An environmental scientist continues his relentless battle to save the Ganga, this time by starting a fast unto death. THE campaign to save the Ganga has cost one life in the hill State of Uttarakhand. The life of another activist now hinges on the government's commitment. In 2011, Swami Nigamananda of Matri Sadan undertook a fast unto death demanding an end to illegal sand mining in the Ganga, at least in Haridwar where the Kumbh Mela, a mass Hindu pilgrimage, takes place. The governments, both in Uttarakhand and at the Centre, paid no heed. The swami died after fasting for 115 days.

Kanpur: After the investigations into the anomalies into the alleged National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), the health authorities have planned a new way to get rid of irregularities in financial transactions under the scheme. The Central authorities have opted for online banking, which will be operated by the Central fund regulation office in New Delhi. It will be an easier to record every transaction done in NRHM and its associated schemes.

The World Bank has approved a $975-million (around Rs 4,368 crore) loan for developing the first phase of the eastern arm of the Rs 77,000 crore Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) Project in India.

The 1,800-kilometre Eastern DFC is being constructed for freight specific transport of commodities by Indian Railways between Delhi and Howrah.

Urban revolution: 20 new trendsetters to redifine India by 2030India is on the threshold of an urban revolution, the scale and speed of which is unprecedented. It took nearly 40 years for the urban population to rise by 230 million but it will take only half this time to add the next 250 million. Cities will be central to India's economic growth.

In a pine-scented Himalayan valley, Sushila Devi is a reluctant soldier in India's new war over water. Her village, Pipola, sits just southeast of the Tehri Dam, which bestrides one of the precursors of the Ganges River and is India's largest hydropower project. Since the dam was completed in 2006, the natural spring that once fed Pipola has dried up.

Virendra Singh Rawat / New Delhi/ Lucknow July 14, 2010, 0:26 IST

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under the Union Ministry of Power, is conducting an energy audit in large municipalities of Uttar Pradesh.