Monday Feature: Green News and Media Roundup for Week 06, 2012
Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for week 06 (starting February 6, 2012) 2012.
1. Colleges to compete in ‘clean Delhi’ drive
In an attempt to lend a push for a cleaner city, several colleges of Delhi University will come together for an initiative that will not only see them campaign for a ‘clean Delhi’, but also compete for it. ‘The Lead-Green Initiative’, launched by a private company visualises a clean and green Delhi, starting from college campuses.
2. Mayawati sells 2,400 acres wetlands in Greater NOIDA to Ansals
The BSP government in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh is once again caught in a controversial land sale. The state government sold 2,400 acres of wetlands in Greater Noida to a private builder even though the law bars the sale of such areas. The state government failed to notify this area around Bil Akbarpur as wetlands.
3. 26 new Metro stations in south Delhi by 2016
The southern part of the Capital, which has the highest number of privately-owned cars, is all set to benefit the most from the proposed Metro expansion project under phase III. At present, Metro covers only 34km in south Delhi. Under phase 3, which is scheduled to be completed by 2016, the DMRC plans to spread the network to 35km more in the district.
4. A sustainable makeover for NCR
To boost the environmental sustainability of fast-growing towns in India’s National Capital Region, the German Government-owned development bank KfW has signed a loan agreement worth 100 million euros (approximately Rs. 700 crore) and a financing agreement for project development and capacity building grant of 1 million euro (approx. Rs. 7 crore) with the National Capital Region Planning Board.
5. UP dept blames cops for river encroachment
The UP irrigation department has said more than 100 FIRs had been lodged against land mafia, involved in the illegal sale of plots and mining activities, in the floodplains of Yamuna and Hindon, an ecologically-sensitive belt, but the police failed to act.
6. Solution to city’s traffic mess caught in red tape
It’s a tale of how ordinary citizens are made to suffer the follies of an indecisive bureaucracy. Even as uncertainty looms over the fate of Eastern Peripheral Expressway project, first approved by Public Private Partnership Approval Committee in 2007, Delhiites continue to suffer traffic nightmare on city roads.
7. India loses 367 sq km of forests in 2 years
India recorded a net loss of 367 sq km of forests between 2009 and 2011 with Khammam district in Andhra Pradesh alone losing 182 sq km of green cover in the period, the latest ‘state of forest’ report has found. In all, AP lost 281 sq km of forests in two years. The report, prepared biennially by the Forest Survey of India, the Dehradun-based wing of the environment and forests ministry, was released on Tuesday.
8. Jayanthi Natarajan to reject projects flouting Forest Rights Act
Union environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan on Monday said, “I shall reject any project recommended for clearing without adhering to the Forest Rights Act and the ministry’s order.” She was reacting to a TOI story on the Forest Advisory Committee violating the ministry’s directive while clearing projects.
9. Activists challenge environment clearance to Lavasa
More trouble could be brewing for Lavasa Corporation’s hill city near Pune with its recently secured environment clearance getting challenged by local activists in the National Green Tribunal.
10. BASIC group to firm up climate strategy on Feb 13, 14
Ministers of South Africa, Brazil, China and India – the BASIC group – will meet here on February 13-14 to chalk out a joint strategy for the post-2020 global climate regime.
