Environmental News and Media Roundup for Week 32, 2013
Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for Week 32 (starting August 5, 2013) 2013
1. Where do the children play?
Children, irrespective of their sex, religion and nationality, have a right to play in a safe environment in their neighbourhoods.
2. Inspection team likely to visit Gautam Budh Nagar sites today
With the young IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal bringing into focus the menace of illegal sand mining which thrives under alleged political patronage in Uttar Pradesh, the Union ministry of environment and forest has decided to take stock of the situation by sending a team of officials at the site in Gautam Budh Nagar district. The visit is likely to occur on Tuesday.
3. Illegal mining depleting groundwater, experts say
Large-scale illegal sand mining could be changing the face of Noida in many ways. Experts say it is likely to deplete and pollute groundwater, ruin river bank ecology and alter the course of the river. Some of these effects are already being felt.
4. National Green Tribunal restrains sand mining across India
The National Green Tribunal today restrained sand mining without any licence or environmental clearance from river beds across the country on a plea alleging that such activities were going on in UP with the “wilful connivance” of its state machinery.
5. Delhi govt’s ambitious plan to cut air pollution on hold
Delhi government today deferred its decision on finalising an ambitious plan which include some “tough measures” to cut air pollution in the city, apparently because of the upcoming assembly polls.
6. Green Tribunal says no exception to be made on size of project area
The National Green Tribunal on Monday reinforced the February 2012 Supreme Court order making it mandatory to take environment clearance for sand mining from the Union ministry of environment and forests, irrespective of the size of the project area. The order was based upon an application highlighting issues related to illegal sand mining in the Yamuna.
The remains of the Union Carbide factory, from which poisonous Methyl Isocyanate gas leaked — killing thousands and affecting lakhs in Bhopal on December 2-3 in 1984, continues to harm people even today.
8. Green signal for 11 hydro projects in Uttarakhand since 2006
Eleven hydropower projects in the downstream of Gaumukh in Uttarakhand have got clearance from the Environment Ministry since 2006, Lok Sabha was informed today.
9. Tripura demands relaxation of eco norms
The Tripura government has demanded relaxation of forest and environment clearance norms for developmental activities in northeastern states.
10. Provisional green nod paves way for coal block bids
The coal ministry has started groundwork to auction coal blocks after receiving provisional clearance from the ministry of environment and forests, a senior ministry official said.
