[Book review] Indian environmental history for young adults
In 1949, George Orwell published his dystopian view of what the world would be in 1984 in his novel by the same name. For India, 1984 was a disturbing year,…
[Obituary] Poet Sugathakumari: She gave voice to the Silent Valley
When Malayalam’s celebrated poet Sugathakumari, a pioneer of environmental activism in Kerala, reached the state’s tribal heartland Attappadi during the early months of 1980, the region looked like a barren…
Editor’s review of 2020: Virus, controversies, wildlife, transitions and wetlands
The first case of COVID-19 infection was officially reported in India in January 2020 from Thrissur in Kerala. In December 2020, a 90-year-old Britisher became the world’s first person to…
[Commentary] Conflicts – historical perspectives and present day dilemma
The past few years have witnessed an upswing of human-wildlife conflicts throughout the country. India is never complete without her complement of animals – domestic, wild, and mythical. From time…
Environmental issues in agriculture a silent reason behind farmers’ protests
Farmers camping at the borders of India’s national capital have refused to budge until new farm laws recently brought in by the Indian government are repealed and they have an…
Indian government forms national panel to drive Paris Agreement goals
The government of India has created a national-level panel which would interact with officials across the government departments, technical experts, civil society leaders and other stakeholders to drive a coordinated…
Environment ministry defers clearance to dam in M.P., part of Ken-Betwa interlinking project
An expert panel of India’s environment ministry has deferred environment clearance for the Lower Orr Dam, which is part of the Ken-Betwa river interlinking project, and sought fresh data to…
Wind-solar parks: Conflicts galore but India wants more
The Indian government has identified about 10,800 square kilometres of land across seven states to develop wind parks or wind-solar hybrid parks totalling about 54,000 MW. But the proposed policy…
There is a path to prosperity for India’s coal-dependent towns, but it’s tough
A study of Jharkhand’s major coal mining district, Ramgarh, shows that mining activities are shrinking and about 50 percent of mines in the region are either “closed down” or temporarily…
[Commentary] A microbial spray could be the game changer against crop residue burning
Pusa Decomposer, a microbial spray, developed by the Microbiology Division of the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), Delhi, is the harbinger of hope for an end to paddy residue burning…
