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HYDERABAD — Researchers from Hyderabad are playing a vital role in the urgent conservation effort for the Bhupathy's Purple Frog (Nasikbatrachus bhupati), a critically endangered and ancient species of amphibian found in the Western Ghats. Often called the 'Jewel of Gondwana', this frog dates back 80 million years to the time the supercontinent broke apart. Tracking the Elusive, Critically Endangered Species The Bhupathy’s Purple Frog is one of the most mysterious amphibians, as it spends virtually its entire life deep underground, emerging only to breed during the first heavy rains. It was only formally identified in 2017 by a team from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad. Led by herpetologist Dr. Kartikeyan Vasudevan, a senior scientist at CCMB, the...

NEW DELHI — A swelling population of rock pigeons and the resulting health and sanitation crisis in the capital have triggered a bureaucratic turf war, with municipal departments actively avoiding responsibility for controlling the bird menace. As acidic pigeon droppings accumulate on public spaces and monuments, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is struggling to assign jurisdiction over the issue. MCD Departments Refuse Ownership The controversy began when the MCD’s public health wing asked the veterinary department to regulate public feeding and check the bird population. However, the request was rejected. A senior veterinary department official clarified that the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act (DMC Act) does not list pigeons under its purview. “We have clarified that...

NEW DELHI — The capital is preparing for the inauguration of its largest sewage treatment facility in Okhla on September 30. With a capacity of 124 Million Gallons per Day (MGD), the plant is set to be the largest of its kind in all of Asia and a major step in the ongoing mission to clean the Yamuna river. Massive Scale and Critical Environmental Role The \text{Rs } 1,161 \text{ crore} facility, built on 40 acres, will serve nearly 40 lakh residents across central, south, and old Delhi, including areas like Civil Lines, Green Park, and the Walled City. Officials from the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) confirmed that the plant will be the single largest contributor to the city's sewage treatment capacity. Crucially, the facility is expected to play a significant role in reducing the volume ...

NEW DELHI — A grim report from NITI Aayog warns that nearly 600 million Indians are living under high to extreme water stress, even as devastating floods sweep across various states. The report underscores the profound national paradox, estimating that around 200,000 people die each year due to a lack of safe water. This crisis is particularly acute in major cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai, where severe shortages worsen despite deluges elsewhere. The Gendered Burden of Water Scarcity The daily struggle for water is overwhelmingly borne by women and girls, a task deeply ingrained in patriarchal social norms. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) reveals that in about 71% of rural households, women aged 15 and above are solely responsible for water collection. These w...

UNITED NATIONS — United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a significant appeal to the global community, urging all nations signed on to the Paris climate agreement to set more ambitious emission reduction targets for 2035. The call was made at a climate leaders summit held on the sidelines of the annual U.N. General Assembly session on Wednesday. A Push for Deeper Cuts Amid Global Division The summit was convened to build momentum for more aggressive climate goals ahead of the upcoming COP30 negotiations in Brazil. Guterres emphasized the urgency of deeper emission cuts in light of the United States’ planned withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and the contrasting views of other major global powers. The UN chief's call for enhanced targets by 2035 is a direct ch...

NEW DELHI — In a bid to save the Jojari river in Rajasthan, the Supreme Court of India on Tuesday took suo motu cognizance of media reports about the severe pollution affecting the lives and livelihoods of two million people. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta will pass a comprehensive order on October 9 for the river's restoration. Industrial Discharge Renders River Toxic The pollution has been primarily caused by the discharge of untreated wastewater from more than 400 steel rolling and textile units along the river's course near Jodhpur. This untreated effluent has made the water unusable even for animals and has prompted the migration of people from over 50 villages along the Jodhpur-Barmer stretch. A report from the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board confi...

A new study published in the journal Science has revealed that human activities and deforestation have caused a staggering 80% of tropical forests to become fragmented in the past two decades. Globally, between 51% and 67% of all forests have also been fragmented, a change that is severely impacting biodiversity and ecological integrity. Primary Drivers of Forest Fragmentation The researchers identified the primary causes of fragmentation, noting that most are temporary activities rather than permanent land conversions. Globally, the leading drivers are: • Shifting agriculture Responsible for 37% of increased fragmentation. • Forestry Accounted for 34%. • Wildfires and commodity-driven deforestation Each contributed 14%. The study found significant regional differences in...

UNITED NATIONS — United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a significant appeal to the global community, urging all nations signed on to the Paris climate agreement to set more ambitious emission reduction targets for 2035. The call was made at a climate leaders summit held on the sidelines of the annual U.N. General Assembly session on Wednesday. A Push for Deeper Cuts Amid Global Division The summit was convened to build momentum for more aggressive climate goals ahead of the upcoming COP30 negotiations in Brazil. Guterres emphasized the urgency of deeper emission cuts in light of the United States’ planned withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and the contrasting views of other major global powers. The UN chief's call for enhanced targets by 2035 is a direct ch...

NEW DELHI — A new dispute has emerged in South Delhi as the city's Revenue and Forest Departments have taken opposing views on whether a parcel of land held by the Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) in the Bhatti area should be classified as forest land. The conflict has moved to a legal battle, with the Forest Department appealing a recent decision that favored the religious organization. The Heart of the Argument At the center of the dispute is approximately 140 bighas of land. The RSSB maintains that the land cannot be designated as "uncultivated surplus" or "forest land" because it was legally leased to them by the gaon sabha (village council) in 1988 and 1989 for the purpose of "tree plantation." The organization argues that under the Delhi Land Reforms (DLR) Act, tree plantation i...

ARUNACHAL PRADESH — In a race to counter China’s hydropower projects in the Brahmaputra Basin, India's push to build massive dams is causing widespread fear, anxiety, and cultural erosion among local communities in Arunachal Pradesh. A new report highlights that while these projects are championed as steps toward sustainable development, their human and ecological costs are profound and largely ignored. Displacement and Dread in the Siang Valley The Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), a key part of India's dam strategy, has sparked significant tension. Current estimates suggest that the project will submerge as many as 27 villages, directly impacting over 100,000 residents. For these villagers, the project is a source of unremitting fear and anxiety. "We do not want to go any...