Latest news with #Dehradun-based
Deccan Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Assam, Meghalaya govts to build hydel project on dolphin habitat Kulsi river
Guwahati: Ignoring warnings by environmentalists, the Assam and Meghalaya governments have decided to jointly set up a 55MW hydro power project on the Kulsi, a small river known as a nesting ground for the endangered river was decided in a meeting between Assam Chief Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad K Sangma, in Guwahati on Monday. "We have decided to set up the project after discussion with the local communities as it will lead to displacements of soma villages. While both the states will get benefts from the power to be generated on the Kulsi river, Assam will get additional benefits of irrigation," Sarma told satellite tagging of endangered Ganges river dolphin begins in Assam river to push for is a small tributary of the Brahmaputra that flows down from Meghalaya's West Khasi Hills district to Kamrup district of Assam. About 60km long river with average width of 70 to 80 meters flows in Assam before it meets the Brahmaputra. Sources said the dam for the project is likely to be constructed along the inter-state border. In the meeting, the two CMs also diccused ways to solve the long inter-state boundary disputes and the problem of flash floods. Dolphin the two CMs did not talk about the concerns over future of dolphins in the river, conservationists fear adverse impact of the dam on the river dolphins, an endangered species and the national aquatic species. The first-ever nationwide census of river dolphins carried out by the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) counted at least 17 river dolphins in the 60kms stretch of the 40%, Uttar Pradesh home to highest river dolphin census, which was conducted with the help of the state forest departments, counted 6,327 river dolphins in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam and Punjab. The report was released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March this year. The survey found 584 dolphins in the Brahmaputra basins, including 51 in its tributaries. In the report, the experts expressed concerns over on construction of big dams on the dolphin habitats. "Although it is difficult to say the extend of impact the project may have on the future of dolphins in the Kulsi, hydro power projects always have adverse impact on the downstream," said a conservatinist based in local people had several times urged the two state governments against going ahead with the hydro project on the Kulsi saying this could endanger the future of the dolphins. They also objected to the rampant sand mining taking place in the river beds and construction of several bridges. There are 14 bridges over the Kulsi and construction of the pillars on the river beds have affected free movement of the dolphins, says the conservation December last year, the WII also carried out first satellite tagging of a Gangetic river dolphin in the Kulsi river to study its movement and behaviour patterns for future conservation activities.
News18
27-05-2025
- News18
7 Of Family Die By Suicide In Haryana's Panchkula, Cite Financial Distress In Note
Last Updated: Seven members of a Dehradun-based family died by suicide in Panchkula after consuming poison, citing financial distress in a suicide note. As many as seven members of a family died by suicide by consuming poison in Haryana's Panchkula. The incident happened in Sector 27 of the city. According to the details, the family belonged to Dehradun in Uttarakhand had come to the city to attend a religious event. The police found a suicide note from their vehicle, which cited financial distress as the reason for their extreme step. One of the deceased was identified as Praveen Mittal, while the others were his parents, wife, and three children. The police and a team of forensic officials were investigating the case.
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
Amur Falcon flies 6,000 km from Odisha to China in 18 days
KENDRAPARA: A satellite-tagged Amur Falcon which flew from southern Africa to Odisha covering over 4,000 km last month made another 6,000 km dash in just 18 days - this time to China. The bird, named Chiuluan 2, reached Manchurian Bay in China on May 20, within 18 days after flying around 6,000 km from the forest of Odisha. Scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) had attached a satellite transmitter on the bird on November 8, 2024, in Tamenglong district of Manipur. Suresh Kumar, a senior scientist of the Dehradun-based WII said, the GPS tracker showed the bird first travelled about 4,000 km from Southern Africa to reach Karlapat wildlife sanctuary in Kalahandi district of Odisha on April 30. It stayed for three days in forests of Odisha from April 30 to May 2. 'On May 1, its presence was recorded in a forest around 30 km from Phulbani. We also tracked the bird on May 2 in the forest of Dhenkanal district,' added Kumar. From Odisha, the falcon continued its journey, passing through the mangrove forests of Sundarbans in Bangladesh and then through Myanmar. It continued flying over Wuhan in China, crossing both the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea before finally reaching Manchurian Bay in northeastern China on May 20.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Time of India
Indian weddings make space for the vegan menu
Lavish feasts have long been a hallmark of Indian weddings, but a quiet shift is underway — vegan cuisine is gradually finding its place on the wedding menu. With growing awareness around animal welfare and environmental concerns, many couples now opt for plant-based fare on their special day. Dehradun-based groom Siddharth Sharma, who works at Humane World, chose to serve an entirely vegan menu at his wedding. 'As an ethical vegan, it was important that our wedding reflect our values. We didn't want the most meaningful day of our lives to come at the cost of animal suffering,' he explains. 'It was also a chance to share the food we love and show our guests that vegan meals can be just as delicious and satisfying.' This emerging trend suggests that wedding food can be both celebratory and conscientious. An increase in demand for vegan menus While most couples are not yet opting for fully vegan wedding menus, experts say they are increasingly open to including a dedicated vegan section alongside traditional fare. 'We've seen a gradual rise in demand for vegan options at weddings. While it's not mainstream yet, many modern couples — especially those from urban areas — are becoming more conscious of sustainability and health, leading them to explore plant-based menus,' says Vinayak Shah, founder of FoodCraft Hospitality, a wedding menu planning firm. Echoing similar thoughts, Manish Bavishi, founder of Manish Caterers, says, 'There's a growing curiosity around vegan options. While full-scale vegan weddings are still rare, more couples are asking us to design select plant-based dishes to accommodate their guests' dietary preferences.' Reasons to drive the change According to experts, the influence of international wedding trends — particularly from couples who have attended or hosted destination weddings abroad — is driving this change. 'Vegan cuisine often blends well with fusion setups, and we're seeing many more globally inspired vegan elements being incorporated into Indian weddings. Interest in plant-based catering has definitely increased,' says Chetna Sagar, co-founder of Mumbai-based Elegant Banquets, a wedding venue. Luxury weddings are at the forefront of this shift. Sagar notes that clients often prioritise exclusivity, health, and sustainability. 'Vegan menus are curated not just to meet dietary needs, but also as a style statement,' she states. Overcoming hurdles Speaking about the challenges faced, Vinayak Shah, founder of a food consultant firm, says, 'Sourcing vegan ingredients is somewhat of a challenge, particularly for specialty items like vegan cheeses, nutritional yeast, or plant-based cream alternatives. While metro cities have better access through gourmet suppliers, availability can be inconsistent, and sourcing in large quantities often drives up costs. ' Prianca Stephen, who got married last year, adds, 'Balancing vegan food with cultural or religious expectations was one of the trickiest parts. Indian weddings are so rooted in food traditions, and there's a lot of emotional and cultural weight to certain dishes. We made it work by being respectful and creative, substituting cow ghee with vegan ghee and cold-pressed oils, animal milk with plant-based milk, and paneer with tofu, etc. ' Plant-based twists on traditional favourites Experts say ingredients like cashew cream and tofu have transformed vegan wedding menus. Cashew cream helps recreate rich gravies and desserts, while tofu is versatile for grills, curries, and even sweets. Almond milk and coconut cream also help retain traditional flavors. 'We're seeing a surge in creative vegan counters. We've reimagined Indian desserts—halwa with almond milk, litchis stuffed with kesar tofu pâté, gulkand chikki barfi, vegan honey kunafa, and even mini tofu rasgullas on dry fruit crunch,' shares Vinayak. 'We recently curated a vibrant vegan spread with silken tofu tikka masala, almond milk–walnut crunch desserts, and mango coconut chai pudding. A live vegan pizza bar with plant-based mozzarella was a major crowd-puller,' adds Chetna. Presently, it's a niche trend primarily in metro cities, driven by a specific segment of conscious consumers. Whether it becomes mainstream will depend on how accessible and cost-effective vegan options become over time - Chetna Sagar, co-founder, Mumbai-based banquet hall Curating the vegan menu was challenging, especially reinventing traditional dishes without dairy. Explaining plant-based recipes to the chef was tough, as it was unfamiliar territory. We even sent samples in advance so the team could practise before the big day - Dehradun-based Siddharth Sharma It may have started as a trend, but it's finding a foothold. Awareness around clean, conscious eating is growing. We believe vegan offerings will become a regular feature — even if not the default — in future wedding menus - Manish Bavishi, founder of a catering business One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Time of India
HC orders Doon administration to de-seal 3 bookshops after 45 days
Dehradun: In a relief to three Dehradun-based bookshops that were sealed in March, Uttarakhand high court has directed the district authorities to de-seal these and asked under what provision of law action was taken. When the counsel for the state said "in public interest", the court on Wednesday directed the state to file a counter affidavit within four weeks. Four bookshops were sealed after FIRs were lodged against them on March 29 over several alleged irregularities, including overpricing, GST evasion, selling books from fake publications with forged international standard book numbers (ISBNs), and not providing proper bills to customers. The crackdown by the local administration came after complaints filed by parents of schoolchildren. The district administration lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against shopkeeper Ashwani Mohan of Asian Book Depot, maintaining that the ISBN was not found in some books, and online verification of the Chemistry Lab Manual for Class 9 and Basudha for Class 5 could not be done. Similar FIRs were lodged against Sudhir Kr Jain of National Book House and Vinay Kr Aggarwal of Brothers Pustak Bhandar, as the ISBN number on some books could not be verified at Jain's shop, while the ISCE board books' ISBN number was not recorded at Aggarwal's shop.
