-The Hindu Chennai: In a stinging observation, the Madras High Court on Friday said that the loss due to the recent floods at various places in the State was because of the maladministration in preserving water bodies, waterways and canals. The First Bench made the observation while dismissing a PIL petition filed by Shanmugam, North Chennai secretary of CPI, for a direction to issue pattas to the families who had encroached...

-Hindustan Times If you thought climate change was only about melting glaciers and sinking islands, you have underestimated it. A report by C40, a global network of 82 megacities--including Delhi--committed to fighting climate change, says that at least 70% of these urban centres are already affected by climate change. Not all of them are coast or hill towns. As population is increasing in these megacities, rising pollution, growing congestion and mounting waste...

-Economic and Political Weekly Chennai floods show the vulnerabilities that arise from the neglect of urban planning. In the second week of November, flood-marooned people in Chennai had an unlikely Good Samaritan. The cab service provider, Ola. As the city struggled to come to terms with its highest rainfall in 10 years, the cab company pressed in boats from an aquatic adventure outfit and secured the services of professional rowers and fishworkers...

-The Hindu Genes tolerant to salinity and iron toxicity were put into another variety Scientists at the Rice Research Station of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) at Vyttila have developed a new variety of paddy tolerant to saline intrusion, a major challenge faced by farmers in the lowlands. The landmark achievement in rice research was made possible by the introduction of genes tolerant to salinity and iron toxicity into Jyothi, Kerala’s most popular rice...

-The Times of India HYDERABAD: Tomatoes might soon go off the common man's dinner plate, thanks to a steep hike in prices of the vegetable triggered by widespread destruction of farmland by unseasonal floods. The staple food item at almost every kitchen, available at Rs 15/kg in the open market in April this year, has now jumped five-fold to Rs 75-80/kg. The sudden spike, has also become a talking point on twitter,...