Environmental News and Media Roundup for Week 46, 2012

Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for week 46 (starting November 12, 2012) 2012.

1. Coming: Ten-fold hike in fine for mosquito-breeding

If you are building a new home, be sure to fill up all water puddles at the site if you want to avoid a hefty fine.

2. Bhikaji Cama Place a symbol of ‘utter disdain for public property’: Accessibility audit

A recently conducted walkability and accessibility audit of the District Centre Complex at Bhikaji Cama Place has revealed that within seven years of a major renovation at the place by Delhi Development Authority, this commercial complex has again returned to a state of neglect and filth.

3. Supreme Court body asks 4 States to take firm steps to check smog

Taking serious note of the thick smog over the National Capital Region over the past few days, the Environment Pollution Authority  has asked four States – Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana – to take immediate remedial measures.

4. Coming up at key locations: Air quality info, smog alerts

Taking a cue from its global counterparts, Delhi will soon install electronic display boards for air quality index, issue smog alerts and health advisory for places such as Connaught Place, ITO, Sarojini Nagar, Lajpat Nagar, ISBTs and Rajouri Garden.

5. Suu Kyi visits Gurgaon, says Myanmar needs investment in energy sector

Myanmar pro-democracy crusader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday underscored the need to protect natural resources from the adverse impacts of urbanization during her visit to The Energy and Resources Institute’s  campus here on Thursday.

6. Air pollution levels shoot up after Diwali

This Diwali night saw a rise in air pollution levels in some pockets of the Capital while noise levels declined compared with last year, according to an air-noise pollution assessment report released by the Central Pollution Control Board on Wednesday.

7. Forest clearances under national green tribunal ambit

The environment ministry has failed in its attempt to keep forest clearances outside the purview of the national green tribunal  though it might have succeeded in delaying the process.

8. HC asks Centre to reply to plea on environmental consultants

The Ministry of Environment and Forests was today asked by Delhi High Court to respond to a plea that it has delegated illegally the powers to “non statutory” panel NABET to regulate accreditation of environmental consultants who help in “appraising” projects.