He is principal correspondent based at Bhopal. He covers environment and wildlife, state administration, BJP and other saffron organisations. He has special interest in social issues based stories.
Articles by Neeraj Santoshi
In a first, Uttarakhand forest dept conducts seed ball broadcasting using a drone
The broadcast seeding method involves scattering seeds by hand or mechanically, over a relatively large area
Updated on Aug 01, 2023 03:51 PM IST
After 24% surge, India is now home to 75% of tigers in the world
The increase shows the success of the country’s 20-year-old science- based tiger conservation programme, experts said.
Updated on Jul 30, 2023 09:16 AM IST
India’s tiger count tops 3,600, Madhya Pradesh leads at 785
India is home to 75% of the world?s tiger population with an estimated 3,682 tigers in the wild, significantly higher than the projected figure of 3,167.
Updated on Jul 30, 2023 09:14 AM IST
Audit report flags irregularities in tiger reserve projects in Uttarakhand
Lawyer and wildlife activist Gaurav Bansal said he has requested Pushkar Singh Dhami to order a CBI probe into the financial irregularities reported by the audit team
Updated on Jul 28, 2023 02:00 PM IST
Should avoid expansion of construction activities in Mussoorie: NGT panel report
The committee has recommended that the registration of tourists should be done according to the carrying capacity of the area, especially the available parking space & guest room availability
Updated on Jul 27, 2023 02:18 PM IST
16 electrocuted to death at riverbank in Uttarakhand's Chamoli
A sub-inspector, three home guards and one employee of Namami Gange plant died in the accident and among 11 injured, six were airlifted to AIIMS in Rishikesh.
Updated on Jul 20, 2023 01:05 AM IST
Neeraj Santoshi, Dehradun
Ten years of Kedarnath tragedy: Lessons not learnt and challenges ahead
The Himalayan state of Uttarakhand remains vulnerable to disasters due to unsustainable development and an increase in pilgrims visiting Hindu shrines.
Updated on Jul 17, 2023 04:47 AM IST
Neeraj Santoshi, Dehradun
How rain in hills is flooding Delhi
Rainfall data from areas that feed the Yamuna suggest that these regions received rainfall much higher than the normal range
Updated on Jul 14, 2023 05:19 AM IST
HC orders Uttarakhand to appoint Lokayukta chair, members in 8 weeks
Lawyer Rajeev Singh Bisht, who appeared for the petitioner, told the high court that Uttarakhand hasn’t appointed a Lokayukta chairperson and members
Updated on Jun 27, 2023 06:55 PM IST
138 Char Dham Yatra pilgrims died this year so far, 80% due to medical reasons
Most of the pilgrims to Char Dham shrines come in private vehicles and mini-buses and they head straight to the shrines without properly acclimatising, which is leading to rising in deaths due to medical ailments/cardiac arrests, said officials
Updated on Jun 24, 2023 01:12 PM IST
Submit affidavit listing identified wildlife corridors in state: Uttarakhand HC
The HC was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Dehradun-based social activist Anu Pant with regard to issues related to man-animal conflict in the state
Updated on Jun 16, 2023 04:25 PM IST
Ensure peace, high court tells Uttarakhand government amid communal tensions
A division bench of chief justice Vipin Sanghi and justice Rakesh Thapliyal direct the state to take whatever steps necessary to fulfil its constitutional obligation
Updated on Jun 15, 2023 04:30 PM IST
Start refund system for plastic water bottles across state: Uttarakhand HC
Under this scheme, pilgrims deposit an additional amount of ₹10 while purchasing plastic water bottles and get a refund upon returning the bottles
Updated on May 19, 2023 07:20 PM IST
Uttarakhand: Over 500 illegal constructions removed from railway land in Lalkuan
More than two hectares of railway land has been made encroachment free and no accommodation has been made by the administration for the encroachers
Updated on May 19, 2023 08:16 PM IST
Reinstate Rajiv Bhartari as Uttarakhand PCCF by 10am tomorrow, orders high court
The Uttarakhand high court directed the state to allow Rajiv Bhartari to take charge as PCCF, the top post in the state for an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, by 10am on Tuesday, the officer’s lawyer Abhijay Negi said
Updated on Apr 03, 2023 07:11 PM IST
Uttarakhand: WII researchers establish presence of endangered Kashmir musk deer
Ajit Kumar, a research associate at WII, said their findings provide new information on the geographical distribution of the species
Updated on Mar 29, 2023 03:39 PM IST
CAT dismisses Uttarakhand plea against order to reinstate Rajiv Bhartari
Bhartari, a 1986 batch officer, was removed as PCCF on November 25, 2021, and appointed as chairman of Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board.
Published on Mar 22, 2023 05:53 PM IST
Uttarakhand HC seeks Centre, state’s response on petitions on Joshimath, Chamoly
Three petitions in the Uttarakhand high court raised questions over the Joshimath land subsidence crisis and rehabilitation, and the people still missing in the February 2021 Chamoly glacial debris outburst
Updated on Mar 15, 2023 02:18 PM IST
NGT names ex-minister for illegal tree felling at Corbett Tiger Reserve
Uttarakhand’s former forest minister and eight other officials should be held responsible for the felling of over 6,000 trees and illegal constructions in the Corbett Tiger Reserve, a panel formed by the National Green Tribunal has recommended.
Published on Mar 14, 2023 12:48 AM IST
Neeraj Santoshi, Dehradun
54,800 hectares of forest cover destroyed by wildfires in Uttarakhand since 2000
The state however, did report an all-time low damage due to forest fires during the Covid pandemic with 172 hectares of jungles getting damaged in 2020
Published on Mar 10, 2023 04:43 PM IST
IIT study warns of high damages in Nainital, Mussoorie in case of major quake
Yogendra Singh, a seismologist at IIT Roorkee, said the study that concluded in January is the first of its kind carried out of vulnerable hill stations taking into account their topography
Published on Mar 02, 2023 08:45 AM IST
Joshimath crisis: Uttarakhand okays rehabilitation policy for affected families
According to the statement released by the government, the rate of compensation for land will be decided on the basis of survey reports received from technical institutes like Central Building Research Institute and IIT Roorkee.
Published on Feb 16, 2023 12:59 AM IST
Neeraj Santoshi, Dehradun
Joshimath: Fears of aggravation in land subsidence over upcoming monsoon season
Uttarakhand usually witnesses high average annual rainfall of 1162.7 mm with Chamoli reporting 1230.8 mm annual rainfall
Published on Feb 15, 2023 05:27 PM IST
Army rescues 35-yr-old elephant in Uttarakhand; condition remains critical
A team of 38 Indian army personnel from Bengal Engineer Group and Centre (BEG & Centre), Roorkee, are building a makeshift structure to help the elephant stand up in order to treat the animal
Updated on Feb 07, 2023 02:51 PM IST
Road project damages Uttarakhand eco-sensitive zone, says report
A report by a monitoring panel has recommended stringent action against the executing agency, contractors and forest officials
Updated on Jan 30, 2023 12:31 PM IST
MC report suggests ‘brazen violations’ in Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone
In its report submitted to the state government last month, the committee has recommended action against the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), contractors and forest officials responsible. PMGSY project was executed by State Rural Road Development Authority (SRRDA)
Published on Jan 29, 2023 04:15 PM IST
Illegal Corbett tree felling: SC-appointed panel seeks action against ex-minister
Over 6000 trees were felled for a proposed tiger safari over an area of 16.21 hectares, the Forest Survey of India (FSI) said in a report last year
Updated on Jan 26, 2023 11:40 AM IST
Eastern Joshimath records maximum subsidence of 10 cm per year: Study
The analysis, by remote sensing and landslide experts of Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), points to specific areas in Joshimath which witnessed maximum sliding (or subsidence) in the last four years.
Updated on Jan 20, 2023 04:59 AM IST
Neeraj Santoshi, Dehradun
Joshimath crisis: Cabinet okays ₹45-crore relief for displaced locals
The Uttarakhand cabinet on Friday approved several proposals in connection with the Joshimath subsidence crisis, including releasing ₹45 crore for interim relief to around 3,000 affected families, building prefabricated buildings at rehabilitation sites and waiving for six months electricity and water bills of families and individuals affected.
Updated on Jan 14, 2023 12:24 AM IST
Neeraj Santoshi, Dehradun
Joshimath sank by 5.4cm in just 13 days, says Isro report
This sinking, which NRSC described as “rapid subsidence” came on the back of “slow subsidence” of 8.9 cm between April and November 2022, which means that together, Joshimath has sunk by 14.3cm or almost half a foot since last April.
Published on Jan 14, 2023 12:04 AM IST