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In a time when climate change is rapidly reshaping ecosystems across the globe, Tamil Nadu has emerged as a frontrunner in ecological restoration with its ambitious Rainforest Revival Mission. Launched by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, the mission aims not just to plant trees, but to rebuild entire rainforest ecosystems restoring biodiversity, enhancing climate resilience, and creating sustainable livelihoods in the process. This bold initiative, currently targeting the fragile rainforests of the Western and Eastern Ghats, seeks to revive 1,000 hectares of degraded forest land over the next five years. And it is already being hailed as one of the most comprehensive, community-driven, and tech-enabled reforestation efforts in India. A Vision Rooted in Urgency Tamil Nadu’s rainfore...

Punjab groundwater crisis has taken a serious turn, with alarming new data presented in the Rajya Sabha revealing that nearly one in three water samples from the state contain uranium levels far beyond safe limits. In a written reply to MP Swati Maliwal, the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti reported that 32.6% of groundwater samples tested by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in Punjab have exceeded the World Health Organization’s safe limit of 0.03 mg/L for uranium. Toxic Cocktail Beneath the Soil The contamination does not end with uranium. The CGWB report also highlighted unsafe concentrations of fluoride, nitrate, arsenic, and salinity: •Fluoride: 13.8% of samples contained more than the permissible limit of 1.5 mg/L. Long-term exposure can lead to bone deformities, dental fluor...

As the Arctic heats up, an invisible danger is quietly smouldering beneath the earth zombie fires. Unlike surface wildfires, these fires burn slowly under the soil, survive freezing winters, and reignite months later, releasing massive amounts of greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants. Zombie fires have been increasingly spotted in northern regions like Canada, Alaska, and Siberia, often igniting in peat-rich soils where organic matter accumulates over time. Scientists now believe that these underground blazes could worsen as climate change dries Arctic soils and thaws ancient permafrost, unlocking centuries-old carbon. According to researchers from The Ohio State University, zombie fires are hard to detect and even harder to extinguish. They produce little surface smoke but can smoul...

As Gurugram continues to battle waterlogging and monsoon flooding, a draft drainage plan by the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has revealed an alarming situation nearly 85% of individual homes and around 50% of residential societies in the city do not have working rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems. The findings come as the GMDA launches its first review meeting for a comprehensive overhaul of the city’s drainage infrastructure. The report identifies three major drainage zones and reveals how vast catchment areas ranging from Nathupur to Najafgarh, Chakkarpur to Millennium City Centre, and across the Badshahpur drain remain underutilized when it comes to rainwater conservation. It notes that 70% of RWH pits in residential areas are currently non-functional. Eve...

In a decisive push toward sustainability ITC Ltd has expanded its eco-friendly packaging portfolio by 2.4 times between FY22 and FY25, positioning itself at the forefront of the industry shift away from single-use plastics. Speaking to ET Digital, B. Sumant, Executive Director of ITC Ltd, shared that the company paperboards and specialty papers division has ramped up innovation to develop alternatives like recyclable and compostable paperboard products for the food and FMCG sectors. One of ITC most notable developments is the Filo Series a range of barrier-coated, biodegradable, and PFAS-free paperboards designed for packaging hot beverages, meals, and delivery items. The company has also launched WrapWell, a recyclable alternative to aluminium foil, and BioSeal, a compostable coatin...

NEW DELHI: As Delhi continues to battle urban flooding, clogged drains and choked rivers, an equally alarming but less visible crisis is brewing the silent invasion of microplastics. From Yamuna murky waters to city landfills and even the air we breathe, microscopic plastic particles are making their way into every corner of the capital and even into our bodies. The monsoon has only made things worse. Heavy rains flush plastic waste into stormwater drains, many of which are already clogged due to poor waste management. These plastics break down into microplastics tiny fragments less than 5mm and find their way into soil, water and food. Once released, they’re nearly impossible to remove. Recent environmental studies suggest Delhi's water bodies, including the Yamuna, are among the mo...

India criteria-based ban on 19 single-use plastic (SUP) items is being hailed as a model for global policy, especially as negotiations continue under the United Nations’ Global Plastic Pollution Treaty. The move, based on scientific assessment and socio-economic considerations, is now positioning India as a key global advocate for a plastic-free future. The framework developed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, evaluated 40 single-use plastic items and identified 19 for immediate ban. Items such as plastic straws, carry bags, earbuds, stirrers, and small packaging films are now prohibited across production, distribution, and usage. India structured approach aligns with global treaty negotiations chaired by Louis Vayas Valdivieso. Concepts such as littering ten...

CHENNAI: In a bold move toward making Chennai India first zero-waste, people-centric city, residents of North Chennai have proposed the Green Chennai Initiative (GCI) a comprehensive, climate-resilient waste management plan. The proposal directly challenges the controversial Waste-to-Energy (WtE) incinerator project planned at the Kodungaiyur dumpyard. Spearheaded by the Federation for North Chennai Residents Welfare Association, the GCI calls for a decentralised system rooted in composting, recycling, and community participation rejecting incineration, which they argue would create toxic byproducts like ash and air pollutants. “Burning 2,300 tonnes of dry waste daily will only generate 500 tonnes of toxic ash. This is not the future we want for Chennai,” said TK Shanmugam, president...

UTTARKASHI: A devastating cloudburst struck Dharali village in Uttarakhand Uttarkashi district on Tuesday afternoon, triggering flash floods that left at least four people dead and over 50 missing. The disaster occurred around 1:45 pm, just 4 km from the Indian Army camp at Harsil, cutting off access to Gangotri Dham, one of the Char Dhams and a major pilgrimage site. According to officials, the cloudburst unleashed a sudden and violent surge of water mixed with mud and debris, sweeping through homes, roads, and farmlands. Entire areas near the winter seat of Ganga Ji at Mukhba have been left devastated. Rescue operations are underway, with ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police), NDRF (National Disaster Response Force), and local disaster management teams deployed. However, continuous...

NEW DELHI: Once seen as a source of clean and pure water, rain clouds over the Himalayas have now been found to carry poisonous heavy metals, according to a new scientific study raising alarm over the health and environmental threats this poses to one of the world’s most fragile ecosystems. Researchers have discovered that clouds drifting across the Eastern Himalayas contain pollution levels 1.5 times higher than expected, largely due to vehicular emissions and industrial pollution from the plains. These airborne pollutants including lead, arsenic, and mercury are carried by wind systems into the upper reaches of the Himalayas, contaminating rainwater that eventually feeds rivers and groundwater. The consequences are deeply concerning. Toxic metals in rainfall can seep into soils, ag...