Environmental News and Media Roundup for Week 27, 2012
Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for week 27 (starting July 2, 2012) 2012.
1. Touts take over water depot, run amok
Taps may be running dry in Delhi, but the Delhi Jal Board tankers ensure it’s raining, quite literally, in its Greater Kailash 1 pumping station. Afternoon is siesta time for the board’s employees even as people wait outside from 6am to 10pm to book a water tanker.
2. Ban toxic imports, SC tells government
The Supreme Court on Friday directed the government to ban the import of toxic wastes which had been identified and declared hazardous under an international convention.
3. Delhi blows its fuse over power cuts
Delhi and the National Capital Region lost their patience on Tuesday with relentless daily power cuts ranging between 12 and 18 hours. In Gurgaon, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad, angry residents blocked roads, burnt tyres, and even attacked power sub-stations with stones.
There are certain subjects that Delhiites get very concerned about in specific seasons and then forget about by the time the next season comes. Power and water crisis and ways to control them, are a few favourites at the moment.
5. A tale of two rivers: Only one happy ending
Delhi and Singapore have very little in common geographically. The only thing linking the two was their dependence on rivers running through their midst. Yamuna turned into a sewage carrying channel and continues to be one. Singapore’s river was probably in a worse state till the 1970s. And that is where the similarity ends.
6. Millions of gallons stolen and wasted
On Monday, an HT visit at a Delhi Jal Board pumping station in Greater Kailash-1 had revealed mismanagement, corruption and apathy of government officials. A day later, the report led to some action at the GK-1 pumping station. But at the other water depots of south Delhi, it was business as usual.
7. One-thirds of N Delhi water impure
Drinking water supplied to one-thirds of North Delhi is unfit and can cause severe ailments, says a comprehensive report on water quality presented by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation. The report has details of water tests carried out in the last six months in North Delhi.
8. DMRC stumbles upon 17th century mosque
Archaeological remains of a mosque, supposed to be the 17th century ‘Akbarabadi Masjid’, have been found at Subhash Park, a site Delhi Metro had identified for the Jama Masjid station as part of its Central Secretariat-ITO-Delhi Gate-Kashmere Gate corridor under phase 3 expansion.
9. Delhi’s air pollution level is up by five times in eight yrs, says study
After HT exposed water mismanagement at the hands of the Delhi Jal Board staff, the board is receiving brickbats from all quarters. The chief minister has asked the DJB CEO to be more vigilant. Experts too have condemned the board for wasting potable water.
12. Going ahead with move to privatise water: CM
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday said her government was going ahead with the move to privatise water treatment plants. “Privatisation of water distribution system is definitely necessary in Delhi. We want to replicate the same model that we have used in the privatisation of power distribution in Delhi Jal Board,” she said.
13. Indian toy manufacturers go green
You can hold them and sleep in the night; or put them up on display in your room; If required they can also educate children about environment and related issues. These are no posters or books rather they are the favorite cuddlers for toddlers, stuffed toys.
14. MoEF urged to take proactive steps to help captive elephants
In the wake of the recent death of an elephant in an accident in NOIDA, animal rights groups today asked the environment ministry to intervene by rescuing and rehabilitating other members of the species held in captivity in exploitative conditions.
15. Recycling waste water to boost supply
At the World Cities Summit that concluded this week in Singapore, after discussing over four days integrated urban solutions for liveable and sustainable cities, the delegates from 104 countries and regions didn’t have to look far for a model.
Is there any social organisation to look at the cleaning of environment or city. If at all such thing exist in NCR please can you provide in provide information so that I can also join my hands with them.