This week’s environment and conservation news stories rolled into one.
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Mica scavenging in Jharkhand destroys lives and environment
Exploitative child labour, death by suffocation in mining shafts, severe health hazards such as tuberculosis for the impoverished workers are some of the issues faced.
Monitoring monkey business in Delhi
Before the assembly elections, the Delhi government has planned a census of monkeys in the city, for area-wise identification and tackling of the monkey menace.
Can a new elephant reserve address human-elephant interaction in Chhattisgarh?
In August this year, Chhattisgarh declared nearly 2,000 square km as an elephant reserve, promising to not permit any mining activity.
From drought to deadly disease – no respite for migrant tribal farmers
Drought, landlessness, illiteracy, and rising loan burden forced the Bhil and Bhillala tribals of Madhya Pradesh to migrate and move to Gujarat and work in quartz-grinding factories.
Natural, man-made air pollutants tinkering with Guwahati’s rainwater
A cocktail of natural and man-made pollutants wafting in the air is tinkering with the rainwater quality in Guwahati, causing acid rain.
Tree frog rapidly changes colour in Arunachal Pradesh
They believe that the initial colour change could have been caused by disturbance, which triggered a predator deterrence response, or it was simply a result of physiological stress.
Invasive whiteflies on coconut palms raise biosecurity concerns
Drought appears to favour the spread of the pests in coconut plantations while biocontrol methods and monsoon rain have helped in curbing their spread.
Hills of peril: Southwest monsoon inflicts severe damage in the Nilgiris
Avalanche river valley near Ooty received more than 900 mm of rain in one day during southwest monsoon. The region still faces continuous rains.
Wanted: An urgent political saviour for river Yamuna
The river continues to be a drain of sewage and chemical pollutants in the national capital despite the political rhetoric played around it.
Political parties claim credit for reduction in Delhi pollution, ahead of assembly elections
Experts have questioned the accuracy of the analysis showing improvement in air quality, citing gaps in data availability and variance in meteorological conditions over the years.
