Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], September 7 (ANI): Karnataka Minister of Forests Umesh Katti passed away on late Tuesday evening after he suffered a heart attack.

Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) [India], July 14 (ANI): Forest officials of Visakhapatnam have started "Operation Cage" to catch a four-year-old tiger which is on the prowl in the forest areas of Anakapalle district for the past few days.

Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], July 13 (ANI): Aiming to unearth the corruption in the Forest Department during the previous Congress regime, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Wednesday arrested Daljit Singh Gilzian, nephew of former minister Sangat Singh Gilzian, who was a middleman to collect the ill-gotten money from contractors, in transfers of department officials, illegal mining as well as the purchase of tree guards.

Nashik (Maharashtra) [India], July 2 (ANI): A 2.5-year-old female leopard was spotted in the Ashok Nagar area of Maharashtra's Nashik on Saturday morning.

New Delhi [India], June 4 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Friday ordered that mining within the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries shall not be permitted.

New York [US], May 17 (ANI): India on Tuesday said that it is deeply committed to safeguarding the interest and rights of tribal people dependent on the forest and nearly 300 million people in the country are dependent on forests for subsistence, livelihoods, and income generation.

Jaipur Mar 26 PTI The Chhattisgarh government has given permission to Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam RRVUN for the mining of coal in 1136 hectare area of forest land under the second phase of Parsa East-Kanta Basan block a release said on Saturday The decision is expected to ensure smooth supply of coal to the thermal units in Rajasthan The approval has come after Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot met Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in Raipur on Friday and requested for early issuance of permission for the mining in the coal block allotted to Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam for smooth supply of coal to Rajasthan An official statement said that after the meeting of Gehlot and Baghel immediate decision was taken on diversion of forest land for coal mining in the second phase of Parsa East-Kanta Basan coal block In this regard the Under Secretary Forest and Climate Change Department Government of Chhattisgarh has written a letter to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief of Forest Force Chhattisgarh to take appropriate action The Government of India had allotted 15 MTPA coal blocks at Parsa East-Kanta Basan PEKB in Chhattisgarh and 5 MTPA capacity at Parsa to Rajasthan in 2015 Mining in the first phase of Parsa East-Kanta Basan coal block has been completed this month In such a situation due to non-supply of coal for the power generation units of Rajasthan there was a situation of power crisis in the state Gehlot had urged the Chhattisgarh government to take appropriate positive decisions on this subject at the earliest keeping in mind the environmental protection and the needs of Rajasthan PTI AG MR MR

Jammu Mar 21 PTI Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said his administration is committed to ensuring ecologically sustainable development as the biggest challenge today is to create a fine balance between man and nature Sinha was speaking at a function organised here to celebrate the International Day of Forests The event under the theme Forests and Sustainable Production and Consumption aims to raise awareness on combating climate change environmental conservation efficient use of forests for prosperity and well-being of current and future generations The JK government is committed towards ensuring ecologically sustainable development the wisdom and the experience of local communities must be utilized to preserve our forests and natural habitats the Lt Governor said He termed the initiative as a significant effort to raise awareness among people for the protection of invaluable forests and making them realize their responsibilities to save forests Sustainable forest management and efficient use of its resources is the key to combat climate change and ensure a prosperous ecosystem for future generations he said Highlighting the important role of forests in climate change mitigation Sinha called for involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions and other non-government institutions working at gross-root level in forest protection and conservation efforts This will prove to be an important step towards participatory governance in natural resource management he remarked The Lt Governor stressed that it is important to ensure that rights of traditional forest dwellers who have been residing in the natures lap for generations are not infringed upon The historic implementation of the Forest Rights Act in the Union Territory under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has benefitted large population of our tribal brothers dependent on forests he said The Lt Governor also stressed the need to modernize the Forest and Wildlife management system and involve the forest dwellers in the social movement for the conservation of the environment He advised the forest department to encourage and recognize the contribution of women in forestry and wildlife conservation A sapling should be planted in every village in the name of a newborn girl child to create awareness among the present and future generations about the rights of our daughters and developing consciousness amongst the people about our natural heritage he said Earlier the Lt Governor conferred Union Territory-level awards to frontline staff of Forest and Wildlife Department for their outstanding contribution in protection of forests and wildlife afforestation and plantation work The Forest Departments endeavours towards the growth of sustainable forest economy and support to stakeholders dependent on forests creating livelihood opportunities especially for women SHGs are also appreciable he said PTI TAS CK

New Delhi [India], March 20 (ANI): Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Sunday underlined the important role of Corporate Social Responsibility and social entrepreneurship in bringing about socio-economic transformation in the disadvantaged sections of society.

Nashik (Maharashtra) [India], March 19 (ANI): A 55-year-old woman was attacked by a leopard in the Igatpuri Taluka area, a wildlife corridor in Nashik Maharashtra, forest officials said.