A Delhi court has directed the police to register an FIR against Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Centre (SGACC), which is run by BJP MP Maneka Gandhi. According to a complaint registered with the court, 36 animals died at the centre because its employees allegedly failed to perform their duties. “The SGACC is a welfare organisation, which takes care of the animals but from the above incident, it appears that the SGACC did not perform its duties and 36 animals died.

Notice Served For Construction In Nathupur Bund. Gurgaon: The district forest department has issued notice to Ambience Group’s Raj Singh Gehlot asking for “retrieval of forest land” in Nathupur bund—a protected forest area—which has been used for developing Ambience Island Lagun Apartment.

New Delhi: Miners who ravaged the Aravalis in Faridabad distict till May 2009 want to resume small-scale mining in the garb of “rehabilitation” of deep pits. In a submission to the government, their consultants have proposed to create “benches” around the pits to
facilitate afforestation – and sell the mining material generated in the process.

The Haryana Government has decided to suspend granting of licences to stone-crushers in the three districts of Faribadad, Gurgaon and Mewat to check sporadic complaints of “illegal mining and illegal transportation of minerals” in this belt. Though no time frame for new approvals has been set, sources said the directions would be applicable “for the time being”.

The earthquake today that jolted the National Capital and the adjoining NCR region has brought the safety of buildings in and around the capital back into focus. Two other temblors had hit the area in the past six months.

Strong tremors that lasted almost 10 seconds at 1.11 pm today sparked panic among the denizens in Delhi and other parts of north India. No casualties have been reported from the region.

Big Cat Visits Area From Fbd-Gurgaon Side. A little over a century ago, Delhi’s forests were home to a large number of carnivores including lions, leopards and wolves. As forest land disappeared so did most of its animals. However, there is finally some hope that they might return. Officials have been tracking the presence of a leopard at Bhatti Mines for the past couple of months, which has possibly been visiting from adjoining Haryana. The animal has been seen on several occasions, but could not be photographed.

The Supreme Court today ruled that mining of small minerals in Haryana and Rajasthan even in areas measuring less than five hectares could be allowed only after environmental clearance from the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoEF). A Bench of Justices BS Chauhan and CK Prasad delivered the judgment on a bunch of petitions filed by Haryana, the Central Government and owners of mining companies.

Faridabad/ New Delhi: The Haryana forest department has pushed the demand to bring the hill area including sacred forest in Mangar in Faridabad under the conservation zone. The proposal has been moved even as the state government is giving the final touches to the development plan for 23 Aravali villages which will allow a tourist-cum-entertainment complex in the forest.

NEW DELHI: Some 20 months after the Supreme Court suspended mining in the Aravalis in May 2009 due to the havoc wrought upon this crucial range around Delhi, the Haryana government has drawn up a fresh plan to revive mining in the ravaged parts of Aravalis in Faridabad district. In fact, it has already identified 609 hectares for mining.

Records accessed by TOI show that about 280 hectares of the identified areas for mining fall under the restricted zone while 400 hectares are covered under existing mining leases.

FARIDABAD/GURGAON: After concerns were raised about the Haryana government's plan to put a huge patch of forest area in Mangar and its adjoining villages in Faridabad under residential, agricultural and industrial use, the local town and country planning department has proposed that the state government double the forest cover.