Environmental News and Media Roundup for Week 36, 2012
Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for week 36 (starting September 3, 2012) 2012.
1. Migratory birds arrive in Delhi Zoo
Though they have arrived early this year, the hosts claim they are well-prepared to welcome these seasonal guests.
2. Over-stretching limited resources
In 2010, a major pipeline that carried water from the Wazirabad treatment plant in the city developed several breaches. Residents were left parched and the civic authorities had to deal with water-logged roads. The Delhi Jal Board that is responsible for the maintenance of this pipeline spent days looking for the origin of the leakage.
3. IIT Kanpur to study Delhi’s air quality
Delhi government’s environment department is set to commission IIT Kanpur to study its problem of air pollution. The government has already devised a master plan to deal with the issue and its implementation should start by next year.
4. Green Delhi spends Rs 950 each on 15,400 saplings
Believe it or not, the Delhi government spends Rs 950 on every plant to make the National Capital look green, according to the reply to a query filed under Right To Information Act.
5. Experts to write to PM against green ministry
Non-government wildlife experts on board the PM-chaired National Board of Wildlife are planning to write a joint letter to PM Manmohan Singh complaining of alleged illegalities and malpractices of the environment ministry.
6. Bamboo trade may open up for tribals
Environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan has overruled objections from her officials to break the forest bureaucracy’s monopoly over the annual Rs 10,000 crore bamboo trade and declared it a ‘minor forest produce’ instead of a ‘tree’ under forest laws.
7. Valmik Thapar denies conflict of interest in eco-tourism norms
Valmik Thapar has denied any conflict of interest in raising questions on eco-tourism guidelines as a member of the National Board of Wildlife, which is headed by the Prime Minister.
8. Damage to wildlife by infra projects to figure in NBWL meet
The issue of linear intrusions, like networks of irrigation canals, power transmission lines, highways and railway lines, creating obstacles in smooth movement of tigers and wildlife in the corridors of Vidarbha will figure in the National Board for Wildlife meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday.
9. Legal cover for elephant corridors soon: Jayanthi
Environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan told the National Board of Wildlife meeting on Wednesday that a committee had been set up to review the eco-tourism guidelines.
10. Fuelling a manageable price rise
While the Centre had indicated that it was ready to bite the bullet and increase prices of petroleum products — mainly diesel — a few months ago, the combination of the slowdown in the economy, the drought and the political battles that the United Progressive Alliance was fighting on several fronts rendered the move unlikely.
11. Highway ministry cites green hurdles for delay in road projects
Highways ministry has claimed that its road projects are getting delayed because of environment, forest and wildlife clearances that take between anywhere one and three years.
