Weekly Green News Update for Week 18 (April 27 to May 3), 2015
Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for week 18 (between April 27 and May 3) 2015.
1. Rs 5,000 fine for burning waste in NCR, says NGT
In yet another bid to check air pollution in Delhi and the rest of the NCR, National Green Tribunal on Tuesday banned burning of waste in the open.
2. Air pollution campaign not anti-development: Activists
Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar’s controversial remark that “vested interests” were behind the campaign against air pollution has left many activists fuming.
3. Strange that environment ministry not accepting studies linking mortality to pollution: Panel
A house panel on Monday said it was “strange” that environment ministry was not ready to “accept” studies linking mortality with air pollution as it recommended restricting use of personal vehicles through an efficient and cost effective public transport system.
4. Automobile industry to adopt Bharat Stage V and VI emission norms ahead of schedule
The outcry over worsening air quality in Indian cities has prompted the government to urge automakers to move to the advanced Bharat Stage V and VI emission norms a year ahead of schedule, in 2019 and 2023 respectively.
5. Govt. buys more time, NGT extends stay on vehicles ban
Grappling with ways to cut vehicular pollution, the government seems to be buying time on every hearing before the National Green Tribunal which on Friday extended the stay on ban of 10-year-old diesel vehicles till May 18 but not before criticising the authorities for doing nothing.
6. Report on rail track makes NGT see red
The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board came in for severe criticism on Friday for the filth around railway tracks.
7. RO water filters under NGT scanner
The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday sought a response from the Centre on a plea seeking directions regarding the wastage of water caused by reverse osmosis (RO) water purifiers.
8. NGT calls meeting to solve noise pollution woes in South Delhi
The National Green Tribunal has convened a meeting of stakeholders on May 5 to discuss strategy for devising an “effective” solution to the problem of noise pollution caused due to heavy traffic near Panchsheel Park area in South Delhi.
9. Okhla bird park: The threat is in the nest
It took a long legal battle, one of the most discussed in recent times, to secure the perimeters of the Okhla Bird Sanctuary.
10. Kolkata, Kanpur, Allahabad Among Top Ganga Polluters: Centre
Kolkata, Howrah, Kanpur and Allahabad are amongst the 118 towns that discharge maximum sewage into the River Ganga, Rajya Sabha was informed today.
11. New species of crab discovered in Gujarat
Researchers at MS University have discovered new species of crab in Gulf of Khambat that has characteristics distinct from the species in the same genus.
12. Much awaited lion census starts at Gir sanctuary from Saturday
Experts from the Aligarh Muslim University and the Wildlife institute of India are constantly monitoring the feeds received from the camera which have been set for the first time in the sanctuary area.
13. Rare species of butterfly discovered in Manipur
Wildlife photographers on Wednesday claimed to have spotted a rare species of butterfly near Kwatha village under Yangoupokpi Wildlife Sanctuary in Manipur.
14. Kathmandu raised by a metre, Everest has sunk by an inch
Scientists from a specialist study wing of the European Space Agency, among others, have constructed the first geological portrait of quake-hit Nepal to discover some earth-shattering changes — the Kathmandu valley has risen by up to a metre, while the Everest sunk by one inch and areas north have settled below their original height.
15. Climate change led to civilisation collapse in Tibetan Plateau
Solving a 4,000-year-old mystery, scientists have found that climate change may be responsible for the abrupt collapse of civilisation on the fringes of the Tibetan Plateau around 2000 BC.
