Pawan Kalyan orders watch on elephant herd in Chittoor, kumkis to drive it back; 10 aqua units get notices

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan ordered a constant vigil on elephant herds in Chittoor on September 28, 2026. He directed officials to use kumki elephants to drive the animals back into forests. Separately, he issued notices to 10 aqua units for polluting water resources with harmful chemical waste.

Months after Himachal Pradesh HC quashed ESZ notification around Simbalbara park, stone crushers resume operations

Stone crushers resumed operations near Simbalbara park after the Himachal Pradesh High Court quashed the Eco-Sensitive Zone notification. A senior mining officer said, "These stone crushers existed much before the declaration of the Eco-Sensitive Zone." The state government has not yet decided whether to challenge this court judgment.

Saving the Siamese crocodile: Cambodia moves to protect one of the world's last wild populations

Cambodia declared a 315-hectare wetland in Pursat province a genetic conservation area on 22 July to protect Siamese crocodiles. Sony Oum said, "They believed that the crocodiles were there, and they helped the scientists and researchers to spot the sites." This site now offers hope for the critically endangered species.

Monsoon nearly over, Cauvery reservoirs at half of last year’s levels

The southwest monsoon ends in a few days, but Cauvery reservoirs hold only 59.5 tmcft against 107.4 tmcft last year. Water Resources Minister Cheluvarayaswamy said, “The situation is grim and we are monitoring it 24/7.” With little rain left, farmers and towns must manage with this low storage until June 2027.

Government mulls steps to save rabi crops from drought

The Centre discussed contingency measures on Monday to protect rabi crops from potential drought. Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan called for data-driven planning and better coordination between states. Officials plan to promote pulses and oilseeds that use less water, as teams head to Karnataka and Maharashtra to assess conditions.

WFH measure to curb pollution shows little impact as only 27 per cent are salaried

Delhi’s new winter pollution plan requires offices to keep half their staff working from home from November 1. However, the 2025 Periodic Labour Force Survey showed that this measure can cover only 27 per cent of the city’s workforce, as many people work in jobs that cannot be done remotely.

Delhi govt’s winter action plan targets sources at correct time, but mirrors Grap

The Delhi government on Monday announced its “Winter Action Plan 2026-27” to control air pollution. The plan includes higher parking fees, construction restrictions, and staggered office timings. While these measures target major pollution sources, they mirror the Graded Response Action Plan. Success depends on how strictly officials enforce these rules.

Centre to send 3 teams to assess K’taka drought: deputy CM

The Centre will send three teams to assess the drought in Karnataka. The state received 642 mm of rainfall against the normal 852 mm between June and September. Parameshwara said, “The central teams have their own guidelines.” Officials expect to submit a final memorandum to the Centre in early October.