Environment India

In recent years, India has witnessed a rapid surge in economic growth and urban development, resulting in a distressing deterioration of environmental conditions. This trend is especially prevalent in densely populated urban areas like Delhi, where the adverse effects of this expansion are manifested through heightened pollution levels, water contamination, and the alarming loss of natural habitats and biodiversity. Amidst these pressing environmental challenges, urban green spaces (UGSs) have emerged as crucial assets for mitigating these issues and enhancing the overall quality of life within cities. UGSs, encompassing parks, gardens, and other green areas nestled in urban landscapes, offer a diverse range of benefits known as ecosystem services. A  recent study  by Anand & Prodyut Bhattacharya (2023) conducted in Delhi aimed to explore the perceptions and interactions of residents with the ecosystem services provided by UGSs. This study had multiple key objectives. Firs...

  Poacher Racket With Leopard Teeth, Claws, Pangolin Scales Held In Mayurbhanj: Odisha The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha police busted a major wildlife smuggling racket with the arrest of a 25-year-old poacher in Mayurbhanj district on Wednesday. Two leopard teeth, 29 leopard claws, 3.5kg of pangolin scales, and 46 parakeets were seized from the possession of the arrested person, identified as Nanda Bage. He hails from Padagada village under Jasipur police station jurisdiction of Mayurbhanj. As per sources, the wildlife crime was unearthed after a team of STF, acting on reliable information, carried out a raid along with Karanjia forest staff this morning at canal embankment near Padagada village and apprehended the accused. 👉 Odisha TV Electrocution of Himalayan vulture in 2020 highlights threats posed by high-tension power lines in Mudumalai The electrocution of a juvenile Himalayan vulture in 2020 in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) due to a high-...

Pavagada solar park busts notions of renewable energy as inherently good: Karnataka Solar parks need 7,000–20,000 litres of water per megawatt (MW) per wash. A  study  titled Renewable Energy to Responsible Energy: A Call to Action, done by Forum for the Future with six other organisations, points to a large amount of water needed for periodic cleaning of solar panels. Many solar installations in India are located in arid and semi-arid areas bringing significant risk to the local ecosystem and communities. Disappearing pollinators like bees and butterflies during installation is a concern. Pavagada, which has a 13,000-acre solar park, has also lost its bird and large mammal population. There is concern around what happens when the park is decommissioned. A study says at the end-of-life stage, if not handled properly, toxic elements from disposed of PV panels can adversely affect ecological systems. The way forward will be in adopting more inclusive options ...