Is India Winning the War Against Pollution? The fight for cleaner air and water intensifies as the nation grapples with the escalating impacts of climate change. From the devastating floods in Assam to the alarming rise in air pollution levels in Delhi, environmental challenges demand urgent action. This week saw crucial discussions on sustainable agriculture and renewable energy sources at the India Climate Change Conference, highlighting the government's commitment to tackling deforestation and promoting biodiversity conservation. But are these efforts enough? Experts warn of looming water scarcity and the need for stricter regulations on industrial emissions. The future of India's environment hangs in the balance, demanding collective responsibility and innovative solutions. Explore Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and the latest updates on environmental policies, climate activism, and the ongoing struggle for a sustainable India. Discover how you can contribute to a greener tomorrow.
Mysuru: Due to lack of co-ordination between Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) and Mysuru Development Authority (MDA), the residents of Aravindanagar are going through hell since 1995 with sewage water flooding their homes even during small rains. The then Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), now MDA, had formed Aravindanagar in 1987 by laying roads, UGD pipelines and after 1995, houses were constructed. But sewage water is not flowing freely through UGD pipes and is reversing into houses causing a lot of problems to the residents residing in the 9th Main of the locality. From past three years, the residents are lodging complaints to MCC and MDA to rectify the problem, but the authorities concerned have turned a blind eye towards this issue making residents suffer further. Sewage water from this locality flows via a private property into a big drain. But since a few years, the owner of the private property has allegedly placed sand bags and has constructed retaining walls to protect the property. This has resulted in sewage water flowing back to the houses and flooding them. It is learnt that if the MCC and MDA officials hold talks with the owner of the private property, the problem would be solved, but the officials concerned are not ready to hold talks and have remained mute. Residents say that if the MDA or MCC hold talks with the property owner and provide compensation, the property owner may agree to provide the land where sewage water flows into the big drain. But the authorities concerned have not taken any concrete steps in this regard, resulting in the property owner constructing a compound and stopping the flow of sewage water, residents alleged. The residents have appealed the MDA to solve the issue many times but the MDA officials point their fingers towards MCC and when the residents approach the MCC, the officials point the fingers at MDA. This has resulted in the problem remaining stagnant. Even the elected representatives, be it the area Corporator of the MLA have not shown any interest in solving the problem. The MCC officials just visit the area and return. The officials have only limited themselves to visiting, residents alleged. Residents decide to bring the issue before the CM
Bengaluru: In a setback to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Bangalore Zonal Office has provisionally attached 142 immovable properties having an approximate market value of Rs 300 crore under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is accused number one in the case and the investigation is also conducted against others who got the illegal allotments done through the MUDA. His wife B.M. Parvathi is the second accused. "The ...Read More >
Ahmedabad, June 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The MSC IRINA, recognised as the world's largest container ship by TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) capacity, is set to dock at the Adani Group's Vizhinjam International Seaport on Monday and will be berthed till Tuesday. The monumental arrival marks a significant milestone for the seaport, which was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 2. The MSC IRINA boasts an impressive capacity of 24,346 TEUs, making it a formidable player in global shipping. With a length of 399.9 metres and a width of 61.3 metres, the vessel is approximate ...Read More >
Mumbai: Two days after a video of Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad assaulting staffers at the Akashwani MLA hostel canteen in Colaba over "stale dal" went viral, Marine Drive police registered a non-cognisable offence against him on Friday.The NC was filed soon after CM Fadnavis contradicted minister of state for home Yogesh Kadam in an embarrassment of sorts for the state govt. While Kadam said police cannot act against Gaikwad as there is no complaint, the CM said cops should definitely probe the case and no one needs to file a complaint for that, report Mateen Hafeez & Chaitanya Marpakwar. A co ...Read More >
BusinessWire India Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], December 11: Comprehensive insurance policies are very helpful for two-wheeler owners as they protect them from financial losses incurred on their own vehicles and also cover third-party liability. Because of its all-round nature, many refer to them popularly as 'package' insurance. However, in India, many people do not opt for comprehensive two-wheeler insurance as the government has not made it compulsory. However, it is highly recommended that two-wheeler owners get one, and we have covered the reasons for this in this guide. How are Comp ...Read More >
Chandigarh: Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday said the state govt was consistently working to provide better resources to the doctors and quality healthcare services to the citizens.He mentioned that medical colleges were being established in every district.While there were only six medical colleges in 2014, the number has now increased to 15, and nine new colleges are under construction. As a result, MBBS seats in the state increased from 700 in 2014 to 2,185, at present. The state govt aims to increase the MBBS seats to over 3,400 by 2029, said Saini.The CM was addressing a ...Read More >
Chennai: Farmers and social activists of Tiruppur and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu are gearing up for an indefinite protest demanding the revival of the Noyyal River, which they said has been reduced to a drain due to unchecked pollution. The protest, scheduled to begin on July 13 in Mangalam, calls on the Stalin government to take immediate steps to prevent the inflow of untreated sewage, industrial waste, and plastic into the river. K.N. Mohammed Ali, a social activist, said the Noyyal, which originates in the Western Ghats and flows through Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and Erode before joining the Ca ...Read More >
BHUBANESWAR: In a bid to promote rooftop and home gardening in five major cities of the state, deputy chief minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo on Tuesday flagged off a rath (campaign vehicle) to create awareness among the citizens on the urgent need to increase the green space in urban areas. Singh Deo said green space is fast reducing with rapid urbanisation across the state. Concrete buildings and roads are eating up green spaces in cities creating urban heat island effect. "This is a novel attempt by the government to encourage citizens to develop more greenery spaces through rooftop and ho ...Read More >
Bengaluru, Jul 18 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to MLAs announcing that Rs 50 crore will be allocated to their assembly constituencies for the development work. There has been discontent among the legislators, including those from the ruling Congress, about lack of fund allocation for development work in their constituencies. "Under the Chief Minister's Infrastructure Development Programme announced in the State Budget for the year 2025-26, a special grant of Rs 50.00 crores will be allocated to your assembly constituency," Siddaramaiah said in a letter dated July 1 ...Read More >
New Delhi: Three Indian citizens vanished mysteriously in Tehran. Darkness closed in as hope seemed lost. A ruthless Pakistani gang with potential links to ISI snatched them away, casting a shadow of fear. But relentless Indian diplomats refused to back down. Against all odds, a daring rescue mission ignited. Now, the captives are free, and a chilling game of espionage comes to light. The Punjab-based trio - Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur, Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar and Hushnapreet Singh from Sangrur - had landed in Iran on May 1. Promised a clandestine route to Australia via Dubai and Tehra ...Read More >
BHUBANESWAR: Revenue minister Suresh Pujari on Saturday said Odisha would not be allowed to follow the lawless path in sand operations like it is in Bihar and West Bengal, while responding to the recent assault of an additional tehsildar in Kaptipada block, Mayurbhanj district, by the sand mafia. He promised stringent action against the sand mafia regardless of their connections, while speaking to mediapersons here on Saturday. "The Kaptipada incident represents a serious escalation in conflict between law enforcement and the sand mafia. The attack on officers performing their enforcement dut ...Read More >
New Delhi: Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday said authorities cannot go against demolition orders issued by courts and stressed that displaced residents have been provided accommodation.Her words came in the wake of the recent Madrasi Camp demolition for which the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has criticised her. AAP has targeted Gupta, and alleged that the displaced Madrasi Camp residents were provided homes in faraway Narela, and those lack basic amenities.Attending an event to mark the construction of a Jan Sewa camp at a slum cluster in the Haiderpur area, Gupta told reporters: "In t ...Read More >
Chandigarh: With the ongoing monsoon season, work on laying tertiary treated (TT) water pipelines in the city has been held up. Laying of TT lines requires road cuts at different locations but both the Chandigarh administration and the municipal corporation have stopped granting permission for road cuts during the season as a precautionary measure. Consequently, work on TT lines will not be completed by the end of July, the deadline set by Chandigarh administration in a recent meeting."Most of the areas identified for road cuts pass through key roads of the city like Uttar Marg, Dakshin Marg, ...Read More >
Medak: Telangana State BJP President N. Ramchander Rao on Friday appealed to the people to give the committed party an opportunity to meet the aspirations of the poor and downtrodden. Addressing a large gathering of party workers in Medak, the BJP chief remarked that citizens have experienced the rule of the BRS and the Congress party and have had bitter experiences with the deceitful practices of both. He urged people to support the BJP wholeheartedly in the upcoming local body elections as a way to teach the ruling Congress party a lesson for its unfulfilled promises. Rao emphasized that t ...Read More >
Hyderabad: The road widening works for the proposed Metro Rail corridor between MGBS and Chandrayangutta in the Old City have gained momentum. HAML Managing Director NVS Reddy stated that the alignment has been carefully designed to be optimal while minimising the number of affected properties. The properties were reduced to 900 from earlier marked 1,100 properties. The MD mentioned that daily review meetings are being conducted with engineering and revenue officials to monitor progress. "Initially, we estimated that around 1,100 properties would be impacted. However, through engineering rede ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Revenue minister Suresh Pujari on Saturday said Odisha would not be allowed to follow the lawless path in sand operations like it is in Bihar and West Bengal, while responding to the recent assault of an additional tehsildar in Kaptipada block, Mayurbhanj district, by the sand mafia. He promised stringent action against the sand mafia regardless of their connections, while speaking to mediapersons here on Saturday."The Kaptipada incident represents a serious escalation in conflict between law enforcement and the sand mafia. The attack on officers performing their enforcement dutie ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Signalling the government's intent to move ahead with the impeachment motion of Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said that main opposition parties have given their in-principle approval to support the motion in the upcoming monsoon session scheduled for July21-August 21. Rijiju said that the government is yet to decide whether the motion would be brought in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha. For the Lok Sabha, signatures of a minimum 100 MPs is required. The requirement is the support of at least 50 MPs in the Rajya Sabha. H ...Read More >
BENGALURU, India (AP) - Each year from June to September, a series of heavy rains known as monsoons sweep through the Indian subcontinent, providing relief from heat, irrigating the country´s farms and replenishing its rivers. However, as global heat increases, the rain is becoming more erratic and intense, creating the conditions for deadly floods. Nearly 1,300 people died in India throughout 2024 due to heavy rain and floods. Hundreds of rain-related deaths have already occurred this year in the South Asian region, which includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, ...Read More >
New Delhi: The death sentence of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya, who was sentenced to death in Yemen, has been postponed for the time being. She was to be executed by shooting today, July 16. According to media reports, activist groups and influential religious leaders intervened in the matter, after which the death sentence of Nimisha Priya was postponed. Earlier, many efforts were also made at the diplomatic level to save Nimisha from the death penalty. There is also news that the victim's family has not yet agreed to clemency or blood money. As a last-ditch effort to save her, Kanthapuram A. ...Read More >
The new circle rates in Gurugram have come into effect from December 1 Gurugram: People eyeing a home in Gurugram will now have to pay more as the district administration has hiked the circle rates by 10% to 30%, driven mainly by demand. Luxury residential areas like Golf Course Road are likely to see a 30% hike in circle rates. According to reports, the new circle rates have come into effect from December 1 and will be applicable at least till March 31 next year. The price hike, however, has irked the residents, who alleged that the administration should also "improve basic amenities". Gu ...Read More >
Silchar: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday visited the flood-ravaged districts of Hailakandi and Sribhumi in the Barak Valley. He assured affected residents of providing timely disbursement of rehabilitation grants and swift repair of damaged infrastructure.This marks Sarma's second visit to the flood-hit region within four days, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Speaking to the media in Sribhumi after inspecting multiple relief camps, the CM said, "Flood-related problems may persist till July. I will return before Durga Puja to ensure that roads and infrastructure ar ...Read More >
Kolkata, June 28: A political slugfest has erupted in West Bengal after a woman accused Padma Shree awardee monk Kartik Maharaj, who is posted with the Murshidabad unit of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, of allegedly raping her 12 times for six months in 2013. As per the police complaint lodged by the woman, Kartik Maharaj raped her multiple times 12 years ago promising her a job at a local school. The ruling Trinamool Congress is highlighting the issue in a major way and accusing the BJP of being silent on it since the accused monk had been reportedly close to the saffron party. The woman accusin ...Read More >
India's startup IPO engine is back in high gear. Over the last few weeks, a dozen new-age companies -- including Meesho, Groww, PhysicsWallah, Pine Labs, Urban Company and Wakefit -- have filed draft red herring prospectuses (DRHPs) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), collectively looking to raise almost Rs 20,000 crore in primary capital. The filings signal more than just a busy pipeline. They reflect a shift in tone: founders and their investors are no longer waiting for perfect market conditions or chasing euphoric valuations. This time, they're coming to the public mar ...Read More >
Srinagar, Jul 4: Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha Friday said that he was proud to see women breaking barriers in agricultural sciences and technology. In his address at the 6th convocation ceremony of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir (SKUAST-K), the LG said, "Proud to see our daughters breaking barriers and achieving success in Agricultural Science and Technology. It reflects a bright future for J&K and the nation." During the convocation, of the 5250 degrees of undergraduate, master's, and PhD, 2661 degrees were awarded to women, of the 150 stu ...Read More >
Bareilly (UP), Jul 17 (PTI) A teacher from Bahedi district, who went viral recently after reciting a poem mentioning Kanwar Yatra, approached the police on Thursday stating a threat to his life from anti-social elements. A case has been registered at Bahedi police station based on a complaint from Dr Rajneesh Kumar Gangwar, a teacher at MGM Inter College in the district. According to Circle Officer Arun Kumar Singh, Gangwar's complaint says that ever since his recitation of the poem 'Tum Kanwad Lene Mat Jana, Gyaan Ka Deepak Jalaana' (You don't go get Kavad, light the lamp of knowledge inste ...Read More >
NEW DELHI/BATHINDA: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Friday conducted searches at 22 de-addiction centres across Punjab, including in Chandigarh, Barnala and Ludhiana, after its investigation revealed illegal sale of drugs by these centres. The agency also searched a premise in Mumbai linked to the accused.Dr Amit Bansal, who runs these 22 centres, is prime accused in the case, sources said. Bansal, against whom Punjab Police has registered multiple FIRs, is alleged to be engaged in illegal sale of drugs from his de-addiction centres.Privately-run drug de-addiction centres in Punjab are ...Read More >
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to MLAs announcing that Rs 50 crore will be allocated to their assembly constituencies for the development work. There has been discontent among the legislators, including those from the ruling Congress, about lack of fund allocation for development work in their constituencies. "Under the Chief Minister's Infrastructure Development Programme announced in the State Budget for the year 2025-26, a special grant of Rs 50.00 crores will be allocated to your assembly constituency," Siddaramaiah said in a letter dated July 15 to MLAs. It said, "Th ...Read More >
Pune: Hospitals in Pune have started reporting an increase in dengue cases among children following recent heavy rainfall and intermittent showers. Conditions are now ripe for mosquito breeding, experts said, as they warned citizens to ensure there's no waterlogging or stagnant pools near homes and offices. "Dengue is typically seen first in children as they often play outside," said Dr Sagar Lad, a senior neonatologist and pediatric intensivist at Jehangir Hospital and Sahyadri Hospital, Shastrinagar. Dr Lad said he's seen at least three children admitted for dengue this week, with all of the ...Read More >
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari described politics as a "sea of unsatisfied souls," where individuals are often unhappy and aspire to higher positions than their current roles. Speaking at the launch of the book 50 Golden Rules of Life in Nagpur on Sunday, Gadkari reflected on the challenges inherent in various aspects of life. He remarked, "Life is a game of compromises, compulsions, limitations, and contradictions," emphasising the universality of struggles across family, social, political, and corporate spheres. The senior BJP leader stressed the importance of mastering the "art of living" to ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday announced an ambitious plan of planting 7.5 crore saplings across the state within a year. Speaking at the state-level celebration of World Environment Day at the OUAT Agriculture Education Hall in city, the CM emphasised the importance of public awareness and collective responsibility in protecting nature and ending plastic pollution. "A healthy environment is essential for a healthy society," he said.Addressing the rising threat of single-use plastic, the CM urged citizens to support a mass movement to eliminate plastic from daily li ...Read More >
GUNTUR: In a significant push to urban infrastructure, the Andhra Pradesh government has sanctioned an additional Rs 111.5 crore to strengthen the drinking water supply system in the Mangalagiri-Tadepalli Municipal Corporation (MTMC), represented by Minister Nara Lokesh. Administrative approval was issued by Special Chief Secretary S Suresh Kumar of the Urban Development Department. The new funding is part of a comprehensive project to ensure safe and uninterrupted drinking water supply. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) worth Rs 450.24 crore was earlier prepared to serve 21 villages. Of this, ...Read More >