Environmental News and Media Roundup for Week 31, 2013
Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for Week 31 (starting July 29, 2013) 2013
1. 617 Indian sanctuaries get just Rs 1 lakh each per month
How’s this for skewered priorities: Over 617 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries that are home to several critically endangered species like the Great Indian Bustard and the Snow Leopard get a mere Rs 75 crore or Rs 1 lakh each per month, on an average, while the 43 reserves for the big cat get a whopping Rs 165 crore.
2. Most sand mining in NCR illegal: Activists
Sand mining in Noida (Uttar Pradesh), Faridabad (Haryana) and Delhi is illegal as no environment impact assessment (EIA) has been done on such activities in these states.
3. ‘Upright’ suspended IAS officer Durga just wanted to preserve environment
Hailing from Chhatisgarh, Durga Shakti Nagpal, 28, had always been a bright child. After she graduated in computer science from IP University’s Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women, she decided to stay back to prepare for the civic services.
4. NGT asks committee to see possibility of saving trees
The National Green Tribunal Friday directed a committee to examine the possibility of saving hundreds of trees coming in the way of an elevated road project on Vikas Puri, Mukarba Chowk on Outer Ring Road in West Delhi by translocating them.
5. 10 projects given green clearance since 2012
The Supreme Court passed an order in February 2012 stating that all mining projects spread over an area of 5 hectares or more needed an environment clearance . The ministry of environment and forest’s website shows that between Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, ECs have been granted to only 10 projects since 2012, all of which are located in UP’s Saharanpur district.
6. Forest clearance relief for 35 Maoist-hit districts
Now, 35 more Maoist-affected districts will be able to divert forest land for creation of critical public utility infrastructure like schools, hospitals, police stations and rural roads sans being tripped by the mandatory forest clearance hurdle.
7. Eight of 12 villages reject mining in Niyamgiri hills
Vedanta may have look for an alternative mining site to feed its alumina refinery at Lanjigarh in Odisha as its plan to mine Niyamgiri hills in the state may not get the Union environment ministry’s nod amid strong protests from villagers.
