Weekly Green News Update for Week 15 (April 6 to 12), 2015
Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for week 15 (between April 6 and April 12) 2015.
1. NGT bans diesel vehicles over 10 years old in Delhi
In an order that could improve Delhi’s deteriorating air quality if implemented effectively, the National Green Tribunal on Tuesday prohibited diesel vehicles that are over 10 years old from plying in the capital.
2. Road ministry sees red on NGT’s ban on diesel vehicles in Delhi
The road transport ministry does not find it feasible to implement the National Green Tribunal’s order to ban Delhi diesel-run vehicles which are more than 10 years old, especially in case of personal vehicles.
3. Truckers to go on strike from Tuesday against NGT order
Truckers today threatened to stop moving goods in and out of the national capital from Tuesday against the National Green Tribunal’s order banning diesel vehicles of more than 10 years age from plying in the city.
4. How to read India’s new colour-coded Air Quality Index
India’s new Air Quality Index has a nifty website and you could lose a lot of time playing with it.
5. Dwarka air quality worst on Day 1 of index
The air quality index launched by Ministry of Environment and Forests on Monday confirmed that piecemeal measures will not curb air pollution.
6. No street vendors, cycle rickshaws in Lajpat Nagar market: NGT
In a bid to avoid congestion and ease flow of traffic, the National Green Tribunal has directed street vendors and cycle rickshaws to go off the streets in Lajpat Nagar market here.
7. Environment ministry simplifies measurement of pollution in industrial clusters
In another apparent industry-friendly move, the government has simplified the measurement of pollution in industrial clusters.
8. Centre to announce time-bound plan to cut pollution levels in NCR
The Centre is likely to announce on April 13 a time-bound plan to cut pollution levels in the national capital region.
9. Polluting cos stare at June deadline on emission e-monitoring
The Central Pollution Control Board has warned highly-polluting industries like pharmaceuticals, fertilisers and oil refineries that their licences will be withdrawn if they fail to put in place an online emission and effluent monitoring system by June.
10. NGT cracks whip on dust pollution, tells builders to follow guidelines
“Every worker working on the construction site or engaged in loading and unloading of building materials shall be provided with masks and the owner or builder will be under obligation to provide them so,” a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
11. NGT orders halt to construction activity in Noida Extension, Gurgaon
The National Green Tribunal today directed “immediate” stoppage of construction activity in specific stretch of areas in Noida Extension and Gurgaon by taking note of media reports on air pollution caused by building activities.
12. Water tankers in Greater Noida out after NGT order
A day after the National Green Tribunal ordered immediate stoppage of construction activity on a 2 km stretch of Noida Extension over air pollution, some private builders on Wednesday literally tried to settle the dust on the controversy with hurriedly summoned water tankers, but ended up creating muck.
13. Clean Ganga not possible without clean Yamuna: Uma Bharati
Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharati has said the Centre will soon start fulfilling the promises made for cleaning up River Yamuna.
14. Push for cleaner stoves in poor countries to cut pollution
Every evening, hundreds of millions of Indian women hover over crude stoves making dinner for their families. They feed the flames with polluting fuels like kerosene or cow dung, and breathe the acrid smoke wafting from the fires.
