-The Hindu   450 families at the mercy of private tankers heave a sigh of relief RAMANATHAPURAM (Tamil Nadu): Commissioning of a desalination plant has not only eased drinking water scarcity but also enhanced its quality to the people of Mullimunai, a coastal village. As the village could not benefit from the Cauvery Combined Drinking Water Supply Scheme, about 450 families were left at the mercy of private tankers, who sold water at the...

-The Hindustan Times   New Delhi: Forecasting the June-to-September rains, which account for three-quarters of India's annual rainfall, is becoming tougher. Last year, six states had to declare droughts despite predictions of a normal monsoon. Although India is scaling up its prediction techniques, including joint Indo-American forecasting under a bilateral agreement, too little is understood about how pollution and rising temperatures are impacting the monsoon. But new research shows that they are surely...

-Down to Earth   Hearing on plea to stay illegal mining to be taken up next Monday. Petitioners argue that the illegally recovered wealth from the miners should be utilised for the development of the backward mining districts in Odisha On the day it pronounced its verdict on illegal mining in Goa, the Supreme Court decided to look into illegal mining in Odisha as well. On Monday, the apex court issued notices to...

-Outlook The Supreme Court today asked all the state governments and Union Territories to fully implement legislation for eradicating manual scavenging and take action against violators, while issuing directions for education, employment and rehabilitation of affected people. A bench of Chief Justice P Sathasivam and justices Ranjan Gogoi and N V Ramana also directed them to take appropriate action for non-implementation as well as violation of the provisions contained in the Prohibition...

-The Hindu RAMANATHAPURAM (Tamil Nadu): Claiming that ‘Madurai Malli' which was recently given the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tag, had its origin in Ramanathapuram, farmers have urged the district administration to help them secure GI mark also for the plants raised in the district and which produced ‘Madurai Malli.' Farmers from Mandapam region, who raised the issue at a farmers' grievance meeting, chaired by District Collector K. Nanthakumar here on Friday, said...