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
Land subsidence increased rapidly, Joshimath sunk by 5.4 cm over 12 days
The authorities on Thursday began the process of demolishing a subsidence-hit hotel as Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami cited growing scientific evidence about the sinking of land in parts of the town
Published on Jan 13, 2023 04:30 PM IST
Uttarakhand CM announces study of other hill towns’ carrying capacity
Experts have attributed the high load of new buildings and the drainage of thousands of litres of household waste-water into the ground daily in the absence of a sewerage network as one possible reason for the town sinking slowly.
Updated on Jan 13, 2023 02:24 AM IST
Neeraj Santoshi, Dehradun
Form committee of experts on land subsidence in Joshimath: HC tells state govt
The Uttarakhand high court has also directed the state government to ensure strict compliance of ban on constructions in and around Joshimath
Updated on Jan 12, 2023 07:59 PM IST
Uttarakhand govt to conduct studies on carrying capacity of Joshimath, other hill towns: CM Dhami
CM Dhami said a total amount of ₹ 45 crore has been released for providing interim relief to 3,000 affected families in Joshimath
Updated on Jan 12, 2023 12:36 AM IST
Uttarakhand to conduct study on carrying capacity of Joshimath, other hill towns
Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said if there are more constructions than the carrying capacity of the towns, then constructions will be immediately stopped in such towns
Published on Jan 11, 2023 08:24 PM IST
Geology to unplanned construction: Decoding why Joshimath is sinking
Joshimath, at an altitude of 1890 metres is a town in the Garwhal himalayas , and an important waystation on both the pilgrim and trekking circuits.
Updated on Jan 07, 2023 09:38 AM IST
Uttarakhand HC prohibits mechanised mining in riverbeds across state
The PIL states that as per the Uttarakhand river dredging policy, mechanised mining was being done in the river bed in utter violation of the central government norms
Published on Dec 19, 2022 05:37 PM IST
Uttarakhand HC directs state govt to provide ₹ 35 lakh to acid attack survivor
The Uttarakhand high court in June 2017 had directed the state government to provide free medical aid to the survivors of acid attacks till their full recovery
Published on Dec 17, 2022 01:25 PM IST
Unauthorised deforestation around Nainital Lake: NGT issues notice to U’Khand govt
The tribunal heard the matter on November 24 and a copy of the order was made available on Thursday which was then sent to Uttarakhand from Delhi
Published on Dec 01, 2022 06:14 PM IST
U’Khand Assembly: Congress raises disaster-related issues; ruckus over Gairsain
State parliamentary affairs minister Premchand Aggarwal said the government is serious towards disaster-related matters and ‘does its best’ given the available resources in the state
Updated on Nov 30, 2022 07:43 PM IST
Day 2 of U’khand assembly: Oppn seeks hike in relief for disaster-affected areas
Congress MLA Harish Singh Dhami raised the issues related to disaster management and dealing with the damages to bridges and other structures in his constituency Dharchula in Pithoragarh.
Published on Nov 30, 2022 07:33 PM IST
Neeraj Santoshi I Edited by Shilpa Ambardar, Dehradun
U’khand Assembly session Day 2: BJP, Cong spar over Gairsain issue
The Congress MLA said, “Despite the then chief minister,Trivendra Singh Rawat, declaring Gairsain in Chamoli district (about 260 km away from Dehradun) as the summer capital of Uttarakhand, on March 4, 2020, the state government has not functioned from there for a single day”.
Published on Nov 30, 2022 07:31 PM IST
Neeraj Santoshi I Edited by Shilpa Ambardar, Dehradun
Uttarakhand tables bill to make anti-conversion law more stringent
The winter session of Uttarakhand assembly began on Tuesday with the government tabling a bill to make forced conversion a cognisable and non-bailable offence with a provision for jail up to 10 years
Updated on Nov 30, 2022 03:52 AM IST
Corbett illegal tree felling: Green tribunal halts tiger safari project
Over 6,000 trees were felled for the proposed tiger safari over an area of 16.21 hectares, HT had reported earlier this month, citing a report of Forest Survey of India that was based on analysis of satellite images and field visits.
Updated on Oct 23, 2022 05:37 AM IST
Neeraj Santoshi, Hindustan Times, Dehradun
Stop tiger safari project until fixing Corbett tree felling violations: NGT
NGT has ordered that Pakhro Tiger Safari project in Corbett Tiger Reserve may not be allowed to proceed until a three-member committee constituted by the green panel identifies the violators and recommends steps for the restoration of the environment there
Updated on Oct 22, 2022 06:56 PM IST
Past govts were ashamed of India’s spiritual legacy: PM in Uttarakhand
Speaking at Mana village near the India-China border in Uttarakhand, the PM also said that previous governments were apathetic to the needs of people from the hills
Updated on Oct 21, 2022 11:20 PM IST
Uttarakhand HC launches email for people to lodge complaint on waste management
The HC directed Kumaon and Garhwal commissioners “to hit the ground with the respective district magistrates to ensure that solid waste management is implemented properly”
Published on Oct 20, 2022 08:10 PM IST
Trekker dead, 6 others stranded in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli
State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) spokesperson Lalita Negi said the seven-member group was stranded between Panar Bugyal and Rudranath
Published on Oct 19, 2022 03:19 PM IST
6k trees cut in Corbett reserve for proposed tiger safari: FSI report
The Uttarakhand forest department has made detailed observations regarding the report, which it has sent to the FSI , said Vinod Kumar, principal chief conservator of forests.
Updated on Oct 02, 2022 02:16 AM IST
Neeraj Santoshi, Dehradun
6,093 trees felled for proposed tiger safari project in Corbett: FSI report
The Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, said their findings are based on an analysis of old and new satellite images of the Corbett Tiger Reserve and field visit to the area concerned
Updated on Oct 01, 2022 07:39 PM IST
Uttarakhand HC issues directions to halt muck dumping near Chamoli temple
The PIL alleged illegal and unscientific dumping of muck, debris, construction and demolition wastes in and around Haat village and the failure of authorities concerned in protecting and conserving the ancient Lakshmi-Narayan Temple, built during 8-9th century AD by Adi Shankaracharya
Updated on Sep 22, 2022 10:06 PM IST
Gangotri glacier retreated by 1,700m since ’35: Study
According to various studies, the mean glacial retreat rate between 1935 to 1996 was 20 meters per year which has increased to up to 38 meters per year after that. The studies show that retreat has further gained steam with Gangotri retreating by about 300 meters in the past decade or so.
Updated on Sep 22, 2022 07:52 AM IST
Neeraj Santoshi, Hindustan Times, Dehradun
Uttarakhand govt to conduct survey of madrasas
Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday said that the state government will conduct a survey of the madrasas in the state, saying it was “important” to ascertain their present status.
Updated on Sep 14, 2022 04:45 AM IST
Neeraj Santoshi, Dehradun
Declare elephant corridors in Corbett as ‘eco-sensitive zones’: Uttarakhand HC
The HC also directed officials to protect the already identified elephant corridors in the area, to depute competent staff on either side of the elephant corridors to ensure their safe passage
Published on Sep 01, 2022 05:30 PM IST
‘Living in constant fear’: A cliff that creeps closer to homes in Nainital
The Baliyanala is located in Hari Nagar, at a height of over 6,000 feet, on the outskirts of Nainital, less than a kilometre away from the Naini Lake.
Updated on Aug 13, 2022 04:26 AM IST
Neeraj Santoshi, Dehradun/nainital
Uttarakhand HC orders environmental audit before opening 30 peaks to tourists
To the Uttarakhand government’s assertion that the state has framed guidelines for tourists and mountaineers, the high court bench responded that such measures only appear very good on paper
Published on Aug 05, 2022 09:58 PM IST
Disproportionate assets case: IAS officer arrested in Uttarakhand
According to the preliminary probe, the officer had disproportionate assets of over 522%. All of his six bank accounts were also frozen.
Published on Jun 23, 2022 01:49 PM IST
Agnipath protests: Congress stages walk-out in Uttarakhand Assembly
The Congress demanded strict action against the police officers who ordered lathi-charge on the youngsters protesting against the Centre’s Agnipath scheme
Updated on Jun 17, 2022 08:11 PM IST
Uttarakhand Assembly: Congress alleges lack of facilities for Char Dham pilgrims
The Uttarakhand government maintained that it has been making all possible arrangements for the smooth conduct of the Char Dham pilgrimage
Updated on Jun 15, 2022 09:11 PM IST
Char Dham: Himalayan ecology faces the stress of post-pandemic pilgrim surge
Problems don’t just exist during the yatra, but at entry points and roads leading up to the four dhams, characterized this year by long traffic jams on narrow mountain roads
Updated on Jun 13, 2022 11:28 AM IST
Ajay Ramola, Neeraj Santoshi and Amit Bathla, Hindustan Times, Dehradun/mussoorie