Monday Feature: Green News and Media Roundup for Week 35, 2011
Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for week 35 (starting August 29), 2011.
1. Teachers, principals get training in sustainability development
A consortium of Indian institutes have been identified to guide and coordinate the ‘Education for sustainability training for trainers’ training programme in the country.
2. Coal India awaits environment clearance for 13 projects
Thirteen coal mining projects of Coal India Ltd are pending with the environment and forests ministry for approval, Environment and Forests Minister Jayanthi Natarajan told parliament on Tuesday.
3. BASIC countries back Indian proposals on climate
Ahead of the crucial ministerial level climate talks in South Africa, India has convinced the other three BASIC countries – Brazil, South Africa and China — to endorse its stand on equity, intellectual property rights and green trade barriers.
4. Parliamentary panel asks Coal Ministry to seek green nod ‘forcefully’
Warning that the nation is heading for energy crisis as potential 660 MT annual coal production is at stake due to ‘no go’ controversy, a Parliamentary panel has asked the coal ministry to seek a solution by “forcefully” placing the matter before the ministerial group.
5. Air pollution back as big health threat in Delhi
Ten years after the city’s public transport switched to CNG, air pollution has again become a major threat to public health in Delhi, say environmentalists. With 69 lakh vehicles plying on city roads, a growth of about 60 lakh in 20 years, experts say oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) are now at critically high levels.
6. Pollution board chief cashed in on own patent
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) chairman SP Gautam sold a patent he held privately on a technology to the apex authority on a revenue-sharing basis and then passed a directive in his official capacity asking the leather industry to buy the expensive and untested know-how.
7. WikiLeaks shows cracks in India’s climate stand
The differences of opinion in the higher echelons of the government about India’s international climate change stance has now come out in the open with a WikiLeaks cable showing senior leaders Jairam Ramesh, in his role as environment minister, and Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, taking divergent views on climate change in their interactions with senior US officials.
8. NOIDA battles plastic bag menace
Even though there are a number of legislations banning plastic bags, they are still being used blatantly in the city. Officials say that the problem has intensified after a blanket ban in neighbouring Delhi and the plastic bags are making their way into NOIDA.
