News for 'union-environment'

Urged Modi in 2010 to conserve Great Indian Bustard: Jairam Ramesh

Urged Modi in 2010 to conserve Great Indian Bustard: Jairam Ramesh

Rediff.com29 Mar 2026

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh recalls writing to Narendra Modi in 2010 about conserving the Great Indian Bustard, amid recent announcements of successful conservation efforts.

Kuno welcomes 3 new cubs, Indian cheetah count rises to 38

Kuno welcomes 3 new cubs, Indian cheetah count rises to 38

Rediff.com18 Feb 2026

cheetah Gamini was translocated to India from South Africa as part of the ambitious project to revive the population of the world's fastest land animal in India, which had gone extinct decades ago.

Miscreants set afire forest created by 'Forest Man of India' in Assam

Miscreants set afire forest created by 'Forest Man of India' in Assam

Rediff.com30 Dec 2025

A man-made forest created by Padma Shri awardee Jadav Payeng, known as 'Forest Man of India', was substantially damaged after miscreants set it on fire. An investigation has been ordered.

Aravalli definition on hold as SC orders expert review

Aravalli definition on hold as SC orders expert review

Rediff.com29 Dec 2025

The Supreme Court has kept in abeyance its previous verdict on the definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges and proposed a high-powered committee to examine the issue.

Mining legal on 0.19% of area covered by Aravallis: Govt

Mining legal on 0.19% of area covered by Aravallis: Govt

Rediff.com22 Dec 2025

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav accuses the Congress of spreading misinformation regarding the new definition of the Aravallis and defends the government's commitment to protecting the mountain range while allowing limited, legal mining.

'Thar Desert Will Reach Delhi Soon'

'Thar Desert Will Reach Delhi Soon'

Rediff.com11 Dec 2025

'The natural barrier that is Aravalli, you are demolishing it, then who will stop the desert?' 'In future, I predict that people will roam around with oxygen cylinders in Delhi because they won't be able to breathe.'

Maha steps up efforts to bring back elephant Mahadevi from Guj after stir

Maha steps up efforts to bring back elephant Mahadevi from Guj after stir

Rediff.com2 Aug 2025

Maharashtra minister Prakash Abitkar said efforts are underway to bring back elephant Mahadevi from a rescue center in Gujarat. The elephant was relocated following a court order due to health concerns. Local leaders are protesting the relocation and seeking her return.

Kolhapur: Thousands march to bring back Mahadevi from Vantara

Kolhapur: Thousands march to bring back Mahadevi from Vantara

Rediff.com3 Aug 2025

Thousands of people participated in a 'silent march' in Kolhapur on Sunday, demanding that 36-year-old female elephant Mahadevi (also called Madhuri), be brought back from Vantara wildlife rescue, treatment, and rehabilitation centre in Gujarat's Jamnagar district.

Speculation mounts after Shivakumar meets Priyanka Gandhi

Speculation mounts after Shivakumar meets Priyanka Gandhi

Rediff.com9 Jul 2025

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar met senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, fueling speculation about a leadership change in the state. The meeting occurs amid reports of Shivakumar pressing for the chief minister's post.

Artificial rain in Delhi? AAP govt seeks Centre's nod to combat air

Artificial rain in Delhi? AAP govt seeks Centre's nod to combat air

Rediff.com19 Nov 2024

Amid Delhi's worsening air quality, which has plunged into the severe plus category with an AQI consistently above 450, Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday called for immediate intervention from the central government.

Sangam water was fit for bathing during Maha Kumbh: Centre

Sangam water was fit for bathing during Maha Kumbh: Centre

Rediff.com10 Mar 2025

The Indian government has stated that the water in the Ganga river at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj was fit for bathing during the recently concluded Maha Kumbh, citing a new report from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The report, however, contradicts an earlier CPCB report that found high faecal coliform levels at several locations in Prayagraj during the Maha Kumbh. The government also highlighted measures taken to ensure water quality during the event, including the installation of sewage treatment plants and the use of advanced oxidation techniques to treat wastewater.

What Modi Can Learn From Trump's DOGE

What Modi Can Learn From Trump's DOGE

Rediff.com28 Nov 2024

'Our politicians solely depend on bureaucrats who are unaccountable and follow their own agenda.' 'Our politicians would dare not dream of establishing a DOGE,' argues Lieutenant General Prakash Katoch (retd).

Tribals launch protests against eviction from 54 tiger reserves

Tribals launch protests against eviction from 54 tiger reserves

Rediff.com29 Sep 2024

The tribal communities, asserting their rights under the Forest Rights Act, are now planning to gather in Delhi to demand "justice" for their livelihoods and traditions that are closely linked to the forests.

MP hides behind national security clause on Project Cheetah

MP hides behind national security clause on Project Cheetah

Rediff.com24 Jul 2024

The Madhya Pradesh forest department has refused to provide information under the Right to Information Act on management of cheetahs brought from Africa and their cubs born in India.

After 6 years, CBI closes graft case against ex-minister Jayanthi Natarajan

After 6 years, CBI closes graft case against ex-minister Jayanthi Natarajan

Rediff.com28 Nov 2023

After six years of probe, the Central Bureau of Investigation filed the closure report before a special court last week as it could not find enough evidence in the case to proceed with prosecution, the officials said.

Govt defends Great Nicobar project amid criticism, cites national interest

Govt defends Great Nicobar project amid criticism, cites national interest

Rediff.com26 Aug 2024

The central government's Great Nicobar development project, proposed around an unprecedented transhipment port, will be executed to keep environmental impact minimal, and is essential as it is of national importance, the government has said amid calls to abort the controversial project due to ecological concerns, the Centre said in an official statement.

Namibian cheetah 'Jwala' gives birth to 3 cubs in Kuno

Namibian cheetah 'Jwala' gives birth to 3 cubs in Kuno

Rediff.com23 Jan 2024

Jwala (Namibian name Siyaya) had also given birth to four cubs last March. However, only one of them survived.

How Modi Has Been Cut To Size

How Modi Has Been Cut To Size

Rediff.com6 Sep 2024

In the event of the BJP's poor performance in the assembly polls this year and in early 2025, Modi's hold will get further weakened because he will no longer remain the invincible electoral persona tightly controlling the machine at his disposal, asserts Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.

Forest rights activist Alok Shukla gets 'Green Nobel'

Forest rights activist Alok Shukla gets 'Green Nobel'

Rediff.com30 Apr 2024

Forest and tribal rights activist Alok Shukla will on Friday receive the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize -- 2024 for successfully leading a community campaign that saved 4.45 lakh acres of biodiversity-rich forests from 21 planned coal mines in Chhattisgarh.

13 Union ministers bite the dust as Modi magic fails

13 Union ministers bite the dust as Modi magic fails

Rediff.com5 Jun 2024

BJP heavyweights Smriti Irani, Arjun Munda, Ajay Mishra Teni and Kailash Chaudhary were among the 13 Union ministers who tasted defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, as stunning losses in three Hindi heartland states forced the BJP to rely on allies to form the government.

Union environment ministry is in disarray: Goa CM Parrikar

Union environment ministry is in disarray: Goa CM Parrikar

Rediff.com13 Sep 2012

A day after the Union ministry of environment and forest suspended the environmental clearances for all the 93 mining leases in Goa, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that he will appeal to prime minister to "set things right" in the green ministry headed by Jayanti Natarajan.

Adani advisor in environment ministry panel sparks uproar

Adani advisor in environment ministry panel sparks uproar

Rediff.com14 Nov 2023

Janardan Choudhary, a key advisor to Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL), was named as one of the seven non-institutional members by the Union Environment Ministry when it reconstituted the Expert Appraisal Committee for hydroelectricity and river valley projects in September.

Coming Soon! The Bullet Train!

Coming Soon! The Bullet Train!

Rediff.com5 Mar 2024

With land acquisition completed and infrastructure work streamlined, India's bullet train dreams are slowly, but finally, inching closer to reality.

Govt stops tourism activities at holy Jain site after protests

Govt stops tourism activities at holy Jain site after protests

Rediff.com5 Jan 2023

The Union Environment Ministry sent a office memorandum to the state in this regard following directions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said.

Kuno has enough prey, no plan to shift cheetahs: Centre

Kuno has enough prey, no plan to shift cheetahs: Centre

Rediff.com22 Jun 2023

He said the cheetahs are adapting to the weather and the habitat and establishing their territories and "we should give them time to do that".

Centre, Jh'khand won't convert Jain site into tourism hub: NCM chief

Centre, Jh'khand won't convert Jain site into tourism hub: NCM chief

Rediff.com18 Jan 2023

The NCM had said earlier that it had received various representations from the Jain community regarding the conversion of Jain pilgrimage site Shri Sammed Shikharji Hill into an eco-tourism hub by the Jharkhand government and the central dispensation.

Second batch of 12 S African cheetahs may reach MP's Kuno this month

Second batch of 12 S African cheetahs may reach MP's Kuno this month

Rediff.com4 Jan 2023

Discussions with South African authorities to translocate 12 cheetahs to Kuno are at an advanced stage

Cheetahs that arrived in MP from SA in 2-8 age group: Expert

Cheetahs that arrived in MP from SA in 2-8 age group: Expert

Rediff.com18 Feb 2023

Three of the cheetahs have been born in June 2020, comprising two female and one male, while the second oldest of the lot is seven years and ten months old, they added.

ED seizes beach resort, land of Uddav aide Parab in money laundering probe

ED seizes beach resort, land of Uddav aide Parab in money laundering probe

Rediff.com19 Jul 2023

The ED had attached Sai Resort NX, constructed over the land located at Gut no: 446, Murud in Ratnagiri's Dapoli, in January.

Cheetah from Namibia gives birth to 4 cubs in Kuno park

Cheetah from Namibia gives birth to 4 cubs in Kuno park

Rediff.com29 Mar 2023

A cheetah translocated from Namibia to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh has given birth to four healthy cubs, officials said on Wednesday.

Female cheetah dies in Kuno after mating gone wrong, 3rd death in 42 days

Female cheetah dies in Kuno after mating gone wrong, 3rd death in 42 days

Rediff.com9 May 2023

Female cheetah 'Daksha', translocated to Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park from South Africa, died on Tuesday, a forest official said.

India won't fence cheetah habitats: Govt panel chief

India won't fence cheetah habitats: Govt panel chief

Rediff.com1 Jun 2023

Experts from South Africa and Namibia, who are helping reintroduce cheetahs in India, have recommended fencing their habitats to prevent poaching, habitat fragmentation and minimise human-animal conflict.

12 cheetahs from South Africa en route to India

12 cheetahs from South Africa en route to India

Rediff.com16 Feb 2023

Presently, the eight cheetahs at Kuno are killing a prey every three-four days and are in good health, officials said.

Cheetah deaths: African experts tell Indian govt to...

Cheetah deaths: African experts tell Indian govt to...

Rediff.com4 Aug 2023

Younger cheetahs that are habituated to management vehicles and human presence are preferred candidates for relocation to India, international experts involved in Project Cheetah have told the government based on lessons learnt from the initial experience in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park.

India has 3682 tigers, home to 75% of global numbers

India has 3682 tigers, home to 75% of global numbers

Rediff.com29 Jul 2023

With a 50 per cent increase in the last four years, Madhya Pradesh has the maximum number (785) of tigers in the country, followed by Karnataka (563), Uttarakhand (560), and Maharashtra (444), according to the data.

SC says it's concerned about risk factors of GM mustard

SC says it's concerned about risk factors of GM mustard

Rediff.com24 Jan 2023

The Supreme Court observed on Tuesday it is more concerned about the risk factors than anything else when it comes to the conditional approval granted by the Centre for environmental release of genetically modified (GM) mustard. On October 25 last year, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under the Union environment ministry had approved the environmental release of transgenic mustard hybrid DMH-11 and the parental lines containing barnase, barstar and bar genes so they can be used for developing new hybrids. The apex court is hearing separate pleas by activist Aruna Rodrigues and NGO 'Gene Campaign' seeking a moratorium on the release of any genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the environment pending a comprehensive, transparent and rigorous bio-safety protocol in the public domain conducted by agencies of independent expert bodies the results of which are made public.

Ban on single-use plastic items kicks in

Ban on single-use plastic items kicks in

Rediff.com1 Jul 2022

The ban on certain single-use plastic (SUP) items kicks in from Friday, with state governments initiating an enforcement campaign to identify and close down units engaging in production, distribution, stocking and sale of such items, officials said. Though several manufacturers have said they are not prepared to implement the ban due to a lack of alternatives, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav had on Tuesday said the government had given enough time to the industry and the general public to prepare for the ban on SUP items and it hopes for everyone's cooperation in implementing it from July 1. Violation of the ban will invite punitive action, including a fine or a jail term or both, detailed under Section 15 of the Environment Protection Act (EPA) and under bylaws of respective municipal corporations, officials in the Union environment ministry said.

5 more cheetahs to be released for free-ranging in Kuno ahead of monsoon

5 more cheetahs to be released for free-ranging in Kuno ahead of monsoon

Rediff.com8 May 2023

It also said the cheetahs will be allowed to move out of KNP and will not necessarily be "recaptured unless they venture into areas where they are in significant danger".

Kerala floods put focus back on worsening situation in Western Ghats

Kerala floods put focus back on worsening situation in Western Ghats

Rediff.com19 Oct 2021

Gadgil and the report prepared by the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) headed by him are back in news after over two dozen people lost their lives in landslides and flash floods in the past few days in the hilly regions of Western Ghats in central Kerala districts of Kottayam and Idukki.

India welcomes 12 cheetahs from S Africa; count rises to 20

India welcomes 12 cheetahs from S Africa; count rises to 20

Rediff.com18 Feb 2023

There are now 10 male cheetahs and as many females at MP's Kuno National Park.