THE STRUGGLE OVER THE LAVA KA BAAS RECHARGE STRUCTURE CONTINUES
As we had informed you in our last e mail, the future of the recharge structure built by the villagers is still uncertain. The Rajasthan irrigation minister has declared that every drop of rain that falls belongs to the government and that captures the rain can be arrested. Apparently, rainwater harvesting is illegal. There is a major battle ahead of us since these developments can jeopardise community-based rainwater harvesting across the country. There already exist examples from other parts of India also wherein the government has stepped in and tried its utmost to prevent people from meeting their water demands themselves. Clearly this will need to be dealt with. Deeply concerned at these developments the Centre for Science and Environment is taking a group of eminent persons to Rajasthan to see the efforts of the villagers in Rajasthan, to meet chief minister Ashok Gehlot and to address a press conference on the 19th July. These people include Dr M S Swaminathan of the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation,  Chennai; N C Saxena, secretary to the government of India, New Delhi; Om Thanvi, chief editor of Jansatta; Anna Hazare, social activist from Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra; and, Mohan Gopal, director of the National Law School University, Bangalore.

For further information..

 http://www.cseindia.org/html/extra/dam/index.htm

POLLUTION FREE TRANSPORTATION
The Global Environmental Facility has approved grants for the use of fuel cell buses (FCBs) in India and China. The formidable cost gap between the FCB and diesel bus is a major source of worry when the pollution free buses are heading for Delhi. More at...

BUSH ENERGY PLAN TO ENCOURAGE N-POWER
The new US national energy policy revives nuclear reactor construction after 25 years of abstinence. Arguing that the nuclear power is cheap, clean and safe, the plan recommends reviving of existing plants and building of new ones. For details click

DDT AND EARLY PUBERTY
A study at University of Liege, Belgium, reveals that girls exposed to DDT attain puberty at an early age. For more click

CITY'S WITHOUT CARS
A utopian idea of the 1960s to drive out cars from the city centers is snowballing into a small movement in Europe. The movement aims to restore the inner cities, fight pollution and improve quality of urban life.

A FISHY STORY
Sixty per cent of the world's important fish stocks are in urgent need of management to rehabilitate them or keep them from being overfished.

GOBAR TIMES July 2001
Our new bimonthly issue of Gobar Times is now available on our site with articles about: Know Your Mosquito ! , The Beast Within and more

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