Environmental News and Media Roundup for Week 3, 2013
Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for week 3 (starting January 14, 2013) 2013.
1. East corp goes beyond its brief for clean city
The East Delhi Municipal Corporation, in a bid to have a cleaner city, will literally go beyond its jurisdiction and remove garbage as the municipal commissioner has given a direction to his deputies to make sure that no land or open sites remain dirty.
2. Connaught Place mess to stay till May, deadline extended once again
An uninterrupted and smooth walking and shopping experience in Connaught Place is still a few months away — at least till May. “Connaught Place will continue to remain dug up till April-May,” said Archana Arora, chairperson of New Delhi Municipal Council, on Monday.
3. Metro expansion hits green hurdle again
Though the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is confident that it will complete the third phase of Metro expansion on time, green concerns may pose serious hurdles. The Centre has requested the Delhi government to reduce the number of trees to be planted for each tree felled from the standard 10 to now three or four. But the Delhi government thinks such a huge concession will mean a massive reduction of the Capital’s green cover.
4. Thought Beijing air was bad? Delhi’s no better
Beijing’s air pollution made international news over the weekend when fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the city air rose to an ‘out-of-index’ level of 755 mg/cu m.
5. Civic body keeps people happy, but begs for funds
The east Delhi municipal corporation’s announcement on Tuesday that there will be no increase in property tax and parking charges this year has come as a huge relief for residents.
6. ‘Green Haat’ opens in Dilli Haat today
Interested in shopping for forest products such as pure honey, amla candy, bamboo-shoot pickle or hand woven fabrics stitched to suit urban needs, without leaving Delhi? Then, ‘Green Haat’, showcasing various value-added forest based products, opening at Dilli Haat from Wednesday is the place to be.
7. Metro gets green light for its heritage line
Two years after it was announced, the Delhi Metro’s controversial heritage line connecting Kashmere Gate with Central Secretariat has finally received the go-ahead from the National Monuments Authority with certain conditions.
8. ‘Sparrow corners’ in aid of state bird
To promote sparrow as the state bird and make children aware about it, the Delhi government will create special ‘sparrow corners’ in about 2,000 schools in the Capital. The environment department has also decided to organise expert lectures to make students understand the bird’s life and habitat.
9. Bikers ride boats to cross Yamuna as Kalindi bridge closure triggers snarls
Several motorcycle-borne commuters from Delhi to Noida have found an innovative yet dangerous way of beating the massive traffic jams in the wake of the closure of one carriageway of the Kalindi Kunj bridge. Nearly 300 motorcycles are being carried across the Yamuna on wooden boats daily after the bridge was closed for repair on December 23.
10. Two tiger cubs born at Delhi zoo
The year 2013 has started on a happy note for the Delhi zoo with the addition of two white tiger cubs. The birth — five days ago — is significant as there are no white tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) in any of the forests across the country and they are only found in captivity.
11. Odisha seeks speed restriction of trains to save elephants
Seeking the Centre’s intervention to ensure speed restrictions at crossing points used by elephants, Odisha government on Wednesday asked the railway board to revisit its advisories on prevention of train accidents involving the animals.
12. Himachal Pradesh’s green activists oppose move to divert forest land
Green activists in Himachal Pradesh have strongly opposed the union environment ministry’s decision to wave off approval from the locals for diverting forests to projects under the Forest Conservation Act.