-The Hindu The production of waste in India is growing at an exponential rate. However, the welfare and dignity of the informal workers involved in the stigmatised sector of waste management remains at the bottom of any government’s political agenda. Human society has always produced waste and always will. Waste materials — substances without value — are constantly generated in all production, all distribution and all consumption processes. The time waste spends...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The Centre is hopeful that the bill to utilize close to Rs 40,000 crore currently locked in the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) will be passed by wide consensus in the forthcoming winter session of Parliament. The funds have been lying utilized following a 2009 order of the Supreme Court and the government intends to ensure that they are accessed by states and...

-Business Standard No 'smart city' will be created in the next five years, though a successful programme could see several smart colonies come up across the country The National Democratic Alliance government's ambitious Smart Cities programme will at best be able set up only 100 pilot projects in the first five years. Contrary to general perception, no 'smart city' will be created in the next five years, though a successful programme could...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: A joint study by Indian and Pakistani doctors has detected abnormally high blood sugar levels in six out of 10 adults in cities, indicating a "frighteningly" higher prevalence of diabetes or its precursor, pre-diabetes, than observed before. The doctors, who screened 13,720 people aged over 20 in Chennai, Delhi and Karachi, have warned that the high incidence of pre-diabetes suggests millions more urban South Asians are likely to...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: India's nationally determined contributions to mitigate climate change are likely to be unveiled on October 1 and will promote renewable energy, enhanced energy efficiency, less carbon intensive urban centres, green transport and abatement of pollution. India's strategy ahead of the climate summit in Paris in December will be firmly anchored in the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" and will clearly project India's financial, technology transfer...