Weekly Green News Update for Week 19 (May 4 to 10), 2015
Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for week 19 (between May 4 to May 10) 2015.
1. NGT order: Fines slapped for burning waste in the open
East Delhi Municipal Corporation has begun issuing challans for burning of garbage in the open.
2. Delhi kids learn to embrace trees
The famous Chipko movement, initiated in 1970s as resistance to the destruction of trees in Uttarakhand, has now reached the capital, albeit in a more non-confrontational format.
3. NGT slams poor rainwater harvesting at AIIMS flyover
The National Green Tribunal on Friday slammed public authorities over the “pathetic condition” of rainwater harvesting system at All India Institute of Medical Sciences flyover.
4. Delhiites will have to pay for polluting Yamuna, throwing trash in drains
Holding every Delhi resident responsible for polluting the Yamuna, the National Green Tribunal on Friday ordered every household to pay a certain amount each month as environment compensation.
5. Speaker asks NGT: Why didn’t you act then?
The Delhi Assembly Speaker took on the National Green Tribunal on Friday for its order banning diesel vehicles older than 10 years in the National Capital Region.
6. Asaram’s ashram on Ridge again under NGT scanner
The National Green Tribunal on Thursday directed the Delhi government to respond within a week on a plea against the compliance report of a committee which had observed that there was no illegal construction at an ashram of jailed ‘godman’ Asaram Bapu in Karol Bagh here.
7. Air quality monitoring stations to come up in more cities: Govt
The Government plans to set up air quality monitoring stations, which are presently functional at 10 places, in more cities in the country.
8. Shrinking natural habitat forces ‘threatened’ bird to breed on transmission tower
A team of ornithologists was both pleasantly surprised and equally dismayed when it ventured out to look for endangered birds and their habitat in and around the city.
9. Ganga rejuvenation: IIT Consortium shares $100 bn financing framework
The IIT Consortium which is responsible for preparing the master plan for Ganga rejuvenation, has shared a draft blueprint to finance the rejuvenation and restoration of the river, at India International Centre in New Delhi.
10. Ganga cleaning: Centre breather for industries
Offering a temporary reprieve to the polluting industries located on the banks of the Ganga, the government has extended the deadline for installing real-time effluent discharge meters till June 30.
11. Eco-friendly cars running on air? Indian scientists show the way
Indian scientists have shown a new route to make fuel cells more efficient, thus pushing further the possibility that cars could one day run on air.
12. Think for Ganga portal to seek public advice on clean river
An online portal ‘Think for Ganga’ will soon launched be to seek suggestions and feedback from the public for a clean Ganga.
13. As illegal mining resumes in Ganga, district officials pass the buck
The permission to allow mining in Bishanpur and Bhogpur areas of Haridwar district after three days of an announcement regarding its closure has once again stirred a hornet’s nest.
14. First Phase of ‘Clean Ganga’ Campaign to be Completed by 2016
The first phase of ‘Clean Ganga’ campaign will be completed by October 2016 for the conservation of the river, Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti said today.
15. NGT takes notice of pollution in Hindon; seeks Centre’s reply
The National Green Tribunal today sought response from the Centre on a plea seeking stay on the operation of all industries which are dumping untreated effluents into the Hindon river and its tributaries.
16. Clean Ganga campaign could shift India’s view of responsibilities to safeguard natural bounty: Study
Government’s ambitious Ganga cleaning programme and setting up of the National Green Tribunal could shift India’s view of its responsibilities to safeguard its natural bounty, a study by Circle of Blue has revealed.
17. Over Rs.6 Lakh Crore Needed to Clean Ganga: Experts
A capital expenditure of over Rs.600,000 crore (approx $100 bn) is needed to cleanse river Ganga of the sewage, industrial effluents and solid waste that is thrown into the river, say experts.
18. Villagers kill leopard in Bareilly, throw body into Ganga
Man-animal conflict came to the fore again on Sunday, when residents of Latheera village killed a young leopard that had strayed into their agriculture field.
19. Coastal road: Panel assures high-tide line will not change, MoEF still in doubt
The ambitious project of constructing a coastal road by reclaiming land in Mumbai is yet to be cleared by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, as the ministry still fears it could in the long run open up the sea-front land for real estate development.
20. Pollution: particulate matter in India higher than WHO limit
In 2010, air pollution killed nearly 6,00,000 people in India, according to the World Health Organisation.
21. Global warming effect in nation more pronounced in last 10 years: IMD
Researchers with the Indian Meteorological Department now say the effect of global warming has become more pronounced in the country over the last 10 years.
22. Air pollution puts kids at allergy risk
Exposure to outdoor air pollution during the first year of life increases the risk of developing allergies to food, mould, pets and pests, says a study.
23. New tech to capture the energy of Sun
Researchers are developing molecules capable of harvesting and holding substantial amounts of solar energy, storing it for significant amounts of time and releasing it on demand.
Top image by Rajesh_India via Flickr over Creative Commons
