The Union Cabinet approved the proposal to exchange letters of Agreement between United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the Government of India for the provision of necessary privileges and immunities to the participants invited by the UN by the Government of India in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations during the Conference.The Government of India in collaboration with the U... Read Full Story

One Day Workshop on Development of Environmental Pollution Index (EPI) for Identification and Assessment of Critically Polluted Areas begins here tomorrow. The aim of this workshop is to develop an Environmental Pollution Index (EPI) for the quantification of the environment health of industrial areas. The EPI helps in synthesizing the available information on environmental status of the area by using quantitative criteria, thus reducing complex information into a smaller, more easily retaine... Read Full Story

Copenhagen meet in December this year is an important event as on its outcome depends the prospect of a new pact to replace the Kyoto protocol which expires in 2012. The new pact must be in place by the end of 2010 to leave 2 years for nations to ratify it before it comes into force from January 1, 2013.Despite international meets during the last one month, one after the other, like the one organized by the UN Secretary General in New York, the G- 20 at Pittsburgh and now the Bangkok meet, a ... Read Full Story

A Memorandum of Agreement on Cooperation on Addressing Climate Change between the Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of India has been signed by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh and XIE Zhenhua, Vice Chairman, Minister, National Development and Reform Commission, China. This Agreement would strengthen the cooperative activities between China and India on mitigation, programmes, projects, technology development and demonstration relating to gree... Read Full Story

Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh said to stop deforestation is a challenge and sustainable forest management is part of this challenge. Discussing density of forest cover of the country ,he said that he does not foresee expansion in area of forest cover, but the migration of low density to medium density forest cover and higher density forest cover will be achieved. Talking about RED and Red+ proposals, he argued that countries like India and China should be awarded... Read Full Story

The Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah has said that the Government intends to use renewable energy to bring electricity to every village in Jammu & Kashmir. Speaking at the All India Editors’ Conference on Social & Infrastructure Issues at Srinagar today, Dr. Abdullah mentioned the progress made at Gurez in the State and said that it is an example where use of renewable energy sources like solar power has brought a positive change in many dimensions of... Read Full Story

Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Environment and Forests said that Government and Industry will work together to control the pollution level. The Government of India is developing mandatory fuel-efficiency standards for all classes and types of vehicles. This was stated by shri Jairam Ramesh while delivering the keynote address on Auto Industry: Revival, Restructuring and Sustainable Growth by SIAM, here today.Pollution through transport is around 10-15 per cent at present and this will increase fu... Read Full Story

The Dynamic Ground Water Resource of the country has been jointly estimated by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under Ministry of Water Resources and the State Ground Water Boards. The estimation is based on the methodology recommended by Ground Water Resources Estimation Committee 1997 (GEC-1997). The report on “Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India” has been printed and circulated nationwide.Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India i Annual Replenishable Ground Water Resourc... Read Full Story

The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure today approved the continuation of Remote Village Electrification Programme of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy during the remaining period of the 11th Plan.The Programme aims to provide renewable energy based lighting/basic electricity facilities with 90% Central Financial Assistance to those unelectrified villages and hamlets which are not going to be covered under RGGVY due to infeasibility of grid extension. The Ministry has so far provided ... Read Full Story

The Union Cabinet gave its approval the Scheme of repair, renovation and restoration of water bodies with domestic support at an approximate cost of Rs.4000 crore and to cover about one lakh water bodies having a CCA of 9 lakh hectare. After the completion of the scheme about 4 lakh ha. Of additional irrigation potential is likely to be created. The scheme envisages that the States may prepare the projects taking into consideration the number of public water bodies (e.g. , water bodies on Gov... Read Full Story