-The Economic Times The state government has decided to file a case against Lavasa Corporation in Pune for violation of environmental norms at Lavasa hill resort, Maharashtra Environment Minister Sanjay Devtale has said. The case is expected to be filed in one or two days. ET has learned that the state government will also withdraw the 'special Executive status' to the company. This status allows Lavasa to undertake any construction without...

-The United Nations   Fast and relatively short-term action to curb soot and smog could improve human health, generate higher crop yields, reduce climate change and slow the melting of the Arctic, according to a United Nations-backed study released today. The study, compiled by an international team of more than 50 researchers and coordinated by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), “complements urgent action needed to cut...

Sections of vendors and “willing” farmers have alleged discrimination over the Singur bill, suggesting that they may move court if the state government does not address their concerns. Vendors demanded that they be compensated for the investment made at the Nano site. But the government, which has specifically said in the bill that “none of the vendors has obtained any deed of lease in terms of their respective letters of allotment”,...

-Mid-Day.com   The next time you plan to use a public toilet in Bangalore's south zone, make sure you carry a roll of tissue paper along, since the BWSSB has decided to disconnect waterlines for non-payment of bills. The public toilets in the city under the banner of Nirmala Sulabh Souchalaya has not paid bills since 2004 and the due amount has added up to Rs. 5,20,017. To make matters worse, the...

Civil society” has dominated popular discussion for the last few months. It may be hard to recall how rare the use of the term was only some years back. In 2002, when I published a book analysing the role of civil society in preventing, dampening or inciting communal riots, I was asked in a television interview whether I was overstating the power of civil society vis-à-vis the state. And in...