-Down to Earth Fragments of Plastic film have been shown to release potentially carcinogenic substances into soil Plasticulture, or the use of Plastics in agriculture, is evident in the form of lining of farm ponds, greenhouse cultivation, micro-irrigation (drips and sprinklers) and Plastic mulching. Plastic mulch, in particular, should be of concern to us as it is a potential source of entry into our food system. Why are farmers turning to Plasticulture? The Ministry...

-The Times of India GURUGRAM: The dumping of thousands of used bottles has created a giant mound of Plastic waste on the fringes of the Basai wetland in Gurugram, not far from the controversial plant to treat construction and demolition waste that has drawn strong protests from environmental activists. This Plastic waste mound, say local residents, is a recent development. Next to it is a privately run Plastic compressing and recycling unit...

-The Hindu The ban comes into effect from January 1, 2019 Chennai: The State government on Tuesday announced a ban on manufacture, sales, storage and usage of disposable Plastic across State with effective from January 1, 2019. Making a suo motu statement in the Assembly here, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said that the announcement was based on the recommendations of an expert panel constituted by former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in this regard. However,...

-Civil Society News New Delhi: In 1974, Dr Samir Chaudhuri, a paediatrician working in Kolkata’s slums, founded Child in Need Institute (CINI) to tackle the many dimensions of child malnutrition. It struck him at the time that malnutrition wasn’t just a clinical problem but a complex phenomenon rooted in gender issues. Over the years, led by Dr Chaudhuri, CINI developed deep understanding of the social, economic and political underpinnings of malnutrition...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Toxic smoke from a blaze at the Okhla landfill is causing health problems among local residents and patient parties at the ESI hospital that is almost bordering the site. The situation was so bad on Tuesday that some drivers at a nearby DTC bus depot complained of sickness. Though the operations were not affected, residents said the efforts to check the smoke from spreading into the...