Taking cognizance of the illegal mining of sand on the Budhabalanga river bed in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district, the National Green Tribunal's East Zone has found flouting of regulations of multiple grounds. The tribunal also mentioned that the state authorities have been shielding the accused in the investigation. Details here.

In spite of notices issued by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, tonnes of waste remains illegally dumped by the Meerut Nagar Nigam at Ganwri village on the bank of Kali river, a tributary of the Ganga.

More than a decade after the Union Environment Ministry granted clearance for setting up a thermal power plant on the Sompeta wetlands in Andhra Pradesh, the National Green Tribunal has ruled that the allocation is against the provisions of the laws which ensure environmental conservation. Details here.

A sand mine auction in Arhatpur village of Gaya district turned violent after local villagers protested against mining in their Morhar river. These villagers have been protesting against the sand mining for the last several years and claim that sand removal from the riverbed is increasing their vulnerability during floods, destroying their farmland and endangering livelihoods. A Gaon Connection ground report.

Owls meant to be sacrificed on Diwali, saved. Six poachers were arrested in a village in Valsad, Gujarat, for having two rare Bengal eagle-owls in their possession.

An additional permit from the Centre for fishing beyond 12 nautical miles and lack of safeguard for traditional fishers' livelihoods are some concerns flagged by the National Fishworkers' Forum, which is spearheading a nation-wide stir of marine fishers against the marine fisheries bill.

Two German Shepherd dogs and six drone cameras are being used by the forest staff of the Similipal Tiger Reserve to check wildfires and also nab criminals who try to set the jungles on fire. Last year, the tiger reserve was ravaged by uncontrollable forest fires.