Absolute emission cuts not possible now: Jairam

India will have to depend mainly on coal, hydel and nuclear power for the next two-three decades to fulfil its growing energy demand, Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said here on Wednesday.“We have to depend largely on coal, hydel and nuclear power for the next two-three decades,” he said.“We simply cannot afford absolute cuts in emission levels at this juncture of our development and given the huge unmet demand for electricity in particular,” Mr. Ramesh said in his address on the occasion of convocation function of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) here. 

Govt to assess whether economic growth is hurting environment

NCT:Amid a debate over economic growth verses environment, the government has decided to conduct an assessment of the impact of GDP growth on ecology using Green Accounting System and the process will be completed by 2015.The government will soon set up of an expert group headed by environmental economist Partha Dasgupta to provide a road map for Green National Accounting (GNA) system to evaluate impact of economic growth on environment by 2015, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh told reporters here on Monday.

Tiger population has increased to 1706 in 2010: Tiger Census

The tiger population in the country has risen to 1706 compared to 1411 in 2006 -- a 12 pc increase that excludes the big cats of Sundarbans, the latest Tiger Census said, thanks to sustained conservation efforts.

Will ban endosulfan if adverse effect on health proved: Ramesh

Amid growing demand by environment activists and various political parties for a central ban on the use of endosulfan, Environment Min Jairam Ramesh has said the pesticide will be banned if its adverse effect on health is proved. "Endosulfan is banned in Kerala. I respect the decision of the government of Kerala and if there is evidence to show that it has all India health effects, we will ban it at the national level," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi on Friday.