Environmental News and Media Roundup for Week 36, 2014
Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for Week 36 (Starting September 01, 2014).
1. Stop illegal sand mining in capital: NGT to Delhi government
NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal today directed the Delhi government to stop illegal mining being carried out without requisite environmental clearance in the Yamuna river bed at Wazirabad and Jagatpur bund area here.
2. Delhi’s air pollution levels remain a problem
Delhi’s air pollution levels remain a serious health risk despite government efforts and an emergency response is needed to meet desirable air quality standards in a time-bound manner, say experts based on data accessed from pollution watchdogs.
3. DPCC bid to revamp effluent treatment system
The Delhi Pollution Control Board (DPCC) on Friday held a workshop at the Mayapuri Industrial Area to look at revamping the existing Common Effluent Treatment Plants in the Capital.
4. Government sets up panel to review environment laws
NEW DELHI: Government today constituted a high-level committee to review various environment laws in order to bring them in line with “current requirements”.
5. SC asks Centre to submit stage-wise plan for cleaning Ganga
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday criticised the central government’s affidavit on the massive Ganga cleaning project as a “bureaucratic response” and asked it to furnish a revised stage-wise proposal.
6. SC to Bengal: Sterilising jumbos to check population is regressive
The Supreme Court on Tuesday restrained the West Bengal government from implementing its proposal to sterilise elephants or any other wildlife to restrict their population, while pulling up the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) for ignoring issues regarding safety of elephants.
7. Water conservation plan to be unveiled on September 25
NEW DELHI: Government has decided to launch a national scheme to conserve water on September 25 — the birth anniversary of late philosopher and political thinker Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.
8. My ministry means business now: Prakash Javadekar
NEW DELHI: Just hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered a red carpet minus the red tape to Japanese investors, environment and forest and climate change minister Prakash Javadekar said his ministry is no longer playing “Office Office” with green clearances. Instead the entire process has been made transparent by bringing it online.
NEW DELHI: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is preparing to grapple with issues such as displacement, unhealthy environment and violation of labour laws by businesses as it seeks to sharpen its focus amid rapid industrialisation and increased economic activity.
10. Ozone pollution in India kills crops that can feed 94 million in poverty: study
In one year, India’s ozone pollution damaged millions of tons of the country’s major crops, causing losses of more than a billion dollars and destroying enough food to feed tens of millions of people living below the poverty line, says a new international study.
11. India ninth most polluted nation
BANGALORE: India’s heat and dust image persists: the country was ranked the ninth most polluted country in the world by the Global Health Report 2014 on air pollution levels, by the World Health Organization.
12. Mountain of trash may be driving Himalayas to disaster
SHIMLA: Lalpani, a reserve forest, lies four kilometres off Shimla. For all the protection it is supposed to get, there is a giant heap of rubbish festering in it, a proof of neglect and contempt for environmental laws.
13. 99 per cent of Sweden’s waste is now reused
LONDON: Around 99 per cent of Sweden’s garbage is now recycled and the country is so efficient at managing waste they are importing it from other European countries.
14. UN secretary general hopes Modi would attend key UN climate summit
UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would attend the General Assembly and particularly participate in a key climate change summit, an area he said India can make important contributions.
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