News for 'forest department'

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.

How two ministers made tribals lose control over forests

How two ministers made tribals lose control over forests

Rediff.com7 Jan 2016

Nitin Gadkari and Prakash Javdekar lobbied Jual Oram to change process, that may now open a Pandora's box.

Shoot order for man-eater leopard in Udaipur after killing 7 people

Shoot order for man-eater leopard in Udaipur after killing 7 people

Rediff.com3 Oct 2024

Locals say leopards never attacked humans before, but the pattern seems to have broken with repeated skirmishes.

U'khand forest officials shifted over tree-felling in Corbett

U'khand forest officials shifted over tree-felling in Corbett

Rediff.com26 Nov 2021

More than two dozen officials of the Uttarakhand forest department have been transferred following allegations of large scale felling of trees and illegal constructions in Corbett Tiger Reserve's buffer zone.

Railways, forest dept join forces to save wild elephants

Railways, forest dept join forces to save wild elephants

Rediff.com16 Nov 2011

Meet to devise strategy to minimise elephant deaths due to train-hits. K Anurag reports

Aided by rain, forest fires doused in Uttarakhand

Aided by rain, forest fires doused in Uttarakhand

Rediff.com5 May 2016

Meanwhile, the administration claimed it was fully prepared to deal with fresh fires in case they break out anywhere in the state due to a change in the weather.

Man offers water to cheetahs in MP; disciplinary action initiated

Man offers water to cheetahs in MP; disciplinary action initiated

Rediff.com6 Apr 2025

In the clip of about 40 seconds, a man is seen pouring water from a can into a pan, following which five cheetahs sitting under the shadow in the vicinity walk up to the utensil and start drinking the water.

Why This Elephant Triggers Outrage In Maharashtra

Why This Elephant Triggers Outrage In Maharashtra

Rediff.com6 Aug 2025

A Supreme Court order relocating an elephant to a care facility in Vantara has sparked public outrage in Maharashtra by putting the state government in a difficult position over issues of animal welfare and public sentiment.

Baghel's son got Rs 250 cr in liquor 'scam': Chargesheet

Baghel's son got Rs 250 cr in liquor 'scam': Chargesheet

Rediff.com22 Dec 2025

The Anti-Corruption Bureau/Economic Offence Wing (ACB/EOW) has claimed in its chargesheet that Chaitanya, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, received Rs 200 crore to Rs 250 crore as his share from an alleged liquor scam in the state.

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.

Theni forest fire toll mounts to 11; forest officer suspended

Theni forest fire toll mounts to 11; forest officer suspended

Rediff.com13 Mar 2018

The 'Chennai Trekking Club' has blamed the local farmers for the fire that engulfed the area.

New GDP series to improve informal sector estimates

New GDP series to improve informal sector estimates

Rediff.com1 Jan 2026

India's new national accounts will leverage new data sources and surveys to enhance the measurement of the country's informal economy, and introduce double deflation methods across sectors, replacing the current system that relies on a single deflation mechanism in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) calculations.

Assam: Ultras release abducted forest officials

Assam: Ultras release abducted forest officials

Rediff.com6 Mar 2012

Two senior Assam Forest Department officials who were abducted by tribal militants on March 3 last in Karbi Anglong hill district of Assam were released by their abductors in the wee hours on Tuesday.

'Maoist Leadership Has Been Totally Eliminated'

'Maoist Leadership Has Been Totally Eliminated'

Rediff.com13 Jan 2026

'The Maoist leadership spread fear that surrender meant torture or death. Once that false narrative collapsed and our operations proved transparent and credible, the surrender momentum became irreversible.' 'From 42,000 square kilometres, Maoist activity is now confined to barely 500-600 square kilometres -- less than two per cent of Bastar. This is their last remaining base area.'

Top Maoist leader Madvi Hidma killed in encounter

Top Maoist leader Madvi Hidma killed in encounter

Rediff.com18 Nov 2025

Top Naxalite commander Madvi Hidma, who had masterminded several attacks over the last two decades, was killed in an encounter in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, a breakthrough Chhattisgarh Police described as the 'last nail in the coffin' of the insurgency.

'Girls Are Taking A Leap Of Faith Every Day'

'Girls Are Taking A Leap Of Faith Every Day'

Rediff.com28 Nov 2025

Bandana Preyashi, the bold IAS officer from Bihar who took on dreaded dons, is the court-appointed mentor to 18-year-old Sakshi, who had fled home to follow her IAS dream.

Wolves seeking revenge by attacking humans: Expert

Wolves seeking revenge by attacking humans: Expert

Rediff.com4 Sep 2024

As Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich grapples with wolf terror, an expert has said the series of attacks on the residents of Mehsi tehsil might be due to wolves "seeking revenge" for possible habitat loss or killing of their cubs.

Uttaranchal forest fires abating

Uttaranchal forest fires abating

Rediff.com5 Jun 2003

Biparjoy: 200 teams in Gir, Kutch to protect wildlife; 2 lion cubs rescued

Biparjoy: 200 teams in Gir, Kutch to protect wildlife; 2 lion cubs rescued

Rediff.com16 Jun 2023

One of the teams rescued two lion cubs that had fallen into an open well in Jasadhar Range of Gir East division during the cyclone's landfall on Thursday evening, the official said.

Forest cover-up? Plantations in definition

Forest cover-up? Plantations in definition

Rediff.com14 Apr 2008

The latest report says the forest cover is around 20 per cent of the land in the country, 3 per cent less than the area under the forest departments. But the report does not make a distinction between tree cover, commercial plantations and natural forest cover. To qualify as "forest cover", the Forest Survey of India considers 10 per cent tree canopy area and one hectare. So, if a householder has, say, a hectare of coconut palm, his land would qualify as forest cover.

Delhi govt must take blame for nod to fell 422 trees: SC

Delhi govt must take blame for nod to fell 422 trees: SC

Rediff.com17 Jul 2024

The Delhi government must come before the court and tell "how it will compensate for the damage caused to the environment due to its illegal acts", the bench said.

Have You Ever Been To Bodoland?

Have You Ever Been To Bodoland?

Rediff.com10 Feb 2025

The Bodoland Territorial Region in Assam is slowly picking up the pieces and finally finding peace after being subjected to decades of insurgencies and violence.

Massive fire erupts in Mumbai's Aarey forest

Massive fire erupts in Mumbai's Aarey forest

Rediff.com3 Dec 2018

There have been no reports of casualties. Neither is the cause of the fire known.

When A Crocodile Goes To College...

When A Crocodile Goes To College...

Rediff.com6 Sep 2024

This is what happens.

Snake bite kills lion in Gir forest

Snake bite kills lion in Gir forest

Rediff.com11 May 2012

Yet another Asiatic lion has died unnaturally on the periphery of the Gir forest in Gujarat. The four-year-old lion, is reported to have been bitten to death by a snake near Pipardi village of Amreli district in eastern parts of Gir.

Man killed in anti-Maoist op in MP a tribal; Cong seeks judicial probe

Man killed in anti-Maoist op in MP a tribal; Cong seeks judicial probe

Rediff.com16 Mar 2025

A man killed during a recent anti-Naxal operation in Madhya Pradesh's Mandla district was a tribal and not a Maoist, an official said on Saturday. The opposition Congress claimed he was innocent and demanded a high-level probe and a judicial inquiry into the incident.

Kerala's maneater tiger dead, remains of woman found in its stomach

Kerala's maneater tiger dead, remains of woman found in its stomach

Rediff.com28 Jan 2025

A 'man-eater' tiger that killed a woman two days ago was found dead in Kerala's high-range district of Wayanad on Monday and an autopsy on the dead cat revealed the presence of the victim's hair, dress, and a pair of earrings in its stomach, forest officials said.

Row after ex-priest trespasses into Ponnambalamedu near Sabarimala for rituals

Row after ex-priest trespasses into Ponnambalamedu near Sabarimala for rituals

Rediff.com16 May 2023

In a purported video which surfaced on social media, the accused man, reportedly a Tamil Nadu native, could be seen sitting on a platform atop the Ponnambalamedu Hills, located about four km from the Sabarimala temple, and chanting mantras and doing some rituals.

The Man Who Captures Vultures On Camera

The Man Who Captures Vultures On Camera

Rediff.com1 Oct 2025

Like the dinosaurs, vultures face extinction. From 40 million 33 years ago, only 35,000 to 45,000 vultures remain in India.

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.

14 Lady Cop Thrillers On OTT

14 Lady Cop Thrillers On OTT

Rediff.com17 Nov 2025

Hemantkumar Shivsharan lists lady cops that have wowed us on OTT shows.

Assam to arm forest staff with AK series weapons

Assam to arm forest staff with AK series weapons

Rediff.com9 Mar 2013

The Assam forest department is keen to arm forest guards in Kaziranga National Park with sophisticated weapons like AK series assault rifles to counter the new brand of rhino poachers who are using sophisticated weapons.

Why are tigers in Maharashtra dying?

Why are tigers in Maharashtra dying?

Rediff.com18 Mar 2025

'The true measure of Project Tiger's success is not just rising tiger numbers, but our ability to ensure harmonious human-wildlife coexistence'

'Such Catastrophes Will Only Worsen'

'Such Catastrophes Will Only Worsen'

Rediff.com12 Aug 2025

'There is a clear relationship between the Char Dham road widening and these landslides.' 'The situation has further worsened with the massive influx of tourists whose number are running into several lakhs per month.' 'No parameters have been laid down to control tourist inflow and the result is that the Char Dham yatra has seen a sharp escalation in accidents and loss of lives.'

Madras HC bars buying of elephants by temples, others

Madras HC bars buying of elephants by temples, others

Rediff.com1 Mar 2023

The Madurai bench of the Madras high court has directed the secretary, environment and forest department, to ensure that there are no more acquisitions of elephants by private individuals or religious institutions in Tamil Nadu.

Over 30 flamingos killed as Emirates flight hits them in Mumbai

Over 30 flamingos killed as Emirates flight hits them in Mumbai

Rediff.com21 May 2024

So far, carcasses of 32 flamingos have been recovered from Ghatkopar area, the police said.

Kangana Ranaut's election challenged, HC issues notice

Kangana Ranaut's election challenged, HC issues notice

Rediff.com25 Jul 2024

The Himachal Pradesh high court on Wednesday issued notice to Kangana Ranaut, the Bharatiya Janata Party Lok Sabha member from Mandi, on a petition filed by a Kinnaur resident for setting aside her election on the grounds that his nomination papers to contest from the Lok Sabha constituency were allegedly wrongly rejected.

Heavy Pak shelling leaves trail destruction in Poonch

Heavy Pak shelling leaves trail destruction in Poonch

Rediff.com7 May 2025

Heavy Pakistani shelling in the border district of Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir left nine people dead and 28 injured. The shelling, described by residents and officials as "barbaric and cowardly", started around 2 am, damaging dozens of residential houses, shops, vehicles, and heritage sites. The incident comes after India launched "Operation Sindoor" in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. India condemned the act, calling it a cowardly attack on civilians, and reaffirmed that civilian safety remains its top priority.

Trainer aircraft with pilot, trainee onboard goes missing in Jharkhand

Trainer aircraft with pilot, trainee onboard goes missing in Jharkhand

Rediff.com21 Aug 2024

The aircraft, reported to be a Cessna 152 owned by flying school Alchemist Aviation, took off from the Sonari aerodrome in Jamshedpur around 11 am with a pilot and trainee on board, they said.

'During Visarjan, We Feel Emotional'

'During Visarjan, We Feel Emotional'

Rediff.com5 Sep 2025

Please e-mail your pictures to getahead@rediff.co.in (My Lord Ganesha Pix) with your name, location and details about your Lord Ganesha and we will publish the best photographs on Rediff.