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
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
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
