal is created. Addressing presspersons after reviewing the development schemes and law and order …
Global meltdown fears on the rise
Survey : More than 30 per cent of Singapore-based multinational corporation managers believe a regional and global meltdown is likely, according to a survey by The Economist Conferences. It said in a statement on Friday the figure had risen from five per cent in July.
15,000 ha for reforestation
The Forest Department in Sri Lanka has received over 1000 applications from the private sector as well as from individuals for reforestation of barren state land under a new program. Under this program over 15,000 hectares will be leased out for 30 to 50 years for reforestation.
Tree species under threat
A tenth of the world's known tree species face extinction, according to a global survey by conservation groups. The three-year survey, the first of its kind, found out more than 8,750 of the 80,000-100,000 identified tree species were at risk of extinction, the main threat from the destruction of habitats …
A boost to herbal wealth in Haryana
Coming to Haryana, the State has a natural habitat for growing very rare and wild medicinal plants on the Shivalik hills and hilly tracks which provides different combinations of minerals in the soil. Right from Kalesar to Kalka, thousands of medicinal plant species are found growing in the wild. Having …
Govt, tribals deplete Chamba forests of herbs
The forest of this border district, which are a treasure trove of rare medicinal herbs, are on the verge of extinction following over-exploitation. The herbs - some of which command high prices in the international market - are fast becoming extinct thanks to Government policies coupled with the tribals' needs. …
Water tax in all civic areas
Residents of all municipalities in West Bengal will have to pay for the water they are supplied, the state public health engineering minister said today. In Calcutta-- the only place in the state where residents pay for water -- there are plans to bring all houseowners within the tax network. …
Kerala to get Rs 152 cr for afforestation
The World Bank has committed most of the funds for a programme of comprehensive afforestation being planned by the Kerala Government and envisaging an outlay of Rs. 183 crores. The first major part of the project to be implemented in the State in the post-Pokhran phase with oodles of foreign …
Trust mooted to protect grasslands, shola forests
With emphasis being laid on the need to save what is left of the Blue Mountains and protect its natural wealth, a meeting was convened by the Health Of People and Environment (HOPE) in Udhagamandalam on Sunday to chart out a plan for the formation of Trust for the protection …
Framing of policy on timber recommended
The Himachal Pradesh Forest and Environment Committee has recommended to the state government the formulation of a suitable policy on timber distribution among residents of Himachal Pradesh so that certain new measures could be taken up to meet the genuine demand.
What killed T-Rext?
Dinosaurs vanished 65 million years ago, but how they died is still a subject of debate .
Fungi to check water pollution
Bhubaneswar-based scientists have identified a fungal strain that can efficiently degrade lignin, a non-biodegradable substance found in plants, which is one of the main pollutants of paper and pulp industries.
Recycling kerosene used in textile printing
The Bombay Textile Research Association and the Petroleum Conservation Research Association have developed a Vapour Recovery System for kerosene which is normally expelled in the atmosphere by textile industries.
