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Delhi's AQI Hits 314: 'Very Poor' Air Returns as Winter Curbs Take Effect
environment

Delhi's AQI Hits 314: 'Very Poor' Air Returns as Winter Curbs Take Effect

Delhi's overall AQI stood at 314 at 10 am, placing the city in the 'very poor' category for the first time this season and bringing Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan into play. The reading came as the Delhi government's Winter Action Plan took effect from November 1, with construction curbs, doubled parking charges and staggered office timings in place until February 28. On the first day of enforcement, authorities levied Rs 68.4 lakh in penalties and environmental compensation.

02 Nov 2026, 04:49 AM
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Delhi-NCR Winter Pollution Curbs: Old Vehicle Ban, 50% Work From Home, Costlier Parking
environment

Delhi-NCR Winter Pollution Curbs: Old Vehicle Ban, 50% Work From Home, Costlier Parking

Delhi-NCR has introduced stricter winter pollution measures running from November 1 to January 31, including a ban on non-BSVI vehicles entering the capital, halved office attendance with the rest working from home, curbs on dust-generating construction, doubled parking fees and a 'No PUC, No Fuel' rule at about 500 petrol pumps. Enforcement will rely on ANPR cameras, AI-enabled monitoring and e-challans, with exemptions for electric and CNG vehicles, ambulances and fire tenders.

01 Nov 2026, 02:53 AM
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Buxa's relocated tigress crosses into Assam; West Bengal plans to bring her back
environment

Buxa's relocated tigress crosses into Assam; West Bengal plans to bring her back

A three-year-old tigress released in West Bengal's Buxa Tiger Reserve on October 2 has crossed into Assam's Raimona reserve, with her movement traced about 25 km from the State border. Forest Minister Manoj Oraon will visit Raimona on October 31 to finalise plans to tranquilise and bring her back. Officials say the tigress is healthy and hunting, and will continue to be tracked through telemetry and camera traps.

31 Oct 2026, 05:39 AM
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Delhi-NCR construction and demolition ban from Nov 5 to 20 as air pollution measures tighten
environment

Delhi-NCR construction and demolition ban from Nov 5 to 20 as air pollution measures tighten

Delhi and the NCR will bar dust-generating construction and demolition work from November 5 to 20, with exemptions for nationally important projects, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav announced. The CAQM is also expected to order 50% work from home in the high-traffic districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar. Officials say the timing reflects Deepavali on November 8 and the expected peak in stubble burning.

30 Oct 2026, 01:34 PM
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Tigress relocated from Bihar to Buxa crosses Sankosh, enters Assam's Raimona National Park
environment

Tigress relocated from Bihar to Buxa crosses Sankosh, enters Assam's Raimona National Park

A three-year-old tigress moved from Bihar's Valmiki Tiger Reserve to West Bengal's Buxa Tiger Reserve on October 2 has crossed the Sankosh river into Assam's Raimona National Park. Officials say the animal is exploring for suitable habitat and is being tracked by radio collar, with no plans to tranquillise or bring her back. The translocation is part of a science-based effort to restore tigers in Buxa, which has recorded no tiger presence in recent years.

29 Oct 2026, 01:56 PM
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Coimbatore Collector: Joint action, swift response key to tackling human-wildlife conflict
environment

Coimbatore Collector: Joint action, swift response key to tackling human-wildlife conflict

Coimbatore District Collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar has called for close coordination among departments, faster response and greater use of technology to reduce human-wildlife conflict in a district with over 300 km of forest boundary. At a workshop under Project Kaliru 4.0, West Zone IG R.V. Ramya Bharathi said 36 people died in animal conflicts across eight western districts last year and stressed that the Forest Department cannot handle the problem alone.

28 Oct 2026, 01:47 PM
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Cyclone Arnab Nears Andhra Pradesh Coast; Uttar Pradesh Braces for Four Days of Rain
environment

Cyclone Arnab Nears Andhra Pradesh Coast; Uttar Pradesh Braces for Four Days of Rain

Cyclone Arnab is heading towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, and the India Meteorological Department has forecast unseasonal rain, thunderstorms and strong winds across Uttar Pradesh from October 28 to 31. Yellow and orange alerts have been issued for several districts, with daytime temperatures expected to drop by 5 to 8 degrees Celsius in some areas. The state's Relief Commissioner's Office has issued precautionary guidelines for the public and farmers and has stepped up relief preparations.

27 Oct 2026, 03:53 AM
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Cyclone Arnab intensifies over Bay of Bengal; Andhra Pradesh coast on alert as Tamil Nadu gets rain
environment

Cyclone Arnab intensifies over Bay of Bengal; Andhra Pradesh coast on alert as Tamil Nadu gets rain

The India Meteorological Department said the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into cyclonic storm Arnab, which is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam as a very severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 115-125 kmph. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to maintain round-the-clock vigilance and full preparedness, while Tamil Nadu continues to receive rain under an active north-east monsoon till October 27.

26 Oct 2026, 03:48 AM
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Toxic Foam Returns to Yamuna as Delhi-NCR Air Quality Slips to 'Unhealthy'
environment

Toxic Foam Returns to Yamuna as Delhi-NCR Air Quality Slips to 'Unhealthy'

Toxic white foam has reappeared on the Yamuna near Kalindi Kunj, days after the Delhi government showcased Rs 9,000 crore in river rejuvenation projects. At the same time, Delhi-NCR's overall AQI touched 168, prompting the CAQM to invoke Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan. Experts link the foam to detergents, industrial effluents and untreated sewage in a river with low dry-season flow.

25 Oct 2026, 05:13 AM
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IMD red alert: Extremely heavy rain to hit Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad on October 25
environment

IMD red alert: Extremely heavy rain to hit Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad on October 25

The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts of Keralam on October 25, and in Idukki and Palakkad on October 26. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has warned of flash floods, overflowing streams, waterlogging and landslips, advising residents of vulnerable areas to move to safer locations if needed.

24 Oct 2026, 03:40 PM
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Delhi's air quality improves to 'moderate' after three days of 'poor' air
environment

Delhi's air quality improves to 'moderate' after three days of 'poor' air

Delhi's air quality improved to the 'moderate' category on Saturday morning, with the AQI at 185 after three consecutive days of 'poor' air that peaked at a 24-hour average of 230 on Friday. The city also saw a marginal dip in minimum temperatures, with Safdarjung recording 18.3 degrees Celsius, while the IMD forecasts partly cloudy skies and daytime highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius.

24 Oct 2026, 05:48 AM
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1,500 Objections, 1,128 Trees: Bengaluru's Hebbal Tunnel Plan Draws Public Ire
environment

1,500 Objections, 1,128 Trees: Bengaluru's Hebbal Tunnel Plan Draws Public Ire

The Greater Bengaluru Authority has received over 1,500 objections to the proposed felling of 1,128 trees for the Hebbal Short Tunnel Project, with concerns ranging from biodiversity loss and Hebbal Lake hydrology to heat island effects. The National Green Tribunal has barred the BDA from cutting trees until December 15, and a tree expert committee will now review the objections alongside the implementing agency.

20 Oct 2026, 01:52 PM
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Mullaperiyar dam level at 116.75 ft, well below the 142-ft ceiling
environment

Mullaperiyar dam level at 116.75 ft, well below the 142-ft ceiling

The Mullaperiyar dam stood at 116.75 feet on Saturday, well below its 142-foot permissible ceiling, with an inflow of 718 cusecs against a discharge of 400 cusecs. The Vaigai dam was at 43.77 feet against a full level of 71 feet, and combined storage in the Periyar credit was 3,023.34 mcft. Maruthanadhi dam recorded the highest rainfall in the region at 15.4 mm in the 24 hours ending Saturday morning.

17 Oct 2026, 01:46 PM
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Idukki Villagers Re-erect Fences, Blocking Elephant Corridors After Fatal Attack
environment

Idukki Villagers Re-erect Fences, Blocking Elephant Corridors After Fatal Attack

Residents of Panthadikkalam in Idukki have re-erected fences that the Forest department removed to allow elephant movement, following the death of a farmer in an elephant attack. The move has blocked traditional elephant routes, leaving six elephants roaming near the settlement. The Forest department plans to capture and relocate two problematic elephants, while an expert committee studies the conflict.

09 Oct 2026, 01:43 PM
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Wildlife law architect warns India's protected areas are shrinking under development pressure
environment

Wildlife law architect warns India's protected areas are shrinking under development pressure

Wildlife conservationist M.K. Ranjitsinh Jhala, chief architect of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, has warned that India's protected areas are shrinking amid growing pressure from development, mining and tourism. Speaking in Thiruvananthapuram, he urged that conservation look beyond iconic animals to habitats and the ecological systems that sustain people. Officials and speakers at the event called for a people-centred approach that links conservation with local livelihoods.

05 Oct 2026, 03:39 PM
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Scientists Can Now Trace the Damage a Single Coal Mine or Gas Project Will Cause
environment

Scientists Can Now Trace the Damage a Single Coal Mine or Gas Project Will Cause

Scientists have released an open-source tool that estimates how much a single fossil fuel project will warm the planet and the specific damage it will cause, from heatwave deaths in Europe to coral loss on the Great Barrier Reef. The Carbon Impacts Tracer applies established attribution science to individual coal, oil and gas developments, weakening the argument that any one project's emissions are too small to matter.

01 Oct 2026, 01:51 PM
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CAQM asks NCR states to tighten checks on vehicular pollution, stubble burning
environment

CAQM asks NCR states to tighten checks on vehicular pollution, stubble burning

The CAQM has directed enforcing agencies across the National Capital Region to ensure strict compliance with its directions, focusing on vehicular and industrial emissions, stubble burning and dust from roads and construction. The directions were reviewed at a meeting of its Sub-Committee on Safeguarding and Enforcement, chaired by CAQM Chairperson Rajesh Verma, which also asked agencies to strengthen inspection and monitoring.

01 Oct 2026, 04:58 AM
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Kedarnath's Five-Month Waste Tally Crosses 50 Tonnes, More Than Double Last Season's Total
environment

Kedarnath's Five-Month Waste Tally Crosses 50 Tonnes, More Than Double Last Season's Total

Kedarnath generated 50.30 metric tonnes of waste between April and August 2026, more than two and a half times the total collected in the whole of the previous pilgrimage season, according to Nagar Panchayat data released under an RTI request. The town's landfills remain largely unused so far, but the activist who sought the data warns that rising waste volumes threaten the ecologically sensitive Himalayan region.

25 Sep 2026, 05:41 AM
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Hebbal tunnel project: 1,128 trees of 70+ species to be felled; full list still unpublished
environment

Hebbal tunnel project: 1,128 trees of 70+ species to be felled; full list still unpublished

Documents show that over 70 tree species are among the 1,128 trees marked for felling along a 2.2-km stretch for Bengaluru's Hebbal short tunnel project, though the full list has not been made public. Experts say the loss of green cover could raise local temperatures and damage habitats, while a Change.org petition opposing the project has crossed 20,000 signatures.

24 Sep 2026, 05:51 AM
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Western Ghats draft is in Hindi and English only. A coalition has now released a Kannada translation
environment

Western Ghats draft is in Hindi and English only. A coalition has now released a Kannada translation

A coalition of organisations has released a Kannada translation of the seventh draft notification on the Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area, which was otherwise available only in Hindi and English. Karnataka holds the largest share of the proposed protected area, and the coalition says residents cannot respond to a notification they cannot read.

22 Sep 2026, 03:46 PM
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37 Water Sources in 25 Tamil Nadu Villages Unfit to Drink: Inside the SIPCOT Perundurai Crisis
environment

37 Water Sources in 25 Tamil Nadu Villages Unfit to Drink: Inside the SIPCOT Perundurai Crisis

The Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board found water from 37 sources in 25 villages around the SIPCOT Industrial Growth Centre at Perundurai, Erode district, unfit for drinking. A ₹136.76-crore Common Effluent Treatment Plant is being built to treat contaminated seepage and resupply industries, but no long-term plan for the affected villages or the aquifer has been finalised yet.

22 Sep 2026, 01:53 PM
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Telangana sets up climate centre for cities, launches urban climate atlas
environment

Telangana sets up climate centre for cities, launches urban climate atlas

Telangana has inaugurated the State Climate Centre for Cities under the CITIIS Programme 2.0, a nodal body that will handle climate data, risk studies and municipal climate action plans. The government also launched the Telangana Urban Climate Atlas, a digital platform mapping climate risks, vulnerabilities and emissions across cities.

17 Sep 2026, 03:50 PM
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Bengaluru civic body fines PVR INOX ₹75,000, Forum Mall ₹50,839 over waste violations
environment

Bengaluru civic body fines PVR INOX ₹75,000, Forum Mall ₹50,839 over waste violations

The Bengaluru South City Corporation has fined PVR INOX ₹75,000 and Forum Mall ₹50,839 for violating solid waste management rules, including failure to segregate waste at source and the use of banned single-use plastics. Commissioner K.N. Ramesh has directed the establishments to comply and warned malls, cinema theatres and hotels of stringent action for further violations.

16 Sep 2026, 03:43 PM
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Bengaluru Pollution Board Backs Carpooling, Urges Clear Rules as Vehicles Drive 40% of PM2.5
environment

Bengaluru Pollution Board Backs Carpooling, Urges Clear Rules as Vehicles Drive 40% of PM2.5

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has urged the Transport Department to examine a regulatory framework for non-commercial shared commuting and corporate carpooling in Bengaluru. The Board cites its source apportionment study, which found vehicular emissions account for nearly 40% of PM2.5 pollution in the city. It says regulatory ambiguity has created uncertainty for commuters, employers, technology platforms and enforcement agencies.

16 Sep 2026, 01:53 PM
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Kerala unveils ₹1,040-crore action plan to ease human-wildlife conflict in 14 landscapes
environment

Kerala unveils ₹1,040-crore action plan to ease human-wildlife conflict in 14 landscapes

Kerala's Forest Department has presented a ₹1,040-crore landscape-based action plan to tackle human-wildlife conflict, introducing measures like smart fences, drone squads and command centres across 14 landscapes. The plan, which categorises conflict-prone areas and relies on data-driven risk mapping, aims to reduce incidents that have led to over 1,000 deaths in recent years.

02 Sep 2026, 03:42 PM
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UNEP: 1.5°C limit to be breached, but world can still pull temperatures back
environment

UNEP: 1.5°C limit to be breached, but world can still pull temperatures back

A UNEP report warns that global warming will exceed the 1.5°C threshold in the coming years, but outlines a pathway to limit the overshoot and bring temperatures back below the limit by 2100. It stresses the need for deep emission cuts along with carbon dioxide removal, while warning of compounding risks if the overshoot is prolonged.

02 Sep 2026, 03:50 PM
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UN Report: Even Best Climate Pledges Would Push Warming Past 1.5°C
environment

UN Report: Even Best Climate Pledges Would Push Warming Past 1.5°C

A new UNEP report warns that global temperatures are likely to exceed the 1.5°C Paris Agreement threshold within the next few years, even if all current national climate pledges are met. Peak warming could reach 1.8°C, leading to severe impacts such as glacier loss, sea-level rise, and more extreme weather. The report urges immediate emission cuts and a managed 'overshoot, peak, and decline' pathway.

02 Sep 2026, 05:09 AM
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Open wells under parking spaces: Chennai's quiet groundwater revolution
environment

Open wells under parking spaces: Chennai's quiet groundwater revolution

In Chennai, apartments are reviving open wells by placing them beneath parking spaces, allowing rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge without sacrificing land. These wells tap shallow aquifers, improve water quality, and reduce dependence on tankers, offering a sustainable urban water solution.

30 Aug 2026, 05:16 AM
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Centre Seeks Action Against Officials Over Forest Act Violations in Belagavi
environment

Centre Seeks Action Against Officials Over Forest Act Violations in Belagavi

The Union Environment Ministry has asked the Karnataka government to explain Forest Act violations in Ramdurg, Belagavi, including action against officials and the re-consideration of a rejected land diversion proposal. The Ministry has sought a detailed report and justification for allowing non-forestry activities on forest land.

28 Aug 2026, 01:40 PM
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Neelakurinji: Centre urges NGT to make states submit conservation plans
environment

Neelakurinji: Centre urges NGT to make states submit conservation plans

The Union Environment Ministry has asked the NGT to direct Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to submit annual conservation plans for Neelakurinji, a threatened shrub in the Western Ghats. The Ministry has also disclosed financial assistance of ₹5.9 crore to Kerala for habitat development in the current financial year.

26 Aug 2026, 06:42 AM
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Madras HC orders halt to Coimbatore lake works after report shows bird decline
environment

Madras HC orders halt to Coimbatore lake works after report shows bird decline

The Madras High Court has halted all developmental works at Periyakulam and Valankulam lakes in Coimbatore after an expert report revealed a decline in wetland bird species. The court also ordered repair of sewage treatment plants to stop untreated wastewater entering the lakes, with the next hearing scheduled for September 18.

26 Aug 2026, 01:10 AM
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Environmentalists urge Supreme Court panel to broaden Aravalli consultations ahead of deadline
environment

Environmentalists urge Supreme Court panel to broaden Aravalli consultations ahead of deadline

A coalition of environmental groups has written to the Supreme Court-constituted committee studying the Aravallis, alleging inadequate scientific study, public consultation, and field trips. The activists have urged the panel to seek more time and involve independent experts and local communities before the August 31 deadline. The committee is tasked with evaluating a previous report that defined the Aravalli range based on elevation criteria.

25 Aug 2026, 04:00 PM
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Parliamentary panel asks NGT to act proactively on environmental concerns
environment

Parliamentary panel asks NGT to act proactively on environmental concerns

A parliamentary committee has asked the National Green Tribunal to use its suo motu powers more proactively on critical environmental issues like air pollution, illegal sand mining, and highway tree-felling. The committee also recommended stricter monitoring and follow-up of NGT orders to ensure timely implementation.

25 Aug 2026, 11:52 AM
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After Five Decades, Tiger Spotted in Karnataka's Kishkindha Hills
environment

After Five Decades, Tiger Spotted in Karnataka's Kishkindha Hills

A tiger has been camera-trapped in Karnataka's Kishkindha hills after nearly five decades, prompting the Forest Department to alert local villages and intensify monitoring. The big cat is believed to have entered through a corridor from the Srisailam landscape in Andhra Pradesh.

24 Aug 2026, 11:47 AM
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