Environmental News and Media Roundup for Week 23, 2012
Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for week 23 (starting June 4, 2012) 2012.
From solar cars, miniature scooters and beer cans to decor vases made from glass bottles with miniature paintings — Delhiites are finding interesting ways to make their contribution to the environment.
2. Dwarka residents team up to revive dying pond
It was camaraderie at its best. Neighbours who never knew one another joined hands for Mother Nature. There was once a pond in their midst that teemed with life. Today, muck and filth has sucked out life from it, almost. It’s drying up. And the Dwarka Sector 23 residents went all out to save it on Sunday.
3. Delhi Metro to tap solar power
Delhi’s new age transport system is going green, with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation planning to tap solar power in some of its facilities. The initiative announced to coincide with the World Environment Day, will help generate renewable energy and reduce DMRC’s dependence on non-renewable sources of power.
4. Delhi’s fight against a waste processing unit
A controversy over a waste-to-energy plant has seen residents pitted against the government since 2007. When fully operational in a few months, the plant will burn up over 2,000 metric tonnes of the city’s solid waste to generate 16MW of power.
5. Most vehicles in Delhi don’t have PUC certificate
On the World Environment Day, two NGOs have warned that the quality of the environment around the national capital has worsened and its air pollution and congestion crisis will worsen this decade if urgent steps were not taken to address it.
6. Mother Dairy’s eco-friendly milk van ‘Kamdhenu’ hits roads
Mother Dairy, the largest milk supplier in NCR, today launched an eco-friendly van ‘Kamdhenu’ to cart loose milk in different parts of Delhi and adjoining regions.
7. Iron, steel industry struggle to meet green norms
The iron and steel industry might be recording an 8% annual growth but it’s struggling to meet environmental norms in the process, the Centre for Science and Environment concluded, while rating the industry for its performance.
8. Young artists honoured by President
A small house canopied by an overhanging tree and sunlight brightening the landscape. This, in short, is the symbol of Rashtrapati Bhavan’s environmental sustainability project, Roshni Prachodaya Society.
9. Special pollution check from June 11-18
Days after TOI reported how only 26% of vehicles in the capital had valid pollution under control (PUC) certificates, transport minister Arvinder Singh on Thursday ordered a “massive” pollution checking drive from June 11-18.
More than Rs.1,500 crore spent over the past two decades to clean the Yamuna, which meets 70 per cent of Delhi’s daily water needs, has all been a waste. A latest Central Pollution Control Board report says the polluted length of the river has increased from 500km to 600km.
11. Gurgaon wants Metro to slow down
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has started installing noise barriers on the MG Road Metro station stretch following fervent demands of residents to check the screeching sound of trains on the “sharpest” turn near the station.
12. India’s fish resources over-exploited: Report
A report released by environmental NGO Greenpeace on Friday says that 90 per cent of India’s fish resources are at or above maximum sustainable levels of exploitation. It also highlights that fishing down the marine web is a rising trend.
13. Manesar-Palwal stretch of expressway to open in Sept
After a long wait, the Delhi and Haryana government have finally decided to throw open the 52 km stretch between Manesar and Palwal by September.
14. Earth Summit: India for upholding Rio principles
India will push for upholding the principle of common but differentiated responsibility while addressing the issue of sustainable development at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janerio later this month.
15. India to assert ‘equity’ stance at Rio
India has warned negotiators to be ready for Brazil breaking away from the developing world to accept target-oriented sustainable development goals (SDGs) at the Rio conference that starts on June 20.
