Kolkata, a city with traditionally huge groundwater reserves, is on its way to becoming a water deficient city due to a combination of increasing concretization and over withdrawal of underground water. The ground water level within the Kolkata Municipal Corporation area is declining at least 1 foot per year; finds a recently published study in
The level of ultrafine particulate, the most toxic pollutants called PM 2.5, in Dhaka was nearly 17 times higher than the permitted level of World Health Organisation (WHO); finds a recent nationwide survey carried out by Centre for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS), a unit of Stamford University Bangladesh. PM 2.5 pollutants are minuscule particulates, 20
Saraswati, a mythological river that has been flowing since four centuries and formed part of the Ganges flow beyond Kolkata, has been “filled up” in several parts of Howrah particularly at Ankurhati by a private developer that “…dumped huge quantity of flyash/soil …blocking the river”; alleged environment activist Subhas Datta. The river is presently 76
Among Indian metros Kolkata has least, less than one percent, urban forest cover; points out the latest report published by Forest Survey of India, an agency under union ministry of environment, forest and climate change. Moreover, Kolkata has lost about 30 percent of its forest cover during the last decade; the slide in forest cover
Finally a ray of hope for the fishing cat, the state animal that is protected under Indian wildlife act, as the West Bengal forest department is all set to undertake a major conservation programme for the species from next year with support of an international funding agency. The survival of fishing cats is currently under
Air pollution linked cost has been hitting Indian economy hard with businesses losing about 95 billion USD each year due to foul air, finds a report prepared by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) jointly with global entities like Dalberg Advisors and Clean Air Fund. The report,air pollution and its impact on business, is the first
Shantiniketan, the Tagore turf, may literally turn into a hotbed by 2100 with mercury expects to go beyond 50 degree Celsius under worst possible carbon emission scenario; almost turning the Tagore abode into present day Rajasthan at its worst. Most other south Bengal cities are also expected to cross 50 degree Celsius by 2100 if
Shantiniketan, the Tagore turf, may literally turn into a hotbed by 2100 with mercury expected to go beyond 50 degree Celsius under worst possible carbon emission scenario; almost turning into a Rajasthan. Most other south Bengal cities are expected to cross 50 degree Celsius as well by 2100 if the business as usual carbon emission