The Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KPCB) is on high alert after a Liberian vessel carrying hazardous cargo sank off the Kerala coast. While no calcium carbide containers have washed ashore yet, a thin layer of oil spill has been detected. The KPCB is working to contain the spill and prevent it from reaching the shore, but rough conditions at sea have hampered efforts to spray dispersants. The board is also taking steps to prevent the oil from reaching the Ashtamudi and Vembanad lakes.
Madhya Pradesh police have registered five cases against protesters in Pithampur who opposed the planned disposal of 337 tonnes of toxic waste linked to the Bhopal gas tragedy. Protests erupted on Friday after the waste reached Ramky Enviro company, where the incineration is to be carried out. Authorities imposed prohibitory orders, and police dispersed a mob that marched to the company premises. Two people attempted self-immolation during the protests, but were prevented by the crowd. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the state government only transported the waste with safety parameters in compliance with court orders.
The five initial public offerings (IPOs) that closed on Monday attracted cumulative bids worth Rs 1.4 trillion against Rs 2,909 crore they were looking to raise. These offerings were subscribed between 11 and 195 times. Mamata Machinery, a limited manufacturer of machines used for making plastic bags, saw the highest oversubscription at 195x.
All the three companies that made their stock market debut on Wednesday delivered huge day-one gains for investors. Shares of digital payment major One Mobikwik Systems surged 90 per cent, while that of fashion retailer Vishal Mega Mart and pharma firm Sai Life Sciences gained around 40 per cent each. These stellar debuts came despite the benchmark indices logging continuous declines since their initial public offerings (IPOs) closed on Friday.
Residents of Tarpura village near Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, are protesting against the incineration of 337 tons of toxic waste from the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy at a local facility. They fear the process will be hazardous to health and the environment, despite government assurances. The protest comes after the Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered the transfer of the waste to Pithampur within four weeks. The incident has raised concerns about the potential contamination of soil, underground water, and water sources in the area. The administration has deployed a large police force and held meetings with local residents to address their concerns.
Mahanagar Gas (MGL) has just hiked prices for compressed natural gas (CNG) and domestic piped natural gas (PNG) in the Mumbai Metro Area. The distributor raised prices by Rs 1.50 per kilogramme (kg) for CNG, bringing the price up to Rs 75 per kg, including taxes. Domestic PNG prices were hiked from Rs 1 per standard cubic meter (SCM) to Rs 48 per SCM, inclusive of taxes.
NMDC reported a strong standalone revenue at Rs 5,410 crore, rising 45 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) and 35 per cent quarter-on-quarter (Q-o-q) in line with consensus. Iron ore sales at about 11.4 million tonnes (MT) grew 18.9 per cent Y-o-Y (19 per cent Q-o-Q). Realisation stood at Rs 4,679 per tonne, higher by 22 per cent Y-o-Y (12.9 per cent Q-o-Q).
Bankrupt Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) has sold the entire stake in the waste management arm IL&FS Environmental Infrastructure & Services (IEISL) and its subsidiaries to EverEnviro Resource Management (EverEnviro), an arm of the PE major Everstone Group, the companies said in separate statements. Though the value of the deal was not specifically disclosed, the crippled IL&FS -- which is under bankruptcy proceedings in NCLT -- said the sale will reduce its overall debt by Rs 1,200 crore, which is the combined debt of entities under the group's environment businesses. IL&FS Environmental Infrastructure & Services (IEISL) is one of the leading integrated waste management companies that is into municipal solid waste management apart from presence across various segments including construction and demolition, collection and transportation and waste to energy and currently manages over 8,400 tonnes per day solid municipal waste.
The Environment and Forests Ministry has put on hold construction of Nirma's 1.91 tonne per annum capacity cement plant, along with its captive power and coke oven plant near Padhiarka village in Bhavnagar district. It has sent them a show-cause notice, as to why its environment clearance of December 2008 should not be revoked.
Former India cricket captain, Kapil Dev Nikanj,on Monday entered into a marketing agreement with South Africa-based Enviro-Light Technologies, promoted by former South African captain Clive Rice to launch eco-friendly street lights in India.
'People should realise that what we are fighting for today is actually for tomorrow, for future generations.'
Collusion between ruling parties, corporate donations under Companies Bill is hidden. Environmental concerns made subservient to Cabinet Committee on Investment and regulatory agencies made toothless. Promotion of hazardous technologies for generating power from waste is anti-public health, say activist Gopal Krishna.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma has protested, on behalf of the corporate sector, against the Union environment and forests ministry's 'unreasonable environment regulations' being clamped on the industrial projects.
The CAG report had alleged the government had passed on financial gains of Rs 1.86 lakh crore to private companies by not auctioning the coal blocks.
If you are one of those who frets about the health hazards caused by mobile phone radiation, then help - in the form of a chip - is at hand.
The airline industry, one of the major contributors of CO2 emissions, has been doing its bit for a better world environment by investing in research on alternative energy sources.
Karthik Tirupathi, an expert in in Japanese language, management and culture training, addressed queries on learning and working in Japan in achat with readers. Here's the transcript.
United Nations has launched an internet campaign aimed at tourists to encourage them to be eco-conscious even while holidaying. Named Green Passport, it guides tourists to do things that are environment-friendly when they are on a vacation. It advises tourists to choose eco-friendly destinations, reduce energy consumption, pay fair wages to hotel workers and buy locally made, environmentally-friendly souvenirs. The site has been opened by United Nations Environment Programme.
India and China are becoming engines of growth and must use their natural and human resources, technology and capital for the benefit of the region, said the prime minister.
Dayanidhi Maran lost his job following a family spat.
It is imperative to have a level-playing field between businesses of India and China before initiating negotiations towards a possible bilateral trade agreement, FICCI said.
Posco's mega steel plant in Orissa is inching forward with the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests clearing a proposal under which Posco will plant trees on an area equivalent in size to the forest land where the project is coming up.
Civil Aviation ministry has cancelled approval to the controversial private airport project at Aranmula in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala.
Investment by US PE firm KKR will add fire to Ambani's battle for dominance in the retail market that is also being eyed by Jeff Bezos' Amazon and Walmart's Flipkart.
Instead of the minority stake they held earlier, now they have controlling stake in many firms
Geetanjali Krishna looks at how one organisation's unique idea is helping marginalised communities to gain legal access.
'People shouldn't be made to pay a bigger price for being eco-friendly.'
The BSF opened fire in Pakharpora near Charar-e-Sharif area to quell stone-pelting protesters in which at least one person was killed and five injured.
India on Friday signed the historic Paris climate agreement in the United Nations along with more than 170 nations.
Analysts predict TCS's outlook to be stable.
The Tata group-owned budget hotel chain is going back to drawing board to reboot the brand. Is it too late?
Renewable energy is mistakenly restricted to electricity.
For India, the talks will work as another opportunity to sharpen its positions ahead of the formal UN negotiations.
Almost every home in this area has a slogan 'Jal, Jangal, Jameen' painted outside. Rashme Sehgal reports for Rediff.com on the four-year battle to save the Mahan forest in Madhya Pradesh.