-Odisha Sun Times Bhubaneswar: The depleting groundwater level in the Odisha capital has become a major cause of concern for planners. In the past five years, the groundwater level has shrunk by as much as  in major areas of the capital city, according to a survey. With monsoon playing truant, deficit rainfall and excessive drawing of ground water through bore wells in the absence of pipe water supply has contributed to groundwater depletion. Chandrasekharpur...

-Macroscan.com According to the latest NSSO data, the proportion of Indian households in which at least one member had access to the Internet is far short of the near universal connectivity envisaged by the Digital India mission.  Please click here to read more.  * This article was originally published in The Hindu on July 21, 2015 ...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: Six of the 30 MPs on the joint parliamentary committee examining the land acquisition bill appear undecided, with the BJP hoping to woo them and gain a majority on the panel. The score is now tied 12-12, which means the government needs the support of at least four of the six remaining members, who have so far kept their cards close to their chest. These half-dozen are from the...

-The Indian Express Seeks stringent provisions in new law, says financial penalty is no deterrent since burden passed on to buyers. The Parliamentary Select Committee for the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill 2013 is likely to push for more stringent clauses that may lead to imprisonment of builders if they do not fulfill their obligations to home-buyers. After holding public consultations across the country, several members of the panel are of...

-Macroscan.com The forecast of a poor monsoon is a real bad news for the Indian farmers as it would not only reduce crop production leading to shortages but also encourage speculative holding. Please click here to read more. This article was originally published in the Frontline Print edition: July 10, 2015 ...