The state’s maiden vulture breeding centre in Muta, 22km from Ranchi, may not have taken wing as yet, but Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park in Ormanjhi, closer to the capital, may soon boast a special winged guest. Forest officials and wildlife experts in Hazaribagh have nursed back to health a two-year-old Himalayan Griffon Vulture (Gyps himalayensis), which was found in a village 8km from town two weeks ago, and plan to give it a new home at Birsa zoo.

For the first time in more than four decades, Jharkhand State Electricity Board (JSEB) has initiated an ambitious proposal to desilt the Getalsud reservoir in order to ensure continuous hydel power generation for at least six months in a year. Located across River Subarnarekha, 40km from Ranchi city, construction of the Getalsud multi-purpose reservoir was completed in 1971. The reservoir, with a catchment area of 717sqkm, has a full reservoir level of 1,954ft.

Dumka, April 29: Union minister for rural development Jairam Ramesh today frowned upon the state government and demanded greater reliability on the question of funds use after enduring a bumpy ride to a Dumka village, which to his surprise lacked road connectivity. Ramesh, who arrived in Dumka from Calcutta this morning, met self-help groups (SHGs) engaged in tussar silk production at Dhaka village, 30km from the district headquarters, in rebel-hit Shikaripara block.

Chief minister Arjun Munda has said that his government had approved Rs 70 crore for the Ghaghidih drinking water project and Rs 90 crore for Govindpur, promising an end to the crisis for residents of the two localities and Gadra on the outskirts of the city. Munda made the announcement at the closing ceremony of the district BJP’s workers’ meeting in Mango on Sunday, springing a surprise by adding that Rs 60 crore had also been approved for reconstruction of Hata-Mosabani Road in East Singhbhum.

Ranchi, April 24: Reclaimed from Maoists, the natural reserves of Saranda are up against unscrupulous adversaries. At least four mining firms have been extracting iron ore and manganese against their sanctioned capacities in this West Singhbhum region since 2008 right under the nose of the mines department and Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB).

Dhanbad/Bokaro, April 18: Union coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal today held the state government responsible for the delay in relocation of people from fire-affected areas in Jharia, arguing the Centre had poured sufficient funds into the rehabilitation plan. “The Union government can offer money, technical expertise and even lay out a plan on how to put out the raging fire in Jharia, but the work has to be done by the state government. The Centre cannot be blamed,” Jaiswal told The Telegraph at the Bokaro aerodrome en route to Dhanbad.

- Come May, Tatanagar passengers will get hygiene tips from schoolkids
Call it Tatanagar’s best friend and worst critic. And now, Chotanagpur Passengers Association hopes to rope in some pester power to help the station, trains and tracks stay spanking clean.

Jamshedpur, April 17: Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) today commissioned its last mining project in the state — an underground mine at Mohuldih in Rajnagar block of Seraikela-Kharsawan district, about 25km from Jamshedpur. Speaking after the commissioning, chairman-cum-managing director of the public sector unit Diwakar Acharya said the uranium ore found during exploration at the site was not high grade, but the proximity to a milling unit at Turamdih 7km away, made UCIL opt for the project.

Bokaro district administration, Central Coalfields Limited, railway authorities, mining and forest officials will jointly crack down on illegal coal miners from Friday. Concerned over rampant illegal mining in Chas and Bermo subdivisions of Bokaro, from where tonnes of coal are smuggled out daily on dumpers, trucks and even passenger trains, the crackdown will focus on illegal miners and transporters alike.

The four-lane work of a crucial National Highway stretch is waiting for a nod from the high-level National Board for Wildlife as it passes through the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary. Otherwise, the project on the 163.5km highway stretch between Ranchi-Rargaon-Jamshedpur (till Ghatshila) has received clearances from all state departments concerned, including water, forest, road and land.