Weekly Green News Update for Week 53 (Dec 28 2015 to Jan 3 2016), 2015
Weekly green news update from across different media networks for week 53 (between Dec 28, 2015 to Jan 3, 2016) 2015.
1. Air pollution levels in Delhi drop by 300% on day 2, odd-even formula a major success, says Sisodia
The odd-even road rationing scheme by the Delhi government proved to be a major success on Saturday (day two) following a drop of 300 percent in air pollution levels recorded in some parts of Delhi as compared to last year.
2. Pollution may go up with dip in mercury
The Capital’s experiment with the odd-even rationing scheme for private cars will begin at a time when air quality has been relatively better as compared to previous years, mostly because of the unusually warm weather.
3. Not cars, but road dust is the biggest polluter in Delhi!
Amidst deteriorating air quality, a study was conducted to determine various sources of pollution in Delhi.
4. Real-time interactive map to track Delhi’s pollution levels
In an effort to track Delhi’s escalating pollution levels, India Spend, a data journalism news site has built an interactive map tracking real-time pollution data across Delhi and Mumbai.
5. Ghazipur landfill site in Delhi is a ticking garbage bomb
The over-saturated Ghazipur landfill site in east Delhi is one of the biggest contributors to the alarming level of air pollution in the region.
6. Act now to improve Delhi air quality: CPCB
In the latest attempt to improve air quality in Delhi, the Central Pollution Control Board Wednesday issued directions to the state governments of Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to immediately begin taking action against “visibly polluting vehicles”, overloaded vehicles and open burning of biomass, leaves, tyres and other such items.
7. Waste from landfill to be used for laying roads
The huge mounds of waste in Ghazipur near the capital’s borders with Ghaziabad may soon disappear, if the government’s plan to use treated waste for laying roads becomes a reality.
As Delhi experimented with odd-even formula to curb pollution, the state government, in collaboration with Maulana Azad Medical College, has launched a drive to assess the lung capacity of the people and understand the impact of air pollution on their health.
9. Delhi on Day One: The Oddacity of Hope
The new year began with a day for the odd. And an odd day as well.
10. Mobile monitoring starts today
Transport minister Gopal Rai on Thursday unveiled a mobile monitoring van that will check pollution levels in various locations in the city from Friday.
11. Beyond Delhi: Cities with much worse air quality than the national capital get little attention
Though almost the entire debate on air pollution has been centered around Delhi, there are several cities and towns in India which have much worse air quality than the national capital. Just outside Delhi, Ghaziabad is one of the most polluted cities in the country.
In an effort to meet targets under the recently approved Paris climate change agreement and to take forward the ongoing clean and green India drive, the government is expected to take multiple measures in 2016 which will help it cut the country’s carbon footprint and also promote efficient use of energy and natural resources.
13. Will look to ban detergents with phosphates, says Javadekar
Union minister for environment Prakash Javadekar on Thursday said he will look into banning detergents with phosphates, which, according to a study , are the major cause for froth and fire in lakes like Bellandur and Varthur.
14. China issues first alert for pollution in 2016
Smog returned to haunt China in the New Year as it issued its first alert of 2016 for pollution – an orange for the second-most serious level for several cities and provinces including the capital Beijing.
