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INDIA

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has constituted a committee to montor the implementation of the rules of hazardous waste management. M G K Menon, former minister for science and technology will head the panel.

The Central government has infor-med the Supreme Court that Agra does not qualify for declaration as a world heritage city in the wake of its polluted atmosphere, haphazard growth and abnormal population.

India would set up one HIV-testing centre in each district of the country. This is a part of India's major policy initiative to prevent AIDS. Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral recently cleared the National AIDS Prevention and Control Policy.

The Union government has announ-ced a draft national policy for prevention and control of AIDS. The main objective of the policy is to bring about a paradigm shift in the res-ponse to HIV and AIDS at all levels.

Nearly 5,000 children between age group one and six years will be tested for lead toxicity in their blood at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.

The government's move to withdraw permission for the commercialisation of pesticides has come as a death blow for botanical/bio-pesticide producers.

The global climate meet will be held in New Delhi during the first week of April this year. Nearly 161 countries are expected to address global climate change issues.

Scientists in India have developed a voice-operated wheelchair that guides the chair after listening the vocal commands.

A study of Zoological Survey of India says that the Cheetah, the pink-headed duck and the mountain quail have become extinct in the last decade. It also fears that three other Indian animal species such as brown antlered deer, hispid hare and Jordon's Crouser, may soon become extinct.

Carcasses of over 2,000 Olive Ridley sea turtles, killed by fishing trawlers in Orissa's coastal waters, have been found in Konark-Bulukhand sanctuary area in Puri district.

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