-The Hindu There is rock solid scientific evidence to demand the cancellation of many upcoming and approved hydel projects In normal circumstances, when a mistake is understood and suffered, one tends to learn from it and not repeat it. Unfortunately, this does not hold true in the case of the policy makers who are bent upon permitting projects and large-scale infrastructure in the already fragile and vulnerable Ganga-Himalayan basin. Recurrent disasters in...

-TheWire.in There is no scientific way to erect a hydroelectric power project in the Garhwal Himalaya because erecting such a project itself would be unscientific. We use the term ‘roof on our heads’ to denote safety and security, but for sixteen families of Jugju, an area of Raini village in Uttarakhand’s Niti valley, the roof over their heads has been unstable and dangerous. Many social media users shared a video earlier this week...

-Down to Earth blog The ecology of Himachal Pradesh’s hydropower hub is too fragile for such projects “Twenty-five years ago, people could be excused for not knowing much, or doing much about climate change. Today, we have no excuses,” Desmond Tutu, South African theologian, had said. The recent landslides in Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur district brought back focus on how 40 per cent of the state is geologically ‘highly sensitive’, according to a report...

-The Hindu Environmental experts and politicians raise concern over Centre’s proposal. Given the widespread destruction of rainforests and native biodiversity caused by oil palm plantations in Southeast Asia, environmental experts and politicians are warning that the Centre’s move to promote their cultivation in India’s northeastern States and in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands could be disastrous. Other concerns include the impact on community ownership of tribal lands, as well as the fact that...

-PTI/ TheWire.in Some 162 persons and 40 animals had to be evacuated to safety by boats so far. Guwahati: The overall flood situation in Assam deteriorated on Friday, August 27 affecting more than 1.33 lakh people spread over 11 districts, according to the daily bulletin issued by Assam State disaster Management Agency (ASDMA). The districts affected by the flooding caused by heavy rainfall in catchment areas are Biswanath, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Jorhat,...