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Gayatri Vajpeyee

Articles by Gayatri Vajpeyee

Forest dept. wants revenue dept. to take possession of encroached forest land and return to forest dept.

The hearing in this case will be held on March 3 wherein officials are likely to demand compensatory land in the western ghats in Maharashtra that will help protect tiger corridors

As per the affidavit submitted to the NGT by the forest department, in view of the GR and circulars issued by the state government. (HT PHOTO)

Pune

Published on Mar 03, 2025 05:58 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

Slaughterhouse in Kondhwa fail to comply with pollution norms despite repeated notices

The notice, issued on February 28, cites multiple complaints from residents regarding water and air pollution allegedly caused by the facility. This is the second notice since June last year

The slaughterhouse is owned by the PMC and the extended facility is on PCB land. (HT PHOTO)

Pune

Published on Mar 02, 2025 06:16 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

Maharashtra likely to experience above-normal temperature on most days this summer

The seasonal outlook also highlighted that currently, weak La Niña conditions are prevailing over the equatorial Pacific, and the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are cooler-than-normal over most of the equatorial Pacific Ocean

The forecast also indicates that the southern part of the state is likely to experience above-normal rainfall activity in March (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)

Pune

Published on Mar 01, 2025 07:46 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

Forest dept starts drive action against illegal sawmills in Pune

Pune forest department seized 3 illegal sawmills, filing cases against owners for operating without licenses, threatening local forest cover.

Cutting machines ranging between 24-42 inches and circular cutters above 14 inches were seized during the action. (HT PHOTO)

Pune

Published on Mar 01, 2025 07:10 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

Scientists discover new species of cricket frog in Western Ghats

The new species has been named ‘Minervarya Ghatiborealis’ and a research paper on the same has been published on February 27 in the international journal Zootaxa published from New Zealand.

Minervarya Ghatiborealis stands out due to its large, robust body and distinct morphological features. (SOURCED)

Pune

Published on Mar 01, 2025 07:06 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

February to end on warmer note in Pune

As minimum temperature surges to 16 degrees Celsius, above normal by 3 degrees Celsius, February is likely to conclude on a warmer note

Pune

Published on Feb 28, 2025 10:00 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

Coastal Maha experiencing heatwave-like conditions, IMD issues alert till Feb 28

The Konkan meteorological subdivision is experiencing temperature departures of more than 5 degrees Celsius

This condition is likely to prevail for the next 48 hours, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heatwave alert for coastal districts in the state till February 28. (HT FILE)

Pune

Published on Feb 26, 2025 05:20 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

Absence of joint forest management committees worsens urban forest issues

Since municipal corporators are crucial members of UJFMCs, the two- to five- year delay in local body elections has resulted in these committees not being officially formed. This in turn has severely affected forest management efforts, not only in Pune but in other cities of the state as well

The concept of joint forest management has existed in India since the 1980s, though there is no official record of when UJFMCs were first formed in Maharashtra. (HT FILE)

Pune

Published on Feb 24, 2025 08:12 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

Forest dept bans photography in Pune’s Supe village over bird call playback concerns

Bird call playback is a technique used to attract birds by playing recorded calls or songs, often employed by birdwatchers and photographers

Recently, several photos of the Mottled Wood Owl, a protected species under Schedule III of the Wildlife Protection Act, went viral on social media. A breeding pair of these nocturnal birds currently resides in the Supe forest area. (SOURCED)

Pune

Updated on Feb 23, 2025 10:58 PM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

Forest dept issues notice to 15 societies for dumping garbage near Taljai hill

The Pune Forest Department issued notices to 15 societies for dumping garbage in Taljai Hill forest, linking it to recent fire incidents.

The forest also recorded another forest fire incident on Thursday. A team of forest officials and the fire brigade doused the fire. (HT PHOTO)

Pune

Published on Feb 22, 2025 07:40 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

MPCB issues show cause notice to two private resorts in Lonavala

The resorts were found violating environmental norms and they have been issued show cause notice for the same, said officials

Lonavala, a popular hill station in Maharashtra, faces several environmental issues that threaten its natural beauty and ecosystem. (FILE PHOTO)

Pune

Published on Feb 22, 2025 06:28 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

Forest dept plans oxygen park in Punawale reserve forest

After complaints about tree cutting and demand by MLA, forest department has initiated oxygen park project in reserve forest at Punawale

Pune

Published on Feb 20, 2025 08:10 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

At 248, Pune city records second highest bird species sightings in Maha

Maharashtra ranked fourth in bird sighting with 418 out of the total 1,077 bird species recorded across the country

The highlight this year was the sighting of the rare European Honey Buzzard at Vetal Tekdi. (HT PHOTO)

Pune

Published on Feb 19, 2025 05:34 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

Maha reported 97 large forest fire incidents since January 2025

FSI forest fire monitoring data states that Maharashtra recorded 97 large forest fire incidents from January till date with at least 11 reported in the last 24 hours still in active mode

Pune

Published on Feb 18, 2025 07:30 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

Citizens, conservationists raise concerns after series of forest fire incidents at Taljai, Sinhagad Fort area

Three separate forest fire incidents occurred at Taljai Hill on February 6, 9 and 14, affecting the local vegetation and biodiversity, especially native species

As per official data, nearly one hectare forest area at Taljai hill has been charred by forest fire incidents that have taken place since January this year. (HT PHOTO)

Pune

Published on Feb 17, 2025 05:26 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

Few takers for heritage monument adoption scheme in Maharashtra

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has 3696 monuments under protection, which are spread, throughout the country

In Maharashtra, out of 60 listed monuments only one monument was adopted. This includes Elephanta caves near Mumbai. (HT PHOTO)

Pune

Published on Feb 16, 2025 06:30 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

Researchers find two new species of dragonflies in Western Ghat

Researchers from Maharashtra and Kerala have discovered two new dragonfly species in the Western Ghats, highlighting the need for habitat conservation.

Dainty Longleg was found in Manjadininnavila, a quaint village in Aryanad grama panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram city. (HT PHOTO)

Pune

Published on Feb 16, 2025 06:24 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

PAAH writes to MoEFCC, CPCB raising concerns over data discrepancies in PMC’s Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan self-assessment

The Pune Air Action Hub alleges the PMC made false claims in its Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan self-assessment, urging verification of data by authorities.

Under the category of ‘abatement of road dust’ where the PMC claims that the roads are 100% pothole free, the letter mentions that citizens have been pleading for road repairs and that even President Draupadi Murmu called to attention the bad condition of roads in December 2024. (HT)

Pune

Published on Feb 15, 2025 06:40 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

Advanced technology aids wildlife conservation, mitigation of man-animal conflict

AI-based early warning and wildlife movement tracking systems are helping in mitigating the man-animal conflict in areas where there has been a significant surge in such instances in recent years

Drones are taking wildlife research and conservation efforts to considerable heights with their ability to fly vast areas and capture detailed imagery (HT PHOTO)

Pune

Published on Feb 14, 2025 06:10 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

Fake wildlife trade: how gangs are scamming security agencies with counterfeit animal skins

The informer would share the exact location for authorities to intercept the illegal consignment, he said, but for a price

This is just one of several such instances reported by forest officials and security agencies across Maharashtra. (HT PHOTO)

Pune

Published on Feb 14, 2025 05:40 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

Ahead of summer, city likely to witness drop in minimum temperature

Despite the winter season, Pune city and the entire state have been experiencing temperatures significantly above normal since the beginning of February

However, after a comparatively warm spell, the city and north-central part of the state are likely to see a drop in temperature, especially minimum temperature. (HT PHOTO)

Pune

Published on Feb 13, 2025 06:34 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

State board reports 42 cases of cheating on first day of HSC exam

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) recorded at least 42 cases of cheating on the first day of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) board examination on Tuesday

The HSC board examination began across Maharashtra, with around 15 lakh students appearing for their first paper at 3,373 centres across nine divisions of the state. (MAHENDRA KOLHE/ HT PHOTO)

Pune

Published on Feb 12, 2025 06:32 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

Two arrested in three separate cases involving forest fire and wildlife trafficking

In the first case, forest officials spotted two suspicious-looking tempos while patrolling near Newale Vasti, Ravet, Pimpri-Chinchwad, at around 10 pm on January 8

In the second case, a POR was registered on Saturday against unknown persons in the forest fire incident reported at Taljai Hill. (HT PHOTO)

Pune

Published on Feb 12, 2025 06:26 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

MSBSHSE replaces entire management at 818 centres where copying incidents were reported

The information was shared by Sharad Gosavi, chairperson, MSBSHSE, on Monday, February 10, while speaking at a press conference

Pune

Published on Feb 11, 2025 07:50 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

Centre seeks SPCBs’ comments on EC exemption-related notifications for white category industries

The government is working on two fronts namely environmental compliance and ease-of-doing business, says official

The central government amended section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 and section 25 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 to exempt certain categories of industries from obtaining permissions. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)

Pune

Published on Feb 10, 2025 08:08 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

Punekars hold ‘Chipko March’ for preservation of riverside ecosystems

The march aimed to help people understand the threats posed by non-sustainable development and climate change, including floods, declining groundwater levels, and the loss of vital natural resources

Pune

Published on Feb 10, 2025 07:58 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

School students adopt animals from Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park

Starting this year, the Academy has committed ₹75,000 to support these majestic animals, with a year-long adoption of the leopard and a three-month guardianship of the bear

The adoption program will provide essential funding for the animals’ comprehensive care, including their dietary requirements, medical attention, and overall welfare. (HT PHOTO)

Pune

Published on Feb 08, 2025 07:46 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

With Centre dragging feet over leopard sterilisation, forest dept focuses on raising awareness

With no action taken by Centre on leopard sterilisation project, Maharashtra forest department has been forced to put more efforts into raising awareness about human-leopard conflict in Pune district

Pune

Published on Feb 07, 2025 08:06 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

ZSI to study small animal species in western Indian region

The study is conducted in three wildlife sanctuaries, including one in Maharashtra, and the centre plans to expand it by adding three more sanctuaries

The work on the survey project sanctioned in April 2024 started in January this year. (HT PHOTO)

Pune

Published on Feb 06, 2025 06:42 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

177 cases of dehydration among wild animals reported in January in Pune

As per the official data by the IMD, the average temperature in January is 29.8 degrees Celsius. This year however, the average temperature in January was recorded as 31.3 degrees Celsius, which is 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than the normal average

This January, there was a 100% rise in cases of birds with manja injuries. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)

Pune

Published on Feb 06, 2025 05:26 AM IST

ByGayatri Vajpeyee

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Gayatri Vajpeyee

The hearing in this case will be held on March 3 wherein officials are likely to demand compensatory land in the western ghats in Maharashtra that will help protect tiger corridors

The notice, issued on February 28, cites multiple complaints from residents regarding water and air pollution allegedly caused by the facility. This is the second notice since June last year

The seasonal outlook also highlighted that currently, weak La Niña conditions are prevailing over the equatorial Pacific, and the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are cooler-than-normal over most of the equatorial Pacific Ocean

Pune forest department seized 3 illegal sawmills, filing cases against owners for operating without licenses, threatening local forest cover.

The new species has been named ‘Minervarya Ghatiborealis’ and a research paper on the same has been published on February 27 in the international journal Zootaxa published from New Zealand.

As minimum temperature surges to 16 degrees Celsius, above normal by 3 degrees Celsius, February is likely to conclude on a warmer note

The Konkan meteorological subdivision is experiencing temperature departures of more than 5 degrees Celsius

Since municipal corporators are crucial members of UJFMCs, the two- to five- year delay in local body elections has resulted in these committees not being officially formed. This in turn has severely affected forest management efforts, not only in Pune but in other cities of the state as well

Bird call playback is a technique used to attract birds by playing recorded calls or songs, often employed by birdwatchers and photographers

The Pune Forest Department issued notices to 15 societies for dumping garbage in Taljai Hill forest, linking it to recent fire incidents.

The resorts were found violating environmental norms and they have been issued show cause notice for the same, said officials

After complaints about tree cutting and demand by MLA, forest department has initiated oxygen park project in reserve forest at Punawale

Maharashtra ranked fourth in bird sighting with 418 out of the total 1,077 bird species recorded across the country

FSI forest fire monitoring data states that Maharashtra recorded 97 large forest fire incidents from January till date with at least 11 reported in the last 24 hours still in active mode

Three separate forest fire incidents occurred at Taljai Hill on February 6, 9 and 14, affecting the local vegetation and biodiversity, especially native species

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has 3696 monuments under protection, which are spread, throughout the country

Researchers from Maharashtra and Kerala have discovered two new dragonfly species in the Western Ghats, highlighting the need for habitat conservation.

The Pune Air Action Hub alleges the PMC made false claims in its Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan self-assessment, urging verification of data by authorities.

AI-based early warning and wildlife movement tracking systems are helping in mitigating the man-animal conflict in areas where there has been a significant surge in such instances in recent years

The informer would share the exact location for authorities to intercept the illegal consignment, he said, but for a price

Despite the winter season, Pune city and the entire state have been experiencing temperatures significantly above normal since the beginning of February

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) recorded at least 42 cases of cheating on the first day of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) board examination on Tuesday

In the first case, forest officials spotted two suspicious-looking tempos while patrolling near Newale Vasti, Ravet, Pimpri-Chinchwad, at around 10 pm on January 8

The information was shared by Sharad Gosavi, chairperson, MSBSHSE, on Monday, February 10, while speaking at a press conference

The government is working on two fronts namely environmental compliance and ease-of-doing business, says official

The march aimed to help people understand the threats posed by non-sustainable development and climate change, including floods, declining groundwater levels, and the loss of vital natural resources

Starting this year, the Academy has committed ₹75,000 to support these majestic animals, with a year-long adoption of the leopard and a three-month guardianship of the bear

With no action taken by Centre on leopard sterilisation project, Maharashtra forest department has been forced to put more efforts into raising awareness about human-leopard conflict in Pune district

The study is conducted in three wildlife sanctuaries, including one in Maharashtra, and the centre plans to expand it by adding three more sanctuaries

As per the official data by the IMD, the average temperature in January is 29.8 degrees Celsius. This year however, the average temperature in January was recorded as 31.3 degrees Celsius, which is 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than the normal average

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