Politics

The United Nations Environment Programme has said the review of the working of Dr R K Pachauri-headed IPCC by the Inter-Academic Council (IAC) does not question the science of climate change and views to the contrary should not hold back the international community from finding a decisive new agreement that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 'safe' levels.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests has taken step towards Market Based Regulation to control air pollution. Releasing a paper for the Ministry of Environment and Forests, ‘Towards an Emissions Trading Scheme for Air Pollutants in India’ Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Environment and Forests (I/c) said, “ the most successful example where Market instuments have been used to control air pollution is the case of acid rain in America.

India on Tuesday rejected a plan by UK-based mining group Vedanta Resources Plc to mine bauxite in an eastern state over environmental concerns, a blow to the firm already facing hurdles to a planned $9.6 billion energy deal in the country.

The decision comes after about four years of a global campaign against Vedanta's plan to mine in Orissa state that the government says could affect large swathes of forested hills considered sacred by indigenous tribes.

India's federal cabinet is likely to approve an amended nuclear bill when it meets Thursday evening, after a panel of lawmakers proposed tripling the accident liability cap, a person familiar with the development said.

"This cabinet clearance is needed because the law will incorporate the recommendations of the panel," the person told Dow Jones Newswires.

Cabinet approval will raise the chances of the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill passing through Parliament.

That the Mithi has been reduced to a filthy nullah is well-known. However, now a report of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shows that Maharashtra has the largest number of polluted river water stretches in the country.

The CPCB draws up a list on the basis of what it calls "water quality monitoring." It has identified 26 such rivers in Maharashtra with 28 polluted stretches. The Mula and Mutha in Pune, Kalu and Bhatsa in Thane and the Mithi in Mumbai are among such rivers.