Monday Feature: Green News and Media Roundup for Week 44, 2011

Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for week 44 (starting October 31), 2011.

1. Delhi Zoo to don a new look

The National Zoological Park, popularly known as the Delhi zoo amongst city residents, is undergoing an overhauling exercise. On the 53rd Foundation Day of the park, the authorities unveiled a new master layout plan for the country’s only zoo directly under the union ministry of environment and forests.

2. Jayanthi briefs PM before BASIC meet today

Ahead of the crucial BASIC countries’ meeting, environment and forests minister Jayanthi Natarajan briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the upcoming UN climate talks and the emerging negotiations scenario.

3. Chhath: MCD cleans up ghats on a war footing

Municipal Corporation of Delhi has begun cleaning the banks of the Yamuna ahead of Chhath. The festival, which will be observed along the banks of the river on Tuesday and Wednesday, is expected to leave a lot of waste there as well as near water bodies in parks. Delhi government has allotted 47 ghats including six new ones for Chhath arrangements this year.

4. Metro Phase III to lay stress on safety, health

Two major mishaps and loss of 60 lives during the construction of Delhi Metro’s phase II has impelled Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to make the guidelines for Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) stringent. This move aims to raise the standards of health and safety at construction sites under the 103 km phase III.

5. Court summons Shoppers Stop for using plastic bags

Popular retail chain Shoppers Stop Ltd. has been summoned through its representative by a court here for allegedly using plastic carry bags which is banned in the national capital.

6. Haze in Delhi sets off air pollution alarm

A thick haze over Delhi on Friday has set the alarm bells ringing over growing air pollution in the city. While pollution normally rises during winter, Friday’s level at places was more than 10 times the prescribed limits.

7. Special areas, urban villages to face sealing

The sealing and demolition squad of MCD is all set to visit Delhi again and this time it will target urbanised villages, special areas such as Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh and Sadar Paharganj.

8. With petrol price rise, majority prefer diesel cars

Majority of Indians prefer polluting diesel cars over petrol with the difference in price between the two fuels almost doubling in the last two years because of frequent increase in petrol prices. In July 2009, the difference between petrol and fuel price in Delhi was Rs. 11.76 which increased to Rs. 27.53 with latest petrol price increase from Thursday night.

9. ‘MSRDC not keen on another hearing’

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is not likely to hold any more public hearings on the controversial Pedder Road flyover project, which is awaiting clearance from the central government.

10. Lavasa top guns may face criminal charges

Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has sought permission from the Pune magistrate court to prosecute promoters and directors of Lavasa Corporation for breach of the Environment Protection Act. The hearing on the application is scheduled for November 16.

11. Nargis is India’s 7 bn symbol, or is she?

As the clock struck midnight, doctors waiting for the birth of the baby who would be the Indian symbol of the world population touching seven billion grew restive.

12. Young people are indifferent to environmental issues…

It’s been less than six months since the Delhi girl was crowned Pantaloons Femina Miss India Earth 2011, but in that short period, she’s travelled extensively for the green cause – talking about it, learning about the environment, observing eco-friendly methods and projects, and being a glamorous, popular voice for an important issue.

13. United States biggest contributor of unsustainability: Jairam Ramesh

Describing the US as the biggest contributor of unsustainability, rural development minister Jairam Ramesh today regretted that India and China were “hell-bent” on following the American model of development.