Environmental News and Media Roundup for Week 19, 2013
Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for Week 19 (starting May 6, 2013) 2013.
1. Decreasing greens, worrisome matter
Environmentalist Govind Singh feels that the, “decreasing green cover will increase the carbon footprint. We need to protect our habitat, flora and fauna and for that we need trees. The most common issues that will crop as a result of the depleted cover will be increase in pollution leading to an increase in cases of asthma and the rain pattern being affected.”
2. Green brigade slams DDA plan to allow gyms at parks
‘Its an invitation to concretise the city at the cost of its green cover. People come to parks to enjoy the greenery and nature. The DDA decision will change the basic character of parks,’ said Govind Singh, a city environmentalist. ‘Trees will be felled to make space for gyms and additional parking space would add to the destruction,’ he added.
3. National green tribunal bans burning of plastic, tyres in Delhi’s scrap market
To prevent serious injury from being caused to environment and humans, national green tribunal on Wednesday banned burning of plastics, tyres, wires or any such materials in the scrap market of Mayapuri here.
4. 100 trees felled in Mangar Bani
There is some fresh evidence of around 100 of trees having been cut in and around Mangar Bani in the Aravalis even as the ministry of environment and forest has asked the Haryana chief secretary to identify it and other such areas that are deemed forests.
5. PWD denies felling of trees for road
In its reply to the National Green Tribunal, the Public Works Department on Wednesday denied having cut trees for a road-widening project in Vasant Kunj.
6. Despite ban, plastic bags add to Delhi’s pile of waste
Delhi generates over 583 metric tonnes of plastic waste annually, a majority of which are plastic bags despite a ban on their use by the city government.
7. First part of TERI’s survey of Indian cities released in Mumbai
An environmental survey of 1,010 Mumbaiites by non-profit organisation The Energy and Research Institute have found among other things that 62% of total respondents feel that the environment and development were conflicting in nature.
8. NGT strikes down green ministry’s nod for Korba thermal power plant
Within five days of imposing a moratorium on new industries in Chhattisgarh’s Korba district for being the fifth polluted industrial zone in the country, the environment ministry did a U-turn, having cleared a private 3×350 MW thermal power plant.
9. Fearing cruelty, environment ministry says no to dolphin parks
A dolphin kiss or their playful nature in man-made water holes would remain elusive for the Indian audience.
10. Earth matters
The lowdown Environment is an important aspect of every country, natural resources are the backbone of an economy. The primary concern of an environmentalist is environment protection.
11. Hydelgate: Dam frenzy fails to notice environmental concerns
Housed in the ministry of environment and forests is a quasi-independent body whose job it is to scrutinise every hydel project for environmental damage. In its six years, the hydel environmental assessment committee has evaluated 262 hydropower plants and irrigation projects, according to a February 2013 study by the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People , a Delhi-based anti-dam organisation. It hasn’t rejected a single one.
