In just 10 weeks since January, at least 13 tigers died, five each in January and March in various reserves across the country. Last year, 60 deaths were recorded. Now, merely 3,500 big cats are left in the wild of which 1,411 are in India.
The government is expected to set up the National Green Tribunal, the first judicial body to deal exclusively with environmental laws, over the next two months or so.
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.
Indian environment minister Jairam Ramesh said he was 'happy' at the development and believed it to be the result of 'sustained pressure brought to bear by developing countries'.
India and China have gone into a huddle over the possible existence of a Danish text, which the rich nations may wield at the climate change talks.
South Korean steel major Posco will build the $12 billion plant in Orissa in three phases and hopes to start work on four million tonne (MT) first phase soon after the land is transferred to it.
An inquiry has been ordered into reports that an allegedly radioactive contaminated ship from the United States has anchored at the ship-breaking yards of Alang in Gujarat, the government said on Wednesday. "We have got complaints that a radioactive contaminated ship has anchored at Alang. We have already ordered an inquiry into the matter and hope to get the report within the next two days," said Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.
As the company announces the launch of the Yeti, let us take a look what the crossover has on offer. . .
Forests Jairam Ramesh's ambitious plan to redesign the institutions of environmental governance has come up against serious resistance from environmental experts who say the concept does not address fundamental problems.
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday alleged that officials of Union Ministry of Environment and Forests took bribes from the state's mine-owners before Jairam Ramesh took over the ministry.
Acting on a report on rediff.com, Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh on Thursday sought a report from the Madhya Pradesh Government over the death of a tigress in the Aandhavgarh Sanctuary.
Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh was on Sunday gheraoed in Hyderabad by people opposed to the introduction of Bt Brinjal in the country.The protesters from Left-affiliated farmers' outfits and Swadeshi Jagaran Manch raised slogans like 'Bt Go Back' and mobbed the minister on the dais at an event organised at the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture in Hyderabad.
"This year the Ministry has received 579 proposals from all the State Governments under the National Afforestation Programme out of which 270 have been accorded sanction," Jairam said.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh today accused the National Democratic Alliance government of turning the programme to clean Ganga as a "Hindutva project" by attempting to polarise politics through the initiative on the holy river.
Laying out a road map for reducing the "trust deficit," between the two blocs on climate negotiations, Ramesh said there must be some visible triggers that get activated very soon to ensure that Cancun does not repeat Copenhagen.
"The polluter must pay and polluter will pay. Studies by different institutions have been commissioned for ascertaining the impact of the oil spill on the fishery sector and other economic losses," said Ramesh, replying to questions on the oil spill resulting from the collision of vessels on August 7.
'It concerns the sea and the security of the nation. What has happened is a big tragedy.'
Preparations for Copenhagen is on full swing. Minister Jairam Ramesh met 5 MPs to discuss India's approach.
Last month, the FAC passed the buck to the tribal affairs ministry to see if the project proponents violated any tribal rights.
While addressing a convention of the Vishnoi community on Tuesday at Guru Jambeshwar Dham in Churu district, Rajasthan, Union minister for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh said, " I come here not as a Minister but as a pilgrim and as a student of India's fascinating cultural and ecological history.
The case pertains to clearance given for diversion of forest land in Saranda Forest, Singhbhum District in Jharkhand to mining company Electrosteel in alleged violation of Forest (Conservation Act) in 2012.
'I will make sure that he resigns and repents for what he said. I am preparing a defamation suit and Ramesh must come down and admit to the nation that he had done wrong and this is no way to speak to the public.'
It would also hit the over 20 helipads that were being planned by corporate houses, hotels and individuals.
It took 13 years to get environmental clearance for the greenfield international airport at Navi Mumbai.
Ahead of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference starting on December 7, Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh told Parliament on Thursday that India will go with a positive frame of mind, but will not accept any legally binding cuts.
Jayanthi Natarajan, the only prominent woman leader from Tamil Nadu in the Congress and a known loyalist of the Nehru-Gandhi family, makes a comeback to the Union Council of Ministers after a gap of nearly 13 years. Natarajan, 57, has an arduous task ahead since she steps into the shoes of high profile and activist minister Jairam Ramesh, who had given considerable teeth to the environment ministry.
The divergent utterances by environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh and prime minister's special envoy on climate change Shyam Saran have created a good deal of ambiguity within and outside the country over the government's strategy for these talks.
Former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh will answer your questions at noon on Monday, September 14, 2015.
This follows concern expressed by environment and forest minister Jairam Ramesh over poor public allocations for research on the impact of climate change in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
Alarmed by the confusion created by the public expression of divergent opinions by his key advisors on climate change, the prime minister summoned Saran and Ramesh and asked them to put their heads together and come forward with an agreed text that would reflect both their concerns, a senior government official confirmed.
If a public debate ended in a near-ban on Bt brinjal, the next review could well end up the other way.
The National CDM Authority in India has accorded Host Country Approval to 1,455 projects. These projects have seen an investment of more than $33.7 billion(Rs 1.6 lakh crore).
"Like we have tiger as a national animal and peacock as a national bird, we have declared dolphins as a national aquatic animal as it represents the health of the rivers, particularly Ganga in the country," Union Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh told media persons in New Delhi.
A deadly terror attack targeting tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on Tuesday drew strong condemnation and outrage. 26 people, including two foreigners and two locals, were killed in the attack, which is the deadliest in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the perpetrators will not be spared and their evil agenda will never succeed. Opposition leaders demanded accountability, claiming the government's claims of normalcy in Kashmir have fallen flat.
CBI has also named unknown officials of the union environment ministry in the PE.
Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh's recent statement that no economic activity, including illegal mining, would be allowed in forest areas has sounded alarm bells in Bellary.
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.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh interacts with readers on Rediff Chat as he discusses the period that changed India's history, forever.
Besides a career in journalism, he had a keen interest in environmental issues and took some initiatives for the cause.
Prakash Javadekar's one year as India's minister of state (independent charge) of environment, forests and climate change has been an unmitigated disaster, says activist Himanshu Thakkar.
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