News for '-biodiversity'

SC slams NGO for opposing Jayakwadi Dam solar project

SC slams NGO for opposing Jayakwadi Dam solar project

Rediff.com2 Apr 2025

The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a petition filed by an NGO challenging the construction of a renewable energy project at the Jayakwadi Dam in Maharashtra. The court criticized the NGO for opposing the project, stating that it would be detrimental to the country's progress if every project was resisted. The court also raised questions about the NGO's bona fides and funding, suggesting that it may have been influenced by a company that lost the tender for the project. The project, a floating solar power plant, was approved by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. The NGT had previously dismissed the NGO's plea, stating that it could not find any law prohibiting such activities in the eco-sensitive zone. The Supreme Court upheld the NGT's decision, finding no grounds to interfere.

Auction of TN's Nayakkarpatti tungsten mineral block cancelled

Auction of TN's Nayakkarpatti tungsten mineral block cancelled

Rediff.com23 Jan 2025

The government on Thursday said it has cancelled the auction of Tamil Nadu's Nayakkarpatti tungsten mineral block which is near the Arittapatti Biodiversity site and a number of cultural heritage sites. Tungsten is a critical and strategic mineral.

India's 'Tiger Man' Valmik Thapar dies at 73

India's 'Tiger Man' Valmik Thapar dies at 73

Rediff.com31 May 2025

Thapar had strong reservations about Project Cheetah, India's initiative to reintroduce African cheetahs into the wild. He argued that India does not have the necessary habitat or prey base to support free-ranging cheetahs and that the authorities lacked experience in managing spotted felines in the wild.

Major oil leak triggers alert after cargo ship sinks off Kerala coast

Major oil leak triggers alert after cargo ship sinks off Kerala coast

Rediff.com25 May 2025

A Liberian cargo ship carrying 640 containers, including 13 hazardous cargoes, has sunk off the coast of Kerala, raising concerns of environmental damage. The ship, MSC ELSA 3, capsized and sank in the early hours of May 25 after listing rapidly. The three remaining crew members were rescued by the Indian Navy. The Indian Coast Guard is monitoring the situation for any oil spills and has positioned a ship with pollution response equipment at the scene. The ship was carrying 84.44 MT of diesel and 367.1 MT of furnace oil, in addition to the hazardous cargo. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has cautioned the public against touching any cargo containers or oil spills that may wash ashore.

Trump calls US aid for India's voter turnout a 'kickback scheme'

Trump calls US aid for India's voter turnout a 'kickback scheme'

Rediff.com21 Feb 2025

After United States President Donald Trump again raised the issue of alleged US funding of $21 million for voter turnout in India and 'kickbacks', the Bharatiya Janata Party has alleged that the money was used to sustain 'deep state assets' in India and demanded a probe into the matter.

Why Kerala Opposes Sand Sea Mining

Why Kerala Opposes Sand Sea Mining

Rediff.com19 Apr 2025

If as critics point out, the environmental impact assessment study was commissioned only after the auction process got underway with not all the stakeholders getting to know of it, then the government has already compromised the trust it could have enjoyed with Kerala's public including its coastal communities, points out Shyam G Menon.

Elon Musk-led DOGE cancels aid for 'voter turnout in India'

Elon Musk-led DOGE cancels aid for 'voter turnout in India'

Rediff.com16 Feb 2025

The United States Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk has announced cancelling a $22 million funding intended for 'voter turnout in India' on Saturday (Local Time).

Did US meddle in Indian elections? Trump drops big hint

Did US meddle in Indian elections? Trump drops big hint

Rediff.com20 Feb 2025

Trump further pointed out India's strong economic position and high tariffs on US goods, stating, "They got a lot of money. They're one of the highest taxing countries in the world in terms of us. We can hardly get in there because their tariffs are so high."

'Zero-For-Zero Tariff Is Best Medicine For India'

'Zero-For-Zero Tariff Is Best Medicine For India'

Rediff.com21 Apr 2025

'No retaliatory tariffs now. You can retaliate after a few months.' 'Today, there is no need to retaliate because it is a question of long term benefits.'

'I Had No Worry About Getting A Bad Name'

'I Had No Worry About Getting A Bad Name'

Rediff.com23 Apr 2025

'I enjoyed my fiery exchanges with Akshay Kumar, who was extremely gracious and generous when the camera was not rolling. I enjoyed locking horns with him in court.'

Gaganyaan, Samudrayaan, Chandrayaan-4 launch schedules are out

Gaganyaan, Samudrayaan, Chandrayaan-4 launch schedules are out

Rediff.com6 Feb 2025

Chandrayaan-4 will involve at least two separate launches of the heavylift LVM-3 rocket that will carry five different components of the mission which will be assembled in orbit.

Why are we giving $21 million to India?: Trump on DOGE cut

Why are we giving $21 million to India?: Trump on DOGE cut

Rediff.com19 Feb 2025

Trump made these remarks after Elon Musk-led DOGE's (Department of Government Efficiency) disclosed that USAID contributed USD 21 million to Election Commission for boosting voter turnout.

Ex-IFS officers urge PM to drop Aravalli safari project

Ex-IFS officers urge PM to drop Aravalli safari project

Rediff.com10 Feb 2025

A group of retired forest officers has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding the immediate scrapping of the 10,000-acre safari project in Haryana's Aravallis, arguing that it will harm the environment and wildlife. They highlight the "alarming destruction" of the Aravallis due to mining, quarrying, real estate development, and deforestation, and warn that the project could disturb aquifers crucial for water-starved districts. The retired officers also emphasize the importance of protecting the Aravallis, which is the only significant forest cover in Haryana, for its role in restoring humidity and rainfall in the region.

Only God or Modi can...: BJP's Bidhuri in Lok Sabha

Only God or Modi can...: BJP's Bidhuri in Lok Sabha

Rediff.com3 Feb 2025

Lok Sabha on Monday turned into a battleground for the Delhi assembly polls with Bharatiya Janata Party member Ramvir Singh Bidhuri launching an all-out attack on the Aam Aadmi Party government, alleging that they 'looted' the national capital and turned it into 'hell'.

Be Prepared! Heat Waves Coming!

Be Prepared! Heat Waves Coming!

Rediff.com1 Apr 2025

'The intensity and frequency of heatwaves will be much higher than in previous years over Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.'

Now, Trump says $21 million went to 'my friend Modi' for voter turnout

Now, Trump says $21 million went to 'my friend Modi' for voter turnout

Rediff.com22 Feb 2025

United States President Donald Trump for the fourth time in recent days claimed that the Biden administration allocated $21 million funding to India for 'voter turnout', evoking a sharp response from the Congress which urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to 'talk to his friend' and strongly refute the allegation.

How Manmohan Singh safeguarded environment and tribal rights

How Manmohan Singh safeguarded environment and tribal rights

Rediff.com27 Dec 2024

Under his leadership, India launched the National Action Plan on Climate Change, passed the landmark Forest Rights Act to protect the rights of tribal communities and established the National Green Tribunal to safeguard the environment through swift legal action.

Rich-poor divide comes to fore at biodiversity meet

Rich-poor divide comes to fore at biodiversity meet

Rediff.com20 Oct 2012

As a compromise formula, India proposed targets could be revised at the subsequent CBD summits, scheduled to be held every 2 years till 2020.

Modi, Macron fly together to Marseille, open new Indian consulate

Modi, Macron fly together to Marseille, open new Indian consulate

Rediff.com12 Feb 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron have called for enhancing trade and investment ties between their countries and committed to further deepening their engagement in the Indo-Pacific. They discussed a full spectrum of bilateral relations, including key global and regional issues, and stressed the urgent need for reform in the United Nations Security Council. The leaders also underscored their commitment to ensuring the global AI sector can drive positive social, economic, and environmental outcomes.

Which Would You Choose: Gelephu or Neom?

Which Would You Choose: Gelephu or Neom?

Rediff.com6 Dec 2024

Live on one of Gelephu's inhabitable bridges where elephants will saunter past, be it day or night; or be homed in a never-ending building with flying cars and robot maids? asks ambivalent Sandeep Goyal.

World Bank nods $23.5m biodiversity loan for India

World Bank nods $23.5m biodiversity loan for India

Rediff.com19 May 2011

The Biodiversity Conservation and Rural Livelihood Improvement Project will conserve biodiversity, while improving rural livelihoods by applying culturally appropriate and tested participatory approaches to support opportunities for improving rural livelihoods, the Bank said in a statement.

India to host 11th COP on biodiversity in 2012

India to host 11th COP on biodiversity in 2012

Rediff.com5 Jan 2010

As a mark of its commitment to biodiversity conservation, India will host the eleventh Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in October 2012.

Questions India needs to ask on world biodiversity day

Questions India needs to ask on world biodiversity day

Rediff.com22 May 2013

India is the chair of Convention on Biological Diversity till 2014. India has the chance to lead the world with setting high standards on biodiversity protection within India and with operations outside. We should also shift our energy paradigm slowly away from dirty destructive practice of coal mining into cleaner sources of energy, says Nandikesh Sivalingam.

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.

Pixxel Gets An Order From NASA

Pixxel Gets An Order From NASA

Rediff.com10 Sep 2024

This is the first deal by an Indian startup after the sector was opened to private companies in 2020.

RCB Restores Bengaluru Lakes

RCB Restores Bengaluru Lakes

Rediff.com19 Apr 2024

RCB cricketers will don green jerseys in their IPL 2024 game against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on Sunday, April 21, 2024.

'Landslides Used To Be Quite Frequent In The Olden Days'

'Landslides Used To Be Quite Frequent In The Olden Days'

Rediff.com2 Aug 2024

'Except that the population was much less.' 'I remember my uncle and family moving away from the base of a hill whenever it rained for more than a couple of days without a dry day in between.' 'Perhaps the older generations knew if it rained for more than a certain time, they must pack up to a camp or to a relative.' 'As some of the interviews of the survivors on the Malayalam television channels show, the elderly people had a premonition a tragedy would happen, and those who acted on those premonitions survived.'

The Great Tiger Quiz!

The Great Tiger Quiz!

Rediff.com7 May 2024

Get to know our tiger parks.

Tackling Heatwaves In Cities

Tackling Heatwaves In Cities

Rediff.com26 Jun 2024

As Singapore, New York and Melbourne have shown, cities can mitigate the impact of heatwaves if they have the will to create green infrastructure, explain Amit Kapoor & Bibek Debroy.

Ex-bureaucrats seek Green Credits scheme withdrawal

Ex-bureaucrats seek Green Credits scheme withdrawal

Rediff.com20 Mar 2024

A group of 91 retired bureaucrats has appealed to the Centre to withdraw the Green Credits programme, which they claimed may facilitate diversion of forest land to private entities. "Quick, smooth and easy diversion of our forest lands in favour of user agencies is apparently the sole intention of this set of Green Credits rules. "We urge the MOEFCC to recognise this danger and withdraw the Green Credits notification expeditiously," the group of former civil servants wrote in an open letter to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

Public trust thrown in waste bin: SC on illegal construction in Corbett

Public trust thrown in waste bin: SC on illegal construction in Corbett

Rediff.com6 Mar 2024

The apex court directed the CBI, which is already probing the case, to file its status report in the matter within three months.

Panic as leopard enters Delhi home, injures 8

Panic as leopard enters Delhi home, injures 8

Rediff.com2 Apr 2024

A leopard strayed into a village in north Delhi's Wazirabad early on Monday, creating panic in the area and injuring eight residents before being tranquillised by forest department officials after an over five-hour-long rescue operation.

Godrej split: Who gets to keep what

Godrej split: Who gets to keep what

Rediff.com1 May 2024

Jamshyd Naoroji Godrej and his sister Smita Crishna Godrej-controlled Godrej & Boyce will hold the exclusive construction rights over a vast land bank, including a prime 3,000 acre-property in Mumbai, they got as part of the family agreement that split the Godrej empire, as per sources and regulatory filing. According to the agreement reached late Tuesday, the 127-year-oldgets to keep what group will be split into two entities - one led by Adi Godrej and his brother Nadir and the other by their cousins Jamshyd and Smita.

Despite odds, economists confident of India growth story: WEF study

Despite odds, economists confident of India growth story: WEF study

Rediff.com15 Sep 2023

Most economists expect the global economy to weaken in the coming year amid political and financial volatility, but a large majority of over 90 per cent are confident of moderate or strong growth in South Asia, notably India, a survey showed on Friday. At the same time, the outlook for China has dimmed following signs of deflationary pressures and fragility in the country's real estate market, the World Economic Forum's latest 'Chief Economists Outlook' report said. As the world grapples with political and financial volatility, almost six in 10 believe the global economic outlook will undermine progress towards meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with 74 per cent saying geopolitical tensions will have the same effect.

'Tamil voters don't like to be told what to do'

'Tamil voters don't like to be told what to do'

Rediff.com16 Apr 2024

'Modi is trying avenues to convince people why they should vote for the BJP.'

Cost of living crisis biggest short-term risk: WEF

Cost of living crisis biggest short-term risk: WEF

Rediff.com11 Jan 2023

The cost of living crisis is the biggest short-term risk the world is facing, while the failure of climate mitigation and climate adaptation is the largest long-term concern, the World Economic Forum said on Wednesday. Releasing its annual Global Risks report in London ahead of its Davos summit next week, the WEF also said geopolitical rivalries and inward-looking stances will heighten economic constraints and further exacerbate both short- and long-term risks. The Global Risks 2023 report, drawing on views of over 1,200 experts, policy-makers and industry leaders from across the world, also urged countries to work together to avoid 'resource rivalries'.

Villagers opposing Barsu refinery project meet Sharad Pawar, raise concerns

Villagers opposing Barsu refinery project meet Sharad Pawar, raise concerns

Rediff.com30 Apr 2023

A section of residents in and around Barsu have been opposing the proposed refinery as they fear the mega project will adversely affect the fragile biodiversity of the coastal Konkan region and also hit their livelihood.

Land acquisition process for cheetah safari near Kuno underway, says official

Land acquisition process for cheetah safari near Kuno underway, says official

Rediff.com17 Sep 2023

Environment ministry is organising various programmes at Sesaipura related to Project Cheetah.

'We View Wildlife As A Threat'

'We View Wildlife As A Threat'

Rediff.com16 Feb 2024

'We need to understand and respect wildlife behaviour.'

How to Get A Scholarship At Oxford

How to Get A Scholarship At Oxford

Rediff.com17 Apr 2023

The Savitribai Phule Graduate Scholarship will cover course fee to study at Somerville College, University of Oxford and a grant for living costs.