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.

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.

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.

Ranchi, April 8: The state’s groundwater directorate is pinning hopes on a training programme to lure overseas experts for bringing bank filtration — a tried and tested method for channelling clean drinking water through rivers and lakes — to Jharkhand. Representatives of various states and NGOs will take part in the event that is being organised by Roorkee-based National Institute of Hydrology in New Delhi on April 13 to promote bank filtration in the country.

Ranchi’s Sidho-Kanhu Park is all set to take a green ride this summer. The park, spread on 10 acres behind the state capital’s SKIPA building, will soon boast an eight-bogie toy train running on solar energy, the tracks for which are being laid. A solar-powered musical fountain will also be added.

Ranchi University (RU) has finally woken up to the stinking reality of poor sanitation facilities across its campuses. After years of neglect, the varsity has decided to upgrade toilets at all colleges under it and also postgraduate departments. According to sources, it has asked the heads of all 24 postgraduate departments as well as college authorities to come up with status reports of sanitation facilities available on the premises and the financial assistance they required for revamping them.

Play a dry Holi, save water — reads a newspaper advertisement put up by the state drinking water and sanitation department. But the department for one doesn’t seem to practise what it preaches. While Ranchi residents are being exhorted to renounce liquid colours this brief psychedelic season, leaking pipes and pumps across the capital are mocking the government’s much-touted water conservation campaign.

Jharkhand has finally woken up to the need of a State-Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), six years after the Union government issued an order, asking all states to form the organisation for independently sorting issues related to forest clearances and diversion. A State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) will also be formed under SEIAA.