Conservation needs to focus on field Study: November 30, The Hindu
A one day workshop on "Field work for Environmental Education" recommended that environmental education should focus more on field study than class room teaching. Dr. P.J. Sanjeeva Raj, Ecologist, said environmental education should inculcate activism for restoration of biodiversity and ecology. Dr. W. Jacobsen, Associate Professor, Bergen College, Norway introduced the model of conservation followed in Norway.

Waste water Recycling in Loyola: November 25, The Hindu
The U.S Consulate sponsored Rs.15 lakhs for a "ReCip" Reciprocating water Technology System to Loyola College for treating around 50,000 litres of water every day for sanitary and gardening purposes. During the inaugural function Dr. S. Balaji, I.F.S., Director of Environment emphasized the importance of developing innovative technologies, which required less extent of land and lower operation and maintenance costs. The United States Consul-General, Richard Haynes inaugurated the function. The Managing Director Ramky Infrastructure, Rangaswamy said that this plant could be a model for other Institutions.

Need for an Eco-friendly Architecture: November 25, Indian Express
Dr. S. Balaji, I.F.S., Director of Environment said in an award function for the outstanding structure of the year 2004, that Chennai still lags behind Cities like Hyderabad, Delhi and Bangalore in translating environmental sustainability into urban architecture. He emphasized that the concept of reduce, recycle and recover should be followed in buildings. While energy consumption should be reduced, water should be reused, recycled and recovered. Also builders should substitute forest timber with plantation timber.

CMP to fight Air Pollution: November 23, Indian Express
The state Government has drafted an integrated Common Minimum Programme (CMP) for air quality improvement and atmospheric toxicity abatement in Chennai. The CMP says Euro III norms for new vehicles by April, 2005 and Euro IV for new vehicles by April, 2010 and Euro III by April, 2010. Switchover to LPG for autos and taxis is also proposed.

Global Survey Finds 32 Percent of Amphibians Face Extinction:
October 18, International Information Programs of the U.S

In the survey of the world's frog, toad and salmander populations, scientists took stock of the status of more than 5,700 known species and found that 32 percent are threatened with extinction. The health of amphibians is considered a harbinger for the overall health of an ecosystem because the permeable skin of these creatures make them immediately sensitive to environmental changes and pollutants.

E-Governance goes to Village Panchayates: October 14, Indian Express
Tamil Nadu Government has given a push to its E-governance initiatives by launching schemes to computerize all village panchayats and set up model village training centers. Under the computerization scheme aimed at comprehensive rural development through E-governance, all 1,113 village panchayats, 385 panchayat unions and 29 district level offices of assistant director will be provided with computers and peripherals.

ISRO - MSSRF Rural Resource Project: October 14, Indian Express
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and MSSRF established a Village Resource Center (VRC) project jointly. The project aims to connect more than 600,000 Indian Villages and harness space based services and IT tools for the benefit of rural communities like tele-education, tele-medicine, tele-fishery, e-governance, weather services, water management. The VRCs can also facilitate online information between local farmers, agricultural scientists and Governmental schemes.

TNPCB project to gauge Air Quality: September 13, Indian Express
In an effort to aid policy formulation TNPCB has launched a composite project to quantitatively and qualitatively map the level of air pollution in the City and ascertain its sources. It will also collaborate with the Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute to ascertain the health impact of various kinds of air pollution in key areas in the City and also the Board will launch a noise-pollution survey in various Zones.

Database on Freshwater Algae: September 11, The Hindu
The center for advance studies in Botany (CASB), Madras University is coordinating a nationwide study to create a database on Freshwater Algae. The study is aided by the MoEF and All -India Coordinated Programme on Taxonomy (AICOPTAX). Dr. N. Anand, Director, CASB said the center will come out with a Database on Algae and that would act as a ready reckoner for identifying the different types of algae.

Agasthyamalai Biosphere: 5th January, 2004, The Hindu
The Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve in south Kerala is to be extended to parts of Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts. The Tamil Nadu Government is considering for inclusion of areas adjoining the mountain peak (Agasthyakondam) in the reserve. Agasthyamalai and its environs, comprising 1,701 sq.km, was designated as the 13th biosphere reserve with the inclusion of areas of Tamil Nadu, the total area will exceed 2,500 sq.km and have many endemic species of plants unique to peninsilar India.

Marine Research Centre in Kanyakumari: 9th January, 2004, Indian Express
National Institute of Marine Research Centre is to be established at Rajakkamangalam in Kanyakumari District at a cost of Rs. 20 crores, MoEF has approved the project.


Eco-Business Plan soon to enhance Chennai's Profile: January 13, 2004, The Hindu
An Eco-Business plan is an internationally acclaimed "Best Practice" in Vienna through which special proactive environmental compliance and protection programmes are made available. It provides advantages to the participating companies by saving energy and expensive raw materials, avoiding waste products and emissions and optimising operations process leading to lower costs and higher productivity. The European commission, as part of its Asian Urbs programme is providing a 15,000 Euros initial grand to build human and institutional capacity for developing such a Eco-Business plan for Chennai.

Indian Verdicts will help Nepal, Sri Lanka Curb Pollution: January 23, 2004
Dr. K.R. Ranganathan, Member Secretary, Loss of Ecology Authority(LoEA) suggested to neighbouring countries to adopt the principles laid down by the Supreme Court in the landmark case on pollution in the tannery belt in Tamil Nadu. The "precautionary principle " and the "Polluter Pays Principle" elaborated by the court, would be of great help to them in tackling damage to the environment from tanneries and textile industries.

Course on Water Management: February 14, 2004, Indian Express
Dr.S. Balaji, I.F.S, Director, DOE inaugurated the course on "Water Management" at CPR Environment Education Centre. He emphasized on traditional water harvesting systems and conjective use of water by reusing sewage for industrial purposes. Dr. Nanditha Krishna said, the one-year course will be taught free of cost to 25 rural youth, which is accredited by the National Institute of open schooling.

River Pollution hits water supply: February 24, 2004, Hindu
The seminar focussed on environmental concerns and social work interventions was inaugurated by Dr. S. Balaji, I.F.S., Director, Department of Environment at Loyola College. He said the students of social work should inform people about the environmental concerns and the way to mitigate them. He emphasis on source segregation of garbage and phasing out two-stroke motorcycles, enforcement of standards on industrial discharge and minimising migration of population to urban areas would reduce the stress on environment.

National Aquarian Policy Needed: 27th February, 2004, Indian Express
Ocean Expo 2004, a conference-cum exhibition was inaugurated by Dr. M.S. Swaminathan and called for a National Aquarian policy for the sustainable use of natural wealth in water bodies such as lakes and oceans. He stressed that a separate agency consisting of Government officials and community leaders should implement the policy.

Supreme Court fiat on Checking Noise Pollution: 11th February, 2004, The Hindu
The Supreme Court today asked the Union Environment Ministry to file a Comprehensive affidavit detailing the suggestions to contain noise pollution caused by crackers, diesel, generators, loud speakers, pressure horns and religious and marriage gatherings.

New Fish Species Identified: 29th February, 2004, Indian Express
Dr. M. Arunachalam, Head of River and wet land Ecology unit has successfully established 10 new species of endangered fresh water fish in western Ghats. One of the notable achievements of the research team was the discovery of Clarias dayi, a type of cat fish in Pechiparai Dam in Kanyakumari District. Its existence was last recorded in 1857.

Pollution level High in City Limits: March 17, 2004, The Hindu
A project on assessment of water quality in Tamil Nadu rivers was carried out by Centre for Environmental studies (CES), Anna University at 17 major river basins of the state. CES have started collecting samples from the 42 kilometer long adyar river in different places and revealed that setting up of treatment plants and and stopping discharge of domestic sewage and industrial effluent could prevent pollution. Dr. S. Balaji, I.F.S., Director, DOE said finding of the project by the university would be treated as input to prepare a list of Cities and towns in the state that would be given a priority for inclusion in National River Conservation Plan(NRCP).

Plan to convert vegetable waste into electricity: March 29, 2004, The Hindu
One acre bio-methanation plant, coming up at the Koyambedu market, is equipped to handle 30 tonnes of garbage a day. The biodegradable vegetable waste is shredded and stirred in a 'biogas-induced mixed arrangement (BIMA) digester for seven days. This produces methane gas. Thirty tonnes of vegetable waste is expected to yield 230 kilowatts of power and 10 tonnes of wet compost cakes.

River Conservation Project Nearing Completion: April 1, 2004, The Hindu
The Rs. 720 crores Chenai City River Conservation Plan(CCRCP) aimed at making the City water ways free from pollution and improving sewer network, is heading for completion. All the sewage outfalls in the City waterways will be plugged. The project will enhance the capacity of the sewerage to cater to the population in 2021.

NGO's get Rs.25 lakh Central Grants: April 9, 2004, The Hindu
Central grants to the tune of Rs.25 lakhs were distributed today to representatives of 430 NGO's working in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and the Andamans as part of the National Environmental Awareness Campaign at C.P.Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation. Nanditha Krishna, Director, C.P.Ramaswamy Aiyar Foundation, introduced the theme of this year's NEAC, "Water elixir of life". Dr.S. Balaji, I.F.S, Director, DOE said public participation in environment campaign would be the best way of tackling water mismanagement.

Seed Bank on Herbal medicinal plants coming: 15th April, 2004, The Hindu
The Madras University is developing a seed bank of endangered varieties of medicinal plants. The seedlings are being raised at the Janaki Ammal Medicinal gardens at Maduravoyal. Seeds of these herbs would be bio-typed and provided to researchers and medicinal practitioners. The University would subject these formulations to a scientific toxicology validation test through tissue culture and other experiments.

Cup Coral Found in Tuticorin: 29th, May 2004, The Hindu
The Fisheries College and Research Institute, Tuticorin recorded two abnormally huge cup corals belonging to the species Turbinaria undata around four islands in the Gulf of Mannar. They were found on the islands of Van, Kaswari, Vilaangun and Kariya Shuli. The researchers identified the cup corals of 72 and 89-cm diameter. The corals of this species, distributed in other parts of Indian and International waters, were less than 50 cm in diameter and the height of these two corals were 46 and 56 cm.

Proposal for Kolavoy water cleared: June 8, 2004, Indian Express
The state Government has cleared the proposal to bring water from Kolavoy lake, Chengalpet district for Chennai. The Metrowater Board experts said the feasibility of drawing 20 mld is possible, when this scheme is completed.

Special squads to protect Coastal ecology: June 10, 2004, The Hindu
Dr. Balaji, I.F.S, DoE said that Department of Environment is planning to set up special squads in the state to oversee compliance of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms formulated to protect the coastal ecology. These squads would be charged with identifying and reporting violations of the CRZ norms to protect the coastal ecology.


Thorny Seahorse Found: 3rd, August, 2004, The Hindu
Scientists of the Fisheries College and Research Institute at Tuticorin have recorded a new Species of Hippocampus histrix, known as "Thorny seahorse" for the first time on the Indian coast. In all 35 species of seahorses have been reported across the globe. Hippocampus histrix is known to occur only in Indo-Pacific waters, Tanzania and from South Africa to Hawaii.

Enviro Club goes Online: August 29, 2004, The Hindu
Dr, S. Balaji, I.F.S, Director, Department of Environment has inaugurated the web site on Eco club of Loyola College (www.enviroclub.tk). This site has a distinctive green look with tips on how to keep the campus clean and has a search engine too. Visitors can submit their views online.

Draft National Environment Policy Released: August 30, 2004, The Hindu
The draft National Environment Policy, released by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, recommends bringing in regulatory reforms, enhancing and conserving environmental resources and setting up of environmental standards. Adoption of standardized management systems and promoting environmental certification and indicators are other highlights of the draft policy that has been released for consultation.