Environmental News and Media Roundup for Week 16, 2012

Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for week 16 (starting April 16, 2012) 2012.

1. On its deathbed, neem tree gets a healing touch

The operation went on for almost three hours but the doctors were happy with the outcome. Despite a massive insect infestation that had gnawed away its innards and a recent fracture, they believe the patient will make a full recovery and will probably live on for another 20-30 years. The 60-year-old Neem tree at the juncture of Lodhi Road and Bhishma Pitamah Marg has been given a new lease of life.

2. Delhi’s cars no faster than pedestrians

Is driving really the quickest way to get around the capital? New research shows that for 20% of their running time – 12 minutes every hour – Delhi’s cars are no faster than pedestrians. An ongoing pilot study by the research group UrbanEmissions.info has found that a fifth of a car’s traffic time is spent idling or crawling at less than 4 kmph due to heavy congestion on roads and too many signals.

3. Manmohan Singh reiterates pledge to save Ganga

Under severe criticism from experts and activists for the neglect of the Ganga, the government sought to reiterate its commitment to “the continuity and purity of the Ganga” at the third meeting of the National Ganga River Basin Authority.

4. Scrap 34 dams on Ganga: Green panel

A report commissioned by the government has recommended that 34 dams on the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers – the two main tributaries of the Ganga – should not be allowed to come up as they will cause irrevocable harm to biodiversity in Uttarakhand.

5. Forestry scam: MoEF seeks CBI probe

The Union environment and forests ministry has taken a position countering the Union government’s department of personnel and training and stuck to its demand for a CBI inquiry in the forestry scam cases in Haryana.

6. Environment ministry extends bar on projects at 4 coal fields

The Environment ministry will not accept any proposal for new and expansion projects in four major coal fields – Korba, Asansol, Chandrapur and Dhanbad – as no measures have been taken to reduce environmental pollution. The four coalfields are among the 18 industrial clusters with a high environmental – air, water and land – pollution.