What will be the environmental impact of the government's infrastructure push?

 The government has launched an infrastructure push with the Union Budget. What will be its environmental impact considering that the government is also diluting environmental regulations. MORE ...

Editor's pick: Stories that made impact in 2018

Our stories did not move mountains. That was not our aim. We are happier if mountains are not moved, and the forests and wildlife on them remain. For this to happen the local communities also need to have equitable access to natural resources. MORE ... 

The coasts need science-based policy action

The coasts came into nation's consciousness after the economic reforms were initiated in 1991. Similarly, it is only now that research is understanding the complexities of coastal and marine biodiversity. By diluting conservation rules for the coast, the government is letting this ecosystem be tampered with even before it is understood. MORE ...

Fishing boats anchored off Mumbai coast.

Mangroves: Do they make economic sense?

While the environmental value of conserving mangroves is well understood, a recent study shows that there is economic rationale for protecting them from destruction. MORE ... 

There are 75 sq.km of mangroves in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

Walls can't keep out the sea in Kerala

More than half of Kerala's coastline is built with sea walls. However, this does not necessarily protect the state from storm surges and climate change. MORE ... 

The sea wall in Chettuva in central Kerala.

Cyclone saves corals, for now

This year coral bleaching in the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve was severe and started early. Even the young corals were affected, which was a bad indication. The rains associated with Cyclone Roanu helped cool down the temperature - temporarily. With northeast monsoon months away, will the corals survive destruction? MORE … 

Coastal infrastructure needs to be resilient to climate change

With India building enormous infrastructure along its 7,500-km-long coastline, the need is to make this infrastructure resilient to climate change impacts. But there seems to be no money for this purpose, nor is sufficient attention being paid to the enormous problem. ... MORE ...