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Delhi air quality plunged to its worst post-Diwali levels in five years, with PM2.5 levels soaring to an alarming 488 µg/m³ a 212% spike from pre-Diwali figures. A new analysis by research group Climate Trends revealed that this surge was driven largely by firecracker emissions, even though stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana fell sharply this year. The report, based on Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, shows that Punjab and Haryana recorded only 175 farm fire incidents between October 1 and 12, compared to 779 in the same period last year a 77.5% decline caused mainly by flood-induced delays in paddy harvesting. Yet, Delhi’s AQI dipped into the ‘severe’ category as thick smog engulfed the city on Tuesday morning. Experts from Climate Trends said that the 2025 Diwali was...

The Union Mines Ministry has said that feedstock availability for India ₹1,500 crore critical mineral recycling incentive scheme will be ensured through formalised waste collection under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework. In a response to ET, the ministry noted that integrating e-waste and battery waste into the recycling ecosystem will strengthen the domestic supply chain and boost local recyclers. Industry stakeholders had raised concerns that informal waste collection, limited recycling capacity, and a cap on incentives might hinder the scheme’s implementation. Addressing these, the ministry said that e-waste and battery waste management rules under EPR already mandate extraction of specified end-products. However, it acknowledged that India’s capacity to process b...

The Haryana government has told the Supreme Court that its proposed Aravali Safari Park will preserve 70% of the 3,300-acre area as natural green cover, with construction limited to only 5%. The state emphasized that the project is focused on conservation and ecological restoration, not commercial tourism. In an affidavit filed on October 14, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Subhash Chander Yadav said the project, spread across parts of Gurgaon and Nuh, has been scaled down from an earlier 10,000-acre proposal once floated by the tourism department. The forest and wildlife department is now the sole implementing agency. “The project will be an ecological boon, not a disaster,” the affidavit stated, asserting that it will revive native flora, aid groundwater recharge, act as a ...

Sea turtles along Karnataka’s coastline are losing their nesting habitats due to increasing coastal erosion, seawall construction, and climate-induced extreme weather events, according to a new study by the ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI). The study, published in Regional Studies in Marine Science highlights how human interventions and changing ocean conditions are shrinking crucial nesting grounds. More than 52% of local fishermen surveyed attributed the decline in turtle nesting to sea erosion and the construction of seawalls along the coast. Led by Dr. Bindu Sulochanan from CMFRI Mangaluru Regional Centre, the decade-long research combined field observations, marine productivity data, coastal water quality assessments, vessel traffic mapping, and tradition...

A new study by wildcat conservation NGO Panthera has revealed that cultural and traditional practices across Africa are posing a significant yet overlooked threat to wildcat species such as leopards, lions, servals, and cheetahs. The research, published in March 2025, highlights how wildlife parts like skins, claws, and bones continue to be used in rituals, ceremonies, and attire by traditional leaders, healers, and religious groups. While habitat loss and poaching have long been recognized as major conservation challenges, the study notes that cultural demand for wildcat parts remains poorly understood and under-addressed. Co-author Marine Drouilly from Panthera said that many conservation efforts fail because they ignore local beliefs and traditions. “Cultural practices such as using ...

The Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti (HABSS) has strongly opposed the Chhattisgarh High Court’s decision to uphold the cancellation of Community Forest Rights (CFR) granted to Ghatbarra village in Surguja district, calling the verdict “troubling” and “deeply disappointing.” The organisation said this marks the first time in India that a community forest right has been revoked, setting a dangerous precedent for forest-dwelling communities across the country. The High Court single-judge bench dismissed the petition on October 8, stating that HABSS lacked the legal standing to challenge the revocation. In response, HABSS argued that the court disregarded key evidence including individual affidavits and a resolution signed by over 200 villagers confirming their right to be represented ...

The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has launched an ambitious three-month plan to overhaul the city’s sanitation system and improve overall cleanliness. The initiative will target illegal garbage dumping, enhance road cleaning, and tighten monitoring to prevent waste accumulation, officials said. The plan was finalised during a review meeting chaired by MCG commissioner Pradeep Dahiya on Friday. Dahiya directed officials to identify all garbage-vulnerable points (GVPs) across the city and eliminate them within a week. “Each joint commissioner will assess the GVPs in their respective zones and prepare a time-bound action plan for their removal. The focus is on reducing open dumping sites and strengthening door-to-door waste collection,” he said. The MCG is also introducing per...

Hundreds of dead seal pups have been found on Heard Island, a remote Australian territory in the southern Indian Ocean, with scientists fearing an outbreak of the deadly H5N1 avian flu a virus that has devastated wildlife populations worldwide since 2021. The discovery was made during a recent 10-day expedition by researchers from the Australian Antarctic Division. The team initially reported healthy wildlife in the area but later came across numerous seal carcasses scattered along the island’s shores, prompting urgent investigations. The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has confirmed that tests are underway to determine whether the highly contagious H5N1 strain is responsible. Officials suspect the virus may have reached the island after it was detected o...

Delhi witnessed a sharp dip in temperatures, recording its coldest October night in two years at 17°C, signalling an early onset of winter conditions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the minimum temperature was slightly below normal, while the maximum reached 32.3°C. Mist and light fog are expected in the early mornings over the weekend, with temperatures likely to remain stable around current levels. The city’s air quality showed a marginal improvement after four consecutive days in the ‘very poor’ range. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) placed Delhi’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) at 275, categorised as ‘poor’. However, several pockets, including Anand Vihar, continued to experience hazardous conditions with an AQI of 414 — among the highest...

The Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, stretches across 10,000 sq km of the India-Bangladesh border a labyrinth of tidal creeks, mudflats, and islands shaped by the Bay of Bengal. This UNESCO World Heritage site is known for its unique biodiversity home to Bengal tigers, crocodiles, fishing cats, deer, and hundreds of bird and fish species. But behind this ecological wonder lies a harsher reality the struggle of millions who live amid rising seas, vanishing land, and historical marginalisation. For the Dalit and Adivasi communities who make up much of the Sundarbans’ population, survival has always meant resilience. Their ancestors were brought here nearly two centuries ago to clear forests for agriculture under British rule. Today, their descendants are battling new forms...