The announcement declaring New Delhi Municipal Council a winner of the smart city challenge came when the rest of Delhi was drowning in urban waste.
Another catastrophe awaits us - living in a more inequitable, insecure, and intolerant world.
Senior journalist Darryl D'Monte reports exclusively for Rediff.com from Paris.
Building toilets, however essential, must not be confused with sanitation and the crying need for a revamp of India's sewage systems.
Every time we pointed out the overwhelming evidence of diesel's toxicity, we were brushed aside.
Whether we flew aircraft or mastered plastic surgery is immaterial for modern India, what matters is if ancient Indians understood the science and art of settlement planning, architecture and governance of natural resources. This is the history we need to learn, says Sunita Narain
The air quality in Delhi is turning worse, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said.
According to the amendment adopted by nations, developed countries will reduce HFCs use first, followed by China along with a large number of countries.
We need to invest in the science of monsoons and weather forecasting.
The most efficient utility for our smart cities will be about smart design.
As people get rich, they end up losing the health advantage of food availability.
Apart from Maggi noodles, many other products can be tested for health issues.
India will require new technical solutions and approaches to solve environmental problems.
Green rating of thermal power plants are way behind the global best.
While India is pushed to keep a tight lid on its own carbon emissions, slow and low emission reduction by major polluters will cause an acceleration of climate change, says Rajni Bakshi.
India is actively involved in reducing carbon emissions.
Authorities alerted people to avoid staying outdoors and L-G ordered to halt all civil construction activities across the city till Sunday.
The Rs 56,000-crore (Rs 560 billion) Adani Group on Monday received a major blow from the Gujarat High Court, which ordered a shutdown of 12 units in Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), located in Mundra, Kutch district, with immediate effect.
If Paris really meant to serve as a landmark in recognising equity in climate negotiations, it should have heralded the second phase of the Kyoto protocol. Instead we have all countries, India and China included, all signing up with voluntary commitments in what can only be seen as a race to the bottom, reports Darryl D'Monte.
The Ganga agitation and the question of preserving the Himalayan ecology has become a deadly cocktail of politics and religion. Behind the scene, of course, at play are powerful business interests. What is needed is an independent scientific assessment of the problem and preparation of a blueprint for preservation of the Himalayan rivers and associated ecology, says Dinesh C Sharma.
How can 'first food' meet the challenge posed by factory-made 'fast foods' which are backed by marketing money and often come with 'traditional taste' tags attached to them? The first step would be to preserve knowledge about first foods, says Dinesh C Sharma.
'For lakhs of people in the flood-afflicted state, battling against the elements is taking a huge toll. This is the time of the year that apples ripen, rice starts being harvested and preparations start in full swing to put aside some of the food stocks for the long winter months ahead. At this moment, though, people there believe if they can succeed in coming out of this calamity in one piece they will have won the war,' says Rashme Sehgal.
A journalist must perform various roles, be passionate yet detached, feels Gopalkrishna Gandhi
'This is not a Sanjay Baru or Natwar Singh type of book. It's not a memoir. It's not a book to reveal conversations, real or imaginary. This is not a book to position myself at the centre of the world.' Jairam Ramesh on his stint as environment minister.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances